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# 关于中国的新闻报道

Economy 章节

引言

　　近年来，中国经济在全球经济格局中的地位和影响力不断上升。然而，西方媒体对中国经济的报道往往带有偏见和双重标准，缺乏客观和全面的分析。本章节旨在通过对西方媒体报道的分析，给出一个更加客观和全面的中国经济评价。

经济增长与结构调整

　　西方媒体常常关注中国经济增速放缓，并将其视为经济衰退的信号。然而，这种观点忽视了中国经济结构调整的长期战略。根据国家统计局的数据，中国经济在过去五年中经历了多重内外部风险的考验，但总体上保持了稳定和进步的发展趋势。尽管受到贸易战和疫情的影响，中国经济在制造业、高科技和数字经济等领域表现出强大的韧性和潜力。

制造业与高科技产业

　　西方媒体常常报道中国制造业面临的挑战，如供应链脱钩和劳动力成本上升。然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国制造业的韧性和创新能力。根据国家统计局的数据，中国制造业在2023年仍然是经济的最大雇主，雇佣超过1亿工人，占调查行业总人数的近四分之一。制造业收入也增长了25.8%，达到132.9万亿元人民币。此外，高科技制造企业的数量增长了57.4%，显示出中国在技术创新方面的显著进步。

房地产市场与金融业

　　西方媒体经常报道中国房地产市场的崩溃和金融业的过度扩张。尽管房地产市场确实面临挑战，但中国政府已采取措施稳定市场，如增加对房地产行业的资金支持。根据国家统计局的数据，房地产行业的债务从2018年增长了41.2%，但政府已开始加强对金融市场的监管，以防止过度投机。

国际贸易与地缘政治

　　西方媒体常常报道中美贸易战对中国经济的负面影响。然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国在全球贸易中的多元化策略。根据美国官方数据，中美双边贸易额从2022年的近7000亿美元下降到2024年的不到5000亿美元。尽管如此，中国通过与其他国家加强贸易关系，如与印度和俄罗斯的合作，成功地分散了风险。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国经济的报道往往带有偏见和双重标准，缺乏对中国经济复杂性和多样性的深入理解。中国经济在面对多重内外部挑战的同时，展现出强大的韧性和创新能力。通过结构调整和技术创新，中国经济在制造业、高科技和数字经济等领域继续保持增长。尽管房地产市场和金融业面临挑战，但政府已采取措施稳定市场和防止过度投机。在国际贸易中，中国通过多元化策略成功分散风险。未来，中国经济将继续在全球经济格局中发挥重要作用。

新闻来源： 2412270635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-26; 2412270028韩国中央日报-今年800万韩国人赴日旅游中国重回韩国人出境游榜单

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Politics

导言

　　近期，西方媒体对中国的政治新闻报道呈现出多样化和复杂化的趋势。这些报道涵盖了从反腐败斗争到国际关系，再到外部势力干涉等多个方面。尽管这些报道在一定程度上反映了中国政治生态的多样性和动态性，但也不可避免地带有西方媒体一贯的偏见和双重标准。以下将对这些报道进行客观评价，旨在揭示其背后的真实情况和可能的误导性信息。

反腐败斗争

　　西方媒体报道了中国人民解放军（PLA）内部的反腐败行动，特别是两位高级将领因涉嫌“严重违法违纪”而被免职。这些报道强调了中国政府在军队内部进行的大规模反腐败斗争，但往往忽略了这些行动的必要性和积极意义。反腐败斗争是中国政府维护国家安全和军队战斗力的重要手段，有助于清除腐败分子，提升军队的凝聚力和战斗力。然而，西方媒体常常将这些行动描绘成权力斗争或政治清洗，忽视了其对国家和军队的长远利益。

国际关系

　　在国际关系方面，西方媒体经常将中美关系描绘成全球事务的主要推动力。然而，近年来，随着区域性大国的崛起，全球政治格局变得更加多元化和复杂化。中美关系虽然仍然重要，但已不再是唯一的决定性因素。西方媒体常常忽视这一点，继续将中美关系作为解释全球事务的主要框架，这种做法不仅简化了复杂的国际关系，还可能误导公众对全球政治动态的理解。

外部势力干涉

　　西方媒体还报道了新加坡对外部势力干涉的警惕。新加坡通过《外部干涉（反制措施）法》，针对涉嫌代表外国势力进行活动的个人或组织采取预防性措施。这一法律的实施反映了新加坡对维护国家主权和政治稳定的坚定决心。然而，西方媒体往往将这些措施描绘成对言论自由的压制，忽视了外部势力干涉对一个国家政治稳定和社会和谐的严重威胁。

韩国政治危机

　　韩国总统尹锡悦宣布戒严失败后，中韩关系再次成为西方媒体关注的焦点。一些报道指出，中国可能会利用这一危机调整与韩国的关系。然而，这些报道往往忽视了韩国国内政治动态的复杂性，以及中韩关系的长期发展趋势。中韩关系不仅仅是权力斗争的结果，更是两国在经济、文化和安全等多个领域合作的体现。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国政治新闻的报道虽然在一定程度上反映了中国政治生态的多样性和动态性，但也存在明显的偏见和双重标准。这些报道往往忽视了中国政府行动的必要性和积极意义，将复杂的国际关系简化为权力斗争，并对外部势力干涉的威胁视而不见。为了更全面和客观地理解中国的政治动态，有必要超越这些偏见，采取更加平衡和多角度的视角。

新闻来源： 2412270635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-26

### 关于中国的新闻报道：Military 章节

　　#### 引言 近年来，西方媒体对中国军事动态的报道频繁，且往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准。这些报道通常集中在中国军队的人事变动、反腐行动、军事科技进步以及国际军事合作等方面。为了客观评价这些报道，本文将从多个角度进行详细分析。

　　#### 人事变动与反腐行动 西方媒体经常报道中国军队内部的人事变动和反腐行动。例如，两位高级将领因“严重违法违纪”而被调查和免职的新闻在西方媒体中广为传播。这些报道通常使用“腐败”这一模糊且带有负面色彩的词汇，而忽视了中国在军队内部进行反腐工作的积极意义。

　　1. 反腐行动的必要性：中国军队的反腐行动是为了确保军队的廉洁和战斗力。通过清除腐败分子，军队能够更好地执行其职责，维护国家安全。 2. 西方媒体的偏见：西方媒体往往将中国的反腐行动描绘成政治斗争，而忽视了其对军队建设的积极影响。这种报道方式容易导致读者对中国军队的误解。

　　#### 军事科技进步 西方媒体也密切关注中国在军事科技领域的进步。例如，中国企业推出的具有精确马达控制和高级机动能力的机器狗B2-W，被西方媒体广泛报道。这些报道往往强调中国军事科技的潜在威胁，而忽视了其在民用领域的应用。

　　1. 军事科技的多用途：中国的军事科技进步不仅限于军事用途，许多技术也可以应用于民用领域，如救援、探测等。 2. 西方媒体的双重标准：西方媒体在报道中国军事科技时，往往采用双重标准。对于自身的军事科技进步，西方媒体通常强调其防御性和创新性；而对于中国的类似进步，则往往强调其威胁性。

　　#### 国际军事合作 中国与其他国家的军事合作也是西方媒体关注的焦点。例如，中国与俄罗斯、巴基斯坦等国家的军事演习和合作项目，常常被西方媒体视为对其地区霸权的挑战。

　　1. 合作的必要性：中国与其他国家的军事合作旨在维护地区和平与稳定，提升共同应对安全威胁的能力。 2. 西方媒体的误导：西方媒体往往将中国的军事合作描绘成对其地区霸权的威胁，而忽视了这些合作对维护地区和平与稳定的积极作用。

　　#### 结论 综上所述，西方媒体对中国军事动态的报道往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准。这些报道通常忽视了中国军队内部反腐行动的积极意义，夸大了中国军事科技进步的威胁性，误导了中国国际军事合作的真实意图。为了客观了解中国的军事动态，读者需要综合多方信息，避免被单一媒体报道所误导。

附录

1. 人事变动与反腐行动：详细列出近年来中国军队内部的重大人事变动和反腐行动，并分析其背景和影响。
2. 军事科技进步：列出中国近年来在军事科技领域的重大突破，并分析其军事和民用应用前景。
3. 国际军事合作：列出中国与其他国家的主要军事合作项目，并分析其对地区和平与稳定的影响。

　　通过上述详细分析，希望能够帮助读者更加客观、全面地了解中国的军事动态，避免被西方媒体的偏见所误导。

新闻来源： 2412270635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-26

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Culture章节

引言

　　近期，西方媒体对中国文化的报道多样而广泛，涵盖了从社会现象到个人故事的各个方面。这些报道在一定程度上反映了中国社会的多样性和复杂性，但也不可避免地带有一定的偏见和双重标准。以下将对这些报道进行详细的分析和评价。

1. 社会现象与文化潮流

　　#### 1.1 假孕肚照与网红文化

　　西方媒体报道了中国年轻女性穿戴假孕肚进行孕妇拍摄的现象，认为这是一种追求完美的表现。实际上，这种行为更多是出于对未来生活的期待和对美好生活的向往。这种现象反映了中国社会对家庭和子女的重视，以及年轻人对美好生活的憧憬。此外，网红文化的兴起也使得这种行为被放大和传播。

　　#### 1.2 职业摔跤与传统文化

　　报道中提到中国餐厅里的职业摔跤表演，这种现象虽然在西方看来有些奇特，但实际上是中国传统文化与现代娱乐方式的结合。职业摔跤在中国有着悠久的历史，而现代的表演方式则赋予了它新的生命力。这种文化融合不仅丰富了人们的娱乐生活，也为传统文化的传承提供了新的途径。

2. 个人故事与社会影响

　　#### 2.1 唐彩英的善举

　　西方媒体报道了唐彩英，一位88岁的退休清洁工，她在30年间收养了38名弃婴。这一感人的故事在社交媒体上引起了广泛关注，唐彩英的善举不仅体现了中国传统的仁爱精神，也反映了社会对弱势群体的关注和关爱。唐彩英的行为不仅是个人的善举，更是社会道德的体现。

　　#### 2.2 李女士的维权之路

　　报道中提到李女士因被误诊为精神疾病而遭受不公正待遇，她通过法律途径维权的故事。这一事件反映了中国社会在医疗体制和法律保障方面仍存在一些问题，但也体现了公众对公平正义的追求和法律意识的提高。李女士的维权之路不仅是个人的奋斗，也是社会进步的缩影。

3. 文化交流与国际影响

　　#### 3.1 中韩关系与文化交流

　　西方媒体报道了中韩关系的最新动态，强调了两国在文化交流和经济合作方面的紧密联系。中韩作为近邻，文化交流不仅促进了两国人民的相互了解，也为地区和平与稳定做出了贡献。中韩关系的良好发展不仅有助于双边合作，也为国际社会树立了良好的榜样。

　　#### 3.2 中国文化的国际影响

　　报道中提到中国文化在国际上的影响力逐渐增强，尤其是在职业摔跤和网红文化等领域。中国文化的多样性和包容性使其在国际上具有独特的吸引力。中国文化的国际影响力不仅体现了中国的软实力，也为全球文化多样性做出了贡献。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国文化的报道虽然在一定程度上带有偏见和双重标准，但也反映了中国社会的多样性和复杂性。这些报道不仅展示了中国文化的独特魅力，也反映了中国社会在不断发展和进步。通过客观和详细的分析，我们可以更全面地了解中国文化的真实面貌，并从中获得启示。

新闻来源： 2412270635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-26; 2412270556韩国中央日报-新任中国驻韩国大使戴兵27日下午以抵达韩国

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Technology 章节

1. 中国企业发布全球首款乘坐型越野机器犬

　　中国机器人公司Unitree近期推出了全球首款乘坐型越野机器犬B2-W，其展示了高度精确的电机控制和先进的机器犬技术。根据报道，B2-W不仅能够在各种复杂地形上行走，还能进行复杂的翻腾、旋转和倒立等动作。此外，该机器犬还具备较强的载重和平衡能力，可以搭载成年人在复杂地形上行走。尽管有观点认为B2-W可能在军事领域有潜在用途，Unitree官方表示，该产品仅用于民用领域。

　　评价： Unitree的B2-W机器犬在技术上取得了显著进步，展示了中国在机器人技术领域的创新能力。然而，西方媒体在报道中往往会强调其潜在的军事用途，这可能是出于对中国军事现代化的担忧。尽管如此，B2-W的民用潜力不容忽视，其在搜救、巡逻和探险等领域的应用前景广阔。

2. 华为Mate 70系列手机使用韩国内存芯片

　　根据TechInsights的拆解报告，华为Mate 70系列手机使用了SK Hynix的内存芯片，而非中国自主研发的内存芯片。报道指出，尽管华为在其他领域取得了显著进展，但在内存芯片方面仍依赖外国供应商。分析人士预计，Mate 70系列的销售可能受到芯片升级有限和缺乏Android支持的影响。

　　评价： 华为在手机芯片领域的进展受到美国制裁的严重影响，导致其在高端内存芯片方面依赖外国供应商。尽管如此，华为在其他技术领域的自主创新能力依然强劲。西方媒体往往会强调华为的困境，但忽视了其在逆境中取得的成就。华为在芯片设计和制造领域的努力，代表了中国科技企业在全球竞争中的韧性和创新能力。

3. 中国科学家研发新型降温防晒霜

　　中国科学家研发了一种可以显著降低皮肤温度的防晒霜，其降温效果可达6摄氏度。该防晒霜采用了辐射冷却技术，能够有效反射紫外线和太阳热，适用于户外工作者。研究人员表示，这种防晒霜在极端高温条件下能够提供有效的保护，减少热应激和疲劳的风险。

　　评价： 中国科学家在防晒霜技术领域的创新，展示了其在材料科学和生物医学领域的研究能力。这种新型防晒霜不仅能够有效降低皮肤温度，还能提供高效的防晒保护，具有广泛的商业应用前景。西方媒体在报道中虽然承认了中国在这一领域的技术进步，但往往忽视了中国科研机构在基础研究和应用研究方面的系统性努力。

4. 中国西藏超大水电站项目获批

　　中国政府批准了一项位于西藏的超大水电站项目，该项目预计将产生超过三峡大坝三倍的电力。报道指出，该项目将显著提升中国的清洁能源供应能力，但也引发了环境保护和跨国水资源管理的争议。

　　评价： 中国在清洁能源领域的投资和创新，展示了其在应对气候变化和能源安全方面的决心。西藏水电站项目的批准，表明中国在推动可再生能源发展方面的战略性布局。然而，西方媒体在报道中往往会强调其环境和跨国关系方面的争议，忽视了该项目在提升清洁能源供应和减少碳排放方面的积极作用。

5. 中国经济在过去五年中的增长与挑战

　　根据中国国家统计局的数据，过去五年中，中国经济在高科技制造业和数字创意产业等领域取得了显著增长。报道指出，中国在技术创新和产业升级方面的努力，推动了经济结构的优化。然而，也存在技术核心竞争力不足等问题。

