China’s Response to Terrorism
Murray Scot Tanner with James Bellacqua
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission - June 2016
Executive Summary
This report was prepared in response to a request from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission for a study on China’s efforts to comb at terrorism. It analyzes (1) China’s evolving definition and perception of its terrorist threat, (2) China’s strategy and policies for combating terrorism, (3) the institutional infrastructure that executes China's counterterrorism policies, (4) China’s evolving approach to international cooperation in counterterrorism, and (5) the opportunities for, and challenges of, U.S.-China cooperation on countering terrorism.
The following are the key findings.
It is difficult to determine the nature and magnitude of China’s terrorism problem.
An absence of detailed information released by the Chinese government on violence in China, and the lack of reliable alternative means for independent corroboration, make it difficult to identify, assess, or measure acts of terrorism occurring on Chinese soil. In some cases, acts of violence that Chinese officials and state media have labeled as terrorism do not meet the definitions of the term that are widely accepted outside of China. Concurrently, other cases of violent crimes that observers would describe as terrorism using these definitions are sometimes not described as terrorism by Chinese authorities. Key questions are left largely unaddressed in Chinese official statements and authoritative media reporting, and adequate independent sources concerning the details of reported incidents are often also lacking.
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Sunday, June 19, 2016
Is China’s soft power strategy working?
CSIS JUNE 2016
Countries that can successfully leverage their national power are able to affect the behavior of other political actors. This can be accomplished through traditional “hard” power measures, such as threats or coercion, or through “soft” power, which enables countries to persuade or attract others to support their interests. A country’s soft power is heavily dependent upon its global image and international prestige. In the case of China, the central government has developed top-down strategies for enhancing China’s soft power, which in conjunction with public diplomacy, are designed to cultivate a positive international image of China.
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Countries that can successfully leverage their national power are able to affect the behavior of other political actors. This can be accomplished through traditional “hard” power measures, such as threats or coercion, or through “soft” power, which enables countries to persuade or attract others to support their interests. A country’s soft power is heavily dependent upon its global image and international prestige. In the case of China, the central government has developed top-down strategies for enhancing China’s soft power, which in conjunction with public diplomacy, are designed to cultivate a positive international image of China.
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Another venomous Western campaign
PAK0BSERVER - Jun 09, 2016
IN line with its well-conceived and orchestrated annual agenda of maligning China this year too, on the eve of Holy month of Ramazan, the Western media has launched a fierce campaign against what it described, “banning of Ramazan in China”. A part of social media of Pakistan, devoid of any sense of responsibility, too has started advancing the malicious propaganda. It is understandable the sole purpose of the misleading and inciting fabricated and twisted stories is to cause an annoyance to the Pakistani Muslims and to prick the vast and unmatched reservoir of goodwill between Pakistan and China.
The fact remains that not only the top official in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region publicly wished the area’s Muslims a happy Ramazan, the Chinese Government too has recently displayed a number of goodwill gestures to the followers of Islam and other religions. However, it is customary for the functionaries of any government to plead for peace and harmony. Even King Abdullah, the custodian of two holiest mosques, in his statement on the eve of Ramazan, read out by the Minister for Information and Culture has “called on Muslims to close ranks and renounce extremism”. In our view those genetically in hurry in spreading rumours, are rendering disservice to the law-abiding and peace-loving practicing Muslims of Xinjiang. These elements should not forget that the last Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) after having established his authority in Madina entered into an agreement with Christians and Jews, known as Meesaq-i-Madina, under which the minorities were free to follow their customs and culture but they were bound to submit to and follow the Prophet-led central authority of the State. Muslims of Xinjiang, who have all the religious freedom, have fully adjusted and rightly reconciled with the stark ground realities. We, the Pakistanis, certainly have a special place in our hearts for the Xinjiang Muslims as well as for Muslims in any other part of the world but we would warn the self-styled sympathisers of them to please be realistic and do not, in any way, cause inconvenience to these Muslims and always keep in mind the multi-dimensional strategic interests of the State of Pakistan.
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IN line with its well-conceived and orchestrated annual agenda of maligning China this year too, on the eve of Holy month of Ramazan, the Western media has launched a fierce campaign against what it described, “banning of Ramazan in China”. A part of social media of Pakistan, devoid of any sense of responsibility, too has started advancing the malicious propaganda. It is understandable the sole purpose of the misleading and inciting fabricated and twisted stories is to cause an annoyance to the Pakistani Muslims and to prick the vast and unmatched reservoir of goodwill between Pakistan and China.
The fact remains that not only the top official in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region publicly wished the area’s Muslims a happy Ramazan, the Chinese Government too has recently displayed a number of goodwill gestures to the followers of Islam and other religions. However, it is customary for the functionaries of any government to plead for peace and harmony. Even King Abdullah, the custodian of two holiest mosques, in his statement on the eve of Ramazan, read out by the Minister for Information and Culture has “called on Muslims to close ranks and renounce extremism”. In our view those genetically in hurry in spreading rumours, are rendering disservice to the law-abiding and peace-loving practicing Muslims of Xinjiang. These elements should not forget that the last Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) after having established his authority in Madina entered into an agreement with Christians and Jews, known as Meesaq-i-Madina, under which the minorities were free to follow their customs and culture but they were bound to submit to and follow the Prophet-led central authority of the State. Muslims of Xinjiang, who have all the religious freedom, have fully adjusted and rightly reconciled with the stark ground realities. We, the Pakistanis, certainly have a special place in our hearts for the Xinjiang Muslims as well as for Muslims in any other part of the world but we would warn the self-styled sympathisers of them to please be realistic and do not, in any way, cause inconvenience to these Muslims and always keep in mind the multi-dimensional strategic interests of the State of Pakistan.
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Islam in China flourishing
PAKOBSERVER - Jun 08, 2016
Javed Akhtar
Islamabad—Islam in China is flourishing and Chinese Muslims are enjoying complete religious freedom. The prevailing Chinese laws protect normal religious activities. All normal religious activities, including attending religious services, fasting, worshiping Buddha, praying, preaching, reciting scriptures, burning incense, attending Mass, being baptized or ordained, observing extreme unction, holding memorial ceremonies, and celebrating religious festivals, that believers conduct at venues for religious activities or in their own homes in accordance with customary religious practices, are exclusive affairs of religious groups and the believers themselves.
These activities are protected by law, and no organization or individual may interfere with them. To ensure successful pilgrimages for believers in Islam, the largest Muslims’ populated region Xinjiang adopts a policy of organized and planned pilgrimages.
Since 1996 the Xinjiang government has arranged charter flights every year to take believers in Islam to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Xinjiang government funds medical care and interpretation for pilgrims, and offers other services to ensure safe and orderly pilgrimages.
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Javed Akhtar
Islamabad—Islam in China is flourishing and Chinese Muslims are enjoying complete religious freedom. The prevailing Chinese laws protect normal religious activities. All normal religious activities, including attending religious services, fasting, worshiping Buddha, praying, preaching, reciting scriptures, burning incense, attending Mass, being baptized or ordained, observing extreme unction, holding memorial ceremonies, and celebrating religious festivals, that believers conduct at venues for religious activities or in their own homes in accordance with customary religious practices, are exclusive affairs of religious groups and the believers themselves.
These activities are protected by law, and no organization or individual may interfere with them. To ensure successful pilgrimages for believers in Islam, the largest Muslims’ populated region Xinjiang adopts a policy of organized and planned pilgrimages.
Since 1996 the Xinjiang government has arranged charter flights every year to take believers in Islam to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Xinjiang government funds medical care and interpretation for pilgrims, and offers other services to ensure safe and orderly pilgrimages.
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Religious freedom in Xinjiang
PAKOBSERVER - Jun 17, 2016
Sultan M Hali
There have been reports in the western media and also unwittingly reproduced in a section of Pakistani Press that China is curbing religious freedom in Xinjiang. According to the fallacious report, China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open. This scribe visited Xinjiang in Ramadan and has interviewed government servants and ordinary Chinese Muslims as well as Pakistanis in the Muslim majority province and found that the allegation lacking veracity.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region or Xinjiang is located in northwest China. For thousands of years it has been a multi-ethnic region of multiple religions. At present, the major religions in Xinjiang are Islam, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism and Taoism.
After the People’s Republic of China was founded, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang gained the freedom of religious belief. The central government and local governments at all levels of Xinjiang have fully implemented the system of regional ethnic autonomy and the policy on the freedom of religious belief, and constantly improved laws and regulations on the administration of religious affairs. The majority population of Xinjiang is Islam and till recently, the province lagged behind the more opulent Eastern region of China, which led to a sense of deprivation amongst the people. The feelings of neglect were exploited by vested interests to urge the Uyghurs to strive for their rights, which caused some incidents of violence.
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Sultan M Hali
There have been reports in the western media and also unwittingly reproduced in a section of Pakistani Press that China is curbing religious freedom in Xinjiang. According to the fallacious report, China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open. This scribe visited Xinjiang in Ramadan and has interviewed government servants and ordinary Chinese Muslims as well as Pakistanis in the Muslim majority province and found that the allegation lacking veracity.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region or Xinjiang is located in northwest China. For thousands of years it has been a multi-ethnic region of multiple religions. At present, the major religions in Xinjiang are Islam, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism and Taoism.
After the People’s Republic of China was founded, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang gained the freedom of religious belief. The central government and local governments at all levels of Xinjiang have fully implemented the system of regional ethnic autonomy and the policy on the freedom of religious belief, and constantly improved laws and regulations on the administration of religious affairs. The majority population of Xinjiang is Islam and till recently, the province lagged behind the more opulent Eastern region of China, which led to a sense of deprivation amongst the people. The feelings of neglect were exploited by vested interests to urge the Uyghurs to strive for their rights, which caused some incidents of violence.
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Thursday, June 16, 2016
The New Tech Triangle: China, US, Israel
FORBES - Jun 14, 2016
Rebecca Fannin
I remember all too well when my first book, Silicon Dragon, was released. It was before its time in predicting that China would get ahead in tech innovation and rival the U.S. for leadership. That was a message that Silicon Valley wished would just go away. But it didn’t, and today, Baidu BIDU +0.21%, Alibaba , Tencent, Xiaomi, DJI, Letv and others are here to prove their domination not only in China but increasingly the world. I went on to write a second book, Startup Asia, which forecast that the wave of innovation from China would hit India next. That was also premature, and hasn’t quite realized its potential yet. Today, we are at the forefront of another major trend that is shaking the venture world. I am talking about the intersection of China with Israel and the U.S. for tech innovation. This is the new tech triangle. It hasn’t really been discovered yet by the mainstream but this time I think my timing is right. Increasingly, I am seeing that startups and venture funds that can leverage China-Israel-US links are getting ahead. It is not just for market expansion but also for research and development, technology breakthroughs and funding. This trend spans many sectors from biotech to security to digital media.
