CiCM 18th July 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China Holds Hearing For European Brandy As Part Of Investigation: On Thursday, 18th July, China held an anti-dumping hearing because the prices of imported European brandy were reduced by an estimated 15.88%, as reported by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association. This hearing occurred after the European Union launched additional duties on Chinese battery electric vehicles due to China’s use of subsidies. China’s Ministry of Commerce has stated that “industrial damage, cause and effect, and public interest in the anti-dumping investigation of related brandy products” with a focus on French cognac would be the main purpose of the hearing. They added that the products under investigation would be brandy containers imported between October 1, 2022, and September 20, 2023. The investigation would provide answers to whether the imports caused any damages to the Chinese brandy industry from January 1, 2019, to September 30, 2023. According to Chinese customs data, imports of brandy into China in 2023 totaled 43.31 million liters (11.4 gallons), with 96.16% of these imports coming from France. A European delegation appeared at the hearing to present their arguments to deny the allegations.
Global Security Initiative Report Lists Accomplishments: A report that tracks the achievements of the Global Security Initiative was released on Thursday. The report was written by the China Institute of International Studies and the Center for Global Security Initiative Studies. At the launch of the Center for Global Security Initiative Studies, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi underscored the global significance of the initiative for international public good and security. Wang also emphasized the value of the initiative in solving security issues and safeguarding global stability. The report outlined how the initiative was recognised and acknowledged by over 100 countries and various international and regional organizations. The guardrails and core aspects offered by the initiative have been adopted by over 90 bilateral and multilateral documents between China and other countries. Furthermore, the report encourages dialogue and interactions on international security issues between parties in a way that underscores China’s Global Security Initiative.
Decrease In Urban Residents Unemployment Rates: The National Bureau of Statistics released data for unemployment rates for young urban residents on Wednesday. The unemployment rates for the age categories of 16-24 and 25-29 in urban areas, not including students, have seen a month-on-month decrease for the past three months. In June the rate fell by 1% to 13.2% for the younger cohort. For 25-29 year olds, as compared to may, there was a 0.2% decrease to 6.4%. The rate for 30-59 year olds has plateaued at 4% in May and June. The average rate of urban unemployment was 5.1% and saw a year-on-year decrease of 0.2%. 11.79 million students will graduate from college this year and China has been directing efforts at generating employment opportunities for the skilled youth. The Ministry of Education stated that 12 online recruitment opportunities are being hosted on the national employment service platform. Zhaopin, a recruitment portal, noted competition in white-collar jobs and a shortage of applicants for blue-collar jobs.
China Launches Forestry Carbon-Sink Trading: To set in motion its dual carbon goals of reaching its carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, China has inaugurated a carbon-sink trading system in its forest area. Best known for its impressive forest cover, Heilongjiang Province in northeast China has an expansive forest area of 20.12 million hectares. This cover is the third largest in the country and makes up 8.7% of China’s total forest cover. Carbon sinks are systems that absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they emit, with forests being prime examples. The local forest system has a pre-existing carbon reserve of 5.7 billion tonnes in this Province. Other provinces like Fujian, Guangdong and Shandong also have adopted carbon-sink systems. In commitment to China’s green goals, it has been testing carbon emission trading since 2011 to incorporate market-based control mechanisms for greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, the carbon emission trading system was launched. Data collected up to Wednesday, 17th July, signifies that the total carbon emission allowances in China’s carbon market have reached 465 million tonnes with a yield of 27 billion yuan ($3.79 billion). This action underscores China’s diligence in controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
Level-IV Emergency Response Activated In Shaanxi Province: With the continued onset of floods in China, the National Disaster Reduction Commission initiated a Level-IV emergency response on Thursday, 18th July, because of flooding in the northwestern province of Shaanxi. A team has been appointed to aid local governments in overseeing disaster relief and rescue efforts to meet the needs of the directly affected people and to evacuate residents if necessary. Weather authorities issued the third-most severe warning for rainstorms, the yellow alert, in southern regions of Shaanxi. Weather forecasts predict heavy rainfall in Shaanxi from Wednesday through Saturday. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters also issued a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest emergency response. Furthermore, a Level-IV emergency response was declared for flooding in the Yellow River on Tuesday. The Weihe River, the Yellow River’s largest tributary, experienced its “No.1 Flood” which marks severe floods of a certain standard. Authorities from the Xianyang hydrological and Lintong hydrological stations stated that the water level rose to 3,000 and 3,120 cubic meters per second, respectively.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Viral Video of 13-Year-Old Boy Scavenging Sparks Outpouring of Support and Donations: A video posted by a Douyin influencer featuring a 13-year-old boy named Yuan scavenging for waste has gone viral, drawing widespread sympathy from netizens. The video highlights Yuan’s efforts to support his elderly uncle while dealing with late-stage uremia himself. It has garnered over 8 million views, prompting an outpouring of support from the online community.The sentiment among social media users has been overwhelmingly supportive. Many have expressed deep sympathy for Yuan’s challenging circumstances, admiring his resilience and maturity despite his young age. The video has sparked a wave of generosity, with numerous users contributing to his financial needs through donations. The collective response highlights a strong emotional connection to Yuan’s plight, with users moved by his situation and the evident kindness of those who have donated. This widespread outpouring of support is not only aimed at alleviating Yuan's immediate financial burdens but also at assisting with his medical treatment, including the critical need for organ donation. The viral spread of the video has thus played a pivotal role in mobilizing both public sympathy and tangible aid, reflecting a powerful and compassionate reaction from the online community.

INDIA WATCH

India Plans To Ease Obtaining Visas For Chinese Citizens: Global Times, a Chinese news agency, wrote about India’s announcement to reduce challenges for Chinese citizens and technicians to obtain visas, as reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday. The article stated that this process was tightened by India following the border tensions in 2020 between the two countries. An ease in the process would increase people-to-people interactions between China and India, and the demand for visas has increased following the pandemic. Due to the demand of business groups, Indian authorities are preparing to ease this process for Chinese technicians and engineers. However, according to the author, relevant sources have stated grievances such as firm review processes and lengthy application processes for Chinese nationals. The author wrote that India tends to be lenient towards officials, companies or joint ventures from Taiwan, which largely benefit India’s semiconductor manufacturing industry. Bloomberg reported that the Indian Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is collaborating with Home and External Affairs Ministries to outline a process that would truncate the visa processing time to 30 days, as opposed to four or five months. India continues to import much of its equipment from China which needs technicians and engineers for operations. Quoting the Economic Times, the article stated that due to tensions with China, India faced a $15 billion economic loss and lost 100,000 jobs. Delays caused by visas have led to a loss of $10 billion loss in exports and $2 billion in value-added loss. The article stated that cooperation and cutting down of restrictive processes for Chinese citizens will aid in developing Indian industries and manufacturing.

Prepared By

Sanjana Shah

Sanjana Shah is a graduate in International Studies with a minor in Journalism from FLAME University, Pune. Her interests lie in exploring the nuances and intricacies of geopolitics and understanding the complexities that arise from the socio-political-economic nexus. She is deeply interested in history, defence and security studies, and humanitarian studies.