CiCM 10th November 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Chinese scientists create a new AI-based method of tumour prevention and treatment: After 20 years of research, Li Shao, director of the Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy of Tsinghua University, and his team have created a new AI-based method of tumour prevention and treatment. The method, named AI-TWM, showed positive results in preventing and treating gastric cancer. This new achievement was recently published in the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cancer Discovery. The main goal of AI-TWM is to create an intelligent early warning model of tumour risk that combines the features of traditional Chinese and Western medicine to accurately identify individuals at high risk of developing a tumour. Simultaneously, their pharmacology analysis method identifies the molecular network of tumour occurrence and intervention mechanisms. The network is then used to identify drugs from traditional Chinese medicine that can prevent the development of tumours.
China and Indonesia agree to advance bilateral ties: On November 9, Xi Jinping held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Beijing. The two agreed to further advance their bilateral relations. Xi expressed his delight in meeting with his Indonesian counterpart again and appreciated that China was the first country President Prabowo Subianto chose to visit after his election in March. The two discussed a multitude of topics during their meeting. Xi emphasized that both countries should pursue modernization based on their unique conditions while supporting one another, and expressed China’s willingness to collaborate with Indonesia on improving the lives of its people, including efforts to reduce poverty. The Indonesian President assured Xi of Indonesia’s continued cooperation with China in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, while also expressing support for China’s stance on Taiwan and reaffirming Indonesia's commitment to the one-China policy. The two signed several bilateral cooperation documents after their talks on matters such as the blue economy, water conservancy, and other areas of mutual interest.
China debuts the world’s first two-seat 5th generation fighter jet: China showcased a scale model of the J-20S, the two-seat variant of the J-20 stealth fighter jet at the exhibition hall of Airshow China 2024. The Airshow will be held in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province from November 12 to 17. The Global Times reported that the new J-20S was developed independently by China. The fighter jet is prepared for precise strikes on land and marine targets as well as medium-to-long-range air superiority operations. The J-20S is more capable than the J-20 in terms of tactical command and control, electronic disruption, and situational awareness. It is capable of both manned and unmanned collaborative combat. The two-seat plane enables the pilots to train other pilots on the same aircraft and permits a second pilot to manage operations like radar detection and missile attack. Fifth-generation fighter jets have AI technologies, rich networks and automatic data processing systems.
Chinese Tennis Association congratulates Zheng Qinwen for runner-up position at WTA finals: On November 10, the Chinese Tennis Association published a letter on their official website congratulating Chinese tennis ace Zheng Qinwen for her runner-up position at the 2024 WTA Finals. The letter celebrated the tennis star’s breakthroughs in 2024, including her Olympic gold win in women’s singles, winning the Tokyo title, finishing second at the Wuhan Open, making it to the China Open semifinals, and getting runner-up in her first-ever WTA Finals appearance. Zheng’s WTA Finals result matched the record set by famous Chinese tennis player Li Na in 2013. Zheng finished as a runner-up after losing to Coco Gauff of the USA. Despite the loss, Chen Chi, a tennis commentator from Beijing, told the Global Times that Zheng's runner-up result shows that she can compete against any player on the WTA Tour. Zheng said that she has been in a “state of persistence” throughout the season, enduring a demanding schedule and several difficult games.
Analysts say TSMC cannot afford to lose the Chinese mainland market: Reportedly, the US has "ordered" Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to stop selling cutting-edge chips, which are typically utilised in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, to clients on the Chinese mainland. Despite constant pressure from the United States, analysts stated on November 10 that the Taiwanese chipmaker cannot afford to lose the Chinese market. According to Reuters, which cited unidentified sources, the US Department of Commerce sent TSMC a letter imposing export limits on some sophisticated chips, designs that are 7 nanometres or more, that are intended for mainland use in AI accelerators and graphics processing units. Taiwan's local Economic Daily News reported that the company is now deliberating how to respond to the new US regulations, citing a TSMC insider. According to an unnamed industry source cited in the report, it is doubtful that TSMC will halt delivery of the relevant products at this time. The United States has been enforcing stricter regulations on the export of AI chips to China in recent years. Ma Jihua, a veteran telecom industry observer, told the Global Times that companies are motivated by profit, and although TSMC might not be able to resist US pressure, it would surely look for methods to maintain some flexibility.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Netizens react to new regulations on shared bicycles in Zhengzhou: The Meituan Bike, Hellobike, and Qingju Bike operating firms jointly released a statement regarding the usage of shared bicycles in Zhengzhou. The statement highlighted concerns about the safety and inconvenience caused by college students riding shared bicycles from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng at night. The new regulations include speed limits, designation of bicycle use areas, parking in the indicated areas, et cetera. This move follows a situation on November 8 when heavy traffic congestion occurred on Zhengzhou's East Fourth Ring Road with the "cycling army" occupying significant portions of Zhengkai Avenue between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng. Netizens on Guancha had mixed reactions. One user criticized the cyclists, describing them as “annoying for everyone to see.” While another user defended the cyclists arguing that it is unfair and “class-based” to suggest that four-wheelers should occupy most of the road and that everyone had the right to use the road. This user emphasised that pedestrians also share the road, and thus there is insufficient space for bicycles, and that cyclists should not be accused of occupying the road.

INDIA WATCH

Challenges and Strategies for Doing Business with India: The opinion column by Tian Qilin, published on the Chinese media site Guancha, offers insights into the challenges and opportunities of doing business with Indian companies, particularly based on his experience working with Indian private metallurgical enterprises over the past two decades. Qilin notes that delays of 2-3 years in the early stages of Indian projects are not uncommon, primarily due to the careful and thorough technical exchanges required by Indian businesses. He highlights the importance of time and effort, along with support from various departments, to prepare the necessary documentation. Given these considerations, Qilin advises that businesses should carefully select projects and focus their resources on those that align with their capabilities. In his discussion of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Qilin mentions that understanding cultural differences is key to successful collaboration. He points out that India and China have different approaches to technical expertise, project management, and construction requirements, which can sometimes create misunderstandings. However, Qilin stresses that with the right approach and effective communication, these challenges can be overcome, leading to successful partnerships. The author suggests that finding a secure and reliable local civil engineering and installation partner is crucial for ensuring the success of projects like those at SAIL. This reflects the importance of local partnerships and understanding the specific needs and nuances of the Indian market. While Qilin acknowledges the challenges of working across borders, he emphasizes the importance of patience, cultural awareness, and strategic focus. The author states that by recognizing and adapting to the unique dynamics of doing business in India, Chinese companies can build successful, long-term relationships that benefit both sides.

Prepared By

Ananya Tandon

Ananya Tandon is a third-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, majoring in International Studies and minoring in Journalism. With a keen interest in political journalism, she gained valuable hands-on experience through her internship at NDTV, where she had the opportunity to explore the field. She is passionate about staying up-to-date on issues that shape the global community.