No. 140 | 25.03.2023

Xi Jinping and Putin at the Kremlin, Moscow, 21.03.2023 [Xinhua/Xie Huanch]

Geopolitics

On Xi Jinping’s visit, Putin says Russia-China relations are at their highest level in history

Presidents signed agreement to boost economic cooperation by 2030 that will deepen ties in eight strategic areas, mainly finance, industry, and technology; Xi and Putin agreed on almost all parameters for the construction of the new “Power of Siberia 2” pipeline capable of delivering 50 billion m³ of natural gas per year

Statements to the press by the presidents of Russia and China, 21.03.2023

Russia Today, 22.03.2023

Xi and Putin advocate negotiations as the solution to Ukraine crisis and defend central role of the UN

The Russian president says Russia and China are working to create a more just and democratic multipolar world order and that the China peace plan can be taken as a basis for a peaceful settlement; both have spoken out against imposing unilateral sanctions without UN Security Council authorization

Statements to the press by the presidents of Russia and China, 21.03.2023

Xinhua, 22.03.2023

National Politics

For the first time, Hong Kong is developing an industrial policy with an initial fund of US$7.65 billion

By 2032, it will seek to increase R&D spending to 2% of GDP, tech startups to 7,000, the number of innovation and technology professionals to 100,000, and manufacturing’s contribution to GDP to 5%; in the 2023–24 budget, US$382.27 billion will go to the development of AI and quantum computing

South China Morning Post, 19.03.2023

The government published two texts on sexual harassment in the workplace, giving greater emphasis to the perception of the victim

Penalties for harassers range from transfers to positions where the victim cannot be contacted, termination of the employment contract to prosecution of the case; according to a 2021 survey, more than 70% of the 2,500 respondents had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace at least once, with 75% of those cases occurring in public areas of the company

Caixin Global, 14.03.2023

Economy

Consumption grows 3.5% and industry, 2.4% in the first two months of 2023 year-on-year, but urban unemployment rose to 5.6%

While exports fell 6.8%, investments in infrastructure and manufacturing grew 9% and 8.1%; the housing sector fell 5.7% year-on-year in the period, showing a recovery compared to December where the drop was 12.2%

Financial Times, 15.03.2023

China’s central bank will reduce banks’ compulsory deposit to 7.6%, which will inject 500 billion yuan (US$72.6 billion) in liquidity into the market

Measure will mean financial relief for large and medium-sized banks and may help reduce lending rates; officials and regulators warn that consumer demand is still weak, business expectations are subdued and the risk of external shocks has been increasing

South China Morning Post, 17.03.2023

Category Icons

Agriculture and Environment

Scientists in China develop a new type of biodegradable and bio-recyclable glass

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have manufactured a family of eco-friendly glasses using amino acids or peptides of biological origin; according to the study, published in the journal Science Advances, the protein molecules can degrade and be reused in nature by small organisms, unlike standard glass made from a combination of sand, limestone and other chemicals

Forbes, 17.03.2023

CGTN, 19.03.2023

Science and Technology

Chinese tech giant Baidu introduced Ernie BOT, a language model similar to ChatGPT

Among its core capabilities are creative writing and Chinese language comprehension; as one of China’s largest search engines, Baidu has access to a wealth of user data that allows it to train language models effectively, and it is also one of the few AI companies in the world with control over all stages of manufacturing

The China Academy, 17.03.2023

People’s Life and Culture

Following a new gala on March 15, ministries and regulators began investigating companies that have violated consumer rights

Every year, CCTV sends investigation teams to gather information from suspect companies and then reveals the results in the annual TV program, known as Gala 3.15; some of this year’s complaints were about counterfeit imported rice, abuse of personal data on the internet, and scamming the elderly

Global Times, 16.03.2023

The World of Chinese, 17.03.2023

One-third of China’s 150 million people aged 60 to 69 are still working, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics

Sixty percent work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, while the rest are mainly engaged in manufacturing, construction, and retail sales; most of them live in rural areas, although a survey last year found that 70% of retirees in urban areas would be willing to return to work

Yicai Global, 17.03.2023

A 64-year-old rural worker in the village of Baiping, in central China [Yusuke Hinata]


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No. 135 | 18.02.2023

[Dongsheng]


Geopolitics

Despite increased tension between China and the US, bilateral trade hits a record in 2022, totaling US$690.6 billion

Exports to China increased by US$2.4 billion and imports from the country increased by US$31.8 billion, despite the steady imposition of export controls and the continuation of the Trump-era tariffs; China increased imports of soybeans and other foodstuffs, and the US imported more toys and other consumer products

Nikkei, 07.02.2023

The central banks of China and Brazil set up yuan clearing agreements in the South American country

The measure will allow companies and financial institutions in both countries to use the yuan for bilateral transactions; China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, and Brazil is China’s largest trading partner in Latin America, with bilateral trade exceeding US$100 billion for four consecutive years

CGTN, 07.02.2022

Russia’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) will scrap the euro, leaving it only with the Chinese yuan, rubles, and gold

In 2021, the country removed the dollar from the NWF currencies and the euro now occupies most of the reserves (39.7%), while in 2022, about half of Russia’s international reserves were blocked due to sanctions; the maximum proportion of the yuan in the US$148 billion fund will increase from 30% to 60%

Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, 09.02.2022

National Politics

Representatives of the Kuomintang (KMT), the opposition party to Taiwan’s separatist government, visited Mainland China

Andrew Hsia, vice-chairman of the KMT, met with the CPC and both sides rejected “Taiwan independence”, defended the “one China” principle, and expressed their willingness to promote exchange and cooperation; tension in the strait worsened and communications were interrupted under the Democratic Progressive Party government

Global Times, 10.02.2023

Economy

Household savings reach record 17.8 trillion yuan (US$2.6 trillions) in 2022, nearly double 2021 levels

Chinese bank deposits increased 33%, about 26.3 trillion yuan (US$3.9 trillion) last year, a year-on-year increase of 6.59 trillion yuan (US$96 billion); excess savings from the domestic sector came mainly from lower consumer spending and reduced investment spending in areas such as housing and wealth management

China Daily, 14.02.2022

Caixin Global, 14.02.2022

Category Icons

Agriculture and Environment

Researchers created a map of soybean nutrients distribution in China and propose a scheme of regionalization of the seeds quality

