CiCM 3rd October 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Cyberspace Affairs Commission Launches Campaign Against Online Misinformation: The Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission has launched a three-month special operation campaign called "Clear and Clear: Rectification of Irregularities in Internet News and Information Services" to address illegal and irregular Internet news services. According to a commission official, the campaign's goal is to regulate online misinformation and false news and create a transparent and well-regulated cyberspace. The campaign will rectify false news, public opinion supervision, impersonation of new units, unlicensed news units and forgery and resale of internet news service licenses. The Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission officials have also stressed the need for the local cyberspace administration to take strong political and organizational steps to ensure the campaign's success. The commission has also emphasized the importance of displaying licenses clearly on websites, platforms and news accounts to ensure transparency. It is also required to push high-quality, verified news from licensed accounts through algorithms and recommendation mechanisms. Authorities will also expand their complaint channel to the public to report false and irregular news information. They will also take a stand against false information by exposing them publicly to create awareness against such misinformation and false news.

China Witnesses Growth in Installed Capacity for Renewable Energy: As of August 2024, China's installed capacity for new energy, including wind, solar and biomass, reached 1.27 billion kilowatts, accounting for 40.7 percent of the nation's total power capacity. According to China Electricity Council, China's non-fossil energy power generation contributed 40 percent of total electricity consumption in August 2024, a year-on-year increase of 53.4 billion kilowatt hours. Since the launch of the "14th Five-Year Plan," China's installed capacity for renewable energy has grown by 78.5 percent, whereas the share of renewable energy increased from 44.8 percent at the end of 2020 to 56.2 percent by mid-2024. Provinces like Hebei are leading the charge, with the State Grid Hebei Clean Energy Base reporting that 76.7 percent of its installed capacity is now dedicated to new energy. Across the entire grid, new energy accounted for over half of the power generation, resulting in a year-on-year increase of 11.2 percent. Moreover, from January to August 2024, green power trading reached 177.5 billion kWh, a growth of 223 percent year-on-year, while the number of green certificates traded grew nearly fivefold. Sectors such as energy, steel, and the internet are increasingly adopting green power, contributing to the acceleration of low-carbon production methods.

China Files Complaint Against Canada’s Protectionism in WTO: China has lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Canada's trade protectionism, according to a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson. The complaint follows Canada's recent announcement of steep surcharge on imports of Chinese electric vehicles. Beginning October 1, 2024, Canada will impose a 100-percent surtax on Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25-percent surtax on Chinese steel and aluminium products starting October 22, 2024. China also launched an anti-discrimination investigation into Canada's restrictive trade practices. The spokesperson urged Canada to approach bilateral trade objectively, adhere to WTO regulations, and avoid taking further unilateral measures. The Spokesperson emphasized China’s commitment to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises through necessary actions. The spokesperson criticized Canada for consistently disregarding international trade norms, following certain countries in taking unilateral actions against China. These measures, China argues, violate principles of fair competition and market economy, harming both nations' economic and trade relations. The Chinese government also warned that such actions disrupt global industrial and supply chains, and leads to market distortion.

Chinese Scientists Make Advances in Wireless Communication: A Chinese research team jointly led by the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) conducted a groundbreaking terahertz wireless communication experiment on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. For the first time globally, high-sensitivity superconducting receiver technology was used in long-distance wireless communication, successfully transmitting high-definition video signals over a 1.2-kilometer distance. Conducted at an altitude of over 4,000 meters in Qinghai Province, the experiment used a transmission power of just 10 microwatts, one-millionth of the power used by typical mobile phone base stations. Despite the weak signal, high-definition video was transmitted via a superconducting terahertz receiver. Li Jing, a PMO researcher, explained that terahertz communication, with its wider spectrum compared to microwave communication, improves efficiency and allows for longer signal transmission with minimal loss. Terahertz (THz) radiation, lying between microwave and light on the electromagnetic spectrum, is seen as a key resource for future communications. However, long-distance transmission faces challenges due to signal attenuation. To overcome this, China has been developing terahertz astronomical detection technologies since the 1990s. This experiment set a new record for the longest terahertz wireless communication distance above the 0.5 THz frequency band.

