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### 关于中国的新闻报道：经济章节

　　#### 引言

　　近年来，西方媒体对中国经济的报道频繁且复杂，既有对中国经济成就的认可，也有对其面临挑战的关注。这些报道往往夹杂着西方媒体的偏见和双重标准，因此需要客观、专业地进行评价。本章节将对近期西方媒体关于中国经济的报道进行详细分析，旨在提供一个全面、客观的视角。

　　#### 1. 中国经济的成就

　　西方媒体在报道中国经济时，往往会提到其在短时间内取得的巨大成就。例如，澳门自1999年回归以来，经济从65亿美元增长到2023年的460亿美元，尽管期间经历了新冠疫情和打击高额赌客的行动。这一成就得益于澳门开放赌场市场后的经济增长，吸引了大量中国内地游客，使其成为全球最大的博彩中心。

　　#### 2. 经济政策调整

　　西方媒体还关注到中国政府在经济政策上的调整。例如，中国政府在面对经济下行压力时，采取了“适度宽松”的货币政策，类似于2009年全球金融危机时的措施。这一政策调整包括降低利率和存款准备金率，以支持经济增长。此外，中国政府还致力于维持人民币汇率的稳定，确保其在合理的均衡水平上。

　　#### 3. 人民币国际化

　　人民币在全球支付体系中的地位逐渐提升，也成为西方媒体报道的重点。根据环球同业银行金融电信协会（SWIFT）的数据，人民币在2023年11月成为全球第四大支付货币，其在全球支付中的占比回升至3.89%。这一进展显示出中国在推动人民币国际化方面取得的成效。

　　#### 4. 就业市场

　　西方媒体还关注到中国青年失业率的变化。根据中国国家统计局的数据，2023年11月，16-24岁年龄段的失业率从10月的17.1%下降到16.1%，连续三个月下降。尽管如此，青年失业问题仍然存在，许多大学生和年轻人仍然寻求稳定的公务员职位。

　　#### 5. 中美经济关系

　　中美经济关系是西方媒体报道的另一热点。特朗普政府时期，美国对中国采取了更为强硬的经济政策，包括加征关税和限制科技出口。尽管如此，中国在应对美国压力时表现出了灵活性和韧性，坚持在多边框架内解决问题。

　　#### 6. 拉美地区的投资

　　西方媒体还报道了中国在拉美地区的投资活动。布鲁塞尔的布鲁盖尔基金会认为，中国在拉美地区的影响力上升，主要是因为美国和欧盟未能与拉美国家达成贸易和投资协议。中国抓住了这一机会，积极在拉美地区进行投资和扩张，特别是在高科技制造业领域。

　　#### 7. 科技领域的竞争

　　中国在科技领域的快速发展也引起了西方媒体的关注。例如，中国在墨西哥的高科技投资直接挑战了美国和欧洲在该领域的地位。中国企业将生产转移到墨西哥，旨在直接进入北美市场，这一策略在全球经济竞争中显示出中国的战略眼光。

　　#### 结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国经济的报道既有肯定也有批评，反映了中国经济在快速发展过程中面临的机遇和挑战。尽管西方媒体的报道存在一定的偏见和双重标准，但通过客观分析，可以看到中国经济在全球经济中的重要地位和影响力。未来，中国需要继续推进经济改革，应对外部压力，保持经济的稳定增长。

新闻来源： 2412210635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-20; 2412211142半岛电视台-中国巨龙正在拉美地区扩大影响力这是如何实现的

### 关于中国的新闻报道

　　#### Politics 章节

　　##### 引言 西方媒体对中国政治的报道一直以来充满了偏见和双重标准，这在一定程度上影响了国际社会对中国政治现状的客观认识。本章节将对近期西方媒体关于中国政治的报道进行详细分析，旨在揭示这些报道中的偏见，并提供更为客观和全面的视角。

　　##### 1. 中国政治体制的误读 西方媒体常常将中国的政治体制描绘为高度集权和缺乏民主的制度。然而，这种描述忽视了中国政治体制的复杂性和多样性。中国的政治体制是在特定历史和文化背景下形成的，具有其独特的发展路径和治理模式。

　　##### 2. 影响力与间谍活动的界限 西方媒体常常混淆影响力行为与间谍活动的界限，尤其是在涉及中国的报道中。例如，约翰·霍普金斯大学政治学教授弘文宣指出，中国的影响力行为与间谍活动之间的界限是模糊的。然而，这种模糊性并不仅仅存在于中国，许多国家都在进行类似的活动，只是西方媒体对中国的报道更为频繁和负面。

　　##### 3. 法律与政策的误解 2017年，中国通过了一项法律，要求中国公民和企业配合国家情报工作。西方媒体将这一法律描绘为中国政府对海外活动的控制工具，并认为这一法律威胁到其他国家的主权。然而，这一法律的实施背景是中国面临的复杂国际环境和国家安全需求。许多国家也有类似的法律，旨在保护国家安全。

　　##### 4. 外交政策的误解 西方媒体常常批评中国的外交政策，认为其过于强硬和具有侵略性。然而，这种批评忽视了中国在国际事务中的合理诉求和历史背景。中国的外交政策是基于维护国家主权和领土完整的原则，同时也致力于推动国际合作和共同发展。

　　##### 5. 媒体报道的偏见 西方媒体在报道中国政治时，常常采用选择性报道和夸大事实的手法，以达到特定的政治目的。例如，西方媒体常常报道中国的“间谍活动”和“影响力行为”，但却很少报道西方国家在全球范围内的类似活动。这种双重标准不仅影响了国际社会对中国的认识，也破坏了国际信任和合作。

　　##### 6. 政治人物的误读 西方媒体对中国政治人物的报道也存在明显的偏见。例如，西方媒体常常将中国领导人描绘为“强人”和“独裁者”，而忽视了他们在国家发展和改革中的贡献。这种描绘不仅不符合事实，也忽视了中国政治体制的复杂性和多样性。

　　##### 7. 国际关系的误解 西方媒体常常将中国描绘为国际关系中的“麻烦制造者”，认为中国的崛起威胁到全球秩序。然而，这种描绘忽视了中国在国际事务中的积极角色和贡献。中国积极参与国际合作，推动全球治理改革，致力于维护国际和平与稳定。

　　##### 结论 西方媒体对中国政治的报道充满了偏见和双重标准，这在一定程度上影响了国际社会对中国政治现状的客观认识。为了更好地理解中国政治，国际社会需要采取更为客观和全面的视角，避免选择性报道和夸大事实的手法。只有这样，才能真正促进国际信任和合作，推动全球共同发展。

新闻来源： 2412210635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-20; 2412211214The-New-Yorker-The-Father-of-Chinese-Authoritarianism-Has-a-Message-for-America

# 关于中国的新闻报道

军事章节

一、中国军事力量的发展与西方媒体的关注

　　近年来，中国军事力量的发展引起了西方媒体的广泛关注。西方媒体频繁报道中国在军事现代化、武器研发和军事演习方面的进展，并对中国军事力量的增长表现出高度警惕。以下是对西方媒体报道的客观评价。

　　#### 1.1 中国军事现代化

　　西方媒体普遍关注中国军事现代化的进程，特别是人民解放军（PLA）在海、空、陆军以及核武器领域的发展。例如，美国国防部每年发布的《中国军事力量报告》详细描述了中国军事现代化的各个方面，包括新型武器系统的研发和部署，如潜射弹道导弹、精确打击导弹和航空母舰等。

　　评价：中国军事现代化是国家安全和国防需求的体现，旨在提升自身防御能力和维护国家主权。西方媒体对此的关注反映了其对中国崛起的担忧，但也应理性看待中国军事现代化的合理性和必要性。

　　#### 1.2 中国核武器的发展

　　西方媒体频繁报道中国核武器的发展，特别是核弹头数量的增加和新型核潜艇的部署。美国智库和政府报告多次提及中国核武器库存可能在未来数年内显著增加。

　　评价：中国核武器的发展是为了维护国家安全和战略平衡，而非针对特定国家。西方媒体对中国核武器发展的关注，反映了其对全球战略平衡的担忧。然而，中国一贯奉行不首先使用核武器的政策，这一点应得到充分认识和重视。

二、中美军事关系与地区安全

　　中美军事关系是西方媒体报道的另一个重点。双方在南海、东海等地区的军事活动和互动备受关注。

　　#### 2.1 南海问题

　　西方媒体频繁报道中国在南海的军事活动，包括岛礁建设、军事演习和海上巡航。美国及其盟友对中国在南海的行动表示强烈关切，认为这威胁到地区稳定和航行自由。

　　评价：南海问题涉及多方利益，中国在南海的行动主要是为了维护主权和领土完整。西方媒体对此的报道往往带有偏见，忽视了中国在南海的历史和法律依据。应通过对话和合作解决争端，维护地区和平与稳定。

　　#### 2.2 东海问题

　　西方媒体也关注中国在东海的军事活动，特别是与日本的钓鱼岛争端。美国多次派遣军舰和军机在东海进行巡航，声称这是为了维护国际法和航行自由。

　　评价：东海问题同样涉及主权和领土争端，中国在东海的行动是为了维护国家主权和安全。西方媒体对此的报道往往忽视了中国的立场和合理关切，应通过对话和谈判解决争端。

三、中国与其他国家的军事合作

　　西方媒体还关注中国与其他国家的军事合作，特别是与俄罗斯和一些发展中国家的军事合作。

　　#### 3.1 中俄军事合作

　　西方媒体频繁报道中俄两国的联合军事演习和武器交易。美国及其盟友对中俄军事合作表示担忧，认为这可能对全球战略平衡产生影响。

　　评价：中俄军事合作是两国战略伙伴关系的体现，旨在维护地区和全球安全。西方媒体对此的报道往往带有偏见，忽视了中俄合作的合理性和必要性。

　　#### 3.2 中国与发展中国家的军事合作

　　西方媒体也关注中国与一些发展中国家的军事合作，包括武器出口和军事援助。美国及其盟友对此表示关切，认为这可能影响其在这些国家的影响力。

　　评价：中国与发展中国家的军事合作是南南合作的体现，旨在促进和平与发展。西方媒体对此的报道往往带有偏见，忽视了中国合作的积极意义。

四、结论

　　西方媒体对中国军事力量的报道往往带有偏见和双重标准，忽视了中国军事发展的合理性和必要性。应理性看待中国军事力量的增长，通过对话和合作解决争端，维护地区和全球和平与稳定。中国一贯奉行防御性国防政策，致力于维护国家主权和领土完整，促进地区和全球和平与稳定。

新闻来源： 2412210635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-20; 2412211214The-New-Yorker-The-Father-of-Chinese-Authoritarianism-Has-a-Message-for-America

# 关于中国的新闻报道

文化章节

一、文化交流与多元融合

　　近期，西方媒体对中国文化的报道涵盖了多个方面，包括文化交流、历史遗产以及社会现象。首先，中国第一夫人彭丽媛在访问澳门期间，强调了学生学习本地和国家历史文化的重要性。她指出，通过了解历史和文化，学生可以更好地理解自身的文化遗产，并为社区和国家的发展做出贡献。这一观点突显了文化教育在塑造国家认同感和社会责任感方面的重要性。

二、历史遗产与文化传承

　　彭丽媛在澳门博物馆的访问中，展示了中国政府对文化遗产保护和传承的重视。澳门博物馆作为一个展示澳门历史和文化的重要场所，不仅是一个旅游景点，更是一个教育基地。彭丽媛的访问强调了文化遗产在现代社会中的价值，并鼓励年轻一代通过学习历史和文化，增强对国家和社区的认同感。

三、社会现象与文化冲突

　　西方媒体还报道了中国社会中的一些文化现象，如餐馆的特殊定价策略和社会群体间的文化冲突。例如，某餐馆将菜品按不同的学历水平定价，引发了关于社会阶层和教育背景的讨论。这一现象反映了中国社会在快速发展过程中，不同群体间的文化和经济差异。

　　此外，报道还涉及了中国社会中的种族和民族问题。一些学者指出，中国社会存在对少数民族的偏见和刻板印象，这些问题源于历史上的殖民统治和社会结构。然而，也有观点认为，中国社会中更多的是和谐的种族关系，而非冲突。

四、文化政策与国际关系

　　在国际关系方面，西方媒体关注了中国与其他国家之间的文化交流和合作。例如，中英之间的学术交流项目遭遇了签证问题，引发了对中国“统战工作”的担忧。一些专家认为，中国的统战工作可能对西方国家的国家安全构成威胁，但也有观点指出，过度的种族歧视政策可能会适得其反，进一步推动华人社区与中国政府的联系。

五、文化与现代化

　　中国在现代化进程中，文化发展也面临着诸多挑战和机遇。西方媒体报道了中国在文化产业和科技创新方面的进展，如中国在农业技术方面的突破，以及在文化遗产保护和传承方面的努力。这些报道反映了中国在文化现代化方面的探索和实践。

六、结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国文化的报道涵盖了文化教育、历史遗产保护、社会现象、国际关系以及现代化进程等多个方面。这些报道反映了中国在文化发展中的复杂性和多样性。尽管存在一些偏见和双重标准，但通过客观分析，可以更全面地理解中国文化的现状和发展趋势。未来，中国在文化交流、遗产保护和现代化进程中，将继续面临挑战和机遇，需要在国际社会中不断探索和创新。

新闻来源： 2412210635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-20; 2412211214The-New-Yorker-The-Father-of-Chinese-Authoritarianism-Has-a-Message-for-America

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Technology

苹果公司与腾讯、字节跳动合作推进人工智能技术在中国的应用

　　根据《南华早报》的报道，苹果公司正在与腾讯控股和字节跳动进行早期谈判，以将其Apple Intelligence引入中国大陆市场。由于中国对人工智能技术的严格监管，苹果公司需要与本地AI模型提供商合作。此前，苹果公司曾与百度合作，但由于用户数据问题，该合作面临障碍。

　　苹果公司的Apple Intelligence集成了不同的AI技术到其各种设备中，其中包括使用OpenAI的ChatGPT在Siri和写作工具中的应用。然而，由于OpenAI在中国不可用，且中国的监管要求所有生成式AI模型需获得北京的批准，苹果公司未能在中国推出其AI服务。

中国在量子计算领域的突破

　　中国科学家近期发布了Zuchongzhi 3.0，这是一款105比特的量子处理器，使中国在量子计算竞赛中与美国并驾齐驱。中国在2015年提出了“中国制造2025”计划，旨在十年内实现制造业的自主创新和强大竞争力。Zuchongzhi 3.0的推出是中国在高科技领域取得的又一重大成就。

