Party-building in PLA - CPEC & Pakistan Blast - Feature on Xi's High-Quality Development Agenda - Chinese & Russian Media Discuss Enhancing Int'l Influence - Zhong Sheng on Japan's Defense White Paper
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily's edition on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
Page 1: The top two stories on the page are about Xi Jinping’s instructions on flood relief work in China and his condolence message following the bombing at a political rally in Pakistan.
Xinhua reports that Xi “demanded all-out search and rescue efforts to find people missing or trapped in floods and geological disasters in an instruction issued on work concerning flood prevention and disaster relief.”
At least 20 people have died and 27 are missing in the floods triggered by the heavy rains around Beijing. This data is, of course, not shared on the front page of the paper. The report on the page is basically about Xi and Li Qiang’s instructions to ensure relief work, rescue those trapped and provide treatment to the injured and comfort to the families of the deceased. Xi also called for repairing damaged infrastructure including transportation, telecommunications and electricity facilities, and restoring normal order in work and life as soon as possible.
There is more coverage of the flooding situation and the state response on Page 4, if you are interested.
Meanwhile, in his letter to Pakistani President Arif Alvi, Xi said that “he was shocked to learn of the suicide bomb attack which caused heavy casualties. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned deeply for the fatal victims and conveyed sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and those injured. Xi stressed that China opposes all forms of terrorism, and strongly condemns the attack. He also pledged that China will continue to firmly support Pakistan in promoting its national anti-terrorism action plan and jointly safeguard peace and security in the region and the world.”
Next, there’s a report about the publication of a new study outline on Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military. This has been compiled by the CMC’s Political Work Department, updating the one that was published in 2019. There are 14 chapters, 59 sections, and 150 items in total. A recent circular issued by the CMC has called on all units to take the study of Xi’s thought on strengthening the military as “the primary political task and long-term strategic task, and use it effectively to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work, and transform the learning results into a powerful force for advancing the cause of strengthening the army in the new era.” 各级要把学习贯彻习近平强军思想作为首要政治任务和长期战略任务，切实用以武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作，把学习成效转化为推进新时代强军事业的强大力量.
The circular also calls on “theory workers to strengthen their research and interpretation, and the military news media to increase their propaganda and build a strong atmosphere for learning and implementation. Leading cadres should vigorously carry forward the excellent style of study of integrating theory with practice, take the lead in forging souls through learning, enhancing wisdom by learning, rectifying the wind by learning, and promoting work by learning, make good use of their own learning achievements to preach and counsel grassroots officers and soldiers, and play a leading and exemplary role.” 广大理论工作者要加强研究阐释，军队新闻媒体要加大宣传力度，浓厚学习贯彻氛围。领导干部要大力弘扬理论联系实际的优良学风，带头以学铸魂、以学增智、以学正风、以学促干，运用自身学习成果搞好对基层官兵的宣讲辅导，发挥好引领示范作用.
“Through extensive study, propaganda and interpretation, it is necessary to guide the officers and soldiers of the entire army to deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the two safeguards, implement the Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC, resolutely obey the command of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and Chairman Xi, and work together to achieve the Party's goal of strengthening the army in the new era, build the people's army into a world-class army in an all-round way, and realize the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 要通过广泛的学习宣传阐释工作，引导全军官兵深刻领悟“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”，贯彻军委主席负责制，坚决听从党中央、中央军委和习主席指挥，为实现党在新时代的强军目标、把人民军队全面建成世界一流军队，为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而团结奋斗.
Also with this, there’s a report on a new guideline on enhancing Party building in the armed forces. The entire document isn’t in the paper – just a brief report. It says that:
“Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the ‘Opinions’ fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military, implement the general requirements for Party building in the new era, uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the people's army, focus on the central task of army building, make deployment requirements for comprehensively strengthening Party building in the army, guiding the whole army to deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the two safeguards, implement the Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC, and create a new situation in the leadership of the Party and the construction of the Party in the army in the new era and on the new journey.” 《意见》以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的二十大精神，深入贯彻习近平强军思想，落实新时代党的建设总要求，坚持党对人民军队的绝对领导，聚焦我军建设中心任务，对全面加强军队党的建设作出部署要求，引导全军深刻领悟“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”，贯彻军委主席负责制，在新时代新征程上开创我军党的领导和党的建设工作新局面.
