CiCM 18th-19th May 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Minister of Agriculture Under Investigation: China’s Minister of Agriculture, Tang Renjian, is under investigation on suspicion of “serious violations of Communist Party discipline and the law”. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission announced on Saturday that Tang Renjian is undergoing disciplinary review and investigations. Details of the suspected violations were not provided in the notice. Tang joined the Party in 1991 and was made party secretary and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2020 after over 30 years of work in the agricultural ministry and provincial government managements. His position made him a lead figure in the policymaking of the agricultural field in China, especially in recent years as China began schemes to ensure food security. Tang was a key stakeholder in the development of rural and crop production policies and called for the increase in important Chinese crops and the use of innovative agricultural technology. He is the first member of the Central Committee to be targeted by China’s anti-corruption campaign. His last public appearance was three days before the announcement, at a rural talent conference in Xianyang. The investigation was announced a month after the CCDI announced the inspection of the party group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Anti-Dumping Investigation Commences: China’s Ministry of Commerce has issued an announcement about an investigation into the imported polyoxymethylene copolymer thermoplastics from the US, Taiwan and Japan. The announcement is in response to an application for an anti-dumping investigation received by the ministry from various companies on behalf of the Chinese domestic copolymer polyformaldehyde industry, due to a perceived threat of material damage to the industry. The accusation essentially called for an investigation based on the inference that the imports are priced at a lower value than the regular market value. The application met the conditions necessary for the initiation of the investigation as the applicant corporations produce over 50% of the polyoxymethylene copolymers in China. Adhering to Article 16 of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China’s Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures, the announcement was made public on May 19^th, which also marks the starting date of the investigation. In accordance with Article 15, the investigation will conclude by May 19^th, 2025.
Foreign Minister Commences 4-Day Central Asia Trip: Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi’s visit to Central Asia began on Saturday with a focus on security and counter-terrorism. Wang met with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe to discuss the bilateral relationship between the two neighboring countries. Wang stated that China is committed to the development of industries and the economy of Tajikistan and supports Rahmon’s proposed plans for the same. The two countries are set to work together on anti-terrorism and security concerns as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) goals. Rahmon conveyed satisfaction with the development of the bilateral ties thus far and emphasized Tajikistan’s positive stance on eco-sustainable technology. Following the meeting with the president, Wang held discussions with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin. Wang established the expectation for Tajikistan to cultivate a business-friendly environment for Chinese-funded companies to safely invest. Given the unstable regional situation of modern Central Asia, Muhriddin attested willingness to work with China to collaborate on security issues and challenges.
Heavy Rains Pelt Southern China: South China has faced heavy rains since Saturday and the region is expected to receive further rainfall for a few days. A low pressure system is expected to bring heavy rains to the Southern parts of China, and the weather is predicted to be unstable for the next week, with the showers peaking in intensity on Monday. As of Sunday, China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters initiated Level-IV, the lowest level, emergency response in parts of Guangdong, Guangxi and areas near the Pearl River and its tributaries. The downpours in some cities have set new record highs for rainfall, with 24-hour accumulation of 610.5mm in Qinzhou, Guanxi Zhang Autonomous Region. The transport system of China has taken a hit during this time, with 30 trains suspended in Guanxi alone due to waterlogging. Zhuhai Airport has additionally cancelled flights on the 18^th and 19^th as a result of the Central Meteorological Observatory issuing a yellow rainstorm warning. The General Office of National Defense and the Ministry of Emergency Management in consultancy with the China Meteorological Administration, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Natural Resources dispatched a group of workers to affected areas of Guangdong, Guanxi, Hunan and other Southern China provinces and regions. The team is responsible for judging the situation on-field and addressing preventable issues such as water logging and debris flow. They will additionally take responsibility of relocating people in the most affected areas.
14^th China Tourism Day Comes to a Close: The 19^th of May was celebrated as China’s 14^th Tourism Day. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reportedly enacted over 6,300 preferential measures across China to boost the month-long campaign that led up to China Tourism Day. These measures included a push towards elder-friendly activities and an emphasis on inclusivity. Each locality is credited for creating a new experience, in collaboration with digital companies and financial platforms to issue consumer vouchers worth over 100 million yuan, in addition to price reductions and free entry at various tourist destinations. The theme of the event was “Travel China and Live Happily” and six cities participated in the form of a relay between May 13^th and 18^th to represent various aspects of the theme through cultural activities. The cultural and tourism departments of various regions were encouraged to broadcast the events and celebrations through online live broadcasts to promote local tourism. The various activities included sightseeing opportunities, camping, concerts and staged performance arts. Guiyang City of Guizhou Province has been especially applauded for the representation of national unity through the presentation of the diverse cultures of the ethnic minority groups of the region. More than 3,000 members of Guizhou’s ethnic minority population participated in a parade held on the 18^th.
Shanghai Leg of OQS Concludes: The Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) in Shanghai took place between 16^th and 19^th May. The event determines the athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the skateboarding, sport climbing, breaking and BMX freestyle categories. Party Secretary of Shanghai, Chen Jining held a meeting with Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Saturday. The importance of sports and the community built through the Olympic spirit was stated to be of great importance, and Chen further emphasized appreciation and anticipation for the Olympic Committee to work with China in the future. The events ended on Sunday, and the winners of each sport were awarded a Shanghai-themed trophy. Chinese press reported Thomas Bach’s closing statements extensively. He praised the organisation of the sport events and stated that the majority of the 45,000 spectators were of the younger generation, which he attributes to Olympic Agenda reforms promoting inclusivity, sustainability and gender equality. Shanghai’s image as a “place of innovation” was a contributing factor to its selection as the first stop of the OQS, and the event organisation standards were continuously appreciated during the 4-day period.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Chinese Social Media Celebrates International Museum Day on May 18^th: The topic of museums and Chinese history has been popular amongst Chinese netizens. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage released data on the popularity of museums in 2023. The statistics, released on the occasion of international museums day, state that China is home to over 6,000 unique museums which received a total of 1.29 billion visitors over the course of the year. The recent interest in museums was discussed by various news outlets over the weekend. Advancements in museum marketing to include gift shops with innovative collectibles and collaborations with popular video game companies are considered to be a factor in this recent development contributing to exposing the youth to ancient history digitally. A special focus was given to museums in Nanjing, due to their innovative educational activities and events. Netizens reacted to the statistics and news articles positively, establishing a collective affinity for the many museums. Users of social media app Weibo discussed the various museums they had visited and their interest in the history displayed, with one user jokingly suggesting their ideal life after retirement would be spent at museums. The many tags used to discuss the topics of museums and cultural history garnered many views and spurred countless discussions on the importance and relevance of museums in modern times.

