July 6,
2016

ISSUE
No. 76

AMS Weekly Newsletter
Dedicated to the development of the future stewards of U.S.-China relations
This week's newsletter focuses primarily on Xi Jinping's July 1 speech. It is well worth a read both to remind yourself of the operative CPC historical narrative and to re-familiarize yourself with the related language. 

Weekly Reading

July 1 marked the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. Xi Jinping gave an important speech to mark the occasion. It serves as an excellent summary of how the CPC views the current point in history, touching on the importance of Marxism, the continuing threat of corruption, relations with Taiwan, and maritime issues.



Social Media Watch

It's not ALL about Xi this week; there is also Brexit to consider. 
Graphs of tumbling stocks speckled Weibo after Britons voted to leave the EU. Some Weibers were particularly relishing the potential damage to Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's British holdings. Li was censured by Chinese state media last fall when he began transitioning his business out of the mainland, so some see the Brexit as punishment for lack of faith. In the words of one sardonic user responding to a Sina Finance post, "Everyone knows th at Superman Li's fortunes grew the fastest during the most stable periods. He ought to thank China for the stability of its regime and the inertia of its policies" 
Search #英国脱欧公投# and #英国推欧# for more posts on Brexit and check out British "divorce stories" gathered at What's on Weibo: 

俗语 in Xi Jinping's  Speeches

生灵涂炭
shēng líng tú tàn

In his July 1 speech (see weekly reading above), Xi Jinping used this 成语 to describe the situation China was in after the western imperialists arrived and the feudal order rotted. It means "the people were plunged into an abyss of misery."

Original: 在几千年的历史发展中,中华民族创造了悠久灿烂的中华文明,为人类作出了卓越贡献,成为世界上伟大的民族。但是,近代以后,由于西方列强的入侵,由于封建统治的腐败,中国逐渐成为半殖民地半封建社会,山河破碎,生灵涂炭,中华民族遭受了前所未有的苦难。



Video of the Week

Keeping with our focus on Xi's July 1 speech, here is a link to the full video. You have to sit through the Smithfield pork advertisement first [editor's note: after careful consideration, puns and ironies that were in this space have been omitted].

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