The Opinions stressed that it is necessary to persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era to forge souls, implement the Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC with higher standards and stricter requirements, promote the normalisation and institutionalisation of political training and consolidation, and improve political judgement, understanding and execution. It is necessary to focus on improving the quality and effectiveness of leadership in preparing for war, strengthen the unified leadership of the Party committees and collective leadership, pay close attention to actual combat planning and operations, intensify the improvement of strategic planning and command capabilities, deepen military training and preparation, and enhance military governance to promote high-quality development through a spirit of reform and innovation. It is necessary to implement the Party's organisational line in the new era, enhance the political and organisational functions of the Party organisations, persist in laying a solid foundation at the grassroots level, forge a team of high-quality professional cadres and talents, strengthen Party members’ willingness to work hard work and take initiative, and strengthen the Party's organisational system in the armed forces. It is necessary to implement the requirements of comprehensive and strict Party governance, compact the political responsibility of managing the Party and administering the Party, adhere to the strict tone and unwavering determination, thoroughly rectify the ‘four winds’, especially formalism and bureaucracy, and promote it as a whole integrating with the idea of anyone not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt, thereby providing a strong political guarantee for achieving the centenary goal of the army. 《意见》强调，要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，以更高标准更严要求贯彻军委主席负责制，推进政治整训常态化制度化，提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。要着眼提高领导备战打仗质效，强化党委统一领导集体领导，抓深抓实谋战务战，加紧提高战略谋划和指挥能力，深化练兵备战，加强军事治理，以改革创新精神推动高质量发展。要贯彻新时代党的组织路线，增强党组织政治功能和组织功能，坚持大抓基层夯实基础，锻造高素质专业化干部队伍和人才队伍，强化党员实干担当主动作为，建强人民军队党的组织体系。要贯彻全面从严治党要求，压紧压实管党治党政治责任，坚持严的基调不动摇，深入纠治“四风”特别是形式主义、官僚主义，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，为实现建军一百年奋斗目标提供坚强政治保证.
Finally, there’s a long, long feature on how Xi Jinping has led the advancement of high-quality development in this year, which is the first year in implementing the objectives and goals outlined at the 20th Party Congress. Rather than doing extensive translations, I’ll just underscore some of the key messages from the article. The big takeaway is that it re-emphasises key messages in terms of development philosophy. But there isn’t any indication of changes in policies, say with regard to stimulus or consumption. In that regard, we are likely to see more of the same. Employment, innovation, demand, etc remain a concern but Beijing appears content with the trajectory of growth for the year.
“High-quality development is a development that can well meet the people's growing needs for a better life; it embodies the new development concept. Under this, innovation becomes the first driving force, coordination becomes an endogenous feature, green becomes a universal form, openness becomes the only way, and sharing becomes the fundamental purpose.” This is a scientific judgement of the times and trends. From whether we have or not to whether it is good or not, the development environment and conditions are changing, and the development concept is also advancing with the times and new with the situation. ‘The five development concepts of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing are formed on the basis of our profound summarization of domestic and foreign development experience and lessons, and are also formed on the basis of an in-depth analysis of domestic and foreign development trends’. ‘We must implement the new development concept completely, accurately and comprehensively’.” “高质量发展，就是能够很好满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要的发展，是体现新发展理念的发展，是创新成为第一动力、协调成为内生特点、绿色成为普遍形态、开放成为必由之路、共享成为根本目的的发展。”这是对时与势的科学判断。从“有没有”转向“好不好”，发展环境、发展条件在变，发展理念也因时而进、因势而新。“创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享这五大发展理念，是我们在深刻总结国内外发展经验教训的基础上形成的，也是在深刻分析国内外发展大势的基础上形成的”“必须完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念”.
“It is necessary to better balance the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity.” “必须更好统筹质的有效提升和量的合理增长”
“In July of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping expressed deep sentiments after his inspection in Jiangsu: ‘In the past, people thought that when we were less than 1.2 meters, and so we didn’t need to buy tickets; now that we’ve grown robust standing at 1.89 meters, we must follow the path of self-reliance and self-strengthening. Only when we hold the rice bowl in our hands, can we be assured about sustenance without panicking. This is of strategic importance. That's why I spare no effort wherever I go to promote strengthening and extending the supply chain’. In January 2016, speaking at the special seminar for senior provincial and ministerial leaders on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenum of the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out ‘Economic development is at a key transition point where the speed is shifting; much like a person who grows rapidly between the ages of 10 and 18, but the growth slows down after the age of 18.’ At that time, with the increasing economic aggregate, China encountered a series of new situations and problems in its development, which was in the ‘three-phase superposition’ of a shift in growth rate, structural adjustment pains and digesting the effects of earlier stimulus policies. At present, with the spread of unilateralism, protectionism, and counter-globalization trends, China’s development has entered a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and factors of uncertainty and unpredictability are increasing.