INDIA WATCH

Global Times Article Criticizes India's "Protectionist" Approach to Trade With China: An article released by Global Times has responded to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s call for Indian firms to focus on sourcing from domestic manufacturers. Jaishankar clarified that trade with China is not prohibited, but is discouraged, as Indian companies should employ the use of a “national security filter” to prioritise working with domestic Indian options where available. Global Times regards the policy as contradictory and a cause for disarray in the decision-making processes of investors and local companies; a nationalist and protectionist approach to the “Make In India” initiative of 2014. The proposed “national security filter” idea is critiqued from the perspective of the Indian companies relying on Chinese imports for the quality associated with the strongly built infrastructure of Chinese manufacturing systems. The article points out India’s consistent dependence on Chinese imports and the concern that manufacturing quality will fall due to subpar quality in comparison to Chinese goods. The main issue with the Indian production line is framed to be the underdeveloped manufacturing sector and the ineffective short-term focus on improvement through protectionism. The article stipulates that long-term improvement will only come through an improvement to the foundation of the domestic industrial capacity of labour skills and infrastructure. The security brought about by tariffs and import restrictions alone will not solve the issue of the vulnerability of the Indian manufacturing sector, and a balance between protectionism and policies founded in the economic reality of Indian manufacturing will have to be struck.

Prepared By

Aditi Dash

Aditi Dash is an undergraduate student of Literary and Cultural Studies at FLAME University. Her interests span the academic study of literature and art history, as well as anthropological concepts of culture and social behaviour.