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Rebecca Fannin
I remember all too well when my first book, Silicon Dragon, was released. It was before its time in predicting that China would get ahead in tech innovation and rival the U.S. for leadership. That was a message that Silicon Valley wished would just go away. But it didn’t, and today, Baidu BIDU +0.21%, Alibaba , Tencent, Xiaomi, DJI, Letv and others are here to prove their domination not only in China but increasingly the world. I went on to write a second book, Startup Asia, which forecast that the wave of innovation from China would hit India next. That was also premature, and hasn’t quite realized its potential yet. Today, we are at the forefront of another major trend that is shaking the venture world. I am talking about the intersection of China with Israel and the U.S. for tech innovation. This is the new tech triangle. It hasn’t really been discovered yet by the mainstream but this time I think my timing is right. Increasingly, I am seeing that startups and venture funds that can leverage China-Israel-US links are getting ahead. It is not just for market expansion but also for research and development, technology breakthroughs and funding. This trend spans many sectors from biotech to security to digital media.
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Iran, China ready to boost ties
MEHR NEWS AGENCY - JUNE 13, 2016
Speaking at a meeting with President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Weiguang Wang, Iran’s Ali Akbar Velayati said the relationship between Iran and China has a several-thousand-year-old history offering proper conditions to expand in all fields. “Given that the two countries hold no dark experiences in their ties, they are able to bolster relations in all arenas without problems,” he noted. “Authorities of the two countries could take advantage of existing opportunities,” highlighted the official maintaining “Iran and China are gradually taking up the decision to escalate multilateral ties.” Head of Strategic Research Center Ali Akbar Velayati went on to add that “extensive communications have taken place between Iran and China over the past few years.” The official expressed hope that Wang’s visit would lead to effective measure for revival of the Silk Road; “apparently, the traditional road marks a strategic pathway for connecting China to the world.” “We congratulate the government and people of China for the decision as we express readiness to support implementation of the strategic decision which opens new windows to China,” stressed Velayati pointing to Iran’s important position in both overland and waterway routes of the Silk Road.
Speaking at a meeting with President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Weiguang Wang, Iran’s Ali Akbar Velayati said the relationship between Iran and China has a several-thousand-year-old history offering proper conditions to expand in all fields. “Given that the two countries hold no dark experiences in their ties, they are able to bolster relations in all arenas without problems,” he noted. “Authorities of the two countries could take advantage of existing opportunities,” highlighted the official maintaining “Iran and China are gradually taking up the decision to escalate multilateral ties.” Head of Strategic Research Center Ali Akbar Velayati went on to add that “extensive communications have taken place between Iran and China over the past few years.” The official expressed hope that Wang’s visit would lead to effective measure for revival of the Silk Road; “apparently, the traditional road marks a strategic pathway for connecting China to the world.” “We congratulate the government and people of China for the decision as we express readiness to support implementation of the strategic decision which opens new windows to China,” stressed Velayati pointing to Iran’s important position in both overland and waterway routes of the Silk Road.
China, Iran to jointly build oil terminal in Persian Gulf
Port News 15/06/2016
China and Iran have signed a contract to jointly establish an oil terminal on Qeshm Island in the southern Persian Gulf, which will turn the island into an important hub for oil production and reserves, Iran’s official media reported. Iran’s Machine Making Co. signed the contract, valued at $550 million, with China’s largest heavy industry enterprise to build the island into Iran’s largest oil production and reserve base. After the completion of the first phase of the project, Qeshm Island will be capable of storing 10 million barrels of crude oil, according to Iranian state television. This is one of the largest projects currently in the field, according to an employee working on the project. It can accommodate tankers up to 140 meters deep and at least 30 million barrels of crude oil. The oil terminal involves a 10-year lease agreement and will generate up to $300 million in revenue every year. Located north of the Strait of Hormuz, Qeshm Island is the largest island in both Iran and the Persian Gulf, covering an area of 1,491 kilometers. All oil tankers in the Persian Gulf will have to pass through it.
China and Iran have signed a contract to jointly establish an oil terminal on Qeshm Island in the southern Persian Gulf, which will turn the island into an important hub for oil production and reserves, Iran’s official media reported. Iran’s Machine Making Co. signed the contract, valued at $550 million, with China’s largest heavy industry enterprise to build the island into Iran’s largest oil production and reserve base. After the completion of the first phase of the project, Qeshm Island will be capable of storing 10 million barrels of crude oil, according to Iranian state television. This is one of the largest projects currently in the field, according to an employee working on the project. It can accommodate tankers up to 140 meters deep and at least 30 million barrels of crude oil. The oil terminal involves a 10-year lease agreement and will generate up to $300 million in revenue every year. Located north of the Strait of Hormuz, Qeshm Island is the largest island in both Iran and the Persian Gulf, covering an area of 1,491 kilometers. All oil tankers in the Persian Gulf will have to pass through it.
Azerbaijani president meets with Chinese President Xi's special envoy on cooperation
Xinhua | 2016-05-24
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met here Sunday with Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Meng Jianzhu, and the two sides agreed to further deepen bilateral ties and strengthen anti-terrorism and security cooperation. China and Azerbaijan shared common interests and concerns in anti-terrorism, said Meng, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He expressed hope that the two countries' security departments will continue to deepen mutual trust and conduct cooperation, including information-sharing, in the fight against religious extremists, terrorists and separatists so as to maintain stability and security in the two countries and the whole region. For his part, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan regards China as a friendly and brotherly country. The high-level of political relations between the two countries and their pragmatic cooperation in various fields contribute to maintaining regional stability, he said. Azerbaijan supports China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and condemns any attempts to split China, said Aliyev. The president said his country is ready to boost cooperation with Chinese security and law enforcement departments in information-sharing and verification. Azerbaijan is also willing to collectively fight terrorism, extremism, separatism, cyber attacks and other transnational crimes with China in order to safeguard security and development in both countries, he added. Aliyev visited China last year and reached important consensus on strategic development of bilateral relations with Xi. Meng's visit is to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders last year, promote bilateral cooperation in anti-terrorism, security and law enforcement, so as to further bilateral relations.
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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met here Sunday with Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Meng Jianzhu, and the two sides agreed to further deepen bilateral ties and strengthen anti-terrorism and security cooperation. China and Azerbaijan shared common interests and concerns in anti-terrorism, said Meng, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He expressed hope that the two countries' security departments will continue to deepen mutual trust and conduct cooperation, including information-sharing, in the fight against religious extremists, terrorists and separatists so as to maintain stability and security in the two countries and the whole region. For his part, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan regards China as a friendly and brotherly country. The high-level of political relations between the two countries and their pragmatic cooperation in various fields contribute to maintaining regional stability, he said. Azerbaijan supports China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and condemns any attempts to split China, said Aliyev. The president said his country is ready to boost cooperation with Chinese security and law enforcement departments in information-sharing and verification. Azerbaijan is also willing to collectively fight terrorism, extremism, separatism, cyber attacks and other transnational crimes with China in order to safeguard security and development in both countries, he added. Aliyev visited China last year and reached important consensus on strategic development of bilateral relations with Xi. Meng's visit is to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders last year, promote bilateral cooperation in anti-terrorism, security and law enforcement, so as to further bilateral relations.
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Caspian Overview: China Eyes Growth in Azerbaijan
NATURAL GAS EUROPE - June 02nd, 2016
China has held negotiations with Azerbaijan’s state oil company (Socar) over a $17bn downstream project twice in the last two months, this time leading to a memorandum of understanding. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) has been involved in development of three Azerbaijani oil fields, Kursangi, Karabagli and Gobustan, based on production-sharing agreements (PSA) since 2002. It produces only around 200,000 metric tons/yr of oil and 8mn m³/yr of associated gas from these in total. But the president of Socar, Rovnag Abdullaev, announced on May 31 that China's largest oil and gas producer and supplier CNPC was interested in participating in the Oil & Gas Processing and Petrochemical Complex (OGPPC) project. He said after a meeting with the CNPC board member and deputy president Wang Shihong that CNPC is interested in taking part in a wide-range projects with Socar, without giving detailed information. The following day they signed an MoU on cooperation in upstream oil and gas and petrochemicals. He had also said in March that a number of Chinese companies and Chinese Exim Bank had also shown interest in the OGPPC project.
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China has held negotiations with Azerbaijan’s state oil company (Socar) over a $17bn downstream project twice in the last two months, this time leading to a memorandum of understanding. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) has been involved in development of three Azerbaijani oil fields, Kursangi, Karabagli and Gobustan, based on production-sharing agreements (PSA) since 2002. It produces only around 200,000 metric tons/yr of oil and 8mn m³/yr of associated gas from these in total. But the president of Socar, Rovnag Abdullaev, announced on May 31 that China's largest oil and gas producer and supplier CNPC was interested in participating in the Oil & Gas Processing and Petrochemical Complex (OGPPC) project. He said after a meeting with the CNPC board member and deputy president Wang Shihong that CNPC is interested in taking part in a wide-range projects with Socar, without giving detailed information. The following day they signed an MoU on cooperation in upstream oil and gas and petrochemicals. He had also said in March that a number of Chinese companies and Chinese Exim Bank had also shown interest in the OGPPC project.
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China eyes to expand business ties with Azerbaijan
AZERNEWS - 10 June 2016
By Fatma Babayeva
China plans to expand business ties with Azerbaijan, particularly in the transportation sector. The world’s second largest economy, China pays a great attention to cooperation with the countries, namely Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan through which the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor runs, said Yang Weihong, section head at China's State Railways Administration. The Trans-Caspian Transportation Route is developing very well within the revival of the Great Silk Road and the volume of cargo transportation via this corridor is large enough,” he told Trend, further adding that China hopes that the cooperation will be even more successful. "We welcome Azerbaijani companies' intentions to work with China,” he said, further noting that China expects the cargo flow to the country via railway to increase with help of Azerbaijani companies' products. Weihong further added that the volume of cargo flow from China to Europe is large enough, while fewer goods are transported in the opposite direction. China hopes that Azerbaijani companies will help to increase the cargo flow in the opposite direction.
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By Fatma Babayeva
China plans to expand business ties with Azerbaijan, particularly in the transportation sector. The world’s second largest economy, China pays a great attention to cooperation with the countries, namely Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan through which the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor runs, said Yang Weihong, section head at China's State Railways Administration. The Trans-Caspian Transportation Route is developing very well within the revival of the Great Silk Road and the volume of cargo transportation via this corridor is large enough,” he told Trend, further adding that China hopes that the cooperation will be even more successful. "We welcome Azerbaijani companies' intentions to work with China,” he said, further noting that China expects the cargo flow to the country via railway to increase with help of Azerbaijani companies' products. Weihong further added that the volume of cargo flow from China to Europe is large enough, while fewer goods are transported in the opposite direction. China hopes that Azerbaijani companies will help to increase the cargo flow in the opposite direction.
