Quick China Facts: As research grants in US hit 25-year low, China plans for exponential growth
China’s National Natural Science Foundation is increasing funding for young scientists, offering up to 28 million yuan ($3.8 million) over 15 years. The move aims to focus resources on developing top talent, but questions have been raised about the feasibility of doubling grants every five years and potential disparities in access to resources.
Created by Decypher Team
News From Asia This Week
Monday
Israel rebuffs calls for ceasefire; Lebanon strike angers Hezbollah
Israel on Sunday rebuffed growing international pressure for a ceasefire and said its forces had encircled Gaza City as the top U.S. diplomat scrambled to contain a crisis that threatened to cause further escalation in neighbouring Lebanon.
Gaza was under “unprecedented bombardment” from Israel on Sunday, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, while Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel said that all communications and internet services had once again been cut. (Reuters)
Israel says it exposed Hamas network beneath and next to Gaza’s hospitals, Hamas denies
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari presented evidence that Hamas has used hospitals in the Gaza Strip for military purposes, including as command centers and hideouts for militants. The IDF uncovered a network of tunnels, rocket launchers, and command centers beneath and next to hospitals in northern Gaza, which Hamas allegedly uses to launch rockets at Israel. Hamas denies the allegations and accuses Israel of using them as a pretext for further attacks. (Ground)
Singapore’s prime minister plans to step down and hand over to his deputy before the 2025 election
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday he planned to bow out and hand over power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong, late next year, before the 2025 general election. Lee, 71, initially intended to retire before turning 70, but it was shelved because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has served as head of the long-ruling People’s Action Party, or PAP, and as prime minister since 2004. Last year, he named Wong, who is also finance minister, as his designated successor. “I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and there’s no reason to delay their political transition. Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence before the next general election,” Lee said at a party conference. (AP News)
US’ Blinken makes unannounced visit to Iraq amid fears of regional conflict
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made a surprise visit to Iraq amid growing fears the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a broader regional conflict. Blinken, who is on a multi-country tour of the Middle East, held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Sunday as Washington seeks Baghdad’s help in cracking down on attacks on US forces that it has blamed on Iran-backed groups. (Al Jazeera)
Tuesday
China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng to visit US this week as ties shine at CIIE in Shanghai
Vice-Premier He Lifeng will visit the US later this week in yet another sign of improving bilateral relations that comes as senior US officials and business delegates are taking an optimistic outlook on cooperation at a key import exhibition in Shanghai.
In particular, the American visitors are putting extra emphasis on cooperation in agricultural technology, as Beijing’s unprecedented push for food self-sufficiency is creating more trade opportunities in that sector. (SCMP)
Israel says it is open to Gaza fighting pauses for aid, hostages
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would consider “tactical little pauses” in Gaza fighting to facilitate the entry of aid or the exit of hostages, but again rejected calls for a general ceasefire despite growing international pressure.
Speaking in a U.S. television interview, Netanyahu, whose country has vowed to destroy Gaza’s Hamas rulers, said he thought Israel would need security responsibility over the Palestinian enclave for an “indefinite period” after the war. (Reuters)
China’s clashing priorities are causing money distress
China’s attempts to keep the yuan from falling contributed to last week’s chaos in money markets, sources involved say, pointing to the pressure behind the scenes as Beijing tries to guide its economy and markets through a major slowdown.
Routine month-end demand for cash in China’s banking system snowballed into a scramble on Oct. 31 that pushed short-term funding rates as high as 50% in some cases, an incident that authorities are now investigating. (Reuters, Exclusive)
On 6th November 2023, Myanmar resistance captured Kawlin in Sagaing region from Myanmar military government
The armed resistance groups fighting Myanmar’s military government have seized the district capital of Kawlin in Sagaing region, marking the first administrative capital taken by the opposition forces since the military coup in February 2021. The People’s Defense Force (PDF), a loosely organized resistance group, has formed alliances with established armed ethnic minority groups like the Kachin Independence Army. The resistance forces, including the Kachin Independence Army, managed to halt the military’s aerial bombardments and shelling, and they are now preparing to defend against new attacks. In their offensive against the military government, the resistance fighters in Kawlin seized control of several key facilities including a police station, administration office, high school, land management and statistics office, and a bank. The victory in Kawlin follows the previous successful offensive led by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, further boosting the nationwide armed struggle against the military regime.
