HIGHLIGHT 
Ties deepen between China and Russia
On 08 March, according to an editorial in The Straits Times titled “China-Russia ties set to deepen as Ukraine war heads into third year,” by Lim Min Zhang, ties between China and Russia deepened amid the third year of the war in Ukraine as their bilateral trade grew record total of USD 240 billion beyond expectations. On 07 March, on the sidelines of a press conference during the NPC meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the relations between the two major powers led to “a new paradigm of great power relations that is completely different from that of the old Cold War era.” He added that Russia’s energy, especially natural gas, powers thousands of Chinese homes, and the presence of Chinese people in Russia reflects the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. In 2019, Both countries set a target of USD 200 billion in trade by 2024, which has been surpassed in 2023. Russia has overtaken Saudi Arabia as the largest oil supplier to China, and Russia, in return, imported more consumer and manufactured goods from China. According to Dr Liu Minran, China wants to ensure that the West does not undermine its interests and wants to become another pole in the changing world order. It would not let Russia away as China strives for greater international influence. (Lim Min Zhang, “China-Russia ties set to deepen as Ukraine warheads into third year,” The Straits Times, 08 March 2024)

China’s aggressive sea tactics in the South China Sea, says WSJ
On 06 March, according to an editorial in The Wall Street titled “How China’s Aggressive Sea Tactics Look From the Deck of an Opposing Ship,” by Feliz Solomon, a large fleet of Chinese coast guard ships surrounded the Philippines convoy, leading to the two minor collisions between the vessels of two countries. The Philippines ships supplied logistics to the small military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal. Philippines Coast Guard Ensign Bernadette Soriano Addun said Chinese manoeuvres are unpredictable and scary. The incident happened on 05 March. For the first time, the Philippines invited foreign journalists to the supply mission, which takes place twice a month. According to Feliz, under President Marcos’ leadership, the Philippines has taken an assertive stance by publicizing China’s actions and strengthening security ties with the US, EU, Japan, Australia, and India. The International Tribunal in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China’s claims have no legal basis, but China rejected the ruling. China has accused the Philippines of using these missions to ferry construction materials to the Sierra Madre as they might use it to build permanent military outposts. The Philippines rejected their claims and said it had the right to repair the ageing ship. (Feliz Solomon, “How China’s Aggressive Sea Tactics Look From the Deck of an Opposing Ship,” The Wall Street Journal, 06 March 2024)

“The Philippines should not let itself be at the mercy of the US,” Chinese Foreign Ministry
On 06 March, China accused the US of using the Philippines as its “pawn” in the South China Sea conflict. The comments come as the tensions in the region escalate over the territorial disputes. After the recent incident, the Philippines summoned the Chinese representative over the Chinese vessel colliding with the Philippines Coats Guards and using water cannons at them. This happened as the Philippines Coast Guards were on a resupplying mission for its troops. China refuted the accusations of aggression and stated that they “took control measures” against the illegal intrusion by the Philippines, additionally, they accused the Philippines coast guards of intentionally ramming into the Chinese vessel. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “China urges the US not to use the Philippines as a pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea,” and that “The Philippines should not let itself be at the mercy of the US.” (“China says US using Philippines as ‘pawn’ in the South China Sea,” The Straits Times, 06 March 2024)

CHINA READER DAILY WIRE 
INTERNAL
China updates the list of suspected journals of  being “untrustworthy”
On 06 March, according to an interview in Nature by Smriti Mallapaty, China’s Early Warning Journal List updated the list of journals as its latest edition in February 2024 added 24 more due to untrustworthiness, predatory or not serving the Chinese research community’s interests. It flagged journals that violated citation counts for the first time in its publication. In 2024, Nature updated the method for developing the list as the Chinese ministries sent notices about the journals. According to Yang, with feedback from the publishers, the number of journals in the list was reduced from 50 to 24. Yang also said that the journal’s list this year removed the low-risk category to allow the journal to receive a maximum number of manuscripts. Yang also mentions the growing manipulations about the author names used and alerts the researcher immediately about the same. She added that the journals with a paper mill problem are identified using social media and websites such as PubPeer for published articles for better research integrity. (Smriti Mallapaty, “China has a list of suspect journals and it’s just been updated,” Nature, 06 March 2024)