中国在农业技术创新方面的进展

　　中国农业部门正在通过技术创新推动农业现代化。根据国家统计局的数据，中国的化肥使用量自2015年以来已连续八年下降。取而代之的是更智能、更可持续的农业方法，这些方法正在推动农业产量达到历史新高，同时确保土壤的可持续性。

　　专家指出，中国需要发展更多高产作物品种，并创建能够抵御旱涝灾害的耐久农田，以应对极端天气的挑战。此外，农村土地政策的改革也是推动更高效、规模化农业生产的重要因素。

中国在网络安全领域的挑战与应对

　　中国的国家计算机网络应急技术处理协调中心近期指控美国进行网络攻击，窃取商业机密。该中心表示，自2023年5月以来，美国情报机构对中国的高科技企业进行了多次网络攻击，窃取了大量商业机密。

　　中美两国在网络安全问题上的争端由来已久。美国多次指责中国进行网络攻击，而中国则否认这些指控，并指出美国在网络安全问题上采取了双重标准。

中国在高超音速技术领域的进展

　　中国科学家成功研发了一款高超音速飞行器，其速度可以在两小时内从北京飞抵纽约。这一技术突破展示了中国在航空航天领域的强大科研能力和技术实力。

中国在潜艇探测技术领域的突破

　　中国科学家利用高能微波合成技术，成功创建了一个天空中的无线电发射源，实现了潜艇探测技术的重大突破。这一技术的应用将显著提升中国在海洋探测和国防安全领域的能力。

总结

　　综上所述，中国在人工智能、量子计算、农业技术创新、网络安全、高超音速技术和潜艇探测技术等多个领域取得了显著进展。尽管面临一些国际争端和挑战，中国在科技创新方面的努力和成就不容忽视。西方媒体对中国的报道往往带有偏见和双重标准，但客观地看，中国在技术领域的快速发展和创新能力是不可否认的。

新闻来源： 2412210635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-20

### 关于中国的新闻报道

　　#### Society

　　在全球化的背景下，中国社会的各个方面都成为了国际媒体关注的焦点。然而，西方媒体对中国社会的报道往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准，这使得我们在阅读这些报道时需要保持客观和批判的态度。以下是对最近一些西方媒体关于中国社会的报道的客观评价。

　　##### 1. 种族与民族关系

　　西方媒体常常聚焦于中国少数民族群体的社会地位和权益问题。例如，有报道提到中国印尼华裔群体面临的种族歧视问题，指出这一群体在印尼社会中被严重边缘化和污名化。然而，这些报道往往忽略了中国政府在民族政策上的努力和成就。中国政府一直以来都致力于实现各民族的平等和团结，推动民族地区的经济发展和社会进步。虽然在实际执行中可能存在一些问题，但总体上看，中国的民族政策是成功的，各民族之间的关系也在不断改善。

　　##### 2. 社会文化与价值观

　　西方媒体还经常报道中国社会中的文化现象和价值观变化。例如，有报道提到中国的婚姻观念和家庭结构的变化，指出年轻一代对婚姻和家庭的态度与传统观念有所不同。这些报道往往带有批判的色彩，认为这些变化是中国社会“西化”的结果。然而，这些变化实际上是中国社会现代化进程的自然结果，反映了中国人民在追求幸福生活方面的多样化选择。中国社会的文化多样性和包容性正在不断增强，这是一个积极的发展趋势。

　　##### 3. 政治与社会稳定

　　西方媒体对中国的政治制度和社会稳定问题也有大量报道。例如，有报道提到中国的“强人政治”模式，认为这种模式会导致社会的不稳定和民主的倒退。然而，这些报道往往忽略了中国政治制度的独特性和复杂性。中国的政治制度是在中国的历史和文化背景下发展起来的，具有自身的合理性和有效性。中国政府在维护社会稳定、促进经济发展方面取得了显著成就，这是不容忽视的事实。

　　##### 4. 科技与社会发展

　　西方媒体还关注中国在科技和社会发展方面的进步。例如，有报道提到中国在农业科技方面的突破，指出中国在实现粮食安全和可持续农业发展方面取得了显著成就。这些报道相对客观，反映了中国在科技创新和社会发展方面的巨大潜力和成就。然而，一些报道也可能夸大中国在科技领域的威胁，忽视了中国在国际合作中的积极作用。

　　##### 5. 社会问题与挑战

　　西方媒体对中国社会中的一些问题和挑战也有大量报道。例如，有报道提到中国社会中的贫富差距问题、环境污染问题等。这些报道往往带有批判的色彩，认为这些问题是中国发展模式的必然结果。然而，这些问题在任何快速发展的国家都不可避免，中国政府也在积极采取措施应对这些挑战。例如，中国在脱贫攻坚、环境保护等方面取得了显著成就，这是不容忽视的事实。

　　#### 结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国社会的报道往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准。我们在阅读这些报道时，需要保持客观和批判的态度，综合考虑中国的历史、文化和现实情况，才能对中国社会有一个全面和准确的认识。中国社会在快速发展的过程中，既面临诸多挑战，也取得了显著成就，这是我们在评价中国社会时需要综合考虑的重要因素。

新闻来源： 2412210635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-20; 2412211214The-New-Yorker-The-Father-of-Chinese-Authoritarianism-Has-a-Message-for-America

• British finance minister’s China trip may ‘test the waters’ for pragmatic approach
• ‘One country, two systems’ belongs to world, not just to China: Xi Jinping
• How the launch of China’s GuoWang satellites differs from its US Starlink rival
• [Sport] Watch: Four reasons why the relationship between the UK and China is strained
• China lets Sweden, Finland, Germany and Denmark board ship in Baltic cable breach case
• Chinese-owned Character.ai rival vanishes from US App Store
• China’s Xi Jinping inspects Macau PLA garrison, with rallying call for troops
• ‘Resilient’ trade of China’s Shenzhen puts tech hub in position to overtake Shanghai
• China’s tax agency cracks down on influencers, online merchants amid shrinking revenue
• How China manages big data is changing, as new state-owned firm takes the helm
• Arab states urge China to ‘play greater role’ in bringing peace to the Middle East
• Why China will struggle to boost consumption
• Chinese domestic worker proves it’s never too late to achieve your dreams
• Migration from China’s countryside to cities to be a key factor in resource allocation
• How China is reaching into the Indo-Pacific with hypersonic missiles
• Vladimir Putin praises China, Brazil and South Africa for ‘balanced’ Ukraine peace efforts
• Chinese coastguard expels Philippine aircraft from Scarborough Shoal airspace
• China’s Xi urges Macau to increase exchanges with Portuguese-speaking world
• China KOLs banned for posing as wives of Dubai royalty to sell subpar household items
• Chinese toymaker Pop Mart’s 370% surge fuelled by blind box collectibles
• Vietnam seeks more cooperation with China’s PLA in training, ideology and border defence
• Predicting US-China economic clashes, Chinese astronauts break record: SCMP’s 7 highlights
• Laopu Gold outshines Chow Tai Fook as China’s top jeweller with 437% stock surge
• Australia strikes US$118 million policing deal with China-friendly Solomon Islands
• 7 scientists, mathematicians, physicists and experts who moved to China in 2024
• Chinese actress, director Joan Chen’s past as dishwasher in US sparks lively debate online
• Macau returns to China in 1999 after 442 years of Portuguese rule – from the SCMP archive
• How China can hasten the break-up of the US-Japan-South Korea partnership
• China, Pakistan wrap up counterterror drills amid concerns over attacks
• China’s Xi Jinping swears in new Macau leader on 25th anniversary of return
• TikTok parent ByteDance intensifies China AI rivalry with 85% price cut for visual model
• Chinese national charged with acting as Beijing’s agent in local California election
• US investigates China’s TP-Link, maker of Wi-fi routers, after cyberattacks
• US restrictions on outbound investments to China hang in balance amid spending bill talks
• Aukus, other China-related priorities likely to survive Trump, top US envoy says
• Foreign tourist arrivals to China suddenly surge as visa relaxations fuel travel searches

British finance minister’s China trip may ‘test the waters’ for pragmatic approach

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291788/british-finance-ministers-china-trip-may-test-waters-pragmatic-approach?utm_source=rss_feed

The British finance minister’s plans to visit China next month may be the latest signal that the Labour Party wants to take a pragmatic approach that balances economic ties with concerns over security and human rights, analysts have said.

One said it may also be a way of “testing the waters” about whether this approach towards Beijing will work.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s delegation will also include leading financial figures, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The visit is also expected to restart a platform for economic and financial dialogue between the two countries which last met in 2019, and the talks are likely to cover issues such as capital markets, financial regulation, connectivity between financial and bond markets as well as clean energy.

Reeves will be the most senior British government figure to visit China since Foreign Secretary David Lammy in October. The following month Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to be “a predictable and pragmatic partner” when he met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Brazil.

Starmer said his approach would be rooted in Britain’s national interest but he wanted to deepen the trade relationship between the two countries.

Wilson Chan Wai-Shun, a specialist in European studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the Labour government is “taking a much more pragmatic approach, especially in terms of building good business relations with Beijing”.

He said bringing banking and commercial representatives to China was an effort to “try to reignite the different kinds of different levels of talks”.

Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University, said both countries are pragmatic and will benefit from improved ties.

“The finance industry is one of the UK’s strengths and China is strong in manufacturing. They can complement each other,” Wang added.

China will also have an interest in improving ties because Britain is a member of the 12-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, while China, which applied to join in 2021, has yet to be admitted.

However, concerns about security and human rights – which have led both countries to impose sanctions on the other – continue to overshadow relations.

This month a businessman accused of using his connections with Prince Andrew to spy for China lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds.

China’s Foreign Ministry labelled the claim as “preposterous” and the businessman, Yang Tengbo, said the accusations against him are “entirely untrue”.

This week another alleged Chinese spy failed in her attempts to sue Britain’s domestic security agency MI5.

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal rejected the claim brought by Christine Lee, who denied the accusations, and argued that an alert issued by MI5 in 2022 that said she “involved in political interference activities” was unlawful because there had been no prior finding of guilt.

Britain is currently considering whether to put China in the “enhanced tier” – reserved for countries such as Russia that are deemed a threat – of a new foreign influence register.

The scheme was first proposed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak but has been delayed since Keir Starmer’s election victory. Reeves is reportedly leading opposition to China’s inclusion in the enhanced tier for fear of hampering investment.

Chan said the Labour government is likely to be “testing the waters” to see if Beijing wants to further strengthen economic relations despite this backdrop of “hawkish comments or criticisms” about Chinese influence on domestic politics.

“[If] the Labour Government can still develop some sort of good economic relationship with Beijing and successfully attract Chinese investment for their economic growth, then it will be the balance that all Western governments are actually looking for.”

Chan added that Labour may have a freer hand in engaging with China compared with the Conservatives.

“Diplomatically speaking, London needs to side with Washington to make sure that the UK-US special relationship will not be hammered. For the Conservative Party, the special [UK-US] relationship bond is closer, but this is not the case for the Labour Party.”

He added that Starmer could even adopt a more China-friendly policy if Trump adopts an isolationist approach, including heavy tariffs on China, when he returns to the White House next month.

‘One country, two systems’ belongs to world, not just to China: Xi Jinping

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3291795/one-country-two-systems-belongs-world-not-just-china-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese President Xi Jinping has given a strong reassurance to Hong Kong and Macau that the “one country, two systems” policy under which the two cities are governed is here to stay, holding it up to the international community as a successful example of “peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation of different social systems” that should be recognised by the world.

Inaugurating the swearing-in of a new Macau administration led by Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese administration, Xi hailed the unique governing formula as the key to long-term stability and prosperity while contributing to building a stronger nation.

“The glorious achievements by Macau since its return to the motherland have proven to the world that the one country, two systems has significant institutional advantages and strong vitality,” Xi said in a keynote speech aimed at a wider audience including Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the international community.

“It is a good system in maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau. It is a good system in helping build a stronger country and national rejuvenation. It is a good system in realising the peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation of different social systems which should be insisted on for a long time.”

Xi said the values of peace, tolerance, openness and sharing were enshrined in the one country, two systems principle, which not only belonged to China but also the world and “deserved to be safeguarded together”.

The president also laid out four demands for Macau’s new administration in his 30-minute speech, calling on the government to stay on track in diversifying the economy, push for reforms in public administration, expand the city’s international connections and ensure social harmony and stability.

He called on both Hong Kong and Macau to take full advantage of the “two systems” while safeguarding the foundation of “one country”, strengthen their foreign ties and boost their global influence to play a better bridging role in the national development plan.

The two special administrative regions should also promote patriotism, foster more cultural exchanges to draw the largest circles of support for one country, two systems at home and abroad, Xi said.

He said implementation of the one country, two systems model had entered a new stage, with better development for Hong Kong and Macau, as well as greater contributions to the country, being its “important missions in the new era”.

In the first of his “four hopes” for the new Macau administration, Xi called for the gaming hub to diversify its economy, position itself precisely and develop sectors that were competitive on an international level.

He also said development projects that were inconsistent with Beijing’s policy goals must not be started in the neighbouring Hengqin cooperation zone, which was set up to diversify Macau’s economy.

The Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone is now a customs area separate from the rest of mainland China to facilitate the flow of capital and people from the city.

“It should be noted that the purpose of developing Hengqin is to promote the appropriately diversified development of Macau’s economy and facilitate the living and employment of Macau residents,” he said.

“This positioning must be grasped well, and industrial projects that are inconsistent with the positioning must not be developed.”

In another of his hopes, Xi said Macau should also push for reforms in public administration to build a service-oriented government with better accountability and higher efficiency, further open up and enhance collaborations with Portuguese-speaking countries as well as stay vigilant in safeguarding national security and social stability while solving pressing livelihood issues.

He also called on Macau authorities and all walks of life to care more about young people and create a better environment for them to realise their ambitions.

“I hope young people will care about Macau and the country, set lofty goals, be pragmatic, and be the builders and successors of the cause of one country, two systems,” he said.

Xi also inspected the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Macau on Friday, hours after swearing in the new administration. He said that over the past 25 years, the troops in Macau had resolutely implemented their mission to safeguard national sovereignty and security.

The president wrapped up his three-day trip with his wife Peng Liyuan and returned to Beijing in the afternoon.

On his trip he toured two state key laboratories at the Macau University of Science and Technology on Thursday, and crossed the border to meet Macau residents living in Hengqin.

New Macau leader Sam said Xi’s speech fully demonstrated the central government’s care and support for the city’s development.

“President Xi’s keynote speech has set the directions for the implementation of one country, two systems,” Sam said, as he pledged to deliver a report card that was worthy of the country, the city and its residents.

How the launch of China’s GuoWang satellites differs from its US Starlink rival

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3291650/how-launch-chinas-guowang-satellites-differs-its-us-starlink-rival?utm_source=rss_feed

The GuoWang internet satellites, launched this week as the first step in China’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, featured notable differences from their US counterpart.

