CiCM 26th January 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

US national security advisor is set to meet Chinese foreign minister in Bangkok: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet in Bangkok on Friday and Saturday. The motive of this meeting is to strengthen and deepen their dialogue, despite their differences on Taiwan. Since the U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Premier Xi Jinping met in the United States in November, this meeting will be the first high-level talk between the two countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wengbin told reporters that, “During the new round of meetings, Wang will state China’s position on China-U.S. relations, including the Taiwan issue, and exchange views with the U.S. side on international and regional issues of common interest.” Sullivan, after his arrival in Bangkok on Friday, first met with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara. They discussed ties between Thailand and the U.S. apart from regional and global issues. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke said, “The meeting is actually arranged bilaterally between the two sides. We did not have any role in organising for the meeting or anything but we are pleased that Thailand is the venue for such a meeting.”
China takes on the drug prices differences across the provinces: Chinese officials are introducing caps on price differences for identical drugs in different parts of the country, in order to curb pharmaceutical companies’ price discrimination. Provincial authorities’ control over most drug procurement procedures has led to differences in drug prices across provinces. Some poorer provinces pay higher prices for identical drugs than high-income provinces, studies suggest. Drug prices in China can vary widely from province to province. For example, 5ml of the cancer drug Paclitaxel is priced at 67 yuan ($9.4) in the southwestern Sichuan province and 137 yuan in the central Hubei province. Therefore, the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) issued a notice ordering that a pharmaceutical company’s tender price for a drug will be capped at 1.5 times the bid price (the final price at which a drug is procured) of the company’s same drug sold elsewhere. A unified drug procurement information platform will be launched in order to encourage information sharing between provinces. NHSA estimates that the abnormally high price differences will be done away with by the end of March. NHSA understands that minor fluctuations in price are expected due to varying market sizes and transportation distances but at the same time it also states that these differences should not be abnormally high.

Chinese premier Li Qiang chairs symposium to hear opinions on draft gov't work report: Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired a symposium to hear opinions and suggestions on the draft government work report. The members present in the symposium included leaders of non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and representatives of persons without party affiliation. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese Vice Premier, also attended the symposium. The attendees in the event voiced opinions regarding government work in the areas of macro-control, scientific and technological innovation, emerging industries, market conditions, and promoting green development. Li pointed out that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and called it an important year for materialising the goals for the 2021-2025 period. The premier asked the Chinese people to scientifically comprehend the domestic and foreign situations while remaining cool-headed, and to make untiring efforts in forwarding the country's causes.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport urgently allocated 15 million yuan to support emergency highway construction in earthquake areas of Xinjiang: 15 million yuan has been urgently allocated by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport for earthquake-prone areas of Xinjiang, to support emergency highway construction. On January 23, 2024, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Wushi County, Xinjiang. A total of 4216 aftershocks have been recorded, as of 26 January. These include earthquakes of magnitudes below 3.0, 4067 times and that of magnitude of 3.0 and above, 149 times. After the earthquake, the Ministry of Transport immediately launched a Level III emergency response and carried out emergency rescue and disaster damage investigation. As of 16:00 on the 26th, a total of 1,465 people had been dispatched for inspection and rescue, 506 pieces of machinery and equipment, 7,948 bridges and 45 tunnels had been constructed. Xinjiang's transportation department has been carrying out comprehensive inspections and capacity load tests. It has also adopted measures such as temporary closure and 24-hour monitoring of road sections, bridges, and tunnels with hidden dangers.

Zheng Dasheng elected as the 9th chairman of the Shanghai Filmmakers Association: The 9th Member Congress of the Shanghai Filmmakers Association was held in the Literary Hall. The association elected Zheng Dasheng as its 9th Chairman. Li Xiaojun was elected as the Vice President of the Shanghai Filmmakers Association. At the event, Ren Zhonglun, the eighth chairman of the Shanghai Filmmakers Association, presented a work report titled "Adhere to Integrity, Innovation and Bravely Fulfil the Mission of the Times - Make New Contributions to the Development of Shanghai Films". This report put forward the work concept for the next five years. The ninth council of the Shanghai Film Association consists of 87 directors, including artists, professionals and managers from institutions in film creation, production, research, criticism, education, distribution and other relevant categories. On behalf of the newly elected ninth council, Zheng Dasheng expressed gratitude and paid tribute to the hard work of the eighth council in the last five years.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Chinese social media in frenzy over Ronaldo's visit: Cristiano Ronaldo’s eighth tour of China has produced frustration from fans over postponed matches. It has also annoyed Ronaldo as local internet influencers have been using his presence to bolster their online profiles. On January 24 and 28, Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, was supposed to play a match with Chinese Super League teams Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang Pro in Shenzhen. However, the matches were postponed due to Ronaldo’s health. On January 23, the player apologised to his Chinese fans. However, Ronaldo’s apology did not strike a chord with his Chinese fans. Netizens blamed him for lack of sincere regret. The player too seems to have been disappointed by the visit. Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammates attended a welcome dinner on January 22. The event was also attended by internet celebrities. Throughout the dinner, the player was bombarded with requests for photos, signatures and requests to take part in live-streaming events. Videos shared online show how some influencers even promoted their brands during their interactions with Ronaldo and his team. The live-streaming, promotional rights, commercial interests, and nature of the trip in itself has garnered a combination of reactions on Chinese social media. One person said: “If you’re not playing or participating in any events, then why did you come at all? Were you never planning to fulfil the contract?” However, some also lent support to the star. “It’s really strange, expecting Ronaldo to sell products on a live-stream. Who’s ever seen such a thing?” said another internet user.

INDIA WATCH

Like China, Indian topography is highly prone to earthquakes. Having experienced numerous earthquakes of magnitude greater than 6, the Himalayan region and the Rann of Katch in India are particularly vulnerable. The earthquakes in Latur (1993), Kashmir (2005) and Bhuj (2001) are grim reminders of the country's vulnerability to earthquakes. The Indian government has taken concentrated efforts to build earthquake preparedness for the country. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published the Seismic Zoning Map of India, ranging from Zone II to V and offers guidelines for implementing the essential engineering codes and practices to construct earthquake-resistant buildings. The National Disaster Management Authority is the agency responsible for various precautionary measures such as earthquake drills, awareness programmes, earthquake management to enhance preparedness and response to earthquake related incidents. Two mobile apps called India Quake and Sagar Vani have been developed in order to disseminate real time developments about the earthquake to the general public. In India, where heritage sites are susceptible to natural catastrophes including earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and tsunami, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) works to be the first responder. The Disaster Management Act called for the establishment of State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) led by the respective Chief Ministers to carry out similar functions at the state level and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to oversee disaster management efforts in India. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which approaches disaster management in a highly holistic manner, has India as a signatory. To further its disaster resilience, a specific department for earthquake management must be established in seismic zones with a very high risk of earthquakes. Granting tax breaks to those who construct structures with earthquake resistance will also be an encouraging incentive.

Prepared By

Aachal Ashok Mishra

Aachal completed her graduation in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University. Currently she is pursuing her master's in Political Science from IGNOU. Her areas of interest revolve around international relations, foreign policy dynamics, defence and security. She has previously interned with the Council for Social Development and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.