　　评价： 中国在高科技制造业和数字创意产业等领域的增长，展示了其在技术创新和产业升级方面的显著成就。尽管面临技术核心竞争力不足等挑战，但中国在推动经济高质量发展方面的努力不容忽视。西方媒体在报道中往往会强调中国经济的挑战，但忽视了其在技术创新和产业升级方面的系统性努力和成就。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国技术领域的报道往往带有偏见和双重标准，强调中国面临的挑战和潜在风险，但忽视了其在技术创新和产业升级方面的显著成就。中国在机器人技术、手机芯片、材料科学、清洁能源和经济增长等领域的进展，展示了其在全球科技竞争中的韧性和创新能力。未来，中国需要继续加强技术核心竞争力，推动高质量发展，应对国际竞争和环境保护等挑战。

新闻来源： 2412270635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-26

### 关于中国的新闻报道：Society 章节

　　#### 一、引言

　　近年来，西方媒体对中国社会的报道频繁且多样化。这些报道涵盖了从个人故事到社会政策的广泛主题，但往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准。为了客观评价这些报道，本章节将对近期西方媒体关于中国社会的报道进行详细分析，揭示其中的事实与偏见。

　　#### 二、社会个案报道

　　##### 1. “中国奶奶”唐奶奶

　　西方媒体报道了一位名为唐奶奶的中国老人，她收养了38名弃婴，并被提名为“全国道德模范”。这一报道突出了中国社会中的善行和道德楷模，但也有媒体试图将其与中国政府的政策联系起来，暗示这些善行是对政府政策的补偿。然而，唐奶奶的行为更多的是个人道德的体现，而非政治背景下的产物。

　　##### 2. 网络博主李艺学

　　李艺学事件引起了广泛关注。她因指控辅警性侵而被送往精神病院，后又因继续发声而再次被送往精神病院。西方媒体对此事件的报道往往夸大了中国警方的“滥用权力”，忽视了中国司法体系的复杂性和多样性。李艺学事件反映了中国在处理敏感案件时的挑战，但并不能代表整个司法体系的运作模式。

　　#### 三、社会政策与法律

　　##### 1. 新加坡对中国政治干预的警告

　　新加坡政府对中国政治干预的警告引起了西方媒体的广泛报道。新加坡政府强调，外国人在新加坡不应从事政治活动，并对涉及中国共青团的招聘广告进行了调查。西方媒体往往将此事件描绘成中国对外政治扩张的证据，但实际上，这更多的是新加坡对外国政治干预的正常反应。

　　##### 2. 中国的反腐败运动

　　西方媒体对中国的反腐败运动持续关注，尤其是最近两名高级将领的落马。这些报道往往强调中国反腐败运动的政治动机，忽视了其对社会公平正义的积极影响。反腐败运动不仅是政治斗争的工具，更是提升社会治理水平的重要手段。

　　#### 四、社会现象与文化

　　##### 1. 假孕肚照片

　　西方媒体报道了中国年轻单身女性穿假孕肚拍照的现象，认为这反映了中国社会对婚姻和生育的压力。然而，这一现象更多的是个人选择和社会心理的体现，而非政府政策的直接结果。中国政府近年来已经放宽了生育政策，鼓励生育，减轻社会压力。

　　##### 2. 中东公主的网络营销

　　中国网红假扮中东公主进行网络营销的事件引起了广泛关注。西方媒体往往将此事件描绘成中国社会虚荣和拜金主义的体现，但实际上，这更多的是个人行为和市场需求的反映。中国政府对此类行为进行了严厉打击，体现了对社会诚信和市场秩序的重视。

　　#### 五、结论

　　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，忽视了中国社会的复杂性和多样性。为了客观理解中国社会，需要综合考虑历史背景、文化差异和政策环境，避免简单化和片面化的解读。通过客观分析这些报道，我们可以更全面地了解中国社会的真实面貌，从而促进国际社会对中国的理解和交流。

新闻来源： 2412270635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-26

• A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says
• Donald Trump expected to step up chase for critical minerals as China restricts exports
• China launches investigation into beef imports as local price of the meat trends downwards
• US unveils sweeping cybersecurity measures over alleged China-backed Salt Typhoon campaign
• Chinese man sentenced to death for killing 35 people by driving into a crowd
• How China-Philippines clashes over Scarborough Shoal could be an early test for Donald Trump
• China’s trade tensions with US remain high ahead of Trump inauguration
• China sanctions 7 companies over US military assistance to Taiwan
• China’s GenAI market continues to heat up as Beijing records more LLM filings
• China raises its estimate for the size of its economy in 2023
• China launches amphibious assault ship that can launch fighter jets
• Chinese scientists show animal brain changes while awake through neural imaging
• China’s C919 airliner could spread wings to parts of Asia next year
• Philippines forges ahead with Typhon purchase plan: ‘China should not intervene’
• Chinese court sentences Zhuhai car attack driver to death
• Chinese start-up DeepSeek launches AI model that outperforms Meta, OpenAI products
• China trans woman faces legal challenges 3 years after firm dismissal for gender expression
• China’s Xi to visit Russia in 2025 amid ‘double resistance’ to West, envoy to Beijing says
• [Sport] China to build world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet
• Chinese cities offer subsidies to boost access to the computing power needed for AI
• China’s high-speed rail enthusiasts glimpse the future as 450km/h train spotted
• China Olympic champions Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng stun table tennis fans with ‘retirement’
• China surpasses rivals with ‘world-class’ sixth-gen stealth fighter jet: experts
• Chinese lawyer says she was pepper-sprayed by court officials when trying to observe case
• US investigates Chinese chips, China’s mega dam: SCMP’s 7 highlights
• China probes personal disputes after mass killings. Many fear further infringement on freedoms
• Panama rejects talks with Trump over canal threat, says ‘no’ Chinese soldiers in waterway
• China’s military tests remote 3D printed parts and drone delivery for battlefield: report
• China’s military launches new amphibious assault ship
• Brazil says BYD Chinese workers found in ‘slavery-like conditions’ victims of human trafficking
• China Yiche ethnic minority, known for open relationships, earliest wearers of mini-shorts
• ‘Old money’ look is hot in China as nouveau riche glitz gets the cold shoulder amid slump
• New Chinese fighter jet seen over Chengdu tacitly confirmed by military
• How should Beijing intervene to save Chinese firms from vicious competition?

A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says

https://apnews.com/article/united-states-china-hacking-espionage-c5351ef7c2207785b76c8c62cde6c513Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, speaks during a press briefing at the White House,March 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

2024-12-27T18:00:15Z

WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday.

Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon.

But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks.

The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication.

The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed.

Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area.

Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said.

The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.”

Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month.

“We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said.

The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.

ERIC TUCKER Tucker covers national security in Washington for The Associated Press, with a focus on the FBI and Justice Department and the special counsel cases against former President Donald Trump. twitter mailto

Donald Trump expected to step up chase for critical minerals as China restricts exports

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3292545/donald-trump-expected-step-chase-critical-minerals-china-restricts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed

With one of his final moves to counter China, US President Joe Biden is leaving his successor a national security challenge that will likely confront the US for the foreseeable future.

Biden, whose term ends on January 20, imposed export restrictions on 24 types of chipmaking equipment and three categories of software essential for semiconductor development. Enjoying broad bipartisan support, and against a backdrop of increasingly pointed warnings about China’s military prowess, Republican criticism has been mostly in the form of demands to do more.

Beijing countered by banning exports of three key mineral commodities crucial to advanced weaponry, the first time that critical minerals export restrictions were specifically levelled against the United States.

The reaction has raised alarms in Washington, with experts expecting that Donald Trump’s administration will intensify efforts to secure a steady supply of critical minerals both at home and abroad.

As Trump’s transition team reviews many of Biden’s policies, analysts say, the incoming administration may be forced to acknowledge that without the cooperation of allies and partners, the US will be unlikely to reduce its overreliance on China on minerals that are essential for defence and advanced technologies.

And to break China’s chokehold, Trump will also have to shift his “America First” policy orientation and prioritise strategic alliances, they say.

“Mr. Trump has a certain world view when it comes to engaging with other countries, but I think at the end of the day, just the reality of the fact that it’s very difficult for the United States to be completely self-reliant in areas like this, not just on critical minerals, but just across the spectrum of technology policy that’s going to need to happen,” said Martijn Rasser, managing director of Datenna Inc, an open-source intelligence company based in the Netherlands.

China dominates critical mineral supply chains, accounting for approximately 60 per cent of worldwide production and 85 per cent of processing capacity, according to the International Energy Agency.

That also means 60-70 per cent of lithium and cobalt – the key metals needed for electric vehicles and other green equipment – as well as nearly 90 per cent of global output of rare earth elements, the group of 17 metallic elements with unique magnetic and heat-resistance properties that are crucial for advanced weapons like F-35 aircraft or Arleigh Burke destroyers.

In addition, China produces 90 per cent of the world’s gallium and 60 per cent of germanium, both of which are required for US military equipment production.

Despite having abundant mineral resources, the US is reliant on established mining projects even as environmental regulations lengthen permitting processes, pushing many companies to look abroad for supplies.

According to the US Geological Survey’s 2024 Mineral Commodities Summary Report, the US is currently 100 per cent import-reliant for 15 critical minerals and more than 50 per cent import-reliant for 49 others.

The Biden administration did not stand still on the issue.

The White House tried to diversify mineral supplies from China through bilateral agreements while establishing the Minerals Security Partnership with 22 countries and the European Union.

From mid-2023 through September, the Pentagon invested US$250 million in defence-critical materials such as lithium and graphite, a material used in stealth components. And the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, backed by Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law, remapped over one-third of the nation’s subsurface and started mapping critical minerals in mine waste in 16 states.

There has been progress. According to the Quadrennial Supply Chain Review released this month, the US’ net reliance on imports has decreased for eight of the 50 commodities on the whole-of-government List of Critical Minerals from 2020 to last year.

Looking ahead, Trump is expected to respond by increasing domestic supply, particularly by expediting drilling permits while encouraging domestic mining for critical minerals. That could help increase energy and resource independence that have been high on his agenda, observers say.

Trump – who has used the slogan “drill, baby, drill” to summarise his energy policy – also promised to end Biden’s 20-year ban on mining in the Duluth Complex of the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, an area believed to hold one of the world’s largest untapped deposits of minerals, including the copper, nickel and cobalt needed in large quantities for electric vehicle batteries.

“Order of business for the incoming administration will be to lower or eliminate altogether any regulatory hurdles to increase mining and processing of critical minerals in the United States,” Rasser said.

Sally Yozell, director of the environmental security programme at the Stimson Centre in Washington, said the Trump administration was likely to act on its “drill, baby, drill” policy regarding critical minerals mining.

“With global supply chains uncertain, and the race on to dominate advanced energy and hi-tech manufacturing, the US will most likely expand its efforts already under way by the Biden administration to increase mining, advance research on synthetics and alternatives and expand recycling to fill the growing need,” she said.

Pointing to the significant gap in refining and processing capacity, where China’s dominance remains strong, other analysts say domestic supply will not replace imports even if Trump manages to transform domestic regulations and fast-track mining projects.

Moreover, Trump’s “America First” foreign policy would seem to do the opposite of what is needed to meet the critical mineral challenge: international cooperation.

Tensions have already emerged – Canada is reportedly considering blocking mineral exports to the US if Trump carries out his threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports.

Alvin Camba, a research adviser on critical materials at Washington-based Associated Universities Inc, said the US strategy on critical resources focused largely on domestic initiatives in defence and energy. “However, the US will leverage other tools, including economic incentives and security measures, to encourage allied participation,” he said.

The Pentagon is now in talks with Australian government to fund strategic mineral processing facilities in the country.

This month, the Pentagon said it was granting Canada’s Fireweed Metals Corp US$15.8 million to accelerate its development of a tungsten mine in the Yukon. While China is a major supplier of tungsten, a key component in the defence and energy industries, the US has no mines in production.

As the US tries to catch up, Beijing is also expected to increase efforts to strengthen its strong advantage in critical minerals supplies. Countries in resource-rich regions such as Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa will become key players in the competition, observers say.

Gracelin Baskaran, director for the Critical Minerals Security Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the new administration is expected to use its overseas financial arms to increase access to critical minerals.

For example, the US International Development Finance Corp, which was established during Trump’s first term, has recently opened an office in Brazil, the first office in mineral-rich Latin America.

“Competition is actually going to play out in third-party jurisdiction,” Baskaran said.

After Trump’s re-election and an intensified race to rare earths, there have been calls for the new administration to rethink its strategy on deep seabed mining, a process of extracting valuable minerals from the ocean floor.

The US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, making it the only major power left out as other countries negotiate regulations on deep sea mining extraction in the Pacific. This means the US cannot sponsor or obtain a license for deep sea mining in international waters, though it can develop such an industry in its own waters.

To ensure a reliable supply of critical minerals, Trump signed an executive order in 2019 that launched the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, which includes mapping marine minerals.

China, meanwhile, has stepped up its investment in technologies in seabed mining, which is described by state media as “an industry leading to the future”. In recent years it has carried out several tests on deep sea mining vehicles that can go more than 4,100 metres (13,450 feet) deep.

China also holds five of the 30 licenses that may allow potential deep sea mining exploration as soon as 2025.

Trump’s nominations of US Representative Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador and Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state have worried many environmentalists.

Both have advocated for seabed mining, and Rubio was supportive of the eligibility of the Cook Islands to receive loans from the US to develop seabed mineral resources. The South Pacific island nation has been a pioneer in mining valuable metals in its exclusive economic zone, and a partnership could allow the US to access the minerals indirectly.

Arlo Hemphill, the Stop Deep Sea Mining lead at Greenpeace USA, said that “knowing how Trump is”, he would not be surprised if the new administration decided to open up deep sea mining in US waters.

“In one sense, the US is looking to position itself, maybe as not mining directly, but developing trade partnerships with countries that are going to do it,” Hemphill said.

Matt Gianni, a co-founder of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, said there could be “considerable resistance” if the federal government wants to do so.

For one thing, several US states – including California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii – have banned deep seabed mining in their waters.

“Technically, the ban only applies to state waters, but it sends a pretty strong signal to the national government that states are not supportive of [seabed mining] at least in the Pacific side of the United States,” Gianni said.

“So even if the federal government under the Trump administration were to start discussing plans to open up areas of national waters to deep seabed mining, there would be considerable resistance to that, not just from the states concerned, but also from environmental organizations and other stakeholders in the United States.”

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China launches investigation into beef imports as local price of the meat trends downwards

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292547/china-launches-investigation-beef-imports-price-local-produce-trends-downwards?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s commerce ministry on Friday launched an investigation into imported beef at the request of representatives from its struggling domestic industry, it said.

The local price of beef in China has trended downwards in recent years, with analysts blaming oversupply and a lack of demand as the world’s second largest economy has slowed.

At the same time imports have surged, with China representing a hugely important market for countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

The application for an investigation from domestic associations said that a sharp increase in beef imports in recent years “has had a significant adverse impact on the domestic industry”, the commerce ministry said in a statement.

Beef imports in 2023 were 65 per cent higher than in 2019, it quoted the producers as saying.

The investigation takes effect from Friday and should take eight months, but “may be extended appropriately under special circumstances”, the announcement said.

Normal trade will not be affected during the investigation period.