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China Silk Road project to boost Islamic finance
GULF TIMES - June 14 2016
By Arno Maierbrugger/Gulf Times Correspondent /Bangkok
The first-ever China-UAE Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance held at the end of May in Beijing has again put China’s Islamic finance initiatives with regards to its colossal New Silk Road project in the focus. The project seeks to connect the economies and infrastructures of countries along the old Silk Road that was an ancient network of trade routes that ran across regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East from China to Arabia and further to the Mediterranean Sea. The revival of these old trade routes has been brought up in 2014 by Chinese President Xi Jinping and is now called the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. It is important for the global Islamic finance industry for two reasons. Firstly, the network will connect and include the world’s main centres of Shariah-compliant finance, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Secondly, China cooperates with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in organizing and financing the Silk Road project that also crosses several Islamic countries in Central Asia and will make use of sukuk and other Islamic finance vehicles primarily for infrastructure developments. Overall, the trade volume between China and member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is worth more than $500bn, which is substantial and will get another boost with the Silk Road project. “Initiating investment and developing economic trade communications with Islamic countries is one of important components of the One Belt, One Road strategy,” says Baozhong Du, Bejing-based political scientist and economic consultant to the government, adding that “there will be a significant increase in the use of Islamic financing tools and investment in major construction projects. If the Chinese government could enhance its cooperation with Muslim countries through Islamic finance, that it will significantly progress the development of the Silk Road project.” It is expected that state-owned enterprises and private companies in China involved in the project are getting more willing to explore Islamic finance and issue sukuk both in US dollar and renminbi to finance large developments such as railways, ports, power plants and industrial zones along the route. They will be assisted by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a new multilateral development bank backed by Beijing, which cooperates with Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank to look into the possibility of Islamic financing options at the government level. That way, the AIIB would differ itself substantially from established global development financiers such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. Furthermore, three large state-controlled Chinese banks – Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – have already issued conventional bonds on Nasdaq Dubai and are likely to follow suit with Islamic financing facilities, namely sukuk, in the near future. “Islamic Finance could boost cooperation and economic alliances between countries along Silk Road routes, Central Asia, the Arabian Gulf and a large part of the Middle East,” Cheng Manjiang, chief economist and global head of research department at BOC International, the global investment arm of Bank of China, said at the conference in Beijing, adding that “it will also firmly establish Islamic banking in the Chinese market.” And there is certainly a demand for it. There are some 23mn Muslims in China, about 1.8% of the population, comprising two major Muslim ethnic groups, the Huis and the Uighurs. The significance of the entire project becomes clear by looking at the sheer numbers: The One Belt, One Road initiative, which not only includes a land route, but also the so-called “Maritime Silk Road” that leads from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Sea and further to East Africa, connecting China with Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India, Oman and the Arabian Gulf, as well as Kenya and Tanzania, is expected to impact development in more than 60 countries along both routes and benefiting more than 60% of the world’s population by stepping up global commercial activity.
By Arno Maierbrugger/Gulf Times Correspondent /Bangkok
The first-ever China-UAE Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance held at the end of May in Beijing has again put China’s Islamic finance initiatives with regards to its colossal New Silk Road project in the focus. The project seeks to connect the economies and infrastructures of countries along the old Silk Road that was an ancient network of trade routes that ran across regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East from China to Arabia and further to the Mediterranean Sea. The revival of these old trade routes has been brought up in 2014 by Chinese President Xi Jinping and is now called the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. It is important for the global Islamic finance industry for two reasons. Firstly, the network will connect and include the world’s main centres of Shariah-compliant finance, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Secondly, China cooperates with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in organizing and financing the Silk Road project that also crosses several Islamic countries in Central Asia and will make use of sukuk and other Islamic finance vehicles primarily for infrastructure developments. Overall, the trade volume between China and member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is worth more than $500bn, which is substantial and will get another boost with the Silk Road project. “Initiating investment and developing economic trade communications with Islamic countries is one of important components of the One Belt, One Road strategy,” says Baozhong Du, Bejing-based political scientist and economic consultant to the government, adding that “there will be a significant increase in the use of Islamic financing tools and investment in major construction projects. If the Chinese government could enhance its cooperation with Muslim countries through Islamic finance, that it will significantly progress the development of the Silk Road project.” It is expected that state-owned enterprises and private companies in China involved in the project are getting more willing to explore Islamic finance and issue sukuk both in US dollar and renminbi to finance large developments such as railways, ports, power plants and industrial zones along the route. They will be assisted by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a new multilateral development bank backed by Beijing, which cooperates with Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank to look into the possibility of Islamic financing options at the government level. That way, the AIIB would differ itself substantially from established global development financiers such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. Furthermore, three large state-controlled Chinese banks – Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – have already issued conventional bonds on Nasdaq Dubai and are likely to follow suit with Islamic financing facilities, namely sukuk, in the near future. “Islamic Finance could boost cooperation and economic alliances between countries along Silk Road routes, Central Asia, the Arabian Gulf and a large part of the Middle East,” Cheng Manjiang, chief economist and global head of research department at BOC International, the global investment arm of Bank of China, said at the conference in Beijing, adding that “it will also firmly establish Islamic banking in the Chinese market.” And there is certainly a demand for it. There are some 23mn Muslims in China, about 1.8% of the population, comprising two major Muslim ethnic groups, the Huis and the Uighurs. The significance of the entire project becomes clear by looking at the sheer numbers: The One Belt, One Road initiative, which not only includes a land route, but also the so-called “Maritime Silk Road” that leads from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Sea and further to East Africa, connecting China with Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India, Oman and the Arabian Gulf, as well as Kenya and Tanzania, is expected to impact development in more than 60 countries along both routes and benefiting more than 60% of the world’s population by stepping up global commercial activity.
China Still is Dubai’s #1 Trading Partner
By Paul Ebeling
LIVE TRADING NEWS - June 13, 2016
China Still is Dubai’s #1 Trading Partner
China topped Dubai’s trading partners with bi-lateral trade totaling 39-B dirham (US$10.6-B) in Q-1 of Y 2016, Dubai Customs said Monday.
India followed in 2nd place with 24-B dirham (US$6.5-B) worth of trade. The United States came 3rd with 22-B dirham (US$6-B).
China became Dubai’s biggest trade partner in Y 2014, when it surpassed India for the 1st time with bi-lateral exchange hitting 175-B dirham (US$47.7-B).
Over 4,000 Chinese firms run branches in the UAE, according to official reports.
As 1 of of the 7 Sheikhdoms forming the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai harbors the biggest free port in the Middle East and is considered the trade and business hub of the Gulf Arab state.
Dubai registered growth of 319-B dirham (US$86.9-B) of non-Oil foreign trade commodities in Q-1, UAE state news agency WAM quoted Dubai Customs figures as stating.
The volume of traded goods rose by 17% Y-Y to 24-M tons, resulting from soaring trading in re-export commodities and export goods.
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LIVE TRADING NEWS - June 13, 2016
China Still is Dubai’s #1 Trading Partner
China topped Dubai’s trading partners with bi-lateral trade totaling 39-B dirham (US$10.6-B) in Q-1 of Y 2016, Dubai Customs said Monday.
India followed in 2nd place with 24-B dirham (US$6.5-B) worth of trade. The United States came 3rd with 22-B dirham (US$6-B).
China became Dubai’s biggest trade partner in Y 2014, when it surpassed India for the 1st time with bi-lateral exchange hitting 175-B dirham (US$47.7-B).
Over 4,000 Chinese firms run branches in the UAE, according to official reports.
As 1 of of the 7 Sheikhdoms forming the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai harbors the biggest free port in the Middle East and is considered the trade and business hub of the Gulf Arab state.
Dubai registered growth of 319-B dirham (US$86.9-B) of non-Oil foreign trade commodities in Q-1, UAE state news agency WAM quoted Dubai Customs figures as stating.
The volume of traded goods rose by 17% Y-Y to 24-M tons, resulting from soaring trading in re-export commodities and export goods.
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China's ICBC grants 230 mln USD loan to UAE energy giant
Xinhua | 2016-06-14
DUBAI,
June 14 (Xinhua) -- Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) said Tuesday
it received a green light for a five-year unsecured loan worth 230
million U.S. dollars from China's Industrial and Commercial Banking
Corporation (ICBC), for the expansion of its business.
The ENOC said in a statement the loan was secured from the bank's branch located at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"The trust placed by ICBC in us is a big testament of our robust business and financial performance," said Petri Pentti, Chief Financial Officer at ENOC Group.
ICBC is the biggest bank in the world in relation to assets and market capitalization.
Pentti added that the ENOC has a long-term strategy in place, "which is not greatly impacted by the change in the economic climate of the region."
The loan will help ENOC fund its new projects and support the company's expansion strategy and business operations in light of the challenges faced by the international oil and gas market.
READ MORE....
The ENOC said in a statement the loan was secured from the bank's branch located at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"The trust placed by ICBC in us is a big testament of our robust business and financial performance," said Petri Pentti, Chief Financial Officer at ENOC Group.
ICBC is the biggest bank in the world in relation to assets and market capitalization.
Pentti added that the ENOC has a long-term strategy in place, "which is not greatly impacted by the change in the economic climate of the region."
The loan will help ENOC fund its new projects and support the company's expansion strategy and business operations in light of the challenges faced by the international oil and gas market.
READ MORE....
Kyrgyzstan seeks to bring in Chinese factories for new era of industrialisation
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - Sunday, 22 May, 2016
READ MORE....
Kyrgyzstan is in talks with China about
relocating dozens of Chinese plants and factories to the Central Asian
nation, Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev said on Sunday.
China is a major supplier of consumer and
industrial goods to the ex-Soviet Central Asia and an importer of local
commodities such as oil, gas and metals.
Now, Kyrgyzstan, whose economy has been hit hard
by the recession in Russia and a slump in gold output, wanted to have
some of those goods produced on its territory and by its own workers,
Abdyldayev said.
“In the nearest future, we will hand over to the
Chinese side the projects for 40 companies that we plan to implement as
part of a project to move excess production lines from China to
Kyrgyzstan,” he told reporters in comments that followed his meeting
with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Bishkek.
“This must help the new industrialisation of Kyrgyzstan.”
READ MORE....
Factory and infrastructure initiative to ‘top agenda’ during Xi Jinping’s trip to Central Asia, eastern Europe
China wants to develop factories overseas to help deal with massive overcapacity in industries such as steel
Catherine Wong
South China Morning Post - Wednesday, 15 June, 2016
China will promote its policy of developing factories and infrastructure projects overseas during President Xi Jinping’s trip to Central Asia and eastern Europe later this month. The measures form part of China’s efforts to deal with its massive industrial overcapacity in sectors such as steel and to increase markets for its goods. The president will also promote China’s “Belt and Road” initiative to develop its trade and economic ties overseas during his trip, according to a senior Chinese official. Xi will pay state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from June 17 to 22. He will then attend the 16th meeting of the council of heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, on June 23 and 24. The organisation is a regional political bloc covering China, Russia and Central Asian nations. China’s export of domestic manufacturing overcapacity was set to top the agenda during Xi’s three-nation visit, said Liu Haixing, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a press briefing on Wednesday.
READ MORE....
Catherine Wong
South China Morning Post - Wednesday, 15 June, 2016
China will promote its policy of developing factories and infrastructure projects overseas during President Xi Jinping’s trip to Central Asia and eastern Europe later this month. The measures form part of China’s efforts to deal with its massive industrial overcapacity in sectors such as steel and to increase markets for its goods. The president will also promote China’s “Belt and Road” initiative to develop its trade and economic ties overseas during his trip, according to a senior Chinese official. Xi will pay state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from June 17 to 22. He will then attend the 16th meeting of the council of heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, on June 23 and 24. The organisation is a regional political bloc covering China, Russia and Central Asian nations. China’s export of domestic manufacturing overcapacity was set to top the agenda during Xi’s three-nation visit, said Liu Haixing, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a press briefing on Wednesday.
