China Reform Monitor: No. 792

October 29:

Beginning with the next issue of Caijing Magazine the management and editorial teams for the outspoken business publication will be changed completely. In July, pressured by Beijing, Caijing's owner, the Lianban Group, reclaimed its right to preview the magazine's articles. In protest the 70 plus member management team collectively resigned. After failed negotiations between the editorial team led by Hu Shuli and new management, Hu and his staff will also depart. Ming Pao reports that Chief Editor Hu and his staff will start a new magazine called Financial and Economic News Weekly.

October 31:

Official support and civil society participation in combating corruption have surged in response to allegations that Chongqing’s crackdown on criminal syndicates is "all show." On October 28, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Ministry of Supervision jointly launched a national website for reporting irregularities [12388.gov.cn]. Zhou Yongkang, chairman of the Central Committee for Comprehensive Management of Public Order, has called for officials to “crack down on underworld and vicious forces all the way and dig up all the protective umbrellas, leaving no stone unturned.” Li Yuanchao, head of the Central Organization Department, published an article in Renmin Ribao last week that argued for blocking promotion for cadres with “no political integrity”, who are “impetuous,” or who “harbor dubious intentions.” Hong Kong’s official Zhongguo Tongxun She writes that these efforts “pave the way for the personnel reshuffle at the 18th CCP National Congress.”

A diplomatic showdown between China and Vietnam seems likely as Hanoi prepares to take the ASEAN chairmanship. The two countries are at odds over fishing and oil rights in the South China Sea. Beijing's diplomats have been pushing to mediate disputes bilaterally between China and individual claimants rather than collectively with the 10 ASEAN nations - a move that strengthens Beijing's position. The sea's international shipping lanes are straddled by the Spratly Islands archipelago, claimed all or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. After last week's ASEAN leaders' summit in Thailand one envoy told the South China Morning Post on the condition of anonymity that: “Beijing didn't want it discussed and it wasn't. From last week's meeting you'd have no idea that we are all privately worried about the potential for conflict down the track. Beijing has ASEAN right where it wants it."

November 1:

Rear Admiral Kevin Donegan, commander of the U.S. navy's Japan-based Seventh Fleet battle force, said the U.S. would continue to patrol "international waters" in the South China Sea to maintain the freedom of trade routes, the South China Morning Post reports. When asked about U.S. surveillance ships in the South China Sea he said the U.S. “will continue to operate in international waters.” He also expressed fresh concern about China's "unprecedented" military build-up and said it was critical that the U.S. and China’s neighbors better understood Beijing's intentions. Donegan’s comments came as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington was on a port call in Hong Kong and a day after the end of General Xu Caihou’s visit to Washington. Beijing is determined to limit U.S. surveillance operations, Xu told his American interlocutors.

November 2:

Police in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region have begun another crackdown on separatist activities. The region-wide action targeting the finances and properties of groups agitating for Uighur independence will begin immediately and run through the end of the year. Local police will continue their manhunt to nab suspects in connection with the July 5 Urumqi riot. Police will also collect clues on cases involving terrorism and explosions, the official China Military online website reports.

[Editor’s Note: This new crackdown comes as the Intermediate People's Court of Urumqi handed down death sentences for 12 Uighurs and life in prison for several others convicted of murder during the July 5th riots. At least 87 suspects are still pending trial and an unknown number remain in custody, the official China Daily reports. Meanwhile, in Guangdong, the two primary Han instigators in the lynching of two Uighur workers that sparked the riots have been sentenced to death and life in prison. Three coconspirators have already been convicted and sentenced to 7-8 years for their role. The men used iron bars to beat the Uighur workers and prevented medics from treating their injuries, the official Xinhua News Agency reports.]