China pushes back against criticism of plan for Xi to stay in power
February 26, 2018 by admin
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BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely has sparked social media opposition, drawing comparisons to North Korea’s ruling dynasty and charges of creating a dictator by a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist.
The social media reaction late on Sunday quickly saw China swing into a concerted propaganda push by Monday, blocking some articles and publishing pieces praising the party.
The ruling Communist Party on Sunday proposed to remove a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in office, meaning Xi, who also heads the party and the military, might never have to retire.
The proposal, which will be passed by delegates loyal to the party at next month’s annual meeting of China’s largely rubber stamp parliament, is part of a package of amendments to the country’s constitution.
It will also add Xi’s political thought to the constitution, already added to the party constitution last year, and set a legal framework for a super anti-corruption superbody, as well as more broadly strengthen the party’s tight grip on power.
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But it seems the party will have its work cut out trying to convince some in China, where Xi is actually very popular thanks in part to his war on graft, that the move will not end up giving Xi too much power.
“Argh, we’re going to become North Korea,” wrote one Weibo user, where the Kim dynasty has ruled since the late 1940s. Kim Il Sung founded North Korea in 1948 and his family has ruled it ever since.
”We’re following the example of our neighbor,’ wrote another user.
The comments were removed late on Sunday after Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, began blocking the search term “two term limit”.
Widely read state-run newspaper the Global Times said in an editorial the change did not mean the president will stay in office for ever, though it did not offer much explanation.
“Since reform and opening up, China, led by the Communist Party, has successfully resolved and will continue to effectively resolve the issue of party and national leadership replacement in a law-abiding and orderly manner,” it said, referring to landmark economic reforms that began four decades ago.
The party’s official People’s Daily reprinted a long article by Xinhua news agency saying most people supported the constitutional amendments, quoting a variety of people proffering support.
“The broad part of officials and the masses say that they hoped this constitutional reform is passed,” it wrote.
The WeChat account of the People’s Daily, after initially posting a flurry of positive comments under its article, then disabled the comments section completely late on Sunday. It was back again by Monday, complete with remarks lauding the party.
The overseas edition of the same paper’s WeChat account removed entirely an article focusing on the term limits, replacing it with the lengthy Xinhua report summing up all the amendment proposals.
In one confusing moment for many Chinese, Xinhua initially only reported the news in English.
Jokes have also circulated on social media. One shows a picture of a condom in its wrapper under the words “doing it twice is not enough”.
Others shared pictures of Winnie the Pooh, an internet meme that plays on Xi’s supposed likeness to the rotund cartoon bear, an image censors have repeatedly tried to remove.
Parts of the stock market took heart from the news. Chinese speculators pounced on stocks with “emperor” in their name on Monday.
The decision has also unsettled some in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong, where authorities have been trying to rein in a pro-democracy movement.
“This move, which would allow for a single individual to amass and accumulate political power, means that China would again have a dictator as her head of state – Xi Jinping,” said Joshua Wong, one of the movement’s leaders.
“The law may exist in China in form, but this just proves that the Chinese law exists to serve the individual and the party’s purposes.”
China is likely though to see any such criticism as a plot against the party.
“Every time China deliberates on reforms and key decisions, effect on public opinion is worth pondering,” the Global Times wrote. “Misinformation and external forces’ meddling will affect public opinion in China.”
Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Venus Wu in HONG KONG; Editing by Michael Perry and Nick Macfie
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Tornadoes, flooding across central US leave at least 3 dead as storm system moves east
February 26, 2018 by admin
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Major rain system traveling across the country
Adam Klotz has the forecast.
At least five people are dead as a storm system that stretched from Texas to the Canadian Maritime provinces roars eastward across the central U.S., spawning tornadoes and floods and leaving a path of destruction in its wake from the Upper Midwest to Appalachia.
In southwestern Michigan, the body of a 48-year-old man was found floating in floodwaters Sunday in Kalamazoo, city Public Safety Lt. David Thomas said. Police were withholding the release of his name until notifying relatives.
Thomas said the death didn’t appear suspicious but the cause wasn’t known. An autopsy was planned as early as Monday. Kalamazoo had been hard-hit by flooding from last week’s heavy rains and melting snow.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said late Saturday two people died in the western part of state due to “severe weather events” as the storm that also included strong winds, hail and heavy rain slammed the region.
“Please take weather watches/warnings seriously, and stay safe,” Bevin said on Twitter.
In rural, south central Kentucky, 79-year-old Dallas Jane Combs died after a suspected tornado hit her Adairville home Saturday evening, Logan County Sheriff’s Department told television station WKRN. Sheriff officials said Combs was inside the home when it collapsed on her. Combs was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities say Combs’ husband was outside the house when the unconfirmed tornado hit and he sustained minor injuries.
Neighbors help collect clothing and look for pets at a destroyed home Sunday morning after a fierce storm hit Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in the Farmington subdivision in Clarksville, Tenn.
(Lacy Atkins/The Tennessean via AP)
In northeast Arkansas, an 83-year-old man was killed after high winds toppled a trailer home. Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller said in a Facebook post that Albert Foster died Saturday night after the home was blown into a pond in Knobel.
Storm-related damage also was reported in Middle Tennessee, where Fox 17 in Nashville reported extensive damage to homes and vehicles. Fox 17 added that at least a dozen homes were damaged in one Montgomery County subdivision.
The National Weather Service’s office in Nashville said a storm survey team has confirmed EF-2 tornado damage from winds of 120 mph on the east side of Clarksville near Interstate 24 and Rossview Road.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said that her “thoughts and prayers” were with those affected by the “horrible” damage.
In Mississippi County, Arkansas, crews were cleaning up after a confirmed tornado touched down in the town of Keiser, located about 50 miles northwest of Memphis.
“It’s going to be devastating for a lot of the people because it is a small community but it is a very tight-knit community. So everyone been out, we’ve had people going door to door, checking on their neighbors, in the areas that they could because we advised them not to because of the downed power lines,” Keiser Police Chief Mike Griffin told KAIT.
The storms were caused by a system associated with a cold front moving east, which caused flood watches and warnings to be issued across multiple states as of Sunday morning, while a wind advisory remained in effect for nearly all of Lower Michigan. Heavy rain also spread into the Northeast, which caused greater flooding fears.
Pennsylvania Avenue at the Potter Park Zoo entrance is still closed due to flooding, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 in Lansing, Mich.
(Robert Killips /Lansing State Journal via AP)
“It’s right along that line we’ve seen the most rain activity here throughout the weekend,” Fox News Meteorologist Adam Klotz said Sunday on “Fox Friends Weekend.”
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order earlier Saturday declaring a state of emergency ahead of the anticipated storms and flooding in parts of southern Missouri. The order activates the resources of the Missouri National Guard and ensures state resources are available in the event of weather damage.
A view from the Central Bridge shows the flooding from the Ohio River Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 in Cincinnati.
(Liz Dufour/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
A levee breach along the Kankakee River in northwestern Indiana had local officials urging about 30 homeowners to evacuate.
The Ohio River is expected to reach 60.6 feet in Cincinnati by Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
The expected river crest would easily make it the worst flooding Greater Cincinnati has seen since March 5, 1997, when the river hit 64.7 feet, Fox 19 reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Travis Fedschun is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @travfed