CiCM 25th April 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China Bolsters Flood Precautions in Pearl River Basin Amid Ongoing Heavy Rainfall: The Ministry of Water Resources in China is increasing efforts to prevent flooding due to ongoing heavy rain in the southern region. The ministry expects ongoing heavy rainfall in the southern and southwestern areas of the country, especially in the Pearl River basin, from Wednesday to Friday. Anticipated rainstorms will likely raise water levels in three important rivers - the Beijing, Dongjiang, and Hanjiang rivers - possibly exceeding warning levels. To tackle this danger, the ministry is strengthening predictions, alerts, and emergency plans for flood prevention. Monitoring reservoirs and waterways in the Pearl River basin is currently being done in real-time to promptly address any worsening conditions. Furthermore, special consideration is being given to the potential danger of flooding and flash floods in smaller rivers, particularly in the Beijing region. Despite the Beijing, Dongjiang, and Hanjiang rivers being stable, continuous heavy rainfall requires additional flood-control efforts in the Pearl River Basin. Workers are currently involved in cleaning up areas impacted by the pollution, like parks near the Beijing River in Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, as a part of their initiatives.
Chinese and Malaysian Foreign Ministers Discuss Deepening Cooperation: Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir met in Beijing to discuss enhancing collaboration between their nations. They highlighted the importance of their positions as growing countries and key contributors to Asia's advancing economies. Both parties talked about speeding up important initiatives and increasing cooperation in industries such as new-energy vehicles, digital economy, and agriculture. Malaysia eagerly anticipates the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to China, expecting a strengthening of bilateral friendship. They showed willingness to work together to maintain regional peace, enhance China-ASEAN connections, and commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Both parties also promised to enhance economic collaboration, with China remaining as Malaysia's primary trading ally. Additionally, Malaysia praised China's opinion on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and promoted a two-state resolution during their conversation on global matters. China confirmed its readiness to work together with Malaysia to address the Palestinian problem.
Growth Outlook for Chinese Market Remains Resilient, Says Expert: Dina Ting, the head of Global Index Portfolio Management at Franklin Templeton, in her article for the Financial Times, rejected worries about recent changes in the Chinese stock market and disagreed with calling it a crisis. The article was extensively covered among prominent Chinese media outlets. She highlights positive signs like high-level conversations between Chinese and American officials, as well as progress in technological fields such as AI and EVs. Ting in her article also recognized recent regulatory actions taken by Chinese authorities and observes indications of cooperation between fiscal and monetary policies. She highlighted the shift in China from depending on exports for growth to focusing more on a sustainable model that is driven by consumption and services.
Shanghai Officials Meet Blinken, Emphasize Equal Communication in China-US Relations: Antony Blinken's trip to China has led to talks about the importance of both countries communicating on an equal basis. Prior to reaching Beijing, Blinken held meetings with officials in Shanghai including with Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC, stressing the significance of direct engagement and dialogue in handling the China-US relationship. Chinese analysts highlighted the need for both parties to be accountable in their leadership, with the expectation that Blinken's trip would dispel any misconceptions the US may have about China. Despite Blinken expressing worries about China's trade policies, Chinese officials reaffirmed their dedication to market principles and collaboration. Nevertheless, recent actions taken by the US, such as approving an assistance package for Taiwan and preparing sanctions against Chinese banks, have caused tensions in relations. Chinese experts pointed out that the US needs to sincerely address China's worries and cannot anticipate cooperation without mutual respect. Analysts have little hope for Blinken's visit, as they believe that China does not trust or find the US intentions credible.
Expanding Collaborative Efforts: China's New Partners for International Lunar Research Station: China National Space Administration (CNSA) revealed that more partners, like Nicaragua, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, will participate in building and managing the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The announcement was made during China's Space Day in Wuhan, located in Hubei province. China launched the ILRS with the goal of promoting lunar research and exploration. These new collaborators will work together with China on different components of the ILRS, including its showcase, design, functioning, and utilization. CNSA officials have signed agreements and memorandums of understanding with representatives from the three parties. The ILRS will be built in three stages, with a basic version scheduled to be finished by 2030. The research station will run independently for long periods, with occasional human visits. This progress represents a major milestone in global collaboration for exploring the moon and demonstrates China's dedication to advancing space exploration endeavours.
China's Relief Supplies Arrive in Papua New Guinea Following Natural Disasters: Aid from China reached Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, delivering essential relief to those impacted by recent natural disasters. Zeng Fanhua, China's Ambassador to PNG, highlighted the strong bond between the two countries, showing understanding for the difficulties experienced by the people in PNG following natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. During a donation ceremony with PNG's Minister of Defence, Billy Joseph present, Zeng reiterated China's dedication to backing PNG as a reliable ally. Joseph expressed appreciation for China's prompt aid, ensuring a quick delivery of the supplies to the affected regions. He praised China for being a loyal ally of PNG, emphasizing the long-lasting bond between the two nations. Joseph stated that PNG is ready to enhance collaboration with China to address shared challenges together.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Hollywood's 'Civil War' Scene Sparks Debate on Hong Kong Identity and Superiority Complexes Among Chinese Nationalists: The movie "Civil War," directed by Alex Garland, sparked a political debate in China due to a scene in which an Asian journalist from Hong Kong, played by a Taiwanese actor, is mistakenly shot by an American soldier assuming he is from mainland China. Although the scene was well-received worldwide, it has caused unease among Asian viewers, particularly Hongkongers, leading to conversations about identity and how Chinese people are viewed by Westerners. Some interpret the situation as a satirical critique of Hong Kong residents and others who minimize their Chinese heritage and adopt Western customs. The representation of this situation in the movie has sparked discussions on social networking sites, bringing attention to the conflicts between various Chinese communities and their interactions with Western societies. Critics claim that the scene exposes deep-seated problems related to identity and feelings of superiority in some Hong Kong residents, highlighting the intricate relationship between cultural identity and geopolitical circumstances.

INDIA WATCH

Record Surge in Indian Train Passengers Amid Elections and Weddings: The South China Morning Post (SCMP) published an article discussing how India in the first three weeks of April saw a historic increase in train passengers, with 411 million people traveling on the railways due to the dual combination of the national elections and favourable astrological dates for weddings. This, subsequently impacted the increase in train travellers, as people planned significant trips, celebrations, or occasions during these favourable times. The Chinese media further emphasized about how Indian Railways accommodated 33.8 million passengers throughout its vast network during the peak surge on April 20-21. This arrival caused trains to be filled to maximum capacity, with passengers packed tightly into every possible area, including hallways and even bathrooms. The increase was caused by a mix of reasons, such as the large number of weddings scheduled at that time and the necessity for migrant workers to go back to their hometowns to vote. The Indian Railways, on the other hand, arranged additional trains to handle the increased demand, but criticism continued, with Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader, using the opportunity to scrutinize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's train travel policies. Chinese media presents this news as a reflection of India's massive population and the challenges its infrastructure faces, particularly during significant events like elections. It highlights India's reliance on trains and complexity of India's railway network.

Prepared By

Triveni Mahajan

Triveni is a student of Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication at Bennett University and has contributed to the field of Indian Politics Journalism.