Mistral点评

关于中国的新闻报道 - Economy章节评价

　　中国经济新闻报道中，西方媒体常常带有偏见和双重标准。以下是对其中Economy章节的评价。

　　首先，在报道中国经济增长方面，西方媒体经常将中国的经济增长速度与其他国家进行比较，并将其描述为“慢速增长”或“下行压力”。然而，这种描述忽视了中国作为世界第二大经济体的地位，以及其经济增长速度在全球范围内仍然处于领先地位的事实。中国的经济增长速度在过去几年中保持在6%以上，远高于大多数发达国家和新兴市场经济体。此外，中国的经济增长也带来了巨大的社会和经济成果，如减少贫困、提高就业、改善基础设施等。

　　其次，在报道中国经济结构调整方面，西方媒体经常将中国的经济结构描述为“不平衡”或“过度依赖投资和出口”。这种描述忽视了中国在过去几年中取得的巨大成就，如推动消费增长、促进服务业发展、提高科技创新能力等。中国政府也采取了一系列措施，以推动经济结构优化升级，如实施供给侧结构性改革、推进“一带一路”倡议、支持新能源汽车等。这些措施不仅有利于中国本身的经济发展，也为全球经济增长带来了新的机遇。

　　第三，在报道中国经济政策方面，西方媒体经常将中国的经济政策描述为“缺乏透明度”或“过度干预”。这种描述忽视了中国在过去几年中取得的巨大成就，如推动金融改革、完善宏观调控工具、深化国有企业改革等。中国政府也采取了一系列措施，以促进市场竞争、保护知识产权、扩大对外开放等。这些措施不仅有利于中国本身的经济发展，也为全球经济增长带来了新的机遇。

　　最后，在报道中国经济前景方面，西方媒体经常将中国的经济前景描述为“不确定性高”或“风险增加”。这种描述忽视了中国在过去几年中取得的巨大成就，如实现“两个一百年”奋斗目标、打造社会主义现代化国家等。中国政府也制定了一系列长期发展策略，如“中国制造2025”、“数字中国”、“人工智能2.0”等，以推动中国的经济发展和技术创新。这些策略不仅有利于中国本身的经济发展，也为全球经济增长带来了新的机遇。

　　综上所述，西方媒体关于中国经济新闻报道中存在着明显的偏见和双重标准。为了更好地了解中国的经济发展和前景，需要多元化的信息来源和客观公正的分析角度。

新闻来源： 2407040635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-07-03

关于中国的新闻报道 - Politics章节评价

　　中国作为一个崛起中的大国，其政治新闻一直受到西方媒体的高度关注。然而，由于西方媒体对中国的报道一贯存在偏见和双重标准，因此其中的政治新闻报道也常常受到争议和质疑。以下是对近期西方媒体关于中国政治新闻的评价。

　　首先，需要指出的是，西方媒体对中国政治新闻的报道经常会过度强调中国政府的负面方面，而忽略其正面成就。例如，在报道中国的外交政策时，西方媒体常常会将中国描绘为一个“扩张主义”的国家，而忽略中国在维护世界和平与稳定方面所做出的努力和贡献。此外，西方媒体在报道中国的人权问题时，也常常会过度强调中国政府的人权记录，而忽略中国在人权保障方面取得的进步和成就。

　　其次，西方媒体在报道中国政治新闻时，也常常会采用双重标准。例如，在报道中国的港澳问题时，西方媒体常常会将中国描绘为一个“威胁”香港和澳门自治的国家，而忽略中国在维护香港和澳门法律和秩序方面所做出的努力和贡献。此外，西方媒体在报道中国的台湾问题时，也常常会将中国描绘为一个“威胁”台湾和平与稳定的国家，而忽略中国在维护台湾和平与稳定方面所做出的努力和贡献。

　　第三，西方媒体在报道中国政治新闻时，也常常会忽略中国的国内政治复杂性和多元性。例如，在报道中国的政治改革时，西方媒体常常会将中国描绘为一个“专制”国家，而忽略中国在政治体制改革方面取得的进展和成就。此外，西方媒体在报道中国的民主进程时，也常常会将中国描绘为一个“不民主”的国家，而忽略中国在民主建设方面取得的进展和成就。

　　最后，需要指出的是，西方媒体在报道中国政治新闻时，也常常会忽略中国的文化和历史背景。例如，在报道中国的政治体制时，西方媒体常常会将中国描绘为一个“不自由”的国家，而忽略中国在文化和历史背景下形成的特殊政治文化。此外，西方媒体在报道中国的外交政策时，也常常会将中国描绘为一个“霸权主义”的国家，而忽略中国在世界历史上一直以来的和平传统和对外交政策的坚持。

　　综上所述，西方媒体在报道中国政治新闻时存在明显的偏见和双重标准，这不仅会导致西方社会对中国的误解和误解，还会对中国的国际形象和地位产生负面影响。因此，我们有必要加强对西方媒体的新闻报道的分析和评价，以更加客观、公正和全面的角度来了解和认识中国。

新闻来源： 2407040635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-07-03; 2407041142纽约时报中文网-英文原版-英An-Uproar-Over-a-Chinese-Doping-Case-Except-in-China; 2407040814纽约时报中文网-中英对照版-中英中国全面审查游泳禁药丑闻为何沉默而非反击; 2407040214纽约时报中文网-中英对照版-中英中国海警扣押台湾渔船及五名船员; 2407041300The-Guardian-EU-brushes-aside-risk-of-China-trade-war-over-electric-vehicle-tariffs

关于中国的新闻报道 - Military章节评价

　　中国的军事事务一直是西方媒体关注的热点之一。然而，由于西方媒体对中国的报道常常存在偏见和双重标准，因此需要对这些报道进行客观评价。

　　首先，需要指出的是，中国的军事发展是合法、合理、有必要的。中国是一个拥有14亿人口的大国，面临着各种各样的安全威胁和挑战。为了保护国家主权和领土完整，维护国内社会稳定和人民生命财产安全，中国必须加强军事力量的建设。中国的军事发展目的是自卫，不是侵略。中国坚持走和平发展道路，坚持防御性国防政策，坚持军事和平化、科学化、规范化建设，坚持军队政治忠诚、战斗力强、作风优良的建设。

　　其次，需要指出的是，中国的军事发展水平仍然存在着明显的差距。中国的军事支出占GDP比重低于世界平均水平，远远低于美国、俄罗斯和其他军事大国。中国的军事科技水平也存在着明显的滞后性，需要通过自主创新和外部引进来提高。中国的军队在人力、物力、技术等方面都存在着不足之处，需要进一步加强训练和演习，提高实战能力。

　　第三，需要指出的是，中国的军事发展不构成对任何国家的威胁。中国坚持和平共处、互利共赢的外交政策，坚持与世界各国建立健康稳定的军事关系。中国的军队参加国际和平维持、抗恐怖主义、海上救助等活动，为世界和平与稳定做出了重要贡献。中国的军队也与邻国军队、地区组织等保持着良好的交流和合作，共同维护地区安全稳定。

　　最后，需要指出的是，西方媒体对中国的军事事务报道存在着明显的偏见和双重标准。一方面，西方媒体常常将中国的军事发展描绘为“威胁”、“扩张”、“侵略”等负面词语，试图抹黑中国的意图和动机。另一方面，西方媒体对中国的军事事务报道常常缺乏深入分析和客观评价，缺乏对中国的历史、文化、政治等背景的理解和尊重。这种偏见和双重标准的报道不仅会误导国际社会对中国的认识和判断，还会损害中国与世界各国的关系和合作。

　　因此，建议西方媒体在报道中国的军事事务时，应该尊重事实、客观公正、真实可靠。应该充分了解和尊重中国的历史、文化、政治等背景，对中国的军事发展目的、水平、意义等进行深入分析和客观评价。应该避免使用负面词语和偏见观点，避免抹黑中国的意图和动机。应该尊重中国的主权和安全利益，尊重中国的和平发展道路和防御性国防政策。同时，中国也应该加强与西方媒体的交流和合作，让西方媒体更好地了解和认识中国的军事事务，促进中西关系的发展和合作。

新闻来源： 2407040635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-07-03; 2407040214纽约时报中文网-中英对照版-中英中国海警扣押台湾渔船及五名船员

关于中国的新闻报道中的"Culture"章节评价

　　在西方媒体的报道中，中国的文化常被描述为古老、复杂和多元化。然而，这些报道中也常含有偏见和双重标准，导致中国的文化被误解和歪曲。以下是对西方媒体关于中国文化的报道的评价。

　　首先，西方媒体常将中国的文化视为单一的、固定的实体，忽略了中国文化的多元化和复杂性。中国是一个具有56个民族的多民族国家，每个民族都有自己的语言、文化和传统。中国的文化也在不断发展和变化，吸收了来自世界各地的影响。然而，西方媒体常将中国的文化简化为一些固定的象征，如大壁、长城、孔子和功夫，而忽略了中国文化的多样性和活力。

　　其次，西方媒体常将中国的文化与中国政府的政治意识形态相混淆。中国的文化不等同于中国共产党的政治意识形态。中国的文化包括儒家、道家、佛教等各种思潮和信仰，并且在历史上经历了各种政治制度的变迁。然而，西方媒体常将中国的文化描述为"授权的"或"被控制的"，忽略了中国文化的自主性和多元性。

　　第三，西方媒体常将中国的文化视为"异化的"或"向后的"。中国的文化在历史上曾经是世界上最先进的文明之一，并对世界产生了巨大的影响。然而，西方媒体常将中国的文化描述为"异化的"或"向后的"，忽略了中国文化的创新性和影响力。这种描述 Often, Chinese parents are depicted as overbearing and strict, with high expectations for their children’s academic and professional success. While this may be true for some families, it is not representative of all Chinese parents. The portrayal of Chinese parents as “tiger moms” or “helicopter parents” can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and overlook the diversity of parenting styles within the Chinese community.

　　Another issue is the tendency for Western media to focus on negative aspects of Chinese culture, such as corruption, censorship, and human rights abuses. While these are important issues that deserve attention, they should not be the only aspects of Chinese culture that are reported on. By only focusing on the negative, Western media can perpetuate a one-sided and biased view of China.

　　Additionally, Western media often fails to provide sufficient context and historical background when reporting on Chinese culture. This can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of Chinese customs and traditions. For example, the practice of burning joss paper and incense during Chinese funerals may be misinterpreted as wasteful or environmentally unfriendly without an understanding of its cultural significance.

　　Lastly, Western media can sometimes exoticize Chinese culture, portraying it as mysterious or otherworldly. This can lead to a lack of understanding and appreciation for the complexity and nuances of Chinese culture. It can also perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce the idea of China as a foreign and unfamiliar place.

　　In conclusion, while Western media reporting on Chinese culture can provide valuable insights and perspectives, it is important to approach it with a critical eye and an awareness of potential biases and stereotypes. It is also important to seek out diverse sources of information and perspectives to gain a more well-rounded understanding of Chinese culture.

　　关于中国新闻报道中的"Culture"章节评价

　　在西方媒体的报道中，中国的文化常被描述为古老、复杂和多元化。然而，这些报道中也常含有偏见和双重标准，导致中国的文化被误解和歪曲。以下是对西方媒体关于中国文化的报道的评价。

　　首先，西方媒体常将中国的文化视为单一的、固定的实体，忽略了中国文化的多元化和复杂性。中国是一个具有56个民族的多民族国家，每个民族都有自己的语言、文化和传统。中国的文化也在不断发展和变化，吸收了来自世界各地的影响。然而，西方媒体常将中国的文化简化为一些固定的象征，如大壁、长城、孔子和功夫，而忽略了中国文化的多样性和活力。

　　其次，西方媒体常将中国的文化与中国政府的政治意识形态相混淆。中国的文化不等同于中国共产党的政治意识形态。中国的文化包括儒家、道家、佛教等各种思潮和信仰，并且在历史上经历了各种政治制度的变迁。然而，西方媒体常将中国的文化描述为"授权的"或"被控制的"，忽略了中国文化的自主性和多元性。

　　第三，西方媒体常将中国的文化视为"异化的"或"向后的"。中国的文化在历史上曾经是世界上最先进的文明之一，并对世界产生了巨大的影响。然而，西方媒体常将中国的文化描述为"异化的"或"向后的"，忽略了中国文化的创新性和影响力。这种描述可能是由于西方媒体对中国文化的误解和偏见，也可能是由于中国在现代化过程中的某些问题和挑战。

　　最后，西方媒体在报道中国文化时常缺乏深入的分析和理解。中国的文化具有深厚的历史和复杂的社会背景，需要深入的研究和分析才能真正理解。然而，西方媒体常只关注中国文化的表面现象，而忽略了其背后的社会和历史原因。这种缺乏深入的分析和理解可能会导致对中国文化的误解和误解。

　　综上所述，西方媒体关于中国文化的报道存在许多问题和偏见，需要深入的研究和分析才能真正理解中国的文化。中国的文化具有深厚的历史和复杂的社会背景，需要深入的研究和分析才能真正理解。只有通过深入的研究和分析，才能真正理解中国的文化，并避免对中国文化的误解和误解。

新闻来源： 2407040635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-07-03; 2407041142纽约时报中文网-英文原版-英An-Uproar-Over-a-Chinese-Doping-Case-Except-in-China; 2407040814纽约时报中文网-中英对照版-中英中国全面审查游泳禁药丑闻为何沉默而非反击; 2407041142纽约时报中文网-英文原版-英How-China-and-Russia-Compete-and-Cooperate-in-Central-Asia

关于中国的新闻报道 - Technology章节评价

　　中国在科技领域取得了长足的发展，但是西方媒体在报道中国的科技新闻时，却一直存在偏见和双重标准的问题。以下是对西方媒体关于中国的Technology新闻报道的评价。

　　首先，西方媒体在报道中国的科技新闻时，经常会将中国的科技发展与国家安全、人权等问题联系在一起，试图将中国的科技发展描绘为一种威胁。例如，在报道中国的5G技术时，西方媒体经常会提到中国政府可能利用5G技术进行监控和情报收集，但是却少有报道中国5G技术在智能城市、自动驾驶等领域的应用和优势。这种做法不仅会误导读者对中国的科技发展产生误解，还会损害中国的国际形象。

　　其次，西方媒体在报道中国的科技新闻时，经常会忽略中国的创新成果和技术水平，而过度强调中国的技术抄袭和知识产权问题。例如，在报道中国的人工智能技术时，西方媒体经常会提到中国企业抄袭了西方企业的技术，但是却少有报道中国企业在人工智能领域的创新成果。这种做法不仅会抹黑中国的科技创新能力，还会阻碍中国与世界的科技合作和交流。

　　第三，西方媒体在报道中国的科技新闻时，经常会采用双重标准，对中国的科技发展和西方国家的科技发展采取不同的态度。例如，在报道中国的人脸识别技术时，西方媒体经常会提到中国政府可能利用人脸识别技术进行监控和压制异见人士，但是却少有报道西方国家政府利用人脸识别技术进行反恐和公共安全等方面的工作。这种做法不仅会造成读者对中国的科技发展产生偏见，还会损害中国的国际形象。

　　最后，西方媒体在报道中国的科技新闻时，经常会忽略中国的科技发展带来的正面影响和机遇，而过度强调中国的科技发展带来的负面影响和风险。例如，在报道中国的电子商务发展时，西方媒体经常会提到中国的电子商务带来的环境污染和就业压力，但是却少有报道中国的电子商务带来的消费者福利和就业机会。这种做法不仅会误导读者对中国的科技发展产生误解，还会损害中国的国际形象。

　　综上所述，西方媒体在报道中国的Technology新闻时，存在着明显的偏见和双重标准的问题。为了更好地了解中国的科技发展，我们应该多采取客观公正的态度，全面了解中国的科技成果和挑战，避免被西方媒体的偏见和双重标准所影响。

新闻来源： 2407040635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-07-03

关于中国的新闻报道 - Society章节评价

　　中国是一个多元化、复杂的社会，其社会问题和现象在西方媒体中经常被报道。然而，这些报道中不乏偏见和双重标准，导致中国社会的真实情况被歪曲和误解。以下是对西方媒体关于中国社会问题的报道的评价。

　　首先，西方媒体在报道中国社会问题时经常忽略其背后的社会和历史原因，而仅仅将其简单地归结为中国政府的失败或政策的错误。例如，在报道中国的教育不平等问题时，西方媒体经常将其归结为中国政府在教育投入不足或教育政策不合理，而忽略了中国的城乡差距、经济发展不平衡等深层次的社会问题。这种做法不仅会导致中国社会问题的误解，还会使西方读者形成对中国政府的偏见。

