CiCM 2nd September 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

He Weidong Urges Focus on Central Military Commission’s Political Work Conference: A special seminar for senior military cadres to study the Central Military Commission's Political Work Conference was held at the National Defense University. He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, highlighted the seminar's importance as a major political task, urging the implementation of Chairman Xi Jinping’s decisions and the strategy of building the army politically in the new era. He emphasized the need to understand the significance of Xi’s decision to hold the Central Military Commission's Political Work Conference in Yan’an and stressed the importance of recognizing the decisive impact of the "two establishments," achieving the "two safeguards" and adhering to the responsibility system. He called for alignment with the Party's innovative theory, a comprehensive grasp of the political strategy for building the army in the new era, and a focus on the 100-year goal for the military. He urged addressing political issues, solving problems, maintaining the right direction while innovating, and being pragmatic. He also highlighted the need for exemplary leadership, strong party organizations, and a high-quality cadre team to lead and strengthen the military. Miao Hua, Director of the Political Work Department, chaired the opening meeting which was attended by key CMC officials, the Joint Operations Center, theater commands, various services, CMC units, and the armed police force.
Xi Jinping Meets African Leaders at FOCAC Summit in Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed China’s commitment to nurturing and advancing its traditional friendship with African countries set to attend the 2024 FOCAC Summit. Xi met African leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Guinea, Eritrea, Seychelles, Togo, Djibouti, Comoros, Mali and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the run up to the Summit. He reaffirmed China’s strong support for Guinea on issues related to each country's core interests and major concerns and highlighted that Guinea, the first sub-Saharan African country to establish diplomatic relations with China, will mark the 65th anniversary of their bilateral ties next month. President Xi and Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan announced a strategic partnership between their countries, emphasizing mutual support, strategic trust, and shared development. President Xi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. President Xi Jinping met with Kenyan President Ruto and proposed deepening the China-Kenya strategic partnership in three areas: enhancing mutual trust and support for sovereignty, aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Kenya’s Vision 2030 for win-win cooperation, and strengthening their strategic partnership on global and regional issues, promoting fairness, and regional stability. Xi said China is prepared to enhance cooperation with Eritrea in energy, infrastructure, and agriculture, and support Eritrea's industrial and agricultural modernization.
China Launches Open Lab to Enhance Energy Sector: China has inaugurated a key open laboratory to propel the energy sector forward by merging meteorological research with energy exploration and development efforts. The lab is a result of a collaboration involving the Public Meteorological Service Center of the China Meteorological Administration, China Huaneng Group and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The establishment of this new lab represents a major advancement in the development of China's modern electric power system by utilizing the connection between weather conditions and the energy sector, according to Shu Yinbiao, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chairman of the lab's academic committee. Lab director Shen Yanbo highlighted the crucial role that meteorology plays in renewable energy industries like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, which are significantly influenced by weather and climate patterns. The lab's research will primarily concentrate on advancing new energy systems and technologies, with a particular emphasis on wind and solar energy forecasting. It will also delve into the development of meteorological disaster warning systems, the integration of artificial intelligence in energy solutions, and the exploration of offshore wind power. Additionally, the lab aims to enhance the smart operation and maintenance of the renewable energy sector, ensuring more efficient and resilient energy systems. Through these efforts, the lab seeks to push the boundaries of innovation in the renewable energy field and contribute to China's broader energy goals.
Xinjiang Orders Support for Sanctioned Businesses: The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has instructed local governments to bolster support for enterprises impacted by U.S. sanctions which have been imposed due to allegations of forced labor. A resolution passed last month by the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang People's Congress outlines strategies to counter these U.S. sanctions while aiding affected companies in Xinjiang. The resolution mandates that all levels of government in the region establish organizations or leadership bodies dedicated to opposing U.S. sanctions and addressing the challenges faced by affected enterprises. According to the newly implemented regulations, local governments are required to enhance their support for businesses under U.S. sanctions by helping them expand their presence in domestic and international markets. This support includes efforts to boost brand recognition, encourage technological innovation, and assist companies in overcoming operational challenges. The resolution calls for increased efforts to inform the international community about Xinjiang's socioeconomic progress and emphasizes the need for stronger legislative roles to create a business-friendly environment under the rule of law. It also advocates for enhanced judicial efforts to help enterprises seek compensation from the U.S. government and trading partners for losses due to sanctions. The Xinjiang legislature views the resolution as crucial for addressing risks and promoting the region's economic and social growth.
Potala Palace Digitizes Nearly 1,000 Precious Thangkas: The Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet/Xizang Autonomous Region, has cataloged, appraised, and scanned nearly 1,000 thangka paintings in high definition, according to the Cultural Relics Research Office of the Potala Palace Management Office. Thangka is a distinctive Tibetan art form, typically consisting of religious scroll paintings mounted on colored silk and displayed for worship. These paintings encompass a wide range of subjects, including Tibetan history, politics, culture, and social life. Most of the thangkas that have been preserved are related to Tibetan Buddhism and the Bon religion. Palden Tsering, a culture and museum librarian at the Potala Palace's cultural relics research office, noted that the palace contains over 6,000 valuable thangka paintings from various historical periods, including those from the Central Chinese plains, South Asia, and the Xizang Autonomous Region. He explained that these thangkas depict Buddhist stories, Tibetan history and culture, notable figures, and Tibetan medicine while showcasing artistic techniques. Tsering, responsible for their digitalization and re-cataloging, emphasized their cultural importance. He also noted ongoing efforts to study ancient texts and sculptures at the Potala Palace, leading to publications like "Catalog of Ancient Texts in the First Scripture Hall" and "Collected Research Papers," highlighting the palace's vital role and innovative approach to preserving Tibetan heritage.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

