Space Ambitions - Xi's Marxism - China-Sri Lanka Defense Ties - New Laws - Maternal and Child Health Improvement
Here are the stories and pieces from the April 30, 2021, edition of People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: On Thursday, China successfully launched (CGTN story on the launch) the core module, starting a series of key launch missions that aim to complete the construction of the station by the end of 2022. The core module, named Tianhe, was carried into space by a Long March-5B Y2 carrier rocket launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the northeastern coast of south China’s Hainan Province.
The People’s Daily’s front page covers this story, leading with Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message (Xinhua English report) on the launch. In his message, Xi said that “building a space station and national space laboratory is an important goal of the three-step strategy of China's manned space program.” He also talked about the “two bombs and one satellite” spirit, emphasising “self-reliance and innovation.”
The story also tells us that Li Keqiang and Wang Hunning watched the launch live in Beijing, along with Liu He, Xu Qiliang, Xiao Jie, Li Zuocheng, Miao Hua, and Zhang Shengmin. Pages 14 and 15 of today’s edition are dedicated to detailed coverage about this launch and the space program, with special emphasis on self-reliance.
Next, Xi spoke to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban separately. He told Mirziyoyev (Xinhua English) that ties were at “a new historical starting point.” He spoke about pandemic cooperation, supporting core interests and maintaining coordination in international and regional affairs, and effectively safeguarded their common interests. He spoke about BRI and cooperation in education, culture, vaccines, tourism and sports as well as at local levels. He wants to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, security and defense to jointly maintain regional security and stability.
Mirziyoyev is quoted as saying that he:
“completely agrees with Xi’s important remarks that the international community should join hands to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and that countries should treat each other with mutual respect and equality.” He also apparently termed China as his country’s “most important and trustworthy strategic partner of cooperation.”
Upon Orban, Xi seemingly heaped praise. China, he said, “highly appreciates Hungary for its firm adherence to a friendly policy towards China, as well as significant contribution to advancing cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), and safeguarding the overall China-Europe relations.” Keep in mind this report from earlier in the month: “Hungary blocks EU statement criticising China over Hong Kong, diplomats say.” Xi also spoke about BRI, the Hungary-Serbia railway, vaccine cooperation, and China-CEEC cooperation.
Orban said that “China has provided timely and valuable support to Hungary and played an important role in controlling the epidemic. Hungary is deeply grateful for this.” He then spoke about working on trade and investment and playing a “positive role in promoting cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China.”
Next, the NPCSC meeting ended yesterday. Here’s what was voted and adopted:
Law on promoting rural revitalisation,
Law on preventing food waste
Maritime Traffic Safety Law
Amendment to the Education Law,
Amendment to process for election of military deputies to people’s congresses
Supplementary protocol to an agreement of SCO members on holding joint military exercises,
Two judicial assistance treaties with Iran
Authorisation for the State Council to temporarily adjust the application of relevant laws and regulations in pilot free trade zones
Some personnel changes were also made:
Huang Ming appointed a Minister of Emergency Management
Cheng Dongfang appointed as chief prosecutor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Military Procuratorate.
Lin Duo was appointed as the deputy chairman of the Overseas Chinese Committee
Details about each of these is available on Page 4. On Page 2, meanwhile, we have Li Zhanshu’s comments during the session. He says that:
“accelerating the improvement of the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics and providing legal protection for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country are new requirements for legislative work in the new era. To do a good job in legislative work in the new era, we should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping's thought of rule of law, adhere to the overall leadership of the Party in legislative work, closely adhere to the overall goal of building a socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics and a socialist country ruled by law, adhere to the system concept, make overall plans for legislative reform, and further promote scientific legislation, democratic legislation and legislation according to law.”
Next, a report on PSC member Han Zheng’s visit to Hebei Xiong’an New District and the meeting of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Leading Group. PD’s report talks about his visit to different places, the railway station, a business center project, a park project, a middle school, etc. Also highlighted is the fact that China Satellite Networks Group Co., Ltd. is the first central enterprise registered and settled in Xiong’an New District.
He then said this: “Xiong’an New District has entered the stage of taking over Beijing’s non-capital functions and simultaneously advancing its construction. It is necessary to adhere to the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, and strive to promote all tasks to a new level.” But if you read till the end of the story, it’s clear that there’s a lot of work pending before this region can take over Beijing’s non-capital functions.
