Q1 Economic Data - Adhere to Pandemic Control Policies - Ukraine War & the 'Need for Common, Comprehensive, Cooperative & Sustainable Security Concept' - Human Rights - National Security Preparedness
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Monday, April 18, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: On the top of the page is a long story that previews the release of Q1 GDP data today. Let me first share the data that has been released today and then look at the story.
Xinhua reports that China’s GDP “grew 4.8 percent year on year in the first three months, picking up pace from a 4-percent increase in the fourth quarter last year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday. The economy posted a stable performance with continued recovery as China balanced the epidemic control and economic and social development, NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said at a press conference.”
CNBC’s and SCMP’s reports have more details:
Fixed-asset investment – a gauge of expenditure on items including infrastructure, property, machinery and equipment – rose by 9.3 per cent in the first three months of the year, compared with a year earlier. This was above the forecast in the Bloomberg survey of analysts, which had predicted 8.4 per cent growth.
Industrial production, a gauge of activity in the manufacturing, mining and utilities sectors, grew by 5 per cent in March from a year earlier, down from 7.5 percent growth in combined figures for January and February.
Retail sales in March fell by a more-than-expected 3.5% from a year earlier. Retail sales grew by 3.3% in the first quarter from a year ago, but the apparel, autos and furniture subcategories still posted declines for the period. Within retail sales, jewellery declined the most and was down by 17.9% in March from a year ago. It was followed by a 16.4% decline in catering and a 12.7% decline in clothing and shoes, the data showed.
Urban unemployment rate in March was 5.8%, up from 5.5% in February. The unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 remained far higher at 16%. In the first three months of the year, the government said it had created 2.85 million new urban jobs.
Now, let’s turn to the PD story. It begins by arguing that when looking at quarterly data it is important to not just look at the ups and downs and the changes in the market but also “the ‘reality’ of people's gains, and grasp the ‘potential’ of long-term development.” 观察大国经济，既要看数据升降之“形”、市场变化之“态”，又要看百姓获得之“实”，更要把握长期发展之“势”。-– (Quick thought: Whenever a politician says this, you know that the near-term outlook is not good. Also, the fact that such a story was felt necessary tells us a bit about the anxiety around economic growth this year.)
Anyway, the story offers a positive assessment of the economy from four perspectives, the asset value/accounting perspective, market perspective, people’s perspective and from the perspective of the fundamentals of the economy. “账面”“市面”“人面”“基本面”.
Next, there’s a report that says that 11 Party units that were inspected during the seventh round of Central Committee inspections had announced the details of progress in this process. The seventh round of inspections covered Party units in the Ministry of Education and 31 universities across the country. The inspections took place from May to July last year. Feedback with the inspected units was shared by September. Now from April 15 to 17 the outcomes are being published in batches, the report informs.
The report adds that based on the announcements, it appears that the Party organisations of the inspected unit are earnestly strengthening their political construction, conducting in-depth study and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Party’s educational policy as a major political task. They are also grasping 国之大者” from the perspective of the two overall situations. It is important for them to think deeply about the responsibilities and missions of colleges and universities in the new era, base themselves on the new development stage, implement the new development concept, integrate into the new development pattern, promote high-quality development, and enhance the core competence of actively serving the major national strategies.”
Party organisations also carried out rectification keeping in mind the feedback regarding problems such as:
weakness in ideological and political education
shortcomings in the construction of school ethos and education style
the need to strengthen teachers’ morality and professionalism
the need to deepen strict management
Finally, there’s a front page commentary that calls for strict implementation of epidemic prevention and control policies. This draws from Xi’s comments in Hainan last week. It reiterates the importance of adhering to the dynamic zero-COVID policy. It says that
“if strict prevention and control is not carried out in a timely manner, the risk of infection among vulnerable groups will increase, and eventually the country will experience a large-scale outbreak…Although the Omicron variant has high transmissibility, as long as early detection, early control, and early treatment are achieved, the transmission route is cut off, and the vulnerable population is protected, the pandemic can still be controlled in a timely and effective manner.” 如不及时从严防控，势必令易感人群感染风险加大，最终将形成规模性反弹...虽然奥密克戎变异株具有极强的传播力，但只要做到早发现、早管控、早治疗，切断传播途径，保护好易感人群，仍然能够及时有效控制疫情.