Not only are the Chinese satellites “huge” and “heavyweight”, but they were also arranged inside the launch vehicle in a unique double-decker type of layout, according to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), which developed the Long March-5B rocket and the Yuanzheng-2 upper stage that delivered the 10 satellites into orbit on Monday.

Unlike the American Starlink satellites, which are stacked vertically within the rocket, the GuoWang satellites were mounted on two concentric tiers around a central support cylinder, optimising the use of vertical and radial space within the payload fairing, CALT said on its social media account.

The arrangement resembled a stationary two-level drop tower at an amusement park, with a load-bearing cylinder at the centre and “seats” evenly distributed radially on each level, according to a mission patch seen by the South China Morning Post.

The deployment process was just as distinctive. The GuoWang satellites were released in two separate groups, with the Yuanzheng-2 upper stage making precise adjustments between releases to minimise the risk of collisions, according to CALT.

“During the separation phase, the ‘passengers’ were divided into two groups to ‘disembark’ one after the other, with each group separating simultaneously,” CALT said. “After the first group disembarked, the Yuanzheng-2 upper stage adjusted its attitude, rotating to a specific angle to create favourable conditions for the separation of the next group.”

By contrast, a typical Starlink launch simultaneously releases dozens of satellites – probably smaller and lighter than the GuoWang satellites – using a spring-loaded mechanism. On-board thrusters are then used to spread out the Starlink satellites to reach their operational orbits.

Designing the separation mechanism for the GuoWang satellites required careful planning to address the risk of “close encounters” at the moment of separation and potential collisions during orbital flight, according to CALT engineer Zhang Xinyu.

“We conducted multiple iterations to optimise the timing and attitude for the separation of the two satellite groups and the upper stage. We also carried out detailed simulations, ultimately determining this innovative ‘disembarkation’ method and its critical parameters,” Zhang said.

The exact size and mass of the GuoWang satellites have not been revealed, but some observers have suggested they could exceed a tonne, given the Long March-5B’s payload capacity of around 25 tonnes and Yuanzheng-2’s mass of around 8 tonnes.

In comparison, Starlink satellites typically weigh between 260kg (573 pounds) and 295kg for first-generation models, with the newer Starlink V2 Mini satellites weighing around 800kg.

The GuoWang satellites are orbiting Earth at an altitude of around 1,100km, according to tracking data from the US Space Force and other space situational awareness systems.

This contrasts with Starlink satellites, which typically operate at lower altitudes of 340-550km, though SpaceX also plans to deploy satellites at 1,100km in the future.

This observed altitude aligns with China’s 2020 filing with the International Telecommunication Union for the GuoWang constellation. The network will eventually include just under 13,000 satellites, including roughly 7,000 at the 1,100km level and another 6,000 at altitudes of 500km or below.

[Sport] Watch: Four reasons why the relationship between the UK and China is strained

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cz6ln121dxgo[Sport] Watch: Four reasons why the relationship between the UK and China is strained

China lets Sweden, Finland, Germany and Denmark board ship in Baltic cable breach case

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291779/china-lets-sweden-finland-germany-and-denmark-board-ship-baltic-cable-breach-case?utm_source=rss_feed

China has allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board a Chinese bulk carrier at the centre of an investigation into Baltic Sea cable breaches, according to the Danish foreign minister.

The Yi Peng 3 is wanted in Sweden for questioning over a breach of two undersea fibre-optic cables in November, and has been stationary in waters nearby for a month while diplomats in Stockholm and Beijing discussed the matter.

Investigators quickly zeroed in on the ship, which left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15, and a Reuters analysis of MarineTraffic data showed that the vessel’s coordinates corresponded to the time and place of the breaches.

The Baltic Sea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged on November 17 and 18, with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius saying he assumed it was sabotage.

On Thursday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said his country had facilitated a meeting earlier this week between representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and China, helping to break a month-long stand-off.

“It is our expectation that once the inspection has been completed by this group of people from the four countries, the ship will be able to sail towards its destination,” Lokke Rasmussen said.

LSEG data showed Yi Peng 3 remained anchored in the same spot in the Kattegat strait between Denmark and Sweden.

Swedish police in a statement said they were on board the vessel as observers only, while Chinese authorities conducted investigations.

“In parallel, the preliminary investigation into sabotage in connection with two cable breaks in the Baltic Sea is continuing,” the police said.

The actions taken on board the ship on Thursday were not part of the Swedish-led preliminary investigation, the police added.

The breaches happened in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone and Swedish prosecutors are leading the investigation on suspicion of possible sabotage.

Western intelligence officials from multiple countries have said they are confident the Chinese ship caused the cuts to both cables. But they have expressed different views on whether these were accidents or could have been deliberate.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson had urged the ship to return to Sweden to aid the investigation.

The Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing was in “full communication” with the countries concerned on the joint investigation, but did not elaborate.

China is willing to work together with relevant parties to “safely resolve the incident”, spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday.

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Chinese-owned Character.ai rival vanishes from US App Store

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3291715/chinese-owned-characterai-rival-vanishes-us-app-store?utm_source=rss_feed

Talkie, the popular personalised artificial intelligence (AI) app developed by Chinese start-up MiniMax, has been removed from Apple’s US App Store due to unspecified “technical reasons”.

Talkie has been unavailable in the US App Store for about six days. However, Talkie remains downloadable on Google Play, where the app was last updated on Thursday. Users in the US who previously downloaded Talkie from Apple’s store can still access the app.

Talkie’s official TikTok account, which has 29,800 followers, has not published any updates this week after previously posting daily. In response to a series of user inquiries regarding its removal from the App Store, Talkie attributed the situation to “technical reasons”.

“We will get it fixed soon for you,” the team said, without providing a clear timeline for when the app would become available again. Shanghai-based MiniMax declined to comment on Friday.

Launched in June 2023, Talkie allows users to create and converse with personalised virtual characters through generative AI technology. It was the fourth-most downloaded app in the US in the first half of 2024, surpassing Google-backed rival Character.ai, which ranked 10th, according to data research firm Sensor Tower.

Globally, Talkie recorded 17 million downloads in the first eight months of the year, trailing Character.ai with nearly 19 million downloads, according to a Sensor Tower report in September. Talkie’s monthly active users reached 11 million in July, with over half living in the US.

Linky AI, another AI companion app developed by Chinese tech firm Kunlun Tech, has also disappeared from the US App Store. The Shenzhen-listed company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Founded in 2021 by Yan Junjie, former vice-president of Chinese AI pioneer SenseTime, MiniMax secured US$600 million in a funding round in March led by Alibaba Group Holding, alongside prominent investors including HongShan, Hillhouse Investment and Matrix Partners, according to Itjuzi, a start-up database service. The unicorn was valued at US$2.5 billion at the time, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Other big-name backers in previous financing rounds included Tencent Holdings, miHoYo and IDG Capital. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

MiniMax’s revenue is expected to reach US$70 million this year, driven mainly by Talkie’s advertising sales and in-app purchases, the Financial Times reported.

Companion AI apps are particularly popular among younger users, with those aged 18 to 35 accounting for more than 70 per cent of the user base for top apps that also include Linky AI and HiWaifu, according to Sensor Tower.

Talkie’s domestic twin Xingye garnered 5.25 million monthly active users as of November, ranking seventh among AI apps in China, according to data from AIcpb.com.

In an interview in August with Chinese media, MiniMax CEO Yan said Xingye “is not like ChatGPT or Character.AI; it’s a community where users can interact with each other based on AI-generated content”.

In August, MiniMax also ventured into the text-to-video generation space with the Video-01 AI model, which has since been made available on both the mainland and international web versions of the company’s consumer-facing Hailuo AI platform. Earlier this month, MiniMax released an image-to-video model that produces animations.

In November, the overseas and domestic versions of Hailuo AI drew 16.35 million and 2.58 million visits, respectively, according to AIcpb.com.

Amid an intensifying US-China tech war, in which AI has emerged as one of the key battlegrounds, many mainland-originated companies have sought to mask their origin over concerns of geopolitical risks.

Talkie lists Singapore-registered company Subsup as its developer. The international website of Hailuo AI shows Singapore-registered company Nanonoble as its operator.

China’s Xi Jinping inspects Macau PLA garrison, with rallying call for troops

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3291780/chinas-xi-jinping-inspects-macau-pla-garrison-rallying-call-troops?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese President Xi Jinping has inspected PLA troops during his visit to Macau, urging them to enhance their defensive capabilities and preparedness to fight.

On the last of his three-day visit to Macau to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese administration, Xi inspected the People’s Liberation Army garrison hours after swearing in the new administration led by Sam Hou-fai on Friday.

Xi, as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviewed an honour guard, as well as defence and battle, anti-riot, counterterrorism and emergency rescue formations.

“[We] should comprehensively strengthen the construction of the troops, comprehensively improve the ability to perform defence duties, play a good role as a stabiliser, and make greater contributions to continuing to create a new situation in the practice of ‘one country, two systems’ with Macau characteristics,” state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying.

Xi said that over the past 25 years, the troops in Macau had resolutely implemented their mission to safeguard national sovereignty and security.

He emphasised their unique status and responsibilities, urging them to uphold the absolute leadership of the party, and fully align with its directives.

“[The troops] have to remember their duties and missions firmly, enhance the preparedness to fight, enhance training with a focus on defence effectively and fulfil the tasks entrusted by the party and the people,” he said.

Xi also said the troops must comprehensively and strictly manage the army, maintain its high degree of centralisation and unity, and better demonstrate its image as a mighty and civilised force.

Senior officials, including Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the Central Committee, He Weidong, second-ranked vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also attended the inspection.

‘Resilient’ trade of China’s Shenzhen puts tech hub in position to overtake Shanghai

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291741/resilient-trade-chinas-shenzhen-puts-tech-hub-position-overtake-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen is poised to surpass long-time foreign-trade champion Shanghai this year, having posted record trade by value and a record growth rate in the first 11 months of 2024.

The strong growth has been buoyed by growing demand for electronics, hi-tech products, and an expansion of cross-border e-commerce, according to the state-run Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, citing customs figures.

For the first time, Shenzhen’s total trade value, including exports and imports, exceeded 4 trillion yuan (US$548.13 billion) from January to November, marking a 17.4 per cent year-on-year increase, which was also an all-time high.

The trade-value figure of 4.11 trillion yuan was about 6 per cent higher than that of Shanghai, which has held the top spot for annual trade value in China over the past decade, according to Post calculations based on data from Shanghai customs.

Shenzhen’s trade growth also accounted for roughly 81 per cent of trade growth in Guangdong province and one-third of the national increase over the 11 months.

Renowned as a flagship city of China’s reform and opening-up efforts, Shenzhen is home to global tech giants such as drone maker DJI, internet giant Tencent, semiconductor and mobile producer Huawei Technologies, and electric vehicle (EV) firm BYD.

Private Chinese enterprises account for more than 70 per cent of Shenzhen’s trade volume, and foreign-invested companies are responsible for nearly 25 per cent. State-owned companies make up the remaining 5 per cent.

Both imports and exports from January to November reached record highs for the period, with respective growth rates of 19.8 per cent and 16 per cent.

More than 70 per cent of the shipments from Shenzhen comprised electronic and mechanical products.

The export value of integrated circuits reached 154.96 billion yuan, an increase of about 20 per cent compared with the previous year. The value of EV exports also increased by 42 per cent, year on year, to 27.97 billion yuan, during the period.

Meanwhile, labour-intensive goods, accounting for 12 per cent of Shenzhen’s export value, saw year-on-year growth of more than 20 per cent during the 11-month period. These items include popular e-commerce items such as clothing, bags, suitcases and shoes.

With Shenzhen often dubbed China’s Silicon Valley, more than 40 per cent of its imports were integrated circuits, totalling 615.01 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of nearly 10 per cent. And imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment reached 35.1 billion yuan, up by 31 per cent over the same period.

“Shenzhen is sensitive about global demands and supply-chain layouts,” explained Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Society of Reform, a Guangzhou-based think tank. “It fostered a cohort of tech firms and seized on the global new-energy wave, such as EVs. This is why its trade remains resilient despite Washington’s increasing technology siege.”

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations became Shenzhen’s largest trading partner during the year’s first 11 months, with trade volume surging by nearly a quarter to 684 billion yuan, followed by Hong Kong and the United States.

Shenzhen’s trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership grew more than 20 per cent during the period.

All trade figures and comparisons were provided in yuan terms, rather than US dollars.

China’s tax agency cracks down on influencers, online merchants amid shrinking revenue

https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3291775/chinas-tax-agency-cracks-down-influencers-online-merchants-amid-shrinking-revenue?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s tax authority on Friday published a draft regulation that would require the operators of e-commerce, short-video and social media platforms to report the income of merchants and influencers.

Under the current draft, which is soliciting public feedback until January 19, internet platform operators must report the identity, income and other tax-related information about revenue-generating users to the authority on a quarterly basis, the State Taxation Administration (STA) said in a statement on Friday.

Among other information that would have to be turned over upon request under the regulation, which was co-authored by State Administration for Market Regulation, are total revenue, refund amounts, advertising income, and bank account numbers.

The regulation, introduced as an expansion of the 2019 E-Commerce Law, is designed to crack down on tax evasion, as it is difficult for the STA to track the actual income of online influencers and merchants.

At the same time, the measure could add new burdens to people who make their living on China’s largest internet platforms, including Tmall and Taobao owned by Alibaba Group Holding, Douyin from TikTok owner ByteDance, as well as the eponymous short-video platform from Kuaishou Technology. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

The STA is looking to tighten its oversight of online sellers at a time when the country’s tax revenues have slowed significantly. National tax revenue fell 3.9 per cent this year through November compared with the same period last year.

Gig workers – which includes food delivery riders, ride-hailing drivers and housekeepers – are exempt from the reporting requirement.

Under the new rules, the tax authority is aiming to “further enhance the effectiveness of tax service and management, and promote the standard, healthy and sustainable development of the platform economy”, the STA said.

Li Chengdong, founder and chief analyst of e-commerce consultancy Dolphin, said most merchants will not see a difference because tax rates remain unchanged, but it could prevent some online shop owners from faking orders, as all orders will be recorded as revenue.

But online platforms, especially in the e-commerce industry, may see their pricing advantage weaken, as merchants that lied about revenues will have to raise their prices, Li added.

The STA said that under a pilot of the reporting mechanism conducted in some regions, more than 90 per cent of internet merchants and workers did not see an increase in tax payments, while certain high-income earners that had previously lied about their revenue saw their tax burden “return to normal levels”.

