New China Studies Fellowship - Xi Thought Study Campaign for the United Front - Qin Reaches out to Israel & Palestine - Hubei & Ningxia Secretaries on National Security - Laos Backs GDI, GSI & GCI
Hi folks,
Before we get to today’s edition, I have an announcement. The Takshashila Institution has just launched the Network for Advanced Study of China (NASC) Fellowship.
This is a new initiative to create high quality scholarship and knowledge of the People’s Republic of China by nurturing new generations of analysts in academia, think tanks, media and industry.
Prospective fellows must either be working or studying in India, and must have at least an undergraduate degree and be proficient in English. You can click on the image below for more details.
Cheers,
Manoj
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Page 1: It’s quite a slow news day on the front page again today. There’s a report on a new book on Xi’s discourses on rural work being published. Another report informs of Wang Huning’s comments at a United Front seminar in Beijing. These are largely around the new Xi Thought study campaign.
Wang said that “under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must comprehensively study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, and thoroughly understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on doing a good job in the united front work in the new era, deeply comprehend the decisive significance of Two Establishments, strengthen four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the two safeguards, give play to the powerful role of the United Front as the Party’s magic weapon, and unite people's hearts and gather strength for building a socialist modern country in an all-round way.” 他表示，要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面学习把握落实中共二十大精神，学深悟透习近平总书记关于做好新时代党的统一战线工作的重要思想，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，发挥统一战线强大法宝作用，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家凝聚人心、汇聚力量.
Wang said that “the ‘Two Establishments’ is a major political achievement made by the Communist Party of China in the new era, a decisive factor for the Party to unite and lead the people to create great achievements in the new era and realise national rejuvenation, and a strong political guarantee for the consolidation and growth of the patriotic United Front in the new era. It is necessary to improve political judgement, understanding, and execution, and always maintain a high degree of alignment with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in terms of political stance, political direction, political principles, and political path. It is necessary to conscientiously study and implement the spirit of the important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the thematic education work conference, organise and implement the education campaign work across the United Front system…and consolidate the common ideological and political foundation of the United Front. We must grasp the requirements of unity and struggle in the new era, shoulder the responsibilities and missions in promoting Chinese-style modernization…and demonstrate new responsibilities and achievements with closer unity and more tenacious struggle on the new journey . 王沪宁表示，“两个确立”是中国共产党在新时代取得的重大政治成果，是中国共产党团结带领人民创造新时代伟大成就、实现民族复兴的决定性因素，也是新时代爱国统一战线巩固壮大的坚强政治保证。要提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，始终在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同以习近平同志为核心的中共中央保持高度一致。要认真学习贯彻习近平总书记在主题教育工作会议上的重要讲话精神，把统战系统的主题教育组织好、落实好，把统一战线各领域的教育实践活动开展好、深化好，巩固统一战线的共同思想政治基础。要把握团结奋斗的时代要求，担负起在推进中国式现代化建设中的责任和使命，做好大团结大联合工作，在新征程上以更加紧密的团结、更加顽强的奋斗展现新的担当和作为。
Finally, there’s a story on Ding Xuexiang meeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing. Xinhua reports:
“China is ready to work with Laos to make the China-Laos Railway more promising, continue to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, jointly safeguard regional prosperity and stability, and push for new achievements in practical cooperation, Ding said. For his part, Saleumxay thanked China for its support and assistance for Laos' economic and social development, adding that Laos firmly supports and actively participates in the major initiatives and concepts proposed by China.”
Kommasith also met with Wang Yi and Qin Gang. These meetings are covered on Page 3. Ding, of course, is a PBSC member; therefore, he gets coverage on the front page.
Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Wang Yi has him saying that “the two sides (should) implement the strategic consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and synergize development strategies to lift bilateral ties to a new level. ‘China is ready to work with Laos to uphold ASEAN centrality, uphold open regionalism, safeguard our shared home, and create a better environment for regional development and revitalization,’ Wang said. For his part, Saleumxay said Laos is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, jointly build a high-quality Belt and Road, construct a Laos-China community with a shared future, and promote the development of the cause of socialism.”
Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Qin Gang says:
“Qin said China is ready to work closely with Laos to turn the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries into tangible cooperation results, and support Laos in achieving stable development, improving people's livelihood and playing a more important role in the international and regional arena. Saleumxay said that Laos attaches great importance to China-Laos relations. Laos is willing to run the Laos-China Railway well, deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, energy, mining and tourism, and make solid progress in building a Laos-China community with a shared future, he added. The two sides agreed to maintain high-level visits, strengthen pragmatic cooperation, enhance personnel exchanges, promote coordinated development, continue to firmly support each other's core interests, and take the lead in implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative in bilateral cooperation. The two sides firmly opposed interference in regional affairs by non-regional forces under the pretext of the issues of Taiwan, the South China Sea, human rights, and water resources. They also agreed to firmly uphold the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, manage hotspot and sensitive issues properly, and promote regional unity, peace and development.”
Page 3: Some interesting developments reported on the page. First, a report on Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s chat with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki. This comes amid the recent violence in the region. Xinhua reports:
“Qin said that China is highly concerned about the recent intensification of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the escalation of tensions, and has urged the UN Security Council to hold consultations and communicated closely with the international community to try to cool down the situation. China strongly condemns the words and deeds that violate relevant UN resolutions, supports the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel as soon as possible on the basis of the ‘two-state solution,’ and is willing to play an active role in this regard, he said. For his part, Al-Maliki highly appreciated China's clear position on the Palestinian issue, thanked China for supporting the Palestinian national self-determination and independent statehood, and welcomed all efforts made by China. He commended China for promoting the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which demonstrates China's role as a responsible major country. Qin stressed that China always supports the strategic autonomy of Middle Eastern countries and supports them in holding their future in their own hands, adding that China is willing to continue to make contributions to peace and stability in the Middle East. The two sides agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote cooperation in various fields and push the traditional friendly relations between the two countries to a new level. The Palestinian side expressed firm support for the one-China principle and opposition to external forces' interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.”
Qin also spoke to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen. Xinhua reports Qin telling Cohen that “China encourages both Israel and Palestine to show political courage and take steps to resume peace talks, and China is ready to provide convenience for this.”
This is a really interesting readout. Qin said that “China is concerned about the current tension between Israel and Palestine, and the current top priority is to bring the situation under control and prevent the conflict from escalating or even getting out of control. All parties should maintain calm and restraint, and stop excessive and provocative words and deeds, Qin said, adding that the fundamental way out is to resume peace talks and implement the ‘two-state solution.’ It is never too late to do the right thing, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative, and China believes that the key to solving the Israel-Palestine issue lies in upholding the vision of common security, Qin said. China has no selfish interests on the Israel-Palestine issue, and only hopes that Israel and Palestine can coexist peacefully and safeguard regional peace and stability. Cohen thanked China for its willingness to support the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel is committed to cooling the situation, but the problem is not likely to be resolved in a short term, he added. Israel attaches importance to China's influence, pays high attention to the Iranian nuclear issue and expects China to play a positive role, Cohen said. Qin stressed that Saudi Arabia and Iran recently restored diplomatic relations through dialogue, setting a good example of overcoming differences through dialogue. It is hoped that all parties will seize the favorable opportunity to promote dialogue and reconciliation, implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear issue, and safeguard peace and tranquility in the Middle East, Qin said.”
Next, there’s a report on Defense Minister Li Shangfu’s visit to Russia, where he met with President Putin. As per Xinhua, Li said: “China is willing to work with Russia to fully implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, further strengthen the strategic communication between the two militaries and bolster multilateral coordination and cooperation so as to make new contributions to safeguarding global and regional security and stability.”