1,792 soybean samples from 29 provincial-level regions of China were collected between 2010 and 2017; through the quantification and analysis of crude oil, scientists identified areas with advantages for edible soybeans, other suitable for high-oil, high-yield soybeans, and regions where the grain has a high protein content

Xinhua, 02.02.2023 

Science and Technology

An unprecedented stealth drone design features functions that could be applied to the next generation of Chinese fighter aircraft

The new drone eliminates mechanical components such as ailerons, rudders, and elevators, and uses bursts of compressed air to maneuver; according to the research team that developed it, it could help drones evade radars more effectively

South China Morning Post, 08.02.2023

People’s Life and Culture

65 years ago, pinyin was introduced as a Chinese translation method on February 11, 1958

After coming to power in 1949, the Mao government sought to increase literacy and promote education, and after a long process of discussion, the pinyin system was created using the Latin alphabet; it was adopted by the UN in 1986 and today has become the global standard for translating Chinese

The China Project, 08.02.2023

Retirees in some provinces challenge health insurance cuts amid a nationwide restructuring that began in 2020

A crowd of retirees gathered outside Wuhan municipality to demonstrate against the reform under which they will receive almost 2,000 yuan (US$294) less per year; China is also discussing the gradual increase of the retirement age to 65 in 2055 for both men (today it is 60) and women (currently 50)

Caixin Global, 10.02.2023

Caixin Global, 10.02.2023

Viewed over 300 million times in a single day and broadcasted to 65% of Chinese cities, The Knockout becomes the most popular series in January

The show reflects the hard life of Chinese self-employed workers at the turn of the century; self-employment, including street vending, shot up in the reform period and the sector had to deal with organized crime and, at times, excessive regulations

Caixin Global, 11.02.2023

Scene from ‘The Knockout’, the most acclaimed Chinese drama of 2023 so far


Dongsheng’s interventions and productions this week:


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No. 134 | 11.02.2023

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Geopolitics

After 30 years, the US will once again have a major military presence in the Philippines, with a new agreement that will allow the installation of four military bases

Washington could go as far as sending troops and military equipment 800 km off the coast of Taiwan; a Chinese spokesperson said that the decision increases tension, endangers peace and stability in the region, and that Indo-Pacific countries need to avoid being coerced or used by the US

Global Times, 02.02.2023

South China Morning Post, 05.02.2023

China informed the US that the balloon entered its airspace completely accidentally and expressed strong dissatisfaction over its downing

The Pentagon confirmed that the weather research balloon posed no military or physical threat; Chinese Foreign Ministry said diplomatic teams should prudently manage unexpected situations and asked the US to handle the matter in a calm, professional, and restrained manner

Global Times, 06.07.2022

National Politics

Chinese outbound group travel is back, while Hong Kong and Macau will launch major tourism campaigns starting in March

As of 2019, China was the world’s largest outbound tourism market, with 155 million tourists and US$245 billion overseas; Hong Kong plans to give away 500,000 free airline tickets and Macau 120,000, and China will no longer require a negative COVID-19 result for travelers from those regions

CGTN, 06.02.2023

CGTN, 06.02.2023

Coastal industrial centers take measures to resume production after Chinese New Year holiday amid labor shortage

Guangdong will organize 14 trains and 380 buses to bring back 25,000 migrant workers; the pandemic has caused many people to prefer to work in their hometowns rather than in large cities due to lower costs and proximity to their families

Caixin Global, 03.02.2022

Economy

Shanghai residents had the highest purchasing power in China in 2022, averaging 79,610 yuan (US$11,809) per person

The figure for Beijing residents was 77,415 yuan (US$11,483), while the Tibet Autonomous Region recorded a growth of 6.9% – the fastest in the country – reaching 26,675 yuan (US$3,955); China’s per capita disposable income grew 5% in 2022, reaching 36,883 yuan (US$5,468)

Yicai Global, 03.02.2023

Foreign capital inflow in stocks on the Shenzhen and Shanghai exchanges in January reaches 131 billion yuan (US$19.4 billion) surpassing the entire year of 2022

Only in the first half of January, the net investment abroad in bonds and shares in China reached US$12.6 billion; the strengthening of the yuan, which has consolidated around 3% since the beginning of this year, is among the causes of greater investments

Xinhua, 03.02.2023

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Agriculture and Environment

Chinese scientists have successfully cloned three “super cows” and plan to build a herd of more than 1,000 in the next three years

Considered “highly productive”, Holstein breed’s clones are capable of producing 18 tons of milk per year and more than 100 tons in their lifetime; China imports 70% of its dairy cows, with an increasing demand as the middle class grows

Global Times, 31.01.2023

Ocean power facilities capacity can reach 350 GW by 2050 but construction costs remain the main obstacle

In 2022, the country’s first megawatt-scale tidal stream station was connected to Zhejiang’s network and is expected to generate at least 1 GWh per year; for experts, ocean energy is a triple win for China’s strategic goals of carbon neutrality, renewable energy, and high-end manufacturing

China Dialogue, 26.01.2023

Science and Technology

China becomes the third country – after Canada and the US – able to provide a complete computer system with quantum technology

Origin Quantum Computing’s Wuyuan features superconducting chip technology and uses elementary particles called quantum bits that replace the 0’s and 1’s used in traditional computing; founder of the company says the technology will produce visible benefits in everyday life in the next three to five years

South China Morning Post, 31.01.2023

People’s Life and Culture

The hospital ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy “Ark of Peace” is back in operation after the pandemic

It is China’s first hospital ship and has 16 departments, eight operating rooms and more than 300 beds; it entered service in 2008, has treated more than 230,000 people from 43 countries and last November treated more than 13,000 patients from Indonesia on a seven-day mission

China Daily, 06.02.2023

China Daily, 20.11.2022

Peace Ark setting off for home after offering diagnosis and treatment to more than 13,000 patients in Indonesia, 18.11.2022 [Photo/Xinhua] 


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No. 133 | 04.02.2023

Bolivian President Luis Arce at the signing of the agreement with the Chinese business consortium, 20 January 2023 [Plurinational State of Bolivia]


Dear readers, 


Marco Fernandes participated in an RT interview, where he talked about the meeting between Scholz and Lula, Brazil’s refusal to send arms to Ukraine, the historic agreement between China and Bolivia for the manufacture of lithium batteries in the Andean country and Lula’s foreign policy priorities.

