NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : Associated Press
HIGHLIGHTS
CHINA & THE AMERICAS
Brazil launches investigation against Chinese industrial products dumping, says Analysis in the Financial Times
On 17 March, Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services investigates the alleged industrial product dumping by China. They opened the probe to look into the past six months of imports on products ranging from metal sheets, pre-painted steel and tyres, etc. As China faces surplus production capacity there has been a flood of exports to China. In order to curb it, many European countries have imposed tariffs and Brazil joined the bandwagon by imposing temporary tariff hikes, as an “indispensable regulatory tool for combating these predatory operations and preserving the domestic market,” says the President of the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association, André Passos Cordeiro. This has created a dilemma for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who wants to further their relations with China while protecting the domestic industry. Another investigation found that by 2023 imports of carbon steel increased by 85 per cent and chemical phthalic anhydride rose to 2000 per cent between 2018-2023. Brazil is not the only country concerned, Vietnam also launched a similar investigation against the dumping of wind towers and steel products. The tariffs were also put in place after the US has been pressurizing countries, with Mexico recently imposing tariffs of 5-25 per cent on countries with which it does not have a free trade agreement. (Bryan Harris, Joe Leahy, A. Anantha Lakshmi, “Brazil launches China anti-dumping probes after imports soar,” Financial Times, 17 March 2024)
CHINA & SOUTHEAST ASIA
Filipino women trafficked to China as mail-order brides, warns Philippines Bureau of Immigration
On 18 March, according to a commentary in The South China Morning Post, titled “Filipino mail-order brides trafficked to China: alarm in Philippines over links to Chinese organised crime,” The Bureau of Immigration had recently warned of a complex trafficking scheme targeting Filipino women to China as mail-order brides linking to Chinese organised crime and trafficking syndicates. According to the immigration bureau, four couples have been arrested so far, and other documents looked original, thus prompting the officials to conduct further probes on these documents. Nathalie Africa-Verceles, a professor at the University of the Philippines’ Department of Women and Development Studies, said there is an organized crime group involved in the trafficking scheme and is responsible for the release of the legal marriage certificates. According to Ross Tugade, a human rights lawyer and professor of international law at the University of the Philippines, China’s gender gap is driving the demand for mail-order brides from the Philippines. Enriquez points out that women’s trafficking to China was a “historical phenomenon rooted in China’s patriarchal demand,” along with other Southeast Asian countries "such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam used as source areas for women to be sexually exploited.” She also highlights the implications of China’s One Child Policy, which has resulted in an increased proportion of men to women by 35 million, thereby prompting Chinese men to search for wives. (Sam Beltran, “Filipino mail-order brides trafficked to China: alarm in Philippines over links to Chinese organised crime,” The South China Morning Post, 18 March 2024)
EAST ASIA
South Korea hosts Summit for Democracy in Seoul, warns against AI and digital risk to democracy
On 18 March, South Korea kickstarted the third Summit for Democracy, hosted in Seoul. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol addressing the gathering stated that the countries share the duty to exchange information on artificial intelligence and technology, to further promote democracy. He warned that AI and other digital technology without accountability are a threat to democracy. Yoon said: “Fake news and disinformation based on artificial intelligence and digital technology not only violates individual freedom and human rights but also threatens democratic systems.” The main agenda for the meeting was the threat and the use of technology for democracy. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached Seoul and stated: “As authoritarian and repressive regimes deploy technologies to undermine democracy and human rights, we need to ensure that technology sustains and supports democratic values and norms.” Several countries accused China and Russia of misusing technology and surveillance, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland’s undersecretary called out the “disgusting web of lies spun by Russian propaganda, accelerated by social media, deep fake techniques and omnipresent bots.” (“South Korea hosted summit warns of AI risks to democracy,” Reuters, 18 March 2024)
CHINA READER DAILY WIRE
INTERNAL
Growing recreational activities market for the aging population in China