Wednesday
Military-ruled Myanmar hosts joint naval exercise with Russia, its close ally and top arms supplier
The military ruled government of Myanmar has hosted the first ever naval exercise with Russia, its biggest arms supplier, since 2021 takeover, 28 Russian private and state-owned companies have transferred fighter jets and their spare parts, advanced missile systems, reconnaissance and attack drones, attack helicopters and other systems to Myanmar’s military.
Reports in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said that the maritime security exercise with Russia was being held until Thursday, 157 kilometers (85 miles) west of Myeik in Myanmar’s far south. Some Russian navy vessels sailed from Yangon to take part, state television MRTV reported.The three-day joint drill involves aircraft and naval vessels and focuses on defending against threats from air, sea and land as well as other maritime security measures, the reports said. (AP)
Israel targets Hamas tunnels after encircling Gaza City
Israel’s ground forces in the Gaza Strip aimed on Wednesday to locate and disable Hamas militants’ vast tunnel network beneath the enclave, the next phase in an Israeli offensive that has killed thousands of Palestinians.
Since Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took some 240 hostages in an Oct. 7 cross-border gun rampage, Israel has pounded Gaza from the air and used ground troops to divide the coastal enclave in two. (Reuters)
Indonesian Chief Justice Dismissed Over Helping President’s Son
The chief justice of Indonesia’s top court was dismissed from the post after an ethics council found him guilty Tuesday of making last-minute changes to election candidacy requirements.
Constitutional Court Chief Justice Anwar Usman committed the ethical violation that cleared the way for President Joko Widodo’s eldest son to run for vice president next year, Jimly Asshiddiqie, the chief of the court’s Honorary Council, known also as the ethics council, said in the majority decision.
China’s ‘silver-haired’ investors exit the game with no one waiting in the wings
The benchmark CSI300 index of the top 300 Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed stocks has lost more than 6 per cent of its value so far this year, and was at around 3,620 at close on Tuesday. In October, the index fell to its lowest level since 2019. A decreased appetite for risk among both the old and young is leading to a diminished cohort of small investors and a bigger role for professional entities, analysts said. (SCMP)
Rising energy prices rekindle Thai, Cambodian interest in disputed waters
A decades-old dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over potentially resource-rich waters is back in the spotlight as rising prices press governments to find new energy sources.
Thai officials have floated a new approach to long-stalled negotiations over the overlapping claims area (OCA), a 27,000-square-kilometer swath of the Gulf of Thailand claimed by both countries. (Nikkei)
Thursday
US carries out new strikes against facility used by Iran in Syria
The United States, for the second time in recent weeks, carried out strikes on Wednesday against a weapon storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said was used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups.As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces since the start of October. Forty-five U.S. troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries or minor wounds. (Reuters)
Fierce fighting in Gaza City; US says Palestinians must govern Gaza post-war
Street battles raged in Gaza City with Hamas fighters using tunnels to ambush Israeli forces, as the United States said Palestinians must govern Gaza post-war, countering Israeli comments that it would control security indefinitely.
The Israeli military said its troops had advanced into the heart of Gaza City, Hamas’ main bastion and the biggest city in the seaside enclave, while the Islamist group said its fighters had inflicted heavy losses. (Reuters)
China’s consumer prices down 0.2% as Singles Day spending muted
China’s consumer prices declined slightly in October, according to data released Thursday, while a new survey suggests economic headwinds are restraining shoppers during the country’s Singles Day retail campaign. Factory gate inflation in the month came in at -2.6%, versus -2.5% in September, due to softer energy prices. 30% drop in the prices of pork, the country’s staple meat, weighed down the overall food subindex in October even as outlays for education and health care rose. (Nikkei)
India tops China as biggest source of global migrants
The number of people who moved to countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) seeking permanent residency in 2022 reached an all-time high of 6.1 million. India surpassed China as the biggest source of migrants in 2020 and 2021. (Nikkei)
Friday
World’s Largest Bank Hit By Ransomware Gang Linked to Boeing, Ion Attacks
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. is suspected of being hacked by the same group that has — just in the past year — also hit Boeing Co., ION Trading UK and the UK’s Royal Mail.