Chinese Police Authorities Initiate a Campaign to Curb Ticket Scalping: The Ministry of Public Security has initiated a year-long campaign targeting ticket scalping across various sectors, including concerts, art performances, sports events, museums, and tourist sites. It directed police across the country to enhance efforts in curbing violations, preventing future offenses, and regulating these sectors more effectively. The campaign focuses on dismantling organized criminal groups of "professional" scalpers, particularly those using malicious software to secure tickets. Authorities aim to break the connections between scalpers and insiders within businesses, such as ticketing platforms. Measures will also be implemented to regulate online platforms involved in ticket reselling. The Ministry also urges departments like cyberspace regulation, culture, tourism, sports, and cultural heritage agencies to establish long-term governance over ticket sales, circulation, and consumer protection. Authorities will gather and analyze information on scalping activities and target developers of cheating software. Business insiders complicit in scalping, including those working for sponsors and ticketing agencies, will face strict penalties. Beijing police, during the summer break, launched a special task force to combat scalping for scenic spots and university appointments, resulting in the detention of nearly 180 individuals on criminal and administrative charges. The National Museum of China has also intensified its anti-scalping efforts, as nearly 1.6 million people sought 26,000 daily tickets. Key strategies include strengthening identity verification to prevent fraudulent bookings and blocking virtual phone numbers and high-frequency IP addresses.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

The Death of a Chinese Female Influencer Sparks Heated Debates: The tragic death of the 19-year-old Chinese female motorcyclist influencer “Shigao Pro Max”, whose real name is Yang Huizi, in Suzhou's Wujiang district on September 29 sparked debates among netizens over the reckless rides for online attention. The accident occurred while she was riding as a passenger with her friend, and their motorcycle collided with a car at an intersection. Despite Yang wearing a helmet, it cracked during the crash, which led to a fatal head injury. The video, circulating on social media, shows yang’s crawling and collapsing after the accident. She later passed away in the hospital. Yang had around 80000 followers on Douyin, where she posted 1298 videos since December 2019. Yang’s death has created widespread debate on social media, which has garnered over 170 million views on Weibo. Many netizens criticised the emphasis on Yang's gender in media headlines, which made it seem like she was the driver, despite being a passenger. There had been similar accidents of the Douyin influencers who died in the crash in 2022 and 2023. The accident has also reignited criticism over the influencer's reckless riding for online attention and views. The popular Weibo content creator Huang Xi Pao wrote, “So many female motorcycle influencers have died, yet it does not stop others from still posting on the road for photos! Is the trend really profitable?”. Some netizens have shared their frustration over the Yang death, which has dominated trending topics while overshadowing significant news, such as a recent stabbing in Shanghai with three deaths and 18 injuries. The official Chinese police account has shared the photos of accident and has also reminded the public to prioritise road safety and avoid reckless driving.

INDIA WATCH

India’s Relaxation of Rice Exports Restrictions Results in Decrease in Rice Prices: Chinese media reported a significant drop in rice prices in Asia after a relaxation of export controls by India. It highlighted data from Thai Rice Exporters Association which registered a decrease of 11 percent in rice prices on Wednesday, biggest drop since 2008. The report notes that India has a pivotal role in global rice supply as it is the largest rice exporter. It further mentions India’s recent decision around the general elections to put export restrictions on rice in order to keep its domestic prices stable. Post-elections, India released these restrictions last week which relieved the global market of mounting pressure of reduced supply. The report highlights that sufficient rainfall in India has allowed Indian farmers to expand planting area for rice which in turn ensures India of excess output. Similarly, export restrictions have also made Indian farmers unhappy as it reduced their own income. The report cites these two reasons for India’s decision to favour more exports. It also mentions that new rice varieties from Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan have also added to international competition in rice market. Further, challenges such as El Nino and geopolitical conflicts also pose a threat for rice markets in the long term, thereby prompting major rice exporting countries to ensure the sufficient supply.

Prepared By

Athul T Dharan

Athul T Dharan is a Member of CTBTO Youth Group and is currently pursuing his Master's in Political Science from the University of Hyderabad, India. He was a research intern at the Centre for Air Power Studies, Delhi. His research interests include Chinese Studies, China’s Defense policy, Arms Control, Disarmament and Intelligence. During his undergraduate studies, he actively participated in the Model United Nations and served as the General Secretary of the Global Youth Ramjas Chapter. He is an active National Service Scheme volunteer and was part of the Enactus Team, working on rural development and slum rejuvenation projects. He can be reached at athul.t.dharan27@gmail.com