CiCM 8th October 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Chinese Remarks on the Israel-Palestine Conflict Escalation: China has expressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in response to the recent escalation of violence in the decades-old Israel-Palestine conflict, triggered by a recent surprise attack on Israel from Hamas militants which was followed by a declaration of war by the Israeli Prime Minister. This escalation has raised concerns in China, with one Chinese national already injured in the violence near Ashkelon in southern Israel. The Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv has advised its citizens to take precautions. The foreign ministry expressed deep concern over the rising tensions and violence in the region and called for all parties involved to exercise restraint and halt hostilities. The priority, according to China, lies in implementing the two-state solution, as outlined in a 1993 Israeli-Palestinian agreement, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. China also emphasizes the importance of the international community's role in facilitating peace talks between Palestine and Israel. This situation poses a diplomatic challenge and opportunity for China, which has maintained positive relations with both Arab nations and Israel in the Middle East.

Caution Advised as Typhoon Koinu Approaches China: Classified as the 14th typhoon of the year, Koinu is approaching southern China. Having already caused one death and over 356 injuries in Taiwan, it is expected to bring strong winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour. Heavy rainstorms and gales will affect southern and southeastern China from Friday to Saturday. Positioned around 200 kilometers off Guangdong's coast, the typhoon is moving westward slowly before it is expected to turn southwest and lose intensity by Sunday. Though it may not make landfall, heavy rainstorms with 50 to 90 millimeters of precipitation are anticipated in Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Gales are also expected in the East China and South China seas, along with coastal regions in Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan. Authorities are preparing emergency measures and monitoring for floods and geological incidents. Traffic restrictions have been imposed on some bridges, and coastal cities are closing tourist spots, ferries, and flights. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs activated a level-IV alert for agricultural impacts, such as flooding, crop damage, and disruption to the fishery industry.
China’s Remarks at the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation: The third China Tibet Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation was held in Nyingchi, Tibet with representation from over 40 countries and international organizations. Wang Yi made the opening remarks, stating the role of the forum in expanding Chinese socio-economic and ecological cooperation with trans-himalayan nations. He wished for parties to collaboratively achieve modernization. China has initiated a variety of ecological governance projects on issues of clean energy, climate change, forest protection amongst others with India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Wang proposed bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues that take primacy over a nation’s borders such as climate change responses, biodiversity conservation, environmental pollution prevention, disaster management etc to improve the overall environmental protection capacity of regional countries. Beyond environment, comments were made on respecting sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, resolving issues through dialogue and strengthening the region's interconnectivity through the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative projects. Wang emphasized that "the century of Asia is on its way".
Kenya’s SGR Railway is the New Installment of Succesful BRI Projects: The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), built by China, has been a significant driver of change in Kenya for the past six years, as noted by foreign envoys that highlighted its benefits while on a ride on the SGR passenger train. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian was joined by ambassadors from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Hungary, and Ethiopia as well as the executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT). The SGR has improved mobility for people and cargo, stimulated economic activity, and attracted investments along its 472-km route. Russian Ambassador Dmitry Maksimychev praised it as a model of technology transfer and environmentally responsible construction. This railway is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and adds to Kenya's Vision 2030 development plan. It has operated efficiently for 2,314 days, transporting millions of containers, metric tons of goods, and over 11 million passengers.
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture Introduced: A national meeting on the work of public communication and culture introduced Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, emphasizing the paramount importance of cultural confidence. President Xi called for openness, inclusiveness, and adherence to fundamental principles. Cultural confidence was seen as ideological guarantee for a modern socialist nation and the Chinese nation's rejuvenation. Key tasks included upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics, nurturing a values-driven youth, and the need for both material and spiritual foundations in China's national rejuvenation. Additionally, it stressed the urgency of bolstering China's cultural soft power on the global stage amid evolving international dynamics. Xi specified seven aspects : (1) strengthening Party leadership over the work of public communication and culture; (2) developing a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people; (3) cultivating and applying core socialist values; (4) strengthening the penetration and credibility of the media and its ability to guide and influence; (5) creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture; (6) developing the cultural sector; (7) international communication and mutual learning among civilizations.
CPC Crackdown on Corruption Leads to Expulsion of Four Party Members: With the approval of the CPC, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission launched a case review and investigation into the serious violations of discipline and law by Liu Liange, former Party Secretary and Chairman of Bank of China Co. Ltd. The inquiry revealed that he seriously violated Party discipline through multiple serious violations, including interference in credit projects, illegal issuance of loans causing significant financial risks, moral corruption, and unauthorized importation of prohibited publications. Liu Liange also attempted to evade organizational scrutiny and disregarded central regulations. He accepted illicit gifts and engaged in unauthorized business activities, retaining confidential information without permission. Consequently, he was expelled from the CPC, and his potential criminal charges will be reviewed by the procuratorate. Three other officials, Du Zhaocai, Yin Meigen, and Liu Liange, also faced expulsion from the Communist Party of China and removal from public office due to their similar disciplinary violations. This action underscores the CPC's crackdown on corruption and its commitment to upholding political discipline.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Chinese School ‘Toilet Pass’ System Creates Controversy on Social Media: A secondary school in China has stirred controversy by introducing a "toilet pass" system, requiring students to obtain permission to use the restroom on campus. A viral video displayed this paper pass, bearing the official seal of Yiwen School in Yangjiang city, Guangdong. The video garnered 5 million views on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok. School staff explained that they implemented this policy to manage students leaving class at the same time and prevent large groups from skipping classes. However, many expressed concern for the students, believing that it encroached on their rights. “Stop doing such anti-human things and focus on education,” one person wrote on Weibo. “If a student really needs to use the toilet and cannot go because they don’t have a toilet pass, how would the school be responsible?” said another. “Do you require a pass for eating, drinking water, speaking and breathing at the school too?” mentioned another on Douyin. A contrary opinion held by a few people understood the school’s situation and believed the policy was to stop students from “making mistakes”. Schools in China coming up with contentious rules have frequently gained media attention, giving rise to discussions on rigorous education systems that some believe lack empathy.