Growing support against government’s push for marriage among Chinese youth, Opinion
On 07 March, according to an opinion in The Straits Times, titled, “More Chinese women choose singlehood amid record youth unemployment, economic downturn,” there is a growing trend against marriage among young women in China, thus creating challenges against the government’s policy. With the declining population and low birth rates for two consecutive years, Chinese President Xi Jinping pushed in 2023 to cultivate a new culture of marriage and childbearing. Also, Premier Li Qiang stressed working towards a birth-friendly society. According to the author, the CCP views the nuclear family as the pillar of social stability in which unmarried mothers are kept out of government benefits. According to the government data, the number of single people over 15 grew to 239 million in 2021. According to a 2021 Communist Youth League survey of some 2,900 unmarried urban young people found that 44 per cent of women do not plan to marry. According to feminist activist Lu Pin, refusing childbirth or marriage is seen as non-violent disobedience towards the patriarchal state. Delayed marriages and falling birth rates will threaten China’s demographics. (“More Chinese women choose singlehood amid record youth unemployment, economic downturn,” The Straits Times,” 07 March 2024)

Chinese ambassadors urged CPPCC to increase international engagement
On 05 March, in an event chaired by Liu Jieyi, vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Foreign Affairs Committee, China’s ambassador to the US and ambassador to Japan urged the representatives of the CPPCC to conduct more interviews with the foreign media and visit other countries to tell China’s story properly with the rest of the world. The discussion was part of the ongoing Two Sessions meeting of the top legislative bodies. China’s initiatives indicate the necessity to counter Western narratives in or about China’s side of the world and establish control over the international narrative. China’s ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, said that non-party members' interaction with Western societies is more effective in communicating the message about China. He also urged them to promote China’s Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative as part of President Xi’s foreign policy frameworks. According to political scientist Yang Mingjie, foreigners are interested in learning more about China and its domestic stability, growth, and modernization story. (Lim Min Zhang, “China’s ambassadors urge top advisory body to engage more with foreign media,” The Straits Times, 07 March 2024)

Chinese leadership offers assurances while achieving a 5 per cent GDP growth target
On 06 March, China assured that with the ongoing economic slowdown, the country has sufficient financial resources to tackle the crisis and assure foreign investors. National Development and Reform Commission chief Zheng Shanjie told the press that the leadership has a growth target of 5 per cent, which is in line with China’s growth potential. He stated that the 2024 growth target was kept the same as in 2023 as it weighed the current problems, long-term needs, and possibilities, and was part of the country’s 14th five-year plan (2021-2025). He also mentioned that the number of tourists increased by 19 per cent compared to the pre-COVID levels amid the Lunar holiday week. Zheng acknowledged that the target set faces many internal and external challenges while overcoming economic concerns. According to Xu Tianchen from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the Chinese economy has been in a long-term crisis and said that “the economy right now looks like a hardworking middle-aged man,” and it needs to change its approach. Zheng vowed to give complete rights to the private sector to boost investment in China. He further said that the three new types of exports, electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar panels, are driving the Chinese economy and continue to make its presence in the global market. (Luna Sun, Amanda Lee, “China’s 5% GDP growth target demands ‘hard work’, leaders insist while flagging hopes and risks,” South China Morning Post, 06 March 2024)