As one grows taller, how can one become stronger? The two metaphors point to an insight: ‘For our Party to lead the people in governing the country, a crucial aspect is answering the significant question of what kind of development to achieve and how to achieve it.’ The two major situations are intertwined, and new situations and new problems are emerging one after another. Taking the helm and leading the way, General Secretary Xi Jinping has a deep insight, ‘it is necessary to better coordinate the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity’. Transitioning from quantitative change to qualitative change is an objective economic law. This is a threshold that must be crossed. On a global scale, since the 1960s, among over 100 middle-income economies worldwide, only a dozen or so have become high-income economies. Those successful countries and regions all transitioned from rapid growth to improving economic quality after experiencing a phase of quantity expansion. ‘Economic development is a process of spiralling upward. The ascension is not linear, and when the quantity accumulates to a certain stage, it must turn to qualitative improvement.’ This is a transformation that must be faced. Looking at ourselves, the fundamental question of whether we have or not has been largely addressed in most areas; therefore, the more significant question of quality becomes more pronounced. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, a significant change has occurred in the principal contradiction facing Chinese society. The problem of unbalanced and insufficient development has become more pronounced, and the contradictions and problems during the process of development are primarily manifested in terms of the quality of development. ‘We must promote high-quality development to adapt to the new changes in science and technology and the new needs of the people, form a high-quality, efficient and diversified supply system, and provide more high-quality products and services. In this way, supply and demand can be balanced at a new level, and China's economy can continue to develop healthily’.” 一则，今年7月，习近平总书记在江苏考察后颇为感慨：“过去，人家觉得我们不到一米二，可以不买门票；现在我们发展成一米八九的东北大汉了，要走自立自强的道路，饭碗端在自己手里，才能手中有‘粮’心里不慌。战略意义啊，所以我到哪都不遗余力地推动强链补链延链。”一则，2016年1月，习近平总书记在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的十八届五中全会精神专题研讨班上指出：“经济发展面临速度换挡节点，如同一个人，10岁至18岁期间个子猛长，18岁之后长个子的速度就慢下来了。”彼时，随着经济总量不断增大，我国在发展中遇到了一系列新情况新问题，处于增长速度换挡期、结构调整阵痛期和前期刺激政策消化期“三期叠加”。当前，单边主义、保护主义、逆全球化思潮蔓延，我国发展进入战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期。个头长了，体格如何更强？两则比喻，一个指向，“我们党领导人民治国理政，很重要的一个方面就是要回答好实现什么样的发展、怎样实现发展这个重大问题。”两个大局交织，新情况新问题接踵而至。掌舵领航，习近平总书记深彻洞察，“必须更好统筹质的有效提升和量的合理增长”。从量变到质变，是客观的经济规律。这是必须跨越的关口。看全球，20世纪60年代以来，全球100多个中等收入经济体中只有十几个成为高收入经济体，那些取得成功的国家和地区，无不是在经历高速增长阶段后实现了经济发展从量的扩张转向质的提高。“经济发展是一个螺旋式上升的过程，上升不是线性的，量积累到一定阶段，必须转向质的提升”。这是必须直面的转型。观自身，大部分领域“有没有”的问题基本解决，“好不好”的问题更加突出。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，我国社会主要矛盾发生了重大变化，发展不平衡不充分的问题更加突出，发展中的矛盾和问题集中体现在发展质量上。“我们必须推动高质量发展，以适应科技新变化、人民新需要，形成优质高效多样化的供给体系，提供更多优质产品和服务。这样，供求才能在新的水平上实现均衡，我国经济才能持续健康发展.”
Some useful data in this regard: “In the first half of the year, investment in high-tech industries increased by 12.5% year-on-year. Investment in professional technical services and transformation of scientific and technological achievements increased by 51.6% and 46.3% year-on-year, respectively; manufacturing investment increased by 6% year-on-year, of which investment in equipment manufacturing increased by 14.4%, which significantly supported the growth of manufacturing investment.” 上半年，高技术产业投资同比增长12.5%。专业技术服务、科技成果转化服务投资同比分别增长51.6%和46.3%；制造业投资同比增长6%，其中装备制造业投资增长14.4%，对制造业投资增长支撑作用明显.