READ MORE....
Assessment Report on the Implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015)
Assessment Report on the Implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015)
Information Office of the State Council
The People's Republic of China
Preface
I. Overall Implementation
II. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(1) Right to work
(2) Right to basic living standards
(3) Right to social security
(4) Right to health
(5) Right to education
(6) Cultural rights
(7) Environmental rights
III. Civil and Political Rights
(1) Rights of the person
(2) Rights of detainees
(3) Right to a fair trial
(4) Freedom of religious belief
(5) Right to be informed
(6) Right to participate
(7) Right to be heard
(8) Right to oversee
IV. Rights of Ethnic Minorities, Women, Children, the Elderly and People with Disabilities
(1) Rights of ethnic minorities
(2) Women's rights
(3) Children's rights
(4) Senior citizens' rights
(5) Rights of people with disabilities
V. Human Rights Education
VI. Fulfillment of Obligations to International Human Rights Conventions, and International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights
If you would like to receive the full report, please email to: tugrulk (at) vt.edu
Monday, June 13, 2016
For Allah, Beijing and Marx: Young imams in China espouse Islam through prism of party line
THE JAPAN TIMES - MAY 23, 2016
NINGXIA, CHINA – Every morning on his
way to class at one of China’s largest Islamic institutes, Wang Yue is
reminded that the state comes before Allah.
Emblazoned in gold etching on a white marble slab at the main entrance — and repeated all over campus — is the slogan: “Love the nation, love religion.”
The contrast is even more striking than the hierarchy: in China patriotism is synonymous with supporting the ruling Communist Party, which is officially atheist.
But the students see little contradiction between the teachings of Marx and those of Muhammad.
“Part of being a good person, and a good Muslim, is loving your own country,” said Wang, who is in the last of his four years of studies at the institute in the northern region of Ningxia.
READ MORE....
Emblazoned in gold etching on a white marble slab at the main entrance — and repeated all over campus — is the slogan: “Love the nation, love religion.”
The contrast is even more striking than the hierarchy: in China patriotism is synonymous with supporting the ruling Communist Party, which is officially atheist.
But the students see little contradiction between the teachings of Marx and those of Muhammad.
“Part of being a good person, and a good Muslim, is loving your own country,” said Wang, who is in the last of his four years of studies at the institute in the northern region of Ningxia.
READ MORE....
China’s Halal Constitution
“Islamic” legislation stirs debate as the PRC engages the Muslim world.
By Matthew S. Erie
THE DIPLOMAT - May 27, 2016
The increasing profile of Islam in public life is influencing recent
constitutional debates in China, signaling that even China’s socialist
legal system must account for the rights and duties of Muslims.
In recent years, China has become increasingly active in Muslim states. Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP or Party), has embarked on a number of trans-regional economic and security measures to align China’s interests with those of Muslim-majority states in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Last year, Xi pledged $46 billion to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will create infrastructural ties between the two countries. The hallmark of China’s re-engagement with the Muslim world is Xi’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which includes not only CPEC, but also the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor.
READ MORE....
By Matthew S. Erie
THE DIPLOMAT - May 27, 2016
In recent years, China has become increasingly active in Muslim states. Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP or Party), has embarked on a number of trans-regional economic and security measures to align China’s interests with those of Muslim-majority states in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Last year, Xi pledged $46 billion to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will create infrastructural ties between the two countries. The hallmark of China’s re-engagement with the Muslim world is Xi’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which includes not only CPEC, but also the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor.
READ MORE....
Islam with Chinese Characteristics
PULITZER CENTER - June 7, 2016
China has two major Muslim minorities: the Hui, who speak Mandarin and live across China, and the Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language and are concentrated in Xinjiang, Western China. In Xinjiang, many Uighurs resent the Han migration, cultural assimilation and economic change that state-driven development has brought. Security crackdown and repression of speech, religion and assembly have exacerbated ethnic tensions, even as China accuses Uighurs of Islamic extremism and terrorist activity. Both state and civilian violence are escalating as China’s attempts to “control Islam” worsen Uighurs’ sense of marginalization.
READ MORE....
China has two major Muslim minorities: the Hui, who speak Mandarin and live across China, and the Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language and are concentrated in Xinjiang, Western China. In Xinjiang, many Uighurs resent the Han migration, cultural assimilation and economic change that state-driven development has brought. Security crackdown and repression of speech, religion and assembly have exacerbated ethnic tensions, even as China accuses Uighurs of Islamic extremism and terrorist activity. Both state and civilian violence are escalating as China’s attempts to “control Islam” worsen Uighurs’ sense of marginalization.
READ MORE....
Algeria: Gica, Chinese Equipment Manufacturer to Build Cement Plants
ALL AFRICA - MAY 31, 2016
The public cement manufacturing industrial group (Gica) inked Tuesdayin Algiers two agreements with Chinese equipment manufacturer Cmbi (subsidiary of Sinoma group) to build a new cement plant in Bechar and extend the plant of Zahana (Mascara).
READ MORE....
The public cement manufacturing industrial group (Gica) inked Tuesdayin Algiers two agreements with Chinese equipment manufacturer Cmbi (subsidiary of Sinoma group) to build a new cement plant in Bechar and extend the plant of Zahana (Mascara).
The agreements have
been signed in the presence of Industry and Mines Minister Abdessalem
Bouchouareb, China's ambassador to Algiers Yang Guangyu and CEOs of Gica
and Sinoma.
The first agreement
provides for the building by Cmbi of a new cement plant in Bechar with a
1million tonnes per year capacity (3.200 tonnes/day).
This plant will be held by Saoura Cement Company (Ssc, subsidiary of Gica)
READ MORE....
Algeria Receives U.S. 15 Million Donation From China to Implement Cultural Projects
Algiers — Algeria
and China inked Thursday in Algiers an economic and technical
cooperation agreement on a donation of 15 USD million to implement
cultural projects in Algeria, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced.
"Secretary General
of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Hassane Rabehi and ambassador of the
Republic of China to Algiers Wang Guangyu inked Thursday at the
headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, an economic and technical
cooperation agreement between the two countries," the ministry said in a
communiqué, adding that the signing of this agreement is part of the
visit to Algeria of Chinese State Councillor in charge of the management
and development of the public sector Wang Yong between 26 and 29 May
2016.
China, Algeria Agree to Boost Infrastructure, Production Capacity Cooperation
ALL AFRICA - 30 May 2016
Algiers — China and Algeria agreed during a recent visit by a senior Chinese official to the North African nation to boost their infrastructure and production capacity cooperation. Wang Yong, the Chinese State Councilor, has just wrapped up his visit to Algeria, the third and last leg of his three-nation tour, which has already taken him to Oman and Jordan. While meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, Wang said the two nations' pragmatic cooperation has gained much headway since the two established a comprehensive strategic partnership. China would like to work with Algeria in infrastructure, production capacity, technology transfer and personnel training, and push forward the mega sea port project, said Wang, adding that Beijing also wants to encourage more Chinese firms to invest in the country.
READ MORE...
Algiers — China and Algeria agreed during a recent visit by a senior Chinese official to the North African nation to boost their infrastructure and production capacity cooperation. Wang Yong, the Chinese State Councilor, has just wrapped up his visit to Algeria, the third and last leg of his three-nation tour, which has already taken him to Oman and Jordan. While meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, Wang said the two nations' pragmatic cooperation has gained much headway since the two established a comprehensive strategic partnership. China would like to work with Algeria in infrastructure, production capacity, technology transfer and personnel training, and push forward the mega sea port project, said Wang, adding that Beijing also wants to encourage more Chinese firms to invest in the country.
READ MORE...
China’s slowdown and Turkey’s window of opportunity
GÜVEN SAK
HURRIYET DAILY - MAY 20, 2016
China is changing, and the world feels the shockwaves, far and wide. This process hurts the Turkish economy, but much less than other emerging economies. I hear lots of complaining in Ankara and Istanbul, but I think if Turkey plays its cards well, the benefits could outweigh the costs.
Here is the opportunity: The change is not only about the declining growth rate of the Chinese economy, but also about its shift away from low-cost manufacturing and exports. A qualitative shift is also happening, noted Nicholas Stern and Fergus Green of the London School of Economics this March. China’s energy demand is declining together with its demand for raw material imports. So the country is changing its industrialization strategy, and that has consequences: Crude oil? Iron ore? Soya? Their prices are dropping faster than a bad guy in a Bruce Lee flick - and are likely to stay down.
READ MORE....
HURRIYET DAILY - MAY 20, 2016
China is changing, and the world feels the shockwaves, far and wide. This process hurts the Turkish economy, but much less than other emerging economies. I hear lots of complaining in Ankara and Istanbul, but I think if Turkey plays its cards well, the benefits could outweigh the costs.
Here is the opportunity: The change is not only about the declining growth rate of the Chinese economy, but also about its shift away from low-cost manufacturing and exports. A qualitative shift is also happening, noted Nicholas Stern and Fergus Green of the London School of Economics this March. China’s energy demand is declining together with its demand for raw material imports. So the country is changing its industrialization strategy, and that has consequences: Crude oil? Iron ore? Soya? Their prices are dropping faster than a bad guy in a Bruce Lee flick - and are likely to stay down.
READ MORE....
Israel-China affair blooms even as culture gap weighs on rapport
The Chinese seek a long-term relationship but Israelis ‘don’t want to spend time on you,’ says Chinese entrepreneur in Israel, ruefully
Shoshanna Solomon
THE TIMES OF ISRAEL - JUNE 7, 2016
In the past four years the romance between Israel and China has blossomed. More than 500 Chinese delegations visited Israel in 2015 and Chinese investment in Israeli companies and venture capital funds has surged to record highs. As the world’s second-largest economy shifts its focus from being a manufacturing and labor intensive economy to becoming a high-end innovative force, Asian giants including Alibaba Group, Hutchison Water Ltd., and Huawei have set up R&D centers, invested in funds and snapped up Israeli start-ups and companies.
READ MORE.....
Shoshanna Solomon
THE TIMES OF ISRAEL - JUNE 7, 2016
In the past four years the romance between Israel and China has blossomed. More than 500 Chinese delegations visited Israel in 2015 and Chinese investment in Israeli companies and venture capital funds has surged to record highs. As the world’s second-largest economy shifts its focus from being a manufacturing and labor intensive economy to becoming a high-end innovative force, Asian giants including Alibaba Group, Hutchison Water Ltd., and Huawei have set up R&D centers, invested in funds and snapped up Israeli start-ups and companies.
READ MORE.....
Growing Chinese interest in Israeli technology spurs investment summit.
June 9, 2016 by JNS.org
Tel Aviv will host the "INNONATION: China-Israel Investment Summit" from Sept. 24-26, following the success of a similar summit held in January 2016 in Beijing. The joint Israeli-Chinese conference is supported by both nations' governments. It will be held at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv and will host more than 1,000 Chinese investors and strategic partners, as well as 500 Israeli high-tech companies and entrepreneurs from a variety of fields such as agriculture, clean technology, mobile and Web, smart cities, and medicine. The INNONATION summit is a joint initiative of Israel’s Ministry of Economy and the Infinity Group, and has already secured the participation of more than 40 investors from Chinese investment funds, according to the Israeli business news outlet Globes.
