CiCM 9th October 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Xi Jinping, Wang Yi and Others met with delegation from the U.S. Senate led by Schumer: Xi Jinping met the delegation on the afternoon of October 9^th and proposed that “China and United States should respect each other and coexist peacefully and cooperate. The purpose of win-win is to stabilize and improve Sino-U.S. relations in the new historical period.” China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi also met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing, and expressed his hope that the U.S, Congressmen would gain a more accurate and objective understanding of China. He urged them to manage differences between the two countries rationally and play a constructive role in improving Sino-U.S. relations and emphasized the importance of implementing agreements reached by the two. Schumer and his delegation expressed willingness to enhance communication and dialogue with China based on openness and mutual respect. They additionally committed to handling difference responsibly to avoid conflict and emphasized that United State did not seek to decouple from China. The meeting signifies ongoing efforts to foster cooperation and dialogue between the two countries aiming to improve relations despite existing challenges and tensions.

China offers disaster relief to Afghanistan: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Herat province, Afghanistan on Saturday resulting in more than 2,000 fatalities and around 10,00 injuries. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release that the disaster affected no Chinese nationals and has pledged that “We will do our best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts in light of its needs". Many Chinese analysts like Chu Yongbia, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies in Lanzhou, have emphasised that global crises like Israel-Palestine conflict and Russia-Ukraine war may divert attention from Afghanistan making it more difficult for them to acquire aid. China has called on the international community to offer assistance to address the crisis further highlighting how the Taliban government may face obstacles in receiving international assistance due to a lack of official relations with other countries. The Red Cross Society of China on Sunday said it has decided to provide the Afghan Red Cresent with $200,000 in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance to aid disaster relief efforts.
The 18th National Congress of Chinese Trade Unions opens in Beijing: The first meeting of the Presidium of the 18th National Congress of Chinese Trade Unions convened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Nearly 2,000 representatives of the 18th National Congress of Chinese Trade Unions and more than 50 specially invited representatives attended the conference. Xi Jinping, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and other party and state leaders attended the meeting to congratulate. Cai Qi delivered a speech on behalf of the Party Central Committee. Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, presided over the session. During the session, Wang Dongming and 18 others were elected as executive chairpersons via a show of hands. Several key agendas were approved such as the list of executive chairs for the plenary sessions, deputy secretaries-general for the 18th National Congress of Chinese Trade Unions, the qualification review report, and the schedule for the event. A Delegate Qualification Review Committee meeting took place on the same day led by Xu Liuping, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group. It discussed representative election procedures and ultimately endorsed the draft of “Report on the Qualification Review of Representatives of the Chinese Trade Unions ”.
Ministry of Commerce announced a three-month extension of the investigation regarding Taiwain trade restrictions: The Ministry of Commerce has announced an extension of the investigation into Taiwan’s trade restrictions on China. The original investigation was launched earlier in April this year to assess Taiwan's trade limitations imposed on the mainland. Citing the reason as complexity of the case the Ministry has decided to extend the investigation period by three months, in alignment with Article 32 of the “Investigation Rules on Foreign Trade Barriers”, with a new deadline set for January 12, 2024. Preliminary findings indicated that Taiwan's restrictions potentially violated the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules specifically on the elimination of quantitative restrictions. The number of products banned from import from Taiwan into China has increased over the years. The restrictions impact various sectors like petrochemicals, textiles, electromechanical equipment and automobiles.
The Supreme People’s Procturate Party Group held first meeting regarding inspections: The Supreme People's Procuratorate Party Group, the highest national agency responsible for legal prosecution and prosecutorial investigation in the country, held a crucial meeting in Beijing, led by Ying Yong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chief Prosecutor. Ying Yong emphasized the significance of implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and understanding General Secretary Xi Jinping's insights on inspection work. He stressed the need for political inspections within the procuratorial system to vigorously promote political supervision and uphold the Party's absolute leadership over procuratorial work. The focus of these inspections includes supporting key Party initiatives, promoting the rule of law, and enhancing self-supervision. Ying Yong also emphasized nationwide inspections' importance and their integration into the overall inspection framework. The first round of inspections will cover six provincial procuratorates in Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Yunnan, and Guangxi. These inspections play a crucial role in maintaining Party discipline, ensuring accountability, and advancing the development of the legal and procuratorial systems in China.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

In a humorous incident three children are pulled over by the police for driving a toy car: An amusing incident in China has captured the attentions of millions on Douyin, China’s equivalent of TikTok. The incident involves three young kids being pulled over by the police while driving a toy car on a main road near their residential compound in Dayao county, Yunnan province. The officer humorously informed them that they were breaking the law by “driving an overloaded vehicle without a license.” One of the kids cleverly argued, “it is not overloaded because it has four seats plus a boot”. This response amused both the police and viewers. Many found the incident endearing and praised the kids for their driving skills. Some even suggested banning the kids from taking a driver’s test for the next five years and reporting it to their kindergarten. However, there were also criticisms directed at their parents for not supervising their children.

INDIA WATCH

Diplomacy through humanitarian aid to establish geopolitical influence in the international order has been a tactic used by both China and India. The COVID-19 pandemic was an instance where both India and China participated in substantial humanitarian assistance through vaccine diplomacy, medicines and food. China deployed medical teams and donated equipment to over 150 countries. In India’s case, by May 2020, New Delhi spent $16 million on test kits, pharmaceuticals and other medical equipment for around 90 countries. China’s recent announcement to provide $200,000 in humanitarian aid to the Afghan Red Crescent is also an instance of asserting itself as the first, biggest provider of aid in the Global South. By holding the international community accountable for its timid response to Afghanistan, China seems to countering a certain narrative against it as well. To be seen as the biggest lender of humanitarian aid is a way of circumventing accountability when it comes to answers about its own domestic human rights situation in Xinjiang. To be one of the first countries to pledge aid to Afghanistan under the current Taliban regime reinforces its aims to be seen as a ‘responsible power’. However, given the very recent meeting with acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mottaki China wants to turn the relationship into one of strategic cooperation potentially through the realm of the “Belt and Road” initiative, especially given the economic reconstruction costs for disaster hit and economically struggling Afghanistan. India’s engagement with Afghanistan has been constant through humanitarian aid, most recently in August to supply food and medicines to the drought-hit country. India supplied 47,500 tonnes of wheat to World UNWFP centres across Afghanistan. Delhi is yet to announce aid to Afghanistan for the recent earthquake.

Prepared By

Priyanka Raman

Priyanka Raman is a final-year student at Shiv Nadar University Noida, with a major in international relations and a minor in communications. Through her degree, she has had the opportunity to pursue multiple courses relating to Chinese politics and is deeply interested in politics of the Party media and knowledge dessimination. Her research interests surround topics of propaganda media and politics, gender and international relations and refugee politics.