The next paragraph warns against relaxing by thinking that the Omicron variant leads to mild symptoms. It says that if the policy shifts away from its prevention focus to merely treatment focus, then the healthcare system will be overwhelmed. The piece then calls for the following:
“It is necessary to strengthen prevention and control at ports and border areas, ensure a common approach when it comes to people, materials and the environment, highlight closed-loop management of personnel, consolidate responsibility for prevention and control, strengthen prevention and control forces, improve the regular prevention and control mechanism, strengthen weak links and build a strong protective line against imported infections. Regular prevention and control measures should be strengthened in key places, schools, nursing homes, airports, railway stations and other densely populated places and units should be urged to take responsibility, strengthen daily monitoring and prevention and control requirements, and adopt concrete and detailed prevention and control measures and emergency plans. It is necessary to expand the monitoring of key populations, strengthen the health monitoring of service personnel in pharmacies, clinics, educational institutions, farmer's markets, etc., give play to the role of ‘sentinel points’ such as medical institutions, improve the multi-channel monitoring and early warning mechanism, popularise the use of ‘antigen screening and nucleic acid diagnosis’ as monitoring mechanisms, and comprehensively improve the ability of epidemic monitoring and early warning and emergency response. It is necessary to coordinate the deployment and use of regional nucleic acid testing detection forces, prepare sufficient isolation sites, establish a reserve list and a tiered operation mechanism, make plans and preparations for the construction of makeshift hospitals, and enhance emergency response capabilities. It is necessary to continue with regular prevention and control measures, such as using codes, measuring temperature, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance, continuing to promote the vaccination of the elderly in an orderly manner, and strengthen immunisation…” 要严格口岸和边境地区防控，坚持人、物、环境同防，突出人员闭环管理，压实防控责任，充实防控力量，健全常态化防控机制，补齐短板弱项，筑牢外防输入防线。要加强重点场所常态化防控，督促学校、养老院以及机场、火车站等人员密集场所和单位压实责任，强化日常监测和防控要求，做实做细防控措施和应急预案。要扩大重点人群监测覆盖面，加强药店、诊所、教育机构、农贸市场等服务人员健康监测，发挥医疗机构等“哨点”作用，完善多渠道监测预警机制，推广“抗原筛查、核酸诊断”监测模式，全面提升疫情监测预警和应急反应能力。要统筹区域核酸检测力量的调配使用，备足隔离点并建立储备清单和梯次启用机制，做好方舱医院建设的方案和准备工作，提升应急处置能力。要严格落实验码、测温、戴口罩、保持社交距离等常态化防控措施，继续有序推进老年人疫苗加强免疫接种，筑牢群防群控防线.
The next paragraph talks about balancing epidemic prevention and control with challenges of social stability and economic operation. It says:
“Doing a good job in epidemic prevention and control is directly related to the stability of the overall economic and social situation; Only by maintaining stable economic operation and social harmony and stability can we provide solid support for persisting in regular epidemic prevention and control efforts. It must be deeply realised that regular prevention and control is not an isolated policy, but a complex operation system. One can neither adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach to different regions and hinder the normal economic and social order, nor can one improperly relax prevention and control, resulting in all previous efforts being wasted.” 做好疫情防控工作，直接关系经济社会大局稳定；保持经济平稳运行和社会和谐稳定，才能为坚持常态化疫情防控提供坚实支撑。必须深刻认识到，常态化疫情防控不是孤立的政策，而是一套复杂的运行体系，既不能对不同地区采取“一刀切”的做法、阻碍正常的经济社会秩序，又不能不当放松防控、导致前功尽弃.