SCMP’s report on this adds:
“This is my first overseas visit since taking over as minister of defence of the People’s Republic of China. I specifically chose Russia for this in order to emphasise the special character and strategic importance of our bilateral relations,” Russian authorities quoted Li as saying. The Kremlin also said Putin praised cooperation between the two armed forces, saying they regularly exchanged information, cooperated on the military-technology front, as well as conducted joint exercises in the Far East region and in Europe.”
Page 4: There’s an article with comments by Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, calling on state-funded and centrally administered enterprises to improve their core competitiveness and core functions to play a bigger role in building a modernized industrial system. Zhang called on them tio to “strengthen technological innovation and achieve more breakthroughs in key and core technologies.”
Page 11: Again today, we have articles by two provincial Party secretaries on national security. First, there’s an article by Hubei secretary Wang Menghui. The article has three broad sections.
Section 1 talks about how Hubei’s national security work is advancing along the path guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping. In this, Wang says that Hubei has persisted “in arming minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully practising the overall national security concept, firmly supporting the Two Establishments and resolutely achieving the two safeguards with practical actions, and ensuring the correct political direction of national security work in the province.” 我们坚持用习近新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装头脑，全面践行总体国家安全观，以实际行动坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”，确保全省国家安全工作正确的政治方向.
He then makes three points in the section:
Take in-depth study, publicity and implementation of the deployment of the 20th Party Congress on national security as a major political task. “We thoroughly study, publicise and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, guide the whole province to unify their thoughts and actions with the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, deeply understand the strategic position of national security, and accurately understand the new requirements of the new national security strategy, new deployment and new requirements.” 我们深入学习宣传贯彻党的二十大精神，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，引导全省上下把思想和行动统一到党的二十大精神上来，深刻认识国家安全战略地位，准确领会国家安全新战略新部署新要求.He talks about work being focussed on “modernising the national security system and capabilities and resolutely safeguarding national security and social stability.”
Take General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on national security as a fundamental guideline. “General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to national security work, emphasising that ensuring national security is the top priority, personally serving as the chairman of the Central National Security Commission, making strategic plans and comprehensive arrangements for national security work, and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests with extraordinary political wisdom, extraordinary art of struggle and firm will.习近平总书记高度重视国家安全工作，突出强调保证国家安全是头等大事，亲自担任中央国家安全委员会主席，对国家安全作出战略擘画、全面部署，以超凡的政治智慧、非凡的斗争艺术、坚定的意志品质维护国家主权、安全、发展利益。We deeply understand the general secretary’s concern, attention, earnest expectations and far-reaching planning for national security work, resolutely support the Chairman Responsibility System of the Central National Security Commission, always pay equal attention to development and security, consistently prevent and resolve major risks, and strive to achieve a positive interaction between high-quality development and high-level security.” 我们深刻感悟总书记对国家安全工作的关心重视、殷切期望和深远谋划，坚决拥护中央国安委主席负责制，始终坚持发展和安全并重，一以贯之防范化解重大风险，努力实现高质量发展和高水平安全良性互动。
Give top priority to maintaining political security, especially regime security and system security. “Political security is the highest national security, the lifeline of national sovereignty, security and development interests, and occupies a leading position in national security work.” Keep an eye on major events, sensitive nodes, and key targets, strengthen risk screening, analysis, judgement, and prevention and handling in the political field, and resolutely prevent and combat activities such as infiltration, subversion, sabotage by hostile forces, illegal religious infiltration, and harassment by cults. Strictly implement the responsibility system for ideological work, strengthen position management and theme propaganda, do a good job in monitoring and handling public opinion, and firmly grasp the initiative in terms of ideological security.” 紧盯重大活动、敏感节点和重点对象，强化政治领域风险排查、分析研判和防范处置，坚决防范和打击敌对势力渗透颠覆破坏和非法宗教渗透、邪教滋扰等活动。严格落实意识形态工作责任制，加强阵地管理和主题宣传，扎实做好舆情监测处置，牢牢掌握意识形态安全主导权.
Section 2 talks about coordinating development and security and guaranteeing the new development pattern with the new security pattern. In this, Wang makes five points:
The first point is about river basin security. In this, he talks about the guideline on comprehensive river basin management and overall development planning in Hubei Province. 湖北省流域综合治理和统筹发展规划纲要.