The prolific gang known as Lockbit is suspected to have orchestrated a ransomware attack against the US unit of ICBC, the world’s largest lender by assets, according to people familiar with the situation. (Bloomberg)
Russian fuel export ban to be lifted next week
Russian fuel producers have been told by the government to prepare for the scrapping of all remaining restrictions on the export of diesel and gasoline, three industry sources told Reuters on Thursday. Russia, the world’s top seaborne exporter of diesel, introduced a ban on fuel exports on Sept. 21 to tackle high domestic prices and shortages. (Reuters)
Drone, explosive attacks target US forces across Iraq
US forces were targeted in three attacks in Iraq with no casualties reported, marking the most geographically widespread series of strikes on US assets in a single day since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. Armed drones attacked the al-Harir air base and the Ain al-Asad air base, both housing US and international forces, but were successfully repelled with no casualties, according to security sources. US and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 40 times since early October in retaliation for Israel’s siege of Gaza, resulting in 45 US soldiers injured. (Ground)
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Chinese counterpart He Lifeng begin talks to help lay groundwork for Biden-Xi meeting
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that she would talk to her Chinese counterpart Vice-Premier He Lifeng about “the use of economic tools for national security purposes” as they hold two days of meetings in San Francisco. Their visit – the second since July, when Yellen visited China – came days before the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit, where US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to meet on Wednesday. (SCMP)
“Economic Security and Resilience Review” Volume 1, Issue 10 by V.S. Seshadri (Analysis)
The report titled “Economic Security and Resilience Review” Volume 1, Issue 10 by V.S. Seshadri, published in October 2023 by Delhi Policy Group, discusses various economic security and resilience-related developments and policy perspectives. The report covers topics such as supply chain realignment, mining royalty rates in India, export controls in the United States and China, the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, EU-US relations, high-level diplomatic visits, and the progress of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) negotiations.
Here’s a summary of the key points from the report:
Supply Chain Realignment:
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) conducted a survey that analysed global value chains (GVCs) between December 2021 and September 2023. The findings indicate that while there has been some decline in direct supply chain linkages between the US and China, there hasn’t been significant diversification. Instead, intermediaries in countries like Vietnam are being used to source goods from China. This indirectly exposes Western companies to geopolitical risks and increases inflation.
Mining Royalty Rates in India:
The Union Cabinet in India approved reduced royalty rates for mining three critical minerals – Lithium, Niobium, and Rare Earth Minerals. This decision follows legislative changes enacted in August 2023, which de-listed these minerals from the atomic minerals list. These reduced rates aim to attract private sector participation in exploring and mining these minerals.
US Export Controls on AI Chips:
The US tightened export controls on advanced AI chips, extending the restrictions on high-end semiconductor-related items announced in October 2022. These measures apply to several countries, including mainland China and Macao, and aim to safeguard national security by preventing the diversion of critical technologies.
China’s Export Controls on Graphite:
China announced export controls on certain graphite materials and products, including artificial graphite with high purity and natural flake graphite. These controls take effect from December 1, 2023. China’s move to restrict these exports was seen as a response to tighter restrictions imposed by the US on AI-related chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
EU Anti-Coercion Instrument:
The European Union (EU) adopted an anti-coercion instrument to protect its sovereignty in the face of foreign powers using trade and investment as tools of coercion. This instrument allows the EU to respond to economic coercion by non-EU countries, and it includes a range of potential responses, such as trade and investment restrictions.
EU’s Consideration of Export Controls:
The EU Commission is examining whether the EU should implement bloc-wide export controls on sensitive technology areas, including semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology. The decision to restrict exports for security reasons currently resides with individual member states, and the EU is working to forge a consensus on this issue.
Chinese Foreign Minister’s Visit to the US:
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the US and held discussions with US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden. The official statements indicated that the two sides discussed a range of issues, including economic competition, de-risking, and diversification of economic relations.
