IN FOCUS
by Avishka Ashok

With Shenzhou 12, China marks a new success 

On 17 September, the Shenzhou-12, the seventh crewed and longest spaceflight returned back to earth after successfully completing the mission. The three-member crew of the Shenzhou-12 safely landed in the Gobi desert after separating from its orbiting module at 1243 hours on the same day. 

The Mission
The Shenzhou-12 was launched on 17 June 2021 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert. The spaceflight also broke the Chinese record for staying in space for the longest durations by spending over three months in space. Post launch, it travelled to the Tiangong space station in 6.5 hours and docked with the Tianhe core module. The mission is also credited for bringing the first set of visitors to China’s first long-term space station, Tiangong, since its launch in April 2021. The three-membered crew carried out various tasks in the 90-day mission such as the mechanical arm operation, extravehicular operations, verifying the possibility of long-term habitation in space, recycling resources in space and more. The mechanical arm installed in the space station is tasked with the function of assembling the remaining parts of the Chinese Space Station. 

As a part of the mission, the astronauts also tested the next-generation spacesuits during the spacewalks. In China’s second successful spacewalk, the crew tested the efficiency, capability and future feasibility of the newly installed equipment and successfully completed a number of technical operations in the space station. The spacewalk conducted by the crew of Shenzhou-12 also breaks the record of China’s longest spacewalk by spending almost seven hours on the mission. The success of the missions were celebrated with great pride in China who is not a part of the International Space Station. 

The Landing
Dongfeng, the site of landing chosen for the Shenzhou-12 was different from the usual landing site of Siziwang Banner Site. The Dongfeng site was chosen due to the climatic conditions, topography, returning options, rescue and search equipment availability. The landing for the spaceflight was more challenging than the usual landings due to the lack of fixed returning coordinates as a result of the continually changing orbital altitude. It was also a difficult landing mission as the topography, consisting of mountainous terrain, posed a challenge to the search and rescue teams of the Shenzhou-12. However, they were rescued soon after the landing. 

The Crew
The crew consisted of three military astronauts from the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Group: Mission Commander Nie Haisheng, Major General Liu Boming and Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo. 

References
“Shenzhou-12 crewed spaceship launch a complete success, China Manned Space, 17 June 2021”
Rhea Mogul, “Chinese astronauts complete first space walk outside new Tiangong space station, CNBC, 4 July 2021”
Deng Xiaoci aand Fan Anqi, “Mission accomplished: China’s Shenzhou-12 crew safely back on earth, Global Times, 17 September 2021”

IN BRIEF
By Keerthana Nambiar
 

China tightens grip on Hong Kong property tycoons
On 17 September, Reuters reported that China has released new mandates for Hong Kong’s powerful property tycoons in a series of closed meetings this year. The move, calls for the latter to pour out their resources and influence, to address a potentially destabilising housing shortage. According to sources quoted in the report, the mandate to make Hong Kong more "patriotic", comes under the view that the tycoons failed to prevent the anti-government protests in 2019. Hong Kong's biggest property firms, such as CK Asset, Henderson Land Development, Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) and New World Development are termed as “a major component of the political and economic ecosystem” in the city. They have long enjoyed outsized power and have been directly reaping benefits from the city’s hybrid political system. (Clare Jim and Farah Master, With tighter grip, Beijing sends message to Hong Kong tycoons: fall in line, Reuters, 17 September 2021) 
 
China warns India to not ‘poison’ SCO cooperation under the Afghan issue
On 17 September, Chinese state media quoted “China experts” warning India to not "poison" cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the Afghan issue and connectivity with Central Asia at the SCO summit in Tajikistan. Chinese President Xi Jinping was also quoted by state media at the summit saying that external forces should never be allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of countries under any pretext. (Zhang Hui and Liu Xin, India warned not to be ‘poison’ for SCO cooperation, as it seeks influence on Afghan issue, Global Times, 17 September, 2021) 
 
Xi Jinping urges Afghanistan to eradicate terrorism, promises aid
On 17 September, Xinhua quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping urging all "relevant parties" in Afghanistan to eradicate terrorism and promised more aid to tackle the looming economic and humanitarian crisis in the country. Xi added on at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit that Afghanistan should be guided to be more open and to pursue moderate domestic and foreign policies. Western nations have been reluctant to provide aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban assures that it will uphold human rights especially of women. China’s interest in Afghanistan comes from the fear of some ETIM militants, who have have long been allies of the Taliban. (Gabriel Crossley, China's Xi urges Afghanistan to stamp out terrorism, vows more aid, 17 September 2021)
 
China enters Taiwan’s air defence zone after military budget boost
On 17 September, Taiwan's defence ministry said that its military forces were engaged in warning away 10 Chinese military encroachments that had entered areas close to Pratas and the Bashi Channel. The offensive, that involved 6 J-16, 2 J-11 fighters, one anti-submarine and a reconnaissance aircraft, comes a day after Taiwan announced a $9 billion boost to military spending to counter China’s threat. (Ben Blanchard, China enters Taiwan air defence zone a day after military budget boost, Reuters, 17 September 2021)

China sharply reacts on AUKUS accusing Coldwar mentality.
On 17 September, the Chinese embassy in Canberra said it rejects "unfounded accusations" stated in the annual talks by the defence and foreign ministers of Australia and their United States counterparts. The joint statement released by the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations expressed concern over China's "expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea that are without legal basis". The statement further criticized China's actions which led to weakened electoral system and supressed media in Hong Kong with the imposition of National Security Law. It also expressed its "grave concerns" on the human rights violations of Uighur Muslims. In a statement from a spokesman for the Chinese embassy, "This petty move to put pressure on China will be of no avail but a staged farce." (Chinese embassy says it opposes US, Australia interference, Strait Times, 17 September 21) 

China lobbies Russia, Iran and Pakistan for an united stance on Afghanistan
On 17 September, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) held a virtual meeting called in for an united front to keep Afghan Taliban inclusive and respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty. Xi Jinping stated “We should start interaction with different parties in Afghanistan, and guide the new regime of the nation to be more open and inclusive.” The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi remarked it was essential for the four countries to “strengthen communication and coordination, form unanimous voices, exert positive influence and play a constructive role in stabilising the situation in Afghanistan”. Without naming the US, Xi Jinping hinted holding United States accountable and had caused the chaos should learn a lesson “share responsibility for the future of Afghanistan”. (China lobbies Russia, Iran and Pakistan to show unity on Afghanistan, South China Morning Post, 17 September 2021) 

Big Tech firms pushed towards more online control ‘cyberspace civilization’
On 17 September, the South China Morning Post reported that the Communist Party and State Council of China introduced new guidelines for building a “cyberspace civilisation”. Internet platforms such as  WeChat owner Tencent Holdings and Tiktok owner ByteDance are expected to face the brunt of new restrictions seeking to reshape China’s online world. The guidelines call for government agencies to enhance efforts to regulate how content is produced, published and spread online. Among the targets are internet slang and “uncivilised problems” with live-streaming e-commerce and public accounts, which are social media accounts run by content producers. (China’s Big Tech platforms face more responsibility in ‘cyberspace civilisation’ push that seeks more online control, South China Morning Post, 17 September 2021)