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After US elections, it is China’s Party —S P Seth

By a strange coincidence, the United States and China have been going through a leadership transition at about the same time. And what a contrast! In the US, where Barack Obama has been returned as president for another term of four years, the election was a high political drama played out in the public space with both rival candidates making their own pitch for the popular mandate. It was a chaotic and boisterous affair with a long drawn-out pre-election battle, with neither candidate knowing for sure his political destiny until the end.
In China, the meeting of the 18th Party Congress to formally anoint a new leadership for the next 10 years was very carefully choreographed and controlled without popular participation and lacking any sense of political drama. It has been known for quite sometime that Xi Jinping, vice-president, will succeed Hu Jintao as the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) secretary general and the country’s new president early next year, and Li Keqiang, a vice-premier, will replace Wen Jiabao as premier. And this has come to eventuate, as well as a seven-member standing committee (the country’s apex governing body), a new politburo and central committee. This is China’s top political structure for the next 10 years.
China’s economy is now the world’s second largest though, in the last few years, its growth rate has slowed. The country’s frantic economic growth in the last 30 years, with many millions lifted out of poverty and a rising middle class, has created some severe structural and societal problems. Hu Jintao, the outgoing party secretary general, highlighted some of them in his work report to the Congress, with special emphasis on corruption in the higher echelons of the party
He warned that, “If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the party, and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state.” He added, “All those who violate party discipline and state laws, whoever they are or whatever power or official positions they have, must be brought to justice without mercy.” Apart from being a general statement of intent, this seemed like a pointed reference to the case of the dismissed Chongqing party boss, Bo Xilai, who will soon be tried for corruption and other charges.
The pertinent question though is why didn’t the outgoing party leadership deal with this issue during the last 10 years they were in power, when Premier Wen Jiabao was singling it out as a major issue for some years now? During all this time corruption has grown like a virus infecting the entire body politic of the country, suggesting a serious disconnect between rhetoric and action, which would suggest that corruption is now deeply entrenched in the system at all levels, preventing any serious action to clean it up.
Indeed, a recent investigative report in The New York Times has found that Premier Wen Jiabao’s family (without pointing a finger at the premier himself) has amassed nearly $ 2.7 billion worth of assets through all kinds of direct or indirect business deals, which, of course, has been vigorously denied, and termed as an attempt to destabilise the country. However, the Chinese authorities have blocked any access on the internet to The New York Times’ report. Similarly, it is reported that the new party secretary general Xi Jinping’s family too have helped themselves to a billion dollar fortune.
Whether or not these reports are true or tendentious, the question of corruption in the party, as highlighted by Hu Jintao in his report, is a make or break issue not only for the party but also for the Chinese state. Xi Jinping, the CCP’s new secretary general (and the country’s new president from early next year) has also highlighted the danger from corruption for the party as well as the state. However, he too has not unveiled any new strategy to root out this monster.
Apparently, it is a very sensitive issue and any radical action might not suit all the stakeholders. But without an effective strategy, backed up with necessary institutional changes like greater political transparency and accountability, this is likely to aggravate social unrest in China. With economic growth slowing, even as the wealth gap widens between rich and poor and between urban and rural areas, the government cannot afford to let this issue become a trigger for spontaneous social combustion like the Arab Spring in the Middle East.
In whatever way the CCP tackles social, economic and political issues, China today is undoubtedly a powerful country. And this is due to the economic reforms since the 1980s under Deng Xiaoping. What should be the next course of action to propel the country’s economy is a divisive issue in the party. The Bo Xilai affair was a manifestation of it, as he unfurled Mao’s red banner against economic liberalisation. Wen Jiabao, the outgoing Premier, on the other hand, has been a strong proponent of further economic liberalisation, as well as some political reforms. In his report to the Congress, Hu Jiantao too emphasised the need for economic and political reforms, but again without any clear direction.
However, there is one issue that broadly unites the country and that is to build up a strong military to assert China’s national power. Hu Jintao stressed the need for China to build a “strong national defence and powerful armed forces”. Apparently keeping in view China’s maritime disputes with some of its neighbours, he didn’t mince his words when he said, “We should enhance our capacity for exploiting marine resources, resolutely safeguard China’s maritime rights and interests and build China into a maritime power.”
It is interesting that even though China’s finances are in a much better shape than the US with foreign currency reserves of over three trillion dollars, it appears to be losing economic momentum, not knowing how to break the logjam between its competing political factions in the party. In an altogether different political landscape from China, and despite Barack Obama’s re-election as the country’s president, the US is also stuck in a rut of sorts. Against this backdrop, when there are no easy solutions to internal problems, there is always a danger of hyper-nationalism getting out of control, especially in the volatile Asia-Pacific region. And this is a challenge for both China and the US.

