CiCM 8th-9th July 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Shanghai's Pudong New Area has introduced driverless robotaxi services following the issuance of the district's first commercial licenses for autonomous driving. Baidu's Apollo, AutoX, and Pony.ai were among the initial recipients of permits from the Pudong government, allowing them to conduct road tests and offer driverless robotaxi services on specified open roads within the district. The establishment of specific laws for Pudong New Area, granted by Shanghai's legislature, has paved the way for the commercialisation of autonomous driving in the district. Shanghai, known for its prominence in the automotive industry and AI development, has been actively focusing on strengthening its industrial chain, implementing supportive policies, and exploring integrated applications to capitalise on the opportunities presented by intelligent and connected vehicles.
China accused Japan of attempting to mislead the international community by whitewashing its decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, voiced strong objections during a press briefing, criticising Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno's assertions that China and South Korea had also released liquid wastes with high tritium concentration into the sea, arguing that these assertions deliberately distorted facts and employed misleading comparisons. Wang emphasised the stark differences between water contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which had direct contact with melted reactor cores, and water released by regularly operating nuclear power plants. He called on Japan to assume responsibility; address international concerns; cease advancing its ocean discharge plan; and handle the nuclear-contaminated water transparently and scientifically through thorough consultations.
Wu Hansheng has been appointed as the inaugural head of the Social Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The department, established in March 2023, has been assigned the responsibility of overseeing various sectors, including the promotion of voluntary services, social worker training, addressing public complaints, managing industry associations, and administering grassroots communities. Wu, aged 60, previously served as the deputy Party secretary of the State Organs Works Committee of the CPC Central Committee and was responsible for routine duties. He has also held key positions, such as leader of a discipline inspection and supervision team and Party chief of Yingkou city in Liaoning province.
China's Premier Li Qiang has approved a new regulation aimed at overseeing private investment funds. The State Council announced that the regulation, consisting of 62 items divided into seven chapters, will take effect on September 1, 2023. The objective of the regulation is to promote the standardised and healthy growth of the private investment fund industry, safeguard the rights of investors, and encourage the sector to contribute to the real economy and technological innovation. The new rules define the scope of application, outline the responsibilities of fund managers and custodians, regulate fundraising and investments, establish provisions for venture capital funds, and enhance supervision, management, and legal accountability. China's government is considering various measures to support the country's economic recovery, with the private investment fund sector being recognised for its positive role in serving the real economy, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving innovation. The introduction of specialised regulations is expected to protect investors and ensure the sector's sustainable development.
The National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced that the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a joint space mission between China and Europe, has advanced to the flight model phase. Following a comprehensive four-day review, experts unanimously confirmed the successful completion of SMILE's critical design review, signifying a significant milestone in its development. The experts acknowledged that the prototypes had been developed as required, with each product meeting task requirements and undergoing thorough testing and verification. Furthermore, they praised the satellite and payloads for their feasible designs, clear interfaces and adherence to task requirements. SMILE aims to enhance understanding of the Sun-Earth connection by observing the dynamic interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. It is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2025 from a space launch centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Trapped child astounds Chinese social media: A shocking incident in China has ignited widespread outrage on social media platforms. The episode involves a couple who left their child trapped inside a taxi while running errands, inadvertently leaving the key inside the vehicle. When concerned passers-by discovered the motionless child inside, they desperately tried to attract the child's attention but to no avail. One Good Samaritan, identified as Lin from Sichuan province, intervened by offering to break a window to free the child, concerned about the potential danger posed by a lack of oxygen. However, the parents, fearing the cost of repairing the taxi, callously refused to grant permission. Despite repeatedly emphasising that the child's life was more important than a broken window and offering to compensate for the damage, the parents remained unyielding. Lin, undeterred by their response, took matters into his own hands and smashed a window with a hammer to rescue the child after an agonising hour of confinement. Shockingly, instead of expressing gratitude, the child's mother confronted Lin and even demanded that he delete the video of the incident from social media. Online, public sentiment overwhelmingly supports Lin's courageous actions, with thousands expressing disgust towards the parents' behaviour. This incident has fuelled further discussions on controversial parenting practices in China and responsible caregiving and the well-being of children.

INDIA WATCH

The advancement of the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission, a joint space mission between China and Europe, marks a significant development in space science. The successful completion of the critical design review and the positive feedback from experts indicate that SMILE is progressing well towards its objectives. SMILE's objective to study the Sun-Earth connection and the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere has profound scientific implications. It has the potential to enhance our understanding of space weather and its impact on Earth's systems, including communication networks, satellite operations, and power grids. This knowledge is crucial for countries like India, which are susceptible to space weather events.

From an Indian perspective, this development highlights the growing capabilities of China in the field of space exploration and research. While China's collaboration with Europe in a space mission of this scale demonstrates its ability to engage in international partnerships and leverage resources and expertise from multiple countries, India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), also has a cross-support arrangement with the European Space Agency (ESA). The agreement enables both agencies to exchange navigation, operations, and data handling support, ensuring seamless communication during critical mission phases. For ISRO, this partnership with ESA opens avenues for enhanced support in upcoming human spaceflight, lunar exploration, and solar research missions. The exchange of expertise and resources can help propel India's space program forward and facilitate advancements in scientific understanding and technological capabilities.

Prepared By

Ramyani Kundu

Ramyani Kundu is an Undergraduate student from Shiv Nadar IoE, pursuing a B.A.(Research) English with a Minor in International Relations. Her research interests include understanding the role of narratives in geopolitical relations and foreign policy's of nation-states. She further posits interest in South/East Asian literature and Continental philosophy