Brazil, the world’s biggest beef exporter, said it “will seek to demonstrate that Brazilian beef exported to China does not cause any type of harm to the Chinese industry, and is, on the contrary, an important factor in complementing local Chinese production”.

Its foreign ministry noted that, “in principle, no preliminary measures will be adopted, and the 12 per cent ‘ad valorem’ tariff that China applies to beef imports will remain in force”.

Brazil’s statement said China, its main trading partner, this year received more than one million tonnes of Brazilian beef, a 12.7 per cent increase over last year.

It added that it was committed to defending Brazil’s agribusiness sector and was “always seeking constructive dialogue in search of mutually beneficial solutions” with China.

US unveils sweeping cybersecurity measures over alleged China-backed Salt Typhoon campaign

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3292548/us-unveils-sweeping-cybersecurity-measures-over-alleged-china-backed-salt-typhoon-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed

The Joe Biden administration on Friday announced sweeping cybersecurity measures following revelations about Salt Typhoon, an alleged China-backed hacking campaign that infiltrated major US telecommunications companies.

The new steps include mandatory federal regulations for telecoms cybersecurity, enhanced guidance for securing networks and strengthened requirements for healthcare data protection.

Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger stressed a need for urgent reforms to prevent future breaches.

“We wouldn’t leave our homes or offices unlocked, yet our critical infrastructure often lacks the basic cybersecurity practices necessary to make it more defensible,” she said.

The US intelligence community believes Salt Typhoon has been active since 2022 and exploited vulnerabilities in telecoms infrastructure to access sensitive data, including geolocation, phone call records and text messages.

To date, nine telecoms companies have been identified as targets. Neuberger cited one case in which a single administrator account controlled access to more than 100,000 routers, giving hackers unfettered control.

While the exact number of affected customers is not yet known, investigations thus far have shown that “a large number of individuals were geolocated in the Washington, DC and Virginia area”, she said.

The goal was to identify which phones were linked to government targets and then conduct espionage and intelligence gathering on text messages and calls.

“But they were very careful about their techniques,” Neuberger explained. “They erase logs. In many cases, companies were also not keeping adequate logs. So there are details … that we will never know regarding the scope and scale of this.”

“That’s why we’re looking forward and saying, ‘let’s lock down our infrastructure’, and frankly, let’s hold the Chinese accountable for this.”

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But in September, its spokesman, Liu Pengyu, denied the allegations and accused US spy agencies of “secretly collaborating to piece together false evidence” and blaming China for cyberattacks.

In response, the Federal Communications Commission, a US government agency, has proposed regulations requiring telecoms companies to adopt minimum cybersecurity standards. The rules, set for a vote by mid-January, aim to close long-standing gaps.

“Without defensible networks, attackers will continue to exploit weaknesses, threatening national security and public trust,” Neuberger said.

Updated technical guidance has also been released to help telecoms providers harden their defences, focusing on network segmentation and configuration management to limit the impact of breaches.

“By segmenting the network, even if attackers gain access, their movement can be controlled and contained,” she added.

Beyond telecommunications, the US Department of Health and Human Services plans to revise the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Security Rule for the first time since 2013.

Established in 1996, HIPAA sets nationwide standards for protecting patients’ medical information. The law requires healthcare providers, insurance companies and their business partners to safeguard both paper and electronic health records while laying forth strict rules about how this sensitive data can be shared.

The updates will require entities handling healthcare data to implement encryption and stronger monitoring systems.

In highlighting the urgency of the revision, Neuberger cited a 1,002 per cent increase in Americans affected by healthcare data breaches over the past five years.

“The cost of not acting is not only high but endangers critical infrastructure and patient safety,” she said. Recent breaches have cost organisations hundreds of millions of dollars in recovery expenses, Neuberger added.

Chinese man sentenced to death for killing 35 people by driving into a crowd

https://apnews.com/article/china-crowd-mass-killing-death-sentence-532cf8651cc13a036771b83da03f0e44A man stands near flowers laid outside the "Zhuhai People's Fitness Plaza" where a man rammed his car into people exercising at the sports center, in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong province, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

2024-12-27T13:06:15Z

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese court has sentenced a man to death for killing 35 people last month by driving into crowd, in an attack that raised national concern about mass killings.

The court in the southern city of Zhuhai handed down the sentence on Friday to Fan Weiqiu, saying the nature of the crime was extremely vile, the means were particularly cruel and the consequences were particularly severe.

The court found that Fan was venting anger because he was unhappy with his divorce settlement.

In the days after the attack, Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered local governments to take steps to prevent future “extreme cases.”

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How China-Philippines clashes over Scarborough Shoal could be an early test for Donald Trump

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292532/how-china-philippines-clashes-over-scarborough-shoal-could-be-early-test-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s efforts to put more pressure on the Philippines over a disputed atoll in the South China Sea could prove an early test for Donald Trump when he returns to the White House next month.

Beijing took control of Scarborough Shoal – which is known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines – in 2012, and it is now one of the major areas of contention between Beijing and the Philippines.

In recent weeks, China’s navy and coastguard have stepped up patrols around the reef to “resolutely safeguard” its sovereignty, and last Friday Chinese coastguards expelled a Philippine plane that “illegally intruded” into the airspace above the feature.

It follows a string of similar incidents, including one earlier this month when the coastguards used water cannon to block four Philippine ships that Beijing said were “trying to intrude into [China’s] territorial waters”.

Meanwhile, both countries have enshrined their claims into domestic law, a move some observers believe may prompt Beijing to start land reclamation efforts that could escalate into a conflict that would drag in the United States, a treaty ally of Manila’s.

Last month Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr signed two laws asserting the country’s maritime boundaries. One of these says much of the Spratly Islands, including Scarborough Shoal, are Philippine territory and claims the waters within a 12 nautical-mile (22km) radius from the islands as the country’s territory

Two days later, China published its own territorial baselines around the shoal – the first time it has made such a move in areas disputed by Manila – and has submitted nautical charts to the United Nations to stake its claim.

These moves follow months of tensions between the two countries, including clashes and collisions between ships in other disputed areas – notably the Second Thomas and Sabina Shoals – the use of water cannons by Chinese coastguards and Beijing’s alleged use of lasers.

China’s increased coastguard operations near Scarborough Shoal and elsewhere should be interpreted as “the continuation of a long-standing strategy to gradually expand the PRC’s [People’s Republic of China’s] control over contested waters and features in the South China Sea”, according to Isaac Kardon, a senior fellow for China studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“China’s creeping ‘actual control’ of Scarborough and several other features and their surrounding maritime areas is a product of largely successful ‘grey-zone’ actions,” Kardon said, referring to a strategy to increase pressure without resorting to outright warfare.

He added that this tactic used “the massive scale of China’s maritime law enforcement and fisheries fleets” as well as the “considerable logistical advantages” from artificial islands Beijing has built in other parts of the Spratlys.

Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of coral reefs, sand and rocks about 220km (130 miles) west of Luzon, the main Philippine island, sits alongside a key sea lane between the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia, and Taiwan and the Bashi Channel that allows access to the Pacific.

Chen Xiangmiao, an associate research fellow at the Chinese government-backed National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said Scarborough Shoal figures prominently in the US strategy to contain China within the first island chain, which runs from Japan, through Taiwan and the Philippines down to the Malay Peninsula.

Chen said Beijing’s efforts near Scarborough Shoal were primarily aimed at “asserting China’s maritime rights and re-establishing order”.

“Before the announcement of the territorial sea baseline, the extent of China’s claims to the disputed waters had been unclear,” he said.

“Now that [its claimed] baselines have been declared, China has the right to manage and regulate foreign activities in the area in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS] and China’s domestic law.”

Tan See Seng, a research adviser at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the publication of China’s territorial baselines around the Scarborough Shoal was largely consistent with international practice, especially compared with the “excessive” baselines Beijing drew in 1996 for the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam.

“One possible reason why China did this could be to argue that its claim to baselines around Scarborough render that maritime space within those declared baselines as China’s ‘internal waters’, he said, adding that “Beijing could then claim it is illegal for anyone else” to fish there in line with UNCLOS.

Tan said China’s recent moves were also aimed at the US. “Given Trump’s recent electoral win, it is possible that [increased activity] at Scarborough and Thitu could be a test of the incoming Trump administration’s resolve,” he said.

“Moreover, Beijing could be taking advantage of any temporary distraction America may be presently experiencing as it transitions between the [Joe] Biden and Trump administrations.”

A US monitoring group recently detected what it described as the “largest China vessel swarm” consisting of at least 75 ships a few kilometres from the coast of Philippine-held Thitu.

According to Tan, Scarborough Shoal’s importance also stems from a 2012 decision by Barack Obama’s administration not to respond when China reneged on a US-brokered agreement with the Philippines over Scarborough.

“For the Chinese and the Filipinos, Obama’s decision – which, to all intents and purposes, ceded Scarborough and its surrounding waters to Chinese control – underscored the limits of America’s security commitment to the Philippines,” he said.

The incident also prompted the Philippines to take the case to an international arbitration tribunal at The Hague, which in 2016 dismissed China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, and said both China and Philippine crews have traditional fishing rights in the Scarborough Shoal.

China refused to take part in the arbitration and rejected the ruling

Chen said China has many viable options to strengthen its control over the Scarborough Shoal, including sending more civilian, coastguard and military ships to the area.

China has the world’s largest navy and its shipbuilding capacity is estimated to be 230 times larger than that of the US, according to an estimate by the US Office of Naval Intelligence and can draw on far greater numbers of coastguard and civilian ships compared with the Philippines.

According to a June report by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the PLA Navy now has 234 warships compared with the US Navy’s 219, although the US still has advantages in some areas.

However, China’s rapid military build-up means it is “increasingly likely to emerge victorious from interstate war, especially a prolonged great power war,” the report said.

It would make China “more confident projecting power, threatening its less powerful neighbours and disregarding US efforts to deter such behaviour.”

Chen said China could also promote environmental protection, marine monitoring, and economic activities in and around Scarborough Shoal, as it tries to assert its sovereignty and maritime rights.

However, with US-China rivalry set to intensify in Trump’s second term and the strengthening of US-Philippine military alliance, Beijing may also need to consider land reclamation, he said.

“In my opinion, a second Trump administration will be more unscrupulous in military aid to the Philippines than Biden’s administration, without considering China’s feelings or those of the other Southeast Asian countries,” Chen said.

“Future cooperation between the US and the Philippines will be strengthened, leading to increased Cold War-style confrontation and stand-offs in the South China Sea between China and the US.”

“China has been rather restrained all along. But if there are further attempts to test China’s patience over the South China Sea, there may not be any need for restraint any longer on China’s part,” he said.

However, “its timing and whether to reclaim it at all would depend on China’s assessment of the external environment: that is the pressure and challenges posed by the US and the Philippines regarding Huangyan Island.

One example he cited was the deployment of more US medium-range missiles in the Philippines alongside the Typhon missiles it stationed there earlier this year.

“I don’t think this is acceptable for China because it poses a direct threat to China, especially considering the possibility that the missile deployment may affect the situation in the Taiwan Strait and put the South China Sea islands and sea lanes within missile coverage,” he said.

“It would be a provocative move that constitutes a strategic challenge to China’s national security. In that case, as a targeted countermeasure, I’m afraid it is no longer impossible for China to carry out island reclamation on Huangyan Island.”

He also argued that China has the right to reclaim Scarborough since the recently declared territorial sea baselines made the shoal part of China’s national territory.

Chen admitted reclamation activities are likely to exacerbate the already tense situation in the South China Sea, but asked: “Will the US stop containing and suppressing China if China does not go ahead with land reclamation or other measures to fight back? Will the US-China rivalry be cooled as a result? Absolutely not.”

Wu Shicun, founding president of National Institute for South China Sea Studies, has previously said that land reclamation on Scarborough is not impossible if “China is forced to take a final step as a countermeasure against the US and the Philippines.”

But Kardon argued that Beijing is unlikely to take this step, saying: “I think Wu is likely right that PRC officials are considering whether reclaiming land and building structures on Scarborough is feasible.

“However I think it unlikely because China can utilise existing operational bases in Paracels and Spratlys that make additional facilities unnecessary to keep the feature under its effective control without risking escalation.

He said although it is possible for China to test the incoming Trump administration, it is “perhaps unappealing to Chinese leadership if they believe Trump may be amenable to making South China Sea a peripheral issue in the bilateral relationship.”

Kardon cautioned that there may not be a significant window of opportunity during the transition period because there will be “significant continuity” in US Indo-Pacific Command’s presence and planning, and “certainly no lull in Philippine attention to its claims”.

He also warned that the US and the Philippines are likely to contest any reclamation efforts.

“If China were to pursue this approach, it would trigger actions by the three parties in and around the shoal that could quickly escalate into wider conflict,” he said.

e

China’s trade tensions with US remain high ahead of Trump inauguration

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292481/chinas-trade-tensions-us-remain-high-ahead-trump-inauguration?utm_source=rss_feed

Trade tensions with the United States remain a top challenge for China’s foreign trade, an industry association said on Friday, as the world’s second-largest economy braces for new obstacles under the incoming administration of US president-elect Donald Trump.

The China-related trade and economic friction index for 19 countries and regions stood at 118 in October, remaining at a high level, and the US had the highest index for trade friction with China, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said.

The total value of trade measures related to China implemented by the 19 countries and regions increased by 10.3 per cent year on year but decreased by 7.8 per cent month on month. The trade friction indices in the electronics, machinery, transport equipment, and light industry sectors remained high, the council said.

The global trade friction index for October stood at 102, down from 105 in September but still at a high level. It was down 10.3 per cent year on year and 7.4 per cent month on month.

Trump, who will begin his second term as US president on January 20, has threatened to impose additional tariffs of up to 60 per cent on imports from China and has raised the prospect of “an additional 10 per cent” on top of that. Although it is not clear how the increases would be implemented, the looming risks have prompted importers to front-load deliveries of goods from China.

China’s exports to the US have grown for seven consecutive months. In November, they surged 8 per cent year on year by value to US$47.3 billion, contributing to the highest trade surplus since September 2022, according to Chinese customs data.

The Chinese business community is urging the US to genuinely adhere to World Trade Organization rules, immediately halt unilateral restrictions, and promote industry cooperation through dialogue and negotiation

In recent years, the US has escalated export controls on semiconductor products to China, continuously adding Chinese companies to its entity list, which “has had a serious impact on Sino-US semiconductor industry cooperation and has extended to sectors such as automotive and telecommunications,” council spokesman Sun Xiao said at a news conference in Beijing on Friday.

On Monday, the outgoing Biden administration in the US announced a Section 301 trade investigation into “legacy” semiconductors made by China.

“The Chinese business community is urging the US to genuinely adhere to World Trade Organization rules, immediately halt unilateral restrictions, and promote industry cooperation through dialogue and negotiation,” Sun said. “This will help safeguard the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains, injecting more momentum and certainty into the world economy.”

China sanctions 7 companies over US military assistance to Taiwan

https://apnews.com/article/china-sanctions-us-military-sales-taiwan-33e27d5389740e4a1f6c2f1ff7381931The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park, Feb. 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

2024-12-27T11:58:23Z

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government placed sanctions on seven companies on Friday in response to recent U.S. announcements of military sales and aid to Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as part of its territory.

