IN BRIEF
By Avishka Ashok and Arshiya Banu

REGIONAL
Malaysia: Foreign Minister meets top officials and agrees on five-point consensus 
On 12 July, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Malaysia and held a discussion with the Malay Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah on boosting strategic communication between the countries while safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. Wang Yi stressed on injecting positive energy into world peace and stabilizing the world economy. Wang said: “China would like to enhance mutual learning with Malaysia to improve governance capability and contribute the wisdom of the East to global governance.” Saifuddin also expressed Malaysia’s readiness to work with China, accelerate the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative in the country and the Global Development Initiative led by China towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Wang Yi also held a meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and promised to strengthen coordination and connectivity between their countries. Noting the traditional friendship between the countries, Wang Yi said: “China-Malaysia relations have withstood the test of changes in the international landscape and their domestic situations, and maintained a sound and stable momentum of development, bringing benefit to the two countries and peoples, and contributing to peace and prosperity in the region and the world at large.” Wang also suggested the establishment of new directions, goals and priorities as the countries celebrate 10 years of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023 and 50 years of bilateral relations in 2024. 

The Foreign Minister then met with the Malay King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah who agreed on increasing collaboration on major projects in the Belt and Road Initiative. The King appreciated China’s close relationship with the country and the COVID-19 assistance offered by China. He further encouraged heightened Chinese investments and combining efforts on completing the BRI projects in the country. Wang Yi also appreciated Malaysia as a business partner and said: “China has been the largest trade partner of Malaysia for 13 consecutive years, and the all-round cooperation between the two countries has been fruitful, boosting both countries' development and rejuvenation, and delivering huge benefits to the two peoples.”

The countries also reached a five-point consensus on further developing their bilateral relations. Wang Yi remarked that the countries were faced with new opportunities for development and had the space to elevate their ties to a new high. First, the countries agreed to collectively work towards constructing a China-Malaysia community with a shared future under the concept of “the world is one family.” Second, the countries agreed to enhance their cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and also encourage new growth points such as digital economy and green development. Third, China and Malaysia pledged to combine efforts in the quick development of the East Coast Rail Link and other mega rail projects. The leaders also discussed the pan-Asia railway network. Fourth, both sides agreed to increase trade to benefit the people of the two countries. China will seek to import more agro-products from Malaysia and also help international students resume their education in Chinese universities. Lastly, the countries reached a political consensus on safeguarding regional peace and stability while advocating for open regionalism, true multilateralism and upholding ASEAN centrality in their affairs. 

“China ready to enhance strategic communication with Malaysia amid world volatility: Chinese FM,” Xinhua Net, 13 July 2022;
“China, Malaysia reach 5-point consensus on developing ties,” Xinhua Net, 12 July 2022;
“China, Malaysia pledge to strengthen coordination, connectivity,” Xinhua Net, 12 July 2022;
“China, Malaysia agree to expand, strengthen key BRI projects,” Xinhua Net, 12 June 2022

INTERNATIONAL
The US: Foreign Minister condemns US Consul-General’s farewell remarks 
On 12 July, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin addressed a press briefing and commented on the farewell remarks made by the outgoing US Consul General in Hong Kong Hanscom Smith. Wang condemned actions and activities against China and its internal affairs and warned that such efforts would be futile and were doomed to fail. He said: “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has already made a solemn response to this. The U.S. consular official disregarded facts, made wild talks on China's Hong Kong policy, and denigrated Hong Kong's political and economic situation. The Chinese side deplores and rejects this.” While on the subject, Wang also remarked that the National Security Law had helped in reestablishing law and order in Hong Kong city. According to a poll, 76.2 per cent of the city believed that the new security law had not impacted their freedom while 63 per cent believed that the law had improved Hong Kong’s business environment. (“China slams U.S. consular official's remarks on Hong Kong policy,” Xinhua Net, 12 July 2022)