The commentary talks about preventing large-scale outbreaks and improving the speed and intensity to block the spread of the virus, along with doing a good job in terms of the six stabilities and six guarantees. It adds: “we should ensure smooth transportation of freight and logistics, especially medical prevention and control materials, daily necessities, government reserve materials, postal and express delivery services, and important production materials such as agricultural goods, energy and raw materials, so as to ensure the normal order of people’s work and life.” 要全力保障货运物流特别是医疗防控物资、生活必需品、政府储备物资、邮政快递等民生物资和农业、能源、原材料等重要生产物资的运输畅通，切实维护人民群众正常生产生活秩序.
Page 2: There’s a report based on the press conference yesterday following the return of Chinese astronauts who spent six months on the Tianhe core module of China’s Tiangong space station.
Yang Hong, chief designer of the space station system of the China Manned Space Program at the China Academy of Space Technology, said that:
“the core module has been in orbit for almost one year, and all missions have been carried out smoothly and according to plan, including rendezvous and docking with two manned spacecraft and two cargo spacecraft, as well as the three-month stay of the Shenzhou-12 crew and the six-month stay of the Shenzhou-13 crew. Missions including extravehicular activities and manual remote operations were carried out in the past year. Key technologies related to physical and chemical recycling and life support, large complex control, as well as large flexible solar cell wings and driving, have been verified. Evaluation results show that Tianhe’s current functions perform better than their design.”
Hao Chun, director of the China Manned Space Agency, said that China's space station will enter a new phase of application and development that will span more than 10 years after the completion of its construction this year. The initial plan is to launch two manned spaceships and two cargo spacecraft every year during the new phase. Hao added that:
Astronauts will stay in orbit for a long term, carry out space scientific and technological experiments, and maintain the space station. In order to further improve the comprehensive capabilities and technological level of the country's manned space program, a new generation of carrier rockets and manned spacecraft will be developed, Hao said. The new-generation carrier rockets and the return capsule of the new manned spacecraft will be reusable. The new-generation manned spacecraft will be capable of carrying seven astronauts, and its payload capacity will also be greatly improved. In the application and development phase, larger-scale space research experiments and new technology tests will be conducted in fields such as space life science and human body studies, microgravity physics science, space astronomy and Earth science. In 2023, China plans to launch its first large space survey telescope to carry out wide-area space surveys. ‘We will conduct cutting-edge scientific research on the formation and evolution of the cosmic structure, dark matter and dark energy, exoplanets and solar bodies, and expect to achieve a number of major innovations,’ Hao said.
Page 3: There’s a commentary around the war in Ukraine. It says that:
“The outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine has prompted the international community to think deeply about all kinds of security problems that plague the world today. President Xi Jinping pointed out that the root of the Ukrainian crisis lies in the long-standing regional security contradictions in Europe, and the fundamental solution is to take care of the legitimate security concerns of all parties concerned. China advocates that all countries should establish a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept…” 乌克兰危机的爆发，促使国际社会深入思考困扰当今世界的各类安全问题。习近平主席指出，乌克兰危机的根源在于欧洲长期积累的地区安全矛盾，治本之策是照顾有关各方的合理安全关切。中国倡导各国树立共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，不仅为缓解乌克兰危机、推动局势转圜发挥建设性作用，也为建设一个持久和平、普遍安全的世界贡献重要力量.
The piece refers back to XI Jinping’s speech at the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia in 2014. It says that the Cold War mentality of bloc formation does not adhere to the trend of the times.
