CiCM 17th October 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Canadian aircraft perilously intercepted by Chinese jet: Canada reported that a military aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) flying over the international waters off the coast of mainland China was subjected to aggression by Chinese fighter jets. The distance between both aircrafts was less than five metres, which is considered as leaving "very little margin for error." Journalists from Canadian news agencies Radio Canada and Global News were aboard the Canadian aircraft which was on a UN mission to survey human rights violations in North Korea. General Iian Huddleston, also a passenger on board, alleged that China launched several flares near the Canadian carrier and behaved very aggressively. Bill Blair, the Defence Minister of Canada, confirmed these reports and expressed concern over the "dangerous and reckless nature" of Chinese actions. He also promised to convey Canada's contempt towards such aggressive behaviour to the Chinese government. On its part, the Chinese government responded by accusing the Canadian aircraft of impinging into Chinese airspace and violating their sovereignty, provoking the Chinese jets into action. Such interceptions are, however, not new or uncommon. A spokesperson from the Canadian defence ministry referenced almost sixty such interceptions by the Chinese government between December 2021 and June 2022.
Tim Cook visits China in hopes for Apple's market expansion: Pressured by greater scrutiny as well as slow expansion into China's markets, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook made a visit to China last week. Speaking at Chengdu, the capital of the province of Sichuan, Cook expressed his gratitude to local developers who had worked on the apps for Apple's newest launch- the VisionPro mixed-reality headset. The company's first new product in almost a decade, the VisionPro transforms consumer interaction with apps. The purpose of Cook's stay after his appearance in Chengdu remains to be disclosed. Such visits by executives at Apple comes in the wake of the stiff competition Huawei's newest smartphone is proving to be for the iPhone 15.
Forum to push for worldwide cultural co-operation held: The Palace Museum held the 6th Taihe Forum, originally founded in 2016 to promote international engagement with and presentation of cultural heritage. Hosted by the Palace Museum, Chinese Society of the Forbidden City and Forbidden City Cultural Heritage Conservation Foundation, the forum lays emphasis on expanding global networks to push for greater conservational heritage. During the event, speakers shared their insights on the need for global cooperation to promote the development of institutions and cultivation of talent. The event also included a visit to the Palace Museum to gauge its endeavours in promoting the preservation of cultural heritage.
Belt and Road Forum kicks off with a record number of deals: The first day of the Belt and Road Initiative Forum saw participation from important stakeholders including Russia and Venezuela close a record number of deals. Over 1200 representatives from over 70 countries sought to develop "opportunity hunting" which aims to establish new businesses under the BRI. Deals pertaining to modern agriculture, artificial intelligence and biomedicine were signed by over 300 individuals. A large number of these deals correspond to green initiatives as well as optimising the use of digital technology. The forum has also drawn attendance from many countries who have not yet signed deals, indicating the possibility of future cooperation.
New US bans on microchip export to China: The Commerce Department of the United States (US) placed a new ban on the export of microchips to China. The ban also brings more AI powered chips under the purview of licensing. Additionally, all "grey zone" chips that fall under the power threshold will now have to be notified to the government before export. Two chips- the A100 and the H100, made especially for the Chinese market after previous bans will also be prevented from export. NVIDIA, the leading AI chip manufacturer in the US, saw its trade share fall by 4.9% since the export ban. The company as well as the State Secretariat have assured that the ban would not affect most trade as it is motivated by US's desire to protect its national security and prevent the violation of human rights. The Chinese market is set to be affected by this chip ban and as a result, has slammed the US for its continued "weaponization and politicisation of trade."

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Netizens divided over a girl severely injured by a dog: on Monday morning, a two-year-old infant fell prey to an unleashed dog who severely injured her ribs and right kidney. The incident happened in Chongzhou, a county in Chengdu, Sichuan. The child, surnamed Tang, was rushed to critical care and is in stable condition at present. The local police apprised news reports of developments and confirmed that the case was under investigation. The child was bitten by a black Rottweiler who she met on the lawn and was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. Social media users have been keenly involved in the proceeding of the investigation and have been greatly critical of the dog and its owner for their carelessness. The incident has also led social media users to question the suitability of breeds like Rottweilers as household pets and point out that such dogs can often be overtly aggressive and are not easy to train.

INDIA WATCH

The ongoing "chip war" between China and US is testament to the centrality of technology in achieving geopolitical dominance. US’ imposition of bans and sanctions on chip exports to China opens up a new frontier of collaboration between India and the US- the semiconductor industry. India's chip industry has received a boost under the aegis of the Make in India initiative. Applied Materials Inc, a leading American chip manufacturing firm has also sought to expand its operations to India. Such investment has been encouraged by the government's provision of $10 billion for the drawing of chipmakers to aspiring entrepreneurs. In March, 2023, India and the US also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to expand private sector co-operation in the semiconductor industry. Initiated to curb dependence on China and Taiwan, the MoU requisites the formation of a semi-conductor sub-committee. The MoU provides a space for mutual co-operation through research, enhancement of commercial activities, talent and skill development. The partnership between the US and China is likely to challenge the uncontested hegemony of Chinese markets as producers and consumers of semiconductors.

Prepared By

Tarini Agarwal

Tarini Agarwal is a twenty-year-old student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women with a passion for history and penchant for writing about issues of contemporary relevance.