China must clarify its anti-espionage laws for international students, says Peking University
On 06 March, according to an opinion in the South China Morning Post, titled, “‘Confusion’ over China’s spy laws could be deterring foreign students: academic,” the former dean of the International Relations School of the Peking University, Jia Qingguo wroten to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) that the government must provide complete detail of the anti-espionage law to reduce the concerns among the international students. He wrote that the implementation regulations of the law have not been issued yet, leading to confusion among the students and misunderstanding outside China. Despite lifting the Covid-19 lockdowns, international students have not returned to China. According to the data released by the US ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, it is estimated that there are around 350 American students in China, much less than 15,000 students pre-Covid. Furthermore, the number of South Korean students also declined in China from 73,240 students in 2017 to 15,857 in 2023. He stated that geopolitics is the main reason for the reduced number of international students in China. (Laura Zhou, “‘Confusion’ over China’s spy laws could be deterring foreign students: academic,” South China Morning Post, 06 March 2024)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Apple sales fall, and Huawei rises in China’s domestic market
On 06 March, according to a report published by the research firm Counterpoint in the BBC, Apple’s iPhone sales fell by 24 per cent in the first six weeks of 2024, whereas China’s Huawei’s sales grew by 64 per cent in the same period. According to Mengmeng Zhang from Counterpoint, beyond Huawei’s competition against Apple in the premium segment, the fierce competition led by Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi through aggressive prices dominates the Chinese market. According to the report, the overall smartphone market in China fell by 7 per cent in the same period. Furthermore, Huawei faced challenges in sales due to the sanctions imposed by the US that barred access to advanced chips and technology required to make 5G phones, which later increased in China by August 2023. The report noted that Huawei’s sales rose to 16.5 per cent to become the second largest player, whereas Vivo remained China’s top smartphone seller. Since February 2023, Apple has started offering discounts on its official sites to revive its sales. (Mariko Oi, “Apple: iPhone China sales slide as Huawei soars, report says,” BBC, 06 March 2024

ECONOMY
Chinese officials plan to increase stimulus for exports
On 06 March, according to an editorial in The Wall Street Journal titled “Chinese Officials Say Exports Are Strong but Hint at More Stimulus,” by Brian Spegele, Chinese officials hinted that there would be double-digit growth in the exports in January and February of 2024 by 10 per cent and the government aims to boost monetary stimulus to boost exports. Brain says that the government intends to paint a positive picture of the Chinese economy, and the official statistics will be released on 07 February. China’s central bank governor, Pan Gongsheng, plans to boost liquidity by cutting banks' reserve requirements., thus making the price rise and yuan stable. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said that both imports and exports fell by 8.2 per cent. He further noted that foreign trade will be complex in 2024 due to the growing protectionism and the uncertainty over overseas political elections in 2024. (Brian Spegele, “Chinese Officials Say Exports Are Strong but Hint at More Stimulus,” The Wall Street Journal, 06 March 2024)

Trusting Chinese data can be challenging, says The Wall Street Journal
On 05 March, according to a commentary in The Wall Street Journal, CCP announced in its Two Sessions meeting that the growth rate targeted will be per cent in 2024. Premier Li Qiang said that the target will be challenging to achieve. According to Western analysts, Chinese GDP data is misrepresented and inconsistent as it serves President Xi’s goal of making China’s economic and political model reliable to the world. As per Rhodium Group’s data, China’s output declined in 2022 to 1.5 per cent growth compared to 3 per cent by the government estimates. Finland's Central Bank reports China's growth to be 1.2 per cent in 2022 and 4.3 per cent in 2023. According to the author, China’s retail data is heavily manipulated as multiple evidence reports of falling sales of Alibaba, rising household deposits, and local government debts. Furthermore, the fixed asset investment reported by China’s NBS as it reported a 3 per cent growth in 2023 instead of a 12 per cent decline. In China, the data published is used to praise the CCP’s success with Xi Jinping as the country’s leader. (Greg Ip, “Why You Shouldn’t Trust China’s Growth Data,” The Wall Street Journal, 06 March 2024)