On 17 March, according to an editorial in Reuters titled “Tutoring the Elderly Is Growing Fast in China,” the growing elderly population is creating an opportunity for Chinese companies to provide recreational classes such as yoga, African drumming, and smartphone photography. Qiu Peilin, the Beijing head of Mama Sunset, said that China’s education industries will rise as the elderly learning businesses have been growing in Beijing since April 2023. Consulting firm Frost & Sullivan predicts China's senior learning market will grow 34 per cent by 2027 to USD16.8 billion, up from USD3.8 billion in 2022. The growing demographic crisis threatens China’s industrial base, finances, and poverty alleviation efforts. However, it is also seen as an opportunity for the ever-increasing elderly population by many investors. In March 2023, Premier Li Qiang vowed to announce tax incentives and financial support for older people. Rachel He, research manager at Euromonitor, said that the Chinese elderly market has great potential but is doubtful compared to the markets in Japan and South Korea due to the deep income inequality mindset and conservative attitudes among them, thus making them spend less on themselves. (“Tutoring the Elderly Is Growing Fast in China,” Reuters, 17 March 2024)
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Beijing may approve ten nuclear reactors every year, Chairman of China National Nuclear Corporation
On 15 March, according to a commentary in Bloomberg, titled “China’s Nuclear Energy Expansion Is Getting Even Faster,” by Dan Murtaugh, the Chairman of China National Nuclear Corporation, Jianfeng Yu, said that Beijing may approve ten nuclear reactors every year, thus increasing the pace of atomic energy expansion. According to BloombergNEF, China has 36 nuclear reactors under development and will overtake France and the US to become the world’s largest nuclear power source by 2030. Dan notes that China has increased its share of renewable energy sources by adopting solar and wind, leading to irregular energy generation. According to the World Nuclear Association, out of 16 countries that are building reactors, China holds half the reactors under construction. According to BloombergNEF, the cost of constructing a nuclear reactor is much less for China than for France and the US due to greater support from state-backed banks. Also, China focuses on keeping the same design for all its reactors, thereby allowing the creation of a skilled workforce with readily available supply chains and less time and cost to build them. (Dan Murtaugh, “China’s Nuclear Energy Expansion Is Getting Even Faster,” Bloomberg, 15 March 2024)
CHINA & SOUTHEAST ASIA
Chinese New Village internment camps nomination for UNESCO angers Malaysians
On 18 March, according to an opinion piece in The Straits Times titled “Why an idea to nominate Chinese new villages as a UNESCO site got Malaysians riled up,” the Chinese new village, with a population of 4,000 people, was one of the 631 internment camps for the Chinese people around Peninsular Malaysia set by the British colonialists during the Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960. On 01 February, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that the work for UNESCO recognition for the village is in process and will promote Malaysian Chinese history and culture through tourism. Selangor's Chinese new village cultural recognition has led to massive internal debates and was rejected by many Malay nationalists. On 05 March, Opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal critiqued the historical value of the site and called them Cold War relics where the country fought against the communists, and instead vouched for Kampung Baru Kuala Lumpur as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Umno noted that the proposal would undermine the rights of the Malays as the country’s indigenous communities. According to Azril, Nga belongs to the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party, which has been in controversy for undermining Malay Muslim rights. On 13 March, Former Petaling Jaya MP Kua Kia Soong said that the proposal was an insult to the Malays as the villages were concentration camps during British rule. (Azril Annuar, “Why an idea to nominate Chinese new villages as a UNESCO site got Malaysians riled up,” The Straits Times, 18 March 2024)
CHINA & THE PACIFIC
“Today is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that are now before us,” says Chinese FM Wang Yi visiting New Zealand
On 18 March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his New Zealand counterpart Foreign Minister Winston Peters, in Wellington as he began his tour of the country and Australia. Peters said in his opening remarks, “There have been some significant developments since we last met, not least a global pandemic that impacted both our countries.” New Zealand was the first developed country to establish a bilateral free trade deal with China in 2008. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the country is willing to work more to deepen the bilateral relations between the two sides and is ready to contribute to the China-New Zealand and China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnerships. On 20 March, Wang will meet his Australian counterparts in Canberra to discuss the Australian citizen Yang Hengjun’s detention case. (“China’s foreign minister meets New Zealand counterpart, beginning a trip that also includes Australia,” Associated Press, 18 March 2024)
CHINA & SOUTH ASIA
China gifts a “PNS Rizwan” spy ship to Pakistan
