涉华周报

following Beijing's recent seizure of Taiwanese 4. US' plan to ban 200 Chinese
1. Pakistan tests secret China- textbooks for allegedly violating the "one
technology companies
like ‘firewall’ to tighten China" principle, Taipei Times reported. China
claimied they contained "problematic maps" November 29, 2024
online surveillance
that depicted Taiwan as a separate country and
Tensions escalate as the US plans to impose
November 26, 2024 did not acknowledge Beijing's territorial claims
new export restrictions on semiconductor
in the South China Sea.
Pakistan’s government has deployed Chinese technology to China, including blacklisting 200
technology to build what some senior officials 3. Chinese court sentences Chinese chip companies. Chinese commerce
familiar with the project are calling a new, ministry spokesperson He Yadong expressed
national internet “firewall” that will allow
journalist to seven years for
strong opposition to the US expanding its
authorities to monitor online traffic and espionage definition of national security and its “abuse” of
regulate the use of popular apps with greater November 29, 2024 export controls targeting Chinese companies.
control than before. The project aims to
upgrade the government’s web monitoring A Beijing court sentenced veteran Chinese 5. China discovers ’supergiant’
capabilities at the country’s main internet state media journalist Dong Yuyu on Friday to gold reserve worth nearly
gateways, as well as at the data centres of 7 years in prison for espionage, a family
$83 billion in Hunan
mobile service and major internet service member told Reuters. Police in the Chinese
providers. capital detained the 62-year-old former Guang November 29, 2024
Ming Daily editor and journalist in February
2. Taiwan warns of China's China says it has discovered the world's largest
2022 while he was lunching with a Japanese
known deposit of gold, estimated to be worth
growing censorship diplomat, the US National Press Club said in a
over $80bn. The deposit at the Wangu goldfield
statement. He was later charged with
November 27, 2024 in central China could yield more than 1,000
espionage. "Engaging with diplomats is part of
tonnes of gold, the Geological Bureau of Hunan
The Straits Exchange Foundation of Taiwan a journalist's job,” said another journalist.
was quoted as saying by Chinese state media.
issued a warning to the public regarding
China's escalating censorship of publications,
1
 Recent Geopolitical and November 26, 2024 crackdown on corruption in the country’s
military. Dong would be the third Chinese
Military Developments in The United States is formulating a strategy to
defence minister in a row to fall under
counter potential Chinese aggression toward
East and South Asia Taiwan. The plan involves deploying American
investigation for corruption, unnamed US
officials said.
Marines to strategically located areas near
1. Taiwan Strait Tensions
Taiwan, with logistical and military support 6. Senior PLA official under
November 25, 2024 from Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Bases are investigation
being established on Japan's Nansei Islands
China's military activities near Taiwan continue November 28, 2024
and in the Philippines, marking a significant
to escalate, with 12 Chinese aircraft and seven
increase in US-Japan-Philippines military Miao Hua, one of the top generals in charge of
naval vessels operating near Taiwan's territorial
collaboration to ensure Taiwan's security. Communist Party work at China’s powerful
waters. This display of military strength is part
of Beijing's broader strategy to pressure Central Military Commission (CMC), has been
4. Progress in Sino-Indian Border
Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province, placed under investigation for suspected
Dispute
and to deter any movement toward formal “serious violations of discipline”, the defence
November 28, 2024 ministry said on Thursday. Miao is director of
independence. The Taiwanese government and
its allies are closely monitoring these the political work department of the CMC,
China and India have reported progress in
maneuvers, which heighten regional tensions. which oversees China’s People’s Liberation