EU-US Summit:
During the EU-US summit in Washington, both sides emphasised the importance of achieving a level playing field for their firms and workers in their economic relations with China. They recognised the need for economic resilience and discussed the protection of advanced technologies critical to global peace and security.
Australian Prime Minister’s Visit to the US:
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the US and discussed various economic and security matters. The joint statement highlighted the launch of the US-Australia Critical Minerals Taskforce, significant investments by companies like Microsoft in Australia, and a commitment to enhancing economic security and resilience, including through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Sixth Round of IPEF Negotiations:
The report briefly mentioned the sixth round of negotiations under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), hosted by Malaysia. It noted that progress was being made in various areas, including trade, a clean economy, and a fair economy. Discussions also continued regarding the proposed IPEF Supply Chain Agreement.
The report provides insights into several key economic security and resilience developments and policy measures, highlighting the evolving dynamics of international economic relations and the need for countries and regions to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges. The mentioned high-level diplomatic meetings and discussions indicate the ongoing efforts to navigate economic complexities in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Beyond The Great Wall
Exploring News About China in Depth
Development on the way to democracy, market economy and quality of governance
Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) has become the most comprehensive survey of countries transformation efforts. The scores for the BTI indicators range from 1 (worst) to 10 (highest).
The graph displays the outcomes of China’s transition and the level of governance, ranking it out of 137 nations. The Status Index in the Transformation Atlas evaluates the progress of countries based on political transformation and economic transformation. China ranks at 78 in Status Index. In economic transformation it ranks at 29 while in political transformation it ranks at 116.
The Governance Index assesses how well transformation is steered and managed. China’s position in the governance ranking is 48. The Level of Difficulty score reflects the structural constraints on governance performance. This score is used to weight good or poor governance under adverse or advantageous conditions. The Governance Performance identifies the state of political management achieved.
Taiwan spy chief, Tsai Ming-yen keeps focus on China
The national security bureau has hired an academician, international relations expert, Tsai Ming-yen who continues to focus on China as tensions grows, there is a lot of pressure on him to be a source of useful information on the larger neighbour.
The Sino-US Thaw Chronicles: Philadelphia Orchestra Returns to China 50 years after historic first tour in 1973
The orchestra first visited China in September 1973, marking a thaw in U.S.-China relations just as the two nations began normalizing ties after Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit China’s mainland.
The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to Beijing on Tuesday for a tour that will mark 50 years since its historic performance in China, the latest sign of improving ties between the two countries ahead of a highly anticipated meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. (AP)
“This constant 50-year connection with China has been really very deep and very wonderful” Davyyd Booth, the 73-year-old violinist said he was also part of the first tour in 1973.
China Sets Vague Targets Ahead of Cop 28 on Methane
China has made an “opening play” ahead of the UN climate summit by pledging to track and reduce harmful emissions from methane, as the world’s largest producer of the potent global warming gas. With just three weeks to go before policymakers and world leaders meet in Dubai for COP28, China set out a plan to take more “forceful” action to tackle methane in a statement released on Tuesday. However, it fell short by failing to specify definitive targets for emissions cuts and remained vague about timelines. The statement from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment coincided with the tail-end of a four-day US visit by China’s climate envoy Xie Zhenhua for meetings with his counterpart John Kerry in California. (FT)
IMF raises China growth outlook as bankers urged to ‘ride the dragon’
IMF has raised the Chinese growth target to 5.4% for 2023, and 4.6% for 2024. The growth upgrade has happened on the basis of the changes that China has made to the internal financial system, and the way it has gone about streamlining the internal economy issues.
Ping An Group Asked To Take Over Country Garden
Chinese authorities have asked Ping An Insurance Group to take a controlling stake in embattled Country Garden (2007.HK), the nation’s biggest private property developer, four people familiar with the plan said. China’s State Council, which is headed by Premier Li Qiang, has instructed the local government of Guangdong province, where both companies are based, to help arrange a rescue of Country Garden by Ping An, said two of the sources who have direct knowledge of the matter as it has been reported by Reuters. The Chinese government shows again it will now actively step in and make corrections to the economy.
China admires Russian resilience General Zhang Youxia tells Putin
General Zhang Youxia, China’s top ranking uniformed official and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, met Putin in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss military-technical cooperation at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence. He is the senior-most military leader to visit Russia since the war in Ukraine started.