The sanctions also come in response to the recent approval of the U.S. government’s annual defense spending bill, which a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said “includes multiple negative sections on China.”

China objects to American military assistance for Taiwan and often imposes sanctions on related companies after a sale or aid package is announced. The sanctions generally have a limited impact, because American defense companies don’t sell arms or other military goods to China. The U.S. is the main supplier of weapons to Taiwan for its defense.

The seven companies being sanctioned are Insitu Inc., Hudson Technologies Co., Saronic Technologies, Inc., Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm Inc. and Oceaneering International Inc., the Foreign Ministry statement said. It said that “relevant senior executives” of the companies are also sanctioned, without naming any.

Any assets they have in China will be frozen, and organizations and individuals in China are prohibited from engaging in any activity with them, it said.

U.S. President Joe Biden last week authorized up to $571 million in Defense Department material and services and military education and training for Taiwan. Separately, the Defense Department announced that $295 million in military sales had been approved.

The U.S. defense bill boosts military spending to $895 billion and directs resources toward a more confrontational approach to China. It establishes a fund that could be used to send military resources to Taiwan in much the same way that the U.S. has backed Ukraine. It also expands a ban on U.S. military purchases of Chinese products ranging from drone technology to garlic for military commissaries.

Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said earlier this week that the U.S. is hyping up the “so-called” threat from China to justify increased military spending.

“U.S. military spending has topped the world and keeps increasing every year,” he said at a press conference. “This fully exposes the belligerent nature of the U.S. and its obsession with hegemony and expansion.”

The Foreign Ministry statement said the U.S. moves violate agreements between the two countries on Taiwan, interfere in China’s domestic affairs and undermine the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwan’s government said earlier this month that China had sent dozens of ships into nearby seas to practice a blockade of the island, a move that Taiwan said undermined peace and stability and disrupted international shipping and trade. China has not confirmed or commented on the reported military activity.

China’s GenAI market continues to heat up as Beijing records more LLM filings

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3292521/chinas-genai-market-continues-heat-beijing-records-more-llm-filings?utm_source=rss_feed

Beijing added 11 new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) services set for public release, as the nation’s capital continues to burnish its reputation as the country’s leading hub for the technology’s development.

The new batch of GenAI services registered with the Beijing branch of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) included large language models (LLMs) developed by local start-up Zhipu AI and Rigo Design, an affiliate of smartphone giant Xiaomi, according to an announcement on Friday from the mainland’s internet regulator.

The CAC said its Beijing branch has approved a total of 105 LLMs as of Friday.

GenAI refers to algorithms that are used to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations and videos. LLM is the technology underpinning ChatGPT and other applications.

The level of GenAI development activity in Beijing reflects its position as home to some of the country’s major players in the field – including Baidu, Zhipu AI and Moonshot AI – as well as the nation’s most prestigious universities, where a large number of tech researchers can be found.

Beijing has also been the most active in China in terms of LLM approvals. According to CAC data, more than 309 GenAI products developed by domestic tech companies have received approvals for their LLMs as of November. Beijing led the pack with a total of 96 approvals.

Shanghai followed with 84, ahead of the 36 recorded by southern Guangdong province, where tech hub Shenzhen is located.

Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, competition in China’s GenAI market has intensified, as Big Tech firms and start-ups rushed to build and monetise their LLMs and GenAI applications.

Filing LLMs with the CAC is a necessary step before GenAI services can be launched for public use, following regulations published last July.

GenAI services “with public-opinion properties” are required to carry out security assessments and make the filing, according to the mainland rules known as the Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services.

China raises its estimate for the size of its economy in 2023

https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-world-bank-60132b4d6b4b36c810c4c9c0ee788d55Workers refurbish an overhead pedestrian bridge in Shanghai, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

2024-12-26T10:58:02Z

BANGKOK (AP) — China’s economy grew a bit more in 2023 than earlier thought, but the revision has not affected forecasts for “about 5%” growth in the GDP this year, the government said Thursday.

The estimate for total economic activity, or GDP, in 2023 for the world’s second largest economy was increased by about 2.7% to 129.4 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion), based on an economic census conducted once every five years. Earlier this year, the government said the GDP in 2023 was 126.06 trillion yuan.

The exact impact on China’s annual economic growth in 2023 was not given. Officials said further details would be released later. The economy grew at a 5.2% annual pace in 2023, according to the earlier estimate, up from 3% in 2022.

The size of the U.S. economy in 2023 was $27.36 trillion.

The economic census included years when the COVID-19 pandemic was causing severe disruptions to business activity, travel and ordinary activities in China. The economy is still recovering from those shocks and from a severe downturn in the housing market that followed a crackdown on excessive borrowing by property developers.

The government has stepped up measures to counter the slowdown in consumer spending and business investment, pledging again this week to step up spending and issue more bonds to finance support from local governments that are suffering partly due to the property crisis.

Such efforts are helping, the World Bank said in a report Thursday. It lifted its estimate for China’s growth this year to 4.9% from its forecast in June of 4.8%.

The World Bank’s update for China’s annual growth next year was raised to 4.5% from an earlier 4.1%, but it still shows growth slowing in coming years. The forecast for 2026 is for the economy to expand at a 4% pace.

Weakness in the property sector remains a drag on growth, and people whose houses have lost value will remain reluctant to spend much. That will keep inflation low, the report said, at 0.4% for this year, rising to 1.1% in 2025.

It noted that while moves to boost demand by cutting mortgage down payments and interest rates, funding affordable housing projects and subsidizing recycling programs for cars and appliances are supporting demand, such measures won’t do enough to restore growth to higher levels.

The risk of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. once President-elect Donald Trump takes office and other limits on trade are other potential threats to the economy given China’s growing reliance on exports to help drive growth.

The World Bank reiterated its calls for China to improve its social safety net and to help redress widening inequality to help provide a firmer economic footing for the hundreds of millions of its people who are either low income or part of what it calls the “vulnerable middle class,” and are at risk of falling back into poverty.

ELAINE KURTENBACH Based in Bangkok, Kurtenbach is the AP’s business editor for Asia, helping to improve and expand our coverage of regional economies, climate change and the transition toward carbon-free energy. She has been covering economic, social, environmental and political trends in China, Japan and Southeast Asia throughout her career. twitter mailto

China launches amphibious assault ship that can launch fighter jets

https://apnews.com/article/china-new-amphibious-ship-596a481b3bc3b808947080005ab433c7

2024-12-27T04:53:49Z

BANGKOK (AP) — China launched a new amphibious assault ship Friday, capable of launching fighter jets and designed to strengthen the navy’s combat ability in distant seas.

The Sichuan, the first ship of the 076 type, is China’s largest such ship yet, displacing 40,000 tons and equipped with an electromagnetic catapult which will allow fighter jets to launch directly off its deck, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The ship is designed to launch ground troops in landing crafts and provide them with air support.

Developed by Chinese researchers, it’s also equipped with an “arrestor technology” which allows fighter jets to land on its deck.

China’s first amphibious assault ships, the type 075, launched in 2019.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, has been working on modernizing its forces for more than a decade, with the aim of being able to operate globally rather than being restricted to waters near the Chinese mainland. China first managed to launch fighter jets with the new electromagnetic technology on its indigenously made aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which launched two years ago.

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping compared the Sichuan to a “light aircraft carrier,” according to the Global Times.

The ship will undergo further testing, including sea trials.

China has the largest navy in the world and is consistently trying to upgrade its fleet. Recently, researchers found that the country is working on designing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would allow it to deploy its ships in distant waters without needing a base to refuel.

The U.S. currently has 11 aircraft carriers, all nuclear powered, allowing it to keep multiple strike groups deployed around the world at all times, including in the Asia-Pacific.

___

AP researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report from Beijing.

HUIZHONG WU Wu covers Chinese culture, society, and politics as well as the country’s growing overseas influence from Bangkok. She was previously based in Taiwan and China. twitter

Chinese scientists show animal brain changes while awake through neural imaging

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3292477/chinese-scientists-devise-method-image-neurons-awake-animals-show-brain-changes?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese researchers have developed a microscopy technique to take imagery of neurons in animals that are awake, a method they say allowed them to capture the rapidly changing dynamics in the neurons of mice running on wheels.

The new technique extends the capabilities of super-resolution microscopy, which has previously been limited to imaging cultured cells, tissue sections or anaesthetised animals.

“Neurons are best studied in their native states in which their functional and morphological dynamics support animals’ natural behaviours,” the team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Methods last month.

Neurons – nerve cells that send signals throughout the body which allow us to carry out functions such as eating, walking and talking – have specialised structures to support necessary functions such as communication and information integration that change over time.

The use of super-resolution microscopy to capture imagery of animals performing natural behaviour has remained a challenge because any motion can lead to imaging artefacts, or distortions in the image.

Anaesthesia, which has been used to help examine the neurons of living animals, is not ideal because it alters the physiology of neural circuits.

To overcome this, the team, led by senior investigator Wang Kai at the Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, introduced a new type of super-resolution microscopy – multiplexed, line-scanning, structured illumination microscopy.

The new two-colour imaging technique is “immune to motion-induced artefacts and enables longitudinal super-resolution imaging in brains of head-fixed awake and behaving animals”.

The technique is capable of tolerating motions of up to 50 microns per second, higher than the average brain motion of a mouse running on a wheel with its head fixed in place.

“Imaging these morphological dynamics in behaving animals at higher spatiotemporal resolution can drive better understanding of the physiology of neurons and their networking,” the team wrote.

While it has been believed that sleep is involved in certain stages of memory, differences in morphological dynamics of neurons during sleep and awake states have remained unclear.

The team used their multiplexed microscopy technique to track dynamics and molecular reorganisation in mice with their head fixed in place during sleep-wake cycles, which helped reveal dynamic changes on a scale of seconds.

The technique was also used to take images of awake, running mice whose heads were fixed, and made accessible for imaging with the help of cranial glass windows.

“The combination of [the microscopy technique] and an image registration pipeline offers an opportunity to investigate the morphological dynamics of neurons at super-resolution in awake mouse brains,” the researchers said.

Compared with other techniques which require taking multiple frames from the same field of view to create one super-resolution image, the new technique is able to do so with just one scan – allowing it to better tolerate motion.

The new microscopy technique creates images at a lower resolution than the most advanced super-resolution microscopy, however it is a promising technology because of its potential application for live-brain imaging and even showing other organs and tissue, according to the researchers.

China’s C919 airliner could spread wings to parts of Asia next year

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292479/chinas-c919-airliner-could-spread-wings-parts-asia-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s thrust to raise the international profile of its domestically developed narrowbody airliner will shift into a higher gear next year, with the C919, already plying some of the busiest air routes at home, set to be more easily spotted in some parts of Asia, analysts predict.

The C919 will return to Hong Kong, one of the region’s international gateway hubs, on the first day of the new year, China Eastern Airlines has confirmed. It will launch a daily return flight between Shanghai and Hong Kong as the home-grown model’s first cross-border route.

The carrier is now taking delivery of its 10th C919 and is ramping up preparations to deploy the new plane on the Hong Kong route, according to a source at Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac), the C919’s manufacturer.

“The new jet being prepped will sport a new livery and its first flight to Hong Kong on January 1 will be kicked off at an event at Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport,” said the source, who declined to be named.

Observers say Hong Kong is a natural choice as the C919 seeks to raise its visibility beyond mainland skies and the jet could set a further course for regions that do not require aircraft certification by Western regulators as a prerequisite.

“Airlines need approval to fly a specific aircraft type to an overseas airport,” said Mayur Patel, the Asia head at consultancy OAG, which is based in Britain and Singapore. “For C919 operators, they will require approval from a particular country. Given the C919’s range, regional airports in Southeast Asia would be the ideal choice.

“The C919 can operate flights to various Asian airports, provided it meets regulatory and operational requirements of each country and C919 operators file for this aircraft type for use to those airports,” he said, adding that Western certification might not be required.

The C919 is still being evaluated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Jason Zheng, at Shanghai-based aviation information platform Airwefly, said Beijing could also help by expanding aircraft assessment mutual recognition arrangements and that the way the C919 is entering into commercial service in Hong Kong could be replicated elsewhere.

“Instead of launching a new route, China Eastern is adding the C919 to one of its existing Shanghai Hongqiao-Hong Kong routes and this can be a model for the jet to be deployed on mature Southeast Asia routes,” Zheng said.

C919 operators China Eastern and China Southern Airlines boost extensive networks to Southeast Asia that have potential for new aircraft deployment. China, meanwhile, has signed deals for its airworthiness certification and maintenance standards to be recognised by Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar that contain cooperation and mutual assistance in aviation safety.

The C919 is no stranger to those countries. In February, having made a splashy debut at the Singapore Airshow, Comac took the model on demonstration flights to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Comac also opened an office in Singapore in October to oversee business across Southeast Asia and it also runs a service centre in Indonesia, where the C909 regional jet has been in service since 2022.

Zheng said Comac and C919 operators should first ensure smooth operations in Hong Kong.

“The city is Chinese territory but it is also a global aviation hub at China’s doorstep, with procedures aligned with the top international standards,” he said. “When the C919 goes there, flying alongside international airlines, it can help garner more attention from international travellers.”

Philippines forges ahead with Typhon purchase plan: ‘China should not intervene’

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3292518/philippines-forges-ahead-typhon-purchase-plan-china-should-not-intervene?utm_source=rss_feed

The Philippines is forging ahead with its retention of a US-made Typhon missile system, brushing aside China’s demand for its removal, in a move seen by experts as both a declaration of self-reliance and a calculated gamble in the face of mounting tensions in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Army announced plans on Monday to acquire the advanced Mid-Range Capability missile launcher from Washington.

A Typhon system is already in the Philippines after the US delivered it for use in joint-military exercises in April, and is due for further assessment by the military.

Beijing has repeatedly denounced the Typhon’s presence in the Philippines and demanded its removal. The army’s plans to acquire the system for itself has triggered even more strongly worded statements from Beijing.

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called it “a provocative and dangerous move” that undermined regional stability.

“The Philippines, by cooperating with the United States to introduce the Typhon, is handing over its own security and defence, bringing geopolitical confrontation and arms race risks into the region, which poses a substantial threat to regional peace and security,” Mao said.

Philippine officials have brushed off those criticisms. Military spokeswoman Colonel Francel Padilla told reporters on Thursday that no nation had the right to intervene with their plans to defend their own country.

“There is no single entity of a foreign nation that can dictate how we would be fortifying our defences,” Padilla said. “China should not intervene on how we will be doing it.”

Padilla also dismissed speculation that the country’s modernisation projects were aimed at any specific nation or designed to support the interests of others, such as countering mainland China’s activities or addressing concerns related to Taiwan.

Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers went further, accusing Beijing of “acting [out] to the max with bullying tactics” for telling the Philippines to drop a system it says is vital for national defence.

The Typhon is a land-based, ground-launched system designed to enhance multi-domain capabilities. It can fire Raytheon’s Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), which has a range of more than 240km, and the Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile, with a range of roughly 2,500km. Its placement in the Philippines gives it coverage of both the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Chester Cabalza, president of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said China’s demands to pull out the Typhon launcher underscored fears of a regional arms race, given that the weapon was stationed in the Philippines’ northern frontier as part of US strategic efforts in Asia.