On 17 March, China gifted Pakistan with a research vessel or spy ship, PNS Rizwan is the first in its class for the Pakistan Navy to deter the Indian Navy’s growing power in the region. It measures 87 meters, which makes it smaller compared to India’s INS Dhruv, which was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2021 and had the capabilities to track nuclear missiles and gather intelligence in modern-day warfare. The induction of PNS Rizwan puts Pakistan on the elite list of countries to operate such ships, including India, France, the US, the UK, Russia, and China. According to open-source intelligence expert Damien Symon, Pakistan’s naval modernization aligns with China’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region by enhancing the capabilities of its allies. PNS Rizwan can give Pakistan the ability to deploy near India’s coasts to monitor India’s missile launches as well as map oceanographic data. Also, it boosts China’s intelligence-gathering operations in the Indian Ocean Region. (Vikrant Singh, “Pakistan Navy gets its first spy ship, courtesy China,” WION News, 17 March 2024)
Arunachal Pradesh is “Inherent part of China’s territory,” says Chinese Defence Ministry
On 18 March, the Ministry of National Defense People's Republic of China’s spokesperson Colonel Zhang Xiaogang stressed that Arunachal Pradesh is part of Chinese territory. He called it: “inherent part of China’s territory.” He reiterated that the “Xizang” (Chinese name for southern Tibet) is part of Beijing’s territory and that they do not acknowledge the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” established by the Indian government. This comes after India rejected China’s unhappiness with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the state. His remarks also come in light of India’s plan to increase military readiness in the region through the Sela Tunnel, Arunachal Pradesh. China considers Arunachal Pradesh to be South Tibet, a claim rejected by India and they even dismiss the “invented” name they have imposed on the region. The Sela tunnel is set to be built to provide connectivity and is strategically stationed in Tawang to ensure easy movement for the Indian troops. Zhang asked India to refrain from complicating the border issue and work towards maintaining peace in the region. (“Arunachal Pradesh ‘inherent part of China’s territory’, claims Chinese military,” The Indian Express, 18 March 2024)
CHINA & EUROPE
“Our national interests coincide,” says Putin on Russia-China relations
On 17 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin reinstated Sino-Russia relations in a victory speech post elections. He reckons that their relations will become stronger in the coming years. And stated that their relationship has a stabilizing factor and the personal equation between the two countries' leaders allows them to further develop their ties. Putin said: “Our relations have been taking shape over the past two decades. They are very strong and we are complementing each other.” Specifically referring to Xi Jinping he said that this good relationship will be maintained thanks to their good relations with the President of China. But even more vital he said is that: “our national interests coincide, and this creates a favourable environment for resolving our common tasks and in the sphere of international relations, where relations between Russia and China serve as a factor of stability.” (“Russia-China relations will become stronger, Vladimir Putin says in post-election victory speech,” South China Morning Post, 18 March 2024)
EAST ASIA & THE PACIFIC READER
EAST ASIA
North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US State Secretary Antony Blinken visits South Korea
On 18, the South Korean Joint Chief of Staff informed that North Korea fired a ballistic missile test towards the east of the Korean peninsula. The test ballistic missile run is expected to be conducted in light of the US States Secretary Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul for the Summit for Democracy. Japanese Coast Guards also confirmed the launch and said that the remainder of the launch had already fallen. The US has been an active ally of South Korea and has stationed several of its troops and military technology in the region, with both countries participating in regular exercises. This goes against North Korea’s wishes and they believe South Korea is inviting an external actor in the region and that the US is intervening in internal matters of the Korean Peninsula. (“North Korea fires ballistic missile towards the sea: South Korea military,” The Straits Times, 18 March 2024)
Taiwan’s Dunmu Goodwill Fleet kickstarts friendship tours towards the Pacific
On 16 March, the Taiwanese Navy started its friendship tour across the region and towards the Pacific. The marines of the Taiwanese Navy executed concrete-smashing stunts and somersaults before the ship boarded. The three warships will be participating in the tour are called the Dunmu Goodwill Fleet, they will first circle Taiwan and stop at various ports to showcase their talent. The visit to the Pacific Island stands crucial as the support for them dwindles after the elections, and Naru was poached by China. Taiwanese Naval Academy students expressed that as the tensions rise, they hope that this provides an opportunity for them to put their theoretical understanding to practice. The ships unfurled slogans stating: “Support national defence, protect the homeland.” (“Taiwan’s navy hosts warship tours before Pacific charm offensive,” The Straits Times, 17 March 2024)