Better that I announce this late than never, the newest issue of the <a href="http://www.chinaleadershipmonitor.org/" title="Hoover Institution, Stanford University">China Leadership Monitor</a> quarterly has been released.  I'll be sure to read:

<ul><li><a href="http://www.chinaleadershipmonitor.org/20052/bn.html" title="China Leadership Monitor: Barry Naughton's article" class="article title">SASAC Rising</a> by Barry Naughton.  For economists, an informed analysis of recent economic corrective measures taken by the State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission.  One example is the new taxes imposed on speculatory real estate transactions in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.chinaleadershipmonitor.org/20052/lc.html" title="China Leadership Monitor: Li Cheng's article" class="article title">The Rise of China's Yuppie Corps: Top CEOs to Watch</a> by Li Cheng.  From what I can tell, this author has a plum job: he does demographic work on political and economic figures by finding data about them on the Web.  The results are often revealing.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.chinaleadershipmonitor.org/20052/jm.html" title="China Leadership Monitor: James Mulvenon's article" class="article title">Power, Money, and Sex: The PLA and the Educational Campaign to Maintain the Advanced Nature of the Party</a> by James Mulvenon.  From what I've seen, the Campaign's main thrust seems to be mounting exhibitions to highlight the Party's accomplishments... in the past.  Effective?  I'll let you know after I read this article!</li></ul>

Speaking of the PLA, I'm currently doing a stint in Hangzhou and the hotel I'm staying at is located on the grounds of a small army garrison.  On the outer side of the lobby window somebody taped the answer key to a quiz about the atrocities commited by the Japanese during their occupation of China before and during World War 2.