　　其次，西方媒体在报道中国社会问题时经常采用双重标准，对中国的社会问题和西方社会问题采取不同的态度和标准。例如，在报道中国的监控问题时，西方媒体经常将其描述为“监控国家”或“大数据专制”，而忽略了中国在公共安全和社会治理方面取得的成就。同时，西方媒体在报道西方社会的监控问题时，则经常将其描述为“智能城市”或“数字化改革”，强调其对社会发展的积极作用。这种双重标准不仅会导致中国社会问题的误解，还会使西方读者形成对中国的歧视。

　　第三，西方媒体在报道中国社会问题时经常忽略中国社会的多元化和复杂性，而仅仅将其描述为单一的、简单的现象。例如，在报道中国的家庭教育问题时，西方媒体经常将其描述为“压力山大”或“考试之国”，而忽略了中国家庭教育中的多元化和个性化趋势。这种做法不仅会导致中国社会问题的误解，还会使西方读者形成对中国社会的刻板印象。

　　最后，西方媒体在报道中国社会问题时经常忽略中国社会的积极变革和改革，而仅仅将其描述为“封闭”或“保守”。例如，在报道中国的妇女权益问题时，西方媒体经常将其描述为“性别不平等”或“女性受歧视”，而忽略了中国在妇女权益保障方面取得的成就。这种做法不仅会导致中国社会问题的误解，还会使西方读者形成对中国社会的误解。

　　综上所述，西方媒体关于中国社会问题的报道存在偏见和双重标准，导致中国社会的真实情况被歪曲和误解。为了更好地了解中国社会，西方媒体应该采取更加客观、公正、全面的态度和标准，充分考虑中国社会的历史和社会背景，尊重中国社会的多元化和复杂性，重视中国社会的积极变革和改革。

新闻来源： 2407040635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-07-03; 2407041142纽约时报中文网-英文原版-英How-China-and-Russia-Compete-and-Cooperate-in-Central-Asia

• China-India border dispute ‘not in either side’s interest’, foreign ministers agree
• What is Milei’s China agenda? Argentina’s envoy talks trade, space and the Global South
• Chinese leader warns Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to ‘resist external interference’ in latest veiled swipe at US
• EU brushes aside risk of China trade war over electric vehicle tariffs
• China’s yuan, central bank performing well under stress, but US Fed rates adding to pressures
• China fortifies Tiangong space station after Russian satellite explosion
• Semiconductor, AI firms dominate venture capital deals in China amid government push
• China’s talent and infrastructure are strengths in AI race with US, experts say
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• Is India sending a message to ‘China’s show’ as Narendra Modi skips SCO summit?
• Jobless spike in China’s Shenzhen: ‘temporary blip’ or a chip at economic might?
• Cute China girl, 2, thinks on-duty border guard father lives inside surveillance camera
• China must avoid Europe’s mistakes and stand up against rising extremism
• China fears a South Korea-US nuclear pact to rein in Pyongyang: ex-Obama adviser
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• China’s secondary property sales surge after policy incentives, as buyers eschew new flats
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• China science body lists ‘digital humans’ and optical chips among key challenges

China-India border dispute ‘not in either side’s interest’, foreign ministers agree

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3269209/china-india-border-dispute-not-either-sides-interest-foreign-ministers-agree?utm_source=rss_feed

China and India should double their efforts to resolve their differences and resume normal ties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar agreed on Thursday.

The two ministers reached the consensus during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, four years after a border dispute erupted in a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley.

The foreign ministers agreed that “prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in either side’s interest”, and meetings between diplomatic and military officials should be improved to “resolve the remaining issues at the earliest”, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.

Wang said China and India were both part of the Global South and emerging economies, and should “explore a correct way to get along with each other”, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement on the talks.

“We must appropriately address and control the situation in the border areas, and actively resume normal exchanges,” Wang said.

He added that the two sides should “join hands to oppose unilateral bullying and bloc confrontation and safeguard the common interests of developing countries”. The comment was an apparent veiled reference to the US’ geopolitical containment of China under its Indo-Pacific strategy, in which New Delhi plays an important role.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar wrote on his X account that he and Wang agreed that “respecting the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential” and the two countries would “redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end”.

“The three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – will guide our bilateral ties,” he wrote.

China and India share thousands of kilometres of an undetermined border in the Himalayas. Since they fought a brief war in 1962, an unofficial LAC has served as a loose ceasefire line but conflict has broken out over the years, the most serious being the Galwan Valley clash in June, 2020 in which at least four Chinese and 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

Since then, the two sides have held marathon talks on de-escalation, including a few meetings between Wang and Jaishankar. The latest meeting was the 21st round of corps commander-level talks between the frontline officers of the two militaries in February, but the negotiations remained deadlocked.

Beijing and New Delhi have both stressed the need for peace and tranquillity on the border and the hope to “turn the page” over the dispute.

What is Milei’s China agenda? Argentina’s envoy talks trade, space and the Global South

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3268992/what-mileis-china-agenda-argentinas-envoy-talks-trade-space-and-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed

Javier Milei’s campaign last year for the Argentinian presidency included calling China – the second-largest buyer of Argentina’s exports – an “assassin” and an attack on its ruling Communist Party’s human rights record. He threatened to curb ties with Beijing and signalled a foreign policy more aligned with the United States and Israel.

Since taking office in December, Milei, the self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist, has appeared to be caught between realism and idealism. Days after his inauguration, he called off the previous government’s plan to join the expanded Brics, the club of emerging economies started by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Marcelo Suarez Salvia – the career diplomat appointed by Milei in February as Argentina’s ambassador to Beijing – shares his views on Milei’s China policy and how the two emerging powers can navigate a tumultuous period marked by intensifying geopolitical rivalry between Beijing and Washington.

From the trade viewpoint, Argentina and China are a typical case of complementary partners. China’s participation in international trade has steadily grown throughout the past 25 years.

Today, it is a manufacturing powerhouse and it is in the midst of a complex process of upgrading its manufacturing capacity with a focus on trade in services and high-end products.

During the same period, the relevance of China as a trade partner of Argentina has come to the point where it ranks in the top two positions on imports and exports.

The upgrading of manufacturing through innovation is clearly reflected in bilateral trade in which most of our imports from China are embedded with technology which facilitates manufacturing in Argentina. Therefore, China definitely plays a role in our economic development.

Argentina, on the other hand, is a world-class producer of agricultural products such as beef, soybeans, barley and sorghum. In all of them, Argentina has a leading position and is a reliable and stable partner – remarkable aspects in what local authorities perceive as an increasingly complex international environment.

The relevance of the Chinese market is addressed every year by our manufacturing sector when the companies visit their local clients, make roadshows or when they participate in relevant trade fairs such as SIAL Shanghai, CIIE or CFDF.

As a country, we work with a view to continue securing affordable, environmentally friendly and good quality food products to the Chinese people. This is directly linked to investment, a field where Argentina and China have worked closely during the past decade to build reliable and resilient value chains.

In the context of the bilateral mechanisms in place, we have identified key areas for mutually beneficial cooperation. These include road and railway modernisation and inland and sea logistics in general which are crucial for enhancing Argentina’s export capacities.

In the same vein, we have been working closely towards creating environmentally friendly energy sources in Argentina. This resulted in one of the world’s largest solar farms, located in Jujuy province.

On the other hand, from a political perspective, it is worth mentioning that since February 19, 1972, the bilateral relationship has experienced a continuous and fluid development, based on the will of both countries to consolidate, develop and diversify their ties through a broad, reciprocal and permanent cooperation.

As a result of this successful path we have reached a level of relationship where we can highlight milestones such as having completed 10 years of comprehensive strategic partnership with China, consolidating a relationship that grows in a positive and sustained manner.

In this context, we acknowledge and are grateful for facts that give an example of the level of relationship achieved, valuing the solid and sustained support provided by the government of the People’s Republic of China to Argentina’s sovereignty claim and position on the issue of the Malvinas Islands. Likewise, Argentina maintains and reaffirms its attachment and respect for the principle of one China.

To flourish, trade and investment require, in essence, stability over the years. During the past two decades, both trade and investment between our countries have increased significantly as a result of the natural complementarities of both economies and the work undertaken by leaders.

Argentina deems the relationship of its productive sector with China as strategic. Therefore, the main aim is to continue working closely to maximise cooperation for the identification of common opportunities, the negotiation of market access protocols, the transfer of technology, etc.

In addition, as a result of the highest level meetings between both governments – and highlighting the last visit of our Foreign Minister Diana Mondino to the PRC – we can affirm that the bilateral relationship with the People’s Republic of China is of the utmost importance for our country, and has grown steadily and intensely during the past two decades.

This administration intends to continue deepening the bilateral relationship, reaffirming the bonds of friendship and the principles we have built together, accompanying the interest expressed by our authorities on the basis of strengthening the bilateral relationship and recognising the importance of bilateral dialogue mechanisms between Argentina and China.

In 2024, it is proposed to continue developing these fundamental tools, based on issues related to the national interest of each of our countries, reactivating and promoting the various existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

From Argentina’s viewpoint, trade basically relies on the interest of businesspeople and we are confident that after several years of doing business, the interest of business communities of both nations is more alive than ever.

We perceive this every time beef producers come to China for business round tables and we have to reschedule meetings with Chinese counterparts due to the limited time to accommodate every party.

We perceive the same interest when Chinese companies seeking investment opportunities in the field of agribusiness, energy and mining contact us with the aim of learning from a primary source the potential still [to be] unleashed in our country.

There is a deep belief that this large untapped potential will guarantee ever more fruitful ties in the long run.

Ups and downs may take place, but what remains are the outcomes of the trade being done by companies, the positive impact that investment in infrastructure has in citizens’ daily lives and a horizon of opportunities for strengthening Argentina’s capabilities to help with China’s food and energy needs.

Following your analogy about navigation, we’re guided by these outcomes and that promising horizon, and it is our duty to identify the opportunities that companies – naturally focused each of them in their business making – cannot foresee.

We believe that there is plenty of room for further cooperation that might have an impact on trade. Current trade flows involve products embedded with a great portion of research and development.

Take car manufacturers, for instance, that went through a great transformation in their business and nowadays all the basic functionalities in any car depend on a semiconductor.

Back in the day, it used to be about the design or the engine. Nowadays, the consumer is centred in the interaction with the vehicle’s screen, its comfort and energy efficiency. These are all fields mastered by Chinese companies and a potential area for know-how and technology transfer.

Argentina, on the other hand, also trades with research and development while exporting agricultural products. The farming sector in Argentina is 100 per cent science-based, from the research and development of new seeds to the development of agtech apps and the use of harvesting machinery manufactured locally.

In the same vein, we are producers of frontline technology in fields such as nuclear energy, with experience in the manufacturing and sale of small nuclear reactors, and also microsatellite solutions.

Moreover, it is important to remember that since 1904, our country has had a permanent and uninterrupted presence in Antarctica, being the oldest continuous presence in the continent.

We are also one of the 12 original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. The treaty establishes that Antarctica is to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, prohibiting all military activity and the testing of all types of weapons.

International cooperation is not only a mandate of the Antarctic Treaty, but an indispensable instrument to carry out the large number of scientific activities in a continent whose challenges for science and logistics are remarkable.

Argentina has developed intense cooperation with many countries. In some cases this has been going on for many years, so it is always willing to move forward on positive agendas in this regard.

Another sector linked to science and technology in which both countries have important collaboration is space.

The deep space research base that the Chinese space authorities operate in the Argentine province of Neuquén is the only one of its kind that China operates abroad, and it recently played a very important role in the arrival of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe to the far side of the moon, along with the collaboration of the European Space Agency and other countries. There is also cooperation in satellite material with deepening possibilities.

In addition, I believe that there are other priority areas such as tourism in which cooperation has mutual benefits. Argentina is working to increase the receptive capacity of Chinese tourism, with special attention to tourism infrastructure and services. We see with great enthusiasm the growing interest of Chinese tourists in getting to know Argentina’s gastronomy, culture and landscapes.

The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic and the People’s Bank of China have maintained currency exchange agreements for more than 10 years as part of an extensive cooperation in financial matters.

On June 12, Argentina’s central bank announced it had reached an agreement with its counterpart for the gradual repayment (in 2025 and 2026) of the activated portion of the currency swap. This is yet further proof of China’s support towards Argentina’s efforts in maintaining economic and financial stability.

There is increasing interest from both sides to work towards the negotiation of an FTA. This may take place as long as it falls within the scope of the legal mandate we have as a Mercosur state party.

Together with Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, Argentina is part of the Mercosur customs union and it is bound by its founding protocol, where tariff negotiations can only take place if all the parties agree to do so.

This being said, Argentina is determined to upgrade its market access with all relevant trade partners. Therefore, it is ready to engage in conversations about trade at any level.

From an economic viewpoint, improvement can be achieved if we continue strengthening bi-regional cooperation forums. Latin America and China belong to the Global South, where there are indeed certain common challenges in terms of infrastructure, health, access to technology, inequality, etc. Nowadays we also face challenges in the field of sustainable manufacturing and clean energy development.

All these matters are part of shared problems which we are sure cannot be solved individually by each country. Therefore, we certainly value the chance to exchange views and explore possible solutions together.

In addition, we have to consider that the visit of President Xi within the framework of the Apec 2024 forum to be held in Peru – despite not being a mechanism in which Argentina participates – and his participation in the next G20 meeting in Brazil, of which Argentina is part, are very good news for the region as a whole.

Likewise, in relation to the link between the region and China, throughout this year and next, multiple events will be taking place within the framework of the CELAC-China Forum, which will allow deepening cooperation and the exchange of ideas on various topics.

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China’s presence in the region comes as a natural result of its growing relevance in world trade.

The international trade landscape has grown increasingly difficult in past years, but from Argentina’s viewpoint it is necessary to continue strengthening multilateralism and trade institutions with capacity to enforce a rules-based system.

This is the only way in which new challenges faced by competitors over the world can be solved in a fair and equitable manner. We’re ready to cooperate and strengthen trade ties with all parties.

From Argentina’s perspective, relations with third countries are based on the protection and fulfilment of our national interest. Argentina maintains excellent relations with both countries in a wide range of areas and sectors and expects to maintain and deepen them in the future.

Chinese leader warns Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to ‘resist external interference’ in latest veiled swipe at US

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3269211/chinese-leader-warns-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-resist-external-interference-latest-veiled?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to “resist external interference” in a veiled reference to pressure from the United States and its allies.

Xi was speaking in Kazakhstan at the annual summit of the SCO, a regional economic and security bloc largely driven by China and Russia that has seen its remit grow in the two decades or so since its formation.

“We must consolidate the forces of unity and join hands in resisting external interference. We must firmly support each other and handle our internal differences in a spirit of peace and harmony,” Xi told the assembled regional leaders, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Xi spoke to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday, their fifth meeting of the year.

Putin, who has been shunned by the West since invading Ukraine, hailed a “golden era of ties between China and Russia” at the meeting and said the relationship is “being built on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for each other’s sovereignty”, according to the Russian Tass news agency.

Without naming specific countries, Xi warned on Thursday that the SCO members faced the “threats, risks and challenges” that come from “the cold war mindset” and repeated other coded references favoured by Beijing to criticise the US.

He also urged member states “safeguard the security baseline [and] preserve the right to development and consolidate solidarity”.

Aside from security, the Chinese leader also pledged to strengthen economic and scientific cooperation among members, urging them to support innovation, maintain stable supply chains, boost regional growth and “promote the realisation of our common development goals”.

Currently, its members account for more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and around 20 per cent of global GDP, with the latter figure likely to expand further, driven by the twin engines of China and India.

The bloc was initially set up with the aim of tackling common security challenges faced by China, Russia and the Central Asian republics following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

From an original membership of six in 2001, its number has since expanded to 10, taking in India and Pakistan in 2017. More recently Iran and Belarus, the latter having its full membership confirmed at this year’s summit.

Several Arab states allied with the US, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, have also become SCO “dialogue partners” in recent years, a move widely seen as an attempt to avoid dependence on the US.

The membership of Iran and Belarus has fuelled suspicion among the US and its allies that the bloc will champion an anti-Western agenda, even if India has moved closer to Washington in recent years amid the ongoing border dispute with China.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a notable absentee from this year’s summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, instead being represented by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. However, the Kremlin has said Modi will be visiting Russia next week for talks with Putin.

Li Lifan, deputy head of the SCO centre at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said the perception that the group is “anti-Western” is “nothing new”.

He described it as “a narrative that has long been planted in the West throughout the SCO’s development process … It was called the ‘Eastern Nato’ when the organisation was established”.