A G8 meeting that goes back to first principles

BRUSSELS - One year on from the Olympics, the eyes of the world will again be on the United Kingdom next summer, as we host the G8 at Lough Erne in Northern Ireland.

Some people ask: does the G8 still matter, when we have a G20? My answer is “Yes”. The G8 is a group of like-minded nations who share a belief in free enterprise as the best route to growth. And as eight countries making up around half of the world’s entire GDP, the standards we set, the commitments we make, and the steps we take can help solve vital global issues, fire up economies and drive prosperity all over the world.

Lough Erne 2013 will be focused on three ways in which we can support the development of open economies, open governments and open societies to unleash the power of the private sector. Advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency.

First, trade. There is no greater stimulus for growth in the world economy than trade and no more important battle than the fight against protectionism. As the G8, we have a collective responsibility to drive forward trade liberalisation. I am already leading EU efforts to finalise a free trade agreement with Canada and to launch negotiations with Japan and America over the next year. I want G8 leaders to seize the opportunity of the discussion at Lough Erne to agree how we will accelerate progress across our ambitious trade agenda. To take just one example, the EU and US together make up nearly a third of all global trade. And an ambitious deal between the two could provide an enormous boost to jobs and growth adding over £50 billion to the EU economy alone.

Third, transparency. The G8 has a long history of advances on development - and this G8 will be no different. The UK is meeting our commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our gross national income on aid from 2013 – and we will be holding other countries to account for their promises too. We will also be leading the way in the battle against hunger with a special event on food and nutrition a few days before the main meeting, to follow up on this year’s Olympic Hunger Summit.

But I believe the UK’s track record on aid gives us the legitimacy to use this G8 in a radically different way by supporting what I call the “golden thread” of conditions that enable open economies and open societies to drive prosperity and growth for all. These include the rule of law, the absence of conflict and corruption, and the presence of property rights and strong institutions.

Transparency and accountability are vital for this. Too often, development at the G8 has been about rich countries doing things to poor countries. But at Lough Erne, we in the developed world will concentrate on issues that involve us putting our own house in order and helping developing countries to prosper. Take the issue of mineral wealth. We need to make sure that, for developing countries, this is a blessing not a curse. So the UK is leading efforts in the EU to require oil, gas and mining companies to publish key financial information for each country and project they work on. And I want this G8 to drive greater transparency all around the globe so that revenues from oil, gas and mining can help developing countries to forge a path to sustainable growth, instead of fuelling conflict and corruption.

These defining advances in trade, tax and transparency could lay the foundations of long-term growth and prosperity for generations to come. But to achieve them we also need to cut through the bureaucracy of traditional international summits.

So Lough Erne 2013 will return the G8 to its roots. The original leaders' fireside chat which inspired today's G8 gatherings took place at the Chateau de Rambouillet in 1975, organised by the then French President in response to the need to address worldwide economic problems. They held searching discussions, and issued a succinct declaration just 15 paragraphs long.

Nearly forty years on, we will go back to those first principles. There will be no lengthy communiqué. No mile long motorcades. And no armies of officials telling each other what each of their leaders thinks – or should think. Instead we will build on the approach taken by President Obama at Camp David this year: one table and one conversation with G8 leaders holding each other to account and ensuring that good intentions really do become vital actions to advance growth and prosperity across the world.

I look forward to welcoming my fellow leaders to Lough Erne and to showcasing Northern Ireland to the world as a modern and dynamic part of the United Kingdom that is open for business, with huge potential for investment and tourism.

Northern Ireland’s transformation over the last two decades was made possible by the courage of so many people across all sections of its community. Their determination and leadership has inspired the world. And we must show the same resolve to make sure this G8 delivers growth and prosperity for the United Kingdom and for the world.

