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NEWS IN CHINA

• China to Remove Foreign Investment Restrictions in Manufacturing: China's top economic planner announced that the 2024 version of the negative list for foreign investment access will lift all restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector. Issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), the updated list, which comes into effect on November 1, reduces the number of restrictions from 31 to 29, effectively eliminating barriers in the manufacturing sector. Meng Huating, deputy head of the foreign investment department at the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), emphasized that lifting restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector will help direct foreign capital towards advanced manufacturing and high-tech industries. This shift aims to optimize the investment structure and boost the development of high-quality productive forces. Additionally, an expert from the MOC noted that China plans to further expand its catalog of industries to encourage foreign investment. Zhang Wei, vice president of the Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation at the MOC, highlighted that these adjustments will provide more opportunities for foreign capital growth in China. Since introducing its first negative list for foreign investment in 2013, China has reduced it from 93 to 29 items in the non-manufacturing sector. Foreign investment in high-tech industries now makes up 37.4% of total foreign capital, a 10% rise since 2017. The NDRC and MOC will collaborate to implement the updated list and ensure the timely rollout of new measures.
• 2024 Global Public Security Forum Held in Jiangsu: The 2024 Global Public Security Cooperation Forum opened on September 9 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu. State Councillor and Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, delivered the keynote speech. He highlighted that over the past year, China has collaborated with various parties to advance global security initiatives, emphasizing cooperation, innovation, the rule of law, and mutual benefits. China has actively worked to align security concepts, integrate interests, and strengthen the forum’s progress, fostering deeper global public security cooperation. Wang Xiaohong emphasized that in response to global changes, China is ready to collaborate with all nations to uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept. He stressed the importance of mutual respect, comprehensive strategies, win-win cooperation, and long-term efforts. China aims to deepen public security cooperation, building a shared community of responsibility, interests, and destiny while working towards a more fair, reasonable, and efficient global public security governance system. He also pledged that China will contribute its wisdom and strength through practical actions to improve global public security governance. On the same day, Wang Xiaohong met with forum attendees, including Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid and Interior Minister Saifuddin, Myanmar Interior Minister Yabi, Zambian Minister of Interior and Internal Security, Nicaraguan National Police Director General, Russian Deputy Prosecutor General and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister.
• Tianjin Releases "No Application, Immediate Enjoyment" Policy List: The Tianjin Municipal Government Service Office has announced the release of the 'No Application, Immediate Benefit'. This initiative aligns with the State Council’s "Guiding Opinions on Optimizing Government Services" and Tianjin’s local work plan to improve administrative efficiency. The list features 39 policies across 11 areas, including development, environment, urban management, taxation, and civil affairs, aimed at simplifying processes for businesses and the public and enhancing their overall satisfaction. "No application, immediate enjoyment" means that eligible individuals and businesses can directly benefit from policies without needing to apply, thanks to government simplification, improved services, and information sharing. For instance, medical assistance recipients who are eligible for subsidized insurance and enrol during the designated payment period can directly receive financial and medical assistance subsidies based on their identity verification provided by relevant departments. The "no application required, direct enjoyment" policy uses data collection, sharing, and algorithms and big data analysis to match individuals with relevant policies. This approach encourages government departments to transition from reactive to proactive services, shifting from "people seeking policies" to "policies finding people" and continuously improves the intelligence, precision, and convenience of government services.
• Legislative Affairs Commission Addresses Key Legislative Issues: The 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress will take place in Beijing from September 10 to 13. The agenda includes reviewing draft amendments to the National Defense Education Law, the Anti-Money Laundering Law, the Statistics Law, and others. Wang Xiang, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee, addressed reporters' questions about current legislative issues. The National Defense Education Law, originally adopted in 2001 and revised in 2018, is under review. Wang Xiang explained that the revision of the National Defense Education Law, after seven years, is intended to incorporate General Secretary Xi Jinping's key directives on enhancing national defense education and align with the Party Central Committee's decisions. Wang Xiang also addressed concerns about balancing anti-money laundering efforts with protecting financial activities and personal data. The second draft of the Anti-Money Laundering Law Amendment includes provisions to ensure measures are legal and proportionate, without disrupting services, and specifies that due diligence should be tailored to risk levels and simplified for lower-risk transactions.
• China's CPI edges up by 0.6% in August: According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key indicator of inflation, increased by 0.6% in August compared to the previous year. This follows a 0.2% rise in June and a 0.5% increase in July. NBS statistician Dong Lijuan attributed the August rise in consumer prices to seasonal factors, such as high temperatures and heavy rainfall, which led to a continued increase in year-on-year CPI growth. On a month-to-month basis, the CPI went up by 0.4%, which is 0.1 percentage points lower than July's growth. Food prices surged by 3.4%, an increase of 2.2 percentage points, contributing 0.60 percentage points to the overall inflation, according to Dong. High summer temperatures drove up prices for fresh vegetables (18.1%), mushrooms (9.8%), fruit (3.8%), and eggs (3.3%), adding 0.49 points to the monthly CPI. Pork prices increased by 7.3% due to reduced supply. Non-food prices rose 0.2%, down 0.5 points from July. Industrial goods fell by 0.4%, while gasoline prices dropped by 2.7% and fuel-powered cars by 6.4%. Household essentials, home decor, and traditional Chinese medicine prices rose more slowly, between 1.1% and 6.9%.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

INDIA WATCH

India’s Diplomacy has an ‘S. Jaishankar Problem’ says Global Times Op-Ed: An Op-Ed in Global Times stated that while China and India have seen improved relations with increased high-level diplomatic interactions, remarks made by India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar are shocking and puzzling. The article states that the pace of border issue consultations has sped up, with the 30th and 31st meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs held in New Delhi and Beijing. It claims that Jaishankar’s remarks on the worlds “China problem” were a reflection of an adjustment in India’s diplomatic strategy, with reports suggesting the government may approve Chinese investments and expedite visas for Chinese technicians. The op-ed also goes on to claim that public opinion in India is increasingly supportive of improving China-India relations, with growing consensus on the need to restore economic ties with China. It also states that despite improved relations, Jaishankar's August 31 remarks at the World Leaders Forum that suggested that India's issues with China are part of a broader global "China problem" were puzzling. According to the article, Jaishankar argued that India’s border disputes with China make its situation unique, using this to justify anti-China policies as part of a global trend. The article also discusses issues related to India’s diplomacy with respect to decoupling from China and the Global South.

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.