“The key decisions shaping the overall development are derived from a profound understanding of both risks and opportunities. Transitioning from a predominantly domestic-focused cycle before the era of reform and opening up to joining the global cycle, the development model of becoming the ‘world's factory’ has significantly contributed to rapidly enhancing economic strength. In recent years, economic globalisation has faced headwinds and major power contestation has intensified, altering the conditions for large-scale imports and exports. ‘Only by unblocking the domestic circulation and striving to cultivate a body that is invulnerable to all poisons and indestructible we can face the ever-changing international dynamics with vitality and continue to thrive and that no one can knock us down or bring us to a standstill’.” 关系发展全局的关键抉择，来自对危与机的深刻洞察。从改革开放前的国内循环为主，到加入国际大循环，“世界工厂”发展模式，助力快速提升经济实力。近年来，经济全球化遭遇逆流，大国博弈日趋激烈，大进大出的环境条件已经变化。“把国内大循环畅通起来，努力炼就百毒不侵、金刚不坏之身，才能任由国际风云变幻，始终充满朝气生存和发展下去，没有任何人能打倒我们、卡死我们”。Later he adds: “The most essential feature of building a new development pattern is to achieve high-level self-reliance and self-improvement.” 构建新发展格局，最本质的特征是实现高水平自立自强. It adds: “If we grasp innovation, we will grasp the ‘crux' that affects the overall economic and social development’. 抓住了创新，就抓住了牵动经济社会发展全局的‘牛鼻子’. And it adds: “To accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, we must firmly grasp the strategic basis of expanding domestic demand.” 加快构建新发展格局，必须牢牢扭住扩大内需这个战略基点.
Page 2: There’s a report on the CPEC 10th anniversary event and a feature article on CPEC. The news elements are repeated from what I had covered yesterday. But some useful data:
“By the end of 2022, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has accumulated direct investments worth $25.4 billion for Pakistan and generated 236,000 jobs, helped Pakistan add 510 km of highways and 8,000 megawatts of electricity generation, and 886 km of the national core transmission network.” 数据显示，截至2022年底，中巴经济走廊累计为巴带来直接投资254亿美元，累计创造23.6万个就业岗位，帮助巴新增510公里高速公路、8000兆瓦电力和886公里国家核心输电网。
In the past ten years, great progress has been made in the construction of Gwadar Port. The first phase of the Gwadar Free Zone has been completed, with an investment of more than 3 billion yuan…Now, Gwadar Port has full operational capacity, the new Gwadar International Airport will also be put into operation, and Gwadar Free Zone is ready to go.” 十年来，瓜达尔港建设取得重大进展。瓜达尔自由区第一阶段已建设完成，投资额超过30亿元人民币。瓜达尔自由区后勤基地项目主管纳西尔表示，在中巴经济走廊推动下，瓜达尔从一个小渔村逐步发展成为地区物流枢纽，自己和同事们也在工作中得到锻炼与成长。如今，瓜达尔港已经具备全作业能力，新瓜达尔国际机场也将投运，瓜达尔自由区蓄势待发。随着走廊建设的持续推进，瓜达尔将迎来更多发展机遇。
In related news, Bank of China opened its Islamabad branch on Monday. This is the second branch of the BOC to open in Pakistan. The first one opened in Karachi in 2017.
Next, there’s a report on the China-Russia Media Dialogue forum and the 3rd ‘China-Russia Youth Walk Together on the Friendship Road’ media briefing. This was organised by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Representatives from the China-Russia Friendship Association, more than 20 mainstream media outlets, discussed how to tell the story of China-Russia friendship in the new era and deepen media cooperation between the two countries, the report says. 由中国人民对外友好协会举办的中俄媒体对话会暨第三届“中俄青年同走友谊路”活动媒体吹风会7月31日在北京举行。中俄两国友协及20多家主流媒体代表就如何讲好新时代中俄友好故事、深化两国媒体间合作展开交流研讨.