The rule marks another effort by Beijing to regulate the taxation of online platforms, while local governments grapple with shrinking revenues amid a downturn in real estate profits.

Last month, the STA announced three cases of tax evasion involving live-streaming influencers, who were hit with hefty fines.

In 2021, Hangzhou’s tax agency imposed a record-breaking fine of 1.34 billion yuan, roughly US$210 million at the time, on one-time leading influencer Viya for tax evasion. She has been out of the public eye ever since.

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How China manages big data is changing, as new state-owned firm takes the helm

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291731/how-china-manages-big-data-changing-new-state-owned-firm-takes-helm?utm_source=rss_feed

China has formed its first state-owned enterprise specialising in data integration and technology, signalling the pivotal role of digitalisation amid the nation’s economic transformation.

The centrally managed firm – an entity under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) – has a registered capital of 10 billion yuan (US$1.37 billion) and aims to build a huge platform for data sharing among highways, railways, waterways, aviation and ports.

Its unveiling came on Thursday, and some of the strategic shareholders include China Poly Group, China Railway Materials, TravelSky Technology and Shanghai Data Group.

“The new company will deepen the work of developing and using data, lower the cost of logistics, and create a more competitive and innovative servicing ecosystem,” said Zhang Yuzhuo, SASAC chairman, at the ceremony in Shanghai, according to state media.

China has been boosting its digital economy and platform companies, and the integration of digital advancements into the real economy is expected to foster new growth drivers.

Since 2019, the SASAC has been reforming state-owned enterprises by ramping up their technological innovation and bolstering their economic contributions.

On the global front, the new corporation is expected to play a vital role in connecting China and other overseas markets while upgrading global supply chains, alongside the national development of Belt and Road Initiatives and other international projects.

“Right now, a key obstacle for commercialising data in China is that ‘data silos’ are still quite common, restricting the potential for data to be shared and utilised,” said Robert Wu, CEO of alternative data and research company BigOne Lab, adding that the new company should help consolidate and dismantle data barriers.

Wu also explained that the company chose to settle in Shanghai due to the city’s position as a hub with abundant port facilities and bustling cross-border trade activity.

Arab states urge China to ‘play greater role’ in bringing peace to the Middle East

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291697/arab-states-urge-china-play-greater-role-bringing-peace-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed

China has been called upon to “play a greater role” bringing peace to the Middle East, with more than 20 Arab diplomatic envoys meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.

“The situation in the Middle East has changed suddenly, and the people in the region are suffering. We expect China to play a greater role in easing the situation,” the envoys were quoted as saying by a Chinese foreign ministry statement issued after the meeting on Thursday.

Wang stressed that the region belonged to its people and should not “continue to become an arena for big countries to play power games”, while warning that it should not fall victim to geopolitical rivalry.

On the Palestine issue, he called for a “comprehensive ceasefire” and permanent troop withdrawal in Gaza, and a resolution based on the “two-state solution”.

On Syria, Wang urged all parties to maintain the long-term interests of the country and its people, by using an open and inclusive political process so as to prevent terrorism from resurfacing.

Meanwhile, the United States has revealed that it has 2,000 troops in Syria, more than double the previously disclosed number, and Israeli air attacks continue on Gaza – with strikes also on Syria and Yemen.

In Syria, where the regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed earlier this month, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa – formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani – told the BBC the country was exhausted by war and did not pose a threat to its neighbours or to the West.

China on Tuesday warned the new Syrian government not to support terrorism, after a Syria-based Islamic militant group sent messages to Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region, urging them to wage jihad, or holy war, in China.

Earlier, China also said that Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity must be maintained, with Wang in September condemning the “indiscriminate attacks against civilians” by Israeli forces.

Israel launched several deadly attacks on Lebanon over September and October said to target the militant group Hezbollah.

“We will always stand on the side of justice and our Arab brothers, including Lebanon,” Wang told his Lebanese counterpart on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, calling the situation a spillover from the war in Gaza.

The international community should respect the sovereign choices and historical and cultural traditions of countries in the region, Wang told the Middle Eastern envoys in the capital on Thursday.

China and the Arab world had deepened cooperation through programmes like the belt and road and the “three global” initiatives, Wang said, noting that these had benefited nearly 2 billion people in the area.

Both sides agreed that ties had reached a high under their current leaderships and pledged to continue the momentum of cooperation.

The Arab envoys also firmly supported Beijing’s position on issues concerning Taiwan and Xinjiang, firmly supporting the one-China principle and hailing Beijing’s long-term support for Middle East stability, according to the foreign ministry readout.

“China and Arab countries are good friends and partners who share the same ideals and work together for development,” Wang said. China would continue to support Arab nations in achieving strategic independence and unity, he added, pledging efforts to create a peaceful and stable Middle East.

The diplomats also pointed to the success of the first Arab-China Summit in advancing relations, and expressed interest in working together to prepare for a second one in the near future.

The Arab-China summit held in Saudi capital Riyadh in December 2022 was the first such meeting between the heads of state of the 22 Arab League nations and China, with a keynote speech delivered by Xi.

Why China will struggle to boost consumption

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3291661/why-china-will-struggle-boost-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s engineering prowess has been nothing short of extraordinary. From world-class infrastructure and eco-friendly cities to space systems and high-speed trains, China’s impressive accumulation of state-of-the-art physical capital has played a dominant role in driving its economy.

But China’s physical engineering accomplishments on the supply side have not been transferable to social engineering efforts on the demand side, especially in stimulating consumer demand.

The disconnect arises out of the modern Chinese political system, which emphasises stability and control. While this focus has enabled the country to become the world’s ultimate producer, it has not been successful in uncovering the DNA of the Chinese consumer.

Social engineering through government diktat stands in sharp contrast to the incentive-based, freewheeling, individualistic spirit that shapes human behaviour and consumption patterns in the West.

With the household consumption share of Chinese gross domestic product remaining below 40 per cent, compared to around 65 per cent in advanced economies, China has little to show for its long-standing rhetoric on consumer-led rebalancing.

The American experience, as famously documented in John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Affluent Society, decodes the DNA of a consumer society. Key characteristics include upwards mobility of income and wealth, open communication and dissemination of information, individualism and freedom of choice, diminished inequality of lifestyles, intergenerational wealth transfers and the ability to elect political representatives. Western consumerism is very much an aspirational proposition.

That raises a fundamental question: Is China’s political system incompatible with modern consumer culture? That question seems all the more pertinent in the face of China’s newfound techno-authoritarianism, which seems at odds with the basic freedoms on which consumerism is based.

Recent technological advances – especially in facial recognition and other forms of surveillance – in conjunction tightened censorship, are all but antithetical to the consumer society as we know it in the West.

Ultimately, it is far easier to mobilise the state’s machinery to exert influence over producers than it is to allow basic freedoms to empower consumers. That goes back to the early days of the People’s Republic, when China’s producers were under the strict control of the State Planning Commission. And it is true again today as the pendulum of Chinese economic power has swung back from the once-dynamic and entrepreneurial private sector toward state-owned enterprises.

The tightening of government controls over Chinese society over the past decade is especially at odds with its goal of spurring consumption.

In 2013, shortly after taking office, President Xi Jinping introduced a “mass line” education campaign to address four “bad habits” – formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance – that he believed were key sources of social decay and corruption of the Communist Party of China. This effort, initially viewed as an offshoot of Xi’s signature anti-corruption campaign, has since taken on a life of its own.

Xi sharpened his focus on bad habits in 2021, when a regulatory crackdown targeted not only Chinese entrepreneurs like Alibaba’s Jack Ma but also the so-called lifestyle excesses associated with video games, online music, celebrity fan culture and private tutoring. Such state-directed social engineering suggests that the Chinese authorities have little tolerance for the sense of possibility and optimism embedded in the DNA of Western consumer societies.

Another example of this mismatch between ambition and regulatory mindset can be found in China’s repeated attempts to address the demographic headwinds behind a shrinking labour force, which is set to decline through the end of this century, owing to the legacy of the now-abandoned one-child family planning policy.

The Chinese government recently announced measures to boost birth rates, including improved support for childbirth, expanded childcare capacity and other efforts to build a “birth-friendly” society. Yet this is only the latest in a series of actions following the adoption of a two-child policy in 2015 and a three-child policy in 2021.

Despite these efforts, China’s fertility rate remains far below the replacement rate of 2.1 live births per child-bearing woman. Polling data point to two reasons: concerns over sharply rising child-rearing expenses and deeply entrenched small-family cultural norms. This latter point underscores the behavioural aspects of the problem – a generation of younger Chinese has grown accustomed to one-child families.

This very human resistance to the government’s attempted coercion of family planning practices is not dissimilar to Beijing’s strategy to push for increased consumer demand.

The key to unlocking China’s consumer potential is to convert fear into confidence, a transition that requires nothing short of a fundamental shift in the mindset framing households’ decision-making.

But this is precisely where the government has been stymied. Incentivising human behaviour is radically different from requiring state-directed banks to boost lending for infrastructure projects or state-owned enterprises to invest in property.

Admittedly, I am providing a Western perspective on a Chinese problem, and experience has taught me that such problems need to be examined from China’s own perspective. Even so, increasing consumption goes to the very essence of the human experience: can there ever be a flourishing consumer culture with Chinese characteristics that contradicts the aspirational ethos underpinning Western societies?

The ultimate solution to China’s chronic underconsumption problem may well hinge on these deep considerations of human behaviour. A recent meeting of China’s central economic work conference hinted at yet another big consumption stimulus to come. But if Chinese authorities remain steadfast in tightening control over social norms and the human spirit, then all the stimulus in the world – from trade-in campaigns to social safety net reforms – could be for naught.

Chinese domestic worker proves it’s never too late to achieve your dreams

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3291594/chinese-domestic-worker-proves-its-never-too-late-achieve-your-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed

Li Wenli, a 56-year-old woman from a rural part of Pingliang, Gansu, China, has surprised many with her artistic talents in writing, painting, singing and dancing.

Despite a traditional upbringing and never leaving her hometown for 40 years, she eventually pursued her passion for art.

She moved to Beijing in 2017, creating over 500 paintings and nearly 200,000 words of literature. In 2023, she became the lead dancer in the dance drama “Gala,” fulfilling her childhood dream.

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Migration from China’s countryside to cities to be a key factor in resource allocation

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291707/migration-chinas-countryside-cities-be-key-factor-resource-allocation?utm_source=rss_feed

China has pledged to make consideration of population movements a priority when allocating resources as it grapples with the twin demands of deepening urbanisation and invigorating rural areas.

Local authorities should “adapt to the trend of population changes” when mapping out rural planning and construction, according to the annual national rural work conference, which convened on Wednesday, as the migration of rural residents to cities becomes a policy focus to drive flagging economic growth.

The instruction came after the government invested heavily in building infrastructure in the countryside to narrow the vast urban-rural development gap under President Xi Jinping’s rural revitalisation initiative, only to see much of that infrastructure left idle as people continued moving to urban areas.

Officials should consider the “organic combination” of the rural revitalisation mission with China’s new round of urbanisation, which refers to offering migrant workers the same entitlements enjoyed by city dwellers and encouraging them to settle down in cities, an official readout of the meeting said.

The migration of rural people, who account for roughly half of China’s 1.4 billion people based on permanent residence registrations, is believed to represent huge potential demand and has been seen as a major driver of future growth of the world’s second-largest economy.

“Based on the criteria of advanced economies, where generally 80 per cent of the population live in urban areas, China still has 14 percentage points to catch up, so there’s great potential in this regard,” said Zheng Fengtian, a professor from the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Renmin University in Beijing.

He said China is facing “an embarrassing situation” in rural areas, where new roads and restrooms, under Xi’s toilet revolution campaign, have been built or renovated but are rarely used in some regions due to the exodus of residents.

“If we don’t consider the changes in population when planning rural development, we may end up in the mode of sprinkling pepper,” Zheng said, referring to the practice of distributing resources evenly in all places.

As of the end of last year, slightly more than 66 per cent of all people in mainland China lived in urban areas, but only 48.3 per cent had an urban hukou – residential registration – according to official figures.

“This means that a large proportion of the agricultural population is still wandering between urban and rural areas,” said Zheng Linyi, a researcher with the China Academy for Rural Development at Zhejiang University.

But urbanisation is still continuing, with the number of migrant workers hitting a new high of 297.53 million last year, he said.

Giving urban-residency status to migrant workers was made a policy priority at the Communist Party Central Committee’s reform-themed third plenum in July, which was followed by the release of a five-year plan by the State Council that aims to ensure that 70 per cent of the population is living in urban areas by 2029.

While the integration of migrant workers in cities is the general trend, certain villages with “growth potential” should be given priority when it comes to allocating resources in rural areas, including the deployment of cadres, financial support and public services, Zheng Linyi said.

How China is reaching into the Indo-Pacific with hypersonic missiles

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291728/how-china-reaching-indo-pacific-hypersonic-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed

The Chinese military has “the world’s leading” hypersonic missile arsenal, weapons that are helping it to operate “deeper into the Indo-Pacific region”, according to the Pentagon’s latest assessment of its rival’s armed forces.

In its annual report to the US Congress on Wednesday, the Department of Defence said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remained focused on developing abilities to “dissuade, deter, or, if ordered, defeat third-party intervention in the Indo-Pacific region”.

“The PLA continues developing the capabilities to conduct military operations deeper into the Indo-Pacific region and globally,” the report said, adding that the PLA was deploying hypersonic glide vehicles that may be “used to strike foreign military bases and fleets in the Western Pacific”.

Those abilities were part of structural reforms and new military doctrine designed to improve joint operations and test the PLA’s ability beyond the first island chain.

The chain is a series of islands and archipelagos running from the Japanese mainland to the Philippines off the coast of continental Asia and includes the strategic flashpoints of Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The US report said improvements to Chinese air and naval systems enabled its forces to “operate further from the PRC [People’s Republic of China] for longer”.

Evidence of the PLA’s extended range could be seen in the Shandong aircraft carrier’s three deployments to the Philippine Sea in 2023 – a record for one year.

There were also signs in upgrades to the PLA Rocket Force, the wing of the armed forces responsible for ground-based missiles.

The report said China was looking to hypersonic missile technology to counter adversary ballistic missile systems and reach past the first island chain.

Hypersonic missiles travel more than five times faster than the speed of sound and approach targets from a much lower angle, making them harder to detect with conventional missile defence systems.

Hypersonic ballistic missiles are typically equipped with hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) that can manoeuvre and glide at hypersonic speed, and change their trajectories after launch.

“The PRC has the world’s leading hypersonic missile arsenal and has dramatically advanced its development of conventional and nuclear-armed hypersonic missile technologies during the past 20 years,” the Pentagon report said.