READ MORE....
Tel Aviv will host the "INNONATION: China-Israel Investment Summit" from Sept. 24-26, following the success of a similar summit held in January 2016 in Beijing. The joint Israeli-Chinese conference is supported by both nations' governments. It will be held at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv and will host more than 1,000 Chinese investors and strategic partners, as well as 500 Israeli high-tech companies and entrepreneurs from a variety of fields such as agriculture, clean technology, mobile and Web, smart cities, and medicine. The INNONATION summit is a joint initiative of Israel’s Ministry of Economy and the Infinity Group, and has already secured the participation of more than 40 investors from Chinese investment funds, according to the Israeli business news outlet Globes.
READ MORE....
Tel Aviv to host China-Israel investment summit
www.globes-online.com - on June 9, 2016
Tel Aviv will host INNONATION: China-Israel Investment Summit on September 24th to September 26th 2016. The event follows the success of the first China-Israel Technology, Innovation & Investment Summit, which was held in January 2016 in Beijing. The binational joint conference, which is supported by the governments of China and Israel, will take place at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, in parallel to the DLD Innovation Festival, which will be held in Tel Aviv around the same dates.
The INNONATION Summit will host more than 1,000 strategic players and investors from China, together with 500 Israeli high tech companies. The summit is open for entrepreneurs and companies in various fields, primarily Smart Cities; Medical Devices; Agricultural Technology and Cleantech; Internet and Mobile; Advanced Manufacturing and several additional fields, which attract significant interest from Chinese investors.
READ MORE....
Tel Aviv will host INNONATION: China-Israel Investment Summit on September 24th to September 26th 2016. The event follows the success of the first China-Israel Technology, Innovation & Investment Summit, which was held in January 2016 in Beijing. The binational joint conference, which is supported by the governments of China and Israel, will take place at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, in parallel to the DLD Innovation Festival, which will be held in Tel Aviv around the same dates.
The INNONATION Summit will host more than 1,000 strategic players and investors from China, together with 500 Israeli high tech companies. The summit is open for entrepreneurs and companies in various fields, primarily Smart Cities; Medical Devices; Agricultural Technology and Cleantech; Internet and Mobile; Advanced Manufacturing and several additional fields, which attract significant interest from Chinese investors.
READ MORE....
Georgia: The Key to China's 'Belt and Road'
Georgia has become a major hub for China’s Silk Road plans, despite being left out entirely in the early stages.
By Revaz Topuria
THE DIPLOMAT - April 28, 2016
Better later than never? For Georgia, the answer is a resounding yes.
Back in 2013 when Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his ambitious Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road projects (also called One Belt, One Road or OBOR), Georgia was not even mentioned. That wasn’t surprising; Georgia was not a part of main route on the ancient Silk Road, so neither was it included in Xi’s new route. But things have changed rapidly.
Right now Sino-Georgian relations are at their peak. The two countries are negotiating a free trade agreement and both sides admit Georgia has a key role to play in the New Silk Road project as a hub between Asia and Europe. “There is no country in the region that is more open to Chinese business and investment, Chinese people and culture or Chinese innovation and ideas than Georgia,” then prime minister Irakli Garibashvili said in a speech at Peking University in September 2015. In an op-ed for China Daily, he added that “Georgia is Europe’s natural gateway to Asia, as it is Europe’s eastern most point both by land and sea.” Right now, Georgia is attracting China and plans to transform itself into a logistics and transportation hub to connect Asia and Europe.
READ MORE....
By Revaz Topuria
THE DIPLOMAT - April 28, 2016
Better later than never? For Georgia, the answer is a resounding yes.
Back in 2013 when Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his ambitious Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road projects (also called One Belt, One Road or OBOR), Georgia was not even mentioned. That wasn’t surprising; Georgia was not a part of main route on the ancient Silk Road, so neither was it included in Xi’s new route. But things have changed rapidly.
Right now Sino-Georgian relations are at their peak. The two countries are negotiating a free trade agreement and both sides admit Georgia has a key role to play in the New Silk Road project as a hub between Asia and Europe. “There is no country in the region that is more open to Chinese business and investment, Chinese people and culture or Chinese innovation and ideas than Georgia,” then prime minister Irakli Garibashvili said in a speech at Peking University in September 2015. In an op-ed for China Daily, he added that “Georgia is Europe’s natural gateway to Asia, as it is Europe’s eastern most point both by land and sea.” Right now, Georgia is attracting China and plans to transform itself into a logistics and transportation hub to connect Asia and Europe.
READ MORE....
Chinese vice premier's four-nation tour harvests broader consensus on Belt initiative
Xinhua | 2016-06-08
BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli's recent four-nation tour harvested a broader consensus on the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative as his counterparts and other country leaders hailed the initiative a great opportunity for regional cooperation and home development.
Zhang's nine-day visit started on May 30 in Sochi, Russia, and ended on Tuesday in Yerevan, Armenia, with meetings and talks in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative was a main topic for discussion during Zhang's visit.
When attending the second China-Russia small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with Zhang in Sochi, Russian Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich encouraged enterprises from both countries to take the opportunities that arise from efforts to integrate China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union to seek new economic growth points in areas of energy, aviation, telecommunications, ship building, high-speed trains, transportation, agriculture and cooperation with neighboring regions.
READ MORE....
BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli's recent four-nation tour harvested a broader consensus on the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative as his counterparts and other country leaders hailed the initiative a great opportunity for regional cooperation and home development.
Zhang's nine-day visit started on May 30 in Sochi, Russia, and ended on Tuesday in Yerevan, Armenia, with meetings and talks in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative was a main topic for discussion during Zhang's visit.
When attending the second China-Russia small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with Zhang in Sochi, Russian Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich encouraged enterprises from both countries to take the opportunities that arise from efforts to integrate China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union to seek new economic growth points in areas of energy, aviation, telecommunications, ship building, high-speed trains, transportation, agriculture and cooperation with neighboring regions.
READ MORE....
China’s Vice Premier Promotes Silk Road Economic Belt on 4-Country Tour
Zhang Gaoli sought to drum up interest in the ambitious trade and infrastructure network in the Caucasus.
By Peter Bittner
THE DIPLOMAT - June 11, 2016
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli recently wrapped up a nine-day trip to Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, during which he sought to gain traction for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, China’s proposed plan to link the world’s second largest economy to Europe via Central Asia.
The Silk Road Economic Belt and the complementary Maritime Silk Road were proposed by the Chinese government in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. The twin projects are collectively referred to as “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR).
As Xinhua reports, on May 30, Zhang met with Russian Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich, who spoke in strong support of the integration of the OBOR initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. In May 2015, Russia and China signed a joint declaration on the integration of the two regional development projects.
READ MORE.....
By Peter Bittner
THE DIPLOMAT - June 11, 2016
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli recently wrapped up a nine-day trip to Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, during which he sought to gain traction for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, China’s proposed plan to link the world’s second largest economy to Europe via Central Asia.
The Silk Road Economic Belt and the complementary Maritime Silk Road were proposed by the Chinese government in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. The twin projects are collectively referred to as “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR).
As Xinhua reports, on May 30, Zhang met with Russian Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich, who spoke in strong support of the integration of the OBOR initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. In May 2015, Russia and China signed a joint declaration on the integration of the two regional development projects.
READ MORE.....
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Hillary Clinton’s Asia Policy Team Compiled by the China Program at The Carter Center
US-China Perception Monitor
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- Brian Andrews (Former State Department Official (2008-2013)
- Frank Aum (Senior Adviser for North Korea, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security)
- Amb. Jeff Bader (Senior fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution)
- Amb. Jeffrey Bleich (Vice Chair of Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board)
- Karen Brooks (the Council on Foreign Relations)
- Amy Chang (Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve)
- Michael S. Chase (Senior political scientist at RAND)
- Rush Doshi (Raymond Vernon fellow in Harvard’s PhD program in Government)
- Darcie Draudt (Research associate for Korea Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations)
- Elizabeth C. Economy (V. Starr senior fellow and director for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations)
- Glen Fukushima (Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress)
- Bonnie Glaser (Senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at CSIS)
- Brian Harding (Director for East and Southeast Asia for the National Security and International Policy team at American Progress)
- Scott Harold (Associate director of the RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy)
- Jennifer Hendrixson White (Professional staff member for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; principal adviser to the Ranking Member on matters relating to East Asia and the Pacific)
- Amb. Tom Hubbard (Former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1996–2000), and South Korea (2001–04)
- Amb. David Huebner (The United States Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa (2009-2014)
- Matthew Hurlock (Partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP)
- John Ikenberry (Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University)
- Shanthi Kalathil (Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University)
- Isaac Kardon (Visiting Scholar at NYU Law)
- Duyeon Kim (Associate, Nuclear Policy Program & Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
- Harry Krejsa (Research Associate at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
- Jessica Lee (Director of Policy and Advocacy, Council of Korean Americans)
- Jeffrey Legro (Taylor Professor of Politics and Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of Virginia)
- Rebecca Liao (Director–Legal Services Vertical, Globality, Inc.)
- Satu Limaye (Director of the East-West Center Washington)
- Joe McReynolds (Research Analyst at Defense Group Inc.’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis)
- Evan Medeiros (Managing Director and Asia Practice Head, Eurasia Group)
- Jamie Metzel (Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council)
- Ken Miller (Senior advisor at Teneo Holdings)
- Cobb Mixter (Consultant, Alcoa)
- Erin Murphy (Principal and Founder, Inle Advisory Group)
- Ryan Oliver (Associate, The Asia Group)
- Amb. Robert Orr (Member of the Board of Governors, Pacific Forum CSIS)
- Thompson Paine (VP, Operations and Business Development, Quizlet)
- Pamela Park (Researcher, Harvard Business School)
- David Parker (Associate fellow with the Brzezinski Institute on Geostrategy at CSIS)
- Scott Cheney-Peters (Civil servant on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
- Amb. John Roos (Former United States Ambassador to Japan (2009-2013)
- Robert Roche (Co-founder and a Board Member of Acorn International Inc.)
- James Rubin (Former Editor at Bloomberg News, oversaw editorial issues of Bloomberg News in Central)
- Orville Schell (Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society)
- Michael Schiffer (Program officer in Policy Analysis and Dialogue at the Stanley Foundation)
- Jim Schoff (Senior associate in the Carnegie Asia Program)
- Jennifer Schuch-Page (Senior Associate, The Asia Group)
- Susan Shirk (Professor emeritus and chair of the 21st Century China Program at the School)
- Sheila Smith (Senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
- Alexander Sullivan (Adjunct Fellow in the Asia-Pacific Security Program)
- Ali Wyne (Nonresident Fellow, Atlantic Council)
- Wenchi Yu (Founder and Managing Partner of the Banyan Advisory Group LLC)
- Philip Yun (Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Ploughshares Fund)
READ MORE......
Why is the Western media so biased against China in Africa? BY Kai Xue
The referenced story is about Chinese individuals who have used child laborers in mining copper in the DRC. There were anti-Chinese riots in Kinshasa in 2015. There is a connection between such outrageous reporting by Bloomberg and their peers and the violence that later on exploded.