Representatives from Russian media outlets like RIA Novosti, TASS and Russia Today, held discussions with their Chinese counterparts, including People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group. They talked about “how to enhance the international influence of the media of the two countries, promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and give play to the role of various platforms.” 来自《俄罗斯报》、塔斯社、今日俄罗斯通讯社等俄多家媒体代表与人民日报社、新华社和中央广播电视总台等中国媒体同行分享了两国携手抗击新冠疫情、互邀灾区儿童疗养等友好故事，并就如何提升两国媒体国际影响力、促进两国民心相通、发挥各类平台作用等议题进行交流.
Yan Dong, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, stated that media exchanges are an essential part of China-Russia strategic cooperation and cultural collaboration, and also serves as a significant platform for telling China-Russia stories and promoting their friendship. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the mainstream media in China and Russia have carried out in-depth exchanges and cooperation in news reporting, media industry, emerging media, publishing and distribution, film and television production and other aspects from the perspective of the overall situation of developing China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, and have achieved fruitful results. China-Russia media cooperation not only concerns the development of bilateral relations but also meets the needs of regional stability, global peace, and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. 中国人民对外友好协会副会长鄢东表示，媒体交流是中俄战略协作和人文合作的重要组成部分，也是讲好中俄故事、弘扬中俄友好的重要平台。近年来，在两国元首战略引领下，中俄主流媒体从发展新时代中俄全面战略协作伙伴关系大局出发，在新闻报道、媒体产业、新兴媒体、出版发行、影视制作等方面开展深入交流合作，结出累累硕果。中俄媒体合作不仅事关中俄关系发展，更是推动地区稳定与世界和平、构建人类命运共同体的时代需要.
The vice chair of the Russia-China Friendship Association emphasized the importance of nurturing friendship between young people from China and Russia, stating that they will become the backbone for promoting bilateral friendship in the future. He suggested that the media of both countries play a more significant role in youth exchanges, utilizing their platform advantages to make more young people understand their shared mission. 俄中友协副主席阿尔希波夫讲述了自己的长辈作为苏联专家在中国工作的难忘经历。他表示，培养俄中两国青年之间的友谊十分重要，他们未来必将成为推动两国友好的中坚力量，两国媒体应在青年交流方面发挥更大作用，利用自身平台优势让更多青年了解肩负的使命。
Finally, three brief reports. First, an economic and trade forum between China and Georgia was held in Beijing. Second, a CCP delegation led by Qinghai Party Secretary Chen Gang just visited Turkmenistan. The local media from Turkmenistan reports:
“According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the parties discussed topical aspects of the Turkmen-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership, while noting cooperation within the framework of authoritative international organizations, primarily the UN. It was emphasized that on many issues on the international agenda, the parties demonstrate similar or close positions. The commitment of the two countries to further deepening the partnership in the format of the dialogue "Central Asia - China" was also confirmed. In the context of expanding trade and economic partnership, the interlocutors noted the growth of bilateral trade, and also emphasized the great potential for interaction in this area. The parties expressed their interest in further diversification of cooperation in priority areas. Also at the meeting, fruitful cooperation in the field of education, science and culture was noted.”
Third, the PBOC and Bank of Mongolia have renewed a currency swap agreement for another three years. The value of the currency swap totalled 15 billion yuan (about 2.1 billion U.S. dollars), or 7.25 trillion Mongolian tugrik.
Page 7: A report with data from the Cyberspace Administration of China informing that major websites and online platforms have removed about 86,000 items of false and fake information related to businesses and high-profile figures and closed 8,425 accounts since April. China Daily has a detailed English story if you are interested. It informs that:
“In April, the CAC launched a three-month nationwide operation targeting false and inaccurate information online that infringes the rights of enterprises and entrepreneurs. Malicious speculation was also targeted during the operation, which aimed to create a better internet environment for the development of enterprises. Various internet regulatory departments have actively dealt with the illegal information and urged online platforms such as WeChat, Weibo and Douyin to identify and handle items that have negatively impacted enterprises and entrepreneurs, the CAC said. The administration detailed on Tuesday some of the cases that were investigated during the operation as well as key features of the violations.” These included:
Collecting negative information about enterprises and threatening to release it unless the enterprises entered into business with them or provided money
Making up stories, spreading false information and maliciously hyping negative information about certain enterprises
Setting up a social media account using a name or logo that is the same as or similar to a well-known company or entrepreneur
Page 10: Two reports to note.
First, there’s a report on the advancement of China’s railway’s infrastructure. The point being made is that investment in railways boosts growth and development, because it supports other sectors. Of course, there’s little discussion about the utility of this new infrastructure that is being built.
