CiCM 16th-17th March 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Xi Jinping Urges Party Members to Prepare for "Great Struggle" Amidst Officials' Complacency: Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a speech published by the Communist Party's top theoretical journal Qiushi, highlighted concerns over officials' complacency. The speech, delivered at the second plenum of 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) plenum in January last year but made public only recently, underscored the need for officials to embrace a spirit of hard work and resilience. Xi said that decades of peaceful governance under CPC has made many officials complacent as they have not experienced “brutal struggles and harsh environments.” He cautioned against officials' inclination towards comfort and complacency, urging them to overcome challenges with courage and dedication. The CCDI's subsequent campaign against the phenomenon of officials "lying flat" aimed to address this issue, with local governments disclosing such officials’ names in public. Despite challenges such as pay cuts and heavy workloads, Beijing emphasizes the importance of discipline in achieving policy goals, with Xi urging a balance between strict control and encouraging initiative among officials.

China Boosts Efforts to Address Youth Unemployment: Amid China's industrial upgrade and a surge in young job-seekers, the government is intensifying initiatives to bolster youth employment. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS) forecasts over 11.7 million college graduates in 2024, necessitating enhanced support. Mo Rong, from the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security, notes positive factors like economic growth buoying the job market. Technological innovation fuels fresh job opportunities, particularly in high-tech sectors like AI and smart manufacturing. The government prioritizes support for major employment drivers and plans to allocate 66.7 billion yuan for employment subsidies, focusing on college graduates and rural migrant workers. With ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between market demands and skills, China aims to guide youth towards successful career paths amidst its economic transformation.

PLA Disqualifies State-Owned Firm Over Security Breach: The People's Liberation Army (PLA)’s equipment management department has revoked the procurement tendering qualification of China Far East International Tendering Co (CFEITC) due to a severe breach of security protocols. Acting as an agent for equipment procurement, CFEITC's improper handling of classified information prompted the disqualification. The investigation revealed alarming violations, including the transfer of procurement materials through unsecured channels like WeChat and email, alongside storing confidential documents on non-secure computers. The PLA emphasized that all units must cease commission service agreements with CFEITC immediately. Ongoing projects with CFEITC involvement are to be either terminated or suspended, with officials instructed to conduct thorough handovers and reviews to prevent security breaches.

CCDI Targets Cadres Receiving ‘Dividends’ from Sham Investments: China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) is intensifying efforts against corruption involving fake business investments, focusing on cadres who receive bribes disguised as "dividends." The CCDI highlighted the case of Yang Degao, former vice-president of the Hubei branch of China Development Bank, as an example. Yang and his associates allegedly received significant sums in dividends without actual investment or involvement in business operations. Despite warnings against private equity investment, officials exploited loopholes by involving family members or proxies as shareholders. CPC’s rules clearly prohibit officials from investing in unlisted companies. President Xi Jinping's longstanding anti-corruption campaign has seen over 1.5 million officials being investigated, with a recent focus on financial sector malpractices. Last year alone, more than 100 executives and officials, including 45 senior officials were brought down, reflecting ongoing efforts to maintain party integrity. Moreover, Li Xiangang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress, is currently under disciplinary and supervisory investigation, as per an official statement released on Sunday. The investigation concerns suspected severe violations of disciplines and laws. The specific nature of the alleged misconduct was not disclosed in the statement.

China's Finance Minister Stresses on Proactive Fiscal Policy for Economic Recovery: China's Finance Minister Lan Foan emphasized the crucial role of proactive fiscal measures in bolstering the nation's economic resurgence in an article released on Saturday. Aligning with the directives from the Central Economic Work Conference and the Government Work Report, Lan reiterated the necessity of sustaining “proactive fiscal policies.” He highlighted plans to intensify fiscal spending, with China earmarking 3.9 trillion yuan ($550 billion) for new local government special-purpose bonds this year. Additionally, China unveiled intentions to issue 1 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special government bonds, dedicated to advancing major national strategies and enhancing security capabilities in pivotal sectors. Lan emphasized closer coordination between fiscal, tax, and employment policies to foster job creation, with the central government allocating 66.7 billion yuan in employment subsidies to support local initiatives. China's central government transfers to local governments will amount to 10.2 trillion yuan, representing a 4.1 percent increase in comparable terms after excluding one-off factors from last year and this year.

Sichuan and Yunnan Witnessed Major Fires: A forest fire ignited in Yajiang, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Friday, with subsequent reports indicating four fatalities in two separate incidents. The fires have been attributed to climate conditions, with reduced rainfall and soaring temperatures exacerbating risks. Strong winds reignited the blaze, spreading rapidly across mountainous terrain. China has activated a Level-IV emergency response, deploying over 1,250 personnel and five helicopters to combat the fires. Evacuation of 3,396 individuals from 11 affected villages is underway. Meanwhile, in Yunnan Province, additional fatalities were reported in recent forest fires. With heightened risks forecasted, experts urge vigilance, particularly in regions facing drought conditions. The Ministry of Emergency Management warns of escalating natural disaster risks, emphasizing forest fire threats in provinces like Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Chinese Blogger's English Exam Failure Sparks Online Debate A Chinese blogger, known for his English learning content on Xiaohongshu, has stirred discussion on mainland social media after revealing his failure in China's national College English Test Band 4 (CET-4). Zhou, a 23-year-old university student in Beijing, garnered 92,000 followers within a year on the platform before halting English content updates due to his exam setback. His candid announcement on March 3 about discontinuing updates due to failing the CET-4 exam drew attention. Zhou, who aimed to motivate himself for the test, expressed disappointment in his performance, scoring 411 below the required range of 425 to 710. While some praised his independent approach, others raised doubts about online English teaching. The incident reflects broader concerns in China over the importance of English proficiency, particularly amid education reforms and crackdowns on language tutors. With English seen as vital for global connectivity, Zhou's experience resonates with parents navigating changes in language education policies and seeking alternative solutions for their children's learning.

INDIA WATCH

India's employment landscape is experiencing notable growth, as detailed by recent data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) present a positive trajectory, particularly within infrastructure-related sectors, signaling an encouraging shift in the job market. The Annual PLFS Reports delineate a significant increase in employment across major industries linked to infrastructure from 2020-21 to 2022-23, similar to China's efforts to boost employment amidst economic transformation. Notably, the manufacturing sector witnessed a rise in employment, increasing to 11.4% from 10.9%, while the construction sector marked an upswing to 13.0% from 12.1% during the same period. Both countries face similar challenges contributing to unemployment, including structural transformation, population pressure, and education and skill disparities. However, while China is transitioning towards services and high-tech industries, India is striving to boost its manufacturing sector and infrastructure development. Additionally, both countries grapple with issues such as informal sector employment, rural-urban divides, and technological disruption impacting their respective job markets. In light of this, the Government of India has implemented various measures to address employment challenges, including initiatives aimed at bolstering self-reliance and job creation, Programs such as PM GatiShakti, Startup India, Make in India, and government schemes such as PMEGP, MGNREGS, and PMKVY, are aligned towards generating employment across rural and urban areas, reflecting a holistic strategy to tackle unemployment and foster economic growth.

Prepared By

Aliza Mehdi

Aliza Mehdi is a final year student of Political Science at Indraprastha College for Women. Her academic areas of interest include Comparative Politics, Conflict Studies, Developmental Economics and Film and Television Studies, and is currently working as an Associate (Training and Development) at Pratarka - an education startup specialising in soft-skill development and pedagogical research for students. She is interested in politics, policy, design and writing, and is an active member of the DU varsity debating circuit.