Daily Briefs


Photo : The Straits Times

26 March 2024, Tuesday| Vol.1 No. 41

Chinese grocery store ad for job triggers discussion on discriminatory hiring practices

China to host Western Pacific Naval Symposium to prevent drone collisions

CHINA READER DAILY WIRE 

INTERNAL
Chinese grocery store ad for job triggers discussion on discriminatory hiring practices
On 25 March, The Straits Times reported that an advertisement from a Chinese grocery store seeking cashiers aged between 18 and 30 had triggered many people through social media amid the economic slowdown. Some social media users highlighted that the government only focuses on addressing the high youth unemployment for college students while leaving the issues of the middle-aged population. Many people, including the Chinese state media, criticized employers for adopting discriminatory hiring practices to seek young and cheap workers. Despite the government’s plan to raise the retirement age in phases, there has been no concrete plan laid out for implementation. (“Chinese grocery store ad for under-30s triggers outcry from older job-seekers,” The Straits Times, 25 March 2024)

MARITIME
China to host Western Pacific Naval Symposium to prevent drone collisions
On 26 March, China plans to host a naval conference in the port city of Qingdao in April. The invite will bring in top naval officials from 30 countries, including the US and Japan, to prevent drone collisions. China is the rotating host of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium for 2024, a biennial event started in 1988. It hosted the summit back in 2014. The main topic of discussion will be to create a framework to prevent accidental collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles flying over the sea. In a workshop organized by China in Nanjing in January, participating countries approved the recommendation to create working groups to study the prevention of drone collisions. The symposium aims to discuss the practice of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), a set of non-binding guidelines meant to prevent an escalation of tensions between militaries at sea. (Yukio Tajima, “China-hosted naval forum will seek to prevent drone collisions at sea,” Nikkei Asia, 26 March 2024)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Chinese scientists research Chang’e 5 lunar rock samples
On 26 March, according to a commentary in the South China Morning Post, Chinese scientists undertook research on the lunar samples returned by China’s Chang’e 5 mission. According to the lead author of the Extremes journal, Du Wei, a unique material was probably produced in the biggest lunar crater, Aristarchus crater, formed due to the collision of asteroids, and then ejected northwards to the Chang’e 5 sampling site. She notes that seifertite was generated under extremely high pressure and temperature and is one of the densest and hardest forms of silica found in nature. Seifertite was found in the Chang’e 5 sample in 2022 after the return of the Chang’e 5 mission, which brought back 1.73 kg of moon soils from the Oceanus Procellarum region of the moon. South China Morning Post reports that Du’s team plans to answer the mysteries of the samples collected by the Chang’e 5 mission. (Ling Xin, “Chinese scientists analysing Chang’e 5 lunar rock samples find clues to moon’s past in super-hard material,” South China Morning Post, 26 March 2024)

CHINA & SOUTH ASIA
India is “today trying to find a way,” on the Arunachal Pradesh contention with China, says EAM Jaishankar
On 23 March, according to a commentary in The Strait Times, in a lecture organized by the National University of Singapore’s Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said India is “today trying to find a way,” on the question of Arunachal Pradesh. He mentioned that the diplomatic negotiations are ongoing and not easy despite completing more than 20 rounds of talks at military commanders and diplomatic levels. He stressed the need for border stability before returning to normalizing ties between India and China. EAM is on his three-day visit to Singapore from 23 March to meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and others. He mentioned that the 2020 border clashes by China have led to greater disequilibrium as China failed to honour the agreements that were set years ago since 1975. On the question in his book Why Bharat Matters, he said that India is “non-West” but not “anti-West,” and its ties with both the US and Russia are due to its multi-vector policy based on a “non-exclusive basis.” On Pakistan, he mentioned that India would deal firmly and won't grant any more “free passes.” (Connie Er, “India, China need to find ways to return stability to disputed border: Foreign minister Jaishankar,” The Straits Times, 24 March 2024)

CHINA & SOUTHEAST ASIA
Chinese FM warns Philippines over the growing maritime confrontations in the SCS
On March 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China warned the Philippines against the growing tensions and confrontation in the South China Sea (SCS). It asked Manila to behave cautiously and seek dialogue as their ties cross. The Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and his Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro conveyed the message amid the growing tensions near the Second Thomas Shoal in the SCS. Lazaro, in turn, had conveyed Manila’s stance and strongly protested the aggression by the Chinese Coast Guard against the Philippine resupply ship on 23 March. In a statement, Manila said, “China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is unacceptable,” as it violates the Philippine. (s' sovereign rights and jurisdiction. On 25 March, Philippines Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro indicated that China must prove its maritime claims through arbitration rather than ambiguity“China says relations with Philippines at ‘crossroads’ amid maritime incidents,” The Straits Times, 25 March 2024)

CHINA & EAST ASIA
Detained South Korean soccer player on bribery charges returned by China
On 25 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea said that the South Korean soccer player detained and investigated in China for a year for alleged bribery charges was released and returned to South Korea. Son Jun-ho, a former South Korean national team member who had played professionally in China, was arrested by Chinese police at the Shanghai airport over bribery charges. Quoting a report from the South China Morning Post, VOA noted that the bribery allegations were related to a suspected match-fixing involving the Jinan club’s team coach, Hao Wei. He played with the Jinan club and won the Chinese championship in 2021. He also played for South Korea 18 times, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (“China Releases South Korean Soccer Star After Detention Over Bribery Suspicions,” VOA, 25 March 2024)

