China
Smog, Bureaucratic Waffling Add to Beijing’s Murk
The first step to fixing a problem is admitting one exists. But in the face of growing public concern over a recent stretch of air pollution in the Chinese capital, local officials this week did little to ease the outcry. In the midst of an especially smoggy stretch of days this past week , local officials and state-run media did little to suggest Beijing was prepared to tackle its air pollution levels, among the worst of the world’s major cities. The state-run Global Times newspaper early this week reported a dense “fog” had descended over the capital. The local government was reporting “slight” pollution levels even as readings by the U.S. Embassy described pollution as “hazardous.” And in an interview published Friday in the Beijing Times newspaper , Du Shaozhong, a spokesman for the municipal environmental bureau, questioned the embassy’s independent readings, which have long been a point of contention between Beijing and Washington. “I’m not clear about their monitoring tools and methods, and how they ensure accuracy” Mr. Du said. The interview appeared to be a response to a wave of criticism he and the city’s environmental bureau have come under in recent days, particularly on Sina Weibo, the popular microblogging site owned by Sina Corp. Mr. Du has 79,000 followers on the site, and hundreds of them were demanding more information from the city on current air pollution levels. In particular, many wanted to know when the city would begin releasing measurements of PM2.5 pollution particles – that is, those particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. The city currently releases measurements only for coarser PM10 particles. Experts say fine PM2.5 particles are especially dangerous and can easily penetrate a person’s lungs and bloodstream. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing publishes independent hourly PM2.5 readings as well as an air-quality index on an official embassy Twitter feed , much to Beijing’s chagrin. Leaked WikiLeaks cables this summer revealed a tense meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in 2009 over the independent U.S. readings, which Beijing argued might confuse the Chinese public because the U.S. data conflicted with official Chinese data . The U.S. index regularly surpasses a level of 300, which the U.S. government classifies as hazardous pollution. On more than one occasion this year, the index has topped its ceiling of 500. Adding insult to insult to injury, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, citing an air-purification equipment firm, reported Friday that top Communist Party officials had amassed fleet of air purifiers for buildings inside Zhongnanhai, the leadership’s heavily guarded residential compound. The SCMP said Broad Group, a Hunan-based air conditioner maker, had touted the Zhongnanhai air purifiers on its website. “They are everywhere in Zhongnanhai, from living rooms and meeting rooms to swimming pools and gyms,” the SCMP quoted Broad Group’s website as saying . “It is a blessing for the people that our purifiers have created a healthy and clean environment for state leaders.” The company’s claims couldn’t be independently confirmed. The state-run Global Times newspaper weighed in Wednesday with an editorial on the pollution. The gist: Be patient, people. “The public sees world standards, and they expect China to adopt the most advanced ones,” the editorial read. “But we must accept that the national can’t reach these standards quickly.” On Friday afternoon in Beijing, the U.S. Embassy’s air-quality index hovered around 170, or a mere “unhealthy” rating. That’s several steps below the “hazardous” levels of earlier this week. It’s a relative breath of fresh air for smog-weary Beijingers. –Brian Spegele. Follow him on Twitter @bspegele .
The first step to fixing a problem is admitting one exists. But in the face of growing public concern over a recent stretch of air pollution in the Chinese capital, local officials this week did little to ease the outcry. In the midst of an especially smoggy stretch of days this past week , local officials and state-run media did little to suggest Beijing was prepared to tackle its air pollution levels, among the worst of the world’s major cities. The state-run Global Times newspaper early this week reported a dense “fog” had descended over the capital. The local government was reporting “slight” pollution levels even as readings by the U.S. