CiCM 5th August 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Alitang Bridge on Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway Successfully Connected: On August 5, the last section of the Alitang Bridge in Songming County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province was cast and the entire continuous beam was successfully connected after three hours of continuous construction. The Alitang Bridge is 1,421 meters long with a maximum span of 80 meters, crosses the operating Shanghai-Kunming Railway, national highway, and river, and also passes through villages. The Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway is 699 kilometers long, of which the Yunnan section is 388.6 kilometers long. This is the only bridge in Yunnan Province that crosses the national highway, railway, and river on the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway. The Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway will further improve the national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network and significantly improve the travel conditions of the people along the line.The Alitang Bridge faced significant construction safety risks and various working surface restrictions.
Urban-Rural Integration Essential for China's Modernization: A major arrangement was made regarding the system and mechanism of improving the integrated development of urban and rural areas in the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting China's Modernisation" which was reviewed and adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. The proposal stated that it is necessary to coordinate new industrialization, new urbanization, and comprehensive rural revitalization, comprehensively improve the integration level of urban and rural planning, construction, and governance, promote equal exchange and two-way flow of urban and rural factors, narrow the gap between urban and rural areas, and promote the common prosperity and development urban and rural areas. It was also stated that in building a modern socialist country, the primary focus and potential lies in "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers." Despite notable progress in urban-rural integration, the agricultural foundation remains unstable. It was necessitated for the country to dismantle the urban-rural dual structure and enhance the system for integrated urban-rural development. This involves improving the mechanisms for new urbanization and strengthening the basic rural management system.
Supreme People's Procuratorate Targets Environmental Pollution Crimes in 2024: On August 5, the Supreme People's Procuratorate released information on the strict punishment of various types of environmental pollution crimes in accordance with the law in the first half of 2024. Data show that from January to June 2024, procuratorates across the country prosecuted 668 cases of environmental pollution crimes involving 1,597 people. The concept of restorative justice was applied by procuratorates in their case management, encouraging ongoing enhancements to both the governance framework and the quality of the ecological environment. The Supreme People's Procuratorate pointed out that illegal disposal of hazardous wastes across regions has been repeatedly banned. The solid wastes, especially hazardous wastes, generated in production and life significantly increased in some places. According to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, it was found that there were cases of fraud in automatic monitoring data. Some testing and monitoring agencies help waste generators cover up the pollution that has been caused or may be caused by fraud. The procuratorate reminds everyone that crimes involving environmental pollution must be looked into in accordance with the law and that everyone has a responsibility to protect the environment. Every enterprise and person should adopt eco-friendly, low-carbon production and lifestyle practices, act quickly to discourage, halt, expose, and report environmental damage, and work together to create a beautiful home where people and the natural world live in harmony.
Tax reduction dividends become a driving force for innovation: “By encouraging technology-based SMEs to increase research and development investment and increase the proportion of additional deductions for research and development expenses," the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reviewed and passed a decision. "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reforms and Promoting Chinese Modernisation" that aimed to create a framework and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation. Recently, The National Development and Reform Commission, along with four other departments, issued a notice on key cost-reduction tasks for 2024. The policy calls for improving tax and fee preferential policies by implementing measures such as additional R&D tax deductions and exemptions for transforming scientific achievements. Enterprises, being the main source of innovation, will benefit from these increased R&D expense deductions, which are key to promoting technological advancement. Wei Qijia, director of the Industrial Economics Research Office of the Economic Forecast Department at the National Information Center, stated measures like additional tax deductions for R&D and tax exemptions for technological transformation will support continuous R&D innovation for enterprises.
Chinese Coast Guard Monitors Philippine Vessels near Sabina Shoal: Patrol boats from the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and a number of fishing vessels from the country have gathered in the waters near the Philippine coast guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua since Saturday. The Chinese statement said the ship had been “illegally stranded” at the shoal. This has taken center-stage in the China-Philippines stand-offs in the South China Sea. The Chinese spokesperson said that the Chinese coast guards are “monitoring” and “effectively controlling” Philippine ships gathering around the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Sabina Shoal, which is near a reef with abundant oil deposits and roughly 75 nautical miles (139 km) off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, serves as a meeting place for military resupply missions for soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, which is based on the hotly contested Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. Manila declared on Sunday that it has sent rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) from the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which has been positioned in Sabina Shoal since April, to keep an eye on the alleged construction of an artificial island by the Chinese there. It stated that the ship would support the Philippine Fisheries Bureau in providing fuel assistance to fishermen in the Philippines “without interference from any party, including the [China] Coast Guard”. However, the Chinese coast guard spokesman Gan said the stationing of the ship infringed upon China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights by also violating the regional Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea thereby, undermining peace and stability in the region.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Zheng Qinwen's Paris Olympics Success Attributed to Tiger Parenting: The interview with the father of Zheng Qinwen, the Chinese Tennis Olympic champion has led to a social media debate across China. Zheng made history by claiming China’s first Olympic singles gold medal in women's tennis. Her father had said "On her first day she was crawling on the ground, I had already instructed her that she should crawl faster than others” in an interview with a local television channel. He also said that parents need to be critical of their children. Zheng’s coach had also said that he felt sorry for the Olympic champion because of her father’s parenting style, as she had sacrificed a lot which included banning snacks and fizzy drinks. The coach also said that Zheng had sacrificed a lot of her happy childhood years for tennis. Zheng said in one of her postgame interviews, that she wanted to tell her father to go easy on her in the future now as she has won the Olympic gold medal now. This led to a debate in the comment section of her father’s interview, some praised the father for his vision while others criticized stating that tiger parenting might not apply to everyone. Social media users commented, “Behind every success, there is a family who has given great support.” While others commented, “Warning! Not all children can take such a parenting style. It will turn those who are weak to deal with pressure to become irritable,”.

INDIA WATCH

Economic Pragmatism Over Political Expediency in India-China Relations: The Global Times China article stated that there is new hope for the relationship between the world's two most populous nations - China and India, after four years of a deteriorating diplomatic environment. In an effort to establish a border solution that all parties can accept, China and India have decided to accelerate the negotiation process and take into account each other's valid concerns. According to the author of this article, it was also reported that the Indian government was thinking about relaxing regulations on Chinese investment and visa restrictions for Chinese citizens. The author mentioned reasons behind what he calls sudden shift in attitude, with India emphasizing progress on the border issues and considering adjusting attitude toward foreign direct investment (FDI) from China. The reasons being changing geopolitical realities such as the rise of a multipolar world, the imperious attitude of the US, and China's inimitable prowess in technology and manufacturing. The author further states that there are no shortcuts for achieving manufacturing success like China. It requires robust infrastructure, a network of related industries, integrated supply chains, urban development, skilled labor and foreign direct investment. According to the article, India is beginning to shift away from the American influence, favoring economic pragmatism over political convenience. To advance, India needs foreign direct investment, expertise, technology transfer, and guidance. It was stated that the solution to India’s needs is China and that India must ensure a stable and welcoming environment for Chinese companies and investors.

Prepared By

Pavithra SR

I am a third-year undergraduate majoring in International Relations at Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence, Greater Noida specializing in gender, security, and digitalization. My interests include policy making and South Asian studies, with a particular focus on international migration, subaltern communities, and democratic studies. I am keen to conduct policy research in these areas in the future.