CHINA & TAIWAN
Taiwan accuses China of using Grey-zone tactics
On 07 March, the Taiwanese Defence Ministry accused China of creating a grey zone near the Taiwan Strait, by making the areas around the region saturated with balloons, drones and boats. The Taiwanese defence agency has complained about the heightened Chinese aggression in the region by using grey-zone-warfare tactics. The tactics aim to exhaust the enemy with irregular pressure rather than resorting to open conflict. A report by the Taiwanese Defence Ministry was sent to the parliament outlining “multi-front saturated grey-zone” tactics stationed by China to harass Taiwan. This is done by increasing the burden on the naval and air forces and by stationing research vessels and militia in the region disguised as military activities. To deter these threats the report stated that the defence ministry is aiming to preserve its troops and wants to further boost its resilience by building defence infrastructure. (“China steps up grey-zone warfare to exhaust Taiwan: Defence report,” The Straits Times, 07 March 2024)

CHINA & EAST ASIA
North Korea ramps up security along the border with China
On 08 March, according to a report published by HRW on BBC News, North Korea adopted severe restrictive measures in the country that have not only led to its isolation and worsening humanitarian crisis but have led to reduced cross-border movement and trade with China. The report titled “A Sense of Terror Stronger than a Bullet: The Closing of North Korea 2018-2023,” mentions that North Korea is constructing 482km (299 miles) of new fencing beyond the existing 260 km of border fence. Along with the fence, additional authoritarian rules have been enforced, like the shoot-on-sight order for border guards. Many survivors say that many North Korean people are suffering from hunger and poor health. The Covid-10 lockdown has stopped the cash flow from South Korea to relatives in North Korea. The UN reported that the sanctions had led to a severe impact on the women. (Michael Sheils McNamee, “Images show North Korea sealing its border with China,” BBC, 08 March 2024)

China needs to maintain an edge against South Korean rivals in shipbuilding, says SCMP
On 08 March, according to an editorial in the South China Morning Post titled “For China to leave S Korean shipbuilding rivals in its wake, leaders told to be stern in shipbuilding efforts and seas the day,” by Luna Sun; according to Fu Guotao, chief engineer of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and a delegate of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China needs to maintain an edge against its rivals South Korea in the world’s shipbuilding market in terms of design and manufacturing and to ensure self-sufficiency in the sector. He also points out that international tensions have affected ship engines' supply chains. He adds, "China lacks core R&D capabilities for key engine components, positioning China at the lower end of the industrial chain in the international market, leading to low competitiveness, a small market share, a lack of pricing power, and limited product development.” According to Sun, China became a dominant player in the shipbuilding industry in 2023 for 50.2 per cent of the total volume, 66.6 per cent of new orders and 55 per cent of backlogged orders. According to Clarkson Research, China overtook South Korea as the top receiver of global shipbuilding orders in 2021 regarding annual volumes but lagged in advanced technologies, designs, and standard-setting. Sun points out that South Korea plans to expand its advantage in the shipbuilding industry as it similarly seeks to contend with growing challenges from China. (Luna Sun, “For China to leave S Korean shipbuilding rivals in its wake, leaders told to be stern in shipbuilding efforts and seas the day,” South China Morning Post, 08 March 2024

CHINA & SOUTHEAST ASIA
China and the Philippines doubles down on their positions in the South China Sea
On 07 March, according to an editorial in the South China Morning Post, titled “South China Sea: Beijing poised for ‘long game’ with Manila over shoal dispute to avoid drawing in US, analysts say,” by Laura Zhou, both countries will not give up their positions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. China is expected to play a long game with the Philippines as it would like to tire out Manila and avoid a full-scale conflict that could draw in the US and its allies. On 07 March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the press conference of the NPC that the country will defend its interests in the South China Sea and will take countermeasures against any provocation. On 06 March, the US said that it would protect the Philippines in case of an armed attack in the South China Sea. This comes after Manila accused the Chinese Coast Guard of causing two collision accidents on the Philippine ships on its re-supply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal. President Marcos Jr has warned that the growing armed conflict between the two countries in the South China Sea is higher. (Laura Zhou, “South China Sea: Beijing poised for ‘long game’ with Manila over shoal dispute to avoid drawing in US, analysts say,” South China Morning Post, 07 March 2024)