'Doctor in a Wheelchair' from Top University Inspires Students and Netizens: A 30-year-old man in China, who has struggled with a rare muscle disorder since childhood, has earned a PhD from Tsinghua University, inspiring many users online. Chen Bin is now a psychology teacher at a college in his hometown of Huizhou, Guangdong province, according to the Huizhou Daily. Netizens fondly refer to him as “a doctor in a wheelchair”. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) at age seven, Chen Bin, who has been unable to walk since he was 12, also struggles with holding heavy objects and requires assistance with daily tasks like dressing, washing, and eating. Despite these challenges, Chen excelled academically, thanks to his parents' unwavering support. Admitted to Sun Yat-sen University in 2012 to study psychology, Chen Bin went on to Tsinghua University for his PhD, thanks to his exceptional grades, without needing an entrance exam. Chen earned his PhD in June last year and joined Huizhou City College by the end of the year. Despite his physical limitations, he attributes his success to the support of his family and friends. His students commend his focused, patient teaching and use of examples in psychology, finding his perseverance inspiring. Online, Chen and his mother have been praised for their resilience, with many highlighting him as a role model and wishing them continued health and prosperity.

INDIA WATCH

Sina Article Questions Apple’s New Models Produced in India: A Sina article has raised doubts about India’s manufacturing capabilities by citing the case of Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, set to be revealed on September 9th at its annual fall conference. The article notes that this years conference marks a significant change as, unlike previous years, both Chinese and Indian factories are assembling the latest iPhones. Notably, for the first time, the Pro series, traditionally produced only in China, is also being manufactured in India. The article states that many analysts believe that the Indian Apple supply chain still faces challenges in achieving significant progress. The article cites Bloomberg reports that Foxconn's Tamil Nadu factory will start producing the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, marking a significant shift in Apple's manufacturing strategy in India. It also highlights that iPhone supply chain in India faces several challenges; poor quality parts, hygiene management problems and high defect rates. In 2023, Indian factories assembled around 30 million iPhones, with 18 million produced in the first half of this year, for both local and export markets. The article quotes Lin Minwang of Fudan University who states that Apple's investment in India is driven by geopolitical concerns rather than market demand and the country has obvious limitations compared to China.

Prepared By

Pavithra SR

I am a third-year undergraduate majoring in International Relations at Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence, Greater Noida specializing in gender, security, and digitalization. My interests include policy making and South Asian studies, with a particular focus on international migration, subaltern communities, and democratic studies. I am keen to conduct policy research in these areas in the future.