CiCM 20th August 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China Strengthens Ties with Vietnam Through High-Level Meetings: Officials from China and Vietnam engaged on issues of mutual interest in a series of high-level meetings in Beijing. Wang Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and Minister of Public Security, met with Luong Sam Quang, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Minister of Public Security. Wang expressed China's willingness to implement the "six more" development pattern, strengthen political and security cooperation, and deepen practical collaboration in combating cross-border crimes. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, emphasizing the strategic importance of their relationship. Dong called for accelerating cooperation in various fields, including political work, personnel training, and joint exercises. Both meetings highlighted the commitment to building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance. These engagements reflect China's proactive approach to regional diplomacy and its efforts to enhance partnerships with neighboring countries across multiple sectors, including security, law enforcement, and military cooperation.
China Approves Five New Nuclear Power Projects: China has approved the construction of five new nuclear power projects, encompassing 11 nuclear power units, in a significant move to boost its clean energy capacity. The projects, involving both third- and fourth-generation nuclear power technologies, represent a total investment of over 200 billion yuan ($28 billion). Among these is a world-first project in Xuwei, Jiangsu province, which will combine high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology with a pressurized water reactor, focusing on industrial heating and electricity supply. This project aims to provide low-carbon power to the petrochemical industry base in Lianyungang. The approvals continue China's steady progress in expanding its nuclear power sector, following the approval of 10 new units each in 2022 and 2023. These developments align with China's goal to increase non-fossil energy consumption to about 25 percent by 2030, as outlined in a recent guideline on accelerating green economic transformation issued by the central government.
China Strongly Opposes EU's Final Ruling on Electric Vehicle Tariffs: China's Ministry of Commerce has voiced firm opposition to the European Union's final ruling in its anti-subsidy investigation on Chinese electric vehicles, announced on August 20, 2024. The ministry spokesperson criticized the EU for failing to fully incorporate China's input and maintaining what China views as discriminatory practices, including imposing high tax rates on Chinese companies. China argues that the EU based its decision on unilaterally identified "facts" rather than mutually recognized evidence, violating principles of objectivity, fairness, and transparency, as well as WTO rules. Despite extensive documentation provided by the Chinese government and industry, China feels its protests against unreasonable practices were inadequately addressed. The ministry warned that restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles could disrupt global automotive supply chains and hinder the EU's green transformation efforts. While calling for continued dialogue to find appropriate solutions and avoid escalating trade frictions, China has stated it will take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in response to this ruling.
Macao's Tourism Recovery Continues with 37% Increase in Visitor Arrivals: Macao has reported a significant boost in tourism, with visitor arrivals reaching 3.02 million in July 2024, marking a 9.5% year-on-year increase and recovering to 85.6% of pre-pandemic levels. According to data from the Statistics and Census Service, the Special Administrative Region welcomed approximately 19.7 million visitors from January to July, representing a 37% year-on-year growth. The Chinese mainland remained the primary source of visitors, with 2.18 million arrivals in July alone, up 14.3% from the previous year. International visitors also saw a substantial increase, rising 33.3% year-on-year to 172,983. Notably, visitors from Southeast Asian markets and countries like South Korea and Japan showed significant growth. Macao's government continues to develop new tourism products and experiences, including innovative exhibits at the Macao Grand Prix Museum and the opening of new cultural venues, to enrich the visitor experience and sustain this positive momentum in the tourism sector.
Cai Qi Calls for Streamlined Bureaucracy to Empower Grassroots Officials: Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official and Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi has called for intensified efforts to combat pointless formalities and reduce bureaucratic burdens on grassroots-level officials. Speaking at a central-level meeting, he emphasized the need to allow local officials to focus more on effective policy implementation. The meeting outlined several key initiatives, including reducing the quantity of work documents and conferences while improving their quality, decreasing unnecessary inspections and evaluations at the primary level, and providing education to help officials understand that reduced bureaucracy doesn't equate to reduced responsibilities. His remarks were designed to inspire local officials to be more enterprising and hardworking while streamlining administrative processes. This push reflects the Party's ongoing efforts to enhance governance efficiency and responsiveness to local needs, underscoring a commitment to practical reforms that empower grassroots officials to better serve their communities and implement national policies more effectively.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

China's Beauty Standards Under Scrutiny After Woman's Tragic Liposuction: A shocking case of a young Chinese woman left infertile after undergoing liposuction has ignited intense discussion on Chinese social media about unrealistic beauty standards. The 25-year-old woman, weighing just 50 kilos at 1.65 meters tall, opted for the procedure to remove a "little belly", despite being within a healthy weight range. The incident, reported by Hangzhou City Express, has sparked widespread criticism of societal pressures and dangerous beauty trends. Many netizens expressed concern over internet challenges promoting extreme thinness, such as "ant waist" and "chopsticks legs," which create appearance anxiety. Comments on Weibo emphasized the importance of health over skinniness, with users advising exercise as a safer alternative to cosmetic procedures. The case has also reignited discussions about the risks of cosmetic surgery, recalling past incidents where procedures led to severe complications or death. This latest incident underscores growing public awareness and criticism of unrealistic beauty standards in China, particularly those targeting young women.

INDIA WATCH

CGTN Reports on India's Supreme Court Action on Doctor Safety Amid Nationwide Protests: China Global Television Network (CGTN) reports that India's Supreme Court has taken significant steps to address the safety concerns of medical professionals following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. The court established a national task force led by doctors to recommend safety measures for medical workers across the country. Additionally, it has ordered the deployment of federal paramilitary forces to provide security at the Kolkata hospital where the crime occurred. The article reports that the three-judge-bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, emphasized the importance of ensuring workplace safety for women as a matter of equality. The task force is expected to consider comprehensive reforms, including separate resting rooms for female staff, improved lighting, CCTV coverage, and regular safety audits. The article reported that junior doctors continuing their protests argue that these measures don't address core issues like inadequate healthcare funding and staffing. The court has requested all protesting doctors to resume work while assuring them of efforts to ensure their safety. The CGTN article states that this case has reignited discussions about women's safety in India and the need for systemic changes in healthcare and women's safety.

Prepared By

Vanshika Patel

Vanshika is a recent graduate from Ashoka University with a degree in Economics and a minor in Computer Science. Her interests lie in understanding the global economy and its impact on international communities, policy-making, and the social sector. She is particularly drawn to quantitative analysis and has a keen interest in international economics, aiming to contribute to data-driven decision-making in global economic contexts.