“Under your leadership, the Russian Federation is responding robustly to various risks and challenges in the face of international turbulence,” Zhang said in footage aired on Russian state television. SCMP has reported.
Israel and Russia have a trust deficit post 7th October 2023 Hamas Attacks, & China is the beneficiary
Moscow has refused to condemn the 7th October attacks as terrorism. President Putin has likened the Gaza siege by Israel to the siege of Leningrad by Nazi Germany. The relations between the countries that had started thawing in the aftermath of the Cold War have effectively reset to their old status quo and are no longer amicable. The biggest winner from all of this is going to be China as it plays the diplomacy aspect with the Arab world, and Russia, it will also be impossible for Israel to ignore it.
China is winning in the “white-gold” rush for lithium
In parts of Africa Chinese companies are exploting their longstanding relationship with African countries to secure the supply of clean-energy supply chain. Africa is critical for the world, currently it is home to 30% of critical mineral reserves, and China has been consistently ahead in being part of the supply chain race thanks to African continent, the Carnegie Endowment for Peace estimates that Chinese import of minerals and energy was double of the United States, and EU combined.
China issues white paper on CPC policies on governance of Xizang in new era
China’s State Council Information Office on Friday released a white paper on the policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the governance of Xizang Autonomous Region in the new era. The white paper, titled “CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements,” highlighted that the CPC’s guidelines for governing Xizang in the new era have brought about all-round progress and historic success in various undertakings in the region. (Xinhua).
Guoanbu holds fire on Xi’s possible attendance of APEC summit
The White House has confirmed that it is happy for Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the 30th APEC summit starting in San Francisco on 11 November. But in Beijing, his trip is not so certain and behind the scenes the Ministry of State Security has a say on the matter.
Bangladesh raises monthly minimum wage for garment workers to $113 following weeks of protests
There has been a disconnect between the rhetoric and reality of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Afghanistan. The Belt and Road Forum in Beijing highlighted China’s close ties with the Taliban, casting doubt on the BRI’s apparent credo of prosperity leading to stability. In Afghanistan, post-conflict stability emerged without significant BRI investment, challenging the notion that such investments require stability. Despite calling for BRI investments since 2021, the Taliban has seen few tangible results. During the republican era, Chinese companies obtained rights to projects such as a copper mine and oil pumping, but implementation was difficult. There has been limited progress under the Taliban, with talks of Afghan participation in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor gaining traction. The broader issue is that transnational BRI corridors frequently cross disputed borders, causing tensions rather than fostering cooperation. Chinese economic diplomacy appears to be more concerned with transactional relationships than underlying issues. The article calls into question China’s noninterference principle and moral approach to international affairs, emphasising economic engagement with limited support for broader issues. Despite criticism of the West’s moralistic approach, it recognises Western powers as larger aid providers, citing the significant aid provided by the United States to Afghanistan in comparison to China. The article concludes by casting doubt on China’s mantra that prosperity equals stability, implying that the disparity between rhetoric and action may come under increased scrutiny from countries demanding more substantive actions from Beijing.
Indonesia’s president pushes US over delayed $20bn funding for green transition
Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo, recently brought attention to the delay in the $20bn funding that was pledged by the West to support the nation’s transition to green energy. In his interview with the Financial Times, he emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “Don’t question Indonesia’s commitment towards [the] energy transition. What I’m questioning is the commitment of the developed states.” Despite having announced its intention to move away from coal-based power, Indonesia has continued the expansion of private coal-powered plants, particularly those involved with nickel processing. Widodo argued: “What I’m questioning is the commitment of the developed states.” With regards to the funds, Widodo remains hopeful, saying “I believe that funds from the United States, Europe, and other countries will come because we have committed to [the] energy transition.” On another note, President Widodo has advocated for an exemption for Indonesia’s nickel industry, the world’s largest, from the US’s Inflation Reduction Act. However, such an appeal has been contested by US lawmakers due to the significant involvement of Chinese companies in Indonesia’s nickel industry. Concerning the potential adverse effects of EU carbon controls on Indonesia’s major exports, including iron, steel, coffee, palm oil, and rubber, Widodo warned, “It will kill our economy because those sectors are our main exports.”
