CiCM 14th-15th October 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers discuss the Middle East crisis: The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently exchanged a phone call with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to discuss the escalating Middle East crisis. Abdollahian emphasized on the danger in the region and highlighted the need to protect Gaza’s civilians and stop the humanitarian crisis from escalating. He expressed his desire to resolve the issue and collaborate diplomatically with China. Wang Yi urged the need to calm down the situation happening in the Gaza strip and emphasized on complying with and follow the international law on self-defense as well as on detained people. He emphasized on the need for unity among the Islamic nations on the issue of Palestine and called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council to oppose the attack on civilians. He also highlighted that China supports Palestinian rights and the significance of ending this historical injustice. He emphasized China's commitment to peace, justice as well as safeguarding the national rights of Palestinians.
China’s National Civil Service vacancies expanded to boost employment opportunities: China’s National Civil Service Administration has revealed plans to recruit 39,000 civil servants to work for central agencies and institutions during the 2024 recruitment drive. The expansion is due to increasing demands for public servants and government responsibilities. The online applications will be accepted starting from the 15th to 24th October. Furthermore, around 26,000 positions have been designated for university students who are going to graduate the following year. This is to accelerate the boosting of employment opportunities for recent graduates.
Zheng Qinwen secures second WTA Tour singles title: Chinese tennis sensation Zheng Qinwen triumphed in the WTA500 Zhengzhou Tennis Open's women's singles final. She staged a remarkable comeback, defeating 2021 French Open champion and Czech player Krejitskova, with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. This victory marks Zheng Qinwen's second career WTA Tour women's singles championship, her most prestigious win to date. Despite Krejitskova's 18th world ranking and 7th seed status in the tournament, she and Zheng Qinwen had never crossed racquets before this match. While Zheng Qinwen had a shaky start, she bounced back in the second set with improved serving and strong performance on critical points. Her resilience shone in the final set, with three decisive breaks securing her a 6-4 win. Zheng Qinwen's game featured an impressive 30 winning points, sealing her hard-fought victory.
China to be the biggest contributor to economic growth: According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) China is expected to be the biggest contributor to the global economic growth in 2023 to 2024. This is despite the downward growth of China’s GDP that it faced due to challenges in the real estate sector. China is expected to contribute approximately one-third of global economic growth in both years. The IMF's World Economic Outlook estimates China contributing around 0.9 percent to global growth in 2023 with India at 0.5 percent and the US at 0.3 percent. The IMF encouraged China to maintain its role as a contributor to global growth by accelerating structural reforms and boost the economy by focusing on consumer spending and implementation of monetary policies when inflation pressures are low so that its growth is not slowed to 3.4 percent by 2028.
Leaders arrive to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Summit in China: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan's Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, and Taliban ministers are set to attend the third Belt and Road Summit in China, which is taking place from October 17-18. Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting delegates from 130 countries and 30 global organizations to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In 2019, almost 5,000 delegates including 37 state heads and representatives of seven international organizations attended the summit. Russian President Putin confirmed his attendance and his discussions at the summit are expected to cover the topic of energy and transactions in national currencies. There is also an anticipation that the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan would sign a new highway deal as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Furthermore, the acting commerce minister of Taliban will also be attending the summit to further strengthen the ties between them. This was followed by the arrival of the Kenyan President, Ruto for the Summit who hopes to strengthen and continue the 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Shifting marriage trends become hot topic in Chinese social media: Chinese social media is abuzz with the recent statistics released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs for 2022. The data shows a significant decline in the number of legally married couples which is down by 10.6 percent compared to the previous year. Delayed marriage ages are becoming the norm, with the majority of newlyweds falling in the 25-29 age group. This has caused netizens to express concerns about their future especially pertaining to housing, stock market stability and even retirement security despite the legal protection for marriage and property rights the government provides. Some users on Weibo joked about waiting for housing prices to stabilize before getting married while some expressed their growing concern about their long-term prospects. All this led to some users debating whether getting married is still a good option for individuals as they seemed frustrated over the lack of eligible partners that can be relied upon for financial security with stable careers. On the other hand, many Weibo users also advocated that marriage should be done for love and compatibility rather than just for material concerns and only then can one have a successful union. This shift in marriage trends reflects the evolving nature of societal values and expectations especially in the younger generations in China.

INDIA WATCH

Both India and China for decades have been neutral towards the Israel-Palestine conflict until recently when both nations started leaning towards one side or the other. China’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict is characterized by a strategic approach aimed at advancing its geopolitical interests and global agenda. China has issued a statement calling for “restraint” by both sides and has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, “willing to maintain communication with all parties” and seeking to play a role in bringing peace agreements between Israel and Palestine. On the other hand, India recently called the attack by Hamas on Israel a “terrorist attack” and has shifted away from the neutrality it generally holds considering the growing ties between India and Israel, although it has been a long-term supporter of the Palestinian cause. Faced with the current crisis, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Israelian Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah condemning the terrorism it is facing, while at the same time the Indian government backed the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Both China and India have talked about their support for the two-state solution but this choice of language marked a departure from India's long-standing position of advocating for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Therefore, not only is India's stance influenced by its developed strategic partnership with Israel and its desire to maintain a favorable relationship with the Israeli government, it is also colored by India’s own geopolitical situation, domestic politics and experience with terrorism.

Prepared By

Adhishri Seth

Adhishri Seth is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Global Studies at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi, with a strong ambition to advance her academic career through a master's program in international relations. Her interests encompass a wide array of global topics, including world politics, political economic institutions, foreign policy, and global diplomacy, reflected in her dedication to extensive reading and research. Additionally, Adhishri is currently learning Mandarin, a crucial step towards understanding East Asian affairs, bridging both linguistic and cultural divides, and helping her to follow her dream of engaging more deeply with this intricate world.