CHINA & SOUTH ASIA
Colonel Doming supervises border infrastructure near LAC
On 08 March, Colonel Ponung Doming, currently serving in the Indian Army, became the first female officer to lead the Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) and supervise critical road construction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. She is currently posted at an altitude of 19,400 feet at -20 degrees Celsius in Hanle, Ladakh. She is currently supervising the construction of 300km of roads in the Demchok sector and managing the construction of bridges and a fighter air base in Nyoma, Eastern Ladakh. Before serving in Ladakh, she served in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, J&K, and Manipur. She further said that the terrain is challenging for infrastructure construction and requires a tough mind and tenacity. (Sandip Dighe, “Colonel moves mountains, builds road on China border,” The Times of India, 08 March 2024)

India deploys additional 10,000 troops at the border with China
On 07 March, according to an editorial in Bloomberg titled “India Frees Up 10,000 More Soldiers to Guard Border With China,” by Sudhir Ranjan Sen, India has re-assigned 10,000 additional soldiers from its Western border to patrol the LAC with China. They will guard a 532 km (330.57 miles) border stretch separating China’s Tibet region with India’s northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. According to Sen, the deployment shows the region’s importance and sensitivity among the Indian leadership. In 2021, after the deadly border clash with China, India deployed an additional 50,000 troops, and both sides have rapidly upgraded their military infrastructure for troop deployments. According to India’s Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane, the possibility of another Chinese offensive has kept India alert and active all the time. (Sudhir Ranjan Sen, “India Frees Up 10,000 More Soldiers to Guard Border With China,” Bloomberg, 07 March 2024)

India’s EAM blames China for bloody border clashes and violation of agreements
On 07 March, while speaking at the inaugural session of the Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo, India’s External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar, said that Beijing has violated the agreed written agreements with India and blamed it for the violent border clashes that took place on the borders in 2020. He spoke on the changing world order and mentioned the changing power shift in the Indo-Pacific and changing capabilities and influence with ambitions and strategic consequences. Regarding its relationship with China, he said there have been no border clashes for the last 45 years, and its sudden change raises doubts about the country’s intentions. He also mentioned that the international agreements were not followed in other parts of the world, such as in the Middle East and Europe, and its weaponization. He pointed out that post-sanctions, Russia is looking towards Asia for greater collaborations and would seek multiple collaborations. (“Jaishankar blames China for not observing longstanding written agreements,” The Indian Express, 07 March 2024)

CHINA & THE PACIFIC
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concerned about the tension in the South China Sea
On 06 March, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his concerns over the tension in the South China Sea, especially after the collision between Chinese and Philippines vessels. Manila claimed that the Philippines vessels carrying supplies to the Thomas Shoal were harassed by Chinese vessels as they blocked them. Prime Minister Albanese came when he was questioned on the same at the ASEAN summit in Australia, he stated that the behaviour was dangerous and that any miscalculations can lead to escalated conflict. He said: “I am very concerned and Australia is concerned about any unsafe and destabilising behaviour in the South China Sea.” (“Australia concerned about destabilising behaviour in the South China Sea,” The Straits Times, 06 March 2024)

CHINA & EUROPE
China complains against Dutch broadcaster calling Beijing aggressive
On 06 March, China expressed its dissatisfaction with the comments made by a Dutch public broadcaster, where they hinted that Beijing was hardening its position in the Taiwan Strait. To which the Chinese embassy issued that the public broadcaster should adhere to the “one-China” principle, also that they need to remove the negative connotation and not provide a platform for Taiwan’s independent forces for their secessionist movement. The broadcast was based on an interview held with the Taiwanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Chun Lee, where while talking about the Chip industry, they stated that: “the country sees it as life insurance against an invasion by rival China.” (“China complains about a Dutch news report on Taiwan’s chip industry,” The Straits Times, 06 March 2024)