The take-home message remains clear. Despite the delay in funding, Indonesia, led by President Widodo, remains committed to decarbonizing its economy and transitioning from coal power to greener forms of energy.
Unification Church in Japan offers to set aside up to $67 million in a compensation fund:
The bankruptcy of WeWork resulted in substantial financial and reputational costs for Masayoshi Son, billionaire head of SoftBank, totaling around $11.5 billion in losses. Son insisted on investing heavily in WeWork founder Adam Neumann’s company despite objections from others, raising the company’s valuation to $47 billion in 2019. However, investor concerns about the company’s losses and conflicts of interest led to a dramatic nose-dive ahead of its planned initial public offering. SoftBank’s massive investment in the company is also attributed as a key factor in creating artificial valuations and inflated numbers. The failure of WeWork and the record loss of $32 billion in 2020 entered the Vision Fund’s history, significantly damaging Son’s reputation. Aswath Damodaran, a professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, commented on the issue, stating that Son’s overconfidence and failure considering warnings had contributed to SoftBank’s downfall. Even with an improved performance in the September quarter, doubts regarding Son’s investing approach linger. The future of SoftBank’s investments now attracts greater interest.
WeWork saga cost SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son US$11.5 billion and his credibility:
The Japanese branch of the Unification Church has announced its decision to establish a compensation fund of up to 10 billion yen ($67 million). This initiative is designed to cover potential recompense to those alleging damages due to the group’s manipulative fundraising strategies. The church’s move seemingly attempts to alleviate any potential doubt that the organization would attempt to evade later payouts by shielding assets overseas while a government-requested dissolution order remains under consideration. Notably, this action follows a month after the Japanese Education Ministry appealed to the Tokyo District Court to revoke the organization’s legal status, prompted by an investigation that found evidence of systematic manipulation of followers into donating money. If the church loses its legal status, it would lose its tax exemption privilege as a religious organization, causing financial issues. Despite this, it has been assured that the church has no intention of transferring funds overseas. The dissolution process could take several months or years and may result in financial setbacks for the church.
China has closed the mobile ownership gender gap
Recent data suggests a considerable degree of gender parity in China’s digital landscape. In mobile phone usage, digital payments, and online bill payments, women show very similar engagement rates as men. Around 60% of both sexes have paid bills online in the past year, and nearly 85% engaged in digital payments, eclipsing world averages substantially. This digital and financial inclusivity signifies notable strides towards gender equality in China. Equitable digital access enables women to exploit a broad spectrum of opportunities, thereby broadening educational, health, and socio-political opportunities. Furthermore, these practices underscore women’s active economic participation, a cornerstone for empowerment in a modern society replete with digital financial systems. The rising digital engagement among women also contributes to diversifying the online sphere through increased female representation. However, while these advancements are encouraging, gender equality is multifaceted, requiring more than digital and financial inclusivity. Aspects like equal representation in leadership roles and elimination of gender-based violence are paramount to full gender equity. Therefore, these findings, while significant, should be considered as one part of a larger, comprehensive push towards gender equality in China.
Gender Breakdown of Smartphone Users in China as of December 2019
Used a mobile phone or the internet to pay bills in the past year (% age 15+) as of 2021
Decypher Opinion: Childhood lead poisoning from domestic products in China
The paper by Ju Wang, PhD, reports on three cases of childhood lead poisoning in China focusing on domestic lead exposures and their implications for policies, education, and practice. The information for this study came from a a pediatric hospital in Shanghai for the year 2016-17. A study suggests implementing a national childhood blood lead screening program in China by conducting pilot screenings in high-risk regions identified through geographical distribution analysis. The study highlights the importance of addressing neglected domestic lead exposure sources in a comprehensive manner, due to limited awareness and weak regulations. The paper examines three specific cases that demonstrate the dangers of lead poisoning from domestic items, namely tin pots, folk medicine, and tinfoil. Despite different sources, all these cases resulted in elevated blood lead levels (BLLs), causing health problems in the affected children. The diagnostic criteria for elevated blood lead levels in children are based on the amount of lead in their blood ranges from 10–19.9 μg/dl to ≥45 μg/dl or moderate to severe lead poisoning, respectively.
