North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the North Korean military to keep its combat vessles out of sight. A report on May 27th stated that while reviewing North Korean Naval facilities, Kim spotted several vessles in plain sight. He reportedly stressed that even though it was a drill, North Korea’s enemies were placing the country under increased surveillance.
(Sina English/NHK World)
U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President will hold a two-day summit in California on June 7 and 8. The U.S.- China relationship has been described as being at a critical juncture. While both countries will benefit from a strong and cooperative relationship, various issues of contention cloud the potentially sunny relationship. Issues likely to be discussed during the meeting include:
This week’s question is: What can we expect from this meeting?
Please post your thoughts on this meeting and let us know your opinion.
(Boeing Image)
The Civil Avaition Administration of China (CAAC) on May 23, issued a Validation of Type Certificate for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The certificate means that the aircraft is compliant with Chinese aviation regulations, and clears the way for delivery of 787 Dreamliners ordered by Chinese airlines.
The 787 was grounded in January 2013 following two battery overheating incidents. After modifications were made to the lithium-ion batteries and a new casing added, U.S. approval was given in April for the resumption of service.
Air China has ordered 15 of the 787s, while China Southern Airlines has ordered 10, and Hainan Airlines another 10.
CAAC announcement (Chinese) : http://www.caac.gov.cn/
Boeing 787 website showing customers: http://www.newairplane.com/welcome/?gclid=COnu4ebLrrcCFWhZpgodxhcAzg
A report, U.S.-China 2022: US-China Economic Relations in the Next Ten Years, issued on May 21 by the Hong Kong based China-United States Exchange Foundation takes a look at the history of China-U.S. economic relations and prospects for the next 10 years.
The foundation asked academics, business and political leaders from both countries to conduct a study of economic relations past and present. U.S.-China 2022 presents a frank and optimistic appraisal of opportunities and areas of contention in the relationship dating from 1978.The massive report contains a main section and a 19-part second section.
In the Forward, C.H. Tung, Chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation wrote:
“Indeed over the next 10 years, significant economic opportunities and millions of jobs can be created for the peoples of the two countries if the two countries cooperate together closely.”
U.S.-China 2022 first looks at how the U.S.- China relationship has evolved over the past 35 years and notes how interdependent both economies have become. It then focuses on the future to predict how both economies will develop. Points include:
The report was issued at an event in New York City at the Asia Society on May 21. Similar events were held on May 22 in Washington D.C., and May 23 in Chicago Illinois. The theme for these events were “US-China Relations in the Next Decade.” Speakers and panelists included Henry Kissinger, C.H. Tung Lawrence Lau, Michael Spence, Wang Chung Zheng and Victor Fung.
View full report online: http://www.uschina2022.com/
Bloomberg-Businessweek story on launch: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-23/the-powerful-people-arguing-for-u-dot-s-dot-china-free-trade
2013, the year of the snake has already seen tensions on the Korean peninsula the hottest in recent memory. North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have worried her neighbors in the region. Some see this as North Korea’s Kim Jung-un consolidating his power and proving himself as a leader in time of crisis. Others see it as a cycle, with tensions now returning to the low point of the cycle.
Question: What is your opinion regarding the second half of 2013?
Do you think:
A) Tensions will again rise to a new high later this year
B) Tensions will remain about the same as now
C) Tensions will ease and genuine dialogue such as Six-Party Talks will resume.
Please post your comments here. (DP)
In a Pentagon briefing on 13 May 2013, U.S. Army Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Frank Wiercinski said that he believes North Korea is dialing back its rhetoric.
“I’ve seen this for 34 years –cyclical provocation with the grandfather, the father and now the son. It’s – it’s nothing that I wouldn’t– have not expected. However, I would think that this time it was a tenuous situation. For the first time, we deployed theater ballistic missile defense to Guam in protection of the homeland.
They have a demonstrated capability to place a missile into space. We’ve seen that. They have a purported testing of nuclear weapons systems. And we take that very seriously. But it appears the rhetoric has died down in recent days and we’re hoping that that cycle of provocation has come to its end-point for this — this cycle.”
As for relations with the Chinese military, Gen. Wiercinski echoed much the same message presented by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsy in his meetings with Chinese military officials in Beijing in April of this year.
” I believe that the Army is — is extremely well-suited to conduct continuous engagement with the Chinese because our army-to-army forces are literally at this point not a threat to each other.