China a “force for peace,” in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, FM Wang Yi
On 07 March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on pursuing deeper cooperation with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. Wang Yi said that it sees itself as the force of peace in the region. And that in the face of complex turmoil, China would persist as the force of peace and would forge stability and promote progress in the world. Since the Russia-Ukraine war, China has established a ‘no-limits partnership’ with Moscow. Wang said that they would not seek conflict and that the cold war should not be allowed to come back. China has stationed itself as the neutral peacemaker in the region though has time and again expressed its inclinations towards Russia. Wang said: “A conflict, when prolonged, tends to deteriorate and escalate and could lead to an even bigger crisis.” (“FM Wang Yi insists China ‘force for peace’; defends Russian ties,” Al-Jazeera, 07 March 2024)
 
CHINA & THE AMERICAS
US Army intelligence analyst booked for sharing US military data with China
On 08 March, a US Amry intelligence analyst  Korbein Schultz was charged by the US federal prosecutor for conspiring and selling data to China. He was accused of disclosing and sharing defence information, exporting defence-related articles, sharing technical data, and bribing public officials, stated the US Justice Department. Korbein was arrested in Kentucky’s Fort Campbell, where he was found to have been paid USD 42,000 by an individual in Kong Kong to reveal US plans if Taiwan is attacked. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said that he kept his profit above the security of the American citizens and that: “Today’s arrest shows that such a betrayal does not pay – the Department of Justice is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who would break their oath to protect our nation’s secrets.” Korbein said to had access and top security clearance and some of the information he shared where the High Mobility Artillery System, future development of the US military, studies of the US military drills, and information on their hypersonic equipment. The incident stated that he was first asked about what lessons could be learned from the Russia-Ukraine war and what would be the US reactions in the event of a military attack against Taiwan. (“US Army intelligence analyst Korbein Schultz charged with selling military secrets to China for US$42,000,” South China Morning Post, 08 March 2024)

Canadian businessman Micheal Spavor detained in China compensated by the federal government
On 07 March, an article in The Guardian reported on the settlement between the Canadian government and the former Canadian detainee in China Micheal Spavor. The federal government of Canada has agreed to give a million-dollar compensation to Spavor who was held in China for nearly three years owing to a diplomatic feud between Canada and China. Both Micheal Spavor and Micheal Kovirg also known as “two Micheals” were detained in China in 2018. This is said to be a retaliation against the Vancouver arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. His settlement is said to be worth USD 5.2 million including legal fees and expenses. A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada Charlotte MacLeod said: “While the 1019 days in which they were arbitrarily detained by China will never be erased, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting them in their efforts to turn to a new chapter in their lives and on their circumstances and impacts, and in acknowledgement of their ordeal and the suffering caused by their arbitrary detention by China.” (Leyland Cecco, “Canada reaches settlement with Michael Spavor over detention in China,” The Guardian, 07 March 2024)

EAST ASIA & THE PACIFIC READER
EAST ASIA
Hong Kong legislation pushes for new security law
On 08 March, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee called for an expedited finalization of the anti-espionage law by the government and the legislative council. The bill has been especially pushed by China and the National People’s Congress, the bills will be deliberated on by the legislative council and will be pushed for at unprecedented speed. The Hong Kong media reckons that the bills can be passed by April, signaling the legislation's push. The new is said to fill loopholes in the Chinese National Security Law that were applied in 2020, additionally, it would strengthen crackdowns on foreign entities' interference and sharing of state secrets. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang stated that they fully support the bills and their implementation. (“Hong Kong fast tracks new security law on apparent Beijing prodding,” Nikkie Asia, 08 March 2024)

Kim Jong Un oversees military drills for war preparedness
On 07 March, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for military preparedness and said that their army needs to: “usher in a new heyday of intensifying the war preparations in line with the requirements of the prevailing situation.” Kim has been overseeing the military drills in Pyongyang, this comes after North Korea has eliminated reunification plans with South Korea. KCNA quotes Kim saying: “Our army should ... steadily intensify the actual war drills aimed at rapidly improving its combat capabilities for perfect war preparedness.” North Korean Defence Ministry spokesperson stated that the countries engaging in drills would pay a dear price for threatening the existence of Pyongyang. (“North Korean leader Kim Jong Un orders heightened war preparations, KCNA says,” The Straits Times, 07 March 2024)