The first case was due to exposure to lead from tin pots when two siblings, a 5-year-old brother and a 10-year-old sister from Yiwu in the Jinhua City of the Zhejiang Province, were diagnosed with lead poisoning after presenting with behavioural symptoms, including hyperactivity and short temper. Their BLLs tested ranged between 14.0 μg/dl to 28.5 μg/dl, leading to the diagnosis of childhood lead poisoning. The tin wine pot used to cook with yellow rice wine as traditional practice in the family was suspected to be the primary source of lead exposure. The siblings were treated with chelation therapy and prescribed calcium, zinc, and iron supplements. Two months after treatment, the follow-up BLL results reduced to 11 μg/dl showed improvements in their behaviour.
Another case was due to exposure to lead from a home factory for tinfoil when a 6-year-old boy from Xiaoshan in Hangzhou City was diagnosed with lead poisoning for over three years. The family maintained a small home factory for producing tinfoil used in burning during sacrificial rites for ancestors, which was suspected as the source of lead exposure. The raw materials used to produce the tinfoil were ingots, which contained 50%−60% lead, and most of the production processes were completed by hand instead of by machine, allowing for skin contamination. Lead exposure was prevalent due to a lack of ventilation, dust removal equipment, and personal protection equipment, leading to skin contamination and inhaling lead-containing dust. The BLLs of the patient’s family members were also tested and found to be abnormally high. Later, the patient was treated with CaNa2EDTA chelation therapy in the hospital, lowering his BLL to 12.8 μg/dl.
The third case occurred when an 8-year-old boy, who had been using homemade traditional Chinese medicine for the past five years, arrived at the pediatric lead clinic with behavioural symptoms, including hyperactivity, attention deficiency, and grumpiness. Upon arrival at the hospital, his BLL was 50.0 μg/dl. The medicine he had been using, a red powder, was applied orally and to the navel to treat oral ulcers and diarrhoea. It is suspected that this medicine, which often contains lead oxide, was the main cause of his lead exposure. The patient was diagnosed with severe lead poisoning and was hospitalized four times to undergo chelation therapy with CaNa2EDTA. The doctor’s primary recommendation to the family was to stop using folk medicines immediately to avoid further lead exposure.
Risk Assessment and Recommendations
In order to distribute educational resources to clinicians and families more effectively, it is important to evaluate the average blood lead levels in different regions and identify common sources of exposure. Surveys should be conducted to assess domestic and non-domestic lead exposure sources while considering cultural factors. Additionally, using geographic information systems and developing a clinical questionnaire for lead poisoning diagnosis and treatment are recommended. The study recommends “Health education” to prevent and treat lead poisoning. Parental education can be incorporated into primary care, where nurses can provide pamphlets and educational videos. Social media platforms such as WeChat can be used to disseminate medical knowledge and preventative information. Public health nurses can provide education on sources of lead, the health sequelae of lead, signs of lead poisoning, and lead exposure reduction strategies. Educational materials should be tailored to reflect each target region’s most prevalent lead-exposure sources.
Additionally, the government should support hospitals in less developed areas of China to become equipped with the infrastructure necessary to screen for lead poisoning. Training clinicians and public health nurses in high-risk areas to prevent, diagnose, and treat childhood lead poisoning should be increased in medical undergraduate education programs and related continuing education and training programs for paediatricians, especially those working in less developed and remote districts. Policy strategies to mitigate childhood lead exposure can include legislation, regulation and surveillance, public notification, use of mass media, and product labelling.
Conclusion
The study highlights the significance of domestic sources of lead exposure. The studies highlighted the effectiveness of chelation therapy and the prescription of calcium, zinc, and iron supplements for the treatment of lead poisoning. The absence of lead exposure risk assessment, limited understanding of possible lead exposure sources, and inadequate policy and regulation pose challenges in preventing childhood lead poisoning. Public health nurses are crucial in evaluating lead exposure risks, delivering health education in a primary care setting, conducting research, and advising the government on implementing policy strategies to reduce childhood lead exposure. These strategies include legislation, regulation and surveilance, public notification, mass media, and product labelling.