“The new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security profoundly sums up the experience and lessons of human society on security issues, is focused on long-term stability across the world, and has endowed global security governance with new and rich connotations. Common security means respecting and guaranteeing the security of every country. Security is a two-way and interconnected issue. It is not advisable to only focus on the security of one country at the expense of the security of others, or to seek the so-called absolute security of one's own country at the expense of the security of others. Comprehensive security means ensuring security in both traditional and non-traditional fields. In the face of the interwoven reality of traditional and non-traditional security threats, only a multi-pronged and comprehensive approach can effectively address various security challenges. Cooperative security means promoting security of all countries and the region at large through dialogue and cooperation…Countries should go beyond the zero-sum thinking that ‘you lose and I win’, and persist in seeking peace through cooperation and promoting security through cooperation. Sustainable security means paying equal attention to development and security in order to achieve lasting security. Only by paying attention to the development deficit behind the security deficit can we consolidate the security foundation and treat both the symptoms and root causes.” 共同、综合、合作、可持续的新安全观，深刻总结人类社会在安全问题上的经验教训，着眼世界长治久安，赋予全球安全治理新的丰富内涵。共同安全，就是要尊重和保障每一个国家的安全。安全问题是双向的、联动的，只顾一个国家的安全而罔顾其他国家的安全，牺牲别国安全谋求自身所谓绝对安全，不仅不可取，而且最终会贻害自己。综合安全，就是要统筹维护传统领域和非传统领域安全。面对传统安全威胁和非传统安全威胁相互交织的现实，唯有多管齐下、综合施策，才能有效应对各类安全挑战。合作安全，就是要通过对话合作促进各国和本地区安全。“吹灭别人的灯，会烧掉自己的胡子”，这是时代现实的真实写照。各国要超越你输我赢的零和思维，坚持以合作谋和平、以合作促安全。可持续安全，就是要发展和安全并重以实现持久安全。只有重视安全赤字背后的发展赤字，才能夯实安全基础，实现标本兼治.
“The crisis in Ukraine has reminded the world that Cold War mentality can no longer be used to construct a global and regional security framework. In order to promote the ceasefire, stop the war and rebuild peace, China has supported peace talks, advocated attaching importance to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and supported the establishment of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism. China’s constructive stance highlights its role as a major country that practices the correct security concept and persists in being a builder of world peace. The US-led NATO, with its Cold War mentality, maintains its own security at the expense of other countries' security and seeks regional security by expanding military blocs, which is the greatest threat to international security. The Ukrainian crisis has taught the world that to truly achieve security, we need to work together and share benefits, rather than create a closed and exclusive ‘clique’ by playing up security threats.” 乌克兰危机警示世人，时代发展到今天，不能再用冷战思维来构建世界和地区安全框架。为推动实现停火止战、重建和平，中国坚持劝和促谈，主张重视各国合理安全关切，支持建立均衡、有效、可持续的欧洲安全机制。中国的建设性立场，彰显中国践行正确安全观、坚持做世界和平建设者的大国担当。美国主导的北约抱持冷战思维，以损害他国安全为代价维护自身安全，以扩张军事集团谋求地区安全，是对国际安全的最大威胁。乌克兰危机启示世人，真正实现安全需要共建共享，而不是借渲染安全威胁打造封闭、排他的“小圈子”。
Next, there’s a report based on the political parties forum meeting involving the CCP’s ILD and political parties across Central Asian countries. It says that “Leaders of 20 political parties from five Central Asian countries attended the third China-Central Asia Political Parties Forum held by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee via video on April 14.”
The report says that the leaders of the political parties of Central Asian countries attending the meeting said that the central Asian political parties “recognise the guiding significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era for China and the important significance/utility as a reference for the world.” They said that they are willing to work with the Communist Party of China to promote the new development of bilateral relations. 中共中央对外联络部以视频方式举办第三届中国—中亚政党论坛，来自中亚五国20个政党领导人参会并发言。与会中亚国家政党领导人表示，中亚各党高度认同习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对中国的指导意义和对世界的重要借鉴意义，愿同中国共产党一道，促进双方关系实现新发展.
Here’s what the quoted leaders said:
Ata Serdarov from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan talked about the important historical linkages via the Silk Road and said that all parties have accumulated rich and unique experience in good-neighbourly cooperation over the past 30 years.
Ermūhamet Ertısbaev from the People’s Party of Kazakhstan said that the CCP’s successes “have changed the world and provided experience in achieving extremely successful development based on socialist ideals, social justice, national independence and opening to the outside world.”
I think the next person mentioned is Marlen Mamataliev from the Party Yntymak. But this was tough to figure out. He praises the fact that China had reached a “new strategic height” and says that its development had demonstrated the “political responsibilities and obligations of political parties” for the people and country.