Gisela Cernadas shared data on the massive migration for the Chinese New Year in Barricada TV from Argentina (in Spanish).

Amadeus and Mika talked to Zambian economist Grieve Chelwa for The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast in the latest episode.

Dongsheng Editorial Collective


Geopolitics

US reaches agreement with Japan and the Netherlands to restrict exports of advanced chip-making machines to China

Implementation will take months and Japanese semiconductor equipment market could be affected with possible retaliatory measures from China, which accounts for ⅓ of Japan’s sales in that sector; the Biden administration also stopped providing US companies with licenses to export to Huawei, heading toward a total ban on US technology sales to the Chinese giant

Nikkei, 29.01.2023

FT, 31.01.2023

Bolivia signs historic agreement with Chinese consortium led by CATL to manufacture lithium batteries

The Andean country has the largest lithium reserves in the world, with 21 million tons (23.6% of the total) and estimates that as of 2025 it will be able to produce 40,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year; CATL is the world’s largest producer of electric batteries and will invest more than US$1 billion in the project

Caixin Global, 26.01.2023

National Politics

Provinces will seek to boost growth by betting on domestic consumption, foreign investment and production incentives

Guangdong aims to develop 1,530 major construction projects with annual investment of 1 trillion yuan (US$ 148 billion) and Zhejiang will move forward with more than 1,000 major investment projects including advanced manufacturing, technological innovation, transportation and clean energy

Caixin Global, 30.01.2023

China announces expanded access to public services for rural migrants seeking to boost economic activity

The urban population is estimated at 65.22% but only 45.4% have an urban hukou, the registration China uses to ensure access to services such as public health and other entitlements for the population; the government also announced labor improvements in small and medium-sized cities to incentivize relocation

South China Morning Post, 30.01.2023

Economy

Foreign Direct Investment in China maintains steady growth of 6.3% in 2022, reaching 1.23 trillion yuan (US$ 18 billion)

The actual use of foreign capital in manufacturing increased 46.1% in 2022, reaching 323.7 billion yuan (US$ 47.72 billion), and high-tech industries increased 28.3%, accounting for 36.1% of all foreign capital used. Investment from the European Union had a significant growth of 92.2% by 2022

China Briefing, 20.01.2023

For the first time since records began in 1999, real estate investment is down in China

In 2022, the total drop was 10% (13.29 trillion yuan/US$ 1.98 tri), that of residential property investment was 9.5% (10 trillion yuan/US$ 1.5 tri), and that of land sales by area, 53.4% (100 million m²); survey shows housing prices will continue to fall in 2023

Caixin Global, 18.01.2023

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Agriculture and Environment

China’s oil and gas consumption fell for the first time in decades in 2022

Oil demand fell by 3% (390,000 barrels per day) and natural gas demand by 0.7%, the first decline since 1990 and 1982 respectively. The International Energy Agency forecasts an increase of two million barrels per day in global oil demand by 2023, half of which will come from the Asian giant.

New York Times, 27.01.2023

Health

After massive internal migration for Chinese New Year, no new COVID-19 variants emerged in China

The outbreak peaked in December and COVID-related deaths in hospitals peaked at 4,273 on January 4, dropping to 896 on January 23; separately, China approved two new domestically developed drugs for COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms

CGTN, 29.01.2023

Caixin Global, 31.01.2023

People’s Life and Culture

892 million trips were recorded in 23 days for the first Spring Festival with no post-pandemic domestic travel restrictions

This represents a 56% increase over last year but still remains 46.9% below 2019; in January, cinema saw a year-on-year increase in revenue of 270%, box office hit a record 10 billion yuan (US$ 1.48 billion) and the three most watched films were Chinese

China Daily, 30.01.2023

China Daily, 02.02.2023

Football is failing to develop in China and the government is trying to promote it with national programs similar to the incentive of Olympic disciplines

Between 2014 and 2022, specialized football schools increased sixfold to 30,000, thanks to public investment in infrastructure, but some of these schools do not have coaches or use the field for other purposes; families tend to prioritize university education and do not see soccer as a professional career

Caixin Global, 20.01.2023

Primary school students train in Jianhu county, Jiangsu province, 03 September 2022 [VCG]


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No. 132 | 21.01.2023

[RTE]


Dear readers,

This week, Tings Chak was again on Dispatches, Rania Khalek’s program on Breakthrough News. They talked about the current COVID-19 situation in China and the distortion of the Western media. You can watch it here.

Marco Fernandes talked to Radio Sputnik about rumors of an alleged attempt by China to set up a naval base in Argentina and what is at stake in China-Latin America relations now. Listen here (the interview starts at 1:36:08). 

A new episode of our podcast The Crane is on the air. In this episode, Mika Erskog and Amadeus Musumali talk about the latest visit of China’s new Foreign Minister Qing Gang to Africa. Listen here.

We invite you to follow us on our new Facebook page by clicking here.

News on China will take a break for the Chinese New Year holiday. Our next newsletter will be sent out on February 4.

Dongsheng Editorial Collective


Geopolitics

US-Japan alliance for military expansion in the Indo-Pacific poses threat to peace in the region, experts warn

At a meeting between top diplomatic and defense officials from both countries, China was cited as the “biggest strategic challenge,” while the Japanese government will approve a record military budget of more than US$50 billion; the summit between Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was reportedly “very productive” over semiconductor export restrictions to China

Global Times, 12.01.2023

Global Times, 14.01.2023

Reuters, 18.01.2023

National Politics

China records nearly 60,000 covid-related deaths between December 8 and January 12

The average age of the victims in this period was 80.3 years old, with 90.1% of them over the age of 65. The country reached a peak in the number of severe cases of covid (128,000) on January 5, and is now prioritizing strengthening technical exchanges and cooperation on pandemic prevention and control with the World Health Organization

Global Times, 14.01.2023

Global Times, 15.01.2023

Economy

China managed to avoid the inflationary shock that affected most Western economies in 2022, with the consumer price index rising 2%

State food stocks, reduction of tariffs on coal imports, control of speculation, and subsidies to vulnerable populations are among the measures that have prevented strong increases in inflation such as in the US (6.5%) or the UK (10.5%); economists believe that inflation will be high in China this year, but still below that of the largest economies

South China Morning Post, 12.01.2023

Xinhua, 17.01.2023

China’s Gross Domestic Product increases by 3% in 2022 and reaches  US$17.9 trillion