Professional Western journalists are quite adverse to blood libel against a minority group but not in this case. The myth of the "upper hand" goes far in explaining this extraordinary bile from Westerners.
— Kai Xue via LinkedIn
Defying Expectations: China’s Iran Trade and Investments By Emma Scott
By Emma Scott | Affiliate Researcher - Centre of Chinese Studies - Stellenbosch University - South Africa
Middle East Institute | Apr 06, 2016
This essay examines China-Iran trade relations, as well as Chinese investments in Iran. Particularly, it asks whether the stated Chinese-Iranian ambition to increase the value of bilateral trade to $600 billion within a decade is attainable. Additionally, it identifies the factors responsible for the trade deficit in Iran’s favor, and shows that the pace of China’s foreign direct investment (F.D.I) in Iran is slowing in spite of absolute increases.
Exaggerated Ambitions
The Iran-China commercial relationship has developed considerably since 1979, when China adopted its Open Door Policy and the Iranian Revolution took place. Within a decade, the volume of bilateral trade rose to approximately $400 million.[1] By 2014, the value of bilateral trade had reached $51.8 billion (see Chart 1). The growth of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce and Industries (I.C.C.C.I.), from 65 members in 2001[2] to 6,000 today furnishes additional evidence of the expansion of the relationship.[3] Against this backdrop, during his January 22-23, 2016 visit to Iran, President Xi Jinping confidently pledged to promote trade ties to the value of $600 billion in ten years.[4] But is this objective attainable? One way to find out is by putting this figure in perspective.
READ MORE......
Middle East Institute | Apr 06, 2016
This essay examines China-Iran trade relations, as well as Chinese investments in Iran. Particularly, it asks whether the stated Chinese-Iranian ambition to increase the value of bilateral trade to $600 billion within a decade is attainable. Additionally, it identifies the factors responsible for the trade deficit in Iran’s favor, and shows that the pace of China’s foreign direct investment (F.D.I) in Iran is slowing in spite of absolute increases.
Exaggerated Ambitions
The Iran-China commercial relationship has developed considerably since 1979, when China adopted its Open Door Policy and the Iranian Revolution took place. Within a decade, the volume of bilateral trade rose to approximately $400 million.[1] By 2014, the value of bilateral trade had reached $51.8 billion (see Chart 1). The growth of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce and Industries (I.C.C.C.I.), from 65 members in 2001[2] to 6,000 today furnishes additional evidence of the expansion of the relationship.[3] Against this backdrop, during his January 22-23, 2016 visit to Iran, President Xi Jinping confidently pledged to promote trade ties to the value of $600 billion in ten years.[4] But is this objective attainable? One way to find out is by putting this figure in perspective.
READ MORE......
Thursday, June 9, 2016
China eyes Qatar in its quest to build a new silk road
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Giorgio Cafiero
The National Interests - June 2, 2016
Last month at the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Doha, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi postulated that Qatar should take part in the realization of China’s Silk Road Initiatives. Considering Qatar as a key partner to promote the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project, which Chinese President Xi Jinping initiated in 2014, Yi said that the initiative shares common cooperative opportunities with the Qatar National Vision 2030, a future development roadmap launched by Doha in 2008. To this end, China hopes to strengthen bilateral relations with Qatar in economic, political and cultural spheres. This, however, is not the first time China took a step in courting Doha to help in implementing its OBOR projects. Last year, China decided to establish a Renminbi Clearing Centre in Doha, which was the first financial institution in the Middle East to offer access to Chinese currency and foreign exchange markets. This move is crucial as one of the most important steps taken by China to abet the Silk Road Initiatives is the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which among its goals is to expand the use of Chinese currency.
READ MORE.....
The National Interests - June 2, 2016
READ MORE.....
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Muslims pray on 1st Day of Ramadan in China's Yinchuan
 |
| YINCHUAN, June 6, 2016 -- Muslims pray on the first Day of Ramadan in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) |
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
RESEARCH: Sino-Arabic Enlightenments: At the Limits of Comparison By Michael Gibbs
Frederick Burkhardt Residential Fellowships for Recently Tenured Scholars 2016
Associate Professor
Department: Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
University of South Carolina
Sino-Arabic Enlightenments: At the Limits of Comparison
At the end of the nineteenth century, intellectuals in Beijing, Cairo, Shanghai, and Beirut grappled with problems that were strikingly similar: whether the written language could transmit modern knowledge; the pressure to reconcile classical learning with “modern” (understood as Western) thought; the role of traditionally educated people in new institutions; and the extent of the authority granted to those who could import, or translate, modern knowledge. Pursuing a new line of inquiry in comparative literary and cultural studies, this project connects the intellectual “enlightenment” in China in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century with the “enlightenment” or “awakening” (Nahḍah) in Arabic-language cultural and intellectual history of the mid-nineteenth through the early twentieth century. Through a historically and linguistically rigorous account of these developments in the Chinese and Arabic-language worlds, this research contributes to the fields of world history, comparative literature, translation studies, Asian studies, and Middle Eastern studies.
READ MORE.....
Associate Professor
Department: Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
University of South Carolina
Sino-Arabic Enlightenments: At the Limits of Comparison
At the end of the nineteenth century, intellectuals in Beijing, Cairo, Shanghai, and Beirut grappled with problems that were strikingly similar: whether the written language could transmit modern knowledge; the pressure to reconcile classical learning with “modern” (understood as Western) thought; the role of traditionally educated people in new institutions; and the extent of the authority granted to those who could import, or translate, modern knowledge. Pursuing a new line of inquiry in comparative literary and cultural studies, this project connects the intellectual “enlightenment” in China in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century with the “enlightenment” or “awakening” (Nahḍah) in Arabic-language cultural and intellectual history of the mid-nineteenth through the early twentieth century. Through a historically and linguistically rigorous account of these developments in the Chinese and Arabic-language worlds, this research contributes to the fields of world history, comparative literature, translation studies, Asian studies, and Middle Eastern studies.
READ MORE.....
China’s Massive, Garish Theme Park for the Muslim World
Beijing is spending gargantuan sums to promote its vision of Islam. The result so far: a sparsely populated eyesore.
By Kyle Haddad-Fonda
FOREIGN POLICY - May 11, 2016
In May 2016, the Emirates airline inaugurated its new direct service to the Chinese city of Yinchuan. Yinchuan joins Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou as destinations served by Emirates, meaning that a passenger who boards a plane in Dubai is now able to fly nonstop to China’s first, second, third, or 71st most-populous urban area. Yinchuan, situated on the loess-covered floodplain of the Yellow River in the autonomous region of Ningxia, nearly 600 miles west of Beijing and far from China’s booming coastal cities, is a peculiar destination for international tourists. But that remoteness has not deterred Chinese officials from pouring resources into a quixotic plan to turn the city into a “cultural tourism destination” for wealthy Arabs.
READ MORE....
By Kyle Haddad-Fonda
FOREIGN POLICY - May 11, 2016
In May 2016, the Emirates airline inaugurated its new direct service to the Chinese city of Yinchuan. Yinchuan joins Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou as destinations served by Emirates, meaning that a passenger who boards a plane in Dubai is now able to fly nonstop to China’s first, second, third, or 71st most-populous urban area. Yinchuan, situated on the loess-covered floodplain of the Yellow River in the autonomous region of Ningxia, nearly 600 miles west of Beijing and far from China’s booming coastal cities, is a peculiar destination for international tourists. But that remoteness has not deterred Chinese officials from pouring resources into a quixotic plan to turn the city into a “cultural tourism destination” for wealthy Arabs.
READ MORE....
Xinjiang'ın Kuça ilçesinde ilk teravih namazı kılındı
CRI ONLINE TURKCE - 2016-06-06
Çin'in Xinjiang Uygur Özerk Bölgesi'nin Kuça ilçesinde yer alan Resitan
Camisi'nde yüze yakın Müslüman Ramazan ayının ilk teravih namazını
kıldı.
Resitan Camisi İmamı Abudulmukesun Abudulla, Çin Uluslararası Radyosu'na (CRI) şu bilgileri verdi:
"Bu cami Kuça eski kent merkezi bölgesinde bulunuyor. Genel olarak günde 200 ila 500 Müslüman burada 5 vakit namaz kılıyor. Cuma namazlarında bu sayı 1500'e kadar çıkabiliyor. En kalabalık zamanında yaklaşık 3000 Müslüman camide namaz kılmıştı"
Edinilen bilgilere göre, ilçe yerel yönetimi oruç ve namaz gibi Ramazan ibadetlerinin düzenli biçimde yerine getirilmesi için çeşitli hizmetler sağlıyor.
1579 yılında kurulan Resitan Camisi, Kuça ilçesinin merkezi bölgesinde bulunmaktadır. 1944 yılında büyük çaplı restorasyon geçiren camide en fazla 3 bin Müslüman birlikte namaz kılabilir.
Resitan Camisi İmamı Abudulmukesun Abudulla, Çin Uluslararası Radyosu'na (CRI) şu bilgileri verdi:
"Bu cami Kuça eski kent merkezi bölgesinde bulunuyor. Genel olarak günde 200 ila 500 Müslüman burada 5 vakit namaz kılıyor. Cuma namazlarında bu sayı 1500'e kadar çıkabiliyor. En kalabalık zamanında yaklaşık 3000 Müslüman camide namaz kılmıştı"
Edinilen bilgilere göre, ilçe yerel yönetimi oruç ve namaz gibi Ramazan ibadetlerinin düzenli biçimde yerine getirilmesi için çeşitli hizmetler sağlıyor.
1579 yılında kurulan Resitan Camisi, Kuça ilçesinin merkezi bölgesinde bulunmaktadır. 1944 yılında büyük çaplı restorasyon geçiren camide en fazla 3 bin Müslüman birlikte namaz kılabilir.
The Genesis of a Chinese Public Sociologist by François Lachapelle
Global Dialogue - Newsletter for the International Sociological Assocation Volume 6, Issue 2 (June 2016)
“Where society comes from is an extremely important question. Because you [Westerners] are born in a country with a society, [the very concept of society] is taken for granted. This is completely different for us. We have to start anew.” Interview with Shen Yuan, 2012, Tsinghua University, Beijing. Sitting behind his office desk, smiling slightly, Shen Yuan appeared somewhat entertained to be the subject of a Canadian sociologist’s study. Before I could even ask him my first question, the Chinese scholar inquired, “Why are you researching Chinese intellectuals?” – only to interrupt himself by observing : “you should not study me. If you want to study any of us you should study Sun Liping”. Pointing towards his well-known colleague’s office, Shen continued, “he is the most brilliant of all of us. Or you could study us as a group who has worked together for over a decade.” Later in the interview, Shen identified Li Qiang and Guo Yuhua along with himself and Sun Liping as the other members of this group, all of whom were also founding members of the Tsinghua Department of Sociology in 2000. Born in 1954 in China’s capital of Beijing, Shen Yuan is part of a generation known in China as zhiqing – educated youth. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Mao Zedong abruptly interrupted the formal schooling of nearly 17 million Chinese youth by sending them to the countryside for radical “re-education”. By thus learning from and being transformed by the revolutionary wisdom of the rural masses, they were to become the next generation of Chinese revolutionaries. Like so many other displaced youth, Shen was sent away for a number of years. After the death of Mao in 1976 and the re-establishment of China’s educational system over the following two years, only a small fraction (2.3%) of Shen’s generation had the privilege of entering university to resume their education. He was one of them.