CHINA & EUROPE
Germany is skeptical of China’s claims to equal treatment of foreign companies
On 25 March, according to VOA, China’s new pledge to treat foreign companies at par with domestic companies created concerns in Germany, and its industries called for action rather than words. This comes after Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Guo Tingting told at the China Development Forum in Beijing that the country would “fully guarantee national treatment for foreign companies.” Germany’s concerns arise as China remains its top trading partner and has called China a “partner, competitor, and systemic rival.” Oliver Wack, an Asia expert at the German engineering association VDMA, said that China’s signals are positive but not concrete in terms of content as Beijing had aggressively implemented anti-espionage laws, exit bans, and raids on foreign companies. He adds that China’s latest steps are part of its efforts to attract foreign investors amid the growing exodus of foreign capital. (“German Industry Skeptical of China's Vow to Treat Foreign Firms Equally,” VOA, 25 March 2024)

CHINA & THE AMERICAS
US claims on mineral-rich seabed challenged by China and Russia
On 26 March, according to an opinion in Financial Times, the US claims on the vast amounts of mineral-rich seabed in the international waters were challenged by Russia and China. Both countries protested US claims and stated that US claims were unacceptable due to its failure to ratify the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). According to the authors, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has agreed to the deep sea exploration regulations and has led former US government officials to pressure the Senate to ratify the treaty. The Chinese and Russian sides claim that the US claims stretch beyond the US jurisdictions, and the area is twice the size of California and spans regions that include the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and other regions comprising the continental shelf. The director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, Rebecca Pincus, said that the criticism resulted from the increased competition over the seabed resources and is part of great power politics potentially leading to opportunity and disruption. Concerns emerge in the US on China’s efforts to gain greater influence in top international bodies and take advantage of where the US has less influence. Former Director of National Intelligence Negroponte advised the US government to immediately ratify the UNCLOS agreement as China begins its expansionist and illegal claims over the South China Sea. He also indicated that unless the US ratifies the treaty, it will be unable to tackle China’s growing claims of resources in the international waters. (Kenza Bryan, Josh Gabert Doyon, and Demetri Sevastopulo, “China and Russia challenge US claim to mineral-rich stretches of seabed,” Financial Times, 26 March 2024)

Chinese Premier meets Dominica PM on their 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations
On 25 March, Chinese Premier Li Qiang held diplomatic talks with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Commonwealth of Dominica in Beijing. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Li said that both countries have treated each other with mutual respect and equality. He further said that both countries should work for mutual benefit. Li said that China has supported Dominica in infrastructure construction, agriculture, and trade under the BRI and will assist in disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. He also welcomed Dominica and other Caribbean countries to participate in the fourth China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum for greater China-Dominica economic and trade cooperation. Skerrit said that Dominica is willing to partner with China in the areas of climate change and promote the construction of a Dominica-China community with a shared future. Both sides signed bilateral agreements on joint construction of the Belt and Road, agriculture, green development, infrastructure construction, and implementing the Global Development Initiative. (“Chinese premier holds talks with Dominican PM,” CGTN, 26 March 2024)
 

EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC READER 
EAST ASIA
Tokyo intends for a summit with Pyongyang, says Kim Yo Jong
On 25 March, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong said that Japanese PM Fumio Kishida has requested a summit with Kim Jong Un despite historically strained ties. In 2023, Kishida said he would meet Kim to resolve all issues without any conditions. The primary issue for Japan remains the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. The Strait Times quoted the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), in which Kim Yo Jong said, “Kishida... conveyed his intention to personally meet the President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as soon as possible.” She further mentioned that the improvement in the DPRK-Japan ties will rest on Tokyo’s part for a substantial policy change as the relations are full of misunderstandings and distrust. She warned that Japan’s persistence with the abduction issue won’t materialize in improving ties with North Korea. In 2002, North Korea admitted that it had sent its agents to kidnap 13 Japanese people in the 1970s and 1980s. Atsuhito Isozaki, a North Korean expert and professor at Keio University, mentions ambiguity in Kishida's convincing on improving ties with North Korea among the Japanese public. (“North Korea says Japan PM Kishida requested summit with Kim Jong Un,” The Strait Times, 25 March 2024)

Japan approves the export of defence equipment to other countries
On 26 March, the Japanese cabinet officially agreed to export next-generation future-generation fighter aircraft jets to other countries as part of its defence equipment export plans, making a shift from its pacifist stance adopted post-World War 2. The decision allows Japan to export the newly co-developing fighter jet with Italy and the UK, which gathers international arms sales and bolsters the Japanese arms industry and its role in global affairs. The new guidelines will, however, not allow the export of other co-developed lethal weapons and will require cabinet approval. In 2014, Japan began exporting non-lethal defence equipment, and in December 2023, it allowed the export of 80 lethal equipment and components. The December policy had allowed Japan to export its US-designed Patriot missiles to the US for its own munitions replacement for the missile aid to Ukraine. The new guidelines for exporting finished products were to ensure the successful completion of the joint fighter jet program. The delay in passing the new guidelines was due to resistance from the ruling party, LDP’s junior coalition partner, Komeito, backed by Buddhist supporters. To address the opposition party’s concerns, the Japanese government limited the export of defence products with conditions for the buyer not to use them in active war. (Mari Yamaguchi, “Why is Japan changing its ban on exporting lethal weapons, and why is it so controversial?,” Associated Press, 26 March 2024)
 

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