Industrial production grew 3.6% and the value of imports and exports increased 7.7%; the number of new jobs in urban areas exceeded 12 million, exceeding the target of 11 million, and the disposable income of urban families had a real growth of 1.9% and of rural families, 4.2%

National Bureau of Statistics of China, 17.01.2023

China Briefing, 17.01.2023

Science and Technology

China surpasses US in Artificial Intelligence (AI) research output and quality, with Tencent, Alibaba, and Huawei among the top 10 companies

Chinese articles on AI exploded from about 25,000 in 2012 to about 135,000 in 2021, with 7,401 articles from China among the most cited – surpassing the US by 70%; in another milestone, China became the first country to register more than 3 million patents in 2022

Nikkei, 16.01.2023

South China Morning Post, 17.01.2023

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Agriculture and Environment

China’s soybean imports peaked in 2020 and will continue to decline gradually through 2030

Imports saw an 8.1% year-on-year drop through November 2022, amid Beijing’s efforts to ensure food security; China, which is the world’s largest importer of soybeans accounting for more than 60% of global trade, seeks to increase its domestic production by 40% by 2025

South China Morning Post, 10.01.2023

Corn-based ethanol fuel production may affect agricultural demands and, consequently, food security

China faces a shortfall in corn supply, and experts posit that more ethanol could be sourced from sugarcane, cassava, and corn stalks as it seeks to eliminate reliance on grain imports; more than 60% of the corn China uses is for animal feed and 20-30% is allocated for industrial use

South China Morning Post, 16.01.2023

People’s Life and Culture

For the first time in 60 years, China’s population decreases and stands at 1.411 billion in 2022

With a drop of 9.98% in births and a growth rate of -0.6 per thousand people, the country has 850,000 fewer inhabitants due to cultural changes, high costs of raising children, and economic slowdown; with a shrinking labor force, economic growth will depend more on increasing productivity

South China Morning Post, 17.01.2023

TV adaptation of acclaimed author Liu Cixin’s The Three Body Problem premieres in China

A 30-episode series has received praise online for being faithful to the original science-fiction novel that, because of its popularity, has generated offers for adaptation in various formats, including a Netflix version; critics claim that Chinese heroism differs from Western heroism by its focus on collective interests

Global Times, 15.01.2023

Sixth Tone, 16.01.2023

Chunwan, the television gala broadcast for the Chinese New Year, is the most watched program in the world and is a tradition for the Chinese people

Both at home and abroad, millions of families watch the program that began in 1983 and became a Guinness World Record; it is currently broadcast in more than 170 countries and regions and seeks to expand in digital media to reach new generations

Global Times, 16.01.2023

2022 Spring Festival Gala [CGTN]


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No. 130 | 07.01.2023

[China Daily]


Dear readers, 

We hope you’ve had a good start to 2023. We’re back with our digest and more content with analysis made by our team. Tings Chak has written an article with a comprehensive assessment of China’s three-year fight against the coronavirus and its impacts, a few days before the reopening of borders in the country (read it here).

What will be the impact of this reopening on the Chinese and world economy? Gisela Cernadas spoke about some of the possible consequences in an article published in ARGMedios (read it here, translated automatically). She also spoke about the de-dollarization of oil and gas trade between China and Arab countries on Barricada TV (watch it here in Spanish).

Marco Fernandes was again invited to join the Mundioka podcast, this time to discuss the boycott promoted by the United States against the semiconductor industry in China (listen to it here, in Portuguese).

Until next week.

Dongsheng Editorial Collective


Geopolitics

US blocklists YMTC, a major Chinese semiconductor company that offers prices 20% below market

Having the attention of experts for the speed at which it is outperforming the competition in the semiconductor market, the banning occurred after Republican Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign with National Intelligence to denounce the company as a risk to US security, which interrupted an agreement by Apple to acquire the 3D NAND chip from YMTC

Asia Times, 31.12.2022

US boycott of China causes 23% drop in new US solar panel installations

The trade barrier imposed in June 2022 results from claims of alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, a province responsible for almost half of the world’s production of polysilicon used in solar panels; the restrictions threaten to slow the transition to renewable energy that the Biden administration is trying to promote

Nikkei, 31.12.2022

EU initiative that pledged up to US$318 billion for infrastructure projects in Africa and Asia completes a year with scant results

Created with the explicit aim of replacing the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Gateway faces criticism and confusion regarding its funding and organization within the European Union itself; the African Union and ASEAN have expressed disagreement and disappointment over the initiative

South China Morning Post, 31.12.2022

National Politics

Peak cases of Covid-19 are expected to come to an end in big cities by Chinese New Year, while new outbreaks may emerge in rural areas

Experts say attention should be turned to rural areas with scarce medical resources, where cases could increase due to the movement of people traveling to visit their families over the Chinese New Year holiday; 97% of symptomatic patients hospitalized between September and December had mild symptoms

Global Times, 01.01.2023

Economy

Average years of schooling in China increased from 6.1 in 1985 to 10.7 in 2020

A more educated working class on average could offset the risks of a dwindling workforce, research finds; China’s working-age population (aged 16 to 59) has shrunk by more than 40 million from 2010 to 2020, and currently stands at 879 million

South China Morning Post, 29.12.2022

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Agriculture and Environment

China aims to build the world’s largest national park system, spanning 49 candidate areas across the country

The new plan involves more than 700 nature reserves, 10 Natural World Heritage Sites, and two Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites, containing more than 80% of China’s major protected wildlife species; the Tibetan Plateau has 13 such areas, representing 70% of the national park coverage

Global Times, 31.12.2022

Science and Technology

In a major breakthrough, Huawei develops innovation for microchip manufacturing machines smaller than 10 nanometers

The company has patented a component of the EUV lithography tech, until now dominated only by Dutch company ASML and for which the US has pressured Dutch authorities not to allow its export to China; the new achievement could make Huawei circumvent the sanctions imposed by the West, initiated in 2019 by the Trump administration

Techspot, 25.12.2022

The Telegraph, 31.12.2022

China launches official platform for trading “digital collectibles”, digital copyright, and virtual property

Unlike NFTs (non-fungible tokens), China’s digital collectibles are traded in legal tender currencies such as the yuan and cannot be resold for profit or speculation; Beijing seeks to expand its digital economy by applying commercial rules to data, since it regards it as a new factor of production, on the same level as land, human labor, and capital

