China Cabinet

High-level exchanges continued to be a significant means for developing U.S.-China relations in the 1980s. President Reagan and Premier Zhao Ziyang made reciprocal visits in 1984. In July 1985, President Li Xiannian traveled to the United States, the first such visit by a Chinese head of state. Vice President Bush visited China in October 1985 and opened the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, the U.S.'s fourth consular post in China. Further exchanges of cabinet-level officials occurred between 1985-89, capped by President Bush's visit to Beijing in February 1989. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: White House Report: Bush on China at Cabinet Meeting, April 9

President Bush told reporters at the top of the April 9 meeting with his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House that he had "just talked to General Sealock," the U.S. military attaché in China "who had a good visit with all 24 crew members" on Hainan Island. It was the fourth time U.S. diplomats have seen some or all of the crew. ...

White House Report: Bush on China at Cabinet Meeting, April 9 ... [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

In July the introduction of a new "Principal Officials Accountability System" changed the SAR's government system by adding a layer of 11 political appointees to run the 11 policy bureaus. Three other civil service positions--Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Justice Secretary--also were converted to political appointments, although without a change in personnel. These 14 political appointees were chosen by the Chief Executive and approved by the PRC Government. They served as members of the Executive Council, which functioned as the Chief Executive's cabinet. The restructured Executive Council also includes members of two political parties, a labor leader, and two other private citizens, also appointed by the Chief Executive. ... [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

The Executive Council (Exco) functions as the Chief Executive's cabinet. Exco includes 11 political appointees who run the 11 policy bureaus, and the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Justice Secretary, who are also political appointees. These 14 members are chosen by the Chief Executive and approved by the PRC Government. Exco also includes members of two political parties, a labor leader, and two other private citizens, also appointed by the Chief Executive. In July, the Liberal Party member of Exco resigned due to differences over Article 23 legislation. A different Liberal Party representative joined Exco in September. ... [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

The police force is led by a uniformed Police Commissioner who reports to the Secretary for Security--a member of the Chief Executive's Cabinet. The force had 28,695 officers and was divided into 5 departments with both headquarters and regional formations. Corruption was not a significant problem within the force. Police officers are subject to disciplinary review by CAPO and IPCC in cases of alleged misconduct (see Section 1.c.). ...

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, and the Basic Law, the SAR's constitution approved by the PRC in 1990, specify that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy except in matters of defense and foreign affairs. This autonomy under the "one country, two systems" formula in effect since 1997 has been tested severely this year. The Basic Law provides for the protection of fundamental rights and calls for progress toward universal suffrage and further democratization after a 10-year period, starting with Hong Kong's July 1, 1997, reversion to Chinese sovereignty. The Chief Executive is chosen by a selection committee composed of 800 directly elected, indirectly elected, or appointed individuals. The Chief Executive appoints and supervises a cabinet of principal officers. The Basic Law significantly circumscribes the power of the legislature, ... [Read More]

China (Taiwan only)

Taiwan is a multiparty democracy. The 2000 victory of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian followed more than 50 years of rule by the Kuomintang (KMT) and marked the first transition from one political party to another in Taiwan's history. The president appoints the premier, who heads the Executive Yuan or Cabinet. Constitutional amendments adopted in 1997 provided the Legislative Yuan (LY) with the authority to dismiss the Cabinet with a no-confidence vote. In 2001, the DPP won a plurality of seats in the LY in free and fair elections. In addition to the DPP, the KMT, the People First Party (PFP), and the Taiwan Solidarity Union played significant roles in the LY. The Judicial Yuan (JY) is constitutionally independent of the other branches of the political system, and the Government respected the judiciary's independence in practice. ... [Read More]

Washington HyperFile - East Asia/Pacific Edition

103 White House Report: Bush on China at Cabinet Meeting, April 9 ... [Read More]

Washington HyperFile - East Asia/Pacific Edition

Cabinet Nominee Powell Set to Continue His "American Journey" in Top Foreign ... [Read More]

News from Washington - U.S. Department of State

11 July 2005 - Cabinet Secretaries Cautiously Optimistic on Trade Talks with China ... [Read More]

China (Includes Hong Kong and Macau)

A 10-member Executive Council appointed by the Chief Executive (which is filled by five legislators and five policy secretaries) functions as an unofficial cabinet, approving all draft legislation before it is tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Local government representatives elected by direct, universal, secret ballot have responsibility for public sanitation and cultural activities. ... [Read More]