CiCM 17th June 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China-Australia Ties Grow Stronger with Li Qiang’s Visit: Chinese Premier Li Qiang recently held talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting. The two leaders asserted their mutual willingness to collaborate for a strategic partnership. The joint statement includes reaffirmation of their continued collaboration under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and acknowledged the significance of routine talks and diplomatic exchanges. They further stressed the importance of the United Nations Charter and the World Trade Organisation. Both countries also appreciate and promote the increase in people-to-people exchanges through students, tourists, and business people. Several Memorandums of Understandings were signed pertaining to multiple matters (climate change, education, economic dialogue among others). The Chinese Premier and Australian PM further emphasised the continued political dialogue, bilateral trade, cooperation on climate change and energy, people-to-people links, and countering transnational threats and organised crime.

Top Chinese Ministry Revises Pensions for Retirees: After the approval from the Central Committee of CPC, Ministry Finance and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly announced a revision in basic pension for retirees. The announcement came in a notice on adjusting the basic pension for retirees in 2024. The revision includes a 3 percent rise in basic pensions for retirees from enterprises, and government agencies and institutions. This adjustment will be brought into effect retrospectively from 1^st of January, 2024 and covers all employees who retired before 31^st December, 2023. According to the notice, the required funds for this revision must be drawn from the basic endowment insurance of enterprises. The government will also subsidise funds for the central and western regions as need arises. This revised policy measure will apply to all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities under the central government. All levels of governance (national and local) are required to follow this revised plan.

Three Top Officials Dismissed by Central Committee of the CPC: In an uncommon move, three top administrative government officials in China have been expelled from their respective positions. These officials include Li Pengxin, Wang Yixin, and Chen Yuxiang. Li Pengxin was the deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Wang Yixin was a vice governor of the Heilongjang Province. Chen Yuxiang was the deputy secretary of the Hebei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. Their dismissals come following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision. The reasoning, as provided by the CPC, is the engagement of the officials’ behaviour in a corrupt manner and their failure to no longer uphold the spirit of the Party. Li Pengxin was found to have “taken advantage of his former position to seek benefits for others in mineral exploitation projects, enterprise operations and job adjustment and promotion, which are in violation of relevant regulations.” According to revelations from investigations, Wang Yixin had “concealed information about properties owned by his family, selected and appointed officials in a manner that violated the discipline and took money and valuables in return, and took advantage of his positions to seek profits for others, said the statement.” He has also reportedly been, “found to have benefited others on land development and project contracting, and taken huge amounts of illicit money and valuables in return”. Lastly, Chen Yuxiang was found to have engaged in serious violations including having “sought benefits for others in job promotion, enterprise operations and project operations, and in return accepted money and valuables” and having “failed to abide by the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct, indulging in hedonism, extravagance and attending regular banquets.”

China and Myanmar Sign Cooperation Agreement: On the 24^th anniversary of the establishment of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties, Myanmar and China signed an agreement on cooperation projects. The cooperation agreement pertained to projects under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2024. This includes 12 projects aimed at improving agriculture and livelihoods, and enabling poverty alleviation, trade and innovation in Myanmar. The LMC Special Fund Cooperation Agreement 2024 was signed by Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, and Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Lwin Oo. At the ceremony of the signing, both nations lauded the prevailing friendly relations between China and Myanmar. The signing of the agreement would be testament to these existing ties and contribute towards strengthening them. Myanmar’s Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, further emphasised that China and Myanmar are close friends and that bilateral ties between the two countries are growing increasingly closer. Finally, Foreign Minister U Than Swe affirmed Myanmar’s willingness to cooperate with other Lancang-Mekong countries to promote stability and peace within the region.

Chinese Ministry Announces Anti-Dumping Probe: China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced the launch of an anti-dumping probe. This probe is focused towards particular pork and pig-based products from the European Union (EU). The investigation is reportedly in accordance with Chinese law and WTO regulations, as per the statement of a Chinese official. The probe comes at the request of China’s domestic pork and pig-based product industry. The China Agriculture Association had submitted an application for the same to MOFCOM earlier. Interestingly, this move comes days within the EU’s increase in tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles (EVs). Reportedly, the tariffs against the EVs did not come following a complete investigation. As per the MOFCOM, the investigation will be completed in exactly a year’s time and may even last as long as six months. This could severely impact the EU meat industry. China imports nearly half of its pig-based products import from the EU. In 2023 alone, China imported $6 billion worth of imports of pig-products, more than half of which originated from the EU. There are also reports of other industry actors in China, particularly in the dairy industry, who are collecting evidences for more anti-dumping investigations against the EU.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

La Bao Bao Festival Trends on Chinese Media: A three-century old festival dating back to the Qing Dynasty is trending on Chinese social media. The festival is popular in Sichuan even today. The festival, called La Bao Bao, is a unique event wherein people venture out in parks to find godfathers for their daughters. The daughters are usually no older than 10 years old. Several people wait in the park to be chosen as godfathers. The festival is traditionally held on the 16^th day of the first lunar month, not long after the Lantern Festival. The name of the festival, Bao Bao, finds its root in the Sichuan dialect, and translates to “godfather”. Interestingly, the choice is not merely made by the volunteering of an aspiring godfather. The stranger and parents are introduced by a facilitator, usually a relative or friend of the family. In a wholesome tradition, the facilitators move around the crowd with a “piglet hat” and place it upon the stranger they have deemed the godfather of the child. Subsequently, a fortune teller is consulted to formalise the relationship. The festival has gained increasing popularity since 1985 and has become an annual cultural event.

INDIA WATCH

Sina Finance Takes Note of Chinese Embassy in India’s Statement: Chinese news agency Sina published an article reporting a notification by the Chinese Embassy in India and the arrest of Chinese nationals by Indian authorities. This event reportedly occurred on the Nepalese border involving Chinese tourists. The article reiterated the Chinese Embassy's advisory to Chinese tourists to pay attention to signs distinguishing the Nepalese and Indian side of borders to prevent accidental entry into India. It emphasized the need for obtaining an Indian visa, and approval from an immigration checkpoint of the Indian Immigration Bureau in order to set foot on Indian soil. The article also discouraged Chinese tourists to Nepal from taking pictures or recording of Indian border defence facilities and personnel. Finally, the article detailed upon the death of a Chinese detainee in India. The detainee had reportedly illegally entered from Nepal and had passed away in a prison in Bihar. This information was based on the WeChat official account of the Consular Office. Chinese side requested for speedy investigation of this matter and inform the embassy in a timely manner. The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in India also reported the importance of such cases owing to the importance of protecting Chinese rights and interests.

Prepared By

Akshata Nair

Akshata is an undergraduate student majoring in International Studies at FLAME University. Her primary interests lie in research and cultural perspectives in politics.