South China Morning Post, 30.12.2022

People’s Life and Culture

Cinema in China bounces back to surpass 30 billion yuan (US$4.4 billion) in 2022, with 85% coming from domestic films

To support the recovery of the film industry, the government implemented tax relief measures and issued 100 million yuan in movie-watching vouchers; in a survey conducted in 10 countries across different regions, more than 80% of respondents said they had watched Chinese movies or television series

Global Times, 29.12.2022

CGTN, 01.01.2023

The Chinese New Year (Yuandan), based on the lunar calendar, has persisted as a popular tradition, and today China celebrates two New Years

At the beginning of the 20th century, the first governments of the republic adopted the Gregorian calendar and even banned the celebration of the Lunar New Year; but with the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Yuandan was re-established and renamed “Spring Festival”

The World of Chinese, 01.01.2023

Crowds thronging the markets during the Spring Festival of 1940 (Fotoe)


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No. 129 | 2022 Retrospective – Part II | 31.12.2022

This week we want to share our second year roundup. This time, the content goes beyond what has appeared in our newsletters, which surpassed its 100th edition!

In addition to new productions, our team gave interviews and our articles were published in media around the world. We have compiled this material that contains extensive and in-depth analysis about China and its role in the world in 2022 for your easy access.

For another look back on the year, Mika Erskog, Tings Chak, and Marco Fernandes just joined Li Jingjing on her 2022 Recap livestream

Thank you for subscribing to News on China, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe to our Telegram channel.

Wishing our dear readers a very healthy and happy new year!


Dongsheng editorial collective


Special Content

The Crane

In July, we launched The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast,  a tool that presents a fresh look at the news, debates, and history around China-Africa relations, hosted by Dongsheng Collective members Amadeus Musumali & Mika Nhondo Erskog.

Poverty Alleviation in China 

In March, we also launched a series of six videos, for our Portuguese audience, about the Chinese poverty alleviation program, which was published by Brasil de Fato.

Explained 

This year we continued with our “Explained” series with two important videos that provide information about the Chinese political system and the results of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.


Articles

Is the Ukraine War a Prelude to a More Protracted Global War? by Deborah Veneziale on CounterPunch, March 21

US watches as China, Latin America deepen ties by Marco Fernandes on Brasil de Fato, April 9 

Why Latin America needs a new world order, by Marco Fernandes, Morning Star, May 10

Go to Yan’an: Culture and National Liberation by Tings Chak on Tricontinental, May 16

China, América Latina e Caribe na encruzilhada da história by Marco Fernandes on Brasil de Fato, May 27

马可&罗思义:除了西部防线,中国还有一条抵御美国侵略的南部防线 (link with automatic translation), by Marco Fernandes, Guancha, June 5

Winds from Fusang: Art, Multipolarity, and China-Latin America Relations by Tings Chak on Tricontinental, June 22 

China’s path to socialist modernization by Tings Chak on People’s Dispatch, October 26  

Alemania se despega del «desacople» y negocia con China  by Gisela Cernadas on ARGMedios, November 15   

Xi, Biden e as duas bombas-relógios da Casa Branca  by Marco Fernandes on Brasil de Fato, November 20  

No soy yo, sos vos: diálogo y tensiones entre China y EE.UU by Gisela Cernadas on ARGMedios, November 23 

Could China help Brazil overcome its economic crisis?  by Marco Fernandes on Asia Times, November 29

Lessons from COP27: Enhance cooperation of Global South when developed countries continue to default duty by Marco Fernandes on Global Times, December 2  

China’s engagement with African countries helps empower local economies by Mikaela Erskog on Global Times, December 13  


Interviews and Events

In addition to published articles, two members of the team became regular analysts on China in South American media. Marco Fernandes has a biweekly time slot on TVT’s Bom Para Todos in Brazil (see the playlist with all the videos here), and Gisela Cernadas has a weekly segment in Barricada TV, in Argentina (see the playlist with all the videos here).

Below is a list of where we participated in media publications and events in different regions, addressing the year’s most important issues facing China. For another look back on the year, Mika Erskog, Tings Chak, and Marco Fernandes just joined Li Jingjing on her 2022 recap livestream.

Brasil de Fato

Brasil 247

BreakThrough News

By Any Means Necessary with Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman

CGTN

CPUSA

Code Pink

CovertAction Bulletin Podcast with Rachel Hu and Chris Garaffa

Dosed with Abby Martin

Dragon TV

Fiocruz

Global Times 

Guancha

Meia Noite em Pequim with Elias Jabbour

Mundioka

Opera Mundi

Quartz

Rádio China Internacional 

RT

Talk it out with Li Jingjing

TVT


Twitter threads


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2022 Retrospective | No. 128 | 24.12.2022

Dear readers,

We present to you a retrospective of 2022, a year of significant historical events in China, such as the death of former president Jiang Zemin and the holding of the 20th CPC congress, and the challenges and changes that will set the course in the coming years not only for China and the region but for geopolitics at large. 

It was also a pivotal year for China in managing the pandemic with the Zero Covid policy, which had to be intensified for the first time since pandemic onset levels. However, the year closed with an important easing of restrictions.

We share with you a small selection of the main events and processes that took place in China in 2022. For those who want to delve into a more extensive retrospective, you can access the complete archives of our newsletters here.

Thank you for subscribing to News on China, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe to our Telegram channel.

Happy holidays and a good start to 2023 everyone!


Geopolitics

From the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the advancements in spaces such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China continued to assert its fundamental role in geopolitics. Before the crisis between Russia and Ukraine erupted, Russian President Vladimir Putin was received by President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics. After the meeting, both released a joint statement reiterating that “friendship between the two States has no limits, there are no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation”. In the joint declaration, the countries opposed NATO expansion and Taiwan’s independence, as well as expressed concerns for the creation of AUKUS. Since the beginning of the “special military operation” in Ukraine, Xi has advocated a political way out of the crisis through dialogue aimed at peace. Amid sanctions imposed on Russia by the Global North, in May Chinese imports of crude oil from the country rose 55% year-on-year to reach a record level, displacing Saudi Arabia as the main supplier. In the same period of comparison, Chinese imports of liquefied natural gas (400,000 tons) from Russia jumped 56%.

