CiCM 7th May 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China plans to improve hospital beds to population ratio: China has unveiled comprehensive guidelines aimed at significantly bolstering its intensive care infrastructure by the end of the 2025. The plan, released jointly by the National Health Commission and seven other governmental departments, outlines ambitious targets, including increasing the number of intensive care beds to 15 per 100,000 people nationwide and ensuring that 10 out of every 100,000 hospital beds can swiftly convert to intensive care units. This initiative underscores the nation's commitment to enhancing its capacity to handle major public health crises effectively, building upon lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The directive emphasizes the need for regional medical centers with advanced intensive care capabilities, setting criteria for both provincial and county-level hospitals. To meet these goals, the guideline mandates that at least 4 percent of beds in tertiary hospitals be designated for intensive care in tertiary general hospitals, traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and other specialized hospitals. It also outlines plans to ramp up training programs for intensive care professionals. Du Bin, Vice-President of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, noted significant growth in intensive care resources and personnel between 2011 and 2015, indicating progress in this critical area. Despite such advancements, as of late 2022, China still had approximately 181,000 intensive care beds, translating to 12.8 beds per 100,000 people.

Former Chinese Unicom General Manager jailed due to bribery charges: Li Guohua, former general manager of China Unicom, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for bribery and abuse of power by a court in Qingdao, Shandong Province. In addition to the prison term, Li was fined 6 million yuan and had his illicit gains, totalling over 66.45 million yuan, confiscated. The court determined that between 1998 and 2022, Li exploited his positions in the post and telecommunications sector to provide favours related to project contracting, business operations and personal advancements in exchange for bribes. His actions resulted in the loss of nearly 50 million yuan worth of state-owned assets. Despite the severity of his offenses, Li received a relatively lenient sentence due to his confession, voluntary reporting of some crimes not yet under investigation, expression of remorse and active restitution of his illegal gains.

Shenzhen, Wuhan eases housing market restrictions to attract demand: Following major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, etc. Shenzhen and Wuhan have also announced easing of home sales restrictions to attract more demand and boost consumers’ confidence in markets. Shenzhen has lowered personal income tax and social security payments of non-local families and individuals looking to buy properties in certain districts as well as allowed local families with two or more children to buy second homes. This followed lowering of downpayments for additional homes announced in November. On the other hand, Wuhan has lowered mortgage rates for local families which are looking to sell existing homes and buy a new one. Further, families can avail more subsidies if this process within a designated time. These measures are announced in response to central government’s guidelines asking local authorities to “digest existing inventory” and “optimise policies around new housing.” This step is important given the fact that sales of China’s top 100 developers dropped by 45 percent in April year on year basis.

China-France Entrepreneurs Committee meeting held in Paris: During President Xi Jinping's visit to France, the sixth meeting of the China-France Entrepreneurs Committee convened at the Marigny Theater in Paris. President Xi Jinping and President Macron jointly attended the closing ceremony, highlighting the significance of Sino-French economic ties. Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and French representatives co-chaired the event. Discussions revolved around three main themes: industrial innovation; green economy and low-carbon transition; new productivity and sustainable development. Suggestions were made from both sides to deepen economic cooperation. Companies pledged to capitalize on China's push for high-quality development, upgrading equipment and enhancing trade in consumer goods. Representatives from relevant ministries attended. Following the ceremony, 15 cooperation agreements were signed in finance, nuclear energy, aviation, manufacturing and new energy sectors. These agreements mark a new phase in the 60-year economic partnership between China and France, promising mutual growth and sustainable development.

Zhongba county launches border tourism check-in point: Recently, in Zhongba County, Shigatse City of Tibet, the launching ceremony of a border tourist check-in point took place at the restricted area of Rizi Port. The aim is to boost the high-quality development of port economy and foster closer ties between people of China and Nepal. Over 400 participants from Xigaze Customs, Tibet General Border Inspection Station, Rizi Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station and Zhongba County attended. Guided by border inspection police, they crossed into Nepal at China-Nepal border post No. 24 to greet Nepalese tourists, take photos together and strengthen people-to-people ties. They also visited Nepal's "tent" market, indulging in Nepali cuisine, music, and dance, envisioning a more prosperous border trade and improved living standards. Together, they expressed enduring wishes for everlasting China-Nepal friendship. Since its official opening on November 13, 2023, Rizi Port has facilitated over 11,000 inbound and outbound passengers with efficient customs clearance services.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

A police station in Changsha became a holiday destination after social media buzz: During the recent May Day holiday in Changsha, central China, hundreds of people queued outside a local police station, eagerly waiting to participate in a new trend fueled by China's "check-in" culture. The Pozi Street Police Station unexpectedly became a viral sensation, attracting crowds of photo-seeking tourists throughout the five-day break. Visitors lined up until late night, taking turns to pose in mock surrender, mimicking scenes from a popular Chinese documentary series called "Guardians of Jiefangxi," which features officers from the same station. The show's candid portrayal of everyday police work has captivated audiences, making it the most watched documentary on the Bilibili platform. Fans of the series have been flocking to the station since its release in 2019, with its popularity reaching new heights during the holiday. Over the period, even the long queues went viral which attracted even more crowd. Despite some criticism of visitors' behaviour, authorities have urged the public to maintain order and respect police work. The incident highlights the power of social media in transforming ordinary locations into viral hotspots, sparking debates over the impact on local communities. Similar trends have emerged elsewhere in China, such as the sudden influx of visitors to outdoor fitness machines in Chengdu after being featured in a music video.

INDIA WATCH

Indian spices under scrutiny in many countries for being carcinogenic: Indian manufacturers face renewed scrutiny over potential carcinogenic ingredients in their products, following a cough syrup issue that led to the deaths of over 140 children in Africa last year. Recently, renowned Indian spice brands MDH and Everest came under fire after Hong Kong flagged their products for containing carcinogens, prompting concerns in Australia, New Zealand, China and the United States. The Hong Kong Center for Food Safety detected ethylene oxide (ETO), a carcinogenic pesticide, in several packaged spices. Consequently, the affected products were recalled. Singapore's Food Authority also issued recalls, emphasizing consumer safety. However, India's Spice Board pointed out varying ETO limits across countries, complicating regulatory responses. The article also mentioned that this was not the first time MDH and Everest faced such issues, indicating recurrence of this problem. Similarly, Indian food has faced scrutiny in Europe, with numerous incidents reported under the European Commission's alert system. The article noted that these incidents coincide with India's push to boost manufacturing for making a $5 trillion economy. The article highlights that concerns over product quality persist despite India's leading role in spice exports. Factors such as insufficient awareness of food safety and cost-cutting measures contribute to this dilemma, as highlighted by reports from organizations like AIB International. The article also takes s a dig at India's pharmaceutical sector which also faces quality issues, with past incidents implicating small local companies. The article attempts to infer that prevalence of unsafe food samples indicates a systemic problem, as manufacturers prioritize affordability over safety, risking public health in the process.

Prepared By

Omkar Bhole

Omkar Bhole is a Senior Research Associate at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). He has studied Chinese language up to HSK4 and completed Masters in China Studies from Somaiya University, Mumbai. He has previously worked as a Chinese language instructor in Mumbai and Pune. His research interests are India’s neighbourhood policy, China’s foreign policy in South Asia, economic transformation and current dynamics of Chinese economy and its domestic politics. He was previously associated with the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) and What China Reads. He has also presented papers at several conferences on China. Omkar is currently working on understanding China’s Digital Yuan initiative and its implications for the South Asian region including India. He can be reached at omkar.bhole@orcasia.org and @bhole_omkar on Twitter.