Li added: “The expansion to full membership [status] often takes a long time to process, for example Iran, whose full membership process was halted several times due to its nuclear issues.”

According to Li its current functions cover “politics, the economy, security, and culture” and it remained to be seen how deeply Belarus would be involved in the bloc, given that it is a long way from its central Eurasian core.

Zhu Yongbiao, a professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at Lanzhou University, said that the SCO “cannot be compared to Western organisations such as Nato or the Group of 7”.

However, he argued that the organisation has achieved its goals, saying: “The SCO’s position and goals are distinctly different from those of political and military organisations such as Nato. The nature of its functions was, from the beginning, very different.”

Zhu added that the bloc will continue to expand and develop despite pressure from Washington.

“The SCO needs to expand, because, in the process of expansion, the SCO has developed and grown,” he said. “Some of the problems that the SCO usually faces, such as the inability to implement policies, cannot be solved without expansion.”

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EU brushes aside risk of China trade war over electric vehicle tariffs

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jul/04/eu-china-electric-vehicle-tariffs-trade-war-risk

The EU’s top trade official, Valdis Dombrovskis, has brushed aside concerns of trade-war retaliation from Beijing against European business, after the European Commission imposed duties on Chinese electric vehicles.

Dombrovskis, a European Commission vice-president, told Bloomberg Television that talks with China were ongoing, adding: “We are not seeing the basis for retaliation as what we are conducting is indeed in line with WTO [World Trade Organization] rules.”

Provisional tariffs on Chinese EV imports to the bloc ranging from 17.4% to 37.6% will apply from Friday, after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on what the EU executive called “unfair” subsidies from Beijing.

These tariffs – far lower than the 100% tariffs imposed by the US – will come on top of the EU’s existing 10% duty on electric vehicles from China.

Europe’s biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, reiterated its criticism on Thursday of the European Commission’s proposed tariffs on EVs made in China , arguing that they would not strengthen Europe’s car industry in the long term.

Volkswagen, which is grappling with falling market share in China, has previously warned of retaliation from Beijing. “The timing of the EU Commission’s decision is detrimental to the current weak demand for [battery electric vehicles] in Germany and Europe,” the company said on Thursday.

Stellantis, owner of brands including Citroën, Fiat and Vauxhall, has said it will not take a defensive stance in the battle for electric car sales and preferred to “fight to stay competitive”.

The tariffs are the result of an ongoing EU investigation launched last October, which found Chinese producers benefited from subsidies at every stage of production, from the mining of lithium used in batteries, to shipping the vehicles to EU ports, such as Rotterdam and Antwerp.

“Based on the investigation, the commission has concluded that the BEV [battery electric vehicle] value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidisation, which is causing a threat of economic injury to EU BEV producers,” the commission said in a statement to accompany a legal decision published on Thursday.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, told Xi Jinping during the Chinese president’s recent visit to Europe that “imbalances” caused by state support for Chinese industry – leading to artificially cheap products – threatened jobs in Europe, which was “a matter of great concern”.

China, which has said it is looking for a “mutually acceptable solution” to the dispute, is investigating French cognac and pork imports over subsidies, raising the prospect of tit-for-tat measures.

“It is plain for all to see who is escalating trade frictions and instigating a ‘trade war’,” the Chinese commerce ministry said last month.

China has won a 25% share of the EU market for electric-battery powered cars, up from 3% in 2020. EU officials fear that without action a vital European industry that employs 2.5 million people and 10.3 million in the wider supply chain could be seriously hurt, just as the EU saw its solar-panel companies lose out to subsidised Chinese competitors.

From Friday, importers of Chinese vehicles into the EU will be required to give bank guarantees to customs officers to pay the duties. Money will only be collected if the commission concludes in the autumn that the car industry would have been harmed without these duties.

A final decision on definitive duties – which would be in force for five years – will only be taken in the autumn, pending a vote by the EU’s 27 member states.

Under the provisional measures, China’s BYD, which vies with Tesla for the spot of the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles, faces a tariff of 17.4%; Geely will pay 19.9% and SAIC 37.6%.

The rates – calculated according to total subsides and company turnover – have been modestly adjusted downwards in most cases since the required pre-disclosure of tariffs last month, after technical talks with the companies.

The tariffs enter into force despite staunch opposition from Germany, Europe’s largest exporter to China. The Germany government has called for an “amicable solution”, but also said “serious movement is needed on the Chinese side”.

German officials do not expect to reverse the measures, which can only be overturned by a weighted majority of 15 EU member states representing 65% of the union’s population.

China’s yuan, central bank performing well under stress, but US Fed rates adding to pressures

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3269167/chinas-yuan-central-bank-performing-well-under-stress-us-fed-rates-adding-pressures?utm_source=rss_feed

Prolonged high interest rates in the United States could introduce uncertainty to the monetary policy outlook of emerging economies, the world’s “bank for central banks” said, pointing to rising pressures on Asian currencies and capital outflows.

In its Annual Economic Report published on Sunday, the Basel-based Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said the banking industry expects greater divergence in policy rate trajectories – especially between the US Federal Reserve and other central banks – raising broader questions about their impact on capital flows and financial markets.

“In general, central banks around the world have so far done a very good job containing inflation. But the job is not finished yet,” said Zhang Tao, chief representative of the BIS office for Asia and the Pacific.

“If interest rates stay higher and [the US dollar] remains stronger, whether the system can continue to face the pressures remains to be seen,” he said.

Zhang said that since the Asian financial crisis of 1997, central banks have adopted either flexible or inflexible inflation targeting regimes, supported by flexible foreign exchange rates.

As such, the fundamentals of emerging economies are better than they were during that trying period, he said.

“One of the lessons from the past is that policy measures need safety margins and to work effectively within the boundaries of stability,” Zhang said. “For example, the impact of the prolonged period of lower interest rates before Covid-19 has brought to light limitations and side effects. When pressure is felt, there’s a question as to whether policies remain as effective as they were supposed to be.”

It remains unclear how long the US central bank will keep its benchmark rates at a 23-year high of 5.25-5.5 per cent, but the large interest rate differential between the US and Asian countries like China and Japan have added stress to their currencies.

The yuan is facing its highest level of capital outflow in eight years, according to research released last week by French investment bank Natixis. The bank estimated China’s trailing 12-month net capital outflows stood at US$139 billion as of May 2024, the worst year for the figure since the period from 2016 to 2017.

China’s post-Covid recovery has been largely uneven, with some economists expressing concerns over the world’s second-largest economy’s reliance on exports to drive growth. Weak consumption in China has kept a lid on consumer prices since 2023 – despite several rounds of policy responses – as confidence remains low amid a protracted crisis in the property sector.

The BIS report estimated that the combination of falling prices in China and a depreciating currency caused the yuan’s real value to depreciate by 13 per cent between early 2022 and early 2024.

“The depreciation of the Chinese yuan against many other currencies further boosted China’s competitiveness, amplifying the impact of China’s domestic disinflation on export volumes,” the BIS said.

Unlike many developed countries, the report said, inflation in China has been low, with its headline consumer price index (CPI) hovering around zero since April 2023.

Producer prices have also fallen, the BIS said, with falling prices for China’s exports – as well as the impact of weaker domestic demand on commodity prices – estimated to have reduced the annual rate of import price increases in other major economies by an average of 5 percentage points over 2023, the BIS said.

The correlation between declining prices in China and lower import prices was stronger in countries where Chinese exports made up a larger share of total inflows, such as Australia, Brazil and India.

The BIS cited other studies which estimated that a 5.8 percentage point decrease in import prices would eventually translate into a lower average CPI inflation rate to the tune of 1.5 percentage points, although there will be significant variation across countries.

China fortifies Tiangong space station after Russian satellite explosion

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3269186/china-fortifies-tiangong-space-station-after-russian-satellite-explosion?utm_source=rss_feed

Two Shenzhou-18 astronauts completed a spacewalk on Wednesday night to protect China’s space station with extra armour following the explosion of a Russian satellite that generated a large amount of space debris last week.

“The spacewalk primarily focused on installing protective devices on external cables and pipelines to mitigate risks posed by potential space debris collisions, enhancing the long-term safety and stability of the space station,” said Liu Ming, of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.

A defunct Resurs-P1 Russian Earth observation satellite exploded in orbit on June 26, generating more than 100 pieces of trackable debris, according to US Space Command.

This incident prompted Nasa mission control in Houston to direct six US astronauts on the International Space Station to execute “safe haven” procedures to mitigate debris risk, although it is not clear if this influenced China’s protective measures for its Tiangong space station.

For the spacewalk just before 11pm on Wednesday, astronaut Li Cong transferred to the station’s external equipment site via a robotic arm, followed by cabin astronaut Ye Guangfu handing over necessary equipment and devices to Li.

Ye then climbed along the station’s exterior to the work site, where he collaborated with Li to install the protective devices. Meanwhile, another astronaut, Li Guangsu, monitored the robotic arm from the Tianhe core module and provided support.

After completing the installation, Li Cong used the robotic arm to move to an inspection point where he used his helmet camera to survey and photograph the payload adaptor’s surface condition.

The two spacewalking astronauts, Ye Guangfu and Li Cong, subsequently returned to the Wentian lab module after the 6½-hour mission.

A dialogue broadcast by CCTV shows Li and Ye seeming relaxed, even apparently competing to see who could reach a designated spot first. They also appeared to joke about striking poses for the camera during the installation.

Wu Dawei, of the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, praised the mission’s success, noting that “more protective devices were installed this time, requiring longer time to travel from the airlock to the designated points. However, their operation was smooth and effortless”.

Li Cong remarked on the beauty of the Chinese space station while communicating with Chinese ground control.

“Whenever the robotic arm sent me to high points, despite the glaring sunlight, I [could not] help but want to take a closer look,” he said, applauding the efforts of all involved. “It’s truly moving to witness the grandeur of this project.

“We will continue our diligent and efficient work to complete future missions smoothly.”

The Shenzhou-18 crew first entered the space station on April 26. During their initial spacewalk on May 28, they installed protective devices on the Mengtian lab module external cables, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Yesterday’s mission focused on providing similar protection for the Wentian lab module and the Tianhe core.

The latest mission marked the three-man crew’s second extravehicular activity and the 16th for the Chinese space station.

On June 24, two US astronauts had to end a planned spacewalk early because of a water leak in their spacesuits. The mission, which was to involve retrieving a malfunctioning part from a communications antenna and collecting microbial samples, was cut short, lasting only about half an hour carrying out the task which had been allotted nearly seven hours.

In keeping with its schedule, the Shenzhou-18 crew has completed one-third of their mission in orbit and will soon welcome the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft. The Shenzhou-18 crew is slated to return to the Dongfeng landing site in northern China in late October.

Semiconductor, AI firms dominate venture capital deals in China amid government push

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3269182/semiconductor-ai-firms-dominate-venture-capital-deals-china-amid-government-push?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s largest venture capital investments are increasingly coming from technology sectors that align with the government’s policy goals, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, even as overall funding continues to plunge, according to a new report.

The country contributed 90 per cent of global venture capital investments in the chip sector last year, totalling US$22.2 billion and more than doubling the US$9.5 billion invested in 2022, research firm Preqin said in a report released on Thursday.

Half of the semiconductor venture investments came from three “mega deals” led by partnerships between municipal authorities and Sino IC Capital, the asset manager of the state-backed China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, known also as the Big Fund, according to Preqin.

Those include the 39 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion) raised by Changxin Xinqiao Memory Technologies in October, US$4 billion by Hua Hong Grace Semiconductor in January last year, and US$3.2 billion by Hua Hong Chengdu in December, according to Preqin.

Fundraising in China’s semiconductor sector appears to have slowed down since, with only US$1.6 billion invested across 128 deals in the first half of this year, Preqin data showed, although the country still accounted for four of the world’s 10 largest chip industry investments during that period.

State-backed investors are playing a growing role in private market funding in China, participating in about 60 of the 100 largest deals from 2021 to June this year, twice as many as from 2017 to 2020, the research company said.

AI and clean technology, two other sectors that China aims to grow and support as part of its broader economic policies, also recorded large investments this year, Preqin said.

Among the world’s 10 largest venture investment deals from January to June, two took place in China. Electric vehicle manufacturer IM Motors raised US$1.1 billion in March. Generative AI start-up Moonshot AI raised US$1 billion in February. Both companies are backed by Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the South China Morning Post.

Overall, AI firms in China raised US$5.6 billion in the first half of 2024, about half of the US$11.7 billion raised in the sector during all of last year, according to the firm.

However, geopolitical tensions, high interest rates and a lack of exit pathways continue to deter private investments.

Private firms in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, raised US$12.3 billion in the first three months of the year, down 42 per cent from the previous quarter and a “far steeper drop” than the global decline of 12 per cent, Preqin said.

China’s talent and infrastructure are strengths in AI race with US, experts say

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3269204/chinas-talent-and-infrastructure-are-strengths-ai-race-us-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s ability to develop infrastructure quickly and boost its talent pool can help the nation compete with the United States in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, industry experts said on Thursday at the China Conference organised by the South China Morning Post.

While Chinese tech giants are unable to match their American counterparts in terms of budget and access to advanced AI chips designed by industry leader Nvidia, speedy infrastructure development on the mainland has provided a more robust foundation for AI training and inference than in the US, according to Henry He, executive director and chief financial officer at Beijing-based computing platform Kingsoft Cloud.

“When you’re looking at China, the infrastructure – especially the computing power – the network today is actually doing much better even than one or two years ago,” He said.

The determination of China’s tech workers is another competitive advantage for the country’s AI companies, according to Maryann Tseng, senior managing director of strategic investment at SenseTime, one of the mainland’s AI pioneers.

“There is significant drive from a younger generation in terms of innovation, motivation, wanting to do more, wanting to change the world,” Tseng said. “Those are the things that we can see visibly here, at home, at SenseTime.”

She added that SenseTime has cooperated with leading academic institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong in innovative AI research and development.

Amid the global AI fervour, the Biden administration has taken increasingly forceful actions to impede China’s AI development. Those moves include export curbs targeting mainland tech companies and foreign investment restrictions on hi-tech industries.

Despite the challenges, Kingsoft Cloud’s He said China still leads in the “last milestone” that involves applying AI technology in workflows in the real world. He saw potential in leveraging AI tools in highly data-based, workflow-based and rule-based working environments, as well as scenarios where the output can be clearly defined and measured.

He listed the healthcare, auditing and financial services sectors as examples where AI can be an important tool.

SenseTime’s Tseng said AI can help free workers from some tedious tasks, citing the virtual assistants powered by the company’s large language models that are used in Hong Kong by major banks, including the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

“Those repetitive, less-value work, we can outsource to AI, [so that] we can spare humans to do much more intelligent, creative critical decision-making,” Tseng said. “And this is how I see where AI could be truly instrumental.”

China-EU trade reaches turning point with EV tariffs set to begin, but ‘scope to compromise’

https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3269193/china-eu-trade-reaches-turning-point-ev-tariffs-set-begin-scope-compromise?utm_source=rss_feed

Provisional import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles by the European Union represent a juncture for the bilateral relationship, but both sides would have enough time to avert “a serious trade war”, analysts said, with the new levies set to take effect on Friday.

The European Commission confirmed on Thursday that the bloc’s additional duties of up to a revised 37.6 per cent on Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs) would begin on Friday and would initially last for a maximum of four months.

“Based on the investigation, the commission has concluded that the BEV value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidisation, which is causing a threat of economic injury to EU BEV producers,” said a commission statement.

“The investigation has also examined the likely consequences and impact of these measures on importers, users and consumers of BEVs in the EU.

“Within that time frame, a final decision must be taken on definitive duties, through a vote by EU member states. When adopted, this decision would make the duties definitive for a period of five years.”

Tariffs of 17.4 per cent, 19.9 per cent and 37.6 per cent would be applied to Chinese carmakers BYD, Geely and SAIC, respectively, said the statement.

Other BEV producers in China which cooperated in the investigation would be subject to a 20.8 per cent weighted average duty, while the commission set the duty for other non-cooperating companies at 37.6 per cent.

“Before the last result comes out, I believe that both sides still have the space to discuss,” said Liang Ming, director of the foreign trade institute under the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is a think tank within China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The EU Commission statement confirmed consultations with the Chinese government had intensified in recent weeks, and that contact would continue at a technical level with a view to reaching a solution which addresses the concerns raised by the European Union.

“[The tariffs are] not a decisive battle, but one of the phases along the lengthy bilateral trade disputes,” said Shanghai-based international relations scholar Shen Dingli.