[Xinhua]

Also in May, China critiqued the policy of responding to the crisis in Ukraine through sanctions and arms supply to Ukraine, during the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting. At that meeting, Xi reaffirmed the need to resist the Cold War mentality and strengthen cooperation among developing countries. In June, China hosted the XIV BRICS Summit, which discussed the construction of financial alternatives to the dollar, as an international mechanism based on a basket of currencies. Additional news at the summit was the announcement of the official candidacy of Iran and Argentina to join the bloc.

14th BRICS Summit chaired by Xi Jinping, June 23, 2022 | Xinhua

Another important summit held in 2022 was that of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in September, which also made progress in terms of expansion, with the entry of Iran as a new member, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt becoming dialogue partners and Belarus starting the admission process. At the meeting, Turkey announced its interest in joining the SCO, which would mean the entry of a NATO member into the entity for the first time.

The heightening of tensions between the two largest economic powers in the world marked 2022, despite a first face-to-face meeting, towards the end of the year, between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. In August, US Congressional President Nancy Pelosi defied warnings and criticism from the Chinese government and made a trip to Taiwan, in what was seen as a threat to the foundation of Sino-US relations. In October, the US announced new lockdown policies against the Chinese semiconductor industry. North Americans are encountering resistance from other countries to join the policy of boycotting China.

National Politics

The most anticipated moment of the year was the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In the report presented to the Congress, Xi Jinping highlighted the economic achievements of the last 10 years, with China’s GDP now representing 18.5% of the world economy, highlighted the elimination of extreme poverty, and announced that the country should improve income distribution.

Xinhua

Xi was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and the 20th National Congress amended the Party Constitution, highlighting the central role of Xi Jinping and his thinking. The Congress reviewed principles and goals such as common prosperity, socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, strengthening the armed forces, developing integral people’s democracy, the second centenary goal of making China a great modern socialist country in all aspects, and opposition to “Taiwan independence”.

Another highlight of the congress was the emphasis given to the China model of modernization as an alternative to Western modernization, dominated by capitalism and based on wars, looting, and colonization. The report of the 20th Congress stated that the China model of modernization is based on peaceful, socialist, and people-centered development.

SCMP

The year 2022 brought the biggest drop in 24 years in the wealth of billionaires in China, 18%, as well as an 11% reduction in the number of them. The phenomenon was driven, in large part, by the poor performance of the real estate market. Both this sector and that of Big Tech have been subject to regulations that aim, for example, to reduce real estate speculation and improve anti monopoly legislation, in the case of the technology sector.

At the same time, data released in November showed that, in 2021 ,the number of “high net worth” Chinese households, which includes those with more than 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million), increased by 1.9%, reaching nearly 2.1 million. At the same time, as part of the poverty eradication campaign, the government recently decided to expand assistance to 63 million low-income people. In addition, in April, the government also announced investments of at least US$2.3 trillion, with more than half devoted to supporting industries and services – such as factories, industrial parks, technology incubators, and theme parks – and around 30% of projects for traditional infrastructure such as roads and railways.

Regarding the fight against Covid-19, at the end of February, China faced its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, this time in Shanghai, which led to a 2-month lockdown in China’s largest city. At the end of the year, the government began to ease the measures of the dynamic Zero Covid strategy, ceasing to carry out mass PCR tests and demand negative results for circulation in buildings, public transport, and interregional trips. Some of the main cities, especially Beijing, end the year facing new outbreaks. The government will seek to vaccinate 90% of people over 80 by the end of January.

Xinhua

Economy

In 2022, the Chinese economy faced major challenges due to the Covid outbreaks throughout the year and an international context marked by economic and geopolitical tensions, such as the crisis in Ukraine. This has pushed economic growth below the Chinese government’s target of 5.5%.

In this framework, China continued to make efforts to resist the hegemony of the US dollar. In the middle of the year, the People’s Bank of China signed an agreement with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), headquartered in Switzerland, to set up a yuan reserve fund with the central banks of Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Chile, which participate in the agreement. Each country contributes a minimum of 15 billion yuan (US$2.2 billion) to access the fund in case of market volatility and thus are able to dispense with the use of US currency. In April, the yuan became the fifth most traded currency in the world.

Tensions with the Americans contributed to the highest inflation rate in the US in 40 years (9.1%) and caused the US debt securities held by China to fall below US$ 1 trillion for the first time in over 12 years, standing at US$ 980.8 billion.

This year, for the first time, revenues from Chinese companies (US$11.71 trillion) surpassed those of US companies (US$11.34 trillion) on the Fortune Global 500 list. State-owned companies played an important role in this achievement. China has listed three state-owned energy giants (State Grid, CNPC, and Sinopec) among the world’s top five companies, and most of the Chinese companies on the list (87 out of 145) are either majority or wholly state-owned. This year China created the China Mineral Resources Group, a US$3 billion state-owned iron ore giant to strengthen its position in global trade in the sector.

CFP

Chinese vehicle manufacturer BYD entered the list for the first time, occupying the 436th position with revenue of US$32.758 billion. In the first half, the company also achieved the feat of overthrowing Elon Musk’s Tesla leadership in global sales of electric vehicles. In addition, this year China overtook Germany to become the second largest car exporter in the world, second only to Japan.

The real estate sector, one of the most affected by the pandemic, spent most of the year in contraction, starting to show signs of recovery in the last quarter. Between January and September, land transactions by the 100 largest developers (US$147 billion) accumulated a drop of 51.2% year-on-year. However, the 130.2% increase in the value of land purchases by the 50 largest real estate developers in September brought hope to the sector.

VCG

Category Icons

Agriculture and Environment

In 2022, China was hit by heat waves and floods that presented challenges for the country’s agriculture. August saw the most intense heat wave since China began weather observations in 1961, impacting power generation and autumn harvests. The government has earmarked US$29.5 million in disaster relief funds to help with drought relief.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, China managed to exceed, for the eighth consecutive year, the annual harvest target of 650 million tons of grains, even reaching an interannual growth of 0.5%, thanks to the increase in cultivated land.

Xinhua

This year, the government started encouraging farmers to grow a new variety of rice that can be harvested for several years without replanting, can yield 15 tons/ha (2018) and halve production costs. At the same time, production of a variety of rice that grows in salty, alkaline soil has more than doubled in three years, increasing yields to over 10 tonnes/hectare by 2022. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of rice.
In the first half of 2022, sales of rural supply and marketing cooperatives increased by 19.1% to over 2.94 trillion yuan (US$400 billion), with the help of e-commerce. A resurgence of these cooperatives is taking place as part of the rural revitalization and poverty reduction programme. Today, they add up to 37,652, with almost 400,000 points of sale across the country.

