CiCM 6th November 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Australian Prime Minister meet with Chinese President: In the first visit of any Australian Prime Minister since 2016, the Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on 6^th November, 2023. During Albanese’s visit to the 6th China International Import Expo, the two leaders discussed the potential of a Free Trade Agreement as well as greater collaboration in the fields of climate and green economy. Relations between both countries had been increasingly tense in the recent years and thus, as XI suggested, this meeting would serve as the foundation for a new co-operative future, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also stated that good relations between both countries would mutually beneficial and will aid greater world peace and stability. He drew attention to the need to recognise the historical ties between both countries who must assess their relations within a fast-changing global scenario. The leader stressed the need to prioritise a shared future over individualist national interest and build a relationship of equality, mutual benefit and mitigating differences.
Cambodian PM lauds Chinese backed expressway: In a congratulatory message to China, the Prime Minister of Cambodia stated that the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway was the new economic artery of the country. Expressing his deep appreciation for the development of the expressway, Hum Manet said that the bridge has promoted economic growth and tourism. The Cambodian leader also revealed that the expressway has saved passengers a lot of time and has aided quicker and more efficient travel. The expressway, constructed as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, connects the capital Phnom Penh with the Svay Rieng province. China invested over 1.8 billion dollars into the project as part of the China Road and Bridge Corporation. The Prime Minister of Cambodia visited China in September, 2023 as part of his first diplomatic mission after taking office. China has also invested in Cambodia’s 1.1 billion dollar Reap-Angkit airport which began to be constructed from March 2020.
China-Malta sign historic agreement on bluefin tuna trade: On 4th November 2023, the governments of China and Matla signed a historic agreement that will allow the export of Maltese bluefin tuna into China. The agreement was signed during the 6th China International Import Expo by Ian Borg who is the Minister for European Addairs and Trade. , . A press release jointly put out by the Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ministry, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Ministry of Malta hailed the agreement for greater expansion of bluefin tuna into Chinese markets. Additionally, the release celebrated the continuing value of these fish in contributing to building the Maltese economy. Describing it as a proud moment, the President of the Maltese Federation for Aquaculture Products, added that the acceptance of such a deal is testament to the high quality of Maltese produce and sea.
Entry-exit strategies to boost collaboration with Taiwan developed: A set of entry-exit strategies have been developed to aid the Taiwanese compatriots as well as further cross-strait ties. The entry-exit strategies will come into force from 1st January, 2024. They include greater exchanges between the Fujian province and Taiwan as well as easing the daily lives of compatriots. Consisting of ten specific measures, the policy has been issued by the entry and exit administration of China's Ministry for Public Security. The policy directs for the streamlining of the process of the entry of Taiwanese residents into the country. Additionally, ships travelling between the province of Fujian and Taiwan will now be able to carry out their registration process online. Taiwanese compatriots applying to settle in Fujian will have to wait for a shorter period. Taiwanese residents in short term visits will be able to make the most of their experience with the aid of travel passes that provide access to all transport and electronic payment.
Comic conference attracts cartoonists to ancient Chinese city: Anyang, an ancient city in China's Henan region, welcomed more than 1,000 cartoonists and animators from over a dozen countries and regions including Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The international comic conference, set to be on display until 8th November, has put up almost 3000 works of art from over thirty countries. The exhibition also includes a display of Chinese comics developed over the last thirty years by over seventy cartoonists. This conference part of is a long-standing tradition that was jointly inaugurated by China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. With its beginning in 1996, this is the 19th edition of the conference which has managed to bring together cartoonists and comic enthusiasts from around the world.
Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange Inaugurated: The city of Chongqing is set to host the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange between the 6^th and 7^th of November, 2023. Titled “Together for Innovation, Development for All”, the Conference will bring together BRI partners to discuss greater collaboration in science and technology movements. The conference has been jointly hosted by the Ministry for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy for Science and the Chinese Academy for Engineering along with the China Association for Science and Technology. The municipal and city governments of Chongqing and Sichuan will also help with the conduct of the conference. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has a long history of inter-governmental co-operation in the field of technology. This conference will seek to build on these efforts by focusing on greater co-operation, people-to-people exchanges, innovation and development.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Social media users engaged by viral video of alligator killing: Netizens were outraged by a viral video shared on Douyin by a woman from Chongqing. The short video posted by the food vlogger named "Chu Niang Xiao He" with over 3.5 million subscribers, details the killing and cooking of alligators. The video graphically detailed the cutting, skinning and cooking of the 90 kilogram animal. Several people took to social media to criticise the vlogger for committing such a grusome act in a bid to gain more followers. The woman in the video, facing criticism for her actions, claimed that the alligator was being bred illegally for the fashion industry. She further compared the dishes to a luxury leather bag and asked her viewers to be rational. Her response has only caused more outrage with several users pointing to the moral implications of allowing for such killings while others have also blamed the platform for allowing the publication of such content.

INDIA WATCH

China's attitude of aggressive integration in terms of Taiwan as well as greater militaristic push into the South-China Sea is indicative of a changing world order that is bound to impact India-China relations as well. While India was amongst the first non-communist countries to recognise mainland China, the former has also strengthened ties with Taiwan. Relation have improved significantly after the launch of India's Look East Policy and has been developed further by the Act East Policy. In September 2023, While India has agreed to stand by the One-China policy in the past, in the last decade it has stopped stressing its importance in documents about China as the two have seen growing differences with regards to boudary disuputes as well as China-Pakistan relations. India and Taiwan also moved closer to signing an agreement that would allow for Indian migrant workers to relocate to Taiwan to offset the latter's shortage of workers. In June of this year similarly, the Taiwanese foreign minster expressed Taiwan's "great appetite" to expand trade relations with India as Chinese markets were no longer profitable. The United States of America has also hoped that India, through the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will provide it access to Taiwan in case of conflict. India’s increasing closeness with America as well as Taiwan is coinciding with greater tensions with China. As the Indo-Pacific region grows more vulnerable to Chinese aggression, India will have to tread carefully if it must retain its commitment to an unchanging status-quo and global peace.

Prepared By

Tarini Agarwal

Tarini Agarwal is a twenty-year-old student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women with a passion for history and penchant for writing about issues of contemporary relevance.