READ MORE.....
“Where society comes from is an extremely important question. Because you [Westerners] are born in a country with a society, [the very concept of society] is taken for granted. This is completely different for us. We have to start anew.” Interview with Shen Yuan, 2012, Tsinghua University, Beijing. Sitting behind his office desk, smiling slightly, Shen Yuan appeared somewhat entertained to be the subject of a Canadian sociologist’s study. Before I could even ask him my first question, the Chinese scholar inquired, “Why are you researching Chinese intellectuals?” – only to interrupt himself by observing : “you should not study me. If you want to study any of us you should study Sun Liping”. Pointing towards his well-known colleague’s office, Shen continued, “he is the most brilliant of all of us. Or you could study us as a group who has worked together for over a decade.” Later in the interview, Shen identified Li Qiang and Guo Yuhua along with himself and Sun Liping as the other members of this group, all of whom were also founding members of the Tsinghua Department of Sociology in 2000. Born in 1954 in China’s capital of Beijing, Shen Yuan is part of a generation known in China as zhiqing – educated youth. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Mao Zedong abruptly interrupted the formal schooling of nearly 17 million Chinese youth by sending them to the countryside for radical “re-education”. By thus learning from and being transformed by the revolutionary wisdom of the rural masses, they were to become the next generation of Chinese revolutionaries. Like so many other displaced youth, Shen was sent away for a number of years. After the death of Mao in 1976 and the re-establishment of China’s educational system over the following two years, only a small fraction (2.3%) of Shen’s generation had the privilege of entering university to resume their education. He was one of them.
READ MORE.....
Harmony and Martyrdom Among China’s Hui Muslims By Alice Su
The New Yorker - June 6, 2016
The Martyr’s Memorial in Shadian, China, is a gray pillar topped with a crescent moon, set on a stone block engraved with names. It commemorates the so-called Shadian incident, a massacre that took place in July of 1975, when the People’s Liberation Army came to this small southwestern town to quell what the central authorities were calling an Islamist revolt. Then, as now, Shadian was inhabited almost entirely by Hui, members of one of the country’s two main Muslim minority groups. In the years leading up to the incident, the Red Guards had attacked the Hui, destroying their mosques and forcing them to wear pigs’ heads around their necks. When the P.L.A. soldiers arrived, they razed more than four thousand houses and killed some sixteen hundred villagers in one week. The Chinese government later apologized for the raid, blaming it on the Gang of Four—the ousted architects of the Cultural Revolution—and helping fund Shadian’s reconstruction. But locals do not pay homage to the state at the memorial. The pillar is emblazoned with the Fatiha, the first chapter of the Koran, in green Arabic calligraphy, and, above it, in Chinese characters, the word she-xi-de. “That’s the Arabic word shahid, instead of lieshi, the Chinese word for ‘martyr,’ “ a man named Huang told me. (As with the other Chinese Muslims I spoke with, I will protect his identity by referring to him only by his surname.) “You know why? Lieshi would include the P.L.A. soldiers, wouldn’t it?”
READ MORE.....
The Martyr’s Memorial in Shadian, China, is a gray pillar topped with a crescent moon, set on a stone block engraved with names. It commemorates the so-called Shadian incident, a massacre that took place in July of 1975, when the People’s Liberation Army came to this small southwestern town to quell what the central authorities were calling an Islamist revolt. Then, as now, Shadian was inhabited almost entirely by Hui, members of one of the country’s two main Muslim minority groups. In the years leading up to the incident, the Red Guards had attacked the Hui, destroying their mosques and forcing them to wear pigs’ heads around their necks. When the P.L.A. soldiers arrived, they razed more than four thousand houses and killed some sixteen hundred villagers in one week. The Chinese government later apologized for the raid, blaming it on the Gang of Four—the ousted architects of the Cultural Revolution—and helping fund Shadian’s reconstruction. But locals do not pay homage to the state at the memorial. The pillar is emblazoned with the Fatiha, the first chapter of the Koran, in green Arabic calligraphy, and, above it, in Chinese characters, the word she-xi-de. “That’s the Arabic word shahid, instead of lieshi, the Chinese word for ‘martyr,’ “ a man named Huang told me. (As with the other Chinese Muslims I spoke with, I will protect his identity by referring to him only by his surname.) “You know why? Lieshi would include the P.L.A. soldiers, wouldn’t it?”
READ MORE.....
Imperial Chinese Studies and Trends in the Digital Humanities by Paul Vierthaler
The digital humanities (DH) encompass a variety
of methodological innovations that have become increasingly popular among
humanists. Although DH is proving quite effective as a means of studying human
culture, scholars of imperial Chinese studies in the western academy are still
coming to grips with what mass digitization and the prospect of quantitative
analysis means for the field at large.
Historians of China were the first in the field
to realize the potential of computer-aided research. They began creating large
databases of historical information amenable to quantitative analysis very
early. In the 1970s, Charles
Hartwell was among the first to realize computers’ potential, when he first
began storing prosopographical data in a database. Among literary scholars, the
first digital efforts focused on digitizing texts, but the transformed
documents were often not as clearly amenable to digitally aided analysis.
In recent years, historians of imperial China
have readily engaged with both social network analysis and GIS (geographic
information systems). The value of conceptually and geographically mapping
historical information was clear at an early stage, and sophisticated software
has made this analysis easy to perform. In combination with accessible
geographical and social data, available through places such as the University of Michigan’s China Data Center, Harvard
University’s Center for geographic analysis, or data derived from databases
like the China
Biographical Database Project, there has been a flowering of projects that
effectively leverage these methods.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
AMP China Series: Grant Dooley on One Belt and One Road
In 2013, Chinese president Xi Jinping put forward the proposal to boost Eurasian economic integration and infrastructure building through its ambitious “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” initiatives. It is widely regarded as President Xi’s signature economic as well as foreign policy undertaking. The project could involve trillions of dollars of potential investment across many continents including Australia’s immediate neighbouring region: Southeast Asia.
On 30 May the Lowy Institute’s Peter Cai spoke to one of Australia’s leading experts on Chinese infrastructure investment, Grant Dooley, the head of Hastings Infrastructure Fund Asia’s practice and the former Australian Consul-General in Guangzhou, China.
The Lowy Institute is grateful for the support of our event partner, AMP.
Lecture on China's Role in a Changing Middle East by Dr. Pan Guang - VIDEO
China is engaged in active, high-profile diplomacy in the Middle East, ranging from presidential visits to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran to a mediation effort in the Syrian civil war earlier this year. Beijing's One Belt, One Road initiative to connect major Eurasian economies through infrastructure, trade, and investment relies in part on stability across the oil-supplying states of the Middle East.
The Middle East Institute (MEI) was pleased to host Dr. Pan Guang (Chinese Association of Middle East Studies) for a discussion of the drivers and impacts of China's increasingly complex role in the Middle East, the objectives Beijing and regional capitals are pursuing in their relations, and the implications for the United States.
Paul Salem, MEI vice president for policy and research, moderated the discussion.
Speakers:
Dr. Pan Guang
Vice President of Chinese Association of Middle East Studies
Dr. Pan Guang is vice chairman and professor of the Shanghai Center for International Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, director of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Studies Center, dean of the Center of Jewish Studies Shanghai, and vice president of the Chinese Association of Middle East Studies. He researches and lectures widely on international relations, the Middle East, and Jewish studies and has published numerous books and articles including, “SCO and China’s Role in the War on Terrorism,” “China’s Success in the Middle East,” and “China’s Energy Strategy and Primary Role of the Middle East in This Strategy.” Guang is an international council member of the Asia Society, a senior advisor of the China-Eurasia Forum, and senior advisor on anti-terror affairs to the Shanghai Municipality and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. He was nominated by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a member of the High-Level Group for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (AoC) in 2005, and appointed as Ambassador of the AoC in 2008.
READ MORE........
China and the Middle East Academic Network and Mailing List
China and the Middle East Mailing List is a scholarly network for all
scholars and across disciplines such as sociology, political science,
history, international studies and international relations. The major
aim of this network is to study and understand China and the Middle
East.
China Eyes Qatar In Its Quest To Build A New Silk Road – Analysis
By Giorgio Cafiero
EURASIA REVIEW - June 5, 2016
It should come as no surprise that China is making its way to Qatar,
particularly with respect to the establishment of the Silk Road
Initiatives. Despite China leading the initiatives, it is impossible for
Beijing to do everything alone; international participation and
contributions are needed.
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Giorgio Cafiero*
Last month at the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Doha, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi postulated that Qatar should take part in the realization of China’s Silk Road Initiatives. Considering Qatar as a key partner to promote the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project, which Chinese President Xi Jinping initiated in 2014, Yi said that the initiative shares common cooperative opportunities with the Qatar National Vision 2030, a future development roadmap launched by Doha in 2008.
To this end, China hopes to strengthen bilateral relations with Qatar in economic, political and cultural spheres. This, however, is not the first time China took a step in courting Doha to help in implementing its OBOR projects. Last year, China decided to establish a Renminbi Clearing Centre in Doha, which was the first financial institution in the Middle East to offer access to Chinese currency and foreign exchange markets. This move is crucial as one of the most important steps taken by China to abet the Silk Road Initiatives is the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which among its goals is to expand the use of Chinese currency.
READ MORE....
EURASIA REVIEW - June 5, 2016
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Giorgio Cafiero*
Last month at the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Doha, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi postulated that Qatar should take part in the realization of China’s Silk Road Initiatives. Considering Qatar as a key partner to promote the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project, which Chinese President Xi Jinping initiated in 2014, Yi said that the initiative shares common cooperative opportunities with the Qatar National Vision 2030, a future development roadmap launched by Doha in 2008.
To this end, China hopes to strengthen bilateral relations with Qatar in economic, political and cultural spheres. This, however, is not the first time China took a step in courting Doha to help in implementing its OBOR projects. Last year, China decided to establish a Renminbi Clearing Centre in Doha, which was the first financial institution in the Middle East to offer access to Chinese currency and foreign exchange markets. This move is crucial as one of the most important steps taken by China to abet the Silk Road Initiatives is the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which among its goals is to expand the use of Chinese currency.
READ MORE....
China-Qatar Relations: Media, Culture, Education, and People
THE HUFFINGTON POST - 05/18/2016
Undeniably, the use of soft power has become an important element of China’s contemporary foreign strategy, and has been embraced in its foreign policy over the last two decades. In this case, although China becomes increasingly optimistic concerning its future growth, there is growing discomfort in some parts of the world regarding the implications of the nation’s rise. Moreover, many doubt whether a growing China can become a responsible and peaceful world power.
China realises the importance of cultural, educational and media resources to offer reassurance and engage in relationships with the outside world in order to avoid opposition to its ascendance. Although many have outlined China’s expanding use of soft-power in some parts of the world, its pivot in the Gulf has not received wide coverage. In reality, China has used soft-power resources to strengthen its foothold in the region; this is demonstrated well in the case of Qatar.