“Both sides will continue to contest each other, but they will try to avoid the worst result through negotiation.”

Earlier on Thursday, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said that China had expressed its opposition “many times” towards the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation.

“Both sides have already held many rounds of negotiations up to now,” he said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

“We hope that the EU can show its sincerity to progress the dialogue in the coming four months, so that we can find resolutions both sides accept according to facts and rules.”

In response to the EU’s allegations of subsidies and overcapacity within its electric vehicle (EV) sector, China announced an anti-dumping investigation into certain pork products imported from the EU in June.

China’s Ministry of Commerce is also reviewing complaints from machinery industry representatives against “biased practices” from the EU.

Frank Tsai, founder of the Shanghai-based China Crossroads consultancy, described the tariffs on Chinese EVs as “an inflection point” in the bilateral relationship.

Beijing would also experience such moves as “a setback to its efforts in the US-EU-China strategic triangle”, added Tsai, who is also an adjunct professor at Emlyon Business School in Shanghai.

But Tsai also noted that the continuous disengagement of the US towards China would leave the EU the “only one major partner in the advanced West”, meaning Beijing “has thus engaged in a charm offensive to stabilise the EU-China relationship”.

The tariffs on Chinese EVs represent the first time that the EU Commission has executed its ex officio power to proceed unilaterally without a complaint from the industry.

“The EU measures announced are carefully tailored and leave plenty of scope to find a compromise … there is much time until November to find ways out of a serious trade war,” said Rolf Langhammer, a professor with the Germany-based Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Langhammer noted that the EU Commission was “serious” about its mandate as the only institution lawfully deciding on trade policy issues, even with member states including Germany having different views, as it sees China’s EV subsidies as a “threat”.

German carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW have opposed the trade barriers proposed by the EU amid fears of a tit-for-tat crackdown on accessing the huge Chinese market, while some other member states, including France, have backed the moves.

“More than one-third of the exported EVs from China to the EU are produced by the German carmakers,” said Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing.

“So the tariffs are actually hitting their benefits hard.”

Chinese carmakers are also making moves to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, with BYD planning to build its first passenger car facility in Europe in southern Hungary.

Chery Automobile also confirmed in April it had also sealed a deal to build its first European factory in Spain in a joint venture with Ebro-EV Motors.

In 2013, the EU threatened to impose provisional anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese solar panels, but the dispute was resolved after an agreement to set a minimum price after six weeks of talks.

“China and the EU will still communicate to ensure smooth bilateral trade and investment … but the issue won’t stop at tariffs,” Wang added.

“It’s the entire process of producing EVs that includes digitalisation, software, privacy and other standards.”

He Weiwen, a senior fellow with the Beijing-based think tank Centre for China and Globalisation, pointed out the interdependence between both sides.

He cited the fact that EU law would require all new cars entering the market as of 2035 to have zero carbon dioxide emissions, and “they can’t attain the goal only by themselves”.

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[Sport] EU hits Chinese electric cars with steep tariffs

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What is ‘smell of work’? China youth invent new term to describe whiff of exploitation

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263594/what-smell-work-china-youth-invent-new-term-describe-whiff-exploitation?utm_source=rss_feed

We all know that feeling at the end of a hard working day, a mixture of mental fatigue and physical exhaustion envelopes your being.

But what does it smell like?

Well, the term ban wei, or “smell of work” has been invented on social media in China to describe it.

The Post explains.

The smell

Ban wei can evoke the bitter taste of iced Americano coffee, the stench of sweat, the lingering scent of cigarette smoke and the whiff of “dangling a carrot” symbolising a empty promises from the boss.

The expression originated in a viral post on Weibo which read: “Once you’ve worked a day, you’re already dirty. You can never wash off that ‘smell of work’ in this lifetime.”

It marked an attitude shift among China’s younger generation from viewing hard work as a noble endeavour to a more critical focus on achieving work-life balance.

Burn out

The viral phrase captures more than just the literal scent associated with work, but every feature of a burned-out office worker.

Previously, another term, “ugliness caused by tiredness”, or lei chou in Chinese, focused on visual changes overwork bring such as dark circles under the eyes, a sallow complexion and heavy eyelids weighed down by fatigue.

The smell of work term goes further to include wearing no makeup, donning loose clothing and displaying a general lack of energy.

It is perceived to be most potent during the early morning rush hour on subways and in crowded office building elevators.

The term also alludes to the notion of “corporate livestock”, or she chu in Chinese, which sees workers as obedient, exploited animals confined to cubicles.

Marinated

Veteran office workers are mocked for being marinated in the smell which they cannot shake off.

For example, they habitually check work-related group chats even while on vacation, instinctively responding with “yes, copy that” on WeChat to acknowledge messages.

Some even lose interest in non-work-related activities.

Washing it off

Resigning or taking holidays are considered the most effective ways to combat the smell of work.

It has become popular on mainland social media to post before and after photos showing the visible changes in individuals who have stopped working for several months.

They typically appear happier and more energised.

“Resigning is the best cosmetic procedure for a better appearance,” say some online observers.

Others shared strategies on how to go to work without acquiring the smell.

These include practical tips on separating work from personal life , avoiding office-related locations during non-working hours and separating work clothes from leisure clothes in the wardrobe.

Also, the cultivation of hobbies and interests outside of work is said to be crucial.

Chinese deaths in Philippines deal blow to business plans already frayed by maritime dispute

https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3269158/chinese-deaths-philippines-deal-blow-business-plans-already-frayed-maritime-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed

A disturbing pair of late-June killings in the Philippines has further sullied the Southeast Asian country’s image among Chinese investors and business travellers who were already growing wary of a festering maritime dispute that threatens a lucrative trade relationship.

Chinese nationals considering business travel or physical investments in the Philippines may hold back until they feel it is safer, according to analysts and merchants. Beijing’s diplomatic pressure on Manila to find and severely punish the killer further thrust attention on the deaths.

“Local Chinese friends there say the atmosphere among local Chinese is becoming increasingly tense, with worrying about how to protect the properties and businesses they have invested in the Philippines,” said Daniel Zhu, the operator of a Guangzhou-based film and television production firm.

He said his company “quickly abandoned” a short-video promotional project in the Philippines because of the kidnap-killings of a Chinese citizen and a Chinese-American on June 24.

One of the victims was an international marketing director of Hong Kong-listed company Rainmed Medical Limited, and the other worked as a distributor for a cardiovascular medical device company, according to financial news outlet Yicai Global. The pair had travelled to the Philippines on business, days before the homicide.

Last year, six Chinese nationals were kidnapped from their home in Manila and four were killed, Philippine police have said.

“The average Chinese might have a conflicted view on things,” said Aaron Rabena, a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Asian Centre. “This shows we have weak law enforcement that can let things get out of control.”

The latest incident comes during a China-Philippine maritime dispute that has seen several rounds of confrontation this year and has raised concerns about a potentially wider conflict in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

At the same time, China provided a 23.3 per cent share of Philippine imports last year and accepted 14.8 per cent share of its exports, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. In the first four months of 2024, the value of two-way trade came to US$22.46 billion.

Philippine and Chinese leaders agreed in January to cooperate particularly in infrastructure, agriculture and energy. Direct investment from China came to 1.53 billion pesos (US$26 million) in the first five months of the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry’s Board of Investments in Manila.

The killings have “greatly magnified everyone’s anxiety about the Philippine market, and even the Southeast Asian market”, said James Liu, a sales director who is due to be posted in the Philippines later this year by a new-energy company, to explore the local market.

He and his family are worried he might not be able to avoid duty in the Philippines.

“I feel that all overseas marketing salespeople are talking about the matter,” Liu said. “In recent months, geopolitical relations between China and the Philippines have become increasingly tense, and it is difficult for private enterprises to have a suitable response plan.”

In Manila on Monday, Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian met Filipino Lucas Bersamin, chairman of the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission, to explore ways of jointly fighting transnational crime, the Philippine president’s communications office said in a statement.

“Strengthened cooperation” sends criminal syndicates a message that they cannot “undermine the security and stability of these nations”, the statement says.

In another show of concern among Filipinos, the president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry told the China-based Global Times that bilateral tensions have the “potential to unnecessarily escalate into a crisis that could destabilise the economic development trajectory of the Philippines, China and the broader Asian region”.

But some are taking a more forward-looking approach in the business environment.

Chinese businesspeople are likely to hear “a lot of noise”, but the murders are probably not part of a trend affecting the average investors or merchants, said Jonathan Ravelas, managing director of the Manila-based consultancy eManagement for Business and Marketing Services.

He expects that businesspeople from China will ultimately focus on the Philippines’ untapped potential for investment.

“We should look beyond this and look to the low-hanging fruit,” Ravelas said.

China to press on with organised crime crackdown, keeping up campaign’s intensity

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3269152/chinas-organised-crime-crackdown-continues-no-reduction-intensity?utm_source=rss_feed

As China’s sweeping campaign against organised crime enters its seventh year, the country’s top police chief has pledged that the crackdown will continue with no let-up in its intensity.

Speaking at a conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong called on officials to “vigorously push the regular fight against organised crime and evil forces”, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Wang called on his cadres to “maintain unwavering determination”, saying “standards should not be lowered, [and] the intensity should not be reduced” when cracking down on crimes early while they are still on a small scale.

“[We must] strike accurately and forcefully against organised crime and evil forces, and also resolutely crack down on protective umbrellas and break networks to ensure that our actions are impactful and effective,” he said.

According to Xinhua, Wang also asked police across the country to strengthen inspections and rectification in some key areas and industries to eradicate potential breeding grounds for organised crime.

The Xinhua report did not specify which areas will be targeted for rectification. Four industries were named in 2021 for their alleged widespread criminal activities: telecommunications, construction, transport and resources.

Wang’s remarks come six years after Chinese President Xi Jinping launched his unprecedented campaign to address mafia-style corruption and illegal activities and consolidate public confidence in grass-roots governance.

The campaign, launched in 2018 and initially expected to last three years, was part of Xi’s signature anti-corruption drive initiated soon after he became Communist Party general secretary in 2012.

In 2021, the anti-organised crime drive was declared an “overwhelming victory” and extended to “fight against evil on a normal basis” in a continuing clean-up of governance at the county and village administrative levels.

Organised crime and corruption – particularly at the grass roots – are regarded as existential threats to party rule and Xi has directed that criminal networks be stamped out, along with their financial support and officials who collude with them.

According to a Xinhua report in May, more than 5,200 organised crime groups were smashed across the country over the past five years, while 13 per cent fewer criminal cases were filed in 2023 compared to 2019.

The Xinhua report also noted a similar fall in the number of public security cases brought last year, with a decline in filings for this category of 10 per cent compared to five years ago.

State broadcaster CCTV reported in January that more than 1,900 criminal organisations were dismantled in 2023 alone, and more than 27,000 suspects were arrested.

In January, a former police chief in northern China was jailed for his connections to a criminal gang that was filmed brutally attacking a group of women in a case that outraged the nation.

Ma Aijun, former head of the Lubei district branch of the Tangshan Public Security Bureau in Hebei province, was convicted and sentenced for sheltering the gang from justice for years of earlier offending.

China’s goal to become carbon neutral hinges on a unified power market, energy expert says

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3269160/chinas-goal-become-carbon-neutral-hinges-unified-power-market-energy-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s rapidly expanding renewable energy production and electricity market liberalisation will open up opportunities for investors, developers and end users, according to an energy expert.

“What we will continue to see in the Chinese electricity market is continued opening up and liberalisation of the way in which electricity is being bought and sold,” Christian Romig, associate director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), said at the China Conference organised by the South China Morning Post on Thursday.

“This process is accelerating as we see more intermittent, non-dispatchable renewable electricity being generated and put onto the system,” he said. “That in itself requires a more flexible and granular pricing approach to manage effectively.”

Some 400 top Chinese government officials will gather from July 15-18 for the third plenum, one of the country’s biggest annual policy meetings, to set the economic and technology development agenda for the next decade. Expectations are high that power sector reform will be one of the major topics of discussion during the four-day event.

One key aspect to watch is the roll-out of a unified national power market system, which China’s central economic planner announced last year. The National Development and Reform Commission aims to establish a preliminary structure by 2025 and complete it by 2030.

A unified power market is crucial to China achieving its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2060, by which time the country expects to generate at least 80 per cent of its total energy from non-fossil fuel sources, according to Romig.

Last year, China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter and renewable energy developer, added a record 301 gigawatts of solar, wind and hydro power generating capacity, accounting for almost 60 per cent of the global total.

However, renewable energy utilisation has fallen due to the country’s fragmented power market that lacks flexibility and is currently reliant on provinces balancing electricity supply and demand, with carbon-intensive coal and natural gas power still dominating supply.

“A national electricity market will help to more efficiently price the transfer of electricity from those more far flung regions to the centres of population and electricity demand,” Romig said.

Investors and developers will be able to sell electricity generated from renewable energy projects directly to end users across the country, such as multinational companies, to support their decarbonisation goals, Romig said. End users will have the choice to buy the type of electricity they want and have more access to clean electricity, he added.

For China to achieve net zero emissions by 2060, the country needs to remove, abate, or sequester about 350 megatons (about 39 million tonnes) of carbon dioxide per year from 2030 to 2060, about the same as France’s annual emissions, according to data from BCG. Nearly half of China’s carbon emissions are from the electricity sector.

International energy firms are actively helping China decarbonise its power sector, panellists at the conference said.

EDF, the French utility, has helped design, construct and operate Daya Bay, China’s first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant, and has invested in other low-carbon energy fields such as wind, solar, hydrogen energy and storage, said Song Xudan, senior executive vice-president at EDF China.

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil and gas company by market capitalisation, will leverage its conventional oil supplier ties with China to jointly develop clean energy technologies and help Beijing accomplish its carbon neutral goal by 2060, Mohammed Y Al-Qahtani, Saudi Aramco’s downstream president told the conference via video-link.

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Hong Kong urged to reinvent ‘superconnector’ role to link China to Global South

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3269176/hong-kong-urged-reinvent-superconnector-role-link-china-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed

Business leaders have urged Hong Kong to reinvent its “superconnector” role to link China to the Global South to spur future growth as the coming US presidential election is expected to have little effect on Sino-American tensions.

At the South China Morning Post’s annual China Conference on Thursday, panellists expressed strong confidence in Hong Kong’s “irreplicable” advantages in finance and technological research, calling on the city to preserve its characteristics of professionalism and high ethical standards.

Eric Li, chairman and managing partner of Chengwei Capital, said Hong Kong’s role as a superconnector role, which capitalised on linking China to the West, needed to change to adapt to future globalisation trends.

“The relationship between China and the West is in some trouble,” he said.

“So as a result, I think, Hong Kong’s connector role should be to connect China with a larger world, namely the Global South, outside the small garden and tall walls if you will.”

Li spoke alongside three other guests at a panel titled “China’s economic reckoning: impact on Hong Kong, Asia and the world”, with most speakers agreeing that US-China tensions would remain unchanged regardless of who ended up in the White House at the end of the year.

“I think both [US presidential candidates] will pursue very aggressive, and even containment, policies towards China, [but] their tactics will be very different,” he said.

The coming election is widely expected to be a rematch between incumbent US President Joe Biden and former leader Donald Trump, who was defeated in the 2020 leadership race.

Fellow speaker Victor Gao, chairman of the China Energy Security Institute, said Hong Kong should fully embrace changes resulting from the growing US-China rivalry and reposition itself to ensure more sustainable prosperity.

“Friends with all and enemies with none – that should be the road map for Hong Kong going forward,” he said.

Manulife Hong Kong and Macau chief executive Patrick Graham said Hong Kong’s role as the country’s most international city and its connection with the rest of the world, not just the West, was “an advantage that no one else can replicate”.

Graham expressed optimism over Hong Kong’s prospects, citing the 3 per cent growth “in GDP terms” achieved by his insurance company last year, which was higher than levels for most developed markets.

Jimmy Jim, managing executive officer and head of global markets at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia), called on the city to preserve its professionalism, ethical standards and way of doing things to keep it distinct from cities on the mainland, in a bid to play its superconnector role well.

Another way for Hong Kong to improve on its role as a superconnector was to “give our honest feedback to regulators in the Chinese mainland”, he added.

“Synergy with China’s [advancement] will only come when we combine our skill sets and our international ties with the central government’s policies,” Jim said.

At an afternoon panel titled “Headquarters economy: global businesses’ strategic expansion and integration in the Greater Bay Area”, Hong Kong lawyer Nick Chan Hiu-fung said the city could also further enhance its role as an arbitration centre within the bay area.

