CiCM 7th December 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Xi calls for strengthened China-EU Partnership amid global uncertainty: Chinese President Xi Jinping urged for an enhanced partnership between China and the European Union (EU), emphasizing mutual trust, dialogue, and cooperation. In a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the 24th China-EU Summit, Xi highlighted the strategic significance of the China-EU relationship in the context of global peace, stability, and prosperity. He stressed the need for both sides to provide stability and impetus for development. The meeting, marking the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, was deemed crucial for navigating current global trends and reinforcing the partnership. Xi also advocated for leveraging economic, scientific, technological, and supply chain cooperation, while Michel and von der Leyen emphasized the EU's desire for a stable and sustainable relationship with China, focusing on mutual benefits and shared interests.

Chinese censors ban -pro-democracy anthem echoing decades of dissent: Chinese censors have blocked a Mandarin protest anthem titled "It's my Duty," created by London-based singer-songwriter Yinfi. The song commemorates various political activists and significant events challenging the Chinese Communist Party's authority, including the Tiananmen Square protests, the Uyghur plight, the Hong Kong democracy movement, and the 2022 "white paper" protests. Yinfi's lyrics reference suppressed voices and evoke key moments of dissent, aiming to preserve the memory of these movements and their champions. Despite its wide circulation outside China, the song has been censored within the country.
Xi Jinping congratulates Madagascar's President Rajoelina on re-election: Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Madagascar's President Andry Nirina Rajoelina on his re-election. Xi highlighted the traditional friendship between China and Madagascar and the rapid advancement of bilateral relations in recent years. He emphasized the fruitful results of exchanges and cooperation across various fields and the mutual support on core interests and major concerns. Xi expressed his commitment to further develop the China-Madagascar comprehensive cooperative partnership for the benefit of both nations' peoples.

China resumes COVID-19 testing amid surge in respiratory diseases: China has restarted COVID-19 testing in hospitals and transportation hubs as the country faces a wave of respiratory illnesses, including a spike in pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, seasonal influenza, and COVID-19. The State Council has directed local authorities to resume testing and monitoring at key locations. Amidst this resurgence, residents report increased testing and concerns about a return of the virus, with unconfirmed reports of the reactivation of the COVID-19 tracker app, Health Code. The Ministry of Education has issued directives to schools to prepare for a potential overlap of multiple respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, in the coming winter and spring.

Philippines' 'Name and Shame' strategy in South China Sea gains momentum: The Philippines has adopted a policy of "assertive transparency" to counter China's actions in the South China Sea, described by analysts as a successful "name and shame" strategy. This approach involves openly publicizing maritime incidents with China, thus imposing reputational costs on Beijing. Philippine officials report that their strategy has led to a decrease in Chinese maritime militia ships in disputed areas. This tactic has not resulted in any economic backlash from China and is praised by regional analysts, who see it as a potential model for other countries in the region dealing with similar challenges.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Chinese food delivery worker’s breakdown sparks discussion regarding worker’s welfare online: A food delivery worker in China, after being stopped by police for jumping a red light, knelt before the officer pleading for leniency, illustrating the immense pressures faced by those in the delivery industry. The incident, which occurred in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, saw the worker in a state of despair, shouting, “I don’t want to live anymore,” and running away after being scolded by the officer. The officer reprimanded him, saying, “The road belongs to everyone, not just you!” and emphasized the danger of his actions. The video of this encounter sparked online debate, with the worker's distress presumed to stem from fear of job loss. The delivery company responded by stating they would not suspend his account immediately, but would educate him if the police reported the incident. They acknowledged the worker's challenging job and the added difficulty of firing him. Public reaction was mixed: some sympathized with the worker's plight, while others highlighted the danger of his actions. This incident echoes a similar case in March, where a police officer slapped a kneeling delivery driver. The local traffic police department responded to that incident with internal training but had not identified the involved officer.

INDIA WATCH

The Philippines' strategy of "assertive transparency" against China in the South China Sea, as described by maritime analyst Ray Powell, offers a potential model for India in similar geopolitical conflicts. This approach involves exposing "illegal, malign and coercive acts" by China to public scrutiny, a tactic that has been effective for Manila without leading to economic or political backlash from Beijing.

India, facing its own tensions with China along their shared border, could adapt this strategy to counter Chinese incursions and influence. By publicly documenting and sharing information about Chinese transgressions, India could impose reputational costs on China and rally international support. This would align with the observation of Collin Koh, who notes that such a strategy "has not been observed before in Southeast Asia" and has put Beijing on the defensive. However, India must consider its unique diplomatic and economic ties with China. Unlike the Philippines, which has the backing of the U.S. under the Mutual Defense Treaty, India navigates a more complex relationship with China, involving substantial trade ties and a history of fluctuating diplomatic engagement. Thus, while embracing transparency, India might need to calibrate its approach to avoid escalation or significant economic repercussions.

Moreover, India's response should be grounded in its foreign policy ethos, which traditionally eschews aggressive posturing. Paired with the advocacy from Washington regarding UNCLOS revisions, a neutral balanced approach seems to be the way forward. A balanced approach that combines assertive transparency with backdoor diplomatic channels, similar to Vietnam's strategy, could be effective. This dual approach could allow India to assert its position while maintaining necessary diplomatic relations with China. In conclusion, the Philippines' strategy offers a template for India, but it must be adapted to the unique Indo-Chinese context. Assertive transparency, coupled with careful diplomacy, could strengthen India's position without unduly risking economic or political stability.

Prepared By

Krisha Trivedi

Krisha Trivedi is a student of International Studies and Business Analytics at FLAME University. Her active involvement in risk analysis is supplemented with her corporate experience in asset and fund management. She is also involved in research projects relating to economic policies, international law and geopolitics. In addition, her skillset includes proficiency in Programming languages, Japanese, French and German.