Two short pieces, finally. First, power supply has been connected to the catenary network of the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway. Second, Q1 data on transportation investment, freight, and electricity.
In Q1, transportation investment was 579.2 billion yuan, an increase of 18.5% over the same period in 2019.
Out of this, investment in highways and waterways was 459.7 billion yuan.
Freight volume was 11.1 billion tons
Express delivery cargo was estimated at 21.9 billion pieces
Industrial electricity consumption increased by 23.9% year-on-year, contributing 71% to the growth of electricity consumption in the whole society. This is up 15.3% over the same period in 2019,
Manufacturing power consumption increased by 26.6% year-on-year.
Page 2: First, Sun Chunlan discussed China’s vaccination campaign in Beijing. She pointed out that more than 50,000 vaccination sites have been set up across China and around 244 million doses have been administered. She called for further streamlining the process and adding facilities at vaccination centers. So each inoculation site should have emergency personnel, first-aid equipment and medicines, ambulances, and a green channel for hospital treatment. She talked about the need to deal with any doubts people might have with regard to vaccinations and the importance of “monitoring and handling abnormal reactions” to vaccines.
Here’s more:
“She pointed out that through the joint efforts of all parties, China's vaccine R&D and production are in the forefront of the world, and its output and supply capacity have been continuously improved, providing important support for domestic epidemic prevention and control and international cooperation on vaccines...It is necessary to ensure the whole vaccine industry chain, guide enterprises to arrange production scientifically, make every effort to increase and stabilize production, strengthen the connection between supply and demand, improve the work scheduling mechanism, and ensure the seamless connection of vaccine production, transportation and vaccination.”
There are two stories on the page about State Councilor Wang Yong on the page. First about his inspection of work safety and fire safety in coal mines, non-coal mines, oil depots, hazardous chemicals sector and new energy battery companies in Guiyang and Bijie, Guizhou Province. The second is the inaugural meeting of the China Satellite Networks Group Co., Ltd. The reason that I highlight them is to show how Xi has to be everywhere. When it comes to work safety, the story begins with Wang saying that “it is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on strengthening production safety.” When it comes to a new satellite company, it must begin with the necessity “to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.”
Page 3: Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe’s visit to Sri Lanka. PD reports that Wei met with both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“Gotabaya said that Sri Lanka always prioritizes the development of Sri Lanka-China relations and firmly supports China's position on issues of core interests. Sri Lanka has always adhered to an independent foreign policy, will not succumb to the pressure of any foreign powers, and will not form alliances with any country. I pay close attention to the defense cooperation between the two militaries and hope that the two militaries will carry out closer exchanges and continuously improve the level of practical cooperation.”
Here’s more from Wei:
“China is grateful for Sri Lanka's position on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet-related issues, and will, as always, firmly support Sri Lanka's position on human rights, national reconciliation and other issues. The relationship between the two militaries has been friendly for a long time, and it is necessary to continue to deepen cooperation between the two militaries and develop relations between the two militaries.”
For folks in India, do note this by Wei: “It is unpopular for some big countries to form gangs and seek regional hegemony, which seriously damages the interests of countries in the region.” This report in The Hindu also notes that “speaking in a webinar in October last year, Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage had said: ‘We are observing the rise of Quad as an exclusive military alliance. That is the problem. If Quad is aiming at economic revival, there are no issues’.”
Sri Lankan Defence officials and the visiting Chinese delegation signed a “Military Assistance Protocol;” Sri Lankan Defence Secretary retired General Kamal Gunaratne also praised China for its stand supporting Sri Lanka at the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
There are also other reports on the page, which highlight China’s diplomacy. For instance, ILD chief Song Tao speaking to Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales, and He Wei, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaking to Belarus’ Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Valery Mitskevich (detailed report). They talked about BRI, inter-parliamentary ties, trade and investment. I mention these to highlight that it is important to keep this in mind that diplomacy is not just what the foreign ministry does. There’s engagement at Party, parliamentary and enterprise levels.