Decypher Report Summaries: Asia-Pacific
Inflation, external financial conditions and macro-financial stability frameworks in Asia-Pacific.
A report by: Bank of International Settlements (BIS)
“The report examines how central banks and financial authorities in the Asian Consultative Council (ACC) economies operated their macro-financial stability frameworks (MFSFs) between late 2021 and the end of 2022. The report highlights the various shocks faced by the economies, including the lingering waves of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, shifts in global commodity prices, and tightening global financial conditions. It emphasizes that the policy mixes adopted by central banks varied based on the nature of the shocks and economy-specific characteristics. The primary tools used for achieving policy objectives included the policy rate, intervention in domestic bond and money markets, domestic currency liquidity provision, domestically oriented macroprudential measures, FX intervention, and FX-related macroprudential measures. The report also discusses the need for cautious and gradual transition in policy mix and the importance of maintaining policy buffers.
The response of the Asian Consultative Council (ACC) to the challenges faced by Asia-Pacific economies in 2022 was to establish a working group on “Inflation, external financial conditions, and macro-financial stability frameworks in Asia-Pacific.” The working group aimed to assess how central banks and financial authorities in ACC economies operated their macro-financial stability frameworks during the period from late 2021 to the end of 2022. The working group collected responses from its members through a detailed questionnaire to understand the shocks faced by the economies and the economy-specific characteristics that influenced their sensitivity to those shocks. The findings and assessments of the working group are presented in the report.
The document highlights several key learnings from the responses of the ACC economies to the shocks they faced in 2022:
1. The policy mix adopted by central banks varied based on the nature of the shocks and economy-specific characteristics.
2. The primary tools used for achieving policy objectives included the policy rate, intervention in domestic bond and money markets, domestic currency liquidity provision, domestically oriented macroprudential measures, FX intervention, and FX-related macroprudential measures.
3. The transition in the policy mix from addressing high inflation and tight global financial conditions to a period of lower inflation and looser global financial conditions should be cautious and gradual.
4. The existence of buffers enabled jurisdictions to launch an effective policy response in 2022, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sufficient buffers in the future.
5. Lessons learned from policy experiences in 2022 can help further develop the respective macro-financial stability frameworks (MFSFs) of the authorities.
6. The efficacy of MFSFs depends on various aspects, including trade-offs, interactions between tools, constraints or limits, policy communication, and coordination between authorities.
7. The importance of flexibility in switching focus between alternative goals, addressing root causes of instabilities, and being forward-looking in policy formulation.
8. The need to rebuild policy buffers, especially for domestic financial and external stability, to maintain policy space in the future.
9. The effectiveness of MFSFs is influenced by the ecosystem in which they operate, emphasizing the roles of domestic structural reforms and non-central bank policies.
These learnings provide insights into the policy responses and considerations of ACC economies during the period under review.
China’s response to the inflation shocks differed from other economies in several ways.
Firstly, China worked to reduce banks’ exposure to the real estate sector, which was deemed to have been subject to over-investment. This approach aimed to address specific vulnerabilities within the domestic financial system.
Secondly, China did not see material increases in inflation despite sharp rises in global food and energy prices. This can be attributed, in part, to the comparatively low share of food and energy items in China’s consumer price index (CPI).
Additionally, the document mentions that China viewed its depreciating currency as serving to insulate its economy from external shocks. This perspective differs from other economies where depreciation of their currencies may have raised concerns.
Pandemic-related restrictions and their after-effects: The document raises questions about the extent to which pandemic-related restrictions continue to affect the economies, such as the level of output and the expected timeline for any negative output gap to close. It also mentions economically significant supply chain disruptions during the pandemic.
Global commodity prices: The document highlights the impact of global energy and food price spikes, particularly due to the conflict in Ukraine. It discusses the exposure of economies to these price shocks and the potential effects on domestic supply, exports, and concerns about energy shortages.
External financial conditions: The tightening of monetary policy in major advanced economies, such as the United States, is mentioned as a factor leading to capital outflows from many economies in the region. The document explores the exposure of domestic financial conditions to these external shocks.
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