CiCM 29th-30th March 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China Internet Media Forum 2025 Opens in Nanning: The 2025 China Internet Media Forum opened on 30th March, 2025, in Nanning, Guangxi, under the theme "Systematic Transformation of Intelligent Communication: Opportunities and Challenges of Internet Media." Bringing together officials, media professionals, and tech leaders, the forum explored AI’s role in reshaping digital media. Highlights included the announcement of the 2024 China Positive Energy Online Products Collection results and the launch of major online projects. Discussions emphasized AI’s impact on public opinion and cultural evolution, urging media to adapt to digital and intelligent trends. Hosted by the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, China Media Group, and Guangxi authorities, the two-day event featured key sessions on AI-powered content creation and ethical algorithm governance.
China Pledges Aid and Sends Rescue Teams to Quake-Hit Myanmar: China has committed 100 million yuan (US$13.8 million) in emergency aid to Myanmar following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 29, killing over 1,000 people. President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, reaffirming China’s support. Two Chinese rescue teams, including an 82-member unit from Beijing and a regional team from Yunnan, have been deployed, along with essential relief supplies such as tents, food, and medical kits. Chinese customs have facilitated round-the-clock border crossings for aid delivery.
China Implements New Summer-Autumn Flight Schedule with Expanded Routes: China’s Civil Aviation Administration is set to implement the 2025 summer-autumn flight schedule from March 30 to October 25, introducing 123,000 weekly flights, a 1% increase from 2024. Domestic routes see 100,490 weekly flights, with 6,454 new flights on 640 routes, enhancing connectivity to tourist destinations like Xinjiang, Sichuan, and Yunnan. International flights have surged by 33%, with 22,946 weekly flights across 78 countries, including 58 along the Belt and Road Initiative. Passenger flights grew by 38.4%, and cargo flights by 18.1%. The aviation authority aims to boost travel demand through improved connectivity, inbound tourism, and optimized air transport resources while strengthening global air network expansion.
China, Japan, and South Korea Push for Trilateral Free Trade Deal Amid Global Economic Uncertainty: China, Japan, and South Korea have agreed to accelerate negotiations on their trilateral free trade agreement and strengthen cooperation in supply chains and export controls, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce. During the 13th economic and trade ministers' meeting in Seoul, officials reaffirmed their commitment to regional and multilateral collaboration, including WTO reform and the expansion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao emphasized the need to counter rising protectionism and unilateralism, advocating for deeper regional economic integration. As global economic pressures mount, the three nations aim to bolster trade ties, digital and green economies, and broader economic stability.
PLA ‘On High Alert’ Over US-Philippines-Japan Naval Drills in South China Sea: China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has placed its Southern Theatre Command on high alert as the Philippines, US, and Japan conduct joint naval exercises in the South China Sea. The PLA conducted routine patrols, warning Manila against seeking external support and provoking tensions. The drills, part of a trilateral security initiative, coincide with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Manila, where he reaffirmed US-Philippines security commitments and announced the deployment of an advanced missile system, NMESIS. Beijing condemned the drills, accusing Washington of destabilizing the region. Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated under President Marcos Jr., with recent clashes involving coast guard forces.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

IShowSpeed's China Odyssey: How a Social Media Influencer Became an Unlikely Ambassador for Chinese Culture: American influencer IShowSpeed, aka "甲亢哥" (Jia Gang Ge), has taken Chinese social media by storm with his high-energy China tour. Since arriving in Shanghai on March 24, he has livestreamed his experiences—from trying douzhi and bao du in Beijing to climbing Henan’s notorious "Cloud Ladder", captivating millions. His reactions, especially to China's high-speed rail’s seamless internet, have sparked lively discussions on Weibo and Douyin, where he amassed a million followers in just four days. His viral moment with the song Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse first endeared him to Chinese fans, and now, his enthusiasm for the culture has cemented his status as a bridge between East and West. Even the Chinese Embassy in Washington has acknowledged his role in breaking cultural barriers, making IShowSpeed an unexpected but effective promoter of China’s global image.

INDIA WATCH

"India Expands Naval Footprint in Africa Amid China’s Growing Influence," according to an article in the South China Morning Post: A Chinese media outlet highlights India’s increasing maritime engagement in Africa through the upcoming Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) naval exercise, set to take place off the coast of Tanzania in April. The article comments that this move comes as India seeks to position itself as a regional security provider and strengthen its economic and strategic ties with African nations. While India’s naval presence in the region is not new, AIKEYME adds an operational dimension to its existing surveillance network. Analysts cited in the article argue that India’s growing role aligns with U.S. and Western strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific, particularly as a counterweight to China’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments in Africa. The article also observes that the timing of AIKEYME follows China’s Peace-Unity 2024 military exercises with Tanzania and Mozambique, suggesting that India’s actions are part of a broader competition for influence in the region. However, the author comments that despite these security initiatives, India’s economic presence in Africa remains smaller than China’s, raising questions according to them about the long-term impact of its outreach.

Prepared By

Saniya Kakoti

Saniya Kakoti is an undergraduate Political Science student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, with a strong interest in public policy, international relations, feminism, decolonial theory, and comparative studies. She interned with the Office of Shri Pradyut Bordoloi (INC Lok Sabha MP, Nagaon, Assam) during the Winter Session 2024, focusing on policy research. She has also worked with the India Gender and Social Inclusion Platform at the World Bank , where she contributed to report writing on high-profile events and discussions on women’s leadership.