READ MORE....
Undeniably, the use of soft power has become an important element of China’s contemporary foreign strategy, and has been embraced in its foreign policy over the last two decades. In this case, although China becomes increasingly optimistic concerning its future growth, there is growing discomfort in some parts of the world regarding the implications of the nation’s rise. Moreover, many doubt whether a growing China can become a responsible and peaceful world power.
China realises the importance of cultural, educational and media resources to offer reassurance and engage in relationships with the outside world in order to avoid opposition to its ascendance. Although many have outlined China’s expanding use of soft-power in some parts of the world, its pivot in the Gulf has not received wide coverage. In reality, China has used soft-power resources to strengthen its foothold in the region; this is demonstrated well in the case of Qatar.
READ MORE....
China Eyes Qatar in its Quest to Build a New Silk Road
THE HUFFINGTON POST - 06/03/2016
Giorgio Cafiero CEO and co-founder of Gulf State Analytics, a Washington, DC-based geopolitical risk consultancy
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat Ph.D researcher and freelance journalist
READ MORE.....
Giorgio Cafiero CEO and co-founder of Gulf State Analytics, a Washington, DC-based geopolitical risk consultancy
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat Ph.D researcher and freelance journalist
Last month at the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Doha, Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi postulated that Qatar should take part in the
realization of China’s Silk Road Initiatives. Considering Qatar as a key
partner to promote the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project, which Chinese
President Xi Jinping initiated in 2014, Yi said that the initiative
shares common cooperative opportunities with the Qatar National Vision
2030, a future development roadmap launched by Doha in 2008.
To this end, China hopes to strengthen bilateral relations with Qatar
in economic, political and cultural spheres. This, however, is not the
first time China took a step in courting Doha to help in implementing
its OBOR projects. Last year, China decided to establish a Renminbi
Clearing Centre in Doha, which was the first financial institution in
the Middle East to offer access to Chinese currency and foreign exchange
markets. This move is crucial as one of the most important steps taken
by China to abet the Silk Road Initiatives is the establishment of the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which among its goals is to
expand the use of Chinese currency.
It should come
as no surprise that China is making its way to Qatar, particularly with
respect to the establishment of the Silk Road Initiatives. Despite China
leading the initiatives, it is impossible for Beijing to do everything
alone; international participation and contributions are needed.
Therefore, it is logical for China to turn to Qatar for a significant
role.
READ MORE.....
China Sees Qatar as Key Partner in New Silk Road Initiative
Erika Miranda
YIBADA | Jun 05, 2016
China is eyeing Qatar as one of its key partners in completing the New Silk Road, with some reports noting that the Asian giant is also targeting better ties with the Middle Eastern country. In May, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the Xinhua News Agency that Qatar is a major contributor to the completion of President Xi Jinping's "Belt and Road" initiative.
According to the National Interest, Wang believes that China's economic bridging project "shares common cooperative opportunities" with Doha's future development roadmap launched in 2008. Because of this, Qatar plays a vital role in the success of the New Silk Road that would connect China to Central Asia, Europe and Africa.
Qatar's Role
Wang's remarks came during a meeting with Emir H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's head of state, prior to the ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). He also confirmed speculations that China is eyeing better relations with Qatar because of its rich resources.
READ MORE....
YIBADA | Jun 05, 2016
According to the National Interest, Wang believes that China's economic bridging project "shares common cooperative opportunities" with Doha's future development roadmap launched in 2008. Because of this, Qatar plays a vital role in the success of the New Silk Road that would connect China to Central Asia, Europe and Africa.
Qatar's Role
Wang's remarks came during a meeting with Emir H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's head of state, prior to the ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). He also confirmed speculations that China is eyeing better relations with Qatar because of its rich resources.
READ MORE....
Looking to China for higher education
By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
THE JERUSALEM POST \ 05/11/2016
In recent years a new age of globalization of higher education has Israel looking east, and forging unprecedented education collaborations with China.
For decades Israel has looked to the West for higher education initiatives, student exchanges and research collaborations. In recent years, however, a new age of globalization of higher education has Israel looking east, and forging unprecedented education collaborations with China. At the forefront of this newly developing partnership, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology remains poised to open the first Israeli higher academic institution in China. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Prof. Peretz Lavie, president of the Technion and head of the Association of University Heads in Israel (VERA), discussed the internationalization of higher education and the new trend in the academic world of partnering with China. “China is undergoing a major change in its economy, in its urbanization and particularly in its education,” Lavie told the Post. “The Chinese invest unbelievable amounts of money in their universities; they are undergoing an education revolution,” he said. As part of this revolution, which has seen numerous universities around the world take part, the Technion will open the Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in Shantou, in the Guangdong province in southeastern China.
READ MORE.....
THE JERUSALEM POST \ 05/11/2016
In recent years a new age of globalization of higher education has Israel looking east, and forging unprecedented education collaborations with China.
For decades Israel has looked to the West for higher education initiatives, student exchanges and research collaborations. In recent years, however, a new age of globalization of higher education has Israel looking east, and forging unprecedented education collaborations with China. At the forefront of this newly developing partnership, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology remains poised to open the first Israeli higher academic institution in China. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Prof. Peretz Lavie, president of the Technion and head of the Association of University Heads in Israel (VERA), discussed the internationalization of higher education and the new trend in the academic world of partnering with China. “China is undergoing a major change in its economy, in its urbanization and particularly in its education,” Lavie told the Post. “The Chinese invest unbelievable amounts of money in their universities; they are undergoing an education revolution,” he said. As part of this revolution, which has seen numerous universities around the world take part, the Technion will open the Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in Shantou, in the Guangdong province in southeastern China.
READ MORE.....
China-Israel Lovefest Ramps Up With Joint Innovation Conference
As China upgrades its industry and eyes Israeli knowhow and innovation, Israel seeks new markets.
BY Ruth Schuster
HAREETZ - May 19, 2016
What is China looking for in Israel? The main natural resource Israel had left - the "secret" to thinking outside the box, it transpired at the Chinese-Israeli academic/business conference held in Be'er Sheva this week. The Red Dragon has been trawling the world for decades to obtain access to commodities. In Israel, China already bought the access to the one natural resource we had, potash (by acquiring minerals miner Makteshim-Agan, renaming it Adama). Now, as forward-looking Beijing upgrades Chinese manufacturing to be smarter, it is acknowledging the importance of an intangible: innovative talent. China can "buy" talent outside the country by investing in startups: it recently set up its first technology fund targeting Israeli companies. A second way is by persuading foreign companies to manufacture in China. This aspect is exemplified by the Experience Center, which will feature featuring actual products made by actual Chinese manufacturers that Internet-of-Things giant Ingdan is building in Tel Aviv to attract Israeli businesses.
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BY Ruth Schuster
HAREETZ - May 19, 2016
What is China looking for in Israel? The main natural resource Israel had left - the "secret" to thinking outside the box, it transpired at the Chinese-Israeli academic/business conference held in Be'er Sheva this week. The Red Dragon has been trawling the world for decades to obtain access to commodities. In Israel, China already bought the access to the one natural resource we had, potash (by acquiring minerals miner Makteshim-Agan, renaming it Adama). Now, as forward-looking Beijing upgrades Chinese manufacturing to be smarter, it is acknowledging the importance of an intangible: innovative talent. China can "buy" talent outside the country by investing in startups: it recently set up its first technology fund targeting Israeli companies. A second way is by persuading foreign companies to manufacture in China. This aspect is exemplified by the Experience Center, which will feature featuring actual products made by actual Chinese manufacturers that Internet-of-Things giant Ingdan is building in Tel Aviv to attract Israeli businesses.
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China, Israel to fund high-tech future
By Zhang Xiaomin
chinadaily.com.cn - 2016-06-02
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chinadaily.com.cn - 2016-06-02
Chinese businesses will invest in hi-tech Israeli start-up companies under a new agreement signed in Beijing.
Two Israeli enterprises signed agreements on equity investments with their Chinese counterparts on Thursday at a Sino-Israeli salon on innovation and entrepreneurship.
The China-Israel Innovation and Development Fund aims to invest in the early stage of Israeli hi-tech businesses, support them to cooperate with Chinese companies and settle in the Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park, and promote the development of China's hi-tech sector.
The Park was established in 2014 by Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park Development Co Ltd and Israel's Shirat Enterprises Co Ltd.
Matan Vilnai, Ambassador of Israel to China, said the embassy would continue to fully support the cooperation between companies from both countries. He said there was great potential for cooperation on innovation.
The salon, which is hosted by Zhongguancun and Shirat, also houses an exhibition on hi-tech innovation, featuring dozens of pictures depicting the main messages behind technological entrepreneurship that characterizes Israeli entrepreneurs.
Liu Kefeng, president of the Zhongguancun Software Park, said both the Chinese and Israeli companies should give full play to their respective advantages, assist each other, and thus enjoy better cooperative development.
Two Israeli enterprises signed agreements on equity investments with their Chinese counterparts on Thursday at a Sino-Israeli salon on innovation and entrepreneurship.
The China-Israel Innovation and Development Fund aims to invest in the early stage of Israeli hi-tech businesses, support them to cooperate with Chinese companies and settle in the Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park, and promote the development of China's hi-tech sector.
The Park was established in 2014 by Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park Development Co Ltd and Israel's Shirat Enterprises Co Ltd.
Matan Vilnai, Ambassador of Israel to China, said the embassy would continue to fully support the cooperation between companies from both countries. He said there was great potential for cooperation on innovation.
The salon, which is hosted by Zhongguancun and Shirat, also houses an exhibition on hi-tech innovation, featuring dozens of pictures depicting the main messages behind technological entrepreneurship that characterizes Israeli entrepreneurs.
Liu Kefeng, president of the Zhongguancun Software Park, said both the Chinese and Israeli companies should give full play to their respective advantages, assist each other, and thus enjoy better cooperative development.
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More Positive Signs for the Israel-China Relationship
BY JUDITH BERGMAN
ALGEMEINER - May 26, 2016
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ALGEMEINER - May 26, 2016
Welcome to the beauty of Chinese-Israeli
cultural relations. Seen against the backdrop of solid loathing of all
things Israeli that so dominates the European cultural establishment,
the relations between China and Israel almost seem like something out of
a dreamlike alternate reality.
The good news is that there is nothing
imaginary about them. The story of popular Israeli children’s writer
Yanetz Levi, author of the series “Adventures of Uncle Arie,” which has
sold more than 700,000 copies in Israel, is a good example of this.
Levi arrived in China this week and was
received like a rock star. Fifty thousand copies of his books sold in
China before he arrived, and since his arrival tens of thousands more
have been sold. In one school alone, 5,000 copies were purchased. While
that may not seem like much for a country the size of China, with a
population of more than 1 billion, it is still very impressive for a
children’s writer from small Israel. The Chinese children greeted him
like a superstar, shouting “Lioooshushu” (the equivalent of “Uncle Arie”
in Chinese) as he came to their schools. What is there not to love?
Evidently, Chinese children are not raised on a BDS-infused diet of lies
and hatred.
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