28th August 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China-Japan Meet to Deepen Bilateral Relations: Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, and Toshihiro Nikai, the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ Union chairman, met in Beijing on Wednesday. Zhao said that the four documents that have been signed by both countries provide the legal and political foundation for China-Japan bilateral relations. He emphasised that the countries should pursue relations defined by peace, friendship and cooperation. He stated that China is ready to further its bilateral relations with Japan to achieve stable development. Additionally, he said that Japanese and Chinese firms’ economic interests are aligned and should engage in each other's success by enhancing cooperation. Furthermore, Nikai said that the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ Union is eager to stabilise and enhance the development of their bilateral relations.
US Support to the Philippines Amidst Ongoing Tensions with China criticized by Chinese experts: A senior US military officer, Admiral Samuel Paparo, recently offered to accompany Philippine ships in the South China Sea. According to Chinese experts, this announcement would only heighten tensions between the countries. During a discussion at an international military conference held in Manila, the US military officer upheld the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and Philippines and stated its willingness to discuss escorting Philippine ships in the region. Philippine’s chief of armed forces General Romeo Brawner Jr, responded by saying that the situation thus far has not called for implementing the treaty. These remarks come in the thick of tensions between China and Philippines over South China Sea’s Ren’ai Jiao, Huangyan Dao and Xianbin Jiao. A Chinese military expert commented that the US’s involvement in this situation is not to settle the tensions in the region, but to maintain the Philippines “at the frontline of its plan to contain China”. However, the expert said that the Philippines recognises the risks of the US’s involvement. Li Kaisheng, the vice president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, termed the anchoring of the Philippines ship in Xianbin Jiao as provoking China’s sovereignty and called them to withdraw their personnel to prevent heightening the situation. Cheng Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Centre at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, noted this as Philippine’s attempt to expand its reach in the South China Sea. Furthermore, at a routine press conference, Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, encouraged the Philippines to not disturb regional peace and refrain from falsely accusing China.
China’s Real-Estate Reforms to Boost Stability in the Property Sector: Dong Jianguo, the vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, recently spoke about the reforms to boost the real estate market transformation. These reforms note a shift from the traditional practice of selling houses before the construction is completed. The practice will be shifted to promoting the sale of completed houses, and the ministry will support new development projects to shift to “sales after construction”. This shift was implemented because while the pre-sales system helped developers’ fund financial shortages, the flux in the real-estate demand and supply caused quality and unfinished project disputes. Sales of completed homes could account for nearly 30% of the market in 2024, as per Xu Yuejin, an analyst from the China Index Academy. Along with this policy change, the third plenary session also promised reformed financing of real estate development and an enhanced advanced purchase system for commodity housing. Reforms will also be made in the real estate taxation system. Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, said that these measures will resolve the issues of the high debt, high turnover and high leverage mechanism; in turn, it will provide better homes, policies, financing systems, taxation and land and sales.
China Holds Meeting with Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) to Promote Cross-Straits Relations and National Reunification: A meeting with the KMT chairman, Hsia Li-Yan, and his delegation and Song Tao was held in Jiangxi Province on Wednesday, 28th August. Song Tao, the head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that China will join Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) to combat foreign interference in Taiwan matters. He emphasised that China will focus on policies and mechanisms to enhance cooperation and development between Taiwan and China, and will continue to support Taiwan compatriots to encourage reunification and economic benefits. He stated China’s desire to deepen relations with the KMT to promote the 1992 Consensus and oppose Taiwan’s independence. Hsia commented that Taiwan belongs to China and reinstated China’s support for the 1992 Consensus to promote cross-strait relations, peace and stability.
China Strongly Criticized Canada’s Move to Impose Additional Tariffs on Chinese Products: Chinese departments encouraged Canada to retract its additional tariffs and restrictive measures against Chinese products, such as electric vehicles (EVs). They criticized Canada’s move as being protectionist. Additionally, they criticized Canada for undertaking similar measures as other countries and said that such actions would deteriorate their bilateral trade relations and economic interests. Its impositions followed the US’s decision to impose additional tariffs. On Monday, the Canadian Department of Finance announced that these measures will safeguard Canadian workers and industries from “unfair Chinese trade practices”. These measures would include a 100 percent additional tariff on Chinese EVs applicable from October 1st. There would also be an additional 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminium products. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) stated that these practices are inconsistent with Canada’s support for WTO’s rules of free trade and multilateralism. China’s share in EV exports to China was relatively marginal and increased to C$2.2 billion in 2023 after Tesla exported Shanghai-produced EVs. Liu Dan, a research fellow at the Centre for Regional Country Studies at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, commented that Canada should choose between allegiance to the US and national interests. Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that like in the US market, the tariffs will increase costs for consumers and enterprises.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Taiwanese Singer Garners Social Media Attention for Crying During Fan’s Proposals: During a concert in southern China, Taiwanese singer Jam Hsiao expressed his overwhelmed emotions when two marriage proposals took place at his concert. His fans found this amusing and heartening as he is known to express his emotions openly. He thanked the fans for sharing their experiences with him. He added that this reminded him of his proposal to his wife and said he understood the significance of such moments. He has nearly 18 million followers on Weibo. The video of him crying was trending and garnered nearly 430,000 comments on Douyin, a Chinese social media platform. His fans commended his happiness for his fans and how his reaction made it seem like it was his own proposal. Netizens also fondly nickname him as the “God of rain” because of how often it rains during his concerts.

INDIA WATCH

Apple to form Partnership with Bharti Airtel in India: Sina, a Chinese news agency, reported on Apple and Bharti Airtel teaming up to provide music and video streaming services to the latter’s premium customers. The article stated that this partnership will increase ties between US and India. According to the article, although Apple’s services of Apple TV, while having some notable in-house series, it will only make up a small part of India’s $28 billion media and entertainment market. The article stated that it will face tough competition from Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema. The report also highlighted Reliance Group’s deal with Walt Disney to merge assets while being investigated by antitrust regulators for the merger. The partnership between Apple and Bharti Airtel will lead to Wynk music ceasing operations. However, Apple may not benefit much from the partnership according to the article. This is because Apple TV+ services will retail at 99 rupees (US$9.99 in the United States) per month. At the same time, JioCinema provides free viewership for cricket matches that garner massive popularity and retails at 29 rupees per month. A Netflix subscription starts at 149 rupees per month. Lastly, the article referred to how Disney+ Hotstar lost millions of India subscribers after Reliance took over the rights to stream the Indian Premier League. The interest from Chinese media is interesting to note, especially in light of the large digital market space its OTT user base occupies.

Prepared By

Sanjana Shah

Sanjana Shah is a graduate in International Studies with a minor in Journalism from FLAME University, Pune. Her interests lie in exploring the nuances and intricacies of geopolitics and understanding the complexities that arise from the socio-political-economic nexus. She is deeply interested in history, defence and security studies, and humanitarian studies.