“Around 70 per cent of disputes resolved in Hong Kong every year have nothing to do with Hong Kong. They’re [coming from] outside,” said Chan, who also serves as a local deputy to the National People’s Congress.

“That’s why Hong Kong is the third most preferred city globally [for arbitration].”

The lawyer also encouraged Hongkongers not to consider the city as a stand-alone unit in terms of economic development, but instead as part of the bay area, which enjoyed greater development prospects.

The bay area is a national development blueprint that seeks to link Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland cities in Guangdong province into a new economic powerhouse.

Marcos Jnr’s sister says China planning to target Philippine sites, is Imee Marcos ‘warmongering’?

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3269183/marcos-jnrs-sister-says-china-planning-target-philippine-sites-imee-marcos-warmongering?utm_source=rss_feed

Philippine Senator Imee Marcos has made explosive claims about plans by China to target sites across her country with hypersonic missile strikes. However, observers say her comments were politically motivated and Beijing would be unlikely to risk such an attack even if it has the capabilities.

The senator, who is also the sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jnr, made the allegations in a video posted to TikTok and Facebook.

“I’m really scared because while tensions are brewing in the West Philippine Sea, I saw [reports] about China’s plans to use hypersonic missiles,” she said in the clip, which was posted late on Tuesday.

She went on to say that 25 areas in the Philippines were targeted in the plans she saw, including the island of Batanes and Subic in Zambales, where the country’s new Brahmos missiles systems have been deployed, and the Ilocos region, the venue of annual Balikatan joint military drills between American and Filipino soldiers.

“It’s really scary. That’s no joke,” she added.

Senator Marcos also expressed concern that the United States could not prevent such attacks.

“Other countries have this thing called the Iron Dome, which prevents missiles from entering. But when it comes to hypersonic missiles, it could enter easily. Everything will be crushed,” she said.

Senator Marcos did not provide any evidence for her claims, but argued that China was targeting the Philippines because of its growing military ties with the US under her brother’s administration.

In February last year, Marcos Jnr gave the United States access to nine military sites across the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries to boost his country’s defensive capabilities and ability to respond to natural disasters.

Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, a military spokesperson, told reporters they took the senator’s concerns seriously.

“We are ready to coordinate with Senator Marcos to obtain details and take appropriate actions to ensure our nation’s security,” Padilla told reporters on Wednesday.

Jonathan Malaya, director general of National Security Council, downplayed Senator Marcos’ statements, saying the government sees “no threat of any imminent attack” from China.

“We are not aware of any of the security threats she mentioned,” Malaya said.

Manila and China, according to Malaya, even “reaffirmed their commitment to de-escalating tensions in the West [Philippine] Sea” during a bilateral consultation meeting that was held in Manila on Tuesday, the same day that Senator Marcos posted her video.

Responding to the hypersonic missile allegations, China’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on Thursday saying China is “committed to peaceful development and defensive policy” and didn’t know where the senator got her information.

Froilan Calilung, a political analyst at the University of Santo Tomas, told This Week in Asia that Senator Marcos’ claim could have been motivated by concerns for her country’s safety given rising tensions in the South China Sea and Manila’s alliance with Washington.

“Her statement could be highlighting close military ties with the US,” Calilung said.

Senator Marcos is known to be close to Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte and her brother’s vice-president.

The Marcos family and Duterte clans became political allies for the 2022 election, but recent months have seen the families engaging in bitter public feuding, with Sara recently resigning from her positions in Marcos Jnr’s cabinet amid speculation she would take the role of opposition leader.

Former President Duterte was known for having a more China-friendly approach to foreign policy than his successor, Marcos Jnr, who has issued many strong pronouncements on the dispute in the South China Sea, promising to not cede “even one square inch” of Philippine territory to a foreign power.

Calilung said Imee’s warning might be meant to position herself as a “defender of national sovereignty and cautioning us against becoming too entangled with US-China tensions.”

“This may resonate with a domestic audience that is wary of foreign influence and military escalation,” Calilung explained.

Asked whether the senator’s claims about plans for hypersonic missile strikes are possible, Calilung said China has military capabilities but questioned whether Beijing would really contemplate such an attack since it would carry enormous political and economic risks.

“To dispel that it’s just a warmongering, the senator’s claims should be backed by concrete evidence. Otherwise, this will really create urgency and fear and in a way will sway public opinion against current policies. It’s a direct assault on the policies of her brother,” he said.

Calilung also noted that such an attack would almost certainly trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US, which obliges both sides to help each other in the event of an attack by an external power.

“Theoretically, I would say China could target the Philippines if it chooses to escalate militarily. That’s why it’s a matter of decision. The question here, will they do it? China knows that once they do it, it will be the end of it all. Meaning that will be a full-scale war. Is China prepared to risk everything?”

Jose Antonio Custodio, a defence analyst and fellow at the Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers, told This Week in Asia that Senator Marcos is fearmongering due to her pro-China position and alliance with the Dutertes.

Naturally, Custodio said, the President’s sister will question and cast doubt on the Philippine and US security relationship as it runs against her benefactor Beijing.

“As China is stealing our territory and exclusive economic zone, it’s already expected that they are targeting our existing military bases, so what else is new?” Custodio said.

“However, should they choose to launch an attack against EDCA sites and Philippine bases, they will be met with the full force of American and allied military responses which are totally superior to them and which will result in their defeat,” he argued.

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Defiant woman becomes China’s first female Arctic crab fisher, earns US$18,000 a month

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3266540/defiant-woman-becomes-chinas-first-female-arctic-crab-fisher-earns-us18000-month?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s first woman Arctic crab fisher, who works 12 hours a day on a “prison” ship for 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) a month, has been praised online for her resilience in the face of harsh conditions.

Liu Yifan, 30, from Guizhou province in southwestern China, left a secure job at a state-owned Chinese enterprise three years ago to join her husband in Tromsø, a port city in northern Norway.

She initially took up a hotel job but in January through the introduction of local friends, she decided to try crab fishing.

“The job allows me to wear cool uniforms, demonstrate my strength and it pays well, why wouldn’t I take it?” said Liu.

At first, she admitted being taken aback by the poor conditions and demanding work schedule.

The boat operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the job demands 12 hour shifts of its 30-strong fishing crew.

In a typical fortnight of work, they handle up to 200 tonnes of king crabs, working in a sub-zero temperatures sorting, chopping and packing.

At the end of a shift Liu said the tough conditions and strict work schedule left her battered and bruised.

A week after starting, Liu dislocated a finger but said there was no treatment available on board, so she had to keep working.

The vessels she works on are routinely likened to a “prison” isolated from dry land.

Liu also has to deal with racial discrimination.

She was told by an experienced colleague that she was the first Chinese woman to enter the industry.

Liu’s night shift manager constantly refers to her as “China girl” and greets her in Japanese and Thai.

At one point he even asked her: “Do you really eat dog meat?”

Liu confronted him directly: “Are you being racist? You’ve picked the wrong person. I won’t tolerate this.”

He then forced her to work overtime, suggesting she was slacking off and accused her of intentionally knocking over the crabs she had packed.

The bullying and abuse stopped when Liu threw a crab in his face and told him that surveillance cameras had recorded her completing her work.

In March, the fishing season finished and Liu shared her experiences on Xiaohongshu, China’s Instagram, where she quickly amassed 20,000 followers.

“Incredible! You are the coolest girl I’ve seen on the internet,” one online observer said.

At present, she is working at a travel agency and intends to return to crab fishing next season despite the difficulties because it pays well.

“Whenever difficulties come up, I ask myself, ‘What could be harder than crab fishing? If you can handle that, you can definitely handle anything else’,” she said.

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Hong Kong’s PLA garrison to take part in joint China-Laos military exercise

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3269187/hong-kongs-pla-garrison-take-part-joint-china-laos-military-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed

The People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong will take part in joint military drills between China and Laos this week, the fourth time it has taken part in an international exercise.

The drills held, called Friendship Shield 2024, will begin in Laos on Friday and run until July 18.

China’s defence ministry said the Hong Kong garrison would contribute the bulk of the PLA contingent adding that the exercise will help deepen trust and cooperation between the two militaries and “inject positive energy into regional peace and stability”.

The PLA garrison in Macau and a logistics department based in the southwestern region of Guangxi will also contribute troops.

It is the two countries’ second joint exercise following a drill in May last year in Laos involving the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command.

This month’s drill will involve more than 1,200 troops including more than 300 from China, according to state news agency Xinhua. All Chinese personnel had arrived in Laos by Tuesday to prepare for the exercise.

The two countries pledged to work more closely together on defence, including joint exercises and training, during a visit to Beijing by Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith in December 2022.

China has also been trying to shore up military ties with other countries in Southeast Asia. Last year, it held its first naval drills with Cambodia in March and also carried out nautical exercises with Singapore.

The Hong Kong garrison took part in its first international exercise in Malaysia in November 2016.

The four-day drill – focusing on joint humanitarian rescue operations – involved 300 troops, including 195 PLA representatives from the Central Military Commission, Southern Theatre Command and Hong Kong garrison.

It then took part in a joint maritime exercise focusing on search and rescue operations with the French frigate Vendémiaire when it made a port call to the city in March 2018.

The Hong Kong garrison also took part in the first joint exercise involving China, Malaysia and Thailand in October that year.

That 10-day drill was also the first overseas operation for the Macau garrison and involved a total of 1,225 personnel, 692 of them from China.

Some of the PLA forces involved assembled in Hong Kong and left from the city’s airport – the first time it had been used by the military.

The PLA garrisons in Hong Kong and Macau were established after their respective handovers from Britain in 1997 and Portugal in 1999.

Italian PM Meloni likely to visit China this month, the reward of cautious diplomacy

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3269134/italian-pm-meloni-likely-visit-china-month-reward-cautious-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed

Ten months after a planned China visit was scrapped, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is likely to land in Beijing later this month, the result of the two countries “letting diplomacy work” after Rome quit the Belt and Road Initiative, say analysts.

Sources with knowledge of the trip say Meloni is likely to visit China on July 29 and 30, with President Sergio Mattarella possibly following with a stopover in November.

Enterprise minister Adolfo Urso is now in Beijing to lay the groundwork for these resumed exchanges, intended to showcase Italy’s nuanced approach towards economic relations with China.

Observers said the right-wing leader had exercised careful diplomacy when she withdrew Italy from the initiative, not only avoiding destroying ties but also allowing the two sides to agree they could “go beyond” the trillion-dollar network.

According to Filippo Fasulo, senior research fellow at the Institute for International Political Studies’ Asia Centre, Italian leaders were frequent visitors to China before former US president Donald Trump’s hardline policies’ prompted a shift in Western countries’ relationships with Beijing.

In 2017, the year before a full-blown trade war erupted between the feuding superpowers, Mattarella had a week-long stay in China, while then-prime minister Paolo Gentiloni attended the landmark Belt and Road Forum.

Soon after, the West then began perceiving strong political ties with China as “sensitive”, with political events in Beijing – such as the party congress which saw President Xi Jinping’s re-election – further contributing to the notion, said Fasulo, who teaches at the Catholic University of Milan.

“The principal significance of [Meloni’s] trip is to ‘normalise’ and stabilise Italy-China relations after seven years on the roller coaster,” Fasulo said. “After premier Giuseppe Conte’s visit to the second forum in 2019 – a few weeks after signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) – no Italian head of the government or the state has visited.”

When Meloni and Xi met in November 2022 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, Rome called the talks “cordial”, sharing an all-smiles snapshot of the leaders. The talks led to Xi’s invitation for Meloni to visit Beijing.

A trip originally planned for last autumn may have been put on hold because of Rome’s then-impending withdrawal from the five-year agreement which expired in December, according to Fasulo.

“The trip was likely delayed because it was necessary first to solve the impasse on the [belt and road] … Having done that, the conditions were ready to restart bilateral meetings.

“Italy is now ready to have a stable [relationship] with China, being very much aware of the context of great power competition and economic security.”

Ties have indeed been polite, especially when viewed alongside the Italian leader’s previously unambiguous aversion to Chinese leadership. As sports minister, Meloni called for a boycott of the 2008 Olympics over Beijing’s policies in Tibet while advocating for an international mobilisation in favour of separatists.

Rome’s membership in the belt and road programme was “a serious mistake”, she once said.

Fasulo argued that Rome’s exit from the belt and road had not only led to “no retaliation” from Beijing, but even improvements to bilateral ties – the result of a “process of normalisation” pursued by Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who is also the foreign minister.

“[Rome] has been successful in promoting the relaunch of the strategic partnership signed in 2004 by Berlusconi’s government as a major framework for the bilateral relationship – this decision shows that Italy-China relations go beyond the [belt and road], did not start in 2019 and cannot be limited to the fate of the MOU,” Fasulo said.

The “global strategic partnership” between Rome and Beijing, launched by then-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and premier Wen Jiabao, was “more important than the silk road”, Tajani said last year.

“July will also be the time of the long-expected third plenum of the [Communist Party] that promises to spin new directions for China’s economy … It was not possible to delay [the trip] any more,” Fasulo said, adding that Meloni was also laying the groundwork for Mattarella’s expected return to China in autumn.

According to Enrico Fardella, associate professor at the University of Naples l’Orientale, Meloni focused on the Group of 7 meeting hosted by Italy in June so she could “travel to Beijing at the end of July with a stronger stance”.

The G7 summit – which focused on “de-risking” from China rather than “decoupling” – aligned with Meloni’s approach of maintaining strong economic ties with China even after Italy’s withdrawal from the belt and road, according to Fardella.

“The two sides wisely let diplomacy work in favour of a smooth and productive revision of bilateral relations ‘outside’ the [belt and road] framework,” said Fardella, who also directs the ChinaMed Project, a research platform developed by the University of Turin.

Fardella said Meloni’s subtle moves that pleased Beijing included welcoming a high-profile delegation led by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in April, offering muted recognition of the elections in Taipei in January and seemingly preventing parliamentarians from her Brothers of Italy party from attending new leader William Lai Ching-te’s inauguration.

Meloni would now focus on bilateral economic cooperation in key sectors, including clothing, chemicals, machinery and pharmaceuticals, with Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor’s potential investment in Italy set to be a crucial deal on the table, Fardella predicted.

“[Dongfeng] plans to set up a factory capable of producing over 100,000 hybrid and electric vehicles annually, leveraging Italy’s automotive legacy to serve the European market,” he said.

With the launch of its Voyah luxury division in Italy, China seeks to “enhance its production capabilities and market reach in the European automotive industry”, according to Fardella.

“Chinese companies are trying to move production within the European Union to bypass the emergence of EU tariffs addressing China’s car manufacturers – Xi’s trip to France and Hungary powerfully signalled this trend.”

According to Zhang Chi, an associate lecturer in international relations at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Meloni is intent on bolstering Rome’s economic ambitions while navigating the complexities of the EU’s China policies, which include the newly imposed 38 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

“Beijing has already shown signs of retaliatory measures against French imports, and Italy could face similar challenges,” she said, adding that, however, groundwork had been laid to set a positive tone for the visit.

“Meloni’s trip aims to manage and possibly limit Beijing’s retaliation, ensuring that Italy’s economic interests are safeguarded … [and] will likely include discussions on mitigating the impact of these tariffs and exploring ways to move forward,” Zhang said.

China in December lifted visa requirements for passport holders from Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia – a concession that is valid for a year. Zhang anticipates coming talks to build on the momentum of easing tension between Beijing and European states.

“For China, Meloni’s visit presents an opportunity to repair and enhance bilateral ties with Western countries, similar to its recent efforts with Australia which included diplomatic gestures such as offering pandas and announcing a visa-free policy,” she said.

Zhang said that while Rome’s departure from the Chinese-led silk road struck a blow to the latter’s image as being “globally welcomed”, Meloni’s administration worked to reason with Beijing on why bilateral interactions were being realigned: “to better fit Italy’s strategic priorities and mutual benefits”. Beijing apparently understood.

“While the state-level withdrawal marks a shift in national policy, many local governments and businesses in Italy continue to engage actively with their Chinese counterparts,” Zhang said. “Ongoing cooperation at the local level helps mitigate the broader impact of the [belt and road] exit.”

Italy’s moves represent a strategic realignment rather than a retreat from engagements with China, with which Meloni seeks a “productive relationship”, according to Zhang.

The foreign ministries of both China and Italy have been contacted for comment.

South China Sea: Manila demands US$1 million in damages from Beijing over June clash

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3269131/south-china-sea-philippines-demands-us1-million-damages-beijing-over-june-clash?utm_source=rss_feed

The Philippines is demanding 60 million pesos (US$1 million) in damages from China following their confrontation in the South China Sea last month, the Southeast Asian nation’s military chief, Romeo Brawner, said on Thursday.