The second point is on ecological and food security. In this, he says that the province’s ecological environment has continued to improve, although there’s no data provided. Wang adds that Hubei’s total grain output has exceeded 50 billion jin for ten consecutive years. With 3.9% of the country’s arable land, Hubei accounts for 4.2% of the country's grain output. 严守耕地保护红线，深入实施“藏粮于地、藏粮于技”战略，粮食总产连续十年超过500亿斤，以全国3.9%的耕地贡献了全国4.2%的粮食，为“中国碗”装“中国粮”贡献湖北力量.
The third point is on economic and financial security. In this, Wang says that Hubei has implemented “the central government's package of policies and measures to stabilise the economy” and formulated and implemented 133 policies to stabilise the economy and 96 refined, follow-up measures, while continuing to support enterprises. It has made “breakthroughs in the development of five advantageous industries, such as optoelectronic information, new energy and intelligent networked vehicles, life and health, high-end equipment, and Beidou, and the security and stability of the industrial chain and supply chain have been improved.” It has worked to “defuse existing risks and prevent incremental risks in finance, government debt, real estate, and corporate debt, and maintain the bottom line of preventing systemic financial risks.” “During the peak of energy consumption in summer, the whole province did not pull the switch and limit electricity, winning the battle of energy supply.” “In 2022, the province's GDP reached 5,373.49 billion yuan, ranking seventh in the country, with a year-on-year increase of 4.3%, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national growth rate. The growth rate of major economic indicators was among the highest in the country, and the economic operation was stable and positive.” 全面落实中央稳经济一揽子政策和接续措施，制定实施稳经济133条和接续措施细化政策96条等政策举措，开展“解难题、稳增长、促发展”企业帮扶活动。实施供应链提升工程，突破性发展光电子信息、新能源与智能网联汽车、生命健康、高端装备、北斗等五大优势产业，产业链供应链的安全性和稳定性得到提升。做好金融、政府债务、房地产、企业债务等存量风险化解和增量风险防范工作，守住了不发生系统性金融风险的底线。全力以赴做好组煤保电供气工作，在夏季用能高峰期全省没有拉闸限电，打赢了能源保供攻坚战。2022年，全省地区生产总值达53734.9亿元、总量全国第七，同比增长4.3%，比全国增速高1.3个百分点，主要经济指标增幅全国靠前，经济运行稳中向好.
The fourth point is on social stability. In this, he talks about grassroots governance, the Fengqiao Experience (last year, more than 200,000 conflicts and disputes of various types were investigated, and the resolution rate exceeded 95%.), gangs and crimes, emergencies, workplace safety and COVID measures.
The fifth point is on non-traditional security. “Maintain network security, formulate implementation guidelines on strengthening the security of key information infrastructure, and comprehensively improve comprehensive network management capabilities. Maintain bio-security, strengthen the construction of biological safety risk investigation, monitoring and early warning, emergency response and joint prevention and control mechanism, and form a joint force of bio-safety management. Maintain the safety of overseas interests, carry out dynamic monitoring of the safety of people, institutions, enterprises and projects from our province abroad, and improve the risk mitigation plan. Maintain data security, formulate guidelines for data classification and protection, and improve information and data security monitoring, early warning and emergency response capabilities.” 维护网络安全，制定加强关键信息基础设施安全保护工作实施意见，全面提高网络综合治理能力。维护生物安全，加强生物安全风险排查、监测预警、应急处置和联防联控机制建设，形成生物安全治理合力。维护海外利益安全，开展我省在境外人员、机构、企业和项目安全动态监测，完善风险处置预案。维护数据安全，制定数据分类分级保护工作指南，信息和数据安全监测预警、应急处置能力得到提升.