Azizi Abdujabbor Abdukahhor, First Deputy Chairman of the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan, said that the forum will “promote all-round cooperation among political parties and enable them to jointly uphold universally recognized norms governing international relations.” He talked about closer China-Tajikistan cooperation to “ensure regional security and stability and jointly build a new type of international relations.”
Saidrasul Sanginov, vice chairman of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, is quoted as calling for closer cooperation in formulating ecological policies, transitioning to a green economy, promoting green technology, and innovating water-saving and energy-saving measures.
There are a couple of more quotes, but this is the general tone. Everyone’s praising the CCP and everyone wants to learn from its experiences.
Page 9: On the theory page, the lead piece is by Xu Xianming, vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies. Xu writes about the development of human rights in China, and then goes back to the 37th Politburo Collective Study session from February 2022.
At that time, Xi Jinping had clarified the six main features of China’s development of human rights (I had covered this in the weekly Eye on China newsletter):
upholding the Party’s leadership
respecting the people’s principal position
proceeding from national realities
upholding the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights
safeguarding human rights in accordance with the law
participating in global governance on human rights
In the final section, Xu says that:
It is important to have a comprehensive and coordinated approach to development of human rights, so as to meet “people's expectations for a high-quality and beautiful life, constantly meet the people’s growing demand for rights in various aspects, make overall plans to promote economic development, democracy and rule of law, ideology and culture, fairness and justice, social governance, environmental protection, etc., and comprehensively do a good job in employment, income distribution, education, social security, medical care, housing, elderly care, and helping the young, so as to coordinate the development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization, and ecological civilization.”
He talks about giving full play to the role of the rule of law in safeguarding human rights. “Pay attention to respecting and protecting human rights in every aspect of legislation, law enforcement, administration of justice, and law-abiding. All acts that infringe on the legitimate rights of the people will be investigated and punished in accordance with discipline and law…”
Carry out human rights education among all people, especially the youth, and incorporate the Marxist view of human rights and contemporary Chinese view of human rights into the national education system. Strengthen human rights knowledge training for public officials, especially grass-roots public officials. Relying on the vivid practice of the development of China’s human rights cause, we will refine the original concept and develop China’s human rights discipline system, academic system and discourse system. Strengthen the construction of human rights think tanks and human rights research bases, and strive to cultivate a group of high-end human rights experts with solid theory, excellent academic skills, familiarity with international rules and ability to tell stories about China's human rights.” 在全体人民特别是广大青少年中开展人权知识教育，把马克思主义人权观、当代中国人权观教育纳入国民教育体系。加强对公职人员特别是基层公务人员的人权知识培训。依托我国人权事业发展的生动实践，提炼原创性概念，发展我国人权学科体系、学术体系、话语体系。加强人权智库和人权研究基地建设，着力培养一批理论扎实、学术精湛、熟悉国际规则、会讲中国人权故事的高端人权专家队伍.
Finally, enhance the attractiveness, appeal and influence of contemporary Chinese view of human rights. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, ‘Human rights are historical, concrete and realistic. We should not talk about human rights in isolation from the social and political conditions and historical and cultural traditions of different countries.’ We are willing to engage in dialogue and exchanges with other countries on human rights issues on the basis of equality and mutual respect, but we are opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach or double standards on human rights issues, and any country interfering in China’s internal affairs under the guise of human rights. We should grasp the strategic initiative, focus on telling Chinese human rights stories well, and use visual and concrete expressions to enhance the attraction, appeal and influence of the contemporary Chinese perspective on human rights.” 增强当代中国人权观的吸引力、感染力、影响力。习近平总书记指出：“人权是历史的、具体的、现实的，不能脱离不同国家的社会政治条件和历史文化传统空谈人权。”我们愿意与其他国家在平等和相互尊重的基础上就人权问题开展对话交流，但反对在人权问题上搞“一刀切”或双重标准，反对任何国家打着人权幌子干涉中国内政。我们要把握战略主动，着力讲好中国人权故事，运用形象化、具体化的表达方式，增强当代中国人权观的吸引力、感染力、影响力.