resolving their longstanding border standoff in
Army. The department handles party ideology
eastern Ladakh, which has persisted for over
2. Advancements in Chinese Naval and personnel changes within the military.
four years. A recent meeting between Indian
Capabilities
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chinese 7. Incursion into South Korea's Air
November 25, 2024 counterpart Admiral Dong Jun in Laos was Defense Identification Zone
described as "positive and constructive." This
China is advancing rapidly in its naval November 29, 2024
progress may ease military tensions between
technology, particularly in nuclear-powered
the two nuclear-armed neighbors, though A joint incursion by Russian and Chinese
aircraft carriers. This progress allows China to
skepticism remains. military aircraft into South Korea's Air Defense
project power further into the Indian Ocean
and Pacific regions, surpassing India's Identification Zone (KADIZ) prompted South
5. China launches corruption probe
capabilities. These advancements aim to secure Korea to scramble fighter jets. While the
against Defence Minister Dong Jun
key maritime trade routes and expand China's aircraft left without breaching South Korean
November 27, 2024 airspace, such incidents reflect a recurring
influence in contested areas like the South
China Sea, raising concerns among regional pattern of Chinese and Russian disregard for
China has launched an investigation of Defence
powers and global rivals. South Korea’s identification zone, increasing
Minister Dong Jun due to suspicion of
tensions on the Korean Peninsula and signaling
corruption, according to reports. Dong is the
3. US-Japan-Philippines Military strategic cooperation between Moscow and
latest official to be caught up in a broad
Coordination for Taiwan's Defense Beijing in the region.
2
 non-transparent financing mechanisms, FUNFACT: Modi is very Popular
making it difficult to assess the true scale
China’s looming crisis and Respected in China
of the problem. The risk of widespread
defaults and a banking crisis looms large, according to a Beijing-based journalist. In an
December 1, 2024
which could further strain the state- article titled 'How Is India Viewed in China'
An article from The Sunday Guardian Live dominated financial system. published in The Diplomat, Mu Chunshan says
outlines the critical challenges facing China's on platforms like Sina Weibo, Modi is often
4. Demographic Challenges: A declining
economy, highlighting a combination of referred to as "Modi Laoxian" ( 莫迪老仙 ),
birth rate and shrinking workforce pose
corruption, debt, and demographic shifts that which translates to "Modi the immortal." This
long-term risks to China's economic
threaten its long-term stability. nickname reflects a perception of him as a wise
growth. By 2050, the working-age
Key Issues: population could decline by nearly 25%, and extraordinary leader with unique qualities,
reducing the availability of cheap labour, both in terms of appearance and governance.
1. Economic Slowdown: China’s growth which has been a key driver of China's Despite the ongoing border tensions between
has been significantly hampered by weak economic rise. India and China, this respectful title highlights
domestic demand, partly driven by his growing recognition among Chinese
declining consumer confidence. Despite 5. Global Impact: China's economic netizens. The journalist also said that it was
stimulus measures aimed at boosting troubles are not isolated. As a major rare for Chinese social media users to give a
market liquidity and supporting state- trading partner and a global nickname to a foreign leader. The fact that
owned enterprises, little has been done to manufacturing hub, its slowdown could Modi had a nickname meant he had made a
directly support households, leading to a have ripple effects worldwide, affecting quiet impression on Chinese public opinion.
savings glut and reduced consumption. countries that rely on Chinese imports and
exports. Modi's multi-alignment foreign policy, which
2. Real Estate Crisis: The collapse of balances relations with countries like the U.S.,
major property developers like Despite these challenges, the Chinese Russia, and Japan, is viewed positively by many
Evergrande and Country Garden has government under Xi Jinping continues to Chinese commentators. His ability to maintain
exposed the fragility of China's real estate emphasize state-led investment over market India's strategic independence and foster
sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of liberalization or direct household support, cooperation with diverse global powers is
GDP. This has affected millions of middle- focusing on self-reliance and strategic admired in China. Additionally, trade between
class families aspiring to own homes, industries. However, if economic conditions India and China, which surpasses $115 billion
leading to broader financial instability. deteriorate further, Beijing may be forced to annually, demonstrates the economic
rethink its approach, possibly softening its interdependence between the two nations.
3. Debt Burden: China's debt, particularly stance toward international partnerships.
at the local government level, has surged Editor
to unsustainable levels, reaching over 300%
Sagnik Mukherjee
of GDP. This debt is often hidden through