“China’s total fixed-asset railway investment in railways in H1 was 304.9 billion yuan ($42.3 billion), up 6.9% year on year…Railway construction has been promoted in an orderly manner, helping to stabilize investment and steady growth…Through the periods of January-February, January-March, January-April and January-May this year, the railway fixed asset investment increased by 5.9%, 6.7%, 6.3% and 7.2%, respectively, showing an overall accelerated growth trend. With the acceleration of major railway projects, it will effectively promote the recovery and development of related industries such as steel, cement, building materials and construction machinery, and stimulate economic growth. 上半年，全国铁路完成固定资产投资3049亿元，同比增长6.9%，其中国家铁路完成2613亿元，同比增长8.7%。铁路建设有序推进，助力稳投资稳增长。铁路固定资产投资稳步提升，项目建设扎实推进铁路是国家战略性、先导性、关键性重大基础设施，建设项目投资大、产业链长、辐射面广、带动效应强。今年1至2月、1至3月、1至4月、1至5月，全国铁路固定资产投资分别增长5.9%、6.7%、6.3%、7.2%，总体呈现加速增长的势头。随着重大铁路工程加速落地，有效促进钢铁、水泥、建材、工程机械等关联产业复苏发展，拉动经济增长.
Second, there’s a report with MIIT data saying that China’s major internet companies’ cumulative profits rose 27.6% year on year to total 63.96 billion yuan ($8.97 billion) in H1. Xinhua adds: “Their combined business revenues came in at 643.3 billion yuan, up 2.6 percent year on year. Enterprises that mainly offer online sales services saw their internet business revenues increase 37.4 percent from a year earlier. Major internet companies and related services companies have annual business revenues of at least 20 million yuan.”
Page 15: There’s a Zhong Sheng commentary lashing out at Japan for “exaggerating” the “China Threat” theory. The advice offered to Tokyo is that if it wants to be a “normal” country, it must “face up to and reflect on its history of aggression, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbours and the international community with a responsible attitude and practical actions.”
“The Japanese government recently released the 2023 edition of its Defense White Paper, claiming that it seeks to ‘fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities,’ and plans to increase its defense expenditure to 43.5 trillion yen ($303.5 billion) over the next five years. In disregard of basic facts, the Japanese side positioned China as an “unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge”, exaggerated the so-called ‘China threat’, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and smeared China's national defense policy, normal military development and legitimate military activities. This approach clearly shows that Japan is trying to find excuses for its own military expansion by exaggerating the so-called ‘China threat’.” 日本政府日前发布2023年版《防卫白皮书》，宣称谋求“根本性地增强防卫力量”，未来5年计划将防卫开支增至43.5万亿日元（约合3035亿美元）。日方还罔顾基本事实，将中国定位为“前所未有的最大战略挑战”，大肆渲染所谓“中国威胁”，粗暴干涉中国内政，抹黑中国国防政策、正常军力发展和正当军事活动。这种做法清楚表明，日方正企图通过渲染所谓“中国威胁”，为其自身武力扩张寻找借口.
“China adheres to the path of peaceful development and pursues a defensive national defense policy. It has never challenged anyone, let alone threatened anyone. China's strengthening of national defense and army building aims to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, which is legitimate, reasonable, and justifiable. At present, the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea has remained generally stable. The Diaoyu Island and affiliated islands have been China's inherent territory since ancient times, and it is legitimate for official Chinese government ships to patrol the waters off the islands in order to exercise sovereignty according to law. Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue, so it should stop stirring up trouble and creating confrontation. China's military cooperation with relevant countries, such as joint patrols, are in line with international law and practices. The Japanese side is using China's normal military development as a pretext and exaggerating the so-called ‘increasingly active attempts and activities to unilaterally change the status quo through force’. This is another poor effort of fabricating the lie of ‘China's military threat’ and deliberately seeks to provoke regional tensions. In the East China Sea, it is Japan itself that has repeatedly tried to change the status quo of the Diaoyu Islands over the past 100 years. In the Asia-Pacific region, countries that really threaten regional peace and stability and attempt to unilaterally change the status quo are external actors that frequently send warships to relevant sea areas to show off their strength for their own selfish interests.” 中国坚持走和平发展道路，奉行防御性国防政策，从未挑战谁，更没有威胁谁。中国加强国防和军队建设是为了捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益，正当合理、无可非议。当前，东海、南海局势总体保持稳定。钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿自古以来就是中国固有领土，中国公务船在钓鱼岛海域巡航是依法行使主权的正当举措。日本不是南海当事国，应停止搅局滋事、制造对抗。中国同有关国家开展联合巡航等军事合作符合国际法和国际惯例。日方拿中国正常军力建设说事，渲染所谓中方“靠力量单方面改变现状的企图和活动愈发活跃”，是编造“中国军事威胁”谎言的又一次拙劣表演，是在刻意挑动地区紧张局势。在东海，100多年来多次企图改变钓鱼岛现状的不是别人，正是日本自己。在亚太，真正威胁地区和平稳定、企图单方面改变现状的国家，是个别为了一己私利，频繁派遣舰机赴相关海域炫耀武力的域外国家.