Page 11: There’s a long piece by Liu Haixing, who is the deputy director of the Office of the Central National Security Commission. Liu writes about the importance of the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, along with the scientific and theoretical guidance of the overall national security concept. The piece is basically written as Liu’s interpretation of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on national security. He argues that Xi has emphasised being prepared to deal with threats, challenges and dangers even in times of peace and has warned against the “mentality of being passive and slack.”
Liu recounts that the the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee decided to set up the Central National Security Commission, with the purpose of better adapting to the new situation and tasks faced by China's national security, establishing a centralised, unified, efficient and authoritative national security system, and strengthening the leadership over national security work. He adds Xi Jinping has made it clear that it is necessary to improve the risk prevention and control mechanism, establish and improve the risk assessment mechanism, decision-making mechanism, risk prevention and control coordination mechanism, and risk prevention and control responsibility mechanism…and that Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the use of the rule of law thinking and the rule of law to prevent and resolve risks.
In the next paragraph, Liu reiterates Xi’s warnings that the risks and challenges that China faces are long term ones and in the face of major risks and powerful adversaries, it is unrealistic to desire a peaceful existence that is devoid of struggle and it is useless to have ‘rickets’ and ‘phobias’. 在重大风险、强大对手面前，总想过太平日子、不想斗争是不切实际的，得“软骨病”、患“恐惧症”是无济于事的. He adds that it is important to remain on alert not only for ‘black swan’ events but ‘grey rhinos’.
Liu further writes that “preventing and defusing major risks is the political responsibility of party committees, governments and leading cadres at all levels.” Then Liu writes:
“This year, we will hold the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which is a major event in the political life of the Party and the country. It is, therefore, especially important to prevent and defuse major risks. Facing the new situation, we should adhere to the overall national security concept, adhere to the general tone of striving for progress while maintaining stability, adhere to domestic political priorities, build firm bottom-line thinking, carry forward the spirit of struggle, strengthen overall coordination, highlight key points, make comprehensive policies, and make precise efforts to ensure political security and overall social stability, and greet the 20th Congress of the Party with practical actions.” 今年我们将召开党的二十大，这是党和国家政治生活中的一件大事，防范化解重大风险尤为重要。面对新形势新情况，要坚持总体国家安全观，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，坚持国内政治优先，树牢底线思维，发扬斗争精神，强化统筹协调，突出重点、综合施策、精准发力，确保政治安全和社会大局稳定，以实际行动迎接党的二十大胜利召开.
In order to do so, he calls for:
Enhancing political awareness and sense of responsibility. In this, he mentions the two establishments and the 4-4-2 formulation. “To safeguard political security, we must guard against and defuse risks and challenges in all areas and at all local levels.”
Strengthening risk monitoring and early warning mechanisms. “It is necessary to further improve political judgement, political understanding and political execution, and be good at looking at and analysing risks politically, so as to be insightful. It is necessary to strengthen strategic research and judgement, comprehensively investigate major potential risks, and be aware of them and prevent them. It is necessary to improve the ability of using science and technology to monitor and warn about risks, establish an intelligent multi-point trigger mechanism for early warning, improve the multi-channel monitoring and warning mechanism, and strengthen early warning.” 加强风险监测预警。要进一步提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，善于从政治上看待和分析风险，做到见微知著。要加强战略研判，全面排查重大风险隐患，做到心中有数、预防在先。要提高运用科学技术监测预警风险能力，建立智慧化预警多点触发机制，健全多渠道监测预警机制，加强早期预警。
Improving the ability to prevent and resolve risks. This includes actively promoting legislation in important areas such as national security, risk prevention and foreign-related rule of law.
Preparing for major emergencies. “It is necessary to make full mental preparations and work preparations for all possible major emergencies, establish and improve the emergency command systems and mechanisms, prospectively study all areas of preparatory work, dynamically improve work plans, and strengthen drills to ensure reliable and successful outcomes during key moments.” 要为各种可能出现的重大突发情况做好充分思想准备和工作准备，建立健全应急指挥体制机制，前瞻性研究各项准备工作，动态完善工作预案，加强演练，确保关键时刻顶得上、靠得住、打得赢.