CiCM 25th December 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

The Standing Committee of the 14th NPC Concludes its 13th Session: The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) wrapped up its thirteenth session on December 25 in Beijing. During the final meeting, lawmakers decided to adopt a value-added tax law, as well as a revised Science and Technology Popularization Law. Lawmakers also decided to amend the Supervision Law. They also decided to remove Wang Guanghua from his position as the Minister of Natural Resources and replace him with Guan Zhi'ou. The meeting was presided over by chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Zhao Leji and the four decisions and orders were signed into law by President Xi Jinping. Zhao urged lawmakers to continue working with the proper political direction, carry out their legal obligations, assume responsibility, and consistently raise the standard of the work produced by people's congresses. The decision to call the third session of the 14th NPC was approved in the meeting. The ruling stated that the 14th NPC's third session would begin on March 5, 2025. Zhao urged that the upcoming third session be organized and prepared in a way that is realistic, effective, comprehensive, and careful.
China Rejects "China Threat" Claims in US Defense Act: China has strongly criticized the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, saying it promotes a "China threat" and supports military aid to Taiwan. Xu Dong, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, stated the act hinders China's development, interferes in its affairs, and undermines its sovereignty and security. China maintains that relations with the US should be based on mutual respect and cooperation, with each country's success viewed as an opportunity for the other, he added. Xu emphasized on the importance of a stable Sino-US relationship. While acknowledging disagreements between the two countries, Xu said that disputes should not jeopardize core interests or cause conflict. He emphasized on the four "red lines" that have been identified by China: Taiwan, democracy and human rights, China’s political system, and China’s right to development, that cannot be challenged. He added that the US should abandon its Cold War mentality and biases and avoid implementing negative provisions about China.
China Extends Anti-Dumping Probe on EU Brandy Imports: China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on December 25 its plan to extend the anti-dumping investigation into brandy imports from the EU until April 5, 2025, citing the complexity of the case. The investigation, which began on January 5, 2024, was initially scheduled to conclude by January 5, 2025. MOFCOM's preliminary assessment indicated that EU brandy imports were being dumped, posing a substantial threat to the domestic brandy industry, and a causal link between the dumping and the threat was established. As a result, temporary anti-dumping measures have been imposed, requiring importers to submit deposits or letters of guarantee. Dumping margins for sampled companies varied, with Martell & Co. at 30.6 percent, Jas Hennessy & Co. at 39.0 percent and E. REMY MARTIN & C° at 38.1 percent. Companies that cooperated with the investigation had a dumping margin of 34.8 percent, while those that did not were subjected to a 39.0 percent margin.
China Vows to Stabilize Housing Market in 2025: A ministry official from China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on December 25 said that the ministry will continue efforts to stabilize the real estate market and reverse its downturn in 2025. The ministry plans to focus on unlocking housing demand by implementing policies that support first-time homebuyers and those seeking to improve their housing conditions. The official said that there are also plans to optimize housing supply by controlling the expansion of new commercial housing while improving the quality of homes. The ministry intends to increase the supply of affordable housing and intensify support for urban village housing renovation projects. The official added that China will focus on increasing the supply of improved, high-quality homes and pursue reforms for the commercial housing sales system, moving away from pre-sales to the sale of completed homes. The property market has shown positive momentum this year, with increases in new home transactions recorded in October and November as a result of pro-housing initiatives, including lowered mortgage rates, lowered down payment requirements, loosened purchase limits, and enhancements to land use, fiscal, and tax laws.
Top Chinese Medicine Practitioner Dismissed From National People’s Congress: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress announced on December 25 that Pang Guoming, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctor, has been dismissed from his position as a representative in the Henan Provincial People's Congress for alleged serious disciplinary and legal violations. Prior to his dismissal, Pang Guoming served as the president of Kaifeng Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, director of Henan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Diabetes Hospital, director of the National Regional (Central China) Traditional Chinese Medicine Endocrinology Diagnosis and Treatment Center, and director of the Henan Provincial Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Center. He is also known for having authored more than 100 academic works and has received 16 scientific research achievement awards and 11 patents. Numerous hospitals across China, including in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanxi, and Beijing, had also established "National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Pang Guoming Studios," and many individuals had become his disciples.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Netizens React to Chengdu Court’s Hearing of Domestic Abuse Case: A public trial was held in the Wuhou District People's Court of Chengdu regarding a case of intentional injury and abuse against the defendant, He Mouyang. The defendant is accused of repeatedly abusing his wife, Xie Moumei, during their marriage, including causing her serious injuries. The People's Procuratorate of Wuhou District requested that He Mouyang be held criminally responsible for intentional injury and abuse, while the victim also filed a supplementary civil lawsuit. A seven-member panel consisting of three judges and four people's jurors presided over the trial. The trial was attended by over 40 people, including relatives, NPC deputies, and journalists. The court has recessed and will announce a verdict at a later date. Many netizens on Guancha expressed their discontent with the situation saying what would mere verdicts do to stop domestic violence at large. Users opined that the root cause for domestic abuse needed to be addressed in order to eradicate the issue.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Reports on India’s Popcorn Tax: South China Morning Post (SCMP) published a piece on the India's government’s implementation of a three-tiered tax system for popcorn based on its ingredients. The article reported that the decision by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been met with criticism online. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council determined that non-branded popcorn with salt and spices would be taxed at 5%, pre-packaged and branded popcorn at 12%, and caramel popcorn, considered a sugar confectionery, at 18%. This new tax structure has led to social media backlash, with some users complaining about excessive regulations and high taxation in India, SCMP reports. The tax system was established in 2017 to consolidate central and state levies into a uniform tax to eliminate cascading effects and reduce logistics costs. The article also reported that some supporters defended the government’s decision for popcorn tax slabs.

Prepared By

Ananya Tandon

Ananya Tandon is a third-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, majoring in International Studies and minoring in Journalism. With a keen interest in political journalism, she gained valuable hands-on experience through her internship at NDTV, where she had the opportunity to explore the field. She is passionate about staying up-to-date on issues that shape the global community.