CiCM 31st March 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

Xi Jinping chairs Review Meeting on Eco-protection and Disciplinary Inspection: Xi Jinping chaired the review of the ‘Regulations on Ecological and Environmental Protection’ and the ‘Comprehensive Report on the Fourth Round of Inspections of the 20th Central Committee’. The meeting underscored that these regulations are designed to advance ecological civilization by strengthening political accountability at all levels for environmental protection. The discussions emphasized the need for rigorous investigation and strict penalties for major environmental violations, addressing significant ecological concerns that have garnered public attention, and achieving tangible outcomes. The meeting reaffirmed the Party’s leadership in overseeing ecological and environmental protection, highlighting the importance of supervision as a critical mechanism to reinforce political responsibility across regions and departments in building a "Beautiful China." Additionally, they called for heightened political awareness among Party members, emphasizing their duty to uphold the responsibilities assigned by the Party Central Committee and to take concrete steps to safeguard the "Two Upholds." As 2025 marks a crucial year for achieving full inspection coverage, the meeting stressed the importance of aligning ecological supervision with central priorities and broader strategic goals. It urged officials to implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, as well as the resolutions of the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, while advancing high-quality inspection work.
China Issues New Guidelines on Social Credit System: China has introduced new guidelines to enhance its social credit system, aiming to integrate it with economic development and provide robust support for establishing a unified national market. The guidelines seek to uphold fair and orderly market competition while fostering high-quality development. The General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council emphasized that the social credit system serves as a cornerstone of the market economy. The new framework outlined 23 policy measures, including the establishment of a comprehensive social credit system encompassing all types of entities, strengthening data infrastructure, and refining mechanisms to reward trustworthiness while penalizing dishonest behavior. The guidelines also proposed sector-specific improvements across government institutions, social organizations, and market entities. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of privacy protection, preventing the misuse of social credit data, and enabling credit restoration for those who rectify their actions. To enhance oversight, the document calls for the development of a more effective credit supervision system, leveraging streamlined processes and improved information-sharing mechanisms.
KMT’s Andrew Hsia Visits China to Strengthen Cross-Straits Relations: Andrew Hsia, vice chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a delegation to China from March 29 to April 4. During the visit, he attended a ceremony in Henan Province to honor the legendary ancestor Huangdi, underscoring the shared cultural heritage and the significance of cross-Straits exchanges. Hsia reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the 1992 Consensus and positioned himself as a bridge to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and Henan in areas such as economy, trade, science and technology, and culture. He emphasized that these efforts aim to enhance the well-being and rights of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations for a brighter future. Liu Ning, secretary of the Henan Provincial CPC Committee, met with Hsia and reiterated the mainland's firm stance on the One China principle, opposing "Taiwan independence," while aiming to strengthen economic and cultural ties with Taiwan. Liu also emphasized efforts to create more business opportunities for Taiwanese entrepreneurs in Henan. Hsia acknowledged the strong economic potential for collaboration between Taiwan and Henan, especially in trade, science, and technology. Following his visit to Henan, Hsia will continue his journey to Jiangsu Province in East China, where he plans to meet with officials from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in Xuzhou and visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing.
Wang Yi Visits Russia to Strengthen Bilateral Relations and Discuss Key Agreements: China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, held talks with his Russian counterpart during his three-day official visit to Russia. According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, this visit serves as an opportunity to advance the implementation of key agreements reached by the two heads of state. Both sides are expected to engage in in-depth discussions on the future trajectory of China-Russia relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest. At a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirmed that China and Russia are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners in the new era. He highlighted that, under the strategic guidance of their leaders, both countries have upheld principles of long-term good-neighborliness, deepened strategic cooperation, and fostered mutually beneficial partnerships. Their back-to-back collaboration has bolstered practical cooperation across multiple sectors, contributing to national development while reinforcing fundamental norms of international relations. Meanwhile, Russia’s TASS news agency reported that Chinese leaders may attend the Victory Day celebrations in May, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China in August or early September.
Beijing Sets New National Standards to Enhance Residential Housing Quality: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has introduced national standards for Residential Project Specifications to enhance the quality of living. These standards focus on key aspects such as comfort, sustainability, safety, and the construction and maintenance of residential projects, considering both scale and functionality. Additionally, they addressed primary technological challenges in residential development. The regulations set forth specific requirements, including a minimum building height of three meters, mandatory elevators for buildings with more than four floors, improved sound insulation, higher balcony railings for enhanced safety, designated platforms for outdoor air conditioning units, and improved public mobile communication signals. Scheduled for implementation on May 1, 2025, the new standards reflect China’s rapid economic and social development, which has led to significant advancements in living standards and construction technologies. With an increasing demand for high-quality housing, the Ministry emphasized that these guidelines—formulated after extensive consultation and a thorough review of existing housing standards—establish essential benchmarks for residential projects, supporting the high-quality development of urban housing.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Workplace Bullying Controversy Sparks Outrage Following Death of Anhui Bank Officer: The death of Xiao Lin, a bank officer from Anhui, has resurfaced as a major social media controversy following the emergence of a photograph suggesting that workplace bullying played a role in her decision to take her own life in November 2023. Allegations have surfaced that Xiao Lin faced persistent harassment from her supervisor and colleagues at the China Construction Bank, with the discussion gaining traction online in recent day. Reports indicate that her supervisor denied her request for leave to attend her own wedding and instead increased her workload. Additionally, the supervisor is accused of belittling and harassing her in front of colleagues. While the accused has denied these allegations, and a court ruling found no direct link between Xiao Lin’s death and her employer, her family has appealed the verdict. The ruling has sparked public debate, with many questioning the legal system’s handling of workplace harassment cases. The case has ignited widespread outrage, drawing attention to the intense pressure and toxic work environments in Chinese workplaces. Netizens highlighted the complexities of workplace bullying and the urgent need for stronger policies and protections to prevent such incidents. Moreover, they have called for systemic reforms, demanding stricter regulations and harsher penalties for workplace bullying and harassment.

INDIA WATCH

Article on the South China Morning Post Discusses Kochi’s Historical Links with China: An article in the South China Morning Post explores the historical connections between the Indian city of Kochi and China. It highlights that many historical monuments and artifacts in Kochi share similarities with those from various Chinese dynastic periods. The article specifically draws attention to the giant cantilevered fishing nets along Kochi’s coast, which resemble those used in coastal regions of China. Additionally, it notes that several everyday tools in Kerala carry the prefix "Cheena" (meaning China in Malayalam), such as cheenavala (Chinese fishing net) and cheenachatti (a type of cooking vessel). The article suggests that the Chinese fishing nets may have been introduced to Kochi during the Ming Dynasty when Admiral Zheng He embarked on his voyages toward East Africa, possibly using Kochi as a key stopover. The piece also mentions that these historical ties are acknowledged by the Chinese government and are often cited as an example of China’s peaceful maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, while European influences, particularly Portuguese architecture, are prominent in Kochi, the article underscores that Zheng He arrived there before Vasco da Gama. Lastly, it notes that the Chinese ambassador to India visited the region and offered technical assistance to restore the Chinese fishing nets—an offer that sparked some controversy.

Prepared By

Lakshmi Priya Vijayan

Lakshmi Priya Vijayan holds a master’s degree in Geopolitics and International Relations from the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India. Her areas of interest include geopolitics of Southeast Asia, biosecurity, political economy, transnational organised crimes and public diplomacy. She has previously interned at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Her writings have been published in reputed institutions such as MP-IDSA, CENJOWS, EJSS and more.