“With a scenario where America’s friends from Australia, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea were alerting their armed forces with potent missile systems surrounding an Asian giant neighbour, China would feel insecure and fearful as well,” Cabalza said.

The Typhon would be a “game changer in Manila’s arsenal” that would also prompt other neighbouring states to strengthen their defences, he added.

The future combat warfare in the region, according to Cabalza, is seen as more lethal and asymmetric, depending on the military assets possessed by each country, making military rehearsals – such as war games – essential to tactical operations and interoperability of these armaments.

Sherwin Ona, a visiting fellow at the Institute for National Defence and Security Research in Taiwan, argued that Beijing’s indignation over the missile highlighted its double standards in the South China Sea.

“It justifies its militarisation of the South China Sea by establishing artificial islands and turning them into garrisons, while they complain when nations like the Philippines assert their right to defend its interests,” Ona told This Week in Asia.

Chris Gardiner, chief executive of the Institute for Regional Security in Canberra, said China’s own actions in the disputed waters were the primary trigger for tension.

“The key drivers of defence build-up by the Philippines and its partners are the massive spending, modernisation and offensive capabilities of the PLA [People’s Liberation Army], its occupation and militarisation of islands and shoals, with the latter suggesting a very worrying Chinese imperial disposition,” he said.

“It is important that the manipulation of the narrative on this is dealt with – it is not the Philippines driving an arms race or destabilising the region or heightening tensions and escalation. Those are the clever characterisations by China which seeks not only to dominate the seas but [also] the narrative.”

According to Gardiner, acquisition of the Typhon system is an appropriate and necessary balancing action in response to China’s military moves.

“To remove these systems would be to succumb to China’s threat-based diplomacy and accede to its PLA-based controls not just the South China but the West Philippine Sea. Importantly, in terms of preventing conflict, it would weaken deterrence and reward aggression,” Gardiner said.

However, Matteo Piasentini, a security analyst at the Italian think tank Geopolitica, played down suggestions that the Typhon missile would radically alter the region’s security dynamics.

“I don’t think it will affect it substantially. It is a back and forth that has been lasting for decades and I don’t think these developments will make the situation enter a new phase,” he said.

Piasentini also stressed that it was wrong to assume that tensions were growing because of the missile system, as the correlation was not proven.

“Tensions were recurring even before the potential missile acquisition. This is simply not demonstrated and does not match with the historical records of the tensions,” Piasentini said.

Chinese court sentences Zhuhai car attack driver to death

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3292520/chinese-court-sentences-zhuhai-car-attack-driver-death?utm_source=rss_feed

The driver behind the car attack in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, which killed 35 people in November, has been sentenced to death, state media said on Friday.

More to follow...

Chinese start-up DeepSeek launches AI model that outperforms Meta, OpenAI products

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3292507/chinese-start-deepseek-launches-ai-model-outperforms-meta-openai-products?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese start-up DeepSeek’s release of a new large language model (LLM) has made waves in the global artificial intelligence (AI) industry, as benchmark tests showed that it outperformed rival models from the likes of Meta Platforms and ChatGPT creator OpenAI.

The Hangzhou-based company said in a WeChat post on Thursday that its namesake LLM, DeepSeek V3, comes with 671 billion parameters and trained in around two months at a cost of US$5.58 million, using significantly fewer computing resources than models developed by bigger tech firms.

LLM refers to the technology underpinning generative AI services such as ChatGPT. In AI, a high number of parameters is pivotal in enabling an LLM to adapt to more complex data patterns and make precise predictions.

Reacting to the Chinese start-up’s technical report on its new AI model, computer scientist Andrej Karpathy – a founding team member at OpenAI – said in a post on social-media platform X: “DeepSeek making it look easy … with an open weights release of a frontier-grade LLM trained on a joke of a budget.”

Open weights refers to releasing only the pretrained parameters, or weights, of an AI model, which allows a third party to use the model for inference and fine-tuning only. The model’s training code, original data set, architecture details and training methodology are not provided.

DeepSeek’s development of a powerful LLM – at a fraction of the capital outlay that bigger companies like Meta and OpenAI typically invest – shows how far Chinese AI firms have progressed, despite US sanctions that have blocked their access to advanced semiconductors used for training models.

Leveraging new architecture designed to achieve cost-effective training, DeepSeek required just 2.78 million GPU hours – the total amount of time that a graphics processing unit is used to train an LLM – for its V3 model. The start-up’s training process used Nvidia’s China-tailored H800 GPUs.

That process was substantially less than the 30.8 million GPU hours that Facebook parent Meta needed to train its Llama 3.1 model on Nvidia’s more advanced H100 chips, which are not allowed to be exported to China.

“DeepSeek V3 looks to be a stronger model at only 2.8 million GPU hours,” Karpathy wrote in his X post.

The technical report on V3 posted by DeepSeek showed that its LLM outperformed Meta’s Llama 3.1 and Alibaba Group Holding’s Qwen 2.5 in a series of benchmark tests evaluating an AI system’s capabilities from text understanding and generation, domain expert knowledge, coding and maths problem solving. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

The same benchmark tests showed that V3’s results matched up with those of OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet from Amazon.com-backed Anthropic.

DeepSeek was spun off in July last year by High-Flyer Quant, which uses AI to operate one of the largest quantitative hedge funds in mainland China.

High-Flyer spent 200 million yuan (US$27.4 million) to develop AI cluster Fire Flyer I between 2019 and 2020, and then spent 1 billion yuan more to build Fire-Flyer II, according to the Hangzhou-based company’s website.

In an announcement last April, High-Flyer said DeepSeek’s development goal is to create “AI that will benefit all of humanity”. DeepSeek had earlier launched a series of AI models, which are used by developers to build third-party applications, as well as its own chatbot.

China trans woman faces legal challenges 3 years after firm dismissal for gender expression

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3291978/china-trans-woman-faces-legal-challenges-3-years-after-firm-dismissal-gender-expression?utm_source=rss_feed

A trans woman in China has been battling discrimination for three years after her company required her to dress according to her assigned gender before unjustly dismissing her.

Despite her efforts, she was unable to even have her case filed with a local court.

Her situation highlights the challenges that trans employees face when attempting to legally defend their rights against workplace discrimination.

The 32-year-old, who goes by the pseudonym Guagua, began her career at a state-owned company in eastern China’s Jiangsu province in 2019. In her first year, she struggled to conform to the expectations of a stereotypical man, but she soon felt increasingly conflicted and was plagued by depression and anxiety.

Following the death of her grandfather, Guagua realised that “one only lives once.” This revelation led her to embrace her true self, and she began receiving hormone replacement therapy in March 2021. She confided in a few trusted colleagues after her transformation.

These colleagues offered support, encouraged her to express herself as she wished, and reassured her that they did not mind her using the company’s women’s restroom. Their reactions gave Guagua hope for the future.

However, the company’s leadership later pressured her on numerous occasions to “rectify” her gender expression, demanding changes such as altering her nail polish, cutting her hair short, and using men’s facilities.

They labelled her “selfish” for “not conforming to the company’s requirements for male employees and causing trouble for others.”

In an attempt to comply, Guagua began using public restrooms outside the company, but the management further marginalised her and ultimately dismissed her in December 2021, citing “incompetence for the job” as the reason.

Guagua appealed to the local labour dispute arbitration committee, which ruled in her favour, ordering the company to continue her employment until her contract expired last year.

However, the company rejected this outcome and sued her, leading the court to order the company to compensate her 15,000 yuan (US$2,000) for illegal dismissal.

Despite winning the labour lawsuit, Guagua felt that true justice was not served, as the company faced no repercussions for discrimination. Furthermore, the court’s ruling did not address her “transgender” identity, which was central to her dispute.

Guagua’s lawyer, Liu Mingke from Beijing Huayi Law Firm, explained to the Post that she sought to file additional lawsuits based on “dispute over equal employment rights” and “dispute over general personality rights” as causes of action.

However, the court denied the first filing, stating that it only applies to the job-seeking stage.

The court still has not approved the latter filing, with no explanation provided despite multiple inquiries.

In China, the absence of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law continues to hinder transgender individuals from protecting their legal rights and obtaining adequate compensation for workplace discrimination.

According to the 2021 National Transgender Health Survey Report by the Beijing LGBT Centre, more than 30 per cent of transgender respondents reported experiencing discrimination at work, yet only 5.8 per cent attempted to advocate for their rights.

Liu noted that the limited number of transgender workplace discrimination cases – fewer than 10 in the past decade – contributes to legislative departments’ lack of urgency in safeguarding the rights of the transgender community.

Additionally, the country is still developing necessary support infrastructures, such as equal opportunities offices dedicated to addressing such disputes.

Despite these challenges, Liu expressed optimism about the “slow but steady” legal progress in the anti-discrimination sector, as younger generations are increasingly willing to confront discrimination.

Existing transgender employment cases also serve as valuable precedents for future rulings and raise awareness among legal practitioners.

In 2020, a Beijing court upheld the rights of a transgender woman who was terminated for taking time off to recover from gender reassignment surgery. In its statement, the court emphasised the importance of “respecting diverse ways of living and protecting the dignity of transgender people.”

Liu shared another case she observed, where a transgender plaintiff sued his company for discriminatory treatment and brought in a law professor as an “expert witness”.

The judge posed numerous questions to the professor about the definition of workplace discrimination, reflecting the legal sector’s unfamiliarity with the issue.

The judge also inquired about how the plaintiff used public toilets, a question Liu believed is common from those who lack knowledge about the transgender community.

“Public restrooms are the least of their concerns compared with the impacts of hormone therapy, the gender marker on their ID, and their rights in education and employment,” Liu stated.

She emphasised the necessity of raising social awareness regarding transgender issues, which would facilitate further advancements in anti-discrimination legislation and legal practice.

China’s Xi to visit Russia in 2025 amid ‘double resistance’ to West, envoy to Beijing says

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292494/chinas-xi-visit-russia-2025-amid-double-resistance-west-envoy-beijing-says?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next year as the neighbours seek to put up a “double resistance” to pressure from the US-led West, the Russian ambassador to China has said.

Russia had pledged to further work together with China on economic and security issues to counter the “double containment” campaign from the West, Russian state news agency RIA quoted ambassador Igor Morgulov as saying on Friday.

“In the international arena, our countries will have to continue to respond with ‘double resistance’ to the ‘double containment’ that the West is trying to implement against Russia and China,” Morgulov said.

China shared Russia’s concerns over the Ukraine issue and faced “largely similar challenges”, he added, saying “the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region are systematically increasing military pressure on China”.

Ties between China and Russia have become closer since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 amid their respective tensions with the US and its Western allies, which have sanctioned Moscow for its military aggression and criticised Beijing for not condemning it while accusing it of aiding the Russian war machine. China denies the allegations.

Tighter Beijing-Moscow ties since 2022 have included closer military cooperation, a surge in bilateral trade, and more high-level engagement.

“As for specific bilateral events, I can say that the relevant plans are already being actively drawn up,” Morgulov told RIA, referring to Xi’s potential visit next year.

Asked to respond to the report, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday that the two countries had maintained “close engagements at all levels”.

According to Morgulov, there will be two high-level bilateral gatherings in China next year, including between heads of government and inter-parliamentary commissions. Both countries will also host a meeting each of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) economic and security bloc.

All of these events are expected to provide multiple opportunities for talks between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“What can be said that is no secret, in terms of priority, is that the chairman of the People’s Republic of China is expected in Russia next year,” Morgulov said.

The leaders met three times in person this year. Two of those meetings were held on the sidelines of international forums, in July during an SCO summit in Kazakhstan and in October during the Brics emerging economies summit in Kazan, Russia.

Putin also visited Beijing in May – his first overseas trip since being reelected for a fifth term. The visit saw the signing of several cooperation agreements, ranging from energy to finance, as both leaders pledged closer ties.

Xi last visited Moscow in March 2023, his first international trip after being reelected for a third term.

In response to Western accusations that it has not condemned the Russian invasion and is providing dual-use products to power its war effort, Beijing has emphasised that it has a neutral position over the war and maintains normal trade with both Russia and Ukraine.

In the first 11 month of 2024, China-Russia trade amounted to US$222.8 billion, up 2.1 per cent from the previous year, according to Chinese customs data.

Morgulov said Western sanctions barring Russia from the global banking system had made trade payments difficult, with companies having to settle dues in local currencies. But China and Russia had been able to find a way around the problem.

“Thanks to timely steps to transfer settlements to national currencies, the share of which already exceeds 90 per cent, as well as effective coordination with partners, we have managed to ensure the stability of mutual trade and economic cooperation in general,” he said.

[Sport] China to build world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmn127kmr4o

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Chinese cities offer subsidies to boost access to the computing power needed for AI

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292478/chinese-cities-offer-subsidies-boost-access-computing-power-needed-ai?utm_source=rss_feed

In the artificial intelligence (AI) era, computing power has become an even more critical focus in the global race for technological leadership, with major economies ramping up investments to gain a competitive edge.

Premier Li Qiang emphasised the need for China to strengthen the construction of computing power infrastructure, underscoring its role in supporting technological and economic growth, during a three-day visit last week to Zhejiang province, one of the country’s leading economic hubs.

Computing power refers to the capacity of digital systems to process and use data – with applications in a huge range of fields, including education, finance, transport, healthcare and energy, and a key role in the nascent AI sector – and it has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, according to International Data Corporation.

In a report released this year, Yu Xiaohui, president of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said that every yuan invested in computing power “can generate 3 to 4 yuan in economic output”.

The rising cost of computing power is a challenge for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), prompting several Chinese cities to introduce subsidies aimed at bolstering access to computing power infrastructure.

This month, Shenzhen introduced a 500 million yuan (US$68.49 million) annual voucher programme, offering subsidies of up to 50 per cent for companies, universities and research institutions renting computing power for AI model training. Start-ups enjoy even greater support, with subsidies reaching 60 per cent, making it the country’s most generous such policy.

Additionally, in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, a policy announced in September allows projects investing over 100 million yuan in intelligent computing facilities to claim subsidies covering 5 per cent of their previous year’s spending.

Chengdu, the first city in China to implement a dedicated policy for computing power, launched its voucher programme in January. The programme aims to distribute up to 10 million yuan in vouchers a year, enabling businesses to offset costs immediately after signing contracts.

By October, vouchers worth 5.44 million yuan had been issued, with the city’s intelligent computing centre maintaining a utilisation rate above 95 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Shanghai’s computing power policy supports both users and developers.

According to a measure for SMEs released in May last year, businesses conducting AI model research can apply for subsidies of up to 10 per cent of their computing power rental costs, based on the scale of their clusters and research outcomes.

A plan launched in November last year promised deployment rewards for projects completing intelligent computing infrastructure by the end of this year, provided they met evaluation criteria.

Beijing launched a preferential plan in October last year, offering subsidies of up to 20 per cent for companies engaged in large-scale AI model training and applications, capped at 2 million yuan per year.

In March, the city’s Economic and Technological Development Zone introduced a 100 million yuan annual voucher programme, allowing businesses to deduct up to 40 per cent of costs for renting domestic computing resources and 30 per cent for non-domestic ones, with an annual cap of 20 million yuan per company.

