CiCM 20th November 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

CPC Expels Former Vice President of Agricultural Bank of China: On November 20, the Communist Party of China (CPC) announced the expulsion of Lou Wenlong, the former vice president of the Agricultural Bank of China. The decision was issued after the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision launched an investigation. According to the statement, Lou was found to have purposefully obstructed the investigation of his case, broke the Party's frugality code by attending banquets that were funded by public funds or that could have affected the impartial performance of official duties, and concealed personal information in order to gain advantages for others in terms of job advancement. He reportedly also accepted large sums of money and valuables in exchange for using his positions to further the interests of others in areas including financing, shareholding, and regulatory approvals. According to the announcement, Lou will be expelled from the CPC, his illegal gains will be seized, and the case will be forwarded to the procuratorate for criminal investigation and prosecution.
China Issues Guidelines to Clarify Penalties for not Complying with Court Rulings: To better safeguard the rights of people who win in court cases, China's top judicial authorities released new rules that define criminal punishments for those disregarding court orders. The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate jointly issued the 16-article judicial interpretation, which the agencies said will go into effect on December 1. The agencies clarified that people who are capable of following court orders but willfully choose not to do so are breaking China's Criminal Law. Penalties for major infractions range from fines and criminal detention to up to three years in jail. Sentences for "extremely serious" instances might include a fine and a maximum of seven years, the authorities said. Certain activities, such as violently resisting court orders through arrest, assault, or other physical violence, are defined as "extremely serious" conditions under the new interpretation. Additionally, noncompliance will be classified as "extremely serious" by the authorities if it results in major repercussions for the winning side in a lawsuit, including instances like suicide or self-harm.
Alibaba raises $5 billion in the Biggest Corporate Bond Issue of its Kind in Asia-Pacific this Year: Alibaba Group Holding announced on November 20 that it has raised US$5 billion through a multi-tranche dual-currency bond offering. After the Chinese e-commerce giant announced a bond offering plan on November 18, Alibaba simultaneously issued 17 billion yuan (US$2.35 billion) in offshore yuan-denominated notes and US$2.65 billion in US dollar-denominated notes. Repayment of offshore debt and share buybacks are among the general business uses for the net proceeds. According to data from the London Stock Exchange Group, Alibaba's most recent transaction already constitutes the largest corporate bond issue of its sort in the Asia-Pacific area this year. Additionally, it represents Alibaba's comeback to the public dollar-bond market following its 2021 US$5 billion issue. Additionally, the company's yuan-denominated bond issuance was Hong Kong's biggest corporate debt issue of that kind.
China’s all-depth Optical Cable winch System completes its First Deep-Sea Survey: Science and Technology Daily said on November 19 that the "Haiwei GD11000," China's first and world’s only all-depth optical cable winch system recently finished its first deep-sea survey in the South China Sea, showcasing its full potential for maximum-depth ocean research. The Haiwei GD11000 was developed in collaboration with Dalian Maritime University and other technology companies. The towing operation accomplished an operational depth of more than 4,000 meters and a cable deployment length of more than 11,000 meters while on board the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey Bureau's Haiyang Dizhi 2 (Ocean Geology 2) ship. The research states that this completely confirmed the operational capacity and stability of China's in-house deep-sea winches system. According to the statement published by Dalian Maritime University, the "Haiwei GD11000" will be used for regular deep-sea and polar survey operations on research vessels in the future. It will also offer technological assistance for China's deep-sea resource development and utilisation and marine scientific research activities.
The 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit kicks off in East China: The 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit opened on November 20 in Wuzhen, an ancient water town in East China’s Zhejiang Province. With the theme "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," the 2024 edition of the Conference featured several activities in addition to 24 sub-forums covering subjects like the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) technology governance, and the Global Development Initiative. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua addressed the attendees in the opening ceremony via a video link that was played. Xi Jinping also sent his congratulations via video to the open ceremony at the WIC. A distinguished contribution award was given out during the ceremony to honour people and businesses who have made substantial contributions to the global internet environment. A special committee on AI, a think tank collaboration program, and an international digital training center are expected to be established during the summit within the WIC framework. The Summit is scheduled to close on November 22.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Suspected Fatal Poisoning of over 40 pet Dogs leads to Social Media Outrage in China: On November 16, the Guangdong Provincial Pet Industry Association confirmed the death of over 40 pet dogs of suspected poisoning, leading to many netizens expressing outrage. Preliminary data indicated that the majority of the cases occurred around November 8. The impacted regions include several Guangzhou districts. All other districts have linked cases, except Huadu and Conghua districts; Baiyun, Haizhu, and Panyu districts reported the most cases. The Guangdong Provincial Pet Industry Association reported that many dog owners reported that their dogs died after smelling toxic powder. The Association has urged citizens to walk their dogs in surveillance areas and use full-cover muzzle masks for their dogs. Netizens on Weibo were concerned about children’s safety asking what would happen if a child smelled it. One user urged parents to follow their children closely when they played on the ground. A user on Guancha said that using muzzle masks might not be useful since dogs might get poisoned just by sniffing. Another user on Weibo also said that the police should probe an investigation for the matter as it is not just a case of “a dead dog,” but a case of poisoning in a public place.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Critically Reports on Pollution in Delhi: Guancha, a leading Chinese media outlet reported on air pollution in Delhi, calling it a “choking city.” The report stated that the situation was deemed "Severe +" by India's national pollution control department, which also mandated the adoption of Phase 4 of its graded response action plan, which entails the most stringent restrictions on construction and vehicles as well as the greatest level of emergency response. In addition to ordering all schools to transition to online learning, New Delhi banned the use of old diesel vehicles on public roads, trucks transporting non-essential products into the city, and any construction-related activity. Those who could afford to leave have fled the city, but those who stay have to struggle to survive in the suffocating air. Scientists have predicted that as winter approaches, Delhi’s air quality will continue to get worse until January 2025.

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.