Andy Reid: Michael Vick has 'significant' concussion

Michael Vick was woozy in the locker room following the Philadelphia Eagles' season-killing loss, with the trainer Rick Burkholder needing to hold Vick by the hand at one point.


A four-part series on player health and safety will air on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" (7 p.m. ET):

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Overview of the player health and safety series
Wednesday, Nov. 14: New technology -- Virginia Tech helmet technology -- The "Hit System"
Thursday, Nov. 15: Inside Darrelle Revis' rehab (airing on the "Thursday Night Kickoff" show, 6 p.m. ET)
Friday, Nov. 16: Youth football

This does not sound like one of those "mild" concussions that teams usually try to sell when they want a player to return to the lineup quickly. Vick has a "pretty significant" concussion according to coach Andy Reid.

"He was a little foggy last night after the incident. Today he's resting. Right now, at this period, it's very important that he rests," Reid said. "He has a headache is what he's got -- a pretty good one."

Reid went on to say that rookie Nick Foles will take all the first-team reps in practice Wednesday. Reid essentially announced Foles as the starter this week against the Washington Redskins without saying it. Reid stressed Vick will be the team's starter when healthy, but said Foles will get a chance.

"Nick will do a nice job," Reid said. "Excited to see him play."

If Foles plays well and the Eagles win, it's hard to imagine the team going back to Vick. If they lose, is it worth going back to a veteran for a team out of the playoff mix?

The severity of this concussion makes it sound like Vick could be out more than a week anyhow, so Reid may not have to decide for a while.

Djokovic outdoes Federer in London

LONDON

Here it was — a superb year for men’s tennis encapsulated in one brilliantly played match. Novak Djokovic, already assured of finishing at No. 1 in the world, confirmed that status by holding off the mesmerizing skills of the legend that is Roger Federer to win the final match of the year, and his second ATP World Tour Finals title, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

In the end one point separated these two champions, Djokovic winning 96 points to 95. But tennis is all about the big points and Federer needed either one of the couple he earned himself when he stood at 5-4, 40-15 in the second set. But the forehand let him down, that forehand which can be so smooth and so clinically devastating and yet so inconsistent. On the first set point, the severity of the Djokovic return forced Federer to over-hit the forehand by a matter of inches. On the second he simply made an unforced error. Both mistakes cost him the chance of winning these ATP finals for a seventh time.

It was a contest full of sudden switches in momentum with neither player allowing the other to settle for long into a period of dominance. “There were too many turning points to pinpoint one because any one of them could have thrown the match in a totally different direction,” Federer said afterward before agreeing that it was “a great match.”

Being an old hand at this sort of occasion, Federer started in top gear, winning the first eight points as he broke the Serb to love in the second game. Djokovic looked stiff and a little nervous. But he was soon sufficiently loose to force Federer into a couple of costly errors in the fifth game and then level at 3-3.

A big battle developed for the ninth game and Djokovic, an elastic athlete if ever there was one, reached far to his right to whip back a forehand crosscourt winner. It gave him his third break point and this time Federer couldn’t hold on, netting a forehand.

So Djokovic, who had bloodied his right arm just below the elbow while diving for a backhand on rough court surface, found himself serving for the first set. Set point came and went as the Serb netted a forehand after a short rally and two points later Federer had the break back. Mini breaks were swapped in the tiebreak to leave them level at 5-5 and then Djokovic had his second set point. But Federer read Novak’s forehand volley and turned the reply into a drop shot. But an error on the backhand gave Djokovic a third opportunity and a forehand winner did the job to give him the breaker, 8-6.

Surely he would now have the momentum over a 31-year-old opponent who was playing his third match in three days while Djokovic had enjoyed the Saturday off. Not a bit of it. After a magnificent duel that lasted almost 12 minutes, Federer emerged with a break in the first game and went on to hold through to 5-4. Crucially, the Swiss might have had another break when he reached ad point at 3-1 but another netted forehand gave Djokovic a reprieve he would make the most of a few games later.

The final momentum shift came after Federer had missed those two set points, and when two more forehand errors gave Djokovic match point at 6-5, the world No. 1 came up with a backhand pass down the line on the reach that had No. 1 written all over it.

