Geopolitics
China commits to playing a “constructive” role for regional stability, as US troops withdraw from Afghanistan after 20-year war
China is a leading investor in Afghanistan, which shares 90-km border with Xinjiang, is key to the region’s BRI projects, reportedly holds the world’s largest unused energy and mineral reserves (US $1 trillion), and is a member of regional security Shanghai Cooperation Organization
South China Morning Post, 18.07.2021
Global Times, 17.07.2021
Economy
China ranked first in port cargo (14.55 billion tons) and container throughput (260 million TEUs) last year
With eight of the world’s top 10 ports (in cargo throughput) and 95% of trade delivered by sea, China’s foreign trade volume reached US $2.8 trillion in first-half of 2021 (+27.1% year-on-year)
70.8 million transactions totaling US $5.3 billion in digital yuan trials were made since 2019, according to Central Bank report
China will continue trials through the Winter Olympics in Beijing (2022), expecting to launch next year; research on monetary and financial impacts advances, while improvements in data security and legislation creation will be needed
Agriculture and Environment
China’s national carbon trading market reaches US $32.48 million on opening day, with participation from 2,225 power-generation companies
Representing 40% of China’s energy-related carbon emissions, over 4.1 million tons of quotas were traded – averaging US $ 7.92/ton vs. EU’s US $38.60/ton in 2020 – in what will become the world’s largest carbon market
Science and Technology
Huawei more than doubles Chinese market share in cloud computing, tying with Tencent (11%) and trailing behind Alibaba (40.6%, Q4 of 2020)
Shifting from hardware to services (less affected by sanctions), Huawei Cloud grew 168% last year; cloud services grew 50% in China to reach US $19.4 billion (2020), behind the US
China boosts training of domestic semiconductor engineers, towards adding 230,000 workers to the sector (total of 745,000) by 2022
Amid US sanctions, “chip schools” across China are partnering with industry heavyweights like Huawei, SMIC, and US-based Synopsis to meet growing industry needs and achieve technological self-reliance
National Politics
Chinese big tech companies sign anti-monopoly agreement, including “self-discipline”, fair competition, and consumer protection, amid government’s regulatory push
Alibaba, Tencent, and Bytedance are among the 33 companies that made the pledge at Beijing’s China Internet Conference; companies like Kuaishou and Tencent have begun to reduce overtime in controversial 996 culture (9am to 9pm, 6-day workweeks)
South China Morning Post, 15.07.2021
South China Morning Post, 25.06.2021
Government launches pilot project of “common prosperity” in Zhejiang province to address regional inequalities and expand middle class
By 2025, the province of 65 million people aims to increase GDP/capita by 30% (to US $20.340), as well as invest in education, health, and advanced technology; after eradicating poverty, reducing inequality is a national goal
Global Times, 19.07.2021
CGTN, 28.06.2021
Caixin Global, 11.06.2021
People’s Life and Culture
Grandparents who move to cities to raise grandchildren comprise 43% of elderly migrant population, which grew from 5 to 13 million (2000-15)
In keeping with traditional values, retirees hope to support their adult children, but challenges include differences in language, social habits, and opinions about child-rearing, and feelings of isolation and homesickness
China’s successful space program begins to challenge US hegemony over space exploration in the popular imagination
Fashion, toys, fast food, and cinema reference the country’s space program, which makes use of Chinese mythology, such as Chang’e lunar mission named after moon goddess; Liu Cixin and other science fiction writers gain international fame
Mars rover “Zhurong” (God of fire) takes a selfie [CNSA via CGTN]