The initiative enticed more than 20 computing power suppliers to register and provide services to local businesses last year, according to Zhang Jinrui, an official at Beijing’s municipal economy and information technology bureau.

China’s high-speed rail enthusiasts glimpse the future as 450km/h train spotted

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3292414/chinas-high-speed-rail-enthusiasts-glimpse-future-450km/h-train-spotted?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s next innovation in high-speed rail the CR450, tipped to be the world’s fastest commercial train when it starts operations next year, was captured by enthusiasts in a series of videos as it made its way from Tianjin to Beijing on Wednesday.

It was the second glimpse of the CR450 – designed with a trial speed of 450km/h (280mph) and a commercial operating speed of 400km/h (249mph) – after a test video briefly surfaced online in November before it was taken down.

The train resembles an arrow when viewed from the side. Its sleek, bullet-shaped nose has slightly angular contours, while the cockpit features trapezoidal side windows and decorative breathing lights.

Last month’s apparently leaked test video featured a train marked CR450AF-0001, while the latest images show an eight-car CR450 with its serial number covered by white tape.

The body is unpainted but the Fuxing branding of China’s bullet trains is visible, highlighting that the new train builds upon the foundation of the CR400, which debuted in 2017.

Today, China’s high-speed rail system is the world’s largest network in operation, covering more than 45,000km (28,000 miles).

The China State Railway Group announced in September that the CR450 train had entered its full assembly phase, with prototype units expected to roll out before the end of the year.

The project is part of China’s 14th five-year plan, under an initiative that also includes upgrades to high-speed rail infrastructure such as tracks, bridges, and tunnels.

According to official data, the CR450 train body weighs about 10 tonnes, making it 12 per cent lighter than the existing CR400 model. Operational resistance and energy consumption have been reduced by 20 per cent, while braking performance is up by the same amount.

The improvements make possible the 50km/h increase in commercial operating speed, without affecting the train’s braking distance, noise levels, or energy efficiency, the data shows.

The CR450 achieved a record-breaking speed of 453km/h (281mph) in performance testing carried out in June last year.

During the trial runs – on the Meizhou Bay Cross-Sea Bridge in southeast China – two CR450 trains passing each other reached a combined relative speed of 891km/h (554mph).

This week’s sighting of the CR450 has led to speculation among enthusiasts about which routes it will serve, with some pointing out that the Beijing-Shanghai line might require upgrades due to potential settlement issues from earlier construction.

The Chengdu-Chongqing Central Line, which is built to a higher standard, is considered to be a likely candidate for the CR450 to operate at its maximum design speed, according to commentary on social media platforms.

China Olympic champions Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng stun table tennis fans with ‘retirement’

https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3292442/china-olympic-champions-fan-zhendong-chen-meng-stun-table-tennis-fans-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed

Olympic champions Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng have both announced they are withdrawing from the International Table Tennis Federation rankings on Friday, barely five months after winning Olympic gold.

Fan and Chen, who won gold in team events and the men’s and women’s singles at the Paris Games, respectively, said the decision to step away was because of rules that fines would be imposed on players who did not take part in international tournaments.

Fan, 27, made the announcement on his Weibo page at 11am but reiterated it did not mean retirement and that he would still compete at the National Games in November despite sharing a letter to the sport’s governing body that said “retirement notification”.

Chen, 30, shared the same letter bearing her name three hours later.

“I had already anticipated that Paris might be my last Olympics, and I would go all out to fight for my country,” Fan said.

“After successfully completing the Olympic mission, due to the huge psychological effect of the Paris cycle, I had not yet made specific plans for my future career except for the next National Games.

“Recently, WTT [World Table Tennis] issued a new rule that fines will be imposed if you do not participate. I am really not willing to accept it, but I still respect the international organisations, so I can only choose to withdraw from the world rankings.”

Both Fan and Chen posted a picture of a letter addressed to WTT titled ‘Player career retirement notification’, dated December 23.

The letter also said they would be removed from the world rankings when they are next updated.

Chen’s post on Weibo also stressed the strain of competing at the Paris Olympics.

“The new regulations on withdrawal penalties recently issued by WTT, because my body is currently unable to bear every high-intensity event, out of respect for the international organisations, I signed the document on Monday and finally made the choice to withdraw from the world ranking,” she wrote.

The WTT 2025 handbook, published on December 20, stated that players who miss the WTT Grand Smash, WTT Champions and WTT Finals would be fined, the amount of which depends on the athletes ranking.

Both Fan and Chen skipped the season-ending WTT finals in Fukuoka last month and the pair were not going to feature in the WTT Grand Smash in Singapore in January and February.

According to WTT’s new rules, they will be fined US$5,000 for each tournament they miss and “Fines will double for each repeat offence within a WTT Series Year.”

In August, WTT fined Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna US$5,000 for missing two tournaments.

Skipping the WTT finals caused him to fall out of the top five in the world, a position he had held since he was 16.

The announcements came as a shock to table tennis fans in China, and instantly shot to the top of Weibo’s trending list, with related hashtags being viewed hundreds of millions of time.

“For more than 10 years of winning glory for the country, you have never slacked off. Thank you for your hard work,” one comment on Fan’s post read.

However, some social media users threw punches at the sport’s governing body.

“At the age of 27, he has dominated the international arena, but now he is forced to retire, leaving novices to fight each other. This perfect system is a blessing for the country,” one said.

Others joked that Fan’s retirement could cause WTT to go bust, while some said its rules were “disrespectful” to athletes and the sport.

Both Fan and Chen have been victims of China’s “obsessive fan culture” problem that has plagued table tennis in recent years.

Earlier this month, Fan pleaded with fans to “understand and respect” his privacy after he was mobbed in a hotel lobby.

After Chen won gold in both the women’s singles at the Paris Olympics, Weibo banned more than 300 accounts for “inciting conflict” after users expressed their dismay at her victory over compatriot Sun Yingsha in the table tennis final.

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China surpasses rivals with ‘world-class’ sixth-gen stealth fighter jet: experts

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3292462/china-surpasses-rivals-world-class-sixth-gen-stealth-fighter-jet-experts?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese experts believe the country’s first sixth-generation stealth fighter jet may have even greater stealth capabilities at hypersonic speeds, with one commenter suggesting the PLA has “fully surpassed global advanced standards”.

China’s official media appeared to tacitly confirm speculation that a fixed-wing aircraft with a three-engine configuration seen over Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Thursday was in fact the stealth fighter on its maiden flight.

During the flight – which took place in broad daylight – the jet was flanked by a fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet, according to footage that was reportedly filmed near the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, a Chinese fighter and drone manufacturer.

Observers noted that the mystery jet – which has a distinctive triangular, tailless design – was flying with its landing gear down – a common practice in the early stages

Chinese authorities have not yet officially confirmed or named the jet, but the Chengdu-based Defence Times appeared to make an oblique reference to the aircraft on its Weibo account.

The media outlet posted an image of a ginkgo leaf and the comment “it really looks like a leaf”, in what was widely interpreted as a semi-official acknowledgement of the fighter jet.

Also on Thursday, another video – reportedly filmed near Shenyang, home to another key fighter jet manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation – showed a similar but smaller model, flying alongside what looks like a 4.5-generation J-16 fighter jet.

Many commenters noted that Thursday marked the birthday of Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

The two stealth jets – one large and one medium-sized – share a key feature, according to a Beijing-based military expert, who requested anonymity because of the issue’s potential sensitivity.

Both have exceptional all-angle stealth capabilities and their design – which dispenses with vertical tail fins – provides top-tier performance in all directions, a full 360 degrees, he said.

While the purpose and details of the aircraft remain unknown, the three-engine design is unprecedented in fighter jets, suggesting that China has moved away from the traditional US models.

The Beijing-based expert said the power systems are also “world-class” based on current standards, adding that “the US hasn’t developed new engines recently, so China’s advancements stand out”.

The larger jet may have three engines, possibly of two different types – a set-up that could allow it to fly higher and faster, he said. “Not only is it likely to have more powerful engines, its speed and altitude performance might also be unprecedented.”

The flight marks an important milestone in history and shows that “China has fully surpassed global advanced standards, including the US and now leads the world,” the expert said.

Hong Kong-based military commentator Liang Guoliang said that the aircraft’s rear-mounted scramjet – or pulse detonation engine – “suggests it has the ability to fly at hypersonic speeds in near-space or suborbital altitudes, making it nearly impossible to be shot down”.

Liang also noted that the aircraft appeared to carry the number 3042, based on mock-up images that seem to have been leaked online, sparking speculation that it might be named the J-30.

According to mainland-based military commentator Song Zhongping, the new stealth jet is “noticeably much larger than the J-20”, which means it is likely to have a longer range and more weapons, as well as even better stealth capabilities.

“[This] is currently still a prototype – a first one – so it will need extensive testing, trial flights, and optimisations before it’s ready for mass production and deployment,” he said.

A fixed wing design makes it possible for an aircraft to carry a significant payload relative to its weight, which could enhance its operational efficiency but may also reduce its manoeuvrability and stability compared to traditional designs, experts said.

If confirmed, the first flight of Chinese sixth-generation fighter jets would also be the second in the world, with the US flying a prototype in September 2020 from its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme.

While the US defence contractor Northrop Grumman has claimed its B-21 Raider is sixth-generation, the aircraft is known to be a strategic bomber, instead of a fighter jet.

The features of sixth-generation fighter jets are typically conceptualised as enhanced stealth, weapons, avionics, and hypersonic capabilities, integration of AI and quantum computing, and manned-unmanned teaming with drone wingmen flying alongside.

Not much is known about China’s sixth-generation fighter jet development compared to programmes such as NGAD or the Global Combat Air Programme between Britain, Italy and Japan, as well as the Future Combat Air System between France, Germany and Spain.

In January 2019, Wang Haifeng, the chief architect at the Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute, confirmed the fighter was in development and said it might feature lasers, adaptive engines, hypersonic weapons and swarm warfare.

Computer-generated images of the next generation fighter jet released in February 2023 featured a tailless, fixed-wing design that suggests a similarity to the aircraft spotted on Thursday.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at China’s Renmin University, said the first flights of the new stealth jets have intensified the arms race between the US and China. It could also provide a more concrete design target for NGAD, he added.

The NGAD programme – viewed as a critical part of Washington’s ability to fight a potential war against China in the Indo-Pacific region – has been experiencing turbulence.

According to Defence News, the programme has been subjected to increasing budget restraints as the cost of its sixth-generation jets has skyrocketed to US$300 million per unit – three times that of an F-35.

In July, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the programme was on hold while the service reviewed NGAD and its air superiority strategy as a whole, in search of a more affordable way forward, including “ a chance it might be uncrewed”.

A decision on NGAD had been expected by the end of this year but in December, after president-elect Donald Trump’s election victory, the US Air Force said it would defer the choice until the new administration takes over in January.

It is uncertain whether the incoming administration will endorse NGAD. Elon Musk – a close ally of Trump’s who has been named as one of the heads of a government efficiency advisory panel – is unlikely to be supportive.

In a series of social media posts in November, Musk said that “manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones” and called the manufacturers of crewed fighters like the F-35 “idiots”.

Chinese lawyer says she was pepper-sprayed by court officials when trying to observe case

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3292472/chinese-lawyer-says-she-was-pepper-sprayed-court-officials-when-trying-observe-case?utm_source=rss_feed

Members of China’s legal community are shocked after lawyers were pepper-sprayed by court bailiffs as they tried to sit in on a landmark case involving local authorities suing a private company outside the area they govern.

Guo Rui, a lawyer with Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, said in a WeChat post on Thursday that she and several other lawyers were blocked by bailiffs on Wednesday as they tried to attend the third hearing of a case in which a private Beijing company was being prosecuted at a court in the northern autonomous region of Inner Mongolia.

Lawyers were required to hand in their electronic devices before entering the courtroom at Xilinhot People’s Court even though there had been no such requirement at the previous two hearings, Guo’s article said.

The lawyers were then pepper-sprayed after they clashed with bailiffs when they asked to see the legal basis for not allowing electronic devices, according to Guo, who previously worked as a journalist at the South China Morning Post.

Guo, who received the worst injuries, called police and was taken to hospital by other lawyers.

The hospital said Guo had “conjunctival haemorrhage in both eyes and burns in the periocular area of both eyes”, and another lawyer received a corneal injury, the article said.

The government of Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia, where the incident took place, has yet to respond to the case. Guo said the local court had not contacted the injured lawyers.

“I will demand that the bailiffs who caused us intentional harm, as well as their superiors, apologise, pay damages and get punished. We will also apply for state compensation,” Guo said.

The incident has shocked China’s legal community, particularly criminal defence lawyers, many of whom have faced hostility from the police and courts when defending their clients.

Several Chinese lawyers active on social media reposted Guo’s article and condemned the Xilingol authorities.

Li Zhuang, a former lawyer who was jailed for “fabricating evidence” against a crime boss prosecuted during disgraced former Chongqing Communist Party boss Bo Xilai’s anti-triad campaign, said on the social media site Weibo: “Criminal defence in China is incredibly difficult!”

Jin Hongwei, a partner at Beijing Huayi Law Firm, reposted Guo’s article and news from Thursday that China’s top court vowed to “resolutely eliminate covert practices such as preventing the public from attending court hearings”. Jin said China’s courts “cannot just make empty promises”.

The case Guo tried to attend was a landmark case involving attempts by some local authorities to target private companies outside the area they govern.

In February 2023, police in Xilingol travelled more than 1,000km (620 miles) to Beijing to arrest the founder and executives of an online book and video company after receiving a report the firm was involved in setting up an “online pyramid scheme”.

The founder’s wife declared on social media the company was innocent and has appealed for public attention over the past two years.

Some lawyers following the case have questioned procedural problems with the evidence used by the Inner Mongolian police.

According to Chinese media reports, the market supervision bureau in Beijing’s Chaoyang district, where the company is based, replied in 2022 to people reporting the company’s alleged pyramid scheme that it had found “no illegal activity”.

In recent years, Chinese entrepreneurs have complained that law enforcement agencies have used bogus criminal charges as an excuse to extort money from them, often targeting companies outside the area they govern.

Last week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang warned local governments against imposing unfair fines on private businesses and promised further measures to improve the business environment next year. This comes as many local governments face mounting debts and declining revenues, increasing the pressure on them to find alternative sources of funding.

While this process is officially known as “profit-driven law enforcement”, Chinese entrepreneurs have described it as “distant fishing”, likening police to fishermen venturing far out to sea for their catch.

In another case that attracted public attention, a Beijing-based businessman was arrested by police in another part of Inner Mongolia in November last year for “running a casino”. He died in April while under residential surveillance and his family has questioned the police assertion that he died by suicide.

Inner Mongolia police said this month they had dropped the case after an investigation because “there were no criminal facts”.

In November, a report by Zhejiang provincial prosecutors detailed a case involving two police officers from an unnamed province who extorted money from entrepreneurs in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. The officers were jailed on charges of abuse of power.

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US investigates Chinese chips, China’s mega dam: SCMP’s 7 highlights

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3292426/us-investigates-chinese-chips-chinas-mega-dam-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 .