INDIA WATCH

Both India and China have maintained neutral approaches to the Israel-Palestine conflict for decades, hedging their support for both Israel as well as prominent Arab states that back the Palestinian cause. India, similar to China, holds diplomatic and trade deals with a multitude of nations in the region such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel and the UAE. However, under the current government, India-Israel ties have expanded significantly as they collaborate on key matters of defence and security. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has promoted solidarity with Israel during this difficult hour and referred to the attack as a “terrorist attack” without explicitly naming the Hamas group. This is a distinct shift from the unopinionated balancing act India usually deploys. China on the other hand seems to be supporting the 1993 Palestinian cause of a two-state settlement, supported by Arab states as well. This takes the China-India rivalry further, now extending to strategic issues in West Asia. Both nations have historically refused to get involved in external conflicts that don’t impact their territorial borders or national interests, as was seen in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The two Asian nations remain relatively neutral on the Israel-Palestine issue at this point, preaching for international peace. Similar to China, the Indian Embassy in Israel has focused on asking the nearly 18,000 Indians in the country to “remain vigilant” and “observe safety protocols.”

Prepared By

Ananya Singh

Ananya Singh is a student of International Studies and Public Policy at FLAME University. She is actively involved in research pursuits such as taking on corporate risk analysis internships, publishing articles on the conflict and politics in Asia; undertaking research on economic policy; engaging in various national-level youth G20/policy-making/leadership conferences and debates; and creating webinars/media on sociopolitical issues. Her research interests in the field currently include political risk analysis, defence studies, maritime security and international law with a regional focus on West Asia. She has also supplemented her portfolio with proficiency in French and an understanding of German and Persian.