The leader of China’s hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) pack is the DF-17, which was first deployed in 2020 and would replace some older short-range ballistic missile units, according to the report.

The report said the PLA might have also deployed the latest DF-27 ballistic missile with a HGV payload option.

First unveiled in 2019, the DF-27 is known to have a range of 5,000–8,000km (3,100-5,000 miles), potentially putting Alaska and Hawaii within reach. According to the Pentagon, this would mainly be used for regional conventional targets in a conflict, such as striking military bases in Guam.

The report added that China was probably developing more advanced delivery systems, such as a fractional orbital bombardment system.

This warhead delivery system uses a low-Earth orbit, has no range limit and so could fly over Antarctica to evade the US’ ground-based missile defence systems near the Arctic.

In July, 2021, China showed the technical ability to field such a system by testing an ICBM-range HGV over 40,000km.

In addition to hypersonic technology, China is exploring development of conventionally-armed intermediate and intercontinental range missile systems, according to the Pentagon.

These abilities would enable Beijing to “threaten conventional strikes against targets in the US mainland, Hawaii, and Alaska”.

The report said the rocket force deployed DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000-4,000km, in the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea.

The DF-26 is known as China’s first conventionally-armed ballistic missile capable of reaching Guam, home to US Navy and Air Force bases that play core roles in maintaining US military presence in the Western Pacific.

According to the Pentagon, China also “probably completed” the construction of its three new solid-propellant silo fields in 2022, which will cumulatively contain at least 300 new intercontinental ballistic missiles silos. The PLA has loaded at least some of these missiles into these silos.

“The PRC probably will continue to grow the number of launchers at most ICBM units over the next several years,” it added.

The Pentagon estimated that China has 400 ICBMs – 50 more than last year. The latest Chinese ICBMs are believed to be able to reach most of the US mainland.

The Pentagon report said China’s growing arsenals of advanced and longer-range conventional missile systems “improves its readiness for long-range precision strikes on US and allied forces and bases throughout much of the Indo-Pacific”.

According to the report, the PLA continues to increase its military abilities and its ground, naval, air, and rocket forces are “increasingly capable of projecting power at greater distances” from China.

However, the PLA’s ability to mount joint operations with different services beyond the first island chain was still limited, it said.

Vladimir Putin praises China, Brazil and South Africa for ‘balanced’ Ukraine peace efforts

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291748/vladimir-putin-praises-china-brazil-and-south-africa-balanced-ukraine-peace-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the “balanced” Ukraine peace drive led by China, Brazil and South Africa, describing it “a genuine attempt to find a solution”.

“We view this as a balanced attempt without imposing anything on either Ukraine or Russia,” Putin said, according to state-owned news agency Tass.

The three countries formally established a “Friends for Peace” group in September along with other developing nations at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Its stated aims are to unite the Global South in promoting peace, calling for a ceasefire and advocating for the resumption of peace talks.

Speaking at his annual press conference, Putin contrasted these “neutral” nations with the West, which he accused of waging “a proxy war” in Ukraine.

The Friends for Peace platform emphasises the need for a balanced, impartial approach, without taking sides or replacing existing diplomatic frameworks. A communique on forming the platform called for a “comprehensive and lasting settlement” through “inclusive diplomacy and political means”.

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping met former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, in Beijing, who also praised the group’s proposals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said he is open to the peace efforts led by China, Brazil and South Africa, but he rejected a previous six-point plan drafted by Brazil and China as “destructive”.

That plan, released in May, urged Russia and Ukraine not to expand the battlefield or escalate fighting and not provoke the other side. It also called for resumption of direct dialogue and a push for de-escalation until a ceasefire is agreed.

China has sought to present itself as a neutral party since the Russian invasion in February 2022 and has repeatedly denied providing support for Putin’s war effort. However, it remains a close political and economic partner of Russia, with some Nato members accusing it of being an “enabler” of the war.

The Ukraine war has been discussed at various international forums, including the Brics summit in Russia, which was attended by the three “Friends for Peace”, but details of the discussion have not been made public.

In June last year, Brazil put forward its own version of the plan, which suggested that Ukraine should cede Crimea.

Putin’s annual press conference is as much a spectacle as a news event. Ahead of the event, over 2 million questions were submitted by the public, according to Russian state media.

On Thursday, Putin said he had agreed to ceasefire proposals from Hungary and Turkey, blaming Volodymyr Zelensky for stepping back from those agreements.

He added Russia was willing to negotiate without preconditions, but it must be based on the proposals in the Istanbul Communiqué issued following multiple rounds of talks in the weeks after the invasion began in February 2022.

It was proposed that Ukraine abandon its Nato ambitions in return for guarantees of support from the West, but the talks eventually collapsed.

Chinese coastguard expels Philippine aircraft from Scarborough Shoal airspace

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291757/chinese-coastguard-expels-philippine-aircraft-scarborough-shoal-airspace?utm_source=rss_feed

China expelled a Philippine plane that “illegally intruded” into the airspace over a contested South China Sea shoal on Thursday, according to the China Coast Guard.

“A C-208 plane illegally invaded the airspace of China’s Huangyan Island on Thursday,” coastguard spokesman Liu Dejun said on Friday, using the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal.

“The Chinese coastguard closely monitored, warned and drove the aircraft away according to the law.”

Scarborough Shoal, known as Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is controlled by Beijing but also claimed by Manila.

It has been a flashpoint between the two countries since last year.

“Huangyan Island is China’s inherent territory, and the actions of the Philippine side severely infringe upon China’s sovereignty and pose high risks of maritime and air incidents,” Liu said.

“We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately cease its violations and provocation.”

China’s Xi urges Macau to increase exchanges with Portuguese-speaking world

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3291759/chinas-xi-urges-macau-increase-exchanges-portuguese-speaking-world?utm_source=rss_feed

President Xi Jinping has asked Macau to increase collaborations with Portuguese-speaking countries and help the country further open up, prompting calls by a business association for a public body to be set up to provide exporters with insurance protection.

Observers said a stronger push for internationalisation of the renminbi would help the country tap into a vast potential market of 279 million Portuguese speakers worldwide and aid Macau in its push for economic diversification.

In a keynote speech on Friday marking the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to Chinese administration, Xi highlighted the city’s role as the “only place in the world that uses Chinese and Portuguese as official languages”, serving as an important commercial and trade service platform.

“[Macau] should further open up, strengthen comprehensive collaborations with Portuguese-speaking countries, be actively involved in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative’s high-quality development and expand the circle of friends internationally,” Xi said.

“[Macau] should serve as an important bridgehead to facilitate the country’s high-level opening up.”

The president called on the city to improve the local business environment, as well as commercial and legal systems, and stimulate the market so it could “attract more international resources”.

Eduardo Ambrosio, president of the International Lusophone Markets Business Association, agreed that there were many opportunities to boost collaboration with the Portuguese-speaking world.

He said a priority for Macau would be to set up a dedicated public body to provide the city’s businesses with insurance protection against non-payment risks.

“It’s quite troublesome for Macau exporters, who now often need to set up a company in Hong Kong to buy insurance, with protection though the public body there,” he said, referring to the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation, which was established in 1966.

“When a mainland Chinese factory asks us to connect it with a Portuguese-speaking African client, we often hesitate due to uncertainty about their financial reliability. Risks often fall on middlemen in Macau like us.”

In Hong Kong, the contingent liability in insurance contracts is guaranteed by the government with the statutory maximum liability amount set at HK$80 billion (US$10.3 billion).

Among Portuguese-speaking countries, Brazil is Macau’s largest trading partner, followed by Portugal, Angola and Mozambique, according to the Statistics and Census Bureau.

In the first six months this year, imports and exports between Portuguese-speaking countries and Macau totalled 656.4 million patacas (US$82 million).

The city’s latest census showed Portuguese-language proficiency stood at 2.3 per cent, with 13,021 ethnic Portuguese residents, or 1.9 per cent of the total population.

Kwan Fung, an assistant professor in economics at the University of Macau, suggested that the new administration help promote the internationalisation of the renminbi among Portuguese-speaking countries.

Macau recently built an e-MOP prototype system, which might be linked to the digital currency system of the renminbi and Hong Kong dollars in the future.

“If you could do that, China would no longer need to use US dollars when trading with those Lusophone countries … that is Macau’s edge but it has not been turned into good results,” he said.

After being sworn in as Macau’s new chief executive by Xi, Sam Hou-fai vowed to speed up economic diversification with a “1+4” strategy and tackle “economic imbalances”.

Under the blueprint rolled out by previous leader Ho Iat Seng, Macau will focus on developing its main “one centre” for integrated tourism and leisure, while facilitating the growth of four nascent or “plus” industries.

The latter are traditional Chinese medicine industry, modern financial services, high technology, and an expanded conference sector that covers culture and sports.

On Thursday, Xi visited the Macau University of Science and Technology, including a state-level key laboratory on traditional Chinese medicine.

Professor Zeng Li, director of the university’s Chinese medicine faculty, said Xi commended the school’s contribution to societal needs and national development.

Citing an agreement signed last year with an academic institution in Lisbon to enhance exchanges in Chinese medicine, Zeng said it would be a priority for Macau to press for the internationalisation of the sector.

She said her institution had been expanding its postgraduate exchange network beyond the United States and Switzerland, and that the government would support greater recognition of Chinese medicine practitioners with acupuncture and massage qualifications.

Kwan advised that the Macau government should reassess the positioning of the four emerging industries, as they did not fully align with the city’s strengths, especially the health and technology sectors, which required the input and expertise of highly skilled talent.

“The big health industry is broad- such as drugmaking, drug testing and medical devices – it’s hard for us to do it all,” he said.

The economics professor suggested that integrating elements of tourism and gambling, which were Macau’s competitive advantages, could prove mutually beneficial to both industries.

China KOLs banned for posing as wives of Dubai royalty to sell subpar household items

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3291068/china-kols-banned-posing-wives-dubai-royalty-sell-subpar-household-items?utm_source=rss_feed

Influencers in China who posed as “Middle Eastern princesses” to market “royal” lifestyle products have had their accounts banned on mainland social media platforms, igniting widespread attention.

Luo Jialin, a popular Douyin KOL with 100,000 followers, shared a video in front of a luxurious villa, dressed in an elegant gold evening gown and adorned with a striking jade necklace, with her arm around an Arab-looking man.

Luo claimed: “My husband is a young prince from a wealthy and influential Saudi family. I’m over four months pregnant.”

She also mentioned her plans to relocate to Saudi Arabia with her husband soon, stating she is selling off “hundreds of millions in assets” in China at a loss to give back to her fans.

During her live-stream, Luo offered various items labelled as “French perfume” and “British royal laundry detergent”, all priced under 50 yuan (US$7).

Many viewers expressed scepticism about the products, commenting: “Why are the prince and princess selling ordinary items instead of luxury goods?”

However, those who voiced such doubts were promptly removed from the live-stream by the host.

Another female influencer, dressed in traditional Middle Eastern attire and a headscarf, sat in a luxury car alongside her “Dubai prince”.

She announced plans to divorce her husband and intended to sell products at discounted prices to liquidate assets.

In one live-stream, 300 pairs of stockings priced at 6 yuan were sold, alongside over 1,000 orders for 2kg of “British laundry detergent” at 6.99 yuan each.

China Youth Daily, a state-run media outlet, reported that these influencers hired foreign actors to impersonate princes and princesses while selling low-quality products. Their accounts were subsequently banned, and the products removed from sale.

As of this writing, the specific penalties imposed on them have not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Chinese community, DXBcom, issued a statement clarifying that no royal family members from Arab states had authorised any live-stream sales in China.

The viral “Middle Eastern princess” live-stream phenomenon has sparked extensive discussions across mainland social media.

A netizen remarked on Weibo: “These influencers are exploiting fans’ admiration and curiosity towards successful and wealthy elites.”

“My mother once bought a 30 yuan (US$4) perfume from a so-called princess, and it smelled terrible. Do not be deceived by cheap offers; it’s clearly a scam targeting older individuals with poor judgment,” shared another user.

This trend has also drawn the attention of genuine Chinese influencers married to individuals from Middle Eastern countries.

One such KOL, known as “Saudi Rou Sister”, shares her journey of launching a perfume brand with her husband in Saudi Arabia on Douyin, amassing 2.55 million followers.

She commented: “There aren’t that many so-called rich tycoons in the Middle East. True nobles tend to remain low-key and do not frequent social media.”

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart’s 370% surge fuelled by blind box collectibles

https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3291677/chinese-toymaker-pop-marts-370-surge-fuelled-blind-box-collectibles?utm_source=rss_feed

In a Vanity Fair video last month, Lisa, a member of mega K-pop band Blackpink, shared her obsession with toys from Chinese company Pop Mart International Group.

“I go crazy. It’s like I spent all my money,” she laughed, unboxing dolls from the toymaker’s Pucky Roly Poly Kitty series. “I go to Pop Mart everywhere. If I fly to New York, I try to find Pop Mart there. Paris, you know, everywhere. [It’s] kind of like finding treasure.”

Lisa isn’t the only one clamouring for Pop Mart’s toys. This year, the Beijing-based company has turned from an in-the-know favourite among China’s Gen Z to a global phenomenon. In the US and Australia, fans have reportedly queued for hours, sometimes in the middle of the night, for new releases. Stores have popped up in the cities including Paris, Milan and New York. Overseas sales have jumped fivefold.

Fervour for its wide-ranging toys has turned Pop Mart into the hottest Chinese growth company, with shares up 368 per cent this year, trouncing most members on the MSCI China Index. It also beat global peers like Walt Disney and Hello Kitty’s parent company Sanrio. The firm reported domestic sales that grew at least 55 per cent in the September quarter from the same period a year earlier, while overseas sales surged more than 400 per cent.

“Pop Mart is likely the first home-grown Chinese consumer brand to achieve significant global success by attracting consumers via intellectual property, design and products, rather than pricing,” Morgan Stanley analysts including Dustin Wei said in a note. He called the company a “global brand in the making”.

Pop Mart often sells its dolls inside a blind box, which means the consumer does not know what specific character is inside until they open it. Their novelty lies in its situational, character-driven designs that fans value for their emotional appeal.

Take the retailer’s signature character Molly, a short-haired girl with a constant pout. She can appear as Space Molly, an astronaut travelling through the universe, or Baby Molly, depicting her as a three-year old toddler. For overseas markets, the company creates tailor-made designs such as a Mona Lisa-like monster on sale at its Louvre store in Paris.

The toys typically start retailing at 69 yuan (US$9.50), while bigger, limited edition ones can sell for a couple of thousand yuan. There are also active grey markets on Chinese apps and e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, where popular and rare dolls sell at several times their original prices.

