NEWS IN CHINA 

  • 40 Chinese Nationals Repatriated from Thailand: As a part of the joint efforts to combat cross-border crimes, forty Chinese nationals involved in illegal immigration were repatriated from Thailand to China. According to China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the repatriated Chinese citizens were first lured by criminal organizations and subsequently illegally left the country, eventually becoming stranded in Thailand. The MPS further mentioned that the expatriation was conducted in accordance with Chinese and Thai laws, international regulation and established practices. It also serves as a pertinent example of collaboration between the two nations to address transnational criminal activities. The legal rights of repatriated persons are fully guaranteed by the Thai law enforcement agencies. Further, Chinese public security authorities have also implemented standardized, fair, strict and civilized law requirements to process individuals in accordance with legal procedures. The Chinese police confirmed that they will continue to combat crimes that threaten national border security and hold accountable the individuals who engage in illegal border crossings. 

  • China says US should Withdraw probes into Copper Imports: China’s Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that the charges levied by United States regarding China’s damaging subsidies and excess capacity to stifle competition were completely baseless and stated that the US Section 232 review on copper imports be withdrawn as soon as possible. He Yadong, the ministry’s spoke person made the remark at a press conference while responding to a query being raised. He dismissed the U.S. investigation as an inward-looking move coupled with a unilateral response. He underscored that the forcible measures now being taken would adversely affect the rules space under which the multilateral trading system currently operates. Additionally, it would impact the orderliness of the international economic and supply chains even more.

  • Press Centre opens in Beijing for 2025 ‘Two Sessions’: The press centre for China’s annual sessions, known as the “two sessions,” of its top legislature and political advisory body opened officially at the Media Centre Hotel on West Chang'an Avenue in Beijing. The two sessions, third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), are set to begin on March 5 and March 4 respectively. This year marks the final year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, given which, more than 3,000 journalists have registered to cover the "two sessions" this year. Journalists from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad account for more than 1000 of these 3000 journalists, which represents an increase compared to the last year. This press centre will host various press conferences and events, during which heads of central government departments will deliver addresses on pressing domestic and international issues. This year’s press centre, similar to the previous years, has installed multiple functional areas, a press conference hall, interview rooms which are equipped to support local and international journalists.

  • China seeks Pro-Growth Policies to Boost Economic Recovery: Widespread anticipation has risen that China would create a new round of stimulus package and adopt a more pro-growth stance to counter the domestic sluggishness or external uncertainties. Analysts are looking for the government to initiate a blend of fiscal and monetary strategies to bolster consumption and investment. Among them, increasing fiscal expenditure, providing subsidies to low-income households, and trade in programs for automobiles and home appliances to augment consumer spending. The presumption is that monetary policy would remain moderately loose, with more interest rate cuts or liquidity injections further down the line. Experts in the field believe that the measures reflect a commitment to reestablishing market confidence, securing economic stability, and pursuing high-quality development. The government is also expected to emphasize structural reforms in the long term while balancing those stimuli also needed in the short term. These shifts come as China, stuck however in a world now riven with trade uncertainty, starts to wade through a misty property sector, has recovered slower than expected from COVID-19, and is now looking to have economic resilience as a mark for processors in 2025.
     

  • China Warns Taiwan’s DPP: China’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) warned the leaders of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stating, “We will come for you, eventually.” Spokesperson Wu Qian accused the DPP of relying on US support for independence and resisting unification by force, calling it a dangerous miscalculation.  According to experts, including Li Haidong of China Foreign Affairs University, the US's goals are changing, which worries Taiwan about its dependence on US assistance. Spokesperson Lin Jian condemned assistance to Taiwan, which includes an estimated $870 million in military support as part of a broader $5.3 billion foreign aid initiative, claiming that it breaches the one-China principle and threatens China’s sovereignty. He also urged the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan and undermining stability in the Taiwan Strait. Lin reaffirmed that China will closely monitor the situation and safeguard its national sovereignty. Moreover, Zhu Feng Lian, compared Taiwan’s leadership to "chess pieces" that the US will ultimately abandon, emphasizing China's view that US military aid is a short-term and unstable guarantee for Taiwan’s aspirations for independence. Zhu further criticised DPPs practice of spending money to obtain favours from Washington. US military Officials cautioned that the projected $10 billion in armaments Taiwan might buy from the US would not guarantee security. 

     

    ShapeShapeSOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

    Businesswoman in China Sparks Uproar after Demanding Eatery Replace Air Con with her Brand: Businesswoman Dong Mingzhu, has recently sparked controversy after revealing in an interview that she once insisted a restaurant to replace its air conditioner upon learning that it was not her company’s. In the interview with Tencent News, she revealed that she noticed the air conditioner was not manufactured by Gree, her company, and asked the restaurant owner what the matter was and why they weren’t using Gree if the quality is so good. Upon explaining that the one in her room was the only air conditioner belonging to a different brand, Dong insisted that it be replaced immediately, declaring that the company must replace it otherwise she would never go back there. Further she exclaimed with pride that that on that day she made sales worth thousands of dollars. Triggering severe backlash online, many netizens have criticised this action saying, how could she know, in advance, which brand restaurants use? Does she call to confirm before entering the restaurant. Netizens further said there’s not need to be so extreme, good products should suffice. Another netizen remarked, “As someone worth hundreds of billions of dollars, she fusses over a ten-thousand-yuan air conditioner.” Many netizens echoed the sentiment that this move of Dong, known to be one of the richest women in China, is a little extreme and unnecessary. 

     

    ShapeShapeINDIA WATCH 

    Global Times Reports Indian Media’s views on Sino-African Cooperation: The Chinese media outlet, Global Times, commented on the remarks that Indian media sources made regarding China’s partnership with Africa. The article states that according to the Indian media reports, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s comments at the Japan-India-Africa Business Forum were hinting toward China. His remark regarding India’s approach being different than “extractive models” is being interpreted by many Indian media sources as referring to "China's activities in African countries,” giving more heed to the false " Chinese debt trap” theory acording to the author of the article. The piece further stated that, India has marketed its own cooperation with Africa as a model of capacity building but labelled China’s as extractive, exposing the deep-rooted zero-sum game mentality. Even though India has made significant financial and economic commitments to Africa, when it comes to China’s loans, Indian media blames the loan pressure poor countries are facing as a product of China's actions. The article called this a double standard approach, further arguing that India’s criticism of China’s investments in Africa is a case of sour grapes. Both China and India’s investment in Africa will help improve the lives of African people drastically but, the article argues, some hardline, anti-China voices in India paint China’s investments in Africa as a part of the rivalry for the leadership of Global South.

Prepared By

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Riddhi Deokar

Riddhi Deokar is a Second-year bachelor’s student pursuing Global Affairs with a minor in Public Policy at OP Jindal Global University. She exudes a strong interest in learning and researching about Northeast Asian and Middle Eastern dynamics, specifically learning about China’s equation with the two regions. She endeavours to contribute to solutions addressing gender issues in the political realm. She pursues her linguistic aspirations, learning French and Mandarin. She is also a TEDx speaker, spreading her message about the theory of 'Relative Happiness'. Understanding varied perspectives and keeping an open mind while analysing and researching global issues is an effort she keeps making.

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China Economy Foreign Policy and Diplomacy India Infographics Maritime Security
CiCM 27th February 2025

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