Section 3 calls to “strengthen the Party’s absolute leadership over national security work, and continuously promote the modernization of the national security system and capabilities.” In this, Wang makes four points:
“We conscientiously implement the national security responsibility system, and strengthen the main responsibility of Party committees at all levels to maintain national security and the responsibility of the Party committee secretaries as the first responsible persons…” 我们认真贯彻落实国家安全责任制，强化各级党委（党组）维护国家安全的主体责任和党委（党组）书记第一责任人责任，做到守土有责、守土尽责、守土负责。Give full play to the coordination function of the National Security Commission of the Provincial Party Committee, carry out in-depth actions to improve the effectiveness of the coordination mechanism, improve the operation rules of the coordination mechanism for national security work in key areas, effectively mobilise resources and promote the formation of a work pattern in which the Party committee coordinates the general affairs, all departments perform their own duties, work closely with each other, and advance in vertical and horizontal linkage in order to ensure that national security work is carried out in a scientific, standardised and efficient manner. 充分发挥省委国安委统筹协调的职能作用，深入开展协调机制效能提升行动，完善重点领域国家安全工作协调机制运行规则，有效调动各方资源和力量，推动形成党委统筹揽总、部门各司其职、条块紧密配合、纵横联动推进的工作格局，确保国家安全工作科学、规范、高效开展.
“Adhere to the bottom line thinking, prevent and defuse risks. In this, he highlights the importance of continuing “to improve the working mechanisms for risk screening, assessment and early warning, intelligence coordination, and review of the list of regulatory items, plug the loopholes of potential safety hazards in a timely manner, block the channels for risk transformation in different fields, focus on preventing and resolving major safety risks at the source, and effectively solve problems by nipping them in the bud, before they become disasters.” 不断完善风险排查评估预警、情报工作协调、审查监管事项清单等工作机制，及时封堵安全隐患漏洞，阻断不同领域风险转化通道，着力从源头上防范化解重大安全风险，切实把问题解决在萌芽之时、成灾之前.
Strengthen nat-sec publicity and education
Build a first-class national security cadre team. This includes training, specifically focussing on “putting political construction in the first place.”
Next, there’s an article by Liang Yanshun, Party secretary of Ningxia. I am not doing a detailed breakdown. But Liang’s first section is headlined whatever the general secretary asks, we do at once. 总书记怎么说、我们就怎么做.
Page 17: On the international page, there’s a report on hate crimes in the US rising by 11.6% year-on-year in 2021, hitting an all-time high. There’s a brief report on the shooting at the birthday party in Alabama. There’s a piece with comments from MoFA’s presser yesterday criticising US sanctions on Chinese companies for allegedly supplying precursor chemicals for the production of illicit fentanyl.
Wang Wenbin said that:
“It must be pointed out that the US blames China for exporting ‘fentanyl precursors’, which are in fact only ordinary chemicals sold through normal trade. In international trade, it is the importer’s duty to prevent such chemicals from falling into the hands of illicit drug-makers. By twisting the truth, the US vilifies China’s normal trade of ordinary chemicals, trumps up a charge and slaps sanctions on Chinese companies and nationals. This is a classic case of US bullying and coercion. It is a flagrant defiance of international rule of law. The US itself is the root cause of its drug problems. With 5% of the world’s population, the US consumes 80% of the world’s opioids. Yet the US still has not permanently scheduled fentanyl-related substances as a class. As China and the rest of the world strengthen control of fentanyl-related substances, the fentanyl issue in the US has been deteriorating and taking away even more lives. The US needs to do some serious reflections on this. Instead of working to reduce the demand for drugs at home, strengthen management of prescription drugs and step up public awareness campaigns about the harm of narcotics, the US has resorted to grossly sanctioning other countries in an attempt to mislead the public and deflect the blame for its inaction. This is clear to the American people and the rest of the world. The US indictment and sanctions against Chinese companies and citizens will add more obstacles to China-US counternarcotics cooperation. Such moves hurt others as well as the US itself. If the US truly wants to solve its drug problem, it should respect facts, reflect on itself, correct its wrongdoing, and stop shifting the blame. China will continue to do what is necessary to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals.”