With so many titles already in the bank, Federer takes his defeats a little more philosophically these days but he admitted to a little frustration. “I have a little regret because I had the lead twice,” he said. “But at the end that doesn’t matter. You have to get over the final line. He was better at that today.”

Federer was clear about what makes the world No. 1 special. “What he does well, even in defense, is that he stays somewhat offensive. That’s what separates him from the rest. He takes time away from you.”

Being special earned Djokovic some extra spending money for Christmas — $1,760,000 to be precise, a maximum prize-money pot because he won all his round-robin matches. But that is not what made Novak most happy as he gloried in a great ending to a year that had started with him winning the Australian Open. Firstly, it was the fact that his father is recovering from a serious illness. Djokovic has been reluctant to talk about these past two weeks but now admitted, “He is still in intensive care but is getting better. I shall see him tomorrow and try and make him smile.”

And secondly, it was the way he played. “Tonight when I needed to come up with some really good shots, really focus and get every ball back in court, I’ve done that. So I cannot be more thrilled than I’m feeling now.”

Rumored Dan Haren for Carlos Marmol deal falls apart, Angels decline veteran’s option

(AP Photos)After dealing Ervin Santana to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, it was believed Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto still had one more big trade to make in regards to reshaping his starting rotation. On Friday night, it appeared that shoe was ready to drop as several sources, beginning with Yancen Pujols, reported that right-hander Dan Haren had been traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Carlos Marmol.

All indications were that Marmol was on board with the trade, which was a key due to his ability to veto the deal. Once CBS Sports' Jon Heyman confirmed it via Twitter just before 8 p.m. ET, it all but seemed like a done deal. But, as was the case with the nearly completed Cubs trade sending Ryan Dempster to the Atlanta Braves back in July, bumps in the road began popping up at every turn, and just before 10:30 ET it was reported to be "not happening" by MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.

Muskat later posted a Carlos Marmol trade timeline, which proved to be just as wild a roller coaster ride as many of Marmol's save opportunities. Here's a quick excerpt:

8:29 p.m. CT: Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports the two sides have not agreed to a trade, although he says the Cubs did ask Marmol if he'd be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to Anaheim.

8:42 p.m. CT: Rosenthal reports the deal will happen if Marmol agrees to the Angels.

9:20 p.m. CT: A Cubs source tells MLB.com the trade is not happening.

What looked like a marvelous trade for Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein was now off the table, and apparently it was their own doing. Had it gone through, I was prepared to praise the Cubs duo for turning an erratic closer with a lousy contract into a worthwhile starter that, if healthy, plugs right in at the top of their rotation.

Of course you can't overlook the back problems Haren fought through and struggled with in 2012, leading to a largely disappointing season. That could be one of the reason Chicago ultimately pulled out, but it seemed like there was little to no risk in spending that money during a rebuilding year with the hope that Haren can rehab his health and his value to the point that he'll be in high demand come July when everyone starts looking for starting pitching depth.

It's the exact type of deal a rebuilding general manager should aim to make, but at the end of the day Hoyer and company felt uncomfortable doing so. Perhaps there was a money issue also in play, or maybe they simply came to the realization they could pursue Haren at more reasonable price a few hours later, because just like the Santana trade, this potential deal began taking shape just hours before Dipoto was to decide on picking up Haren's $15.5 million club option for 2013.

After fielding other calls throughout the night, Dipoto decided to decline that option and instead bought Haren out for $3.5 million. He immediately became a free agent available to be bid on by the Cubs or whoever else might be interested.

As for the Angels side of the potential trade, they had hoped to strengthen the back end of their bullpen this winter. The addition of Marmol would have fallen right in line with that desire, but considering his history and salary, I'm sure there's a better option out there waiting for them if they remain patient. But looking beyond that their main goal behind all of this maneuvering — including not extending a qualifying offer to Torii Hunter — is to make room for a Zack Greinke return, so how their offseason is graded could ultimately hinge on his re-signing.

But regardless of how the Greinke and bullpen situations play out, one thing we know for sure is that Jerry Dipoto continues to be among the busiest general managers in the game. One would think he couldn't possibly keep pace with all the major moves he made last winter, but if this first week is any indication, maybe he can.