CiCM 2nd-3rd September 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Xi pledges opening up of China’s services sector: In an address to the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China will open the service sector to bolster cross-border trade and investment. Xi also remarked that the move to ease market access in China’s service sector would steadily expand “institutional opening-up”. In the video address, Xi outlined a slew of measures to create an open development environment, which would include negotiations on the negative list for trade in services, and investment and opening up of service domains such as telecommunications, tourism, law and vocational examinations. According to Xi, other plans to improve service sector would include integration of services trade with high end manufacturing and modern agriculture. He also announced the creation of a national trading market for voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction, emphasizing on the role of the service sector in green development.
Typhoon Saola brings heavy rain to southern China: Typhoon Saola made its landfall in the city of Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong province early Saturday morning, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rain. The typhoon and the subsequent rains have damaged crops and also forced evacuation of residents. Saola made its first landfall at 3:30 AM on Saturday, with a speed of 42 to 46 meters per second. It made its second landfall at 1:50 PM in Yangjiang city. Guangdong province’s flood, drought and typhoon control headquarters said that the typhoon affected nearly 573 hectares of crops, while around 925,000 people had been forced to evacuate. Guangdong’s meteorological observatory also warned that Typhoon Haikui will make its landfall next Tuesday or Wednesday. Meanwhile, the National Defense Administration maintained the Level 3 emergency response for the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong.
Dateng Gorge project completes core construction phase: Saturday witnessed the completion of the core construction phase of an irrigation system that would supply water to over 66,000 hectares of agricultural land in Guangxi Autonomous Region in south China. Located in the Pearl River basin, the Dateng Gorge Water Conservancy project began construction in 2014 and was designed to be a crucial part of China’s water network to control floods, facilitate shipping, generate electricity, and provide irrigation. The project saw a total investment of 8 billion yuan, with the construction being completed four months ahead of schedule, according to the constructors.
Ministry announces inspection to address public security issues: The Ministry of Public Security announced that they will conduct the third summer night public security inspection and centralized action across China from September 8th to 10th, spanning from 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM the following day. This initiative follows a meeting wherein the Ministry decided to address pressing public security issues while simultaneously focusing on prevention and control. The Ministry emphasized cracking down on problems like illegal medical practices and online involvement in firearms and explosives. Special operations will target major cases, including cluster campaigns and regional efforts and will also prioritize investigating cases with wide geographical reach and complex networks. The "See the Police, See the Police Lights and See the Police Cars" campaign will continue, aiming to improve security in key locations and bolster public confidence. Additionally, with the start of the autumn semester, a special emphasis will be placed on campus safety inspections and safety courses.
Symposium on China’s War of Resistance anniversary held: On September 3, a symposium commemorating the 78th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World War II was held in Beijing. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Propaganda Department, attended the symposium, where speakers from key departments, including the United Front Work Department and the Central Party History and Documentation Research Institute, war veterans, and young students stressed the historical importance of these victories. They underscored the need to remember history, honour martyrs, advocate for peace, and pursue peaceful development. The event, jointly organized by central departments, drew around 200 participants, including veterans, families of war heroes, government officials, and representatives from various sectors, as well as foreign contributors to China's victory in the War and their descendants.
Law enforcement meeting stresses agencies must implement Xi’s legal principles: A meeting to discuss stringent law enforcement, chaired by Chen Wenqing, member of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau, emphasized political and legal agencies to understand and implement Xi Jinping's legal principles, comprehensive promotion of strict law enforcement, and ensuring the uniform and correct application of laws. The meeting stressed the importance of adhering to strict law enforcement, particularly in punishing illegal and criminal activities that disrupt the socialist market economy and infringe on civil rights. Political and legal agencies were urged to address issues like inaction and inconsistent enforcement, implement strong supervision, and standardize law enforcement. They should improve the law enforcement mechanism, while safeguarding the rights and authority of law enforcement personnel. This commitment to strict law enforcement aligns with the goal of advancing the national governance system and building a modern socialist country.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Internet celebrity Xiucai’s account ban triggers social media reaction: On Saturday, the account of Xiucai, an Internet celebrity with over 12 million followers on Douyin was suspended due to a breach of the platform's relevant policies, sparking heated debate online. A Tax Bureau employee in Bozhou, Anhui Province told a news agency that they had received report materials on Xiucai, surnamed Xu, regarding personal income declaration, yesterday evening. The investigation is currently in progress. Soon after, hashtags like #xiucaiaccountwasblocked were posted on social media platforms like Weibo, where users also debated the ban. Many mentioned how a majority of the influencer’s fans were middle-aged women- of the 70 per cent of his fans who are female, over 80 per cent are aged over 40 years. Some netizens expressed their dislike towards Xiucai while some lamented having to miss his videos on Douyin.

INDIA WATCH

Xi Jinping’s pledge to further expand China’s service sector reflects China’s intent to assume a key role in global economic growth and globalization. July this year witnessed slightly faster growth in China’s services activity, after a private survey reported China’s services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rising to 54.1 in July.

Despite its historic dependence on the agricultural sector, India’s services sector has driven the economy over the last few decades. According to data from the National Statistical Office, the services sector grew by 10.3 per cent in the April-June quarter. The sector accounts for nearly 58 per cent of the Indian economy. India’s services PMI rose to 62.3 in July, registering a higher index point than China. India’s service sector is also driven by heavy inflows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In FY22, it received US$ 7.1 billion in FDI inflows. In a bid to boost the growth of key service sector areas, the government has introduced programmes aimed at attracting more investment and spending in these areas. The ‘Action Plan for Champion Sectors in Services,’ formulated by the central government, aims to give attention to 12 areas identified as champion sectors. Rs 5000 crores have been earmarked to support initiatives in these sectors, some of which include tourism, Information Technology (IT), transport, etc. In November 2022, the government scrapped an incentive plan for services exporters called the Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS), justifying it by pointing out steady growth in services exports even without incentives. India's services sector has the potential to drive its economic growth while also facilitating deeper integration with the global economy, thanks to its successes in areas like IT and fintech. Concerned ministries must tap into this potential and capitalize on key sector areas, as it could also generate much-needed jobs for Indians, specifically those skilled in IT and software technologies.

Prepared By

Prejomon Sunny Chummar

Prejomon Sunny Chummar holds a Master's degree in International and Area Studies from MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from EFLU Shillong. His interests revolve around the intersection of cinema, culture, and politics, including the intricate dynamics of soft power politics. Additionally, his scholarly interests encompass the rich histories and cultures of China, Russia and Central Asia. With a keen passion for cinema and literature, he is an ardent cinephile and devoted reader.