May 28:
An editorial entitled “Let Us Continue to Care About Politics” appeared in the official Investor Journal discussing “the war of words last week between Weibo (Chinese Internet microblogs) and official media over ‘constitutionalism.’” The article, which said the debate “was as intense as, and perhaps surpassing, that we saw [in 1989],” decried the rising tide of anti-Constitutionalism in various government, party and military publications, which argue that “constitutionalism is something belonging to capitalism, with no relevance to socialism” and claim “the loyalty CPC members feel for the spirit of the Party is like the faith Christians place in Jesus.” The article was quickly removed from the website.
June 1:
A commentary in Seeking Truth (Qiushi) a flagship Communist Party magazine has denounced Western values and encouraged the Communist Party (CPC) to tighten its ideological grip. The editorial (published on June 3) warned that adopting Western ideas would push China into a dead end and dash hopes for realizing the ‘Chinese dream’ – a phrase coined by CPC chief Xi Jinping. “The Party and the nation will embark on the devil’s road with Western thoughts. Only with a strong core leadership can China be united to realize its great dreams. That core leadership is the CPC,” the commentary said, adding that only socialism with Chinese characteristics could unite Chinese people. Last week another CPC publication, Party Building (Dangjian), published an editorial attacking constitutionalism as supporting the “abolition of Party leadership and overthrowing the socialist regime. Constitutionalism should not be our political directive and ideal,” it said. Last month universities were ordered to avoid seven topics including universal rights, press freedom and civil rights, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports.
June 6:
Ghana’s new inter-ministerial taskforce launched by President John Mahama will repatriate 65 Chinese arrested for illegally mining in Dunkwa, Western Region. Using a helicopter, the task force identified illicit mining sites then transmitted their locations to authorities that raided them, seized the equipment, and arrested the Chinese miners and their Ghanaian partners. “Chinese were found to be using heavy duty equipment and other sophisticated machines causing substantial damage to the environment,” The Ghanaian Chronicle reports. “While traditional mining with pick, shovel and panning may have caused harm, such harm was on a small scale. The question then is, how do these heavy equipment [sic] get to the sites? Who imports them? Who sells them? And who transports them to the various sites?” President Mahama asked.
June 11:
Chinese and Russian special forces are holding ten days of joint training in Beijing codenamed “Cooperation 2013.” Forty-six personnel from China’s Snow Leopard Commandoes, an elite anti-terrorism force under the (PAP), and 29 members of a special Russian domestic security force task force unit, are taking part in the exercise, the official People’s Daily reports. The two forces will cooperate to improve counter-terrorism skills and tactics including shooting, forced entry, hostage rescue and terrorist camp raids. The drill marks the first time the PAP has hosted a foreign force to conduct joint exercises in China. In September 2007, the two sides held the joint anti-terrorism drill “Cooperation 2007” in Russia.
Xi Jinping, in his capacity as CPC general secretary, will meet Honorary Kuomintang (KMT) chairman Wu Poh-hsiung in Beijing to “set the tone for cross-strait policies,” SCMP reports. Wu, an envoy of KMT chairman and Republic of China (Taiwan–ROC) President Ma Ying-jeou, leads the KMT delegation for a three-day stay in Beijing. “Wu will represent chairman Ma in the meeting with general secretary Xi,” KMT spokesman said. Xi is expected to touch on cross-strait political dialogue but it was unclear how Wu will respond. Ma said Wu’s visit offered an “opportunity for the two ruling parties to review developments in bilateral ties over the past five-plus years and consider the direction of future development.” He also said the two sides needed a new vision, new ideas and new momentum to help them sustain peace and prosperity.