Citigroup expects Pop Mart’s global revenue to account for half of total sales next year as the company expands to North America and Europe. As of June 30, the company had 92 physical stores and over 160 vending machines abroad.

Pop Mart did not respond to Bloomberg’s requests for comment.

Founded in 2010, the company earns most its revenue from proprietary intellectual property products. It works with artists, established IP providers and an in-house design team to create its dolls. The toymaker also licenses brands from companies like Disney and Universal Studios.

Pop Mart’s intellectual property like Molly isn’t content based and does not have storylines like Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse or Nintendo’s Pokémon. Instead, the company relies on introducing new versions to boost popularity.

In China, the government prohibits blind box sales to children under the age of eight due to worries over addiction. Before authorities imposed such guidelines in 2023, regulatory risk was a key concern among investors. And despite its strong momentum, Pop Mart’s relatively short track record makes it difficult for investors to find long-term conviction in its growth story.

Intellectual property businesses are cyclical in nature, and Pop Mart’s toy characters have not been around long, added Shuyan Feng, deputy general manager for investment management at Huatai Asset Management (Hong Kong). “Competition can also get fierce in China, where once there are money making opportunities, everybody floods in,” she said.

This year’s rally has made its shares more expensive. The stock currently trades at 32.4 times forward multiples, above its three-year average.

“Pop Mart is still a very young company and more time is needed to tell if they can continue seamless execution and revitalise their IPs,” said Chris Gao, a consumer research analyst at CLSA in Hong Kong. “When it becomes one generation’s memory, that definitely creates more long lasting demand.”

For the time being, however, consumers remain hooked – particularly at home. As of June, the company had 39 million registered member customers in mainland China, with a repeat purchase rate of 43.9 per cent. The mainland accounted for about 70 per cent of total sales in the first half of 2024. On TikTok, the hashtag #popmart has been used in over 667,000 posts and 1.8 million users follow the company’s official account.

Labubu, a small monster with high, pointed ears and serrated teeth, is so popular it’s inspired tattoos, counterfeits and even an Ecstasy pill shaped like the character in Thailand.

“The hunt for your target is a very addictive feeling tied in with instant dopamine,” said Gabriella Joma, a 36-year-old account executive in the US and, like so many others, a regular buyer of the brand’s toys. “I am hoping to visit more Pop Mart stores around the world. So far I have shopped in Italy, France, England, South Korea and Japan.”

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Vietnam seeks more cooperation with China’s PLA in training, ideology and border defence

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291681/vietnam-seeks-more-cooperation-chinas-pla-training-ideology-and-border-defence?utm_source=rss_feed

Vietnam’s General Secretary To Lam has called for expanded cooperation with China’s military in training, ideology and border defence in a meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Hanoi on Thursday.

To Lam praised defence cooperation between China and Vietnam as “increasingly practical and effective”, according to a report published by Vietnam News Agency on Thursday.

The two countries’ militaries should step up exchanges at all levels and explore new areas for potential cooperation, he reportedly told Dong.

To Lam emphasised “the need for expanding cooperation in political and ideological education, personnel training and border defence” while calling for more defence cooperation and better ways to control and settle disputes over contested waters, according to the report.

Vietnam News Agency said Dong was in Hanoi to attend the celebration on Sunday of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Festival.

The Chinese government has not issued information about his visit to Hanoi and it is not known how long he will be in Vietnam.

The visit comes as Beijing increasingly looks to Hanoi as an important middle power to balance defence ties with its other neighbours in the South China Sea and steps up high-level exchanges, including a slew of defence engagements, between the communist neighbours.

China’s vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, General Zhang Youxia, travelled to Vietnam in October where he met To Lam and expressed Beijing’s willingness to deepen relations with Hanoi, including political, economic and cultural ties. It was Zhang’s third international trip since becoming vice-chairman of the CMC in 2017, having made two previous trips to Russia.

Vietnam was the destination for Dong’s first foreign trip after becoming China’s defence minister in December 2023.

In April, he visited to meet his Vietnamese counterpart, Phan Van Giang. They signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a hotline between the PLA Southern Theatre Command and the Vietnamese navy to manage the risk of conflict over the South China Sea.

Dong’s visit to Vietnam this week was hailed by To Lam as bringing about “high-level common perceptions on strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation as a key pillar in Vietnam-China relations”, according to Vietnam News Agency.

Dong affirmed the PLA’s readiness to work with the Vietnam People’s Army for substantive and comprehensive cooperation in the meeting, it said.

Beijing has laid claim to the resource-rich South China Sea – one of the world’s busiest shipping routes – which has been contested by the Philippines and Vietnam as well as Malaysia and Brunei. In recent months, Beijing has encountered frequent stand-offs with Manila as the territorial row escalates.

The visit is Dong’s first foreign visit since Beijing denied media reports he was under a corruption probe.

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Predicting US-China economic clashes, Chinese astronauts break record: SCMP’s 7 highlights

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3291631/predicting-us-china-economic-clashes-chinese-astronauts-break-record-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider .

As US president-elect Donald Trump forms his hawk-filled cabinet, what might China do to counter and deflect a barrage of blows?

2.

The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) electronic warfare unit has produced a list of targets for a coordinated attack against US aircraft carrier strike groups.

Five anti-dandruff shampoos sold in Hong Kong contain substances banned in the EU for being potentially harmful to fetuses and reproductive systems, the consumer watchdog has found.

Two Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have broken the world record for the longest single spacewalk, set more than two decades ago by the US space programme.

A Malaysian court on Thursday quashed over a dozen charges of money-laundering and tax evasion against Rosmah Mansor, the wife of jailed former leader Najib Razak.

A team of scientists in China said they have discovered how a type of bile known as lithocholic acid (LCA) can slow down ageing in a way similar to how calorie restriction or fasting work.

Laopu Gold outshines Chow Tai Fook as China’s top jeweller with 437% stock surge

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3291649/laopu-gold-outshines-chow-tai-fook-chinas-top-jeweller-437-stock-surge?utm_source=rss_feed

If anything glitters in China’s otherwise dour retail jewellery landscape, chances are it just might be from Laopu Gold.

The Beijing-based jeweller, whose Chinese name translates to “old shop”, is luring shoppers as it outshines market leader Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and other local brands, from sales growth to stock performance. Revenue increased 148 per cent year on year in the first six months of 2024 and is on course for more than doubling this year, while shares have surged 437 per cent since its listing in Hong Kong in June – making it the best performer on the Hang Seng Composite Index this year.

The 14-day relative strength index on the stock has breached 80 at least five times since its market debut, a rare level that is considered indicative of an outperformer. An RSI value of 70 and above typically denotes the stock is overbought, but analysts are still bullish, with all 14 covering the company recommending buying the stock, data compiled by Bloomberg shows.

Founded 15 years ago, the company has opted to stay small – at just 33 stores – and offers mostly Buddhism-inspired heritage gold jewellery that carry fixed prices, as opposed to local brands that usually price items based on weight. That is an important distinction for Laopu, one that has helped burnish its luxury quotient and draw comparisons with global labels such as Cie Financiere Richemont’s Cartier and LVMH’s Tiffany – a rare feat for a Chinese label.

Laopu’s “relatively small size” is an advantage that is allowing it to focus on quality over quantity, said Mark Tanner, managing director of consultancy China Skinny in Shanghai. The brand “fills a space” in the untapped China-made luxury market, he said.

A 7.2 gram Laopu gold necklace with diamond studded gold pendant retails for anything from 11,230 yuan (US$1,540), much higher than if it were to be sold just based on the gold’s weight. The brand also draws those seeking exquisite decorative ornaments that touch on classic Chinese elements. Price tags for those can read hundreds of thousands of yuan.

While most retailers in China are counting on stimulus measures from Beijing to revive consumption activity in the world’s No 2 economy, Laopu’s luxury strategy, coupled with strong local appeal, has helped the brand buck a broader slowdown in demand.

Laopu has largely relied on repeated purchases from wealthy patrons, with the number of loyalty members buying their products at least fives times more than doubling in 2023 from 2021.

“We believe Laopu could continue to penetrate into high-net-worth consumer groups,” JPMorgan Chase analysts including Qian Yao said in a note, forecasting a 55 per cent annual revenue growth from 2024 to 2026.

The jeweller expects to add 10 new stores in mainland China and around five across Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and other Asian cities in the next three years. Besides physical stores, Laopu also sells online through flagship stores on e-commerce platforms like Alibaba Group Holding’s Tmall and JD.com, as well as WeChat.

Still, Laopu may find it difficult to maintain its pace of growth. Its ability to retain the aura of exclusivity, as well as investment demand for gold and intensity of competition are risks, according to Tanner.

Yushu Dai, 30, bought two pieces of Laopu Gold jewellery, a pendant and a diamond and ruby studded ring, for 630,000 yuan during a recent trip to Shanghai. It was a weekend and the store, decked out in design elements from ancient Chinese study rooms, was buzzing with customers.

Dai waited in a line for about 20 minutes and was treated with Evian bottled water and chocolates.

“The jewellery counter was so crowded with people trying on necklaces and couples picking wedding rings, I could barely squeeze in to check out the ring that I wanted,” she said.

Australia strikes US$118 million policing deal with China-friendly Solomon Islands

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3291644/australia-strikes-us118-million-policing-deal-china-friendly-solomon-islands?utm_source=rss_feed

Australia said on Friday it has agreed to help boost Solomon Islands’ police force with a finance and training package for the Pacific nation, which has fostered close ties with China.

The deal includes A$190 million (US$118 million) in financing over four years, training and infrastructure including a police training centre in the Solomons’ capital Honiara, Canberra said.

It represents a “new foundation for Australia’s security partnership with the Solomon Islands”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference.

“What we have done is ensure that Australia remains the security partner of choice.”

Albanese said he sealed the agreement in discussions with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.

Manele’s predecessor switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2019.

Three years later, the archipelago signed a secretive security deal with Beijing that raised alarm in Western capitals over China’s expanding influence in the Pacific.

Beijing’s move sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity by the United States, Australia and other allies to cement closer relations with strategically placed South Pacific nations.

“My government is proud to make a significant investment in the police force of the Solomon Islands to ensure that they can continue to take primary responsibility for security in the Solomons,” Albanese said.

“This partnership will strengthen the Solomon Islands domestic security, but it will also enhance its ability to contribute to regional stability.”

China has also been offering training and hardware to the Solomons police.

It maintains a small but conspicuous police presence in the country, sending a revolving cadre of officers to train locals in shooting and riot tactics.

Local police, numbering 1,500 for a population of about 720,000, appeared overwhelmed when anti-government protests turned violent in Honiara in November 2021.

The riots left at least three people dead and much of the capital’s Chinatown district in ruins.

On a visit to Australia in June, Sogavare raised the country’s policing needs with Albanese.

In a joint statement, the leaders said the Solomons had asked Australia to help it double the size of its police force to 3,000 over a decade, with a longer-term goal of reaching 5,000.

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7 scientists, mathematicians, physicists and experts who moved to China in 2024

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3291509/7-scientists-mathematicians-physicists-and-experts-who-moved-china-2024?utm_source=rss_feed

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest stories about scientists in China this year. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider .

After three decades of distinguished work in the United States, world-leading cancer researcher Sun Shao-Cong has returned to China to establish a new lab in Beijing, following what a source said were investigations of him by the US government.

French physicist and Nobel laureate Gérard Mourou has joined Peking University’s school of physics as a chair professor, where he is expected to play a “crucial role” in the establishment of an institute focused on research and international collaborations.

Award-winning Japanese mathematician Kenji Fukaya has left Stony Brook University in the US to join China’s Tsinghua University as a full-time professor.

Award-winning Chinese mathematician Ma Xiaonan has left his decades-long career in Europe to join Nankai University in Tianjin, according to an announcement on the university’s website.

After more than 20 years in Britain as a prominent physicist dedicated to unveiling the secrets of superfast fluids, Zhang Yonghao has joined China’s new national hypersonic laboratory in Beijing.

After more than three decades in Europe, leading climate expert and fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Chen Deliang has returned to China to take up a full-time position at Tsinghua University.

Wang Xujia, a renowned Chinese-Australian mathematician and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences, has returned to his hometown of Hangzhou to join China’s prestigious Westlake University after nearly three decades abroad.

Chinese actress, director Joan Chen’s past as dishwasher in US sparks lively debate online

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3290957/chinese-actress-director-joan-chens-past-dishwasher-us-sparks-lively-debate-online?utm_source=rss_feed

Renowned Chinese-American actress Joan Chen, an Oscar Academy Awards judge whose works have won nine Oscars, has reignited significant online discussions over her early struggles as a dishwasher in the US.

Born in Shanghai in 1961 to a family of medical professionals – her mother a pharmacologist and neurobiologist, and her father a former hospital dean – Chen’s journey into acting was serendipitous.

In 1977, while a secondary school student, Chinese director Xie Jin cast her in the film Youth, drawn by her unique character.

Although this collaboration did not bring widespread recognition, it caught the eye of director Zhang Zheng, who offered her a role in his film The Little Flower. This role earned her the Best Actress Award at the 3rd Hundred Flowers Awards, marking a pivotal turning point in her life and career.

Despite her growing success, she left her acting career in 1981 to study in the US, trading fame for new beginnings and broader opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Initially working as a dishwasher in American restaurants to cover tuition and living expenses, she faced significant psychological challenges transitioning from a celebrated actress to an ordinary worker.

In a recent interview with New Weekly in November, Chen reflected: “Sometimes I fight hard, with bruises and scars all over, but it was all part of my destiny.”

These enduring hardships honed her English skills and acting craft, leading to roles in critically acclaimed films like The Last Emperor and Tai Pan, garnering international acclaim.

In 1986, Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci cast her in The Last Emperor, an epic biographical drama about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China.

The film became a monumental success, winning nine Oscars, including Best Picture, and establishing itself as a cinematic milestone.

In 1988, Chen, alongside John Lone, co-presented an award at the 60th Academy Awards, making her the first Chinese actress to grace the Oscar stage.

Over the years, her career has thrived, starring in Ang Lee’s 2007 film Lust, Caution, and refocusing on the mainland market with hit films like Hachiko, Sheep Without a Shepherd, and Under the Light, collaborating with renowned Chinese directors.

Beyond her career, Chen is a devoted mother. In May 2020, she expressed overwhelming pride as her eldest daughter, Angela, graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University.

As her story of struggle and hardship resurfaces on Chinese social media, it deeply resonates with netizens, receiving much praise online.

One person commented: “She could have relied on her looks but chose talent; she could have relied on her talent but chose hard work.”

Another added: “Her dishwashing experience isn’t a source of shame but a testament to the value of perseverance. It reminds us that success awaits those who don’t give up.”

