China Geopolitical News Thread

[Blackstone]

China is opening another front in her fight against corruption and graft. Investigators will audit government land incomes for evidence of corruption and wrongdoing. One thing you could say for Xi Jinping, he's determined to bring government corruption to heel, but I wonder if he should double his security detail.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - China will conduct a nationwide audit of government land sales and related deals that may shed light on rent-seeking and corruption, the Economic Observer newspaper reported on Saturday.

The National Audit Office will conduct "rigorous" checks on funds from land sales, as well land requisition, reserve and supply that occurred from 2008 to 2013, the newspaper said, citing unnamed government sources.

The audit, to be launched this week under the cabinet's oversight, is likely to "disclose the rent-seeking and corruption phenomenon in various areas", it said.

President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign has led to a growing number of officials being investigated or punished for corruption, with many linked to the property sector.

Land sales have been a vital source of income for local governments, as they typically acquire land from farmers at knock-down prices and re-sell the land for property and industrial development, triggering protests by farmers.

Local governments are struggling to repay a pile of debts that are officially put at 17.9 trillion yuan ($2.9 trillion).

Government land sale revenue jumped an annual 45 percent in 2013 to a record 4.1 trillion yuan 2013, the newspaper said.

A growing number of Chinese cities are relaxing property controls to support a cooling market. At least 30 regional governments have openly or quietly relaxed home purchase restrictions this year, according to data from CRIC, a unit of real estate services firm E-House China EJ.N.

(1 US dollar = 6.1470 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

[broadsword]

Pollution, brand safety, and corruption are not unique to China, but they reduce quality of life to the very people that gained some success and are looking for better life qualities. Exodus out of China is a reflection of those with means looking for better places to live, for a variety of reasons.


That's right, and China is still a developing country, with all the ills developing countries face. Since it's not a place of choice for many Chinese citizens, they vote with their feet and leave for greener pastures. Solutions will take a long time, and unlike the unwashed masses, those with means could choose to leave. And they do.

You should read Samurai's post which I quote here in full.

Just injecting my two cents, there should be statistical numbers to show the present status. Figures do not lie so it'S just a matter of how many Chinese are coming on a long stay compared to how many are applying for citizenship obtaining the breakdown in percentage and then compare it with other nations.

Without that it's just a matter of conjecture without any objectivity.

Is it an exodus? What are the figures seen in the context of the whole population compared with other countries? Exodus gives the impression of long queues, crowds and congestions.

I would impute the figure taking into account the figures of other places with a Chinese majority like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore or even South Korea because of very similar culture. That means there are some unhappiness with the departures but the countries are still doing fine compared with other developing countries. No major alarm.

The crux of the issue is the problem is not unique to China. It happens to all developing countries like Philippines, Latin Americas, South Asia, Africa and even Australia, etc.

 

[broadsword]

China is opening another front in her fight against corruption and graft. Investigators will audit government land incomes for evidence of corruption and wrongdoing. One thing you could say for Xi Jinping, he's determined to bring government corruption to heel, but I wonder if he should double his security detail.

He is relentless. I hope he has sufficient protection even though assassinations are unheard of in modern day China.

 

[AssassinsMace]

The American exodus is happening too...

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I wonder how much these Chinese fleeing to the US will be taxed for their corrupt holdings.

 

[AssassinsMace]

He is relentless. I hope he has sufficient protection even though assassinations are unheard of in modern day China.

Well some people are wishing assassination just in hopes of creating chaos in China. That's why they bring it up. Just look at the Western media conflicted at who to root for. The fact is Xi could not do this alone. The system that put him into power is what supporting this action. Besides if the corrupt kill Xi, they will have a revolution on their hands where they will likely get executed. Is the US going to publicly support the corrupt in China since that's who the media seem to favor. Look at the coup that was falsely reported over Bo Xilai.

 

[SamuraiBlue]

Well some people are wishing assassination just in hopes of creating chaos in China. That's why they bring it up. Just look at the Western media conflicted at who to root for. The fact is Xi could not do this alone. The system that put him into power is what supporting this action. Besides if the corrupt kill Xi, they will have a revolution on their hands where they will likely get executed. Is the US going to publicly support the corrupt in China since that's who the media seem to favor. Look at the coup that was falsely reported over Bo Xilai.

Never heard of anyone stating they want Xi being assassinated nor have I ever read any western articles of that either.
Could you give me some links of what you claim?

 

[AssassinsMace]

Never heard of anyone stating they want Xi being assassinated nor have I ever read any western articles of that either.
Could you give me some links of what you claim?

I didn't bring up assassination. Ask the person who brought up Xi had to increase security.

 

[Blitzo]

I didn't bring up assassination. Ask the person who brought up Xi had to increase security.

I think you're reading between the lines a little bit, specifically, I don't think blackstone was explicitly saying he thought Xi was under threat of assassination, but rather that his anti corruption drive might make a few enemies who might try to act against him.

It is a bit of a stretch to say blackstone was hoping for xi to be assassinated per se -- but you're definitely right in that there are obviously elements outside (and a few inside) of china who would love to see its head of state assassinated just to see some turmoil.

 

[Blitzo]

And I feel like I should point out, this thread has already deviated off the aims of the original post made by Jeff.

Not only has there been quite a bit of discussion and expression of personal opinion, but almost every link and every article posted aren't even geopolitically related.

In fact most of them are socio-political. I feel like this thread has already become a proxy for the differing sociopolitical views of various members to butt heads, basically since the second post (epoch times??? really??).

Fact is, any post about freedom of speech, corruption, political reform (or perceived lack thereof), or some trends in parts of the chinese population which can be construed as political (such as the chinese "exodus"), are intentionally or unintentionally criticizing and implicating the CCP's domestic policies, usually in a poor light (regardless of what the reality of the situation may be). That will always force a response by other posters who have been exposed to a lifetime of reading such articles and will respond with irritation. What will, and has resulted, is an ideological debate.


In fact, I think the only real piece of geopolitical news posted was A Mace's article at #26. Every other post has marginally geopolitical (and that's if we really stretch the definition) and they are all flamebait in their own way, imho.

imho, @Jeff, if you're serious about making this a geopolitical news thread, then make it so that only strictly geopolitical articles can be posted -- only the links and the copy/pasted article. Nothing else, no opinion, na-da.

Just my 2cents.

 

[AssassinsMace]

I think you're reading between the lines a little bit, specifically, I don't think blackstone was explicitly saying he thought Xi was under threat of assassination, but rather that his anti corruption drive might make a few enemies who might try to act against him.

It is a bit of a stretch to say blackstone was hoping for xi to be assassinated per se -- but you're definitely right in that there are obviously elements outside (and a few inside) of china who would love to see its head of state assassinated just to see some turmoil.

Well like Samurai Blue said no one has brought up that Xi had to worry about his life. You don't need security if enemies can expel Xi from power through the system. The only reason why you would need security is if your life is threatened. I could ask Blackstone to show proof but I doubt that will happen from experience. A powerful group not individuals put Xi into power. So to suggest the corrupt think if they knock-off Xi that will make life easier for them is stupidity at its finest. I'm sure in China everyone knows that assassinating Xi isn't going to stop the anti-corruption campaign. That only comes from an outsider who thinks Xi is by the definition a dictator.