Xinhua

A study published this year by the University of Chicago revealed that, in seven years, China managed to reduce almost the same level of air pollution (40%) that the US took to reduce in three decades. If the trend is maintained, it could add about two years to the average life expectancy in the country, according to the survey.

Still in relation to the environment, another study published at the beginning of the year, and carried out by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Energy Foundation China, showed that China is a global leader in installed capacity of solar energy (39% of total) and wind power (36%), but still need to make progress to meet clean energy transition goals.

Science and Technology

China made important advances and achievements in science and technology in 2022. For the first time, the country surpassed the US in the number of most cited scientific papers, and became a global leader. Among the 1% of the most cited papers in the world, considered of higher quality, 27.2% (4,744) are Chinese and 24.9% (4,330) are from the US.

China also continues to lead in total published articles, 407,181 – surpassing the US, which remains in second place with 293,434.
In June, China launched the Type-003 Fujian, its first super aircraft carrier with an electromagnetic system, which increased the carrying capacity from 30 to more than 60 aircraft. It is the first non-US aircraft carrier to rival the US Navy’s Ford and Nimitz aircraft carriers, and is capable of supporting over 80,000 tons. The achievement was an important step in China’s goal of having its navy operate on par with the US by 2050.

CCTV

The government passed an Algorithms Law aimed at curbing the influence of Big Techs on public opinion and protecting workers on service platforms. Abuse in the use of algorithms is seen in the country as a threat to the rights of consumers and workers, and to national security.

People’s Life and Culture

More than four decades after their Winter Olympics debut, China hosted the event for the first time and broke its record number of participants, with 176 athletes. US-born Chinese skier Gu Ailing won her first Olympic gold for China amid accusations of “betrayal” by the US media. “Sports should be used to unite human beings,” said Gu, whose win garnered 670 million views and comments on social media.

Gu Ailing represented China at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where she became the first extreme sports athlete to win three medals – two of them gold – at a single Olympic Games | Xiao Yijiu – Xinhua 

Average life expectancy in China rose from 77.9 years in 2020 to 78.2 years in 2021, surpassing the US which fell from 78.9 in 2019 to 76.6 in 2021, according to data released in July by the Commission National Health.

According to the entity’s survey, China’s maternity (16.1/100,000) and infant mortality (5/1,000) fell to a historical low, and investment in health reached 6.5% of GDP.

Research published by the medical science journal The Lancet showed that 13-year-olds in rural China have become 7.5cm taller and 6.6kg heavier than their peers a decade ago.

Thanks to a nutritional improvement initiated in 2012, as part of the poverty reduction program, the average gain of children aged 6 to 15 years was 3cm and 1kg.

This year, surveys revealed that more than 200 million Chinese are self-employed. According to data, in 2021, 16% of recent graduates – which in 2022 will reach a record 10.76 million – began to work independently.

Livestream show in a tea farm in Taipingxi Township, Hubei Province, 19 February 2021 [People’s Daily Online / Zhang Guorong]

More and more young people are choosing to work in rural villages or grassroots communities, with incentives from the government and universities, in the face of rising unemployment, which reaches 18.7% of young people. According to Chinese state TV, over the past three years, 70% of university graduates have found jobs in small towns and rural areas, and 60% have chosen to work in less developed regions of the country, supporting rural revitalization projects.


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No. 126 | 10.12.2022

People lay flowers at the former residence of Jiang Zemin in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, 01.12.2022 [CNS]

National Politics

China bids farewell to Jiang Zemin, former CPC general secretary and founder of the Three Represents theory

During his tenure, China regained sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao, the country joined the WTO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was created; in his speech, President Xi Jinping remembered him as a prestigious leader, a great Marxist, and a communist fighter who led the country in difficult times

South China Morning Post, 06.12.2022

Read the official obituary

China continues to relax Covid Zero measures and will seek to vaccinate 90% of people over 80 by the end of January

Mass nucleic acid testing and negative tests are no longer required within 48h to enter buildings, use public transport, or interregional travel; some cities face their largest outbreak, but authorities have downplayed the severity of the omicron variant and are calling for accelerated vaccination, which is seen as crucial to reopening

Caixin Global, 01.09.2022

Caixin Global, 07.09.2022

Geopolitics

Canada plans to send more warships to the area to challenge Chinese sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait

As part of a new Indo-Pacific strategy, Canada’s government says it is investing US$ 298 million in military presence in the region; Canada describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” – a position that has generated serious concern and firm opposition from the Chinese government

Xinhua, 28.11.2022

Financial Times, 05.12.2022

With a visit by European Council President Charles Michel, the EU seeks to stabilize relations with China amid tensions between the bloc and the US

Xi stated that there are “no conflicts of fundamental importance between China and the EU,” while Michel acknowledged that “China does not pursue expansion… [and] is an important partner for upholding the purposes of the UN Charter and supporting multilateralism” – similarly, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated recently that “China’s rise does not warrant isolating Beijing or curbing cooperation”

Global Times, 01.12.2022

Global Times, 05.12.2022

South China Morning Post, 07.12.2022

Economy

As part of its poverty eradication campaign, China will expand assistance to 63 million low-income people

Special assistance could be in the form of housing, education, health care, and employment assistance and these new measure will apply to about 6.1 million people about to apply for the basic subsistence allowance, and another 6.8 million with temporary financial problems – in addition to the 45 million already receiving some form of government assistance

Caixin Global, 30.11.2022

Yuan hits its highest value against the US dollar (6.95) since mid-September, improving the 7 yuan per dollar mark

The boost to the Chinese currency was, among other reasons, because of the expected slowdown in interest rate hikes by the Fed – the US central bank – due to “signs” of cooling inflation in that country; China’s economic growth outlook and global economic slowdown in 2023 will support steady yuan recovery, survey finds

China Daily, 06.12.2022

South China Morning Post, 06.12.2022

Category Icons

Agriculture and Environment

China chairs the second phase of COP15 on biodiversity in Montreal, Canada, which aims to adopt the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

As chair, China coordinates and moderates the negotiations among the parties; according to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), China ranks 1st in forest area and met the target set in 2011 to establish in situ conservation areas and to have at least 17% of its land area in protected areas

Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, 03.12.2022

China CBD Profile

Traditional Chinese tea techniques and their related social practices have been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO

The recognition covers planting, harvesting and processing, and consumption and distribution; steeped or boiled tea is considered an important medium in social gatherings and ceremonies and, for UNESCO, its culture reflects the Chinese values of modesty, harmony, and respect

Global Times, 30.11.2022

CGTN, 30.11.2022

People’s Life and Culture

Traditional culture, humanities and social science books gaining popularity among Chinese readers

In the JD site’s annual bestseller list, humanities books took the top three spots, with Chinese audiences increasingly interested in topics such as the environment and ancient and modern Chinese history; in turn, China’s publishing industry exported more than 400 copyrights of books on epidemic prevention in 2020

Global Times, 01.12.2022

Apps, social networks, news, government, and e-commerce websites were dyed black and white in tribute to Jiang Zemin

A common practice in China following major tragedies or before national commemorations, in 2021, sites went black and white to commemorate the anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre and, in April 2020, in national mourning for those killed by COVID-19; Jiang’s death was the first major Chinese leader given this tribute in the Internet era

What’s on Weibo, 30.11.2022

South China Morning Post, 01.12.2022

Screenshots of Meituan, Taobao, Dianping, and Alipay in black and white for the death of Jiang Zemin [Dongsheng]


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No. 125 | 03.12.2022

Protests in Shanghai, 28.11.2022 [Twitter]


Dear readers,

This week, China lost one of its historic leaders, former President Jiang Zemin. Jiang died of leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai on November 30, aged 96. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and other state and Party organs signed a letter announcing his passing.

His remains were transferred from Shanghai to Beijing on a special flight on Thursday and received by Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders at Xijiao Airport. A memorial service in honor of Jiang Zemin will be held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 6.


Marco Fernandes published an article on economic relations and the potential between Brazil and China in the Asia Times (read here) and another, published in the Global Times, describing some lessons from the COP27 on Climate Change (read here). Tings Chak chatted with Brian Becker about the protests and the Zero Covid policy in China (here) and Mikaela Erskog was the guest on the latest episode of Rania Khalek’s Dispatches, to talk about how the US and Europe intend to turn Africa into a Cold War battleground against Russia and China (here).

– Dongsheng Editorial Collective


National Politics

A fire in a residential building in Urumqi, Xinjiang, caused ten deaths and nine injuries and caused great impact on social media

Despite rumors, the anti-COVID measures were not responsible for the tragedy, with the government having already announced further relaxations, though multiple challenges in local implementation exist; protests were also reported in several cities amid the largest outbreak of cases since 2020

Forum Magazine, 27.11.2022

Chinese-Canadian pop singer Kris Wu was sentenced to 13 years in prison for rape and other crimes and will be deported after serving his sentence

Wu was a member of Korean boy band EXO, launched his solo career in 2014 and, with millions of followers, the singer and actor made Forbes’ top ten Chinese celebrities; the conviction is part of a series of trials of celebrities involved in various crimes and scandals

Sixth Tone, 22.11.2022

The Kuomintang, a party inclined to dialogue with Mainland China, won Taiwan’s local elections

The Democratic Progressive Party, which welcomed U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, lost in key cities such as Taipei and Taoyuan; the defeat is interpreted as a criticism of the handling of the pandemic, price decontrol, and the failure of the “China threat” discourse of Tsai Ing-wen, who resigned as party president, but will continue as leader of the island until 2024

Global Times, 28.11.2022

Geopolitics

China will donate 714.3 million yuan (US$ 100 million) to Cuba to address the shortage of basic commodities and the energy crisis

In addition to agreeing to restructure Cuba’s debt, China will finance a floating dock, the La Herradura wind farm, and a photovoltaic solar farm; in 2021, the volume of trade between the two countries reached US$ 1.02 billion, 7.2% more than in 2020

China Briefing, 25.11.2022

Presidency of the Republic of Cuba, 26.11.2022

Sputnik News, 27.11.2022

The world’s leading semiconductor technology company, the Dutch ASML, opposes U.S. demands to stop selling to China

The older DUV technology – used to make 16-nanometer and, with some restrictions, 7-nanometer chips – is not subject to U.S. restrictions; research estimates that a total ban on chip semiconductor sales would cost 37% of U.S. producers’ revenues

Asia Times, 27.11.2022

Economy

Number of  “high-net-worth”  Chinese  families in 2021 increased by 1.9% to nearly 2.1 million

The category, which includes families with more than 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) in net worth, saw their aggregate wealth grow by 27%, reaching 160 trillion yuan (US$ $22.4 trillion); more than half of these families are found in Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Zhejiang

Caixin Global, 23.11.2022

Henan, which is home to the world’s largest iPhone factory, saw a 16.9% drop in exports between September and October

The province exported 8.4 million smartphones in October, 1.7 million less than the previous month. Recent production at Foxconn has been disrupted by the departure of thousands of workers due to a coronavirus outbreak; to get assembly lines back up to speed, company offers bonuses of US$ 1,800 to workers

South China Morning Post, 25.11.2022

Caixin Global, 28.11.2022

Category Icons

Agriculture and Environment

In 2021, 70% of nuclear facilities in China scored perfect on the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) composite performance index

As of October, there were 53 commercial nuclear power units operating in China, with a total installed capacity of 55.59 million kilowatts, ranking third in the world in both number of units and installed capacity; currently there are 23 nuclear power plants under construction

Global Times, 27.11.2022

Global Times, 27.11.2022

Science and Technology

Chinese scientists find that more developed frontal lobes keep the mind sharp in old age

Diseases linked to aging, such as dementia, have been associated with structural abnormalities in this region, which is responsible for functions such as decision making and problem solving; the discovery could serve to find new ways to keep the brain in a healthier state

South China Morning Post, 25.11.2022

People’s Life and Culture

After regulations implemented in 2021, now more than 75% of minors spend less than three hours a week playing online games

Rules limit game time from Friday to Sunday and holidays, from 8pm to 9pm, but 65.54% of children and young people now spend the time they used to play, on short video apps; experts call for a better understanding of online games to harness their potential in teaching, psychology, and creativity

Global Times, 24.11.2022

China strives to reduce the time minors play video games [Xinhua/Lu Zhe]


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