CiCM 2nd October 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

National forestry administration cracks down on illegal wildlife trade: From March to June, a nationwide campaign led by China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration and 10 government departments targeted the illegal wildlife trade. The operation resulted in 14,000 investigations, with over 540,000 animals and plants seized. Additionally, 90,000 wildlife products weighing almost 500 metric tons were confiscated, along with 60,000 illegal hunting and fishing tools. The initiative dismantled 546 criminal gangs and addressed 15,000 individuals involved. A total of 190 million yuan ($26 million) in illegal gains were confiscated, and fines and penalties of about 16.42 million yuan were imposed. This campaign reflects China's strengthened efforts to combat all aspects of the illegal wildlife trade, focusing on hunting, harvesting, sale, transportation, and consumption. Through enhanced information sharing and cooperation, China inspected 1 million facilities, including habitats, breeding sites, and transportation hubs.
Chinese-led research team finds evidence of spinning black hole: A Chinese-led global team of scientists has unveiled ground-breaking evidence of a spinning black hole, shedding light on these enigmatic cosmic entities. After scrutinizing over two decades of data from an international network of radio telescopes, the researchers discovered that the colossal black hole in Galaxy M87 emitted oscillating jets akin to a spinning top. The jet's cycle spanned approximately 11 years, marking the first observed proof that black holes not only rotate but also do so with a tilt. Further research is needed to determine the speed of the M87 black hole's rotation and its implications for the formation of supermassive black holes.
Travels reach record high in holiday season: Due to China's eight-day National Day holiday and Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese railway trips are set to reach 16.40 million on Monday, with 16.29 million passengers on October 1. An estimated 11,274 passenger trains, including 906 additional trains, are in operation. The Yangtze River Delta region expects a 28% surge, totaling 3.5 million passenger trips compared to 2019. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism anticipates 896 million domestic tourists, up 86% from last year, with projected revenue of 782.5 billion yuan ($107.2 billion), a 138% surge. Major scenic spots, urban leisure, rural tourism, and family visits saw a substantial uptick. Notably, Beijing's scenic spots saw a 60.6% year-on-year increase, reaching 6.825 million tourists in three days, generating 4.19 trillion yuan, up 25.2%.
Warning levels exceeded in Hanjiang river basin: The Ministry of Water Resources has issued a warning that water levels in several areas of the middle and lower reaches of the Hanjiang River Basin in China are anticipated to surpass their warning levels starting from Monday. Heavy rainfall has been impacting the river basin since September 22, resulting in the year’s first flood in the area last Friday. As of Monday afternoon, the Danjiangkou Reservoir in Hubei Province, central China, recorded an inflow of 11,800 cubic meters per second, with an outflow of 8,170 cubic meters per second. Projections indicate that heavy rains will persist in the Hanjiang River Basin from Monday through Thursday. The water inflow at the Danjiangkou Reservoir is predicted to reach its peak at 15,000 cubic meters per second on Friday. In response to the situation, the Ministry has activated a Level-IV emergency response for potential flooding in the Hanjiang River region. Additionally, teams have been dispatched to provide guidance on flood prevention in Hubei and Shaanxi.
China’s power industry to surpass 100 trillion yuan in 2060: In a recent release, State Grid Corporation of China's publication, "New Power System and New Energy System," underscored the pivotal role of the burgeoning power system industry in propelling the expansion of both the power sector and market. Projections indicate that China's power industry investment is slated to surpass 100 trillion yuan between 2020 and 2060. Additionally, energy storage, integrated energy, and the energy Internet sectors are anticipated to attain trillion-yuan scales. The book emphasizes that the new power system is instrumental in advancing carbon neutrality objectives. Notably, the energy sector accounted for a significant 87% of the nation's total carbon emissions in 2020. Chairman Xin Baoan highlighted the abundant untapped potential in renewable energy resources, emphasizing its role in enhancing energy self-reliance and offsetting fossil fuel limitations.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Media company faces online backlash after posting photos of models perched on altars: Chinese media company CIQI CHINA faced backlash for a photo shoot in Chaoshan's ancestral hall, where models posed on sacred altars. The campaign, themed "Shenzhen Fashion Wins Power," aimed to showcase Chaoshan culture but triggered outrage online and among villagers. Critics deemed it a cultural offense, accusing the company of cultural insensitivity. Ancestral halls hold deep cultural significance for Chaoshan people, symbolizing respect for ancestors and cultural continuity. Despite an apology from project initiator Ning Mimi, social media responses remained critical. Commenters emphasized the need for genuine cultural understanding and accused the company of cultural exploitation. One user accused the company for profiting from culture, while lacking it.

INDIA WATCH

In India, illegal wildlife trade has thrived due to rampant poaching and a lack of supervision by authorities. Numerous cases of exotic fauna smuggling in and out of the country have been reported. According to data compiled by TRAFFIC, there were 56 instances of exotic wildlife being seized in India. Ten states—Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and West Bengal—along with the U.S. territory of Delhi, reported these incidents. Among these, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal share international borders, indicating a potential for wildlife trafficking along these boundaries. Seizures occurred at airports, air cargo facilities, railway stations, international post offices, and locations near international borders, as per open-source reports. Approximately 4,000 exotic animals were documented in these 56 seizure incidents. A study highlights several crucial challenges in combatting wildlife crime in India: human-wildlife coexistence and conflicts, a shortage of wildlife laboratories, personnel, and funding, unlicensed trade, disguised marketing, and the allure of prosperity. The same study advocates preventing illegal wildlife trade by amending existing wildlife laws, such as the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill of 2022. It suggests using artificial intelligence to monitor wildlife, establishing and fortifying wildlife laboratories, closely monitoring wildlife trade, and extending rehabilitation efforts for endangered and exotic species to restore ecological balance. The concerned ministry should formulate strategic plans to safeguard and expand forested areas, preserve and diversify flora and fauna, and secure funding for environmental and wildlife protection.

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.