CiCM 26th November 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China Updates Standards for Photovoltaic Industry: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently announced revisions to photovoltaic manufacturing industry standards in an effort to address current challenges like repetitive expansion of low-level production capacity and falling profitability, to promote the PV industry’s healthier development. One major revision is to increase the minimum share of investment funded by shareholder’s own capital to 30% for all new projects transitioning from the previous requirement of 30% for polysilicon projects and 20% for other PV projects. There are also revisions in efficiency standards for PV cells and modules. Monocrystalline silicon cells' minimum efficiency has been raised to 23.7% for p-type cells and 26% for N-type cells. Module efficiency is 21.8% for p-type and 23.1% for N-type modules, reflecting the industry’s transition from polysilicon to more advanced P-type and N-type technologies. These revisions aim to push the companies to shift their focus on next-generation perovskite modules and on innovation, quality and cost efficiency to eliminate outdated capacity, help local authorities in planning projects while promoting advanced industrial development.
Li Qiang Emphasizes Resilient and Stable Supply Chains: Premier Li Qiang, urged the development of stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains. He stated that China is a key player in global industrial and supply chains and will continue to take concrete actions to maintain the stability and smooth operations of these chains. His remarks came at a symposium with attendees who are representing enterprises and organizations participating in the second China International Supply Chain Expo. He stated that global industrial and supply chains have gradually expanded with the deepening of economic globalization, promoting rapid economic growth and benefitting all parties involved. Furthermore, China will continue to increase countercyclical adjustments to promote a sustained upturn in its economy while fostering and strengthening new growth drivers and steadily enhancing high-quality development. The nation will be expanding market access by welcoming more foreign enterprises to carry out industrial cooperation in China.
Cyberspace Affairs Commission Initiative Addresses Challenges Posed by Algorithms: The Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission has launched a campaign targeting algorithms used by several internet services to address long-standing user complaints on issues like homogeneous content recommendations and malicious manipulation of trending topics. Internet content platforms are required to establish mechanisms to prevent the formation of ‘information cocoons’, which refers to when people’s focus on certain information fields is habitually guided by their interests thereby confining them in a cocoon. Platforms are required not to force users to select interest tags or collect personal information beyond the requirements for content recommendation. It further mandates that internet platforms disclose the algorithm principled behind their trending lists to enhance ‘transparency and explainability’. Alongside this, the campaign also focuses on rights of workers and consumers involved in internet services by preventing internet platforms from blindly pursuing profits at the expense of the workers. The rules also emphasise preventing food delivery platforms from excessively reducing delivery times leading to more frequent delivery delays, traffic violations and accidents.
Ministry of Human Resources Release Guidelines for Protections and Support for Migrant Workers: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, along with other government departments like the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Education have released guidelines to improve support for migrant workers. The goal is to ensure better job opportunities and contribute to their overall development. The guidelines state that employment of migrant workers should be stabilized and expanded, equal emphasis should be placed on out-of-town, local and nearby employment. The guidelines discuss multiple measures to broaden the employment channels for migrant workers. Guidelines focus on supporting migrant workers in starting businesses in their hometowns by optimizing policies on finances and taxes while addressing their job preferences and skill training needs. Employment assistance mechanisms will stabilize jobs. They further emphasize protecting migrant worker’s rights by enforcing labor contracts, providing legal assistance and addressing wage disputes through expedited tribunals. In order to support urban integration, restrictions on settlements are being eased and land rights protected. Migrant workers are encouraged to access urban public services including education, housing and social services.
China Achieves Breakthrough in Shale Oil Development: PetroChina has reported that the cumulative output of China’s first national-level continental shale oil demonstration zone, the Xinjiang Jimsar National Continental Shale Oil Demonstration Zone, will exceed 1 million tonnes in 2024. Shale oil’s demand in the market is currently increasing due to the growing demand for global energy and reduction of traditional oil reserves. The Jimsar Shale oil demonstration zone is located in the Junggar basin and has proven resources of more than 1 billion tons. The daily output has been recorded to have exceeded 4,000 tons for the first time. A technical expert at Jiqing Oilfield Operation stated that there will be double the number of shale oil wells this year and efficient development of the new well and construction speed of the new well will be doubled. The demonstration area is set to have an annual output of 1.7 million tons of shale oil in 2025. The head of the oil field, Lu Linmao, stated that a whole life cycle management model was adopted with a reduction in the investment by 40% and an increase in the annual production of shale oil by three times.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Chinese Thanksgiving Post Related to Mao's Son Taken Down by Censors: A recent post on Weibo by MTR Shenzhen about "Fried Egg Rice" was taken down by Chinese state censors for its relation to Mao Zedong's son, Mao Anying. A post on Weibo to promote food at the Guanlan Station in Shenzhen aroused discussion among netizens for its relation to the story of Mao Zedong's son who was killed in a coalition airskrike in North Korea on 25th November during the Korean War in 1950. Some argue that the airstrike found its target because Mao's son made a fire to make fried rice. The Chinese government has deined this rumour and even released a documentary denying the same. The post, which was deleted by MTR Shenzhen, was even picked up by mainstream media. Netizens commented under various posts saying, "Why don't you arrest people who insult heroes this year?". Social media users called November 25 Chinese Thanksgiving Day because Mao Anying's death helped China avoided the fate of hereditary rule and becoming like North Korea.

INDIA WATCH

The Paper Discusses India's Air Pollution Control Measures: An article in the Paper by Guo Bingyun, Associate Professor at the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University discusses India’s severe air pollution crisis, concentrated in northern regions like New Delhi and recording Air Quality Index (AQI) levels exceeding 500. The article discusses the various causes of air pollution like industrial emissions, pollution emitted from vehicles, urbanization, crop burning, reliance on coal, usage of solid fuels for cooking and usage of firecrackers during diwali. The article cites a Lancet study that claims that air pollution is causing over 1.6 million deaths per year in India, with significant economic losses due to the healthcare costs and reduced productivity. The article also discusses the steps taken towards reducing the pollution, starting off with banning old vehicles, restricting construction and deploying clean energy initiatives like solar power. It also mentions programs like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) that are working towards cutting pollution by 20-30% by this year alongside large-scale afforestation projects in the works. However the article states these measures have not produced significant results as law enforcement is still weak, poor urban planning persists, government response is slow and coal is still the primary source of energy counting towards 77% of energy production. The author argues that India will have to address these environmental concerns, which are currently taking a backseat to economic growth, to achieve the right balance between growth and the environment.

Prepared By

Aditi Khamkar

Aditi Khamkar is a third-year undergraduate student at FLAME University majoring in International Studies and minoring in Public Policy. Having completed an internship at International SOS, her interest in security has deepened, driving her to pursue a career as a security analyst. Passionate about making meaningful contributions, she aspires to write impactful analyses that address global security challenges.