CiCM 20th March 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Members of the Politburo visit Chinese provinces for inspection: During his visit to Xinjiang, Li Hongzhong, incumbent vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and member of the Politburo, reaffirmed adherence to Xi Jinping's ideological guidance, particularly focusing on unity and governance. He inspected various regions, researching the community initiatives and economic ventures involving diverse ethnic groups. Li also emphasized the centrality of legal governance in ethnic affairs under the Party's unified leadership. Similarly, Li Qiang's visited Fujian and Jiangxi, where he prioritized people's livelihoods and high-quality development, emphasizing the implementation of Xi Jinping's directives to meet evolving societal needs. Li Qiang commented on ecological preservation, improved public services, and innovative approaches in various sectors. Overall, both visits aimed at advancing regional development while aligning with the Party's overarching vision and directives.
Shenzhen sees rapid growth in foreign trade at the start of the year, rising upto 45% year-on-year during the period: In the initial two months of 2024, Shenzhen, a metropolitan city in southern China, witnessed a surge in foreign trade, reaching 675.18 billion yuan (95.14 billion USD), a 45 percent increase compared to the previous year. Shenzhen Customs reported that exports soared by 53.1 percent to 441.44 billion yuan, while imports rose to 233.74 billion yuan, a 31.9 percent growth. Private enterprises in Shenzhen contributed to this growth, with their foreign trade amounting to 483.6 billion yuan, up by 72.4 percent from the previous year. Importantly, trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also saw a substantial increase, reaching 106.92-billion-yuan. This accounted for 15.8 percent of Shenzhen's total trade volume. The city's export of mechanical and electrical products experienced a significant boost, reaching 295.5 billion yuan, constituting 66.9 percent of the total export value, while imports of similar products also saw growth.
Communication satellites successfully launched from Wenchang Space Launch Site: On March 20, China's Wenchang Space Launch Site witnessed the successful launch of Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 communication test satellites via the Long March 8 Yao-3 carrier rocket. Positioned as the pioneer satellite for deep space exploration, Tiandu-1 embarked on its mission to validate lunar communication technology. Approximately twenty-four minutes post-launch, Queqiao-2 detached from the carrier rocket, followed by the separation of the Tiandu Star assembly. It entered a planned Earth-moon transfer orbit, deploying its solar wings smoothly, marking the mission's triumph. This mission marked the maiden lunar orbit launch for the Long March 8, showcasing enhancements needed for diverse mission demands. The launch signifies a stride in China's lunar exploration, laying the groundwork for future missions like Chang'e 4 and Chang'e 6, with the Queqiao-2 relay satellite playing a pivotal role in facilitating lunar communication.
The Ministry of Public Security launches a campaign to tackle environmental crimes in the Yangtze River Basin: The Ministry of Public Security has initiated operations in 11 provinces and municipalities bordering the Yangtze River Basin to combat environmental crimes, especially curbing water pollution. These efforts target solid and hazardous waste pollution, as well as fraudulent activities in the environmental sector. Through initiatives like "Kunlun 2024" and Safe Yangtze River Special Operations, a diversified approach combining specialized interventions with systemic reforms has been employed. Enhanced collaboration with administrative bodies enables comprehensive investigations and proactive measures against environmental offenses. Key industries have been prioritized for strict enforcement, employing both online and offline strategies. Strengthened coordination and resource integration constitute a cohesive approach to combating environmental crimes.
Premier Li Qiang announces new ‘Regulations on Water Conservation’, expands on the conservation methods followed after the 18^thNational Congress of the CPC: Premier Li Qiang of China's State Council recently announced the "Regulations on Water Conservation". The regulations will be effective from May 1, 2024, as per the signed order of the State Council. These regulations aim to legitimise successful approaches, standardize water conservation efforts, and ensure national water security and ecological progress. Comprising 6 chapters and 52 articles, the regulations focus on party leadership, water management, efficiency enhancement, supervision, and legal accountability. Key provisions include strict water management measures for agriculture, industry, and urban sectors, promotion of water-saving technologies, financial incentives, and penalties for non-compliance. Heavy penalties are also outlined for employing outdated, water-intensive technologies.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi Meets former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating: Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held discussions with former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in Sydney, as a part of his ongoing visit to the Tasmanian states. Wang Yi also met with Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, on Tuesday, the first time a Chinese foreign minister has visited Australia since 2017. Wang Yi expressed gratitude for Keating's support for China-Australia relations, emphasizing the mutual benefits gained from their geographical proximity, economic cooperation, and shared interests. Highlighting the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, Wang Yi reaffirmed the importance of mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation for a prosperous future. Acknowledging Australia's sovereignty and role as both a U.S. ally and a partner to China, Wang Yi underscored China's commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relations. Keating reciprocated by affirming China's constructive role in regional peace and stability, expressing confidence in the promising future of Australia-China relations. Wang Yi also met members of the Australia-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Chinese youth unemployment rate rises to 15.3% during February, National Bureau of Statistics shows optimism: China's latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal a youth unemployment rate of 15.3% in February, marking a 0.7% increase from the previous month. Individuals aged 25 to 29, excluding students, faced a 6.4% jobless rate, while those aged 30 to 59 it was 4.2%. Despite this, China's overall employment situation appears stable for the first two months of 2024, with an urban unemployment rate averaging 5.3%. The National Bureau of Statistics remains optimistic, citing ongoing recovery in the economy, particularly in the service sector, and the emergence of new industries such as digital, green, and silver economies, which are expected to bolster urban employment. The release of youth unemployment data resumed in December 2023 after adjustments in labour survey methodologies.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Grandson uses AI deepfake technology to ‘resurrect’ his late father to console his grandmother, receives widespread support on Douyin: In a heartwarming tale shared on the social media platform Douyin, a devoted grandson named Sun, residing in Liaoning, China, utilized AI deepfake technology to comfort his elderly grandmother's grief. Following the passing of Sun's father six months prior due to a rare cancer, the family chose to shield the grandmother from this painful truth, given her fragile health condition. After creating a compelling story that his father was undergoing treatment in Beijing, Sun was faced with the challenge of his grandmother's persistent desire to see her son again. Employing AI and face-swap software, Sun merged his own appearance with his late father's, simulating a heartfelt reunion via video. The grandmother took solace from the video, believing it was actually her son. For Sun, this act not only provided comfort to his grandmother but also aided his own closure in bidding farewell to his father. The touching video on this endeavour garnered widespread attention on Douyin, garnering admiration for Sun's compassionate deception. The video received over 5 million likes and thousands of comments praising Sun’s action and calling it the ‘right way to use AI technology’.