“Taiwan Province is Chinese territory, and the question of Taiwan Province is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference. The one-China principle concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations and is an insurmountable bottom line. Japan bears a serious historical responsibility towards the Chinese people in relation to the Taiwan issue. In recent years, instead of introspection, the Japanese side has constantly broken its promises, falsified and hollowed out the one-China principle on the Taiwan Province issue. From the hype that ‘whatever happens to Taiwan means what happens to Japan’ to the recent claim by senior Japanese officials that ‘Japan is likely to provide defense equipment support or logistical support to Taiwan’, Japan has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and damaged the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, ignoring the basic norms of international relations and the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan. These actions and rhetoric are exacerbating tensions in the Taiwan Strait region, which is completely wrong and highly dangerous.” 台湾是中国领土，台湾问题纯属中国内政，不容任何外部势力干涉。一个中国原则事关中日关系政治基础，是不可逾越的底线。日方在台湾问题上对中国人民负有严重历史罪责，近年来不但不反躬自省，反而不断在台湾问题上出现违背承诺，虚化、掏空一个中国原则的言行和倾向。从炒作“台湾有事就是日本有事”，到最近日本高官声称“日本很有可能向台湾提供防卫装备支持或后勤支持”，日方罔顾国际关系基本准则和中日四个政治文件的原则，粗暴干涉中国内政，损害中日关系政治基础。日方言行加剧台海地区局势紧张，是完全错误和非常危险的.
The next paragraph says that Japan’s view of China as “unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge” is an “erroneous perception” and if its China policy is based on such a misunderstanding, it will be led astray. “‘The two sides confirmed that the two countries are cooperative partners and do not pose threats to each other.’ This consensus was explicitly written into the fourth political document between China and Japan and should serve as the basis for mutual understanding between the two sides. China maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward Japan and has never regarded Japan as a threat. Likewise, China opposes any ‘China threat theory’ filled with prejudice and hostility. For some time, Japan has been taking negative actions on China-related issues, which has caused serious disturbance to bilateral relations. Only by abandoning beggar-thy-neighbour zero-sum confrontational thinking from its ideological roots and establishing a correct understanding of China can Japan push bilateral relations back to the right track with practical actions.” 日本将中国定位为“前所未有的最大战略挑战”，暴露出日方错误的对华认知。如果基于这样一种错误认知，日本对华政策将被引入歧途。“双方确认，两国互为合作伙伴，互不构成威胁。”这一共识明确写入中日第四个政治文件，应当成为双方相互认知的基础。中国对日政策保持连续性和稳定性，从未将日方视作威胁，同样反对任何充斥偏见和敌意的“中国威胁论”。一段时期以来，日方在涉华问题上消极动作不断，给两国关系造成严重干扰。日方只有从思想根源上摒弃以邻为壑的零和对抗思维，树立正确的对华认知，才能以实际行动推动双边关系回到正确轨道.
The article ends by arguing that Japan is hyping up the threat from China in order to undertake “actions that undermine the post-war international order and pursue the agenda of military expansion.” It adds that: in recent times, “the Japanese side has also followed the wrong US policy toward China, cooperated with the US to provoke troubles on issues involving China's core interests, pushed NATO eastward into the Asia-Pacific region despite the opposition of regional countries, and insisted on putting regional countries on the dangerous frontline position of great power competition and camp confrontation. This move caused serious concern and high vigilance in the international community.” 日方还追随美国错误对华政策，配合美方在涉及中方核心利益问题上挑衅滋事，不顾地区国家反对，推动北约东进亚太，执意把地区国家置于大国博弈和阵营对抗的危险前沿，这一举动引起国际社会严重关切和高度警惕.