China’s coastguard punctured Philippine boats and seized firearms during a June 17 clash in the disputed waters that led to a Filipino sailor losing a finger.

The compensation that the Southeast Asian nation is seeking is just for the property damage and does not yet cover the injury to the sailor, Brawner said during a briefing in Manila.

Meanwhile, Chinese and Philippine diplomats agreed to ease South China Sea tensions but stood firm on their nations’ claims during a meeting on Tuesday.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro had “frank and constructive” discussions at a regular bilateral meeting on the South China Sea in Manila, according to the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs. A similar meeting among senior diplomats was held in Shanghai in January.

Both sides “affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions” and also “recognised that there is a need to restore trust,” according to Manila’s statement. It noted a “substantial progress” in steps to manage the situation at sea while saying that “significant differences” with Beijing remain.

Philippines and Chinese vessels clashed in recent months despite a January agreement to ease conflict, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the bilateral mechanism to defuse tensions in one of the region’s flashpoints. Chinese vessels used water cannons on Philippine ships in the past months, damaging them and hurting their crew, while Beijing has maintained that its actions were lawful and professional.

Philippines navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad on Tuesday described the June 17 confrontation as the “most aggressive” action by Chinese forces in recent history.

Beijing’s sweeping claims have been met with strong resistance from Manila under President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, who has bolstered ties with US and Japan. Marcos said last week that Manila needs to do more than filing diplomatic protests against China following the clash.

Beijing and Manila also agreed on Tuesday to improve maritime communications, and will further discuss cooperation between their coastguards. The two nations also talked about possibly convening an academic forum on marine cooperation.

Self-styled China animal sleuths cash in on country’s growing passion for pets

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266251/self-styled-china-animal-sleuths-cash-countrys-growing-passion-pets?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s burgeoning population of pets has seen rising numbers of people on the mainland move into the unlikely business of animal investigations.

They call themselves pet detectives and their bread and butter is finding lost domesticated animals, mostly cats and dogs.

Almost exclusively self-employed, they promote their services on social media and e-commerce platforms.

Growing demand in recent years means many of them can now earn up to 30,000 yuan (US$4, 200) a month.

The Post takes a closer look at this unusual occupation.

While the notion of a pet detective might sound quaint, it can be a difficult job.

It takes particular qualities to sniff out a missing moggie or a disappeared dog.

Stamina and a decent level of physical fitness are a must because animals can cover a lot of ground, and they tend to hide in hard-to-find places.

Good eyesight, and, like any investigator, logical reasoning skills also come in handy.

A working knowledge of the technology used in modern-day investigations, such as thermal imaging cameras, is also useful.

Liu Wei, a practising pet detective, told the mainland media outlet Chuangyezuiqianxian that the equipment needed for the job costs 20,000 yuan (US$2,800).

Also, customers usually pay on the return of their pet, so the pressure is on to get a result.

Online searches using the key words “looking for cats and dogs” surged almost fourfold in the first half of this year, according to Xianyu, China’s largest used goods e-commerce platform, operated by Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post.

Pets have become a source of emotional support for an increasing number of people.

According to China’s Pet Industry White Paper 2023-2024, released by marketing company Petdata.cn, there were 52 million pet dogs and 70 million pet cats in China in 2023, an increase on the previous year.

The strong emotional attachment owners have to their pets can translate into a decent pay day for a pet detective who finds a much-loved missing four-legged friend.

Liu launched his business in 2012, long before it became fashionable.

At one point he thought of giving up because the financial returns were not great, but he carried on because he knows how much pet owners need his services.

Liu said the biggest sense of accomplishment comes when he sees a pet owner’s face when they are reunited with a missing companion.

This is especially true with elderly animal lovers: “I cannot describe how I feel at those moments,” Liu said.

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[Sport] Chinatown and Mission: Impossible screenwriter Robert Towne dies

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3g3dy6jdlpo

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang calls for nations to bridge ‘intelligence gap’ in AI

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3269127/chinese-premier-li-qiang-calls-nations-bridge-intelligence-gap-ai?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday called for more inclusive development of artificial intelligence, saying that many developing economies have been left behind.

He told the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai that the “intelligence gap” needs to be bridged. Li said nations should work together to foster a “fair and open” environment for AI development so that more countries can benefit from the emerging technology.

Li cited data suggesting that some 2.5 billion people in the world are still offline, and said many developing countries “have not really benefited from the development of artificial intelligence”.

“Artificial intelligence is the common wealth of mankind,” he said. “The Chinese people have always believed that true development is when everyone develops together.”

Li’s call came just days after the UN General Assembly adopted a China-sponsored resolution urging the international community to ensure that developing nations have equal opportunities to benefit from AI, and calling for a “free, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory” business environment for AI development.

The non-binding resolution – co-sponsored by more than 140 countries including the United States – also called for global cooperation to assist developing countries facing “unique challenges” and ensure “they will not be further left behind”.

Li on Thursday described the resolution as reflecting “China’s responsible attitude towards the development and governance of artificial intelligence”.

Speaking at the General Assembly on Monday, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said that a “fragmented approach towards AI, towards the digital technology, is not going to benefit anybody”.

“The unanimous adoption of the resolution indicates broad agreement among member states to enhance global AI governance through dialogue and cooperation, fully demonstrating China’s responsible attitude and leading role in AI development and governance.”

In his speech at the Shanghai conference, Li also warned of the challenges arising from AI, urging countries to deepen cooperation in AI governance and promote the establishment of an “international mechanism with universal participation” and “standard norms with broad consensus”.

“The risks brought by artificial intelligence are our common challenges. No country can stay out of it,” he said.

Given the rapid development of the emerging technology, countries also needed to ensure that it remained “safe, reliable and controllable”, Li said.

He said China had been an “important force” in the global development of AI and had offered “practical experience” for the global governance of AI.

“The development of AI is both a major opportunity for the world and a major global challenge. It is urgent for all countries to conduct in-depth discussions, build consensus, seize opportunities, and overcome challenges together,” he said.

“China is willing to work with all countries to promote AI to better serve global development, enhance human well-being, and move towards a better intelligent future together.

“Developing artificial intelligence is like setting sail on a vast ocean. The scenery ahead is exciting, but there will inevitably be storms along the way. As long as we firmly grasp the correct course, work together and help each other, we will surely reach a better place,” he added.

The UN resolution adopted on Monday followed an earlier one spearheaded by the US which was adopted in March and encouraged countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and monitor AI for potential risks.

It comes as Beijing is seeking to play a leading role in global AI governance, with its previous calls focused on lending a greater voice to developing economies.

In October, China proposed its own framework – known as the Global AI Governance Initiative – which called for equal rights on AI development for all countries and joint efforts to tackle the misuse of technologies by terrorists, among other things.

Speakers at the three-day Shanghai forum include Baidu co-founder, chairman and chief executive Robin Li Yanhong and Ant Group executive chairman and chief executive Eric Jing.

Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing looked forward to exchanging insights at the conference and to “build consensus and promote the healthy, safe and orderly development of AI”.

“The rapid development of AI technology in recent years brings a multitude of risks and challenges as well as enormous socioeconomic benefits. Global AI governance has become a major task for all countries,” she said.

“China advocates the principles of wide participation and consensus-based decision-making in global AI governance, and promotes broad international consensus based on full respect for differences in policies and practices of all countries.”

China worker takes tipping to new level at noodle shop with a heart

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/social-welfare/article/3266133/china-worker-takes-tipping-new-level-noodle-shop-heart?utm_source=rss_feed

Leaving a tip in a restaurant is not unusual, but one young construction worker in China had a special reason for doing so – and he took his cue from the owner of the establishment.

Zheng Liuzhuang ordered a bowl of noodles and a drink at a restaurant in southern China’s Foshan in May, according to a report in Zhejiang Daily.

When he had finished his meal, he paid 200 yuan (US$28) through the social media app WeChat and left although his bill was only 20 yuan.

The restaurant boss, Xu Yuliang, thought the customer had overpaid by accident by adding another zero, so he ran into the street to find him.

But Zheng told Xu he had intentionally overpaid after reading a poster on the restaurant’s door.

“If you have difficulties in your life and have no income, you can come here to have a free meal. If you become rich in the future, please do not forget to help those who need help,” it read.

The restaurant boss had been offering free food to people who could not afford to pay since he opened the outlet three years ago.

He said that when he was a migrant worker many years ago he lost all his money on one occasion and the boss of a small hardware store helped him out.

“He took me out of the dilemma of starving. I will not forget that for my whole life. So I want to do something to help those who are in times of difficulty,” Xu said.

Zheng, a 24-year-old construction worker, said he had read news reports of free meals for penniless people and decided to make contributions.

After his company learned of his charitable action at the restaurant, it gave him a certificate of merit, calling him a “positive-energy model”, in addition to some cash as rewards. He only kept the certificate and returned the money to his employer.

“This certificate which carries much significance is enough for me,” Zheng said.

“Zheng Liuzhuang’s donation is the recognition for my free-meal charity scheme. His behaviour made me feel warm in my heart,” Xu said.

The news received more than one million likes on mainland social media, including the Weibo and Douyin platforms.

“I salute both of you good-hearted people,” one online observer said.

“I hope this restaurant has a prosperous business and this young man succeeds in his career. They will have good karma,” said another.

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2 Chinese white dolphins wash up dead on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island; 31 such cases this year

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3269114/2-chinese-white-dolphins-wash-dead-hong-kongs-lantau-island-31-such-cases-year?utm_source=rss_feed

Two Chinese white dolphins, one of which was a newborn, have washed up dead on a beach on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, bringing the number of such cases this year to 31.

The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation said on Thursday it had received a report the day before over the remains found near Pui O’s Tin Hau Temple.

The group retrieved the carcasses to conduct autopsies and further analysis.

A foundation spokesman said the pair were discovered in proximity to each other.

The adult dolphin, measuring about 2.4 metres in length, was severely decomposed.

The discovery brought the number of Chinese white dolphin carcasses found in Hong Kong this year to 31.

Last month, the foundation also received a report of a deceased young dolphin found off the southwest coast of Lantau Island.

The group urged the public to report any suspected cases of stranded whales, sharks or other marine life by calling its 1823 hotline to provide details of the time and location, as well as photos.

It also appealed to residents to keep their own rubbish with them when going out for sea activities and to avoid using shampoo and shower gel on boats, as untreated chemicals could directly pollute the marine environment.

Is India sending a message to ‘China’s show’ as Narendra Modi skips SCO summit?

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3269029/india-sending-message-chinas-show-narendra-modi-skips-sco-summit?utm_source=rss_feed

As the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation convenes this week in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to use the forum to renew calls for a multipolar global order amid heightened tensions with Western nations.

The Central Asian economic and security alliance – established by China and Russia in 2001 – accounts for more than 40 per cent of the world’s population, and is on track to expand to 10 members this year with the addition of Belarus.

But while Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in another sign of deepening cooperation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to skip the meeting, sending his foreign minister in his place. Modi’s absence is being seen in some corners as a bid to play down the significance of the summit amid New Delhi’s efforts to strike a delicate balance in its foreign policy.

Zhang Baohui, an international relations professor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong who specialises in Asia-Pacific studies, said Modi’s no-show made it clear that India was distancing itself from the SCO.

India, which joined the group along with rival Pakistan in 2017, hosted the annual summit virtually last year, a move that was interpreted by many as India’s attempt to avoid direct interactions with China and Russia, both of which have strained relations with the West.

“A more likely cause could be due to India’s broader strategic realignment. It has been boosting its alignment with the West and weakening its relationship with the non-Western camp,” Zhang said. “This is especially apparent in India’s relations with the SCO, which is seen by the world as a non-Western political grouping largely influenced by China and Russia.”

Amit Ranjan, a research fellow with National University of Singapore’s Institute of South Asian studies, said Modi’s absence from the summit was likely due to busy domestic and travelling schedules.

Last month, the Indian leader was re-elected for a third term, but his party was reduced to a much narrower majority in parliament. Modi, who just returned to India from the Group of Seven summit in Italy, will travel to Russia next week to meet Putin.

Ranjan suggested that Modi may want to avoid “coming across” Xi at the SCO, as relations between their nations remain fraught since they last met on the sidelines of the Brics summit in South Africa last year.

Meanwhile, India has been seen to increasingly align with the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, while competing with Beijing for leadership of the Global South. The two Asian powers have also clashed over a long-standing border dispute.

“India has already known before joining that SCO is all China’s show,” Ranjan said.

“India’s foreign policy, it’s more based on its national interest … it may be like India feels that they are going to gain more [by] engaging with Japan or the US or Russia than [by] directly engaging with China.”

Liu Zongyi, secretary general of the China and South Asia Centre at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said India had little interest in improving relations with China, which were largely frozen because of their border dispute.

“[Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam] Jaishankar has made it clear that his priority will be to resolve border disputes with China … but China-India relations include many aspects, not just the border issues,” Liu said. “In this context, that the border issue cannot be completely resolved, we can totally still develop other relationships.”

Relations between the two countries took a major downturn after a deadly clash between their militaries in the Galwan Valley in 2020 – a disputed stretch of their shared border in the Himalayan region. The two nuclear-armed nations have since held more than 20 rounds of border talks with little progress.

At the same time, Beijing and New Delhi have yet to resume direct flights after a four-year halt since Covid-19 pandemic, and journalists from each country remain banned from the other.

Still, Ranjan sees some positives. He said Beijing’s recent appointment of Xu Feihong as the new ambassador to India, a position which had been left vacant for 18 months, signalled that both sides wanted to improve relations.

He said more diplomacy was required and would be best served by meetings between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s Jaishankar, to build a “conducive” environment for a leaders’ meeting later on.

“So the communication channels are there,” he said. “They have to engage at the lower levels … unless that starts, it’s very tough for two leaders to [meet].”

Jobless spike in China’s Shenzhen: ‘temporary blip’ or a chip at economic might?

https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3269049/jobless-spike-chinas-shenzhen-temporary-blip-or-chip-economic-might?utm_source=rss_feed

A noticeable spike in Shenzhen’s joblessness rate has provoked fresh concerns over China’s employment situation facing the nation’s biggest economic-driving regions, and analysts say Beijing may need to step in with substantial measures to revitalise business.

Bordering Hong Kong, the southern megacity known for its vibrant private economy and tech scene saw a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in newly registered unemployed residents in the first quarter of 2024.

And there had been a 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter increase from the last three months of 2023, according to newly released data from city-level authorities in charge of human resources and social security.

That comes out to a 40,221 drop in employment among Shenzhen’s total workforce, which included almost 12 million residents in 2022 – the last time the city released its local unemployment rate.

The new quarterly unemployment number excludes previously registered jobless people, and many layoffs go undocumented or unreported, leading to uncertainties surrounding Shenzhen’s jobless rate. The official tally of unemployed people gauges just a fraction of all joblessness.

Unemployment has become an aggravating issue clouding the outlook of the world’s second-largest economy against a patchy economic recovery. The national urban surveyed unemployment rate stood at 5 per cent in May, the same as the previous month and down 0.2 percentage points from a year prior.

An expert in Shenzhen, though, still called the unemployment rise a “temporary blip” in the city’s job situation.

“Shenzhen’s job market is open and dynamic. The city is a magnet for college graduates and job-hunters, and when many flock to the city, they push up the unemployment rate,” said Wang Mei, a senior researcher of public policy at the China Development Institute, a semi-official think tank in the city.

Wang admitted, though, that it usually takes time to land a satisfactory job, and that there are often mismatches between job requirements and the skill sets of jobseekers.

“Also, in China’s tech hub, Shenzhen’s jobs could be more impacted by technologies than other cities amid the advent of artificial intelligence … The transition to tech-driven development will see some jobs disappear before new opportunities emerge,” she said.

Other analysts point to the shifting employment landscape.

“Driven by digitalisation and a relocation of labour-intensive industries, the city’s service sector, including retail, now faces greater pressure in retaining jobs,” said Peng Peng, executive chairman at the Guangdong Society of Reform, a Guangzhou-based think tank.

The city’s service industry, which includes retailing, has historically been its largest employer, with a total workforce of 7 million in 2022, while manufacturing sector had 4.6 million jobs that year.

But lukewarm retail sales growth, up during the first five months of 2024 by a meagre 1.8 per cent, year on year, is a sign of the headwinds facing Shenzhen’s tertiary sector and jobs there.

Peng cautioned that the real unemployment situation on the ground in Shenzhen and across the country warrants more attention and action by authorities.

“There is a significant number of underemployed people,” Peng said.