INDIA WATCH

The rising youth unemployment rate under the new methodology of calculation developed by the National Bureau of Statistics is a worrying development for Chinese authorities, considering the overall unemployment rate and the nature of the demography of the state.

Historically, Chinese youth unemployment rates have remained in control, ranging between 9% to 12% as per ILO data. The recent statistic, which reveals a new high for the state, is around three times the overall unemployment growth (5.1%) and substantially higher than the OECD average of youth unemployment (10.5%). This has been attributed to several factors, mainly inadequate job creation by the private sector, skill mismatches as well as cultural demands and work culture in the country. As more and more Chinese people receive university-level education, more graduates enter the skilled labour market, where private entities are unable to create opportunities to meet rising employment demands. The heavy workload on most of the employed youth is another factor, as many suffer from burnout early in their career and choose to “stay flat” and not engage in any economic activities.

India has faced a similar situation, albeit with different conditions. Historically, we have seen a far higher youth unemployment rate than China, ranging between 13% to 30% as per ILO data. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s data revealed that most of the unemployed youth suffer from a lack of opportunities in the rural economic space, while urban youth unemployment rate has shown marginal improvement. This is also substantiated by the MGNREGA data, with a substantial increase in employment under the Act.

To counter this, the government has systematically rolled out a holistic measure to alleviate unemployment numbers across the country. Through schemes such as the National Youth Policy of 2014, National Education Policy of 2020 and ‘Skill India Mission’, the government aims to develop the skills of the currently-unskilled youth entering the labour force. Furthermore, through schemes such as the ‘Startup India’, ‘Make in India’ movement and rising subsidies to MSMEs, the government incentivises entrepreneurship and creative economy building in the country, and provides support for those who are willing to innovate but do not have the economic capacity to do so.

Prepared By

Parth Prasad

Parth Prasad is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing International Relations and Public Policy. His interests lie in international economics, diplomacy studies as well as Indian foreign policy analysis. His interests and area of research often brings him on Indo-Sino relations, thus igniting his interest in understanding Chinese polity.