By China Media Project- Toward the end of July, a meeting was convened in Beijing for top provincial CCP leaders from across the country. The “spirit” of the “important speech” delivered at the gathering by General Secretary Xi Jinping was advertised as “welcoming the Party’s 20th National Congress.” The discussion seminar of provincial leaders that accompanied the event — referred to in shorthand as the “provincial-ministerial seminar” (省部班) — was regarded within the CCP as setting the tone for this major political event, which will chart China’s course for the coming five years.
The problem with this kind of empirical research counting terms in the press - or even in a seech by one person - is always that it can be right - or completely wrong because the background is not assessed on a meta level. A mentioning of this or that for over 20 times can be a confirmation of a main line of thinking - or an opposition to a headwind that is extremely blowing in the opposite direction to the one the writer would like to see. Only a more profound political research will lead to a clarification - and that remains difficult without better access to decision-making circles.
Furthermore, the numerous mentioning of a term can also be a sign of pure following - but these followers will very likely not be the ones who direct the course of events. This course will be more determined by persons with own opinions …..
When I was living in Beijing from 2011 until 2016, someone who could read Chinese thoughtfully explained that by not being able to read the language, one is mercifully protected from the never ending inundation of political and social stuff and nonsense foisted upon the Chinese populace by the government. The content of this newsletter confirms this. Though I did have to chuckle at the cicada poem.
The problem with this kind of empirical research counting terms in the press - or even in a seech by one person - is always that it can be right - or completely wrong because the background is not assessed on a meta level. A mentioning of this or that for over 20 times can be a confirmation of a main line of thinking - or an opposition to a headwind that is extremely blowing in the opposite direction to the one the writer would like to see. Only a more profound political research will lead to a clarification - and that remains difficult without better access to decision-making circles.
Furthermore, the numerous mentioning of a term can also be a sign of pure following - but these followers will very likely not be the ones who direct the course of events. This course will be more determined by persons with own opinions …..
When I was living in Beijing from 2011 until 2016, someone who could read Chinese thoughtfully explained that by not being able to read the language, one is mercifully protected from the never ending inundation of political and social stuff and nonsense foisted upon the Chinese populace by the government. The content of this newsletter confirms this. Though I did have to chuckle at the cicada poem.