Our engagements with disaster management exercises, military medicine, engineering projects, these are all peacekeeping operations. These are all excellent opportunities for us to begin mil-to-mil discussions.And I can only hope that those will continue in the future. I believe that with the four-star headquarters coming to U.S. Army- Pacific, that will only increase the opportunity for increased visits. And I see us with a way ahead, as we move forward.” (DP)
Transcript of Pentagon briefing: http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5237
Ministry of National Defense PRC U.S.-China Talks April 2013: http://eng.mod.gov.cn/TopNews/2013-04/23/content_4444002.htm
by David Parmer
Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai has scored a solid financial and artistic success with his new film, The Grandmaster. Tony Leung Chin Wah plays the title role of Yip Man, popularizer of Wing Chun Kung Fu and mentor to Bruce Lee. This is the third film on martial arts master Yip Man (Yip Man, Yip Man2), but director Wong takes a wholly different approach from the traditional movie biography and martial arts films.
The film begins in the 1930s with Yip Man accepting the challenge of the retiring Northern Grandmaster Gong Baosen. Yip defeats Gong, but Gong’s proud and headstrong daughter Gong Er ( Zhang Ziyi) demands a rematch to avenge the honor of their school. So begins a saga and romance that stretches 20 years and ends up with both characters in Hong Kong and Yip Man settling down to teach Wing Chun.
The Grandmaster is a beautiful film well crafted, well photographed and well written. Wong’s film looks at the history and ethos of Chinese martial arts and presents far more that a series of fight scenes. Fans of Wong Kar Wai familiar with films like In The Mood For Love (2000) will not be disappointed.
This film has already grossed more that US$45 million in the Chinese domestic market and has secured distribution in the U.S. through the Weinstein Company for release in August 2013. Korea distribution will be handled by CJE&M and will begin in May 2013, while Japanese distribution will begin at the same time by Gaga Corporation.
While this martial arts-historical-romance-drama has built-in appeal for worldwide audiences, generally, Chinese films do not export well. On the other hand, a growing demand for movie entertainment in China has resulted in the addition of a reported 10 screens a day to domestic capacity. Currently only 20 foreign films a year are screened in China. The overseas film industry is eager for an expansion of this number in what is now the world’s second largest film market. (DP)
China and the U.S have traded accusations over Chinese defense capabilities, intentions and alleged lack of transparency outlined in a U.S. Defense Department report issued on May 6, 2013. Allegations of cyber- spying were also a focus of the controversy. The report, entitled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2013 is issued annually by the U.S. Department of Defense.
In one response, reported by China’s CCTV, Wang Xinjun a researcher with the Academy of Military Sciences of the People’s Liberation Army said such accusations are irresponsible and they harm joint China-U.S mutual trust.
China’s PlA daily, quoting Xinuha, reported that a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman expressed “strong dissatisfaction with” and “firm opposition to” the report. (DP)
U.S. Report, full text: http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2012_CMPR_Final.pdf
Xhinhua, Chinese reply: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-05/07/c_124677298.htm
China researcher refutes cyber attack accusations: http://english.cntv.cn/20130507/104417.shtml
PLA Daily: Defense Ministry Opposes U.S. Report: http://english.chinamil.com.cn/
Photo: U.S. Dept. of Defense via flickr
1.「論壇誌」アベノミクス、好発進の先 http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/book/news/20130501-OYT8T00434.htm?from=os4 （YOMIURI ONLINE)
2.アベノミクスで日本復活は嘘か http://president.jp/articles/-/9326 （PRESIDENT Online)
3.”安倍经济学”的”三支利箭”能否挽救日本经济? http://finance.chinanews.com/cj/2013/05-05/4787316.shtml (中国新闻网)
4.”安倍经济学”何去何从? http://cn.nikkei.com/columnviewpoint/columns-b/5458-20130506.html (日经中文网)
5.Could “Abenomics” become a model? http://on.aol.com/video/could-abenomics-become-a-model–517680510 (AOL On Business)
6.Can “Abenomics” fix Japan ailing economy? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21528841 (BBC NEWS ASIA)
by David Parmer
Hangzhou-based Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce group bought an 18% share in Shanghai-based Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media, paying $586 million for its preferred and common stock.
Alibaba has an option to increase its stake to 30% at some future time. This tie- up will let marketers on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms better connect and serve Weibo users. Cooperation will focus on account connectivity, data exchange, online payments and online marketing. The agreement is expected to create $338 million in ad and social commerce income for Weibo in the next three years.
Weibo, with 500 million users is China’s most popular micro-blogging service. Alibaba runs Taobao Marketplace, a consumer-oriented e-commerce site and Alibaba, a business-to-business site. (DP)
Sina Weibo website (Chinese) http://weibo.com/
Alibaba website (English) http://www.alibaba.com/
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