CiCM 26th June 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

China is considering a new draft law aimed at safeguarding arable land and ensuring food security. The proposed food security law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for discussion. The draft outlines the establishment of two lines, namely the red line of land protection and the bottom line of ecological security, to effectively preserve arable land. Provincial and higher levels of government are required to maintain the quantity and improve the quality of farmland within their jurisdiction. China has maintained its farmland above the 1.8 billion mu (approximately 120 million hectares) red line since 2012. The draft law also emphasises the need for measures such as establishing a national agricultural germplasm resources pool, improving the stock breeding system, and implementing grain storage and crop protection strategies. Violations of grain transport infrastructure rules may result in fines for organisations and individuals. The draft law also encourages responsible and environmentally-friendly consumption practices to prevent waste.
The commencement of installation process for an offshore wind turbine, boasting a capacity of 16 megawatts, took place in China’s Pingtan, Fujian province. Developed indigenously by China, this turbine holds the distinction of being the world's first of its magnitude. Reports from China Media Group on Tuesday revealed that the turbine features three blades, each measuring a record-breaking length of 123 meters—representing the longest windmill blades ever installed in China. The initial blade's lifting and installation process commenced at approximately 7 am on Tuesday, culminating in its secure attachment to the turbine's hub at roughly 152 meters above sea level. Located approximately 35 kilometres from the shoreline, the windmill is affixed to the seabed at a water depth of roughly 40 meters. Upon operationalization, it is anticipated to produce an annual output of approximately 66 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity, adequately satisfying the power consumption requirements of 36,000 households over the course of a year.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson expressed support for Russia in “maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity”. The statement came in response to recent developments involving the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company. According to reports, the group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and all Wagner forces have withdrawn from the headquarters of the Russian southern army military command centre. The Chinese spokesperson emphasised that the Wagner Group incident is Russia's internal affair. “China, as a comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for the new era, stands in support of Russia's national stability and development”.
China is grappling with extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfalls in the southern regions and unusually high temperatures in the north. Experts emphasised the need for scientific planning and preparations to mitigate the impact of these weather events. The recent heavy rainfall has affected multiple regions, leading to risks of flooding, geological disasters, and urban waterlogging. Meanwhile, the northern areas have experienced scorching heatwaves, which pose severe health risks, damage infrastructure, and contribute to wildfires. Experts attribute these weather phenomena to a combination of El Niño events and global warming. While the extreme weather has resulted in red alerts for high temperatures across various regions, experts believe the impact on autumn grain production will be minimal. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has already experienced two episodes of high temperatures this year, with another one predicted from June 27 to 30.
The Changsha branch of China’s Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC) launched ‘Government e-loan’ self-service feature. It is an online financial service based on the government big data and developed jointly by Changsha branch of PSBC and Xiangjiang Jinke. The maximum loan amount granted under this service is 2 million yuan and the entire process from loan applications to loan disbursements will be done online. This entire process is expected to be completed within two days and thus, it will help in provide easy loans to consumers with high efficiency and low cost. PSB’s Changsha branch further aims to develop more convenient methods to provide assistance to small and medium enterprises with the principle ‘customer convenience, cost reduction and efficiency improvement.’ This measure will not only achieve customer satisfaction but also help in deepen government-bank cooperation with the help of digital transformation.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

China’s Sanda Film’s Controversial Announcement makes waves on social media: Controversy erupted on Chinese social media after Sanda Film, a company listed on China's Science and Technology Innovation Board, posted and subsequently deleted a congratulatory message on their official Weibo account, celebrating the general manager's daughter's achievement as the top scorer in the physics section of the provincial college entrance examination. Netizens and shareholders debated whether the announcement was an inappropriate attempt to garner attention for the company or a genuine expression of pride. While some believed it was irrelevant to the company's performance, others offered their congratulations. Following the incident, Sanda Film's stock price rose by 4.98 per cent. The company specialises in membrane material research and water treatment, but its profits have not seen significant growth despite increasing operating income. The Xiamen Education Bureau announced plans to investigate the matter further.

INDIA WATCH

China's support for Russia's handling of the attempted insurrection is a significant development with far-reaching implications for India. By describing it as Russia's "internal affair" and expressing solidarity in maintaining national stability, China's support for Russia's national stability is not only a diplomatic gesture but also a strategic move. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Russia have been strengthening their ties in recent years, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Although China and India both refrained from condemning Russia and continued their trade relations, the potential for a Russian tilt towards China may embolden Beijing to pursue its interests more forcefully in South Asia, potentially affecting the power balance between China and India and leading to further regional tensions. The effect of such an emboldening alliance will not only impact India’s diplomatic manoeuvrability but will also have implications for India's security concerns, particularly in relation to its border disputes with China. China's closer ties with Russia could provide Beijing with greater leverage and support in territorial disputes, potentially putting India in strategically important diplomatic negotiations. The alignment between China and Russia could also lead to joint military exercises and technology transfers, enhancing China's military capabilities and posing challenges to India's security posture in the region.

This situation underscores the delicate balancing act India must perform to safeguard its national interests. India's dependence on Russia for defence cooperation and potential repercussions from a Russia-China alliance necessitate a proactive approach. As the Russian-Ukrainian War has brought China and Russia closer, India has attempted to accelerate its engagement with the West and forge stronger alliances to counterbalance China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region, especially with those nation-states that share concerns about China's rising influence. This includes bolstering relations with the United States, Japan, Australia, and other regional players through initiatives like the Quad. India has also pursued closer cooperation with ASEAN nations to enhance its strategic outreach and maintain a balance of power in the region. Therefore, timely and strategic actions become crucial to ensure India's security and maintain a favourable power balance in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.

Prepared By

Ramyani Kundu

Ramyani Kundu is an Undergraduate student from Shiv Nadar IoE, pursuing a B.A.(Research) English with a Minor in International Relations. Her research interests include understanding the role of narratives in geopolitical relations and foreign policy's of nation-states. She further posits interest in South/East Asian literature and Continental philosophy