NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : Japan Today
IN BRIEF
By Avishka Ashok, Dincy Adlakha and Keerthana Nambiar
INTERNAL
Chinese State Council launches campaign to promote Mandarin
On 1 December China’s Cabinet State Council issued an order launching a campaign to promote Mandarin claiming that 85 percent of its citizens will use it by 2025. According to Asahi Shimbun, the order said, “use of Mandarin, known in Chinese as “putonghua” or the “common tongue,” remains “unbalanced and inadequate” and needs to be improved to meet the demands of the modern economy.” The document issued demands to “ensure that the national common spoken and written language is used as the official language of government agencies and used as the basic language of schools, news and publications, radio, film and television, public services and other fields.” This new move has triggered criticisms and protests within Chinese ethnic groups. (“China says 85% of citizens will use Mandarin by 2025,” Asahi Shimbun, 1 December 2021)
ECONOMY
Chinese government comes up with measures to clear arrears owed to SMEs
On 1 December, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang chaired the State Council Executive Meeting to take measures for small and medium-sized enterprises. Li said, “Small and medium-sized enterprises have been under enormous pressure this year. In keeping with the requirement of supporting market entities, efforts will be intensified to rectify arrears to SMEs as the laws and regulations require.” China will be undertaking measures to pay wages on time and full owed to small and medium-sized enterprises and migrant workers. This regulation ensures that the government bodies and public institutions do not force smaller firms into accepting non-cash payment methods. (“Govt vows to clear arrears owed to SMEs,” China Daily, 2 December 2021)
REGIONAL
Chinese Foreign Ministry summons Japanese envoy over remarks made by former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
On 1 December, China’s foreign ministry summoned Japan’s ambassador Tarumi Hideo in Beijing for an “emergency meeting” regarding the remarks made by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On 1 December, at an online speech, Abe made a statement on Taiwan saying “A Taiwan crisis would be a Japan crisis and therefore a crisis for the Japan-US alliance.” The Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying called Abe’s statement “erroneous” and claimed that the remarks challenged China’s sovereignty. Hua commented that “Japan is a country that launched a war of aggression against China in history and committed heinous crimes against the Chinese people, and Japan is not eligible and has no right to point fingers on the Taiwan question,” reported Global Times. (“Chinese Foreign Ministry summons Japanese ambassador over wrong remarks of former PM Abe on Taiwan question,” Global Times, 2 December 2021: “China summons Japan envoy over former PM Abe's comments on Taiwan,” Reuters, 2 December 2021)
INTERNATIONAL
US Indo-Pacific expert says China wants to “break” Australia
On 1 December, Kurt Campbell, the Indo-Pacific coordinator for the White House said in a speech to a Sydney think tank. He said that China is launching “dramatic economic warfare” on Australia in an attempt to “break Australia. To drive Australia to its knees.” He attributed the reason for such intensive behaviors of China to the position of Australia as a US ally. He further stated that the US is not looking to leave the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized that the US commits to the alliances in the Indo-Pacific over matters of new security and economy, defense technology, education, climate, and so on. He called the nuclear and hypersonic missile capabilities of China as “practices that, if they continue, run risks of triggering an unforeseen crisis, or a misunderstanding.” (“Beijing wanted to ‘break’ Australia--U.S. Indo-Pacific adviser,” The Asahi Shimbun, 1 December 2021)
US Air Force Secretary says US in quality “arms race” with China
On 1 December, Asahi Shimbun reported that US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said that the US and China are in an arms race over the quality of weapons. He said that the two countries are competing to develop the most fatal hypersonic weapons with high-speed next-generation features. He sees the two countries engaged in an arms race which is not determined by the number of weapons but by the quality of weapons. Both countries have held multiple hypersonic weapons tests and are trying to do so at reduced costs. (“U.S. in hypersonic weapon ‘arms race’ with China--Air Force secretary,” The Asahi Shimbun, 1 December 2021)
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson responds to the WTA boycott over Peng Shuai case
On 2 December, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin remarked on the sexual harassment case of Peng Shuai by former senior Chinese official Zhang Gaoli. Wang has responded to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)’s boycott saying that the Chinese government was “always firmly opposed to acts that politicize sports.” The WTA declared suspending all tournaments in China in response to Peng’s situation. Tennis stars like Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic have expressed their solidarity towards defending Peng and supporting WTA’s stance. (“China hits back at WTA boycott as IOC talks again to Peng Shuai,” The Guardian, 2 December 2021)
Chinese embassy in DRC asks citizens to evacuate from three provinces
On 1 December, the Global Times reported that the Chinese embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo had issued an urgent notice to all Chinese citizens in the African country to evacuate from three provinces. The notice was issued after two Chinese citizens were killed in a mine and five others were kidnapped in an armed attack. The embassy asked its citizens to evacuate from Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and urged them to report their personal information to the embassy. The statement by the embassy said: “Those who refuse to report information and insist on going to or staying in the three provinces will be personally responsible for all consequences arising therefrom.” (“Chinese embassy urges nationals in 3 provinces of DR Congo to evacuate immediately,” Global Times, 1 December 2021
Nature Journal points to better public health caused by lockdowns
On 1 December, the Korea Times referred to a report made by the South China Morning Post and revealed that the early lockdown due to COVID-19 had led to positive health results for the Chinese people. The report was based on an article published in the journal Nature. The report explained that approximately 3,47,000 lives were saved due to the lockdown in 2020. The report pointed that clean air, lesser traffic, lesser industrial activities and better hygienic habits such as washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing have resulted in a better public health scenario in the first year of the pandemic. (“China reaps unintended health benefits from COVID-19 lockdowns: analysis,” The Korea Times, 1 December 2021)