CHINA READER DAILY WIRE

INTERNATIONAL
China pledges USD 490,000 to support LDCs through its China Programme in WTO
On 26 February, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao signed the renewal of the Programme's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Ministerial Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi. The Chinese government has pledged USD 490,000 to the WTO’s Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme, known as the China Programme. This program enables the LDCs to participate in the WTO ministerial meetings, allowing them to better integrate into the global economy. Wang said that the China Program, initiated in 2011 through its activities like the Trade Policy Review (TPR) and South-South dialogues, has helped the LDCs to participate in the global economy. So far, China has allowed eight LDCs to join WTO and has contributed USD 8.89 million to LDCs since 2008. (“China commits USD 490,000 to support WTO accessions and least-developed countries,” World Trade Organization, 25 February 2024)

INTERNAL
Fifteen people killed in Nanjing flat fire
On 23 February, local authorities reported a massive fire incident in an apartment building in China’s Nanjing city, leading to the death of 15 people and 40 people injured. The specific cause of the incident is yet to be found. The building is in the Yuhuatai district of Nanjing, which has a population of eight million and is located 260 km northwest of Shanghai. Out of the 40 injured people, one is in critical condition, and another is seriously injured. It is reported that fire incidents in China occur due to the lack of attention paid to enforcing safety standards. The Nanjing fire comes after the fire incident at a building in Xinyu City, killing at least 39 people. (Emily Atkinson, “China: 15 dead and dozens more injured in Nanjing flat fire,” BBC News, 24 February 2024)

China’s Zhejiang province extends parental care leave entitlements
On 26 February, according to an editorial in the South China Morning Post titled “China regions rethink support for workers with older parents as population ages,” by William Zheng, China’s eastern province Zhejiang became the latest region to extend the statutory parental care leave. The facility is currently limited to employees of one-child families to take care of their ageing parents. The country’s rapidly ageing population due to the One-Child policy in 1980 has created pressure on 300 million people over parental care. Zhejiang’s health commission is ready to grant employees parental nursing leave days outside of one-child families. According to Zheng, Beijing also initiated a similar response on 30 January for their residents on nursing leave extension. Also, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region’s health commission acted on similar lines to extend the facility to non-one-child families. (William Zheng, “China regions rethink support for workers with older parents as population ages,” South China Morning Post, 26 February 2024)

ECONOMY
American investors worried about China’s economic condition
On 25 February, according to an interview in CBS News by Lesley Stahl interviewing US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, US businesses are increasingly concerned about the slowing Chinese economy and experiencing IPR theft and strict counter-espionage laws against foreign businesses. According to Burns, China experienced several political dynamics, including the centralization of power under Chairman Mao and the market liberalization policy under Deng Xiaoping. Under President Xi, the existing market reforms are being reversed, which once led to a Chinese economic miracle. According to him, the slow economic growth is due to overemphasizing economic growth with a greater national security mindset. He added that the growing rivalry and mistrust between the US and China is not only affecting bilateral relations but also damaging the business world's confidence. (Lesley Stahl, “China's slowing economy, Xi's government tactics leave American investors wary,” CBS News, 25 February 2024)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
China names its spacecraft “Dream Vessel” for lunar mission
On 21 February, deputy chief engineer of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) Zhang Hailian unveiled the details for their upcoming manned lunar mission at an aerospace summit in Wuhan city. Zhang said that the lunar mission will take place before 2030 and will involve establishing a lunar research station to conduct further exploration and experiments. Global Times reported on sample collection as part of their scientific exploration back to earth. In 2013, China became the third country to successfully land a rover on the moon, which later became a part of Xi’s space dream. Under President Xi Jinping, China spent around USD 5.8 billion in 2019 for its ambitious space program. (Jessie Yeung and Candice Zhu, “China reveals how it plans to put astronauts on the moon by 2030,” CNN, 13 July 2023)

CHINA & TAIWAN
Chinese Coast Guard conducts patrols near Taiwan’s Kinmen Islands
On 25 February, The Chinese Coast Guard held law enforcement patrols near the islands of Kinmen, controlled by Taiwan, amid the recent accident near the island's waters on 14 February that led to the death of two Chinese fishermen while being chased away by the Taiwanese Coast Guard for illegal trespassing. The Chinese Coast Guard said their vessels conducted measures to safeguard the fishermen’s lives and property and strengthen international law. Beijing claims its sovereignty over Taiwan as part of its One China Policy, and its constant military drills have triggered a potential invasion of Taiwan. (Jesse Johnson, “China Coast Guard conducts patrols in waters near Taiwan's Kinmen Islands,” The Japan Times, 25 February 2024)

CHINA & SOUTHEAST ASIA
Philippines accused China for blocking its logistical supplies to Scarborough Shoal
On 25 February, the Philippines accused the Chinese Coast Guard of its attempts to block BRP Datu Sanday, a government vessel transporting supplies to the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The vessel was harassed by a Chinese Coast Guard ship and three other Chinese vessels. Three of the four vessels conducted dangerous manoeuvres near the boat and conducted shadowing and vessel transponder jamming activities. The Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said, “Despite these manoeuvres, the skipper of BRP Datu Sanday exhibited excellent seamanship skills and managed to evade the blocking attempts.” Last week, another Philippine vessel, BRP Datu Tambloty, faced similar challenges while delivering supplies to the shoal. The shoal has been a flashpoint since 2012 when China seized it from the Philippines. (“The Philippines accuses China of attempting to block another vessel,” The Straits Times, 25 February 2024)