The White House announced a trade investigation into “legacy” semiconductors made by China on Monday, less than a month before the new administration of president-elect Donald Trump takes power, that could impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made everyday US consumer goods from cars to coffee makers.

China has approved the construction of a colossal hydropower project on Tibet’s longest river that could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

Hongkongers made more than 2.2 million outbound trips between last Saturday and Wednesday of this week, with others saying they were only remaining behind during the Christmas holiday to avoid peak pricing.

China’s demand for natural diamonds has “fallen off a cliff” amid plunging marriage rates, while its factories are churning out synthetic alternatives that are up to 90 per cent cheaper.

A Chinese self-propelled deck vessel with an unprecedented carrying capacity of 58,000 tonnes – making it the largest of its kind in the world – has been declared seaworthy after completing five days of trials on Sunday.

Indonesia’s strategy of pressuring Apple into increasing its investments in the country to be able to sell its latest phone appears to have paid off with a US$1 billion pledge, but analysts warn that the country’s strict local content rules could prove to be a “double-edged sword”.

Gossip about the world’s third richest man and Oracle chairman Larry Ellison’s new wife, Chinese native Jolin Zhu, emerged on mainland social media after her identity was revealed.

China probes personal disputes after mass killings. Many fear further infringement on freedoms

https://apnews.com/article/china-mass-killings-revenge-society-security-censors-705144a770b486eb222c040cba056f41A man stands near flowers laid outside the Zhuhai People's Fitness Plaza, where a man rammed his car into people exercising at the sports center, in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong province on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

2024-12-27T02:12:11Z

BANGKOK (AP) — The order came from the top.

China’s leader Xi Jinping wants the recent spree of mass killings that shocked the country not to happen again. He ordered local governments to prevent future “extreme cases.”

The attacks, where drivers mow down people on foot or knife-wielding assailants stab multiple victims, are not new in China. But the latest surge drew attention.

Local officials were quick to vow to examine all sorts of personal disputes that could trigger aggression, from marital troubles to disagreements over inheritance.

However, the increasing reach into people’s private lives raises concerns at a time when the Chinese state has already tightened its grip over all social and political aspects in the East Asian nation.

‘Revenge on Society Crimes’

This is how people in China label these attacks.

In November alone, three took place: A man struck people at an elementary school in Hunan province, wounding 30, after suffering investment losses. A student who failed his examination stabbed and killed eight at a vocational school in the city of Yixing. The most victims, 35 people, resulted from a man mowing down a crowd in the southern city of Zhuhai, supposedly upset over his divorce.

While pinpointing the exact motive of such attacks can be difficult, there is an overwhelming feeling of being pressured within Chinese society, experts say.

“On the surface, it seems like there are individual factors, but we see there’s a common link,” Wu Qiang, a former political science professor, said. “This link is, in my personal opinion, every person has a feeling of injustice. They feel deeply that this society is very unfair and they can’t bear it anymore.”

Since 2015, Chinese police have targeted human rights lawyers and non-profit advocacy groups, jailing many, while keeping tight surveillance on others, effectively destroying the civil society that had been active from the early 2000s to 2010s.

Wu was fired from Tsinghua University after conducting fieldwork during the 2014 Occupy protests in Hong Kong. He says police officers have been regularly stationed outside his home in Beijing since last year.

Keeping a tight lid on the killings

A decade ago, media outlets could report an incident as it developed and even share a suspect’s name. Nowadays, it’s rarely possible.

During the 24 hours before the death toll was released in the Zhuhai slaying, state censors were quick to remove any videos of the incident and eyewitness accounts shared online. In the case of the Hunan elementary school attack, authorities shared the number of the wounded only after the court sentencing, nearly a month later.

A tally of violent attacks can be documented in other countries; notably, the U.S. had 38 mass killings so far this year, according to an Associated Press database. But in China, a lack of public data makes it hard to decipher mass killing trends.

“From 2000 to 2010, there was a lot of discussions, including how do we help these people by making structural changes to reduce these risks, but now there’s not,” said Rose Luqiu, a well-known former journalist with state-owned Phoenix Television and an associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Luqiu believes the government may be enforcing censorship thinking it will prevent copycats from imitating such crimes.

“Things will only become more and more strict,” she predicted. For the Chinese state, “the only method to deal with it is to strengthen control.”

Officials vow to ferret out hidden risks

After the Zhuhai attack, Xi called on all local governments “to strengthen prevention and control of risks at the source, strictly prevent extreme cases from occurring, and to resolve conflicts and disputes in a timely manner,” according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The AP found at least a dozen local government notices, from small towns to big cities, announcing actions in response.

In eastern Anhui province, a ruling Communist Party leader inspected a middle school, a local police station, and even the warehouse of a chemical factory where he urged the workers to “ferret out any hidden risks.” He said they must “thoroughly and meticulously investigate and resolve conflicts and disputes,” including in families, marriages and neighborhoods.

Police and prosecutors issued similar statements.

The Ministry of Justice promised to curtail conflicts by looking into squabbles over inheritance, housing, land and unpaid wages.

However, many expressed worry over how such disputes will be detected.

“I think we’re at the beginning of a vicious cycle,” said Lynette Ong, a professor at the University of Toronto and author of “Outsourcing Repression: Everyday State Power in Contemporary China.” “If you nip the conflict in its bud, you’d imagine the system then would impose a lot of pressure ... on schools, enterprises and factories.”

The new announcements reminded Ong of China’s strict policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neighborhood committees, the lowest rung of government, set up fences and barriers in front of buildings to control entry and exit and broke into homes in extreme cases to disinfect the apartments of people who had caught the virus.

Eventually, people protested en masse.

“If we see non-sensible measures being introduced, you’ll be met by resistance and anger and grievances from the people, and it’s going to feed into this vicious cycle where more extreme measures are going to be brought,” she said.

HUIZHONG WU Wu covers Chinese culture, society, and politics as well as the country’s growing overseas influence from Bangkok. She was previously based in Taiwan and China. twitter

Panama rejects talks with Trump over canal threat, says ‘no’ Chinese soldiers in waterway

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3292399/panama-rejects-talks-trump-over-canal-threat-says-no-chinese-soldiers-waterway?utm_source=rss_feed

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday ruled out negotiations with US president-elect Donald Trump over control of the Panama Canal, denying that China was interfering in its operation.

Mulino also rejected the possibility of reducing tolls for US vessels in response to Trump’s threat to demand control of the vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans be returned to Washington.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Mulino told a press conference.

“The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians. There’s no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around this reality, which has cost the country blood, sweat and tears,” he added.

The canal, inaugurated in 1914, was built by the United States but handed to Panama on December 31, 1999, under treaties signed some two decades earlier by then-US president Jimmy Carter and Panamanian nationalist leader Omar Torrijos.

Trump on Saturday slammed what he called “ridiculous” fees for US ships passing through the canal and hinted at China’s growing influence.

“It was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands!”

If Panama could not ensure “the secure, efficient and reliable operation” of the channel, “then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question,” he said.

An estimated five per cent of global maritime traffic passes through the Panama Canal, which allows ships travelling between Asia and the US East Coast to avoid the long, hazardous route around the southern tip of South America.

The US is its main user, accounting for 74 per cent of cargo, followed by China with 21 per cent.

Mulino said the canal’s usage fees were “not set at the whim of the president or the administrator” of the interoceanic waterway, but under a long-established “public and open process”.

“There is absolutely no Chinese interference or participation in anything to do with the Panama Canal,” Mulino said.

On Wednesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social alleged, without evidence, that Chinese soldiers were “lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal.”

Mulino denied that allegation, too.

“There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God,” he added.

Panama established diplomatic relations with mainland China in 2017, after breaking off ties with Taiwan – a decision criticised by Trump’s first administration.

On Tuesday, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the US embassy in Panama City chanting “Trump, animal, leave the canal alone” and burning an image of the incoming US president.

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China’s military tests remote 3D printed parts and drone delivery for battlefield: report

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3292338/chinas-military-tests-remote-3d-printed-parts-and-drone-delivery-battlefield-report?utm_source=rss_feed

The Chinese military is using drones and 3D printing to support the remote maintenance of weapons, a tactic that has been used by the US in the Ukraine war, according to the PLA Daily.

A brigade of the People’s Liberation Army’s Northern Theatre Command Air Force tested remote maintenance technology during an equipment repair drill, the official Chinese military media outlet said on Wednesday. It did not specify when or where the exercise took place.

During the training, soldiers “applied new technologies, methods and equipment such as 3D printing and drones to the entire equipment maintenance process”, the report said.

An equipment maintenance team used a 3D printer to recreate damaged parts at the back end, and then supported the front line using methods such as drone delivery, the report said.

China is competing fiercely with the US-led West in many areas, including technology and the military.

The US is also applying these remote maintenance tactics as it supports Ukraine.

According to the US publication Defence News, after supplying weapons to Ukraine, the US military provided remote maintenance support based in Poland to help Ukrainian frontline soldiers repair damaged weapons in Kyiv’s fight against Moscow’s invasion.

A report by the publication last year said the US military was trying to extend remote maintenance technology to the Indo-Pacific theatre. It quoted a senior general as saying: “It has been a great enabler to the warfight in Ukraine … It’s one of the game changers in a sense.”

The PLA exercise also simulated a missile-launching vehicle breaking down on the battlefield. The vehicle’s operator then used “wireless communication means” to convey the damage in real time to a remote maintenance technician before the technician provided the vehicle’s crew with a 3D blueprint of the equipment and guided them to find and repair the fault, the report said.

It is not the first publicly released information about the PLA’s use of remote maintenance technology in training, but the latest reports indicate the technology is continuing to develop.

A report in the PLA Daily in 2021 said a base for the military’s missile troops, the PLA Rocket Force, had developed a system for experts to remotely oversee repairs to military equipment.

Song Zhongping, a military expert and former PLA instructor, said this type of remote maintenance “can quickly ensure equipment support on the battlefield, which is a very good thing”.

“Inevitably, there will be damage to equipment parts on the battlefield, and using drones to deliver them can quickly relieve part of this problem,” he added.

Yue Gang, a retired PLA colonel, said troops on the battlefield “cannot possibly bring all the parts they need for their equipment”.

If new components had to be transported from the original factory to the front line, the cost would be too high, so 3D printing could “solve some problems”, he said.

However, according to Yue, 3D printing would have limited impact because it could only be applied to some “simple equipment”.

He also said the recent exercise was conducted by a brigade with a relatively small remote support base, so it was “unlikely to operate on a similar scale” to the remote US military base in Poland supporting Ukraine.

Yue added that training exercises and battlefields were very different environments, so the PLA’s remote maintenance technology “has a long way to go before it can be widely used”.

China’s military launches new amphibious assault ship

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3292388/chinas-military-launches-first-amphibious-assault-ship?utm_source=rss_feed

China has launched the first of its next generation of amphibious assault ships, the Type 076, featuring an electromagnetic catapult.

More to follow...

Brazil says BYD Chinese workers found in ‘slavery-like conditions’ victims of human trafficking

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3292389/brazil-says-byd-chinese-workers-found-slavery-conditions-victims-human-trafficking?utm_source=rss_feed

The Chinese workers found at a construction site for a factory owned by China’s electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil’s Bahia state are victims of human trafficking, Brazilian labour authorities said on Thursday.

BYD and contractor Jinjiang Group have agreed to assist and house the 163 workers in hotels until a deal to end their contracts is reached, Brazil’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement issued after meeting representatives from both firms.

BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Reuters was unable to reach Jinjiang for comment outside usual working hours.

However, the companies have questioned the authorities’ assessment, first announced on Monday that the workers were operating under “slavery-like conditions”.

The parties are scheduled to meet again on January 7, according to the statement. A proposed deal by labour prosecutors will be presented to the two firms.

A deal could clear BYD and Jinjiang from an investigation by labour prosecutors, but they could still face scrutiny from labour inspectors and federal prosecutors, who have requested the sharing of the evidence so that “measures can be adopted in the criminal sphere”, the statement said.

Jinjiang said on Thursday Brazilian authorities’ portrayal of their employees as “enslaved” was inconsistent with the facts and that there were translation misunderstandings.

“Being unjustly labelled as ‘enslaved’ has made our employees feel that their dignity has been insulted and their human rights violated, seriously hurting the dignity of the Chinese people. We have signed a joint letter to express our true feelings,” Jinjiang said on its official Weibo account.

Their statement was reposted by Li Yunfei, general manager of branding and public relations at BYD, on his own Weibo account. He accused “foreign forces” and some Chinese media of “deliberately smearing Chinese brands and the country and undermining the relationship between China and Brazil”.

On Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the Chinese embassy in Brazil was communicating with Brazilian counterparts to verify the situation and handle it.

BYD has been building the factory in Bahia to produce 150,000 cars initially as part of plans to start production in Brazil, the Chinese EV company’s largest overseas market, in early 2025.

The factory has become an important symbol of China’s growing influence in Brazil, and an example of a closer relationship between both countries. BYD has invested about US$620 million to set up the Bahia factory complex alone.

The reports of irregularities in Bahia could prove to be a major sticking point in their relations.

Brazil has long sought more Chinese investment. But China’s model of taking Chinese workers to the countries where it invests presents a challenge to local job creation, a priority for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

China Yiche ethnic minority, known for open relationships, earliest wearers of mini-shorts

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3291555/china-yiche-ethnic-minority-known-open-relationships-earliest-wearers-mini-shorts?utm_source=rss_feed

One of China’s oldest ethnic minorities, the Yiche People, were the country’s earliest wearers of mini-shorts.

Dubbed the “sexiest minority,” they also maintain open relationships after marriage and even have a holiday during which men are permitted to freely touch women’s breasts.

The Yiche group, one of the oldest branches of the Hani ethnic minority with fewer than 20,000 people, resides in Yunnan province, southwestern China.

Their unique and open-minded culture has captured the interest of many.

Yiche women are believed to be the earliest wearers of mini-shorts in China. They traditionally don pointed white cloth hats, indigo-colored outfits, and expose their legs throughout the year.

The mini-shorts, which are black or navy blue, are meticulously tailored to fit snugly at their hips and are typically designed by women themselves to suit their body shapes.

Believing that wearing more clothes reflects family wealth, Yiche women often tailor the front of their shorts into seven pleats to create the illusion of wearing seven pairs simultaneously.

Wearing mini-shorts originated for practical reasons because the Yiche people live deep in the mountains and short pants are more convenient for physical labor in the fields.

Also, they hold a traditional belief that women with thick, muscular legs are attractive.

This stems from the idea that strong, well-shaped legs indicate a woman’s ability and efficiency in fieldwork, thereby marking her beauty and good health.

Open relationships

The Yiche people have unique marriage customs, including betrothing girls sometimes as early as a few weeks after birth.

Despite this, they are permitted to date and explore romantic relationships freely after engagement.

Traditional Yiche homes are designed with a small, separate “ear room” outside the main living area.

This allows girls, upon reaching 14, to move in and meet their lovers freely. If a girl and her lover decide to marry, she can cancel the original engagement.

Yiche women may marry multiple times throughout their lives, with the bride price doubling from her previous marriage.

It is locally said that “the more times a Yiche woman marries, the wealthier she becomes.”

Even after marriage, but before having children, Yiche women are allowed to maintain open relationships and can even bring lovers into their homes.