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Macau returns to China in 1999 after 442 years of Portuguese rule – from the SCMP archive

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3291215/macau-returns-china-1999-after-442-years-portuguese-rule-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed

This article was first published on December 20, 1999.

By Niall Fraser and Stella Lee in Macau

China reclaimed Macau after four centuries of Portuguese rule last night, with President Jiang Zemin saying the return was a significant step towards the early completion of reunification.

In an emotion-charged midnight ceremony, some 2,300 guests heard Mr Jiang say Macau’s return, following that of Hong Kong, was crucial to the settlement of the Taiwan issue.

“The implementation of the concept of ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong and Macau has played and will continue to play an important exemplary role for our eventual settlement of the Taiwan question.

“The Chinese Government and people are confident and capable of an early settlement of the Taiwan question and the complete national reunification,” Mr Jiang said.

Reunification with Macau ended 442 years of rule from Lisbon and closed the colonial era in Asia.

The handover ceremony, filled with pomp and ceremony, lasted little more than 16 minutes and marked the final chapter in more than 12 years of largely smooth Sino-Portuguese planning and negotiations.

Mr Jiang stood stock still, head held high, as the Chinese national flag was raised on the stroke of midnight. Members of Lisbon’s honour guard folded away Portugal’s red-and-green flag before marching offstage in the opposite direction to the PLA contingent, led by the soldier who raised the flag at Hong Kong’s handover.

Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, sitting behind Mr Jiang, broke into smiles as the flag was raised inside the purpose-built handover venue near the floodlit waterfront.

Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, Prime Minister Antonio Guterres and parliamentary Deputy Speaker Narana Coissoro were sombre as the flag came down on their country’s last colonial outpost.

The inauguration of the Macau Special Administrative Region Government and the swearing in of Edmund Ho Hau-wah as Chief Executive took place early today. He described the occasion as “‘a joyous, proud and glorious moment”.

“It was an immensely inspiring experience to see the Macau flag hoisted together with the national flag.” Mr Ho said.

The PLA garrison arrives today to what is expected to be a rapturous welcome.

In his speech, Mr Jiang said the reunification marked “significant progress made by the Chinese people in accomplishing the great task of national reunification”.

His speech was much shorter than the one he gave at the Hong Kong handover. He made no specific mention of Macau’s Basic Law.

Mr Jiang pledged the Chinese Government would unswervingly implement the policies of “one country, two systems” with “Macau people administering Macau” along with a high degree of autonomy.

He added that the Macau SAR would be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.

“Macau inhabitants, irrespective of race or belief, will all be masters of this land, enjoying, as equals, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by law,” he said.

The economic interests of all countries and regions with a stake in Macau would be protected in line with the law and they would have “an even brighter tomorrow” after the handover, Mr Jiang said.

Asked before the ceremony whether he was in a good mood, Mr Jiang smiled and replied in Cantonese: “Yes, yes.”

PLA and Portuguese army honour guards presented arms to their leaders as Macau came to a standstill to witness history in the making.

President Sampaio, speaking just before midnight, called for the Macau SAR to respect individual human and political rights, and said the enclave would “endure as a meeting point between Europe and Asia”.

He said: “Portugal will continue to express its solidarity with Macau, and will remain committed to its future in the conviction that here, too, democracy and freedom are an irreplaceable reality.”

As the clock ticked towards midnight, more than 1,000 people gathered at the Ruins of St Paul and in Leal Senado Square.

Symbols of the change were swift. Just after midnight workers were seen switching the Chinese and Portuguese names of a bank to put the Chinese name at the top. High winds forced the cancellation of the fireworks.

How China can hasten the break-up of the US-Japan-South Korea partnership

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3291263/how-china-can-hasten-break-us-japan-south-korea-partnership?utm_source=rss_feed

The US-Japan-South Korea partnership could face the threat of dissolution after major political changes in all three countries. Initiated by the late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, promoted by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and effectively led by the Biden administration, the partnership aims to counter China and North Korea.

In the United States, Donald Trump, who disagrees with many of the Biden administration’s plans, is set to return as president. In South Korea, Yoon, a staunch supporter of the partnership, and his administration are looking at a near-certain collapse. And Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government wants to transform Japan into a “normal country”.

The trilateral partnership’s core difficulties stem from the three countries’ diverging foreign policy paths, which are related to strategic adjustments in their domestic development priorities. The differences arising will make sustained collaboration increasingly unlikely.

The US president-elect’s campaign promises and avowed policies, which have been described as Trump 2.0, signal a continuation of his “America first” approach. This includes a focus on domestic issues, especially the manufacturing and energy industries, and a scaling back of international involvement and commitments.

A cornerstone of Trump’s expected foreign policy involves shifting from providing free security for US allies to requiring payment for protection. This would be a significant departure from previous administrations and undoubtedly weakens the foundation of US strategic cooperation with Japan and South Korea.

South Korea’s domestic political upheaval is also poised to bring changes. Yoon’s botched attempt at imposing martial law severely damaged the ruling conservative party politically and resulted in his impeachment. The progressive main opposition Democratic Party, which has a markedly different foreign policy stance, is likely to take power.

Unlike Yoon’s administration, the progressives are unlikely to compromise on South Korea’s historical wartime disputes with Japan, and would emphasise closer ties with China and balanced relations with the US and China.

This is likely to cause a rupture in the trilateral partnership, especially if Trump starts demanding that Japan and South Korea contribute more to their security arrangements.

Additionally, South Korea’s challenges with a nuclear-armed North Korea make it increasingly probable that it will move away from the partnership unless Trump’s administration can achieve North Korea’s denuclearisation – a highly unlikely prospect.

Meanwhile, Japan’s new Ishiba government is moving towards strategic autonomy, with a focus on reconciliation and strategic cooperation with China. Ishiba’s fundamental foreign policy aims include transforming Japan into a “normal country” complete with an independent military and revising the treaty governing stationed US troops.

But the primary obstacle to Japan becoming a normal country has historically been the US. This explains Ishiba’s pivot towards dialogue and cooperation with China.

Japan’s latest diplomatic efforts emphasise high-level Sino-Japanese interactions. Conversations in Japan suggest that the country hopes for a visit from Chinese Premier Li Qiang next year, followed by a visit by Ishiba to China, and eventually a state visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

While Japan seeks to balance its relations with the US and China in certain areas, its immediate priority is reconciliation with China. Such developments will further weaken the trilateral partnership.

Against this backdrop, the US strategy to contain China in East Asia will face significant complications. Trump 2.0 policies and a strategy that demands paying for US security will exacerbate these changes, forcing Japan and South Korea to reassess their roles in the partnership.

In light of these shifts, China can mitigate US pressure by adjusting its policies towards Japan and South Korea. Proactive measures can accelerate the dissolution of the US-Japan-South Korea partnership.

China should strengthen its economic and trade ties with Japan and South Korea, particularly by pushing the China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement. Offering preferential trading terms, including in market access and tariffs, while jointly developing third-party markets through the Belt and Road Initiative will foster closer economic integration. These efforts can help offset the negative impact of America-first policies and promote a win-win outcome for all three Asian countries.

China can also offer cooperation on the North Korea nuclear issue. Although Trump has signalled intentions to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the US alone is unlikely to resolve the nuclear issue. China, Japan and South Korea, as the countries most directly affected by North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, must collaborate closely.

Strengthening cooperation with Japan, in particular, is essential, as Japanese public opinion on this issue is relatively unified compared to South Korea’s more complex political landscape.

By pursuing these two strategies, China can offset the adverse effects of Trump’s policies and carve out a new strategic landscape in East Asia. This comprehensive approach will not only help China navigate the challenges posed by US pressure but also contribute to regional stability and economic growth.

China, Pakistan wrap up counterterror drills amid concerns over attacks

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291579/china-pakistan-wrap-counterterror-drills-amid-concerns-over-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed

China has wrapped up nearly three weeks of joint counterterrorism drills with Pakistan and signalled future “cross-border strategic projection” between the two militaries.

It comes as Beijing has stepped up pressure on Islamabad to do more to stop attacks targeting its nationals in the neighbouring South Asian country.

The People’s Liberation Army sent troops to Pakistan for the exercise – dubbed Warrior-8 – which focused on “joint counterterrorism clearance operations”, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.

“Through this exercise, our strategic projection and inter-force combat capabilities were tested, laying the foundation for the upcoming cross-border strategic projection and joint combat missions,” a PLA Air Force officer told CCTV.

The exercise, which finished on Saturday, also involved live-fire simulations, the use of drones for reconnaissance and counter-attack, as well as airborne assault, according to the report.

It included footage of troops disembarking from helicopters, and said missions had been coordinated between the two militaries as well as between their air and ground forces.

The PLA sent more than 300 troops to Pakistan from its Western Theatre Command in mid-November, weeks after a suicide bombing near Jinnah International Airport in the southern city of Karachi killed two Chinese nationals.

The exercise was the two countries’ eighth joint counterterrorism drill and their first since 2019. The Pakistan Army said the exercise was launched at a northwestern counterterrorism facility.

China has increased diplomatic pressure on Islamabad after a series of attacks in Pakistan targeting Chinese infrastructure and citizens in recent years.

After the Karachi attack, China’s foreign ministry demanded efforts by Islamabad to “effectively close the security loopholes”.

A ministry spokesperson said Islamabad should also introduce “more targeted measures to provide full protection for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan”.

Thousands of Chinese nationals are working on infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of the economic corridor – a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project – and Beijing has also reportedly pushed Islamabad to allow its own security staff to provide protection for Chinese nationals there.

Reuters reported last month that Beijing had sent a written proposal to Islamabad with a clause allowing security agencies and military forces into each others’ territory to assist in counterterrorism missions and conduct joint strikes. Neither side has confirmed the proposal.

Islamabad has carried out military offensives against separatist insurgents in Pakistan, including one in late November that killed four terrorists in three separate incidents in Balochistan province – home to major projects under China’s belt and road scheme.

Those efforts are aimed at deterring militant groups like the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army, which has accused Pakistan’s military of colonising the province with the help of China.

No groups have claimed responsibility for some of the attacks targeting China, including a suicide bombing near a Chinese dam project in Pakistan’s northwest in March. Five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed in that attack while they were on the way from their camp to the construction site in Dasu in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

China’s Xi Jinping swears in new Macau leader on 25th anniversary of return

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3291613/xi-jinping-set-swear-new-macau-leader-25th-anniversary-return?utm_source=rss_feed

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by . Get faster notifications on the latest updates by .

Macau is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese administration on Friday, with President Xi Jinping inaugurating the sixth-term government in the former Portuguese-run city.

Xi will officiate at the swearing in of former top judge Sam Hou-fai as the city’s new leader and 10 top officials at the Macau East Asian Games Dome. The new administration has vowed to diversify the local economy and solve deep-seated problems through reforms.

The Post has created a series of reports, detailing Macau’s dramatic transformation through infographics, examining how far the casino city can go with its reforms, asking whether its neighbouring Hengqin island can offer hope and talking to young locals about their challenges ahead.

The president’s keynote speech at the inauguration ceremony on Friday morning is set to shed light on Macau’s development, with observers saying the messages are also meant for Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area.

Follow the Post’s live blog as we cover the speech, key events and all the colour on the ground in the city.

– Macau: 25 years of change

– Xi Jinping lays out 3 expectations for Macau as new leader set to take reins

– Xi Jinping tells Hong Kong’s John Lee country has ‘very high expectations’

– China’s first lady calls on Macau students to embrace heritage, serve country

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TikTok parent ByteDance intensifies China AI rivalry with 85% price cut for visual model

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3291562/tiktok-parent-bytedance-intensifies-china-ai-rivalry-85-price-cut-visual-model?utm_source=rss_feed

TikTok parent ByteDance has turned up the heat in the Chinese generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) market by slashing the price of a new AI model with “visual understanding” capabilities and launching a slew of product updates.

The new model, part of the company’s popular Doubao family, was introduced at 0.003 yuan (US$0.00041) per thousand token uses, Tan Dai, president of ByteDance’s Volcano Engine cloud unit, said at a corporate event on Wednesday.

Tokens are the standard billing units for using AI models through an application programming interface (API). At that price, which is 85 per cent lower than the industry average, a user would only need to spend 1 yuan to process up to 284 high-definition images.

ByteDance’s ultra-low pricing for its advanced AI model, which is capable of understanding text, physical objects, and spatial relationships in images, along with enhanced reasoning abilities, underscores growing rivalry in the Chinese market, where Big Tech firms and deep-pocketed start-ups have locked horns in a brutal price war to woo customers.

Starting midyear, Chinese tech firms, from giants like Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu, ByteDance and Tencent Holdings, to start-ups such as Zhipu AI, drastically cut prices for using their AI models through APIs, with a few even giving their basic services away for free with some conditions. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

The average daily token use of Doubao models has reached 4 trillion, a 33-fold increase from May, Tan said, according to a video of the event posted on the website of ByteDance’s cloud unit.

Tan said that affordable pricing paired with Doubao’s ability to visually perceive and comprehend its surroundings, would unlock various use cases in education, e-commerce, tourism, logistics and transport, among others.

The Doubao chatbot has surged to become China’s most-popular, with 60 million monthly active users last month, according to traffic analytics service Aicpb.com. On Wednesday, ByteDance also announced iterations to a bevy of its AI models and products.

The premium Doubao Pro model offers improvements in mathematics, reasoning, coding, and domain expertise areas, while the updated Doubao music model is now able to generate a complete music number three minutes in length.

In media interviews before the product launch, Tan was quoted as saying that ByteDance was aiming to become the top AI player in China.

“The new technology revolution is … AI and large language models. Our goal is to become No 1 in the area and we’re marching towards that direction,” Tan told local outlet Huxiu.

Chinese national charged with acting as Beijing’s agent in local California election

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3291626/chinese-national-charged-acting-beijings-agent-local-california-election?utm_source=rss_feed

A Chinese national was arrested Thursday on charges of acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed politician elected to a city council in Southern California two years ago.

The arrest of Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, came at a time of rising concerns that the Chinese government has cultivated a network of operatives to influence local elections in the US to install politicians who are friendly to Beijing and can help promote Chinese interests.

According to a complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Central District of California, Sun is accused of conspiring with Chen Jun, who was sentenced to 20 months last month for acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government.

Chen, 71, also a Chinese national, pleaded guilty in July to using Chinese money to bribe federal agents to undermine the anti-Beijing spiritual group Falun Gong. The charge against Sun shows that Chen also conspired to interfere with local elections.

It was not immediately clear if Sun had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

Sun was instructed by Chen to write up a report in 2023 to recount to Chinese officials how they helped the local politician get elected, according to the affidavit.