CHINA & THE AMERICAS
The US government urged to block Chinese imports of auto parts through Mexico
On 24 February, VOA reported on the Alliance for American Manufacturing advising the US government that they should halt and curb the import of low-cost Chinese auto parts through Mexico, stating that they threaten the quality of the US car companies. They highlighted that Mexican companies headquartered in China were reaping the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement and that they worked as commercial backdoors to welcome Chinese auto imports, causing mass plant closures and job loss in the US. The parts imported from Mexico enjoy the preferential benefit from the US-Mexico-Canda agreement. The Chinese embassy in response said that they: “reflect the high-quality development and strong innovation of China’s manufacturing industry. ... The leapfrog development of China’s auto industry has provided cost-effective products with high quality to the world.” The issue is of further concern to the US as China unveiled its plans to open a BYD Electronic Vehicle manufacturing company in Mexico. Lawmakers in the US are urging the government to impose tariffs on Chinese vehicles as they believe a wave of imports is possible through other trading partners. (“US Should Block Chinese Auto Imports From Mexico, US Makers Say,” VOA, 24 February 2024)

US and China official on the growing Russia-China relations
On 23 February, a US official in North Korea Jung Park met with his Chinese counterpart Lui Xiaoming to discuss the increasing North Korean threat in the region and their “destabilizing and escalatory behavior.” Jung stated that the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea violates UN Security Council resolutions. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued that “in the common interest of the region and the international community to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and push forward the process of political settlement...”  They proposed that the parties concerned should deal with the situation in a meaningful manner and that they should maintain contact on the issue. (David Brunnstrom, Katharine Jackson, “US and China officials discuss Russia-North Korea military cooperation, State Department says,” Reuters, 23 February 2024)

CHINA & EUROPE
China criticizes the US and West sanctions imposed on their companies
On 23 February, Chinese United Nations representative Zhang Jun announced that they opposed the unlawful sanctions imposed on Chinese companies by the US and the West by using the Ukraine war as an issue. They called the sanctions “indiscriminate” and that the situation plaguing NATO and Europe is due to the former expansionary behaviour. Zhang also iterated that China wants to play a constructive role in settling the issue. He said: “We encourage NATO to do some soul-searching, come out of the cage of Cold War mentality, and refrain from acting as an agent of trouble instigating bloc confrontation.” Zhang also made a statement that China has no role to play in the Ukraine war creation and that is not a party to the crisis itself, stating that they have not been watching the fire from across the river, much less even cashing in on the crisis. These statements came in light of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's statements claiming that China is closely watching the conflict and is planning to draw parallels with Taiwan. (Amber Wang, “China hits out at sanctions and criticises Nato over Ukraine war,” South China Morning Post, 25 February 2024)

EAST ASIA & THE PACIFIC READER

EAST ASIA
Hike in suicide rates in South Korea
On 26 February, an editorial in The Straits Times titled, “Rising suicides and mental health issues among S. Korean youth prompt health policy reforms,” by Wendy Teo highlighted the growing suicide rate in South Korea especially among the Youth. It has been one of the top countries grappling with the issue amongst the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. In 2022, 25.2 suicides happened per 100,000 people, they exceeded the average amongst the OECD countries which stood at 10.6. Wendy expresses her concerns over the demography coming under this are young and consists of the MZ generation, which means millennials and Gen Z. In 2022, the demography between 10-30 made up a quarter of the suicide cases in South Korea. Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention (KFSP) president Dr Hwang Tae-yeon informed that one in five die due in their suicide attempt. It was also observed that the issue of mental health and depression is a lot higher in South Korea than reported and that regardless of them being a developed economy and country the non-redressal of the issue exacerbated the issue. (Wendy Teo “Rising suicides and mental health issues among S. Korean youth prompt health policy reforms,” The Straits Times, 26 February 2024)

THE PACIFIC
PM Albanese to host ASEAN member countries for economic partnership
On 25 February, The Straits Times reported on Australia’s plans to conduct a second summit with the ASEAN countries from 04-06 March. The summit hopes to pitch a concrete bid to establish and restore relations with key ASEAN economic partners. Last September, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy To 2040’ in Jakarta, showcasing his office's keen interest in furthering their investment in the region. PM Albanese believes that Australia’s economic future is in the hands of Southeast Asia. The initiative is now known as the Moore Report outlined by the investment banker Nicholas Moore who found that the ASEA countries have outspaced the economic partners and would continue to do so. (“Australia to double down on Asean pivot when it hosts March summit,” The Straits Times, 25 February 2024 )

Tuvalu affirms its relationship with Taiwan
On 26 February, Taiwanese ambassador to Tuvalu Andrew Lin stated that the new Prime Minister Feleti Teo have affirmed their support and assurance for Taiwan as “everlasting.” Tuvalu is a small nation with a population of 11,000 and is one of the 12 states to have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Lin said: “I was invited to attend a lunch with all the MPs and the newly elected PM. I had conversations with all of them and had assurances from all of them, that the relationship between Taiwan and Tuvalu is firm, rock-solid, durable and everlasting.” (“Tuvalu names new PM, Taiwan says ties ‘everlasting’,” The Straits Times, 26 February 2024)