However, once they have children, such behavior is strictly prohibited, and those who break the rules will be expelled from the family.

Breast touching

The Yiche people have other unique customs.

Their women traditionally never wear shoes. After death, they will be adorned with beautifully embroidered footwear, which symbolises carrying the woman’s soul over mountains and rivers back to her homeland.

Also, there is the Guniang Festival or Girl’s Day, where young Yiche women sing and dance in the mountains to attract potential partners.

During their celebration, men are permitted to touch the breasts of women as long as the women allow. This practice is common as they walk up the mountain and is considered a form of greeting.

For unmarried women, men may freely touch both breasts.

Even for married women, there is a famous local saying: “The left breast belongs to the husband, and the right breast belongs to the whole world.”

‘Old money’ look is hot in China as nouveau riche glitz gets the cold shoulder amid slump

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3292370/old-money-look-hot-china-nouveau-riche-glitz-gets-cold-shoulder-amid-slump?utm_source=rss_feed

Not many parts of China’s economy have been able to withstand the post-pandemic slump. The housing market remains in the doldrums and bank lending has shrivelled. Yet, the appeal of “old money fashion” has endured, even in the face of recession in consumer spending.

Discussions on how to define the style, or how to dress like it, are trending on popular social media platforms, from Douyin to Xiaohongshu. Items tagged with the style, ranging from 20-yuan (US$2.70) jumpers and belts to luxury European brands associated with the aesthetic, are flooding e-commerce platforms and recording brisk sales.

Brunello Cucinelli, an Italian brand that is seen as a poster child for old money aesthetics, recently raised its China sales growth projection to as much as 12 per cent. Ralph Lauren had a 13 per cent gain in China last quarter, building on a stellar 25 per cent jump in 2023.

The style, which emphasises minimalist design and top quality fabrics, gained a global following in 2023, partly driven by Succession, a television drama featuring the family behind the largest entertainment empire in the US. Its traction in China reflects a shift towards low-key lifestyle, embracing quality and simplicity amid uncertainties, analysts said.

“This aligns with the current consumer mindset,” said Jason Yu, general manager at CTR Market Research. “Nowadays, people do not want to be too flashy. They prefer to stay very low-key, subtly showcasing their taste and style in a way that does not draw attention.”

“It does not necessarily mean that you have to buy particularly expensive items, because many affordable brands are also following this trend,” he added.

The appeal of old money fashion in China comes in sharp contrast to the dire state of the economy, in which households pinch pennies and lock up savings at record pace for a rainy day. Retail sales in Beijing and Shanghai – two of the largest and wealthiest mainland cities – shrank by about 14 per cent in November.

Chinese households have stored a record 149 trillion yuan (US$20.4 trillion) in bank deposits through the most-recent crisis years, or more than double the value at the end of 2018. A new central bank quarterly survey showed some 61.5 per cent of respondents plan to save more, notwithstanding the lower interest rates.

Even the number of wealthy people is declining. Last year, families with 6 million, 10 million, and 100 million yuan of assets declined by 40,000, 27,000 and 5,200, respectively, according to the Hurun Report. Those with US$1 billion or more fell to 427 this year from 520 a year ago, according to a UBS survey.

Old money fashion became trendy after the Covid-19 pandemic ended as people pay more attention to essentials like health, according to Remi Blanchard, client service director with Daxue Consulting.

“After the series of lockdowns that we’ve been through, a lot of Chinese consumers have become more down to earth, more pragmatic, more low-key consumption,” he said. They are kind of focusing back on the essentials.”

Blanchard points out that people often use “old money style” and “quiet luxury style” interchangeably, though brands in the first category have existed longer and possess a cultural heritage closely tied to old money that has been accumulated over decades.

Quiet luxury style was outperforming during the mid-2010s especially in China, according to Jelena Sokolova, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar in London.

“In my view, that was driven by the anti-corruption campaign and people’s desire to look a bit lower key,” she added. The “common prosperity” agenda advocated by President Xi Jinping in 2021 to bolster social equality and economic equity “may have played a role too” in bolstering the appeal of old money fashion.

For others, it boils down to nostalgia. Old money fashion represents a better time they missed, when other priorities were more pressing.

“For those who do not have much money or whose income has significantly decreased compared to previous years – say, five or 10 years ago – they may feel a stronger sense of nostalgia for the past, reminiscing about the way things used to be,” said Yu at CTR Market Research. In a way, people are reliving the past, he added.

A post, by a user who goes by name of “Please call me WERNER”, on Douyin, a Chinese social media platform akin to X, best sums up the fashion:

“The overall economic environment is very sluggish, and people’s spending power has decreased. However, the desire to consume will not stop. As a result, people unconsciously tend to choose more classic, durable and timeless pieces to ensure they still look fashionable in the present.”

New Chinese fighter jet seen over Chengdu tacitly confirmed by military

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3292377/new-chinese-fighter-jet-seen-over-chengdu-tacitly-confirmed-military?utm_source=rss_feed

As footage and images of what might have been the maiden flight of China’s sixth-generation fighter jet went viral on Thursday, the country’s official military media appeared to tacitly confirm the rumours.

A mysterious aircraft bearing a triangular tailless design was seen flying over Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province in broad daylight, flanked by a fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet, according to videos shared on Chinese social media.

While the jet – speculated by observers to feature cutting-edge stealth and endurance capabilities – has yet to be officially identified or named, a provincial newspaper made reference to the aircraft.

“It really looks like a leaf,” the Chengdu-based Defence Times wrote on its Weibo account alongside an image of a ginkgo leaf.

The post quickly circulated across social media and was widely interpreted as a semi-official acknowledgement of the new fighter jet.

The test flight coincided with the birthday of Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China. Many Chinese netizens commemorated Mao on social media, with some viewing the flight as a symbolic tribute to the former leader.

“Looking back, we only had 17 cobbled-together aeroplanes when Mao proclaimed the founding of China in 1949,” one commented. “In contrast, the United States, fresh out of World War II, had 20,000 fighter jets.”

In recent years, China has rapidly developed its military equipment amid heightened tensions with the US.

The high-speed J-20, for instance, is designed for air superiority and long-range strikes, featuring advanced stealth capabilities and cutting-edge avionics.

The stealth fighter marks the latest chapter in China’s growing strength in modern military aviation and rivals US jets such as the F-22 and F-35.

Meanwhile, the J-35, a newer fighter under development, is a twin-engined, carrier-capable jet intended to enhance China’s naval aviation power.

Its compact size and stealth design suggest it is tailored for operations aboard China’s expanding fleet of aircraft carriers.

As for the US, it is developing its sixth-generation fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance programme, which is expected to feature advanced stealth capabilities, adaptive engines and an ability to control drones.

Compared with China’s sixth-generation fighter, the NGAD aims to outpace threats with superior sensors and AI-driven decision-making. The programme highlights the high-stakes competition between the two global military powers.

The sixth-generation fighter jet observed on Thursday has done away with the J-20’s vertical tail fins, instead using wingtip control surfaces for better directional stability and stealth capabilities.

It appears significantly larger than the J-20, allowing for greater range and payload capacity. This includes increased fuel storage as well as advanced weaponry and sensors, making it well-suited for extended missions, according to observers.

It is also rumoured to feature three engines in a highly unconventional configuration meant for sustained high-speed flight and high-altitude operation.

How should Beijing intervene to save Chinese firms from vicious competition?

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292094/how-should-beijing-intervene-save-chinese-firms-vicious-competition?utm_source=rss_feed

Having surrendered their mobile phones, more than 30 executives at the helms of China’s biggest solar manufacturers entered a hotel conference room in a small city in Sichuan province.

There, during a heavily guarded closed-door meeting earlier this month, they signed on to a self-discipline programme aimed at curbing vicious competition that has had a debilitating impact on their industry since last year.

“If you are not self-disciplined today – you keep quoting low prices, and you keep expanding the repetitive production capacity, trying to outlast others – I tell you, you will definitely not be able to outlast your myriad peers. Don’t be naive,” said Qian Jing, vice-president of Jinko Solar – a leading solar-module manufacturer – at an annual solar industry conference one day before the closed-door meeting.

Yet, for all the talk of self-discipline, doubts surrounding the real resolve have yet to dissipate. Among industrial players, it is an open secret that once many of them leave a conference stage, or recollect their phones after a closed-door meeting, it’s the law of the jungle: eat or be eaten. In this case, expand production capacity or see your market position gobbled up.

What is truly a fight to the death among solar companies perfectly underscores one of the major problems facing the world’s second-largest economy, where , has swept like a storm through all sectors. The term has become tantamount in China to an unsustainable state of intense internal competition that leads to diminishing returns and stagnation.

And with the billowing trend gathering strength, neijuan is wreaking havoc on the broader Chinese economy already in a battered state and in the midst of transforming from its reliance on old growth engines, including real estate, to new ones that are fuelled by hi-tech sectors and advanced manufacturing.

But now, even the new-energy sector is losing momentum after only having emerged as an economy-driving engine two years ago, and neijuan appears to be to blame.

“After experiencing rapid investment growth – in photovoltaics and batteries this year, and next in electric vehicles – the investment is not only facing the problem of low growth, but effectively a shrinkage,” said Lu Ting, chief China economist at Japanese investment bank Nomura.

“This shrinkage is not over yet. We see more challenges next year.”

That has thrust Beijing’s response into the spotlight. Inaction could lead to crippling bloodletting, but too much intervention may prove counterproductive while further weakening the already waning business confidence.

Earlier this month, at the annual tone-setting central economic work conference, China’s top leaders vowed to “comprehensively rectify ‘neijuan-style’ competition, regulating the behaviour of local governments and enterprises”.

The wording appeared to signal stronger government actions compared with what came out of a Politburo meeting in July, when the top leadership also agreed to prevent “‘neijuan-style’ vicious competition” but asked for the industries’ self-discipline.

“However, the specifics of implementation remain unclear, as this will undoubtedly be a challenging balance for the Chinese government to strike,” said Su Yue, principal economist for China at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Beijing is no stranger to reducing industrial overcapacity forcibly with administrative orders. It launched a campaign in late 2015 under the guise of “supply-side structural reforms” to reduce capacity in the coal and steel industries. Similar actions were later applied to independent oil refiners in Shandong, where two-thirds of the production capacity was phased out within years.

But this time, the conditions may not allow Beijing to resort to its old approach. While being effective in eliminating backward production capacities, that tactic also significantly disrupted economic growth and employment in relevant provinces, with some once-industrially strong cities languishing ever since. That includes Zibo, a city that later became famous for its farmhouse-style barbecue – essentially an industrial downgrade.

“The current economic conditions are not conducive to such campaign-style measures,” Su said. “Instead, a more balanced approach that considers both demand and supply is likely, aiming for a gradual absorption of excess capacity to mitigate economic disruptions.”

Zhao Zhongxiu, president of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said “regulating the behaviour of local governments” may point to the central government’s restraint when it comes to market intervention, so as to promote the “survival of the fittest” through healthy competition among the firms.

“For new energy, like solar, there is no upper limit for development, so there should be no need to compress production capacity,” Zhao said.

The fundamental cause for industrial overcapacity is deeply rooted in China’s political and economic system. In the past decade, incentives offered by China’s local governments have spurred the rapid growth of industries like the new energy sector, as they provided comprehensive support – including cheap land and even constructed plants – so manufacturers merely needed to move in their equipment.

As a result, the number of solar companies has continually exploded. According to data from Chinese corporate data provider Qichacha, there are currently 1.01 million solar-related firms in the country, with new business registrations growing at an average of 50 per cent annually from 2021-23. With such a massive number of firms, extreme competition is all but inevitable.

“Our vicious competition starts with vicious investment promotion [from local governments],” a manufacturer said on condition of anonymity. “Local officials have their own merit assessment, so they keep encouraging more and more entrepreneurs to increase leverage and expand production … until the whole industry goes out of balance, and everyone gets caught up.”

Earlier this year, Beijing banned local authorities from loosening environmental requirements, and from giving tax preferences or selective financial rewards and subsidies to enterprises, without the explicit approval of the central government. Some cash-starved local governments have also been seeking the return of financial rewards and subsidies they previously handed out.

And the mentioning of “regulating local government behaviours” at the country’s top economic gathering this month sent a stronger signal that the days of neijuan-style investment promotions are coming to an end, according to industry insiders.

Meanwhile, regulating the neijuan-style approach by companies could be much trickier for Beijing. Lu from Nomura said the key is about fulfilling the basic regulatory role without being too exhaustive.

“The current neijuan is not only about price wars, but also about compromising on product quality,” Lu said.

Thus the government should strengthen quality supervision and regulation, so neijuan will not prove utterly self-defeating, he added.

Within the solar industry, companies at different developmental stages are calling for different levels of government intervention.

“Those with obvious advantages require that competition be promoted, while those with weak competitiveness require order and protection to be maintained,” Zhao said.

In recent months, Beijing has been issuing policies to decompress the sector, including raising the minimum capital required for the new construction and expansion of solar-manufacturing projects to 30 per cent, up from 20 per cent. It also lowered the tax rebates for exports of solar products from 13 to 9 per cent to ease international concerns.

But Xu Xinfeng, a senior vice-president at Shanghai-based Aiko Solar, said that such measures are far from enough to rein in excessive supply.

“As for China’s economic model, though we say it is a market economy, in fact, I don’t think it is completely market-oriented. It has the imprint of a planned economy embedded in it,” Xu said at the industry conference this month. “There is still a need to strengthen macro-control from the government.”

The sector needs stricter policies to regulate overcapacity, similar to the ones introduced for the steel and cement industries, he added.

His take resembled an appeal from Xiong Haibo, a senior vice-president at Jiangsu-based CSI Solar, at the same event. “The government must do something to regulate the entry and exit of enterprises, especially before the construction of new projects,” he said, adding that “self-discipline” talk would amount to hollow words when it boils down to a company’s life and death.

But Hu Rongzhu, vice-president at Tongwei Solar, said the role of government should be that of merely an umpire creating a relatively fair environment for competition.

“I think the current government measures are appropriate – they do not simply introduce some one-size-fits-all policies, but they are more of a guide,” Hu said. “I think this kind of governance is good from the perspective of government function.”

Qian from Jinko Solar said that while no government policy is perfect, the industry’s self-discipline is essential.

“If you don’t have self-discipline as a leading company, sooner or later, external disciplines enforced by others will make it impossible for you to survive,” she said.

As lay-offs and shutdowns spread across the sector, it is clear that some of the solar firms – especially small ones – may not be able to survive the winter. But this could be a prelude to the industry getting back on track.

For any sector enduring fierce competition, industry mergers and reorganisations, along with technological progress and the growth of demand, will gradually reach an equilibrium, said Kevin Wang, chief operating officer of Chinese electronics giant TCL. Best known for its home appliances products such as televisions, TCL expanded to the solar sector in recent years.

Products with backward-production capacity or high-energy consumption and low efficiency will be eliminated by the market, Wang told the Post.

“The television industry had actually experienced such a process,” he explained. “After so many years of price wars, why did everyone gradually stop fighting? The market was gradually concentrating.

“Of course, someone will pay the price. At this stage, it must be survival of the fittest.”