Subsequent writings between the two men described the city councilperson as a “new political star” and included a request for US$80,000 to fund more pro-Beijing activities in the United States, according to the court documents.

Chen asked Sun to list all the mainstream American politicians the city councilperson was familiar with and told Sun that it would be “very effective to elevate” the status of the councilperson in China.

“This case is yet another example of a very disturbing trend: the People’s Republic of China is seeking to influence foreign and domestic policy in the United States,” Martin Estrada, US attorney for the Central District of California, said in a call with reporters.

“To do so, government officials in China are seeking to help get elected individuals who they see as being friendly to Chinese foreign policy.”

The charges against Sun followed those against a former aide to two New York governors in September. Authorities have accused Linda Sun of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and using her positions to subtly advance Beijing’s agenda in exchange for financial benefits worth millions of dollars.

In California, Estrada said Yaoning Sun appeared to be ideologically invested in furthering the interests of the Chinese government in the United States, noting that he had previously served in the Chinese military. The complaint does not specify financial gains for Yaoning Sun, who probably is not related to Linda Sun, as they share a common Chinese name.

In the affidavit, it is alleged that Yaoning Sun, a resident of Chino Hills outside Los Angeles, also ran a media outlet called the “US News Centre” with the councilperson and paid for some of the politician’s travel expenses.

Prosecutors say Sun worked closely with Chen, who appeared to be in regular contact with Chinese officials. Their communications included how to protest a US congressperson’s proposed visit to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing sees as part of Chinese territory.

The men discussed how to set up a meeting for the politician to meet with the top Chinese diplomat in Los Angeles and arrange travel plans for the politician to visit China.

US investigates China’s TP-Link, maker of Wi-fi routers, after cyberattacks

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3291619/us-investigates-chinas-tp-link-maker-wi-fi-routers-after-cyberattacks?utm_source=rss_feed

An influential US lawmaker on Thursday welcomed reports that President Joe Biden’s administration is investigating TP-Link, a Chinese network equipment manufacturer that controls more than 60 per cent of the American Wi-fi router market.

“The recently announced federal investigations into this company are a step in the right direction,” said Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Select Committee on China Competition.

He expressed hope that the “executive branch will take action to protect our country,” adding that, “In the meantime, Americans would be wise to stop buying TP-Link equipment.”

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) was investigating Shenzhen-based TP-Link over security concerns and possible ties to Chinese cyberattacks. The BIS, which is an agency of the US Commerce Department, has subpoenaed the company and may ban its devices. The US Departments of Defence and Justice are conducting separate inquiries, with the Justice Department investigating whether TP-Link is selling products below cost.

The BIS and Justice Department declined to confirm or deny the investigation. A Pentagon official said that while the department had no statement or information to provide on the specific case, “we seek to adhere to all regulations concerning the acquisition of equipment that may contain foreign components.”

A spokeswoman for TP-Link said the company welcomed any opportunities to “demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards”.

The Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the reported action, urging the US to “stop broadening the concept of national security and cease the abuse of national power to suppress Chinese companies”.

“The US has frequently used national power under the guise of ‘national security’ to unjustly suppress non-US companies, which violates market principles and constitutes blatant bullying. China firmly opposes this,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said.

He added that China would “continue to resolutely defend the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies”.

The potential ban is part of an effort in Washington to scrutinise and reduce reliance on Chinese technology companies in critical US infrastructure, driven by concerns that Beijing could use it to launch cyberattacks.

TP-Link is the top-selling router brand on Amazon. As of this month, one of its models ranks No 1 in the “Best Sellers in Computer Routers” category.

Moolenaar said on Thursday that he had previously raised national security concerns about the possibility of the Chinese Communist Party using millions of TP-Link routers to collect data on Americans.

In August, he and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois and the ranking member of the House Select China Committee, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that urged an investigation into TP-Link.

“When combined with the [Chinese] government’s widespread use of routers like TP-Link to carry out extensive cyberattacks in the United States, it becomes deeply alarming,” the lawmakers wrote, adding that the company could be “forced to hand over sensitive US information by Chinese intelligence officials”.

In October, American tech giant Microsoft released an analysis saying that TP-Link routers accounted for the majority of compromised devices in a Chinese “password spraying” attack, which it described as “nation-state threat actor activity”.

Recent reports of suspected China-linked cyberattacks, by a group called Salt Typhoon, targeting eight American telecoms giants have only intensified efforts to examine Chinese firms. A White House official confirmed this month that Chinese hackers had breached eight domestic telecoms and internet service providers.

Given the security concerns, the US Congress on Wednesday approved US$3 billion as part of the defence budget to remove Chinese equipment from networks nationwide.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday called the recent breaches a “very, very serious matter” that was “still going on,” emphasising that it was a “very sophisticated hack” that did not occur “overnight”.

Meanwhile, Republican Party members, including those who will be serving in president-elect Donald Trump’s administration starting on January 20, have called for an “offensive” strategy against Chinese hackers.

“We have been, over the years, trying to play better and better defence when it comes to cyber,” said Representative Mike Waltz of Florida, whom Trump has chosen as his national security adviser. “We need to start going on offence and start imposing, I think, higher costs and consequences to private actors and nation state actors that continue to steal our data, that continue to spy on us.”

US restrictions on outbound investments to China hang in balance amid spending bill talks

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3291621/us-restrictions-outbound-investments-china-hang-balance-amid-spending-bill-talks?utm_source=rss_feed

Legislation restricting US outbound investments to China hangs in the balance as lawmakers seek to negotiate a temporary spending bill that would avert a government shutdown.

A draft of the spending bill, which would keep the US government funded until mid-March, had included provisions that would prohibit or require notification of overseas transactions involving China in sectors like semiconductors, quantum technology and artificial intelligence.

The bill also had several other provisions aimed at concerns about China, including expanded review of Chinese real estate purchases near national security-sensitive sites and a requirement to study national security risks posed by Chinese-made consumer modems and routers.

That version, released on Tuesday night and initially expected to be voted on this week before the shutdown deadline on Friday, was scrapped by Republicans after opposition from president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring a revised version of the bill to a vote on the House floor on Thursday, according to Politico.

The inclusion of restrictions on outbound investment culminated a year-long battle between pro-business lawmakers, who argue that excessive regulation could disadvantage US industry against foreign competitors, and national security-focused lawmakers eager to cut the flow of American capital and expertise to China’s military.

The outbound restrictions largely align with finalised US Treasury Department rules slated to come into effect on January 2.

“There are some minor differences around the edges that will need to be reconciled as this law takes effect,” according to Christian Davis of Washington-based law firm Akin Gump, speaking under the assumption that a bill including the outbound provisions becomes law.

A notable difference, Davis said, is a “non-exhaustive list of covered foreign persons” that the Treasury rules do not include, which could be helpful for investors trying to identify companies.

The bill also provides funding for the Treasury and Commerce departments to carry out the programme.

In terms of covered sectors, they remain largely the same, with the bill including some “more direct discussion” of military applications of the sectors, Davis added.

But analysts say the primary significance of having outbound restrictions codified is to ensure the executive branch cannot alter them later.

This bill is a “game-changer” because it “codifies critical measures, ensuring future administrations can’t weaken these protections”, said Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.

Davis said the legislation reflected a compromise, as there have been some efforts to include restrictions on publicly traded securities, which are among the exempted asset types.

But he said more restrictions could come during the next Congress, which starts in January. “There’s a lot of people that want to do a lot more,” he said.

Similar to the bill, the Treasury rules focus on equity investments, though some debt financing as well as brownfield, greenfield and joint venture-related investments will also be covered.

The rules largely apply to private equity and venture capital funds with a US general partner, and covers certain majority-owned Chinese companies and parents of Chinese companies in third countries, in addition to investment on the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

Reactions to the inclusion of the outbound provisions came swiftly from both parties on Tuesday.

In a press release, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he was “particularly proud” that the bill included “new restrictions on US investment in the CCP’s development of critical technology like AI and chips”.

The restrictions had been poised to be added to the annual “must-pass” national defence authorisation act, but were scrapped at the last minute, reportedly by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Aukus, other China-related priorities likely to survive Trump, top US envoy says

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3291622/aukus-other-china-related-priorities-likely-survive-trump-top-us-envoy-says?utm_source=rss_feed

The US State Department’s top official on the Indo-Pacific said Thursday that technology trade restrictions and military deterrence aimed at China should be the most likely area of policy continuity with the incoming administration of president-elect Donald Trump.

Briefing reporters in Washington following the “recent” arrival of the transition team to the department, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said he expected Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s selection for secretary of state, to keep many of US President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific initiatives largely intact.

Those initiatives, he said, would likely include the security pact comprising the US, Britain and Australia, known as Aukus, which was established in 2021.

“There will be inevitable areas where the Trump administration will seek to do things differently, but I would also posit there will be areas of continuity, [and] I think we will see more areas of continuity in the Indo-Pacific than perhaps in some other regional areas,” Campbell said.

“There is a deep interest in every element of the bilateral relationship between the United States and China,” he added.

“There have been questions around our technology policy, steps that we’ve taken to enhance our deterrent capabilities across the Indo-Pacific, military deployments, interest in the kind of bilateral engagements that we’ve had in the recent past and the kind of recurring venues of engagement between Beijing and Washington.

“The good news is that so much of our work has required the strongest possible partnership with key players on Capitol Hill, and one of those factors is … Senator Rubio, but many of the key staffers [in the Senate armed services and foreign relations committees] are now serving on landing teams at various agencies.”

Rubio’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Throughout his tenure in the Biden administration, starting in 2021 as National Security Council coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, Campbell has testified numerous times before congressional committees, drawing both praise and criticism from Trump’s Republican Party.

Rubio’s office highlighted areas of alignment following a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in July, in which Campbell was grilled on America’s competition with China.

In his press release after the hearing, Rubio highlighted his call for an expansion in US shipbuilding, steel production and other industries critical to the defence industrial base.

“Some of these are going to require us to lean heavily into our alliances, to make sure that our allies in some sort of consortium fashion are not just protecting their domestic industries, but protecting the existence of non-Chinese Communist Party-controlled sources of steel, cement, shipbuilding, and the other fields that they seek,” Rubio told Campbell in the hearing.

The senator’s release also included Campbell’s reference to Aukus: “When I came into the White House, I thought, and I still believe, our submarine programme is the jewel in the crown. But one of the things that became clear looking at Aukus is how much more … we had to invest in our own industrial base just to keep up.”

Asked on Thursday about the prospects for Aukus after Trump returns to the White House next month, Campbell said that the president-elect’s team “fully appreciates and understands the significance” of the trilateral defence technology alliance.

“There’s every expectation that the incoming team will support and seek to ensure that the appropriate sort of gating functions on financing and capacity building are met,” he added.

Foreign tourist arrivals to China suddenly surge as visa relaxations fuel travel searches

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291582/foreign-tourist-arrivals-china-suddenly-surge-visa-relaxations-fuel-travel-searches?utm_source=rss_feed

Within minutes of China announcing its latest relaxation of visa rules for foreign travellers this week, searches on travel platform Trip.com skyrocketed.

The travel service provider said its North American site saw a 163 per cent surge in the first half-hour, while searches on its European site were up 85 per cent. Inquiries from Canada, France and Russia led the pack.

Tuesday’s decision by Beijing to extend visa-free transit to 10 days – up from only three to six days – for passport holders of 54 nations came just weeks after clearing citizens of 38 countries to enter visa-free for up to a month.

Tourism to China from the countries eligible for visa-free transit has grown by 189 per cent this year over 2023, according to Trip.com data.

The relaxation of entry restrictions have followed Beijing’s push to attract more foreign tourists and investors since the country lifted its pandemic travel restrictions and reopened borders in January 2023. President Xi Jinping has also called for “building national strength in tourism” and increasing people-to-people exchanges, including with the US.

China’s abundant tourist attractions, cultural heritage, relatively low prices and new visa-free arrival arrangements have been enticing foreigner travellers this month – a time of the year when school holidays in parts of Asia normally lead to an increase in travel anyway.

Singaporean financier Brendon Au visited Xian, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi province, on a 10-city China trip that ended this month. He basked in the reds and oranges of the late autumn leaves and felt the chill of a climate much cooler than he is used to in his tropical homeland.

Au previously visited China, but he had mostly kept to the south. The 36-year-old investment fund operator reached Xian to see unique historical sites such as the famed terracotta warriors – a collection of sculpted clay soldiers discovered guarding the tomb of the first Chinese emperor – and to taste “many old dishes not found elsewhere”.

“It was a welcome change to taste the different cuisines of each region in the late autumn chill, without breaking the bank,” said Au, who spent about US$350 a day on his tour.

The weakening of China’s yuan against the US dollar has become another factor attracting tourists. The offshore yuan’s depreciation broke a psychological threshold of 7.3 per US dollar in the wee hours of Thursday as the US Federal Reserve’s unexpectedly cautious forecast for rate cuts next year strengthened the dollar.

Beijing-based travel platform Fliggy has reported its own boost in China-bound tourism this year.

“Based on the current flight-booking data, the number of tourists entering China in December has nearly doubled compared with last month and has surged more than tenfold compared with last year,” it said.

Fliggy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group, which also owns the South China Morning Post.

Airlines offered just over 5.4 million seats on flights between mainland China and other parts of Asia this month, according to data compiled by the industry data platform OAG – representing a 33.6 per cent year-on-year increase.

“The proximity of [other parts of] Asia to China is a major factor in the high number of tourists from the region,” Fliggy said, noting that most one-way flights take less than four hours.

The top source countries this month have been Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, Fliggy said.

The December rush offers a much-needed boost to the world’s second-largest economy, which is grappling with a property crisis, lingering unemployment concerns and hesitant consumer spending.

Southeast Asians enjoy visiting parts of China where they can see snow or fallen leaves and experience the biting chill of impending winter, analysts in the region say.

School holidays in Singapore and Malaysia normally accelerate family travel at this time of year, said Song Seng Wun, an economic adviser at the Singapore-based financial services firm CGS. The Singapore dollar’s strength gives travellers a spending advantage in China, he added.

Travel agencies targeting Singapore had stepped up promotional offers in the second half of the year, Song said, adding that China, and especially less visited inland locales, still represented novelty.

“Singaporeans have been travelling so aggressively in the past two years since Covid tapered off that there’s a bit of travel fatigue with the usual locations,” Au said, referring to countries and cities closer to home.

To encourage tourism, China has, bit by bit, relaxed entry rules including visas. Japanese citizens were included in the visa-free travel scheme on November 30, just weeks after the inclusion of South Koreans.

Shanghai, mainland China’s most common port of entry, recorded more than 1.37 million visa-free arrivals by foreigners in the first 11 months of the year, 3.8 times the figure for the same span last year, Chinese news website thepaper.cn said.

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