There are concerns that China’s unemployment picture remains blurry, as only officially documented or surveyed jobless persons are tallied, fuelling long-standing questions as to whether figures are suppressed to gloss over the situation.

Beijing is pinning hopes that an economic growth rate of around 5 per cent in 2024 will create more jobs to help absorb consistently record-setting levels of university graduates, with 11 million joining an increasingly crowded market with furloughed and underemployed workers.

“The government should foster a more ideal business environment for private and foreign players,” Peng said.

Wang, of the China Development Institute, also called for policies to revitalise businesses to unleash their job-creation potential.

“The third plenum may see new pro-employment policies and new trials to be launched,” she said. “The private sector and foreign firms are expecting a boost from Beijing before they can create more job offers.”

Cute China girl, 2, thinks on-duty border guard father lives inside surveillance camera

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267317/cute-china-girl-2-thinks-duty-border-guard-father-lives-inside-surveillance-camera?utm_source=rss_feed

The story of a two-year-old girl in China who thought her border-guard father lived inside a surveillance camera has triggered an emotional reaction on mainland social media.

For about 300 days a year, Xuanxuan, who lives with her mother in central China’s Henan province, cannot be with her father, Wan Xuelong, because he is on duty in Yunnan province. southwestern China.

Instead, she talks to him through the surveillance camera installed in the yard of their rural home, which has a speaker and microphone.

Xuanxuan has become accustomed to talking to her father every day via the camera.

In video footage filmed by her mother, Xuanxuan can be seen running towards the camera shouting “daddy”, and telling him she wants a gift of the character Princess Elsa from the Disney film Frozen for her birthday.

On another day, Wan asks her via the camera, if her cough is better, and if she is afraid of needles. She answers “yes” to both questions.

The one heartbreaking question Xuanxuan most frequently asks via the camera is: “When will you be back?”

Her father tells her to be a good girl and listen to her mother, and that he will return home soon.

Wan is a border guard in Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, which borders Myanmar and Laos.

It is a potentially dangerous job as the responsibilities include watching and stopping the transport of illegal drugs.

He has been in the job for 12 years, and was awarded three third-class merit citations. He is a top sniper in the prefecture.

Wan says Xuanxuan thinks he lives in the surveillance camera, and will speak to it whenever she misses him.

“We live such a safe and stable life because some people are carrying the burden for us,” one person said on Weibo.

“It would be good if the border guards could be given more annual leave to get together with their family,” said another.

Xuanxuan’s story has resonated with other parents who work in different cities from their children.

A mother from southern China’s Guangdong province, said she and her husband, who work in the city away from their one-year-old son and their family who live in a rural area, used to talk to their son via the surveillance camera.

She said they once asked him, where daddy and mummy were, and he pointed at the camera. They then decided to take the three-hour train journey home every weekend to be with him.

The mainland had nine million so-called left-behind children in 2022, according to the 2023 China Rural Education Development Report by the China Foundation for Rural Development.

The number showed a significant decline from 22 million in 2012, after the introduction of policy solutions that increase migrant children’s medical care and education opportunities in cities.

China must avoid Europe’s mistakes and stand up against rising extremism

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3268831/china-must-avoid-europes-mistakes-and-stand-against-rising-extremism?utm_source=rss_feed

As many major world economies struggle, some people are turning to the far-right. Europe, which recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, has seen support for far-right parties growing across the continent. Meanwhile, ultranationalism is boiling over on Chinese social media amid an attack on a Japanese school bus in Suzhou last week.

The extremism is so worrying that Chinese tech companies such as Tencent, Baidu, NetEase, Douyin and Bilibili have clamped down on extreme nationalist comments on their platforms. As the world drifts further to the right, how far will China’s ultranationalism go?

On June 24, a man armed with a knife attacked a bus used by a Japanese school in Suzhou. Two Japanese citizens at the bus stop were injured while Hu Youping, a Chinese woman who intervened to stop the attack, later died from the injuries she sustained. Chinese authorities called the attack an “isolated incident”.

Chinese social media is increasingly filled with sentiments imbuing xenophobia with patriotism.

The construction of nationalism in contemporary China involves memories of national humiliation and suffering dating back to the Opium Wars. Here, the government assumes a paternal role, acting as the gatekeeper and final arbiter of social expectations.

One example is the contentious clause included in a draft amendment to Article 34 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law. The clause proposed fines and time in detention for wearing or forcing others to wear “clothing or symbols harmful to the spirit … or the feelings of the Chinese nation”. It was dropped from a revised draft last month after being deemed too subjective and open to misinterpretation.

In the era of social media, it is no surprise that patriotism has become a dependable source of internet traffic and profit. It can even pressure local governments to act on specific incidents. For instance, an advertisement celebrating the Lunar New Year in an underground tunnel in Nanning was removed in January after internet users claimed it contained elements resembling the Japanese rising sun flag.

That same month, a blogger posted a video saying red circular decorations at a shopping centre in Nanjing resembled the rising sun flag, leading to local police demanding the decorations be removed. In the wake of a powerful earthquake on Japan’s Noto peninsula on January 1, a Hainan TV anchor called the earthquake “retribution” on his personal Douyin account. The anchor was initially suspended for his inappropriate comments but was reinstated in February.

Such views might be in the minority but still resonate on the internet. Online voices can fuel the spread of extreme ideas despite being out of step with the majority, and this keyboard ultranationalism can have real-life consequences.

In August 2022, a young Chinese woman wearing a kimono was detained by police in Suzhou for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. A year later, a middle-aged woman in Chengdu confronted young people in cosplay costumes at a shopping centre, asserting that any patriot would despise them. The cosplayers were wearing outfits from Genshin Impact, a video game made by Shanghai-based studio miHoYo; one of them was injured after being shoved to the ground by the woman.

Last September, several young people wearing hanfu were mistaken for wearing kimono and ejected from a park in Wuhan. In April this year, two young women filming a dance video in Chongqing while wearing kimono were stopped by a group of elderly people and accused of being Japanese spies, leading to a physical altercation.

This is in addition to online ultranationalists accusing Chinese drinks giant Nongfu Spring of being pro-Japanese earlier this year. Under the banner of the moral high ground, extreme sentiments are being legitimised, politicising daily life.

The worst possible outcome of this overheated rhetoric has been realised. The attack in Suzhou took a life, and hatred continues to erupt on the internet.

I do not want to package my sorrow for Hu Youping in grand narratives of national righteousness. I see many Hu Youpings in everyday life, with ordinary people showing their utmost humanity in times of danger.

If this frenzy continues, its targets will go beyond foreigners. People tend towards more conservative beliefs in challenging economic times, blaming their struggles on those who look and sound different.

We must not repeat the mistakes of those in Europe who ignored the terrifying xenophobia of the 1930s and cheered on the Blackshirts while stoking the flames of hatred. It is time for the silent majority to stop being silent and say no to extremism.

China fears a South Korea-US nuclear pact to rein in Pyongyang: ex-Obama adviser

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3269044/china-fears-south-korea-us-nuclear-pact-rein-pyongyang-ex-obama-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed

The threat of the United States and South Korea agreeing to a Nato-style nuclear sharing arrangement could be used to pressure China to restrain North Korea from taking provocative actions, a leading US analyst said.

Gary Samore, a nuclear arms control expert at Brandeis University, said during a seminar in Seoul on Tuesday that recent steps taken by Washington and Seoul showed such an arrangement could become a reality.

In the face of growing North Korea’s missile threat, US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in April 2023 issued the “Washington Declaration”, aimed at bolstering nuclear deterrence and response capabilities on the Korean peninsula.

Following the declaration, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Korean counterpart Shin Won-sik announced a “revised Tailored Deterrence Strategy” in November 2023 involving more joint exercises including deployment of US strategic assets such as nuclear-capable aircraft and submarines.

A major part of the strategy was the “temporary” deployment of US nuclear delivery systems to the South for exercises and the two allies’ integration of conventional and nuclear capabilities, Samore said.

This would involve planning and exercises to combine conventional South Korean forces with US nuclear operations, such as South Korean fighter aircraft escorts to accompany US strategic bombers in Korean airspace, he added.

“These measures are steps towards Nato-style nuclear sharing, which would involve permanent deployment of US nuclear weapons in South Korea and arrangements for the US to authorise the release of nuclear weapons for delivery by South Korean nuclear-capable aircraft in conflict”, said Samore, who served as former president Barack Obama’s White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction.

In the event of heightened threats from the North, the Biden administration might be prepared to redeploy US nuclear forces in the South.

“The implicit threat that the US and South Korea may agree to Nato-type nuclear sharing and deployment could be used to pressure China to restrain North Korea from taking actions” as Beijing would see it as a threat to its security interests, said Samore, who referred to an article he has written on the issue in his seminar presentation.

Under the Nato concept, member states that do not have nuclear weapons are allowed to be involved in their use by the alliance, including planning and delivery.

However, Chang Yong-Seok, a senior researcher at the Seoul National University Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, said it was doubtful that China would feel pressured by the threat of such a Washington-Seoul agreement on the Korean peninsula.

“China would be reluctant to use its weakening leverage over North Korea when Pyongyang, emboldened by its new relationships with Moscow, would be more hesitant to listen to its traditional ally”, Chang told This Week in Asia.

“If such a scenario threatens to become a reality, it would be more likely the South that would come under pressure from Beijing. This pressure would be much greater than the time when the South accepted THAAD”, he said, referring to the deployment of the highly sophisticated US anti-missile defence system in South Korea in 2017, which prompted retaliatory economic measures by Beijing against Seoul.

Samore acknowledged the obstacles to enhanced nuclear deterrence, noting the Biden administration has not supported it due to military and political reasons.

“The US military does not like the idea of stationing nuclear weapons in South Korea” as these weapons could be a target for North Korean attacks, Samore said via Zoom in response to a panellist’s question during the seminar.

Such a move would be “very controversial” and trigger heated debates among South Koreans, Samore said. It would also be “strongly opposed” by China and complicate the US-South Korean relationship, he added.

Chang said it was doubtful whether the deployment of US nuclear weapons in the South would be “tactically realistic”, particularly when such weapons could be delivered from US submarines.

Samore said the Ukraine war has “lowered the nuclear threshold” as Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and threatened to use them to discourage Nato’s intervention in Ukraine, he said.

China was pursuing an “unprecedented” nuclear build-up including new strategic bombers, a more advanced nuclear-armed submarine and three new missile bases with more than 300 silos for solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles with multiple re-entry vehicles, he said.

It has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and would “probably have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030”, Samore said, citing the US Department of Defence.

Like Russia, China was also pursuing hypersonic re-entry vehicles, anti-satellite weapons, and strategic cyber operations, he added.

“Some analysts fear that China’s nuclear build-up will make it more confident that it can deter US intervention in the face of a [mainland] Chinese invasion of Taiwan or increase the risk that a US-China confrontation over Taiwan will escalate to nuclear use”, he said.

Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province that should be reintegrated into mainland control, by force if necessary. While many nations, including the US, do not officially acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state, they oppose any use of force to alter the existing status quo.

As US-China tensions over Taiwan have increased, mainland China viewed North Korea as a “strategic asset to tie down US forces” in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, Samore said.

“At the same time, China remains wary that North Korean provocations could result in the US deploying additional military assets in the Far East and strengthening trilateral security cooperation with South Korea and Japan.”

More visa measures expected after non-Chinese mainland permit for Hong Kong permanent residents: John Lee

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3269102/more-visa-measures-expected-after-non-chinese-mainland-permit-hong-kong-permanent-residents-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed

Hong Kong’s leader has revealed that “more steps” in visa liberalisation measures could be coming after Beijing’s new five-year travel permit for the city’s 270,000 permanent residents holding foreign passports to enter the mainland, which he described as a “big policy breakthrough”.

The announcement by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was made on Thursday at the China Conference, which is organised by the South China Morning Post.

On July 1, the National Immigration Administration said a new type of five-year, multi-entry travel permit would be introduced for Hong Kong’s non-Chinese nationals with permanent residency.

“I would like to highlight that it is actually a big policy breakthrough,” Lee said. “It may be a step in your convenience, but it is a big step in making that breakthrough. It is, in fact, a second step.”

Lee said the “first step” launched last October was a fast track application process for multiple-entry visas for travelling to the mainland available to foreign employees of locally registered companies. The initiative was introduced in his second Policy Address.

“That’s step one and now we have step two and there will be more steps coming. And I hope I will deliver more to you in due course,” Lee said.

The business community has described the new travel permit initiative as a first step as there have been calls for seamless travel to other mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area for non permanent residents as well.

China’s secondary property sales surge after policy incentives, as buyers eschew new flats

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3269048/chinas-secondary-property-sales-surge-after-policy-incentives-buyers-eschew-new-flats?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s secondary housing market showed signs of recovery as sales in major cities jumped to a 14-month high following supportive policy measures. But the primary market remains weak amid buyer caution about indebted developers’ ability to deliver homes.

Transactions of pre-owned homes in 14 tracked Chinese cities rose 11.2 per cent month on month and 27.9 per cent year on year to 119,470 units in June, the highest since May 2023, according to a report on Wednesday from Zhuge Real Estate Data Research Centre.

The positive figures come six weeks after China announced a historic rescue plan for the beleaguered sector, including a 300 billion yuan (US$41.3 billion) relending facility to help local governments buy unsold homes from distressed developers to clear excess inventory.

However, a report from China Index Academy on Monday showed that the volume of new home sales in 100 cities for the first half of the year fell 40 per cent year on year. Transaction volume in June dropped 20 per cent compared with the same period in 2023, although the decline narrowed by 10 percentage points versus May.

Three tier-one cities – Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – saw rebounds in the secondary market in June, according to Zhuge.

In Shanghai, 26,374 lived-in homes changed hands last month, a 48.9 per cent jump from May and a 114.2 per cent increase from a year earlier, the agency said.

Shenzhen’s second-hand sales increased 2 per cent month on month and 74.1 per cent year on year to 4,239 deals.

Beijing, the last tier-one city to ease housing rules, recorded 14,987 lived-in home transactions last month, an increase of 12 per cent month on month and 29 per cent year on year.

The agency did not track China’s other tier-one city, Guangzhou, in southern Guangdong province.

All four tier-one cities have relaxed home-purchase restrictions and lowered mortgage rates to pull buyers back into the market.

Listings of pre-owned homes in June increased 3.7 per cent compared with May and 38.7 per cent compared with a year ago to 2.31 million units, according to Zhuge.

Sales of second-hand homes expanded to account for 64.5 per cent of total home transactions in 25 major Chinese cities during the first five months of the year, compared with 55.6 per cent in 2023, the China Index Academy report said.

“Sales in the secondary market are outperforming the primary market, as people tend to purchase existing homes rather than new homes on concerns about delivery of homes by developers suffering liquidity problems,” said Meng Xinzeng, an analyst with China Index Academy.

Aggressive pricing by homeowners hoping to sell their properties quickly also boosted the secondary market. “Homeowners are usually more flexible to adjust asking prices, and they offer bigger discounts to lure buyers,” Meng said.

The year-on-year change in property sales value will gradually improve in the second half of 2024, according to Nomura analysts. They expect to see single-digit declines given the low base last year and the easing measures announced in May, according to a research note on Tuesday.

Still, they warned that a recovery in prices for both primary and secondary homes will be a key to determining whether “a meaningful sector recovery is really taking place”.

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China to set annual salary cap on finance sector amid common prosperity push, sources say

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3269000/china-set-annual-salary-cap-finance-sector-amid-common-prosperity-push-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed

China plans to cap the annual salaries of financial workers at around 3 million yuan (US$412,460), as the government doubles down on its campaign to eradicate extravagance and hedonism from the industry and narrow the wealth gap amid a persistent downturn in economic growth, according to people familiar with the matter.

The limit will be applied to all state-backed brokerages, mutual fund firms and banks, except financial institutions backed by private investors, the sources said, adding that the information is not meant to be made public.

The measure will be applied retroactively, meaning those who earned more than 3 million yuan over the past few years will probably have to return the excess money to their companies, the sources said.

The move is the latest in a series of steps to align with President Xi Jinping’s initiative of common prosperity, which stresses even wealth distribution at a time when the nation is facing economic headwinds.

The financial industry, which is seen as elite in China, has come in the cross hairs of top policymakers since a young trader at China International Capital Corp in 2022 flaunted his salary on social media, drawing the ire of the public. This was swiftly followed by a slew of investigations into corruption cases involving senior regulators and executives.

“The financial industry hasn’t done much to contribute to the real economy in recent years and the industry’s image isn’t that good among the public,” said Dai Ming, a fund manager at Huichen Asset Management in Shanghai.

