CiCM 15th January 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Nauru ends diplomatic ties with Taiwan: On Monday, the Republic of Nauru declared its adoption of the one-China principle, leading to the termination of diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The government announced on Facebook that, aligning with UN Resolution 2758, it recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government representing all of China. Consequently, Nauru will no longer consider Taiwan as a separate entity but as an integral part of China's territory. The country expressed its intention to cease all official relations and exchanges with Taiwan, joining the list of 10 nations that have severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan since 2016.

Top of Form
China’s landmark document unveiled to boost silver economy development: The General Office of the State Council recently issued "Opinions on Developing a Silver Economy to Improve the Well-Being of the Elderly," outlining measures to address the challenges posed by an ageing population. The silver economy encompasses various economic activities catering to the elderly, aiming to enhance their well-being. The document proposes 26 measures in four key areas:

1. Enhancing Livelihood and Addressing Urgent Issues by:

● Expanding meal assistance services for the elderly.

● Increasing home-based elderly care services and community convenience services.

● Optimizing health services, focusing on geriatric medicine, and improving elderly care institutions.

● Enhance cultural and sports services for the elderly and improve rural elderly care.

2. Expanding Product Supply and Improving Quality by:

● Cultivating silver economic entities, particularly state-owned and private enterprises.

● Promoting industrial clusters, and planning high-level silver economic and industrial parks.

● Strengthening industry organizations and encouraging the development of leading enterprises in the silver economy.

● Conducting high-standard pilot actions and encouraging themed shopping festivals.

3. Focusing on Diversified Needs and Cultivating Potential Industries by:

● Innovating elderly products, emphasizing smart health care and rehabilitation assistive devices.

● Developing the anti-ageing industry and pension financial products.

● Expanding tourism service formats for the elderly.

● Promoting aging-friendly transformations in infrastructure and services.

4. Strengthening Factor Protection and Optimizing the Development Environment:

● Planning forward-looking scientific and technological research projects.

● Ensuring land and housing for elderly care facilities.

● Provide fiscal and financial support for silver economic projects.

● Promoting the development of talent teams and improving data element support.

● Combating elder-related fraud through education and legal measures.

The document calls for coordinated efforts, unified leadership, and effective implementation of the outlined measures to address the challenges posed by an ageing population.