Syria: China appreciates UNSC’s resolution on humanitarian aid 
On 12 July, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dai Bing referred to the Security Council’s adoption of a resolution on re-authorizing cross-border aid deliveries into Syria. Dai said that the resolution 2641 provides all necessary flexibility to the Security Council to assess and manage its mandate in a timely order. Dai said: “We expect all parties to strictly abide by the basic principles governing international humanitarian assistance, strictly comply with the requirements of the Security Council resolutions, ensure the neutrality and transparency of assistance, and make it more targeted and effective.” (“China welcomes Security Council resolution on Syria humanitarian aid,” Xinhua Net, 13 July 2022) 

Georgia: China pledges to strengthen legislative cooperation 
On 12 July, the Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Wang Chen and the Deputy Chairman of Georgia’s Parliament Giorgi Volski held a video conference and discussed the last 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Chen said: “the NPC of China is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the Georgian parliament, and make legislative contributions to deepening practical cooperation, strengthening solidarity in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. It will also promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and facilitate the sustained, sound and stable development of bilateral relations.” (“China, Georgia vow to strengthen cooperation between legislatures,” Xinhua Net, 12 July 2022)

The US: Embassy asks China to comply to 2016 arbitration ruling on South China Sea claims
On 12 July, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China once more to abide by a 2016 arbitration decision that invalidated Beijing's claims in the South China Sea and issued a warning that the US would be bound to defend Philippines if its forces, vessels, or aircraft were attacked in the disputed waters. The US embassy released Blinken’s statement on Tuesday, which was the sixth anniversary of the arbitral tribunal established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea after the Philippine government filed a complaint about China's increasingly hostile behaviour in the disputed sea in 2013. In recent years, China has engaged in territorial disputes with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian claimant nations after refusing to take part in the arbitration, rejecting its verdict as a sham, and continuing to do so. Blinken said: “We call again on the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behaviour.” (“U.S. warns it will defend ally if China breaks sea ruling,” The Asahi Shimbun, 12 July 2022)

INTERNAL
Shanghai: Residents forced to seek relief for violent heatwaves
On 12 July, the Asahi Shimbun reported that as heatwaves melted the roofs of buildings, buckled roadways and scorched Chinese cities, many residents were forced to seek relief in underground raid shelters. With temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next 24 hours, 68 localities, including Shanghai and the neighbouring city of Nanjing, had issued red alerts. Red alerts are the highest level in a three-tiered heatwave warning system. The 25 million people in Shanghai, which is still dealing with intermittent COVID-19 outbreaks, have been advised to get ready for this week's hot weather. Shanghai has only experienced 15 days with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius since records began being kept in 1873. (“Dozens of Chinese cities on heatwave alert as roofs melt, roads buckle,” The Asahi Shimbun, 12 July 2022)

Hong Kong: Secretary for Health claims possibility for travelling without a quarantine
On 13 July, Hong Kong’s new Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau stated that conditional quarantine-free travel may be permitted by November, just in time for the city to host a world bankers’ summit. Lo claimed that the city does not have to adhere to the COVID-19 rules since it has certain flexibility under the "one country, two systems" approach. Lo said: "Is nothing required anymore? I think that would be a bit tough… At least PCR testing is needed. But does quarantine have to be confined to a fixed location?" He proposed a scenario in which newcomers might be exposed to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and restricted from going to high-risk places like bars. (“Hong Kong may allow conditional Covid-19 quarantine-free travel by November: Health chief,” The Strait Times, 13 July 2022)

TECHNOLOGY
Environment: Scientists design robotic fish to clean microplastics in the ocean
On 12 July, a team of Chinese scientists from Sichuan University in southwest-China stated that they designed a black robot fish, 1.3 centimetres in size, which can "eat" microplastics and can one day assist in cleaning up the world's contaminated oceans. Dr. Wang Yuyan, one of the researchers, claimed that the team intends to make it possible for them to retrieve microplastics in deeper water and offer information to analyse marine pollution in real time. Wang said: "We developed such a lightweight miniaturised robot. It can be used in many ways, for example in biomedical or hazardous operations, such a small robot that can be localised to a part of your body to help you eliminate some disease." (“Chinese scientists develop robot fish that gobble up microplastics,” The Strait Times, 12 July 2022)