The pay cap may also have something to do with the fiscal stress facing the government, which is seeking to diversify revenue sources amid a decline in tax collections and land sales, Dai added.

A clutch of Chinese listed companies said last month that they may have to make tax payments dating back from three decades ago, with the state tax bureau subsequently denying that it was taking retroactive action.

Some big financial companies, including top mutual-fund firms, have stepped up scrutiny of expense reimbursements as these are used as a covert form of salary payments to circumvent regulatory oversight, according to one source.

Some big brokerages have already worked out measures to implement the salary cap, while the rest have no plans in place yet, said another source.

While Xi has stressed the significance of the financial industry, which he wants to build into a global powerhouse, the sector has come under increased regulatory surveillance in recent years as part of the Communist Party’s anti-corruption drive.

More than 30 officials from the industry have been placed under investigation this year, with the chief of the Jiangsu province branch of the stock market regulator being the latest. In 2023, at least 101 officials were investigated, including Liu Liange, former chairman of Bank of China, and Li Xiaopeng, former chairman of China Everbright Group.

Apart from the government crackdown, the shrinking profitability of the financial industry, which has been battered by a three-year bear market and a slumping property market, has also prompted companies to tighten their budgets and refrain from doling out hefty pay increases and bonuses.

The brokerage industry endured a second straight year of pay cuts in 2023, with such reductions at the top 10 companies ranging from 1.2 per cent to 27 per cent, according to data compiled by the Post and Wind Information.

The average wages at Citic Securities, China’s biggest brokerage, fell by 5.3 per cent to 792,000 yuan last year, while the pay of its chairman Zhang Youjun dropped to 5.05 million yuan from 5.6 million yuan the previous year, according to data compiled by Wind and the company’s annual reports.

The first-quarter profit of 51 publicly traded Chinese brokerages fell by an average 23 per cent from a year earlier as revenue decreased from the investment banking business, while the net incomes of 37 listed banks slipped 0.7 per cent on shrinking net-interest margins, according to brokerage reports.

The outlook for the financial industry may not improve immediately, as the rebound in the yuan-denominated stock market falters and the downturn in home prices continues amid a patchy economic recovery.

The latest official data showed that China’s manufacturing industry shrank for a second consecutive month in June, highlighting that more easing measures will be needed to revive growth.

“Judging from the public’s perspective, the pay cut and cap is justified and reasonable,” said Wang Chen, a partner at Xufunds Investment Management in Shanghai.

“We’ve seen a constant decline in the profit margins of the financial industry in recent years, so the industry salary should also return to the social average level, underscoring equality in society.”

Robert Towne, Oscar-winning screenwriter of ‘Chinatown,’ dies at 89

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/07/03/robert-towne-film-chinatown-dies/2024-07-03T18:19:12.215Z

Robert Towne, a screenwriter whose mastery of dialogue and insightful storytelling helped define the New Hollywood wave in the 1970s that included the Oscar-winning “Chinatown,” and who also built a reputation as a “script doctor” to rescue troubled projects, died July 1 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 89.

His publicist, Carri McClure, confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause.

With a string of films in the mid-1970s, Mr. Towne emerged as one of the major voices in the New Hollywood genre that borrowed from the traditions of French cinema with tightly focused plots and deep explorations of characters, especially their flaws and contradictions.

The emphasis on intimacy and idiosyncrasies gave rise to a generation of actors such as Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Dustin Hoffman and Diane Keaton, and directors including Steven Spielberg and Peter Bogdanovich. Mr. Towne’s work — often rich in pitch-perfect dialogue and soul-searching vignettes — was ideal for the times.

“A movie, I think, is really only four or five moments between two people; the rest of it exists to give those moments their impact and resonance,” he once said. “The script exists for that. Everything does.”

He received Oscar nominations for best screenwriting in two films directed by Hal Ashby: “The Last Detail” (1973), in which Mr. Towne captures the cussing and rule-breaking of Navy sailors (Nicholson and Otis Young) bringing one of their own (Randy Quaid) to the brig; and “Shampoo” (1975), with the flirty and flighty ramblings of an oversexed L.A. hairdresser played by Warren Beatty, a co-writer on the script.

In between came Mr. Towne’s Academy Award in 1974 for director Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown,” a parable of greed and corruption set in Depression-era Los Angeles starring Nicholson as a private eye, J.J. “Jake” Gittes. The story involves a scheme to control the city’s water supply — with the water commissioner killed in the process.

A dark subplot takes shape as Gittes discovers that the commissioner’s wife, Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), was raped by her father (played by John Huston) and gave birth to a daughter. In the final scene, Evelyn is fatally shot and her father takes the girl. Gittes watches helplessly.

“Forget it, Jake,” he is told by his partner Lawrence Walsh (Joe Mantell), “it’s Chinatown.” The line became enshrined in filmmaking lore as pithy commentary on fate and indifference. Mr. Towne described “Chinatown” as an allusion to a “state of mind,” like his native Los Angeles, in which nothing is as it seems.

“It’s a city that’s so illusory,” he told the Associated Press in a 2006 interview. “It’s the westernmost west of America. It’s a sort of place of last resort. It’s a place where, in a word, people go to make their dreams come true. And they’re forever disappointed.”

Yet the pitiless ending in “Chinatown” was not in Mr. Towne’s original script. He had Evelyn killing her father to bring some justice. Polanski pushed for a rewrite. Evelyn, he suggested, should be killed — which some film historians interpreted as echoing the pain Polanski endured after his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, was among those murdered by followers of cult leader Charles Manson in 1969.

Polanski and Mr. Towne haggled over the screenplay for two months. (In the 2020 book “The Big Goodbye: ‘Chinatown’ and the Last Years of Hollywood,” author Sam Wasson asserted that Towne was helped by ghostwriter Edward Taylor, a former college roommate. The claim has never been substantiated.)

In the end, Polanski had the finale to “Chinatown” he wanted. “We fought every day,” Mr. Towne recalled, “over everything.”

Directors knew that Mr. Towne’s talent came with baggage. He sailed past deadlines and could fiercely resist proposed changes and edits, even though that was often necessary. He was known for turning in scripts twice the length of the normal 125-page range for a feature film. The original “Chinatown” script was 180 pages, Wasson wrote in “The Big Goodbye.”

Still, Mr. Towne was considered Hollywood’s Mr. Fix It during crunch times. Directors, producers and even actors reached out to him for help. Before filming “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967), Mr. Towne was asked by co-star Beatty to look over the screenplay by Robert Benton and David Newman.

Mr. Towne later said he cut scenes exploring a ménage à trois between the outlaw couple and W.D. Jones, a protégé.

Mr. Towne was brought in — sometimes uncredited — on more than a dozen other films including the antiwar drama “Drive, He Said” (1971) directed by Nicholson, and the blockbuster “The Godfather” (1972), helping with a pivotal scene of generational power between Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) and his father, Vito (Marlon Brando.)

“And then, giving credit where it’s due, I’d like to thank Bob Towne, who wrote the very beautiful scene between Marlon and Al Pacino in the garden,” Francis Ford Coppola said in his Academy Award speech in 1973. “That was Bob Towne’s scene.”

Began in television

Mr. Towne was born as Robert Bertram Schwartz in Los Angeles on Nov. 23, 1934. His father started a successful real estate company and changed the family name to Towne, later moving the family from San Pedro, Calif., to affluent Palos Verdes, Calif. His mother was a homemaker.

He studied philosophy and English at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., graduating in 1956. At an outside acting class, he met Nicholson and they became friends.

Mr. Towne’s first writing jobs were for television in shows such as the sci-fi compilation “The Outer Limits,” the spy series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E” and “The Lloyd Bridges Show.” Mr. Towne found his way into movies via the low-budget studio of director Roger Corman. In Corman’s 1960 apocalyptic drama “The Last Woman on Earth,” Mr. Towne wrote the screenplay and co-starred as one of three people left on the planet.

Mr. Towne had planned to write and direct a “Chinatown” sequel, “The Two Jakes,” with Nicholson reprising the role of Gittes in a story about intrigue during the boom years in Los Angeles after World War II. The project, however, was shelved amid feuds between Mr. Towne, Nicholson and producer Robert Evans. (“The Two Jakes” was released in 1990, directed by Nicholson.)

After Hollywood studios and producers increasingly demanded stricter adherence to budgets and timetables, Mr. Towne struggled to recapture his 1970s glory.

He turned to directing with “Personal Best,” a 1982 box-office flop about track athletes. Mr. Towne also spent years writing “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” (1984), but was disappointed during the prerelease screenings. He asked director Hugh Hudson to have his screenwriting credit renamed to P.H. Vazak, a reference to his Hungarian sheepdog. To his surprise, the “Greystoke” screenplay received an Oscar nomination.

Mr. Towne directed several more films, including the 1988 thriller “Tequila Sunrise” starring Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, and the love triangle drama “Ask the Dust” (2006). Mr. Towne was part of the script-writing team on the first two films in the Mission: Impossible franchise starring Tom Cruise.

Mr. Towne first met Cruise while working on the script for the 1990 car racing film “Days of Thunder.” In one scene, the crew chief (Robert Duvall) schools Cruise’s character, who complained about a rival driver during a race.

“He didn’t slam into you, he didn’t bump you, he didn’t nudge you. He rubbed you,” the crew chief says in a segment that became part of racecar jargon.

“And rubbin’, son, is racin’.”

Mr. Towne’s marriage to actress Julie Payne ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, the former Luisa Gaule; two daughters, one from each marriage; and a brother.

Mr. Towne said the idea for “Chinatown” was partly inspired by a book from the 1940s that described the politics and disputes over water in the region.

“And I thought, ‘Why not do a picture about a crime that’s right out in front of everybody?’” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “Instead of a jewel-encrusted falcon, make it something as prevalent as water faucets, and make a conspiracy out of that.”

China is not going to cause World War III

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3268807/china-not-going-cause-world-war-iii?utm_source=rss_feed

Fears about World War III emerging have long captivated the dark, conspiracy theorist corners of cyberspace but have rarely entered the realm of official foreign policy communication. However, in recent months there has been an uptick in officials voicing concerns about the potential for World War III. Just last week, New Zealand’s foreign minister Winston Peters said, “We’re going through the pre-second world war experience, utterly unprepared, way out of time – disastrous”.

Part of the impetus for this growing fear of World War III erupting has been Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been using the threat of a global conflict as a rhetorical inflection point for some time to garner more support from the West for Ukraine’s fight against Russian expansionism. This has been abetted by the blossoming Sino-Russian partnership and Russia’s recent mutual defence agreement with North Korea, both of which illustrate the expanding divide that is emerging internationally.

However, the question as to whether these developments signal that we are on a path to World War III is difficult to answer, and the Manichean arguments put forth by officials so far do the complexity of the issue a disservice. Using history as an analytical framework to assess current issues is popular but also fraught with limitations. No two periods are exactly alike. The cases of World War I and World War II offer limited value when examining the current global crisis.

World War I, for example, showed the danger of rampant popular nationalism. While the leaders of the central powers have been much criticised, in reality, all parties involved were heavily constrained by the growing nationalistic fervour in their countries that made rapprochement politically untenable. In an exchange between Kaiser Wilhelm II and Tsar Nicholas II in the days before their countries declared war on each other, both leaders expressed a desire for peace but by the end of the exchange the kaiser stated that he had “gone to the utmost limits of the possible in [his] efforts to save peace”.

Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger said nations were caught in a “doomsday machine” at the onset of World War I, referring to the network of interlocking alliances and military mobilisation timetables.

World War II showed the danger of expansionist powers – in this case, Nazi Germany and imperial Japan – driven by messianic ideologies built on the back of racism. Both Nazi Germany and imperial Japan saw expansion as their divine right and they used this to justify the truly horrific means they employed in attempting to fulfil their perceived national destinies.

World War II has recently become an allegory in the West as some point to the failure of appeasement towards Nazi Germany as a lesson that needs to be remembered in the context of Russia and, to a lesser extent, China. The dangers of appeasing revisionist powers was one of the main themes emanating from the 2024 Munich Security Conference.

However, in the current setting, there does not appear to be anywhere near the same levels of nationalism as was experienced in World War I and while Russia has been expansionist and China has been more assertive, neither appears to be anywhere near as blindly driven by ideology as Germany and Japan were in World War II.

It is also a massive leap of faith to figure that China would be willing to engage with Russia and others in a global conflict against the West, particularly when the West, as an aggregate, is superior in terms of power. The mutual benefit of the growing Sino-Russian relationship, at this stage, remains mostly geopolitical – a united front to challenge the Western-led international order.

This is not to say that recent trends are not concerning, because they are. The hope that economic interdependence would engender a peaceful and stable international environment has proved to be naive.

China, given its size, is undoubtedly the key actor at the heart of the growing World War III discourse. However, it is hard to identify what China wants. Perhaps the Communist Party does not even know. While China has a problem with growing nationalism at home, this is a far more defensive style of nationalism than the expansionist kind that defined previous world wars. Above all, China wants international respect and a world system which, in its eyes, is fairer and allows for a level of Chinese exceptionalism.

Equating China with Putin’s Russia or with any historical examples of rising, expansionist powers, is a slippery slope that leads to naturally sensationalist conclusions. A more fruitful starting point would be to treat China as its own entity with unique domestic and international constraints and opportunities.

Furthermore, buying into World War III rhetoric distracts leaders and officials from a far clearer global existential threat: climate change. The macro-securitisation of the threat of Russia and China has notably shifted the focus away from climate change and is precipitating the emergence of initiatives designed by countries to contain or counter each other.

The greatest threat to international politics is not the rise of revisionist powers but the growing belief on both sides that the other is evil and must be stopped. Such a twisted mirror image is hard to walk back from when it comes to dominate the views of leaders and officials. This is why we should be concerned about the growing use of World War III in leaders’ rhetoric.

China science body lists ‘digital humans’ and optical chips among key challenges

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3269041/china-science-body-lists-digital-humans-and-optical-chips-among-key-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed

“Digital humans”, optical chips, internet satellites and deep-sea power stations have been identified as some of the biggest challenges in Chinese science, engineering and industry last year.

They are among a list of 30 areas that got the most attention from research and industry groups in China.

The annual list – which also includes high-performance graphics processing units and future space exploration tools – was released by the government-funded China Association for Science and Technology, or CAST, on Tuesday.

Research areas often see significant progress after they appear on CAST’s annual lists, with some even getting resolved within a year or two of being highlighted.

Among the 10 key science challenges is research into “digital humans” and robots with both intelligence and emotions – an area the government has identified as a source of economic growth for the country.

Improving the efficiency and sustainability of coal power by pairing plants with hydrogen production is also on the list of science challenges, along with developing efficient ammonia-hydrogen-based internal combustion engines with near-zero emissions.

There are also bigger picture research areas, like trying to discover the biological basis behind how plants use light at high efficiencies, and if fossils of ancient humans found in China are the ancestors of modern Chinese.

The top 10 engineering and technical challenges include research into developing deep-sea platforms for power generation, the reliability of high arch dams in earthquake-prone areas, and improving autonomous engineering software.

Developing technology and theories to control the quality of large-size semiconductor silicon single crystals – which could improve the efficiency and power of advanced semiconductors like memory chips and photovoltaic cells – is also on the list.

The engineering section also includes brain-computer interfaces, which China and the US began testing on humans this year, and research into detection spacecraft for “ice giant” planets like Neptune, which Nasa has also identified as a priority research area.

Industrial technology challenges make up the final 10 areas on the list and include green manufacturing of drugs through precision chemistry and using clean energy to make low-carbon iron.

Also highlighted is the development of “independent and controllable” high-performance GPU chips for advanced computing, and developing high-speed and high-capacity optical transmission technology under current chip limitations that could be used for telecoms and the internet.

The application of cloud network technology for internet satellites, which can improve efficiency and data management, is also identified as a key area of focus.

There has been significant progress made on the issues highlighted by CAST in last year’s list – presented as a list of questions – especially on industrial technology development.

One question was how carbon fibre composite materials could be integrated into ultra-high-speed trains. China last month unveiled the world’s first carbon fibre composite passenger train.

Another question on how large-scale energy bases could be developed in China’s desert areas was addressed when a 16 million-kilowatt wind and solar plant opened in the Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia, at the end of last year.

At the start of this year, the Jiangsu province Department of Ecology and Environment said a method had been developed to remove nearly 30 pollutants from waste salt to meet quality standards, addressing another challenge on last year’s list.

Research has also advanced on some of the large-scale challenges from last year, such as how crops can be developed to adapt to soil changes brought on by climate change, and the development of sustainable agriculture technology.