CiCM 1st May 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Death Toll Reaches 36 in Collapse of Highway in Guangdong: At least 36 people lost their lives in a tragic accident when a part of the Meizhou-Dabu highway collapsed in Guangdong province due to heavy rain on Wednesday morning. The incident took place at approximately 2 am in Dabu County, causing vehicles to fall down a wooded incline as nearly 18 meters of the road collapsed. Originally thought to impact 18 vehicles and approximately 50 passengers, revised numbers showed that 20 vehicles and 54 passengers were involved. Approximately 500 workers quickly started rescue operations, resulting in 30 victims being hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. The reason for the collapse is still being investigated. The event occurred at the beginning of China's Labor Day holiday, a time when more people travel using highways due to absence of tolls, leading to more traffic. The government has warned of possible further disasters, with Guangdong facing “a higher risk of geological disasters”. Videos and pictures captured flames and smoke coming from the collapsed area, showing burnt vehicles on the slope. The highway linking Guangdong to Quanzhou in Fujian province is a vital transportation route in the area.
Distribution of 1 trillion Yuan in Additional Government Bond Funds to Local Governments Complete: During the last quarter of 2023, the central government of China revealed plans to release an extra 1 trillion yuan in treasury bonds. Wang Dongwei, the Vice Minister of Finance, revealed that the money was released in two batches of 500 billion yuan and deployed by local governments to support important projects. The Ministry of Finance and National Development Reform Commission have instituted special mechanisms to monitor project declarations and reviews, making it easier to allocate funds for specific projects. Furthermore, a distinct distribution system was implemented to allocate funds in increments to local governments. Expenditure on urban and rural communities, agriculture, forestry and water resources, along with disaster relief and emergency management have witnessed double digit growth. In the future, the central government intends to continue utilizing these resources for improving farmland quality, irrigation projects, and enhancing grain production. In addition, there are plans to issue ultra-long-term special treasury bonds to assist with long-term infrastructure projects.
China's Chang'e 6 Ready to Explore the Far Side of the Moon: China's upcoming lunar mission, Chang'e 6, is ready to begin a voyage to the far side of the moon to collect samples from this unfamiliar area. The spacecraft is scheduled for launch on Friday, riding on a Long March 5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province. The Long March 5 rocket model is on its second lunar mission with Chang'e 6, which includes an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a reentry module built by the China Academy of Space Technology. After performing a set of flight manoeuvres, it will land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon. The ascender will gather samples of dust and rock, which will later be moved to the return module for the trip back to Earth. This mission seeks to make history by collecting soil from the previously unvisited far side of the moon through landing missions. In late 2020, China's previous mission to the moon, Chang'e 5, achieved a major breakthrough by bringing back 1,731 grams of lunar samples, showcasing advancements in China's space program.
New Energy Vehicles Take Centre Stage at Beijing Auto Show: The Beijing auto show witnessed record-breaking attendance, with over 20,000 reporters and numerous media organizations present to view the unveiling of EVs by Chinese automakers. Electric vehicles (NEVs) were the centre of attention, specifically those from companies like BYD, Chery, and Xiaomi. Despite worries about an excess of supply, representatives from car manufacturers were busy responding to queries and establishing connections. Forecasts for the growth of the NEV market suggest a substantial increase in market share, with industry experts foreseeing the dominance of NEVs by 2026. This prediction driven partly by the worldwide effort to reduce carbon emissions, as NEVs are anticipated to have a significant impact on addressing climate change. The occasion highlighted the dedication of Chinese and international car manufacturers to fulfilling the need for eco-friendly vehicles, with top brands such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz introducing their newest electric models designed specifically for the Chinese market.
Protective Measures Enacted for Kashgar in Xinjiang: The latest law in Kashgar City, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, is designed to protect the old town's traditional culture and buildings. Starting from Wednesday, the new rule makes it illegal to destroy or damage historical buildings and requires permission from authorities for any reconstruction work. It also stresses the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritages like traditional crafts and folklore, with the goal of avoiding excessive commercialization. People of different ethnic backgrounds are urged to maintain their original homes and take part in conservation activities. The ancient town of Kashgar, famous for its historic mud-brick structures that are more than 400 years old, is a popular attraction for visitors in Xinjiang. Zhou Qin, a member of the local people's congress, explained that the aim of the law is not to halt growth of the historic city, but to find a middle ground between conservation and advancement.
Sea Trial Launch of China's Third Aircraft Carrier: Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, started its first sea trial over the "May Day" Golden Week holiday, showcasing a significant advancement in China's naval power. Setting out from Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard, the carrier performed its first sailing trial amidst military exercises in the East China Sea. With advanced electromagnetic ejection and arresting systems, the carrier is China's biggest and most advanced, weighing over 80,000 tons. It is expected by experts that the sea trial period will be long, surpassing 19 months, due to the complexity of its systems. Significantly, the deployment of Fujian shows China's strong commitment to enhance its maritime power. Experts forecast that the new take-off system of the carrier will improve the operational abilities of the Chinese Air Force, enabling a higher payload and fuel capacity. The rapid growth of China’s navy highlights its strategic goals and efforts to exert power in the region.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

China Professor Accused of Verbal Abuse, Coercion, and Exploitation: Zheng Feng, an associate professor at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), has been suspended after being accused of taking advantage of her students. Fifteen students expressed their complaints in a 23-page letter, alleging that Zheng offered little support with research and instead asked them to do personal favours like running errands, helping her daughter with schoolwork, and even cheating on exams for her family. She insisted on having students in the lab for too long, even on holidays, and warned of consequences for any complaints. The students mentioned suffering from mental health problems because of the situation. The university quickly took action by removing Zheng from her teaching position and downgrading her and provided counselling to the impacted students. This situation highlights larger issues regarding power dynamics between teachers and students in Chinese higher education institutions, where instructors have a strong influence on students' academic advancement.

INDIA WATCH

Bomb Threats at Delhi Schools: Xinhua published an article on the bomb threat incidents at Delhi schools. Chinese media, highlighted the quick reaction of school officials, parents, and security forces in evacuating students and searching school grounds thoroughly. The report states that more than 80 schools in Delhi and its surrounding areas were targeted with bomb threats through email, leading to swift measures to guarantee the safety of students. The Xinhua article quoted one parent who was contacted by the school to pick up their children. They article also emphasized that the Delhi Police bomb squad made extensive efforts to the affected schools. No explosives were discovered, causing authorities to classify the threats as a hoax. Chinese media is also aware of the current investigation into the individuals responsible for the threatening emails. The seriousness with which Indian authorities are handling the incident is highlighted in the reports, on the other hand. Chinese media presents this news as a reflection of the security challenges faced by India. The coverage underscores the importance of vigilance and cooperation between security agencies, schools, and parents to ensure the safety of students in the face of potential security risks.

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.