FOREIGN AFFAIRS
China warns on South China Sea as US, India reportedly consider patrols
China on February 11 responded to a Reuters report that the U.S. and India are discussing joint naval patrols in the disputed South China Sea, warning that interference from countries outside the region threatens peace and stability. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in an emailed statement to Reuters, in response to a request for comment on the report published on February 10, "countries from outside the area must stop pushing forward the militarization of the South China Sea, cease endangering the sovereignty and national security of littoral countries in the name of 'freedom of navigation' and harming the peace and stability of the region."
Source(s): Reuters, February 11, 2016
China 'deeply concerned' over discussion on THAAD deployment in ROK
China is "deeply concerned" over the decision by the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to launch an official negotiation on the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), on the Korean Peninsula, a spokesperson said on March 7. "China holds a consistent and clear stance on the anti-missile issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said. "When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair other's security interests,"said the spokesperson. Hua said moves to advance the deployment will escalate tensions on the peninsula, which will do harm to regional peace and stability, and set back efforts to address the current situation.
Source(s): Global Times, February 8, 2016
China to donate 10,000 tonnes of food to Syria refugees
China will donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced here February 4. Speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Wang said China endorses this conference aimed at increasing humanitarian assistance to Syria, and hopes the gathering can make new efforts to realize peace and stability in Syria and help ease the humanitarian situation. Solving the humanitarian problems in Syria, Wang said, necessitates not only emergency aid, but also needs to eliminate their root causes. Currently, the most urgent task is to ensure the basic living conditions of the Syrian refugees and the displaced people, Wang noted.
Source(s): Global Times, February 5, 2016
POLITICS & SOCIETY
China’s education chiefs order schools to roll out patriotic campaign on new media
The mainland’s Ministry of Education has ordered an across-the-board patriotic campaign via new media as part of its bigger push to tighten its grip over ideological education. State-run Xinhua reported on Tuesday that the ministry had ordered schools of all levels to launch in-depth “patriotic education with new media such as Weibo and WeChat”. Citing a ministry notice dated January, the report said schools of all grades and categories were told to overhaul patriotic education and extend it to extracurricular activities, covering pupils’ online and offline lives. Schools were also asked to merge patriotism into university, secondary and primary school exams and courses for ethics, Chinese language, history, geography, physical education and the arts.
Source(s): South China Morning Post, February 10, 2016
Xi meets local senior officers, stresses CPC's leadership over army
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with senior officers at local military units in the eastern province of Jiangxi on Wednesday, urging the country's armed forces to follow the Communist Party of China (CPC).Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended greetings to all military personnel in Jiangxi on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.Stressing the commitment to build a strong army, Xi called on all military units to promote political faithfulness, reforms and rule of law among China's armed forces.
Source(s):China Daily, February 4, 2016
ECONOMY
China on a massive gold buying spree
China's government doesn't share exact figures, but the vast majority of gold heading into mainland China passes through Hong Kong, which does make its records public. Gold imports to China have surged over 700% since 2010, according to the latest data from Hong Kong. Exactly what China is doing with all that gold remains somewhat of a mystery. The increasingly wealthy Chinese are buying, but that doesn't explain all the jump in demand. The government says its gold reserves have grown only a little in recent years. Experts question whether China is telling the whole truth. "China has a lot more gold than they declare," says John LaForge, head of Wells Fargo's commodities team.
Source(s): CNN, February 10, 2016
Hong Kong stocks set for biggest drop in 6 months on China concerns
Hong Kong's stocks are set for their biggest daily drop in six months on Thursday, as worries about the health of the global economy, particularly China, sparked a sell-off in financials and energy shares.Reopening after a three-day break, the benchmark index fell 4 percent in late morning trade, catching up with its global peers with China-related stocks and banks being singled out for special punishment.The China-enterprises index fell 5 percent, its worst single-day performance since Aug. 24, 2015 and was the top loser in Hong Kong as some investors preferred to execute their bearish China calls through the liquid Hong Kong market.Technology shares also took a beating, mirroring its global counterparts, as investors were spooked by the fragility of the global economy and lenders' exposure to commodities.
Source(s):Reuters, February 11, 2016
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Environment authority warns of Spring Festival pollution
China's Ministry of Environment Protection warned of possible heavy air pollution in Beijing and other northern regions during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. The week-long holiday to observe the Spring Festival will start from February 7. The ministry suggested the public reduce lighting firecrackers and fireworks, a traditional way to celebrate the festival, which it said may worsen pollution in certain cities or regions. From February 7 to 10, "moderate to heavy pollution" is predicted for the south and central parts of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city conglomerate as well as central Shaanxi, south Shanxi, west Shandong and north Henan, the ministry said on February 5.
Source(s): Global Times, February 5, 2016
China to further explore Antarctic, deep sea this year
China will explore the Antarctic and the deep sea with newly-developed equipment this year, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said. The SOA will establish an air service team for Antarctic exploration, which will help form a full monitoring platform of the land, sea and air. Technology and equipment adapted to the polar environment as well as monitoring and application service systems will be developed, the SOA said. The SOA will also carry out a pilot deep-sea mining project, as well as exploration and deep-sea biological diversity research. An application service platform based on the homemade manned deep-sea submersible, and a deep-sea space station will be built. In addition, the SOA will also conduct the 7th Arctic research expedition in 2016 and will try to arrange a joint Arctic Ocean expedition with Russia for the first time.
Source(s): People’s Daily, February 9, 2016
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Shannon Tiezzi,
“Can China Jump-Start Its Maritime Silk Road in 2016?”, The Diplomat, February 12, 2016
2. Grace Tsoi & Tessa Wong,
“What are Hong Kong's localists angry about?”, South China Morning Post, February 11, 2016
3. “
Gong Xi FaCai! What to expect in China’s Year of the Monkey”, South China Morning Post, February 8, 2016
4. Howard Yu , “
This Is Why China’s Housing Market Is Such a Mess”, Fortune, February 10, 2016
5. Elena Holodny, “
12 fascinating facts about the Chinese economy”, Business Insider, February 10, 2016
Contributors:
- Pratnashree Basu
- Swagata Saha
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