Page 11: The National Health Commission held a press conference this week. It spoke about improvements in maternal and child health standards in China. The official said that China's core indicators of maternal and child health also rank top among middle- and upper-income countries in the world
maternal mortality rate was 16.9 per 100,000 in 2020, down 15.9 percent than 2015
infant mortality rate was 5.4 per 1,000 in 2020, a decrease of 33.3 percent compared with 2015
mortality rate of children under five years old is 7.5 per 1,000 in 2020, down 30 percent compared with 2015
there are 3071 maternal and child health care institutions, 809 maternity hospitals, and 228 children’s hospitals across the country
Next, a short report on Chinese and Vietnamese maritime law enforcement officials carrying out their 21st joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf waters since 2006. The Chinese Coast Guard said that “this is the first such maritime joint patrol since the adoption of China's coast guard law earlier this year, and is of great significance to continuing the good momentum of cooperation between the two countries’ coast guards and jointly safeguarding the order of the fishery industry in the Beibu Gulf.”
Finally, a report stating that Xian Guoliang, former deputy chief of a county-level district committee in Jiangmen City, Guangdong, has surrendered after having fled abroad in 2016. Xian is accused of embezzlement and corruption. An Interpol notice for his arrest was issued in May 2019.
Page 17: On the Theory page today, we have a piece by Li Junru, former vice president of the Central Committee’s Party School. He writes about the role of theory and ideology.
Li says that:
“The history of the Communist Party of China is a history of continuously advancing the sinicization of Marxism. A history of continuous promotion of theoretical innovation and theoretical creation. To learn history and to make sense, it is necessary to further understand the power of ideology through party history study and education, and strengthen the political consciousness of arming the whole party with the party’s innovative theories.”
He adds that the Party’s successes over the century “cannot be separated from the scientific guidance of Marxism and the ideological power of Marxism.” He places this in historical context, essentially talking about the problems of feudal rule and foreign invasion and the failure of multiple experiments such as the Taiping Rebellion, Boxer Rebellion, the 1898 reform attempt, and the new deal towards the end of the Qing era. He then writes, “After the Revolution of 1911, China tried various systems, such as constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system, multi-party system, and presidential system. Various political forces and their representatives appeared one after another. Only the Communist Party of China, established in 1921, achieved success. This is because the Communist Party of China had mastered the sharp ideological weapon of Marxism.”
And then this:
“In the process of advancing the Sinicization of Marxism, uniting and mobilizing the Chinese people, it (the Party) activated a powerful spiritual force inherent in the ancient Chinese nation, changed the fragmented situation of Chinese society, and rallied hundreds of millions of Chinese people to make unremitting efforts for national rejuvenation.”
He talks about Marxism being a “powerful ideological weapon” for China to “understand the world, grasp the laws, pursue the truth and transform the world…,” leading to the creation of an “unprecedented miracle of development in human history.” He then emphasises the need to continue the sinicization of Marxism, which “is the main thrust of the party’s theoretical innovation.” And the key for him in doing this is continuing to innovate based on practice. He argues that an “important purpose of carrying out party history learning and education is to strengthen the political consciousness of the entire party with the party’s innovative theories...”
He talks about the Zunyi Conference and Maoist interpretation of Marxism as a “great awakening of our party in terms of ideology and theory.” Li then tells us that “Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism, 21st century Marxism, and the latest achievement of the Sinicization of Marxism.” He wants the Party to continue working keeping in mind the “core principles, spiritual essence, rich connotation, and practical requirements” of Xi’s thought. He wants cadres to “deeply understand and realize that this thought upholds the people's supremacy, demonstrates historical consciousness, insists on seeking truth from facts, highlighting problem orientation, strengthening strategic thinking, and carrying forward the spirit of struggle.”
The other noteworthy piece on the page is by the Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Beijing. It talks about maintaining strong revolutionary ideals, undertaking self-revolution to maintain strict party governance and ensure adherence to the Party’s overall leadership.
One of the key quotes, which informs a bit about the mentality that has led to the tremendous securitisation of all aspects of governance is this:
“Only by strengthening the sense of crisis can we continuously consolidate the ruling position of the Party. A big country like ours, with such complicated national conditions, must always be prepared for danger in times of peace. The more we grow and develop, the greater the resistance and pressure we will encounter, and the more external risks we will face. At any time, we should have the self-consciousness of ‘walking on thin ice, facing the abyss’ and the attitude of ‘to govern a big country is to cook small fresh food’ (治大国若烹小鲜) and we must not slack off or be careless at all.” Here’s a bit on this famous metaphor by Laozi that he uses.