CiCM 6th November 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China Unveils Climate Action Report: China released an annual climate action report which detailed new initiatives taken on by the country to fight climate change. The report also stated Beijing's position on proposals for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). This report has been compiled every year since 2008. An official of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) noted that this year’s report comprehensively lists out the progress China has made in terms of climate policies, key initiatives and measures, and thus reflects China’s responsible attitude to the cause. It also called on all parties to implement the principles and objectives of the UN Framework on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
UnionPay International Integrated with WeChat Pay and AliPay: China UnionPay’s subsidiary, UnionPay International announced that UnionPay cards issued abroad now fully support binding with WeChat Pay and Alipay, a move that will allow foreign visitors in China with more convenient and inclusive payment options. This innovative payment model is a part of a range of measures taken by China recently to further open up and ease entry for foreigners. Thus, visitors from overseas will be able to experience the seamless QR code payments which Chinese mainlanders enjoy. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China is looking to enhance visa-free access and other related policies to increase the ease and convenience for foreigners visiting and residing in China.
China Condemns Canada-South Korea Joint Statement: A spokesperson working for the Chinese embassy in Canada condemned a joint statement published on the Global Affairs Canada website. The joint statement was made by the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Canada following a meeting of their respective foreign and defense ministers. The spokesperson criticised their exaggeration of the situation in the Taiwan region, South China Sea, and other issues related to China’s national interest. He reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and that the greatest threats to peace in the region were the Taiwanese independence separatists. He reaffirmed that the situation in the South China Sea remains stable and that China is committed to resolving the issues through dialogue directly with the countries concerned.
Latin American and Caribbean Countries Unlock Opportunities in China: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning remarked on the Latin American and Caribbean countries being poised to unlock more opportunities in the Chinese market. Their participation in the China International Import Expo allows their companies to become beneficiaries, and products such as Honduran shrimp, Nicaraguan seafood and honey have gained direct access into China. Mao further noted that the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Latin America allows for cross hemisphere exchanges to become more convenient. At the 7th CIIE held in Shanghai, Latin American products like Chili’s cherries and Peruvian desert blueberries have become top sellers in Chinese supermarkets.
Chinese Premier on Increased Cooperation with Asian Development Bank: Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa in Kunming, Yunnan province of southwest China during the Greater Mekong Subregion Summit. Li Qiang said that he expects increased cooperation between China and the ADB, which will focus on development and extending the frontiers of bilateral cooperation. He further said that China is ready to work on financial cooperation with the ADB in a range of areas including elderly and medical care, environmental protection, low carbon and green development, reform of fiscal and tax system, etc. Additionally he noted that China hopes to share its experiences in green development, poverty reduction and the digital economy.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Chinese Social Media Reacts to Trump’s Victory: Chinese social media has seen an outpour of posts following the results of the US elections and the declaration of Donald Trump as the winner. “Trump declares victory” was the top trending topic on Weibo with 380 million views and 90,000 comments. One netizen posted, “The first season ends. Can you cut off the dog food before the second season ends?” Comparisons to the election being a show were increasingly made, as another user commented, “As long as Trump participates, there will be drama. Whether he’s a qualified leader is debatable, but he’s definitely a circus performer who never lets the audience get bored.” Other users were indifferent to the election results, saying that both candidates are unfriendly to China and therefore the results don’t actually matter. People also praised Trump’s approach to politics as a businessman, and doesn’t take on anything if it is not profitable. Satirical memes on the issue are also seeing increasing engagement.

INDIA WATCH

Opinion Piece on Indian Economy and How it Can Never ‘Replace’ China: Guancha news published an opinion piece analysing the performance of the Indian economy in the last decade, and its implications on global power dynamics. It breaks down the idea of the “Indian economic miracle” under the Modi government, and provides data to claim that it is India’s booming service industry which was the driving force behind the country’s economic growth, rather than the manufacturing sector. The author also noted that India’s underdeveloped manufacturing industry and its overreliance on the service sector could be the reason its annual GDP growth was not competitive with other East Asian countries. However, the article also suggested that this does not stop the Modi government from positioning India as the best choice to replace China, and the West from implementing the “friendly shore outsourcing” strategy. The author claimed that the rising narrative of India being the next global manufacturing center and replacing China was unrealistic due to internal constraints within the country such as low quality labour, a rigid land acquisition system and poor business environment. The piece concluded that in the context of US-China competition, China should not give into past prejudices and completely overlook India, while maintaining its cautiousness about the Indian economy’s capacity.

Prepared By

Veda Jain

Veda Jain is currently a third-year student at Flame University, majoring in International Studies and minoring in Literary and Cultural Studies. She has a strong interest in modern Chinese politics and is keen on analyzing the dynamics of Indo-China relations.