Egyptian President and Chinese Foreign Minister discuss bilateral ties and urgency of Gaza ceasefire: During a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the leaders emphasized the need to enhance bilateral relations and underscored the urgency of implementing an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Wang conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings to Sisi and highlighted the strong strategic foundation of China-Egypt relationships, congratulating Wang on his re-election, expressing Egypt's commitment to the one-China principle and opposition to external interference in China's internal affairs. The leaders discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further escalation. Wang held separate talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and signed the second five-year implementation outline of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership. Egypt, appreciative of China's support, expressed eagerness to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership and welcomed increased Chinese investments.
China's shipbuilding industry leads global development for 14 consecutive years, showcasing supply chain resilience: As of January 15, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology revealed that China's shipbuilding industry has maintained its global leadership for 14 consecutive years across three key indicators. China is the sole country achieving comprehensive growth in these indicators, with 2023 seeing a completion volume of 42.32 million deadweight tons (11.8 per cent YoY increase), new orders of 71.2 million deadweight tons (56.4 per cent YoY increase), and 139.39 million deadweight tons of orders on hand (32.0 per cent YoY increase). Notably, these indicators exceeded 50 per cent of the international market share for the first time. In 2023, high-tech and high-value ship orders reached a new high since 2008, and China's share of new orders for green-powered ships in the international market reached 57 per cent. Beyond leading in data indicators, China's shipbuilding industry achieved breakthroughs in the final assembly and construction capabilities for a full spectrum of marine products. The delivery of important equipment, such as offshore oil processing plants and the first domestically produced large-scale cruise ship, "Aida·Modu," marked significant achievements.
Railway ticketing system prepares for heavy traffic in 2024 Spring Festival transport: The 2024 Spring Festival travel is anticipated to experience a record-high cross-regional flow of people, prompting the railway 12306 ticketing system to implement various measures for a smooth operation. With an expected increase in operational passenger volume compared to 2023, the 12306 system has enhanced its capabilities, having added network storage resources and deploying ticket query services to a public cloud platform. To handle the ticket purchase peak, a machine has been developed to swiftly calculate the remaining ticket information for thousands of trains nationwide. In case of a lost or forgotten ID card during travel, users can utilize the "Progress Query" module on the 12306App to apply for temporary identification, eliminating the need to queue at the station. Additionally, for lost items, passengers can use the lost item search function in the warm service module, and monitor progress in the "Progress Query" module. The app also facilitates services for passengers requiring assistance, such as wheelchairs or stretchers. By filling in boarding information and service requirements 12-72 hours before boarding, passengers can receive priority entry, assistance during boarding and landing, and convenient exit. The 12306 system aims to enhance user experience and address various travel-related concerns during the upcoming peak period.
Supporting Chinese-style modernization through trial work advancements: On January 14, the National High Court Presidents’ Conference took place, where the focus was on conveying and studying General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions on political and legal work. The conference aimed to implement the ideas, measures, and key tasks outlined by the Central Political and Legal Work Conference. President of the Supreme People's Court, Zhang Jun, emphasized the importance of improving the quality and efficiency of trial work to better support and serve Chinese-style modernization. The meeting reflected on the court's work in 2023, discussed key tasks for 2024, and highlighted the need for active judicial implementation. The emphasis was on upholding the party's leadership in judicial work, supporting political perspectives and the rule of law, and achieving the "two safeguards" and "two establishments." The conference outlined six aspects of the court’s work in 2024, including actively promoting Chinese-style modernization, implementing Xi Jinping's Thoughts on the Rule of Law, serving the overall situation, putting people first, strengthening trial management, and enhancing the foundation for trial work development. Honorary medals were awarded, and commendations were given to advanced collectives and individuals from national courts for their exemplary contributions. The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including Deputy Secretary Deng Xiuming, Vice President Tao Kaiyuan, and leaders of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team.
China names new climate change envoy: China has appointed Liu Zhenmin as the new special envoy for climate change, succeeding Xie Zhenhua, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. The spokesperson, Mao Ning, highlighted Xie Zhenhua's significant contributions to China-U.S. collaboration on climate change. Liu Zhenmin, a former Vice Foreign Minister and Under-Secretary-General of the UN is described as a seasoned diplomat who has actively participated in multilateral climate change negotiations. The spokesperson expressed confidence that Liu Zhenmin will continue fostering dialogue and cooperation to advance global efforts towards green and low-carbon development.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Angry Chinese passenger buys two first-class tickets, delays flight: A flight in China faced a three-hour delay, inconveniencing 300 passengers, when an irate traveller demanded three first-class seats for the price of two. The unidentified passenger, who had purchased two first-class tickets, insisted on a complimentary upgrade for a family member from economy class. A viral video captured the heated argument with cabin crew, security guards, and fellow passengers. Despite explanations of airline policy, the man remained adamant. Police were eventually called, escorting him off the plane at 2 pm. Disgruntled passengers had to rebook their flights, and social media criticism ensued, targeting both the passenger and the cabin crew's handling of the situation. Similar flight disputes often gain attention in China.

INDIA WATCH

India's senior citizen population is anticipated to grow threefold, rising from 104 million in 2011 to 300 million by 2050, constituting 18 per cent of the overall population. Considering India’s increasing population, the adoption of silver economy principles similar to China would be advantageous to fostering residential and infrastructure amenities tailored for seniors of various standards through collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors. The objective is to ensure a dignified and secure ageing experience for the elderly. Earlier in 2020, such an attempt was made by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJ&E) in India by considering the recommendations of the Expert Group which called for making senior care both economically viable and an opportunity for economic development. It emphasized the importance of acknowledging senior care as a sector that requires suitable regulations and standards, policy backing, tax frameworks, access to subsidized financing, and appropriate governance mechanisms. It has set out a vision for “model senior care” public-private partnership projects in which states can allocate land and funds to build capacity to take care of seniors, including those from the weaker sections. In India, the welfare of parents and senior citizens is addressed through various legislative measures and programs such as The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 which ensures need-based maintenance, with a 2019 amendment bill introduced in Lok Sabha. The National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) aligns with international commitments, providing medical care under Section 20 of the 2007 Act. The Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) investigates population ageing factors. Initiatives like the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) offer support and assistance. Financial security is addressed through schemes like Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana. The ageing population represents an increasingly expanding and untapped asset for addressing various societal challenges.

Prepared By

Sejal Dalvi

Sejal Dalvi is a Political Science graduate from the University of Mumbai and now pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy from St.Xavier’s College. Her research interests include International relations, Environment and sustainability and Urban governance. Her research papers have previously been published on NITI TANTRA. Her experiences, coupled with a genuine passion for research and addressing societal challenges, have solidified her commitment to policymaking.