CiCM 29th August 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

29th Congress of Shaanxi Provincial Trade Union held: The Shaanxi Provincial Trade Union held its 29th convention in Xi'an. Guo Dawei, chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Federation of Trade Unions, presided over the inaugural meeting and delivered a work report. Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee; Zhao Gang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Shaanxi Province; and Zhu Jianping, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions Secretariat, were among those in attendance. Zhao Yide emphasized the need to research Xi Jinping's views on trade unions; putting recent party committee orders into action; and encouraging high-quality growth. He emphasized the need for labor unions to organize, direct, and protect workers' rights. Zhu Jianping complimented Shaanxi's dedication to trade union activities and encouraged the Party's National Congress to stick to Xi Jinping's Thought and the spirit of the Party. Trade unions were encouraged to continue uniting workers and supporting Shaanxi's attempts to modernize.

Beijing's summer of cultural extravaganza and people-centric policies: Beijing featured a dynamic cultural scene this summer, with 166 venues displaying a total of 820 acts spanning diverse genres and attracting a significant audience. The city instituted favorable cultural policies with the goal of increasing people's cultural involvement. Operas, dance plays, and musicals, such as the Bolshoi Ballet's Ballet Collection and Don Quixote performances in the State Bolshoi Opera House, were notable events. The Shaanxi Opera Research Institute performed the "New Era Trilogy" in the Meilanfang Grand Theatre, which included "Love of Proud Yang," "Model Village," and "Oasis of Life," all of which received critical acclaim. Beijing encouraged theatres to cut admission costs, hosted play salons, master lectures, and immersive experiences while also offering student discounts at locations such as the Capital Theatre. Furthermore, Beijing's year-long Beijing Huimin Cultural Consumption Season, which celebrates cultural involvement, was a highlight.

Guangzhou implements new housing loan standards to address demand and improve conditions: The Guangzhou Municipal People's Government website published an announcement addressing adjustments to the city's rules for recognizing the number of dwelling units in personal housing loans. The goal is to alleviate housing demand, enhance housing conditions, and stay in line with national housing loan criteria. The announcement added that when families in the city seek loans to acquire commercial housing and do not have a full locally registered housing unit, banks will assess their applications under the first home credit policy, even if they have never utilized a loan for house purchase previously. This modification is effective as of the date of the national notice (Jianfang [2023] No. 52), and in case of any conflict with existing policies, this notice takes precedence.

China and the US form joint working group to enhance bilateral commerce ties: China and the United States have formed a collaborative working group to improve communication on bilateral trade, as agreed during discussions between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The four-hour talks culminated in the formation of a working group comprised of officials and business leaders from both nations. This group will concentrate on tackling specific business issues and hold deputy ministerial-level meetings twice a year, with the heads of the commerce departments meeting at least once a year. They have also established an export control information sharing mechanism in order to explain their export control systems, and they will communicate information in compliance with their respective laws. Furthermore, as part of administrative licensing enhancement, technical meetings between experts from both nations will take place regarding trade secret protection and private corporate information.
Chinese tourist cancelations surge as Japan's Fukushima wastewater release hits the tourism industry: The Japanese government's statement that nuclear-contaminated effluent from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will be released into the Pacific Ocean sparked outrage among Chinese visitors. Many Chinese visitors have canceled their guided trips to Japan, creating a significant drop in the Japanese tourism business. Japan has been withdrawn as a suggested destination by Chinese corporations, and search data from travel portals such as Ctrip reveals a fall in interest in Japan. Japan, a previously popular destination, had even eclipsed Southeast Asian countries in terms of search traffic. However, because of fears about nuclear pollution, Japan has been removed from the list of suggested places on Chinese travel websites. Flight searches and ticket prices for Tokyo and Osaka have decreased, but trip cancellations to Japan have climbed. Chinese tourists who had planned to visit Japan have canceled their vacations due to safety and health concerns. Given that Chinese travelers account for a considerable amount of Japan's tourism earnings, the negative impact on the Japanese tourism sector is projected to be enormous. The leak of radioactive water has harmed Japan's international reputation, and analysts expect that the bad impacts on the local tourist economy will last and intensify in the short term.
National People’s Congress considers draft foreign state immunity law: China's highest legislative body is considering a draft foreign state immunity legislation designed to promote the country's high-level openness, strengthen the Belt and Road Initiative, and protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The draft bill, which was presented to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, aims to adapt China's legal system to changing international exchanges and specify the authority of domestic courts in civil disputes involving foreign governments. The legislation's drafting is consistent with China's objective of promoting the rule of law in foreign affairs and protecting Chinese people' rights while encouraging friendly international contacts. The draft was open to public comment, with recommendations on how to improve its legislative aim and clarify commercial activity definitions received. Suits filed against China in other courts, particularly those relating to COVID-19, triggered the move to write the law, stressing the necessity for special legislation to handle sovereign immunity and defend the interests of both Chinese and international investors.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Fukushima wastewater casts shadow on Japanese cosmetics industry in China: Japanese cosmetic firms are facing heightened scrutiny from Chinese consumers as public anxiety and resentment in China builds over Japan's dumping of treated nuclear wastewater. Doubts arose when the Fukushima nuclear power plant's operator began dumping diluted radioactive water into the sea. Concerns over product safety have encouraged Chinese customers to mistrust Japanese cosmetic businesses' production procedures. Some companies replied by ensuring the safety of their products, while others handled concerns discreetly. Confessions of returning Japanese cosmetic items and demands for boycotts have filled Chinese social media.

INDIA WATCH

The rich and diversified cultural legacy of India is a source of great pride and identity. However, the creation and execution of cultural policies in the country have been fraught with difficulties. With so many languages, faiths, customs, and art forms, it is difficult to create inclusive cultural policies that serve the needs and ambitions of all populations. Another issue is striking a balance between preservation and modernization. While historic cultural practices and heritage places must be preserved, there is also a need to adapt to changing circumstances and foster current cultural manifestations. Furthermore, allocating enough resources for the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of diverse cultural forms is frequently neglected in favor of more important economic and political goals. This lack of investment has the potential to stifle the development and transmission of cultural practices to future generations. Such fragmentation impedes the cultural sector's overall growth.

Despite these challenges, several cultural policies have been adopted in India in order to preserve and promote its rich history. The "National Mission on Libraries," which focuses on improving access to knowledge and information, the "Sangeet Natak Akademi," a self-governing organization that is in charge of promoting and conserving different types of performing arts, such as music, dance, and theatre and the "National Handloom Development Programme" a government initiative aimed at preserving and growing India's traditional handloom industry are a few of these policies. These efforts strive to establish a suitable atmosphere for cultural growth and enrichment by addressing diverse facets of culture, from the arts to historical preservation and cleanliness. But a fruitful result is far from reach if the difficulties are not overcome. Overcoming obstacles in the creation and implementation of cultural policies will need a collaborative effort from legislators, cultural specialists, communities, and artists. India can preserve the vitality and continuation of its cultural legacy in the face of current challenges by taking an inclusive, balanced, and forward-thinking approach.

Prepared By

Anakha S Thampy

Anakha S Thampy is currently pursuing her dual Masters degree - an MA in International Studies from Symbiosis International University, Pune, and an MA in Sustainability Science from IGNOU. Having completed her Bachelor's in Political Science, she aspires to make a significant impact in society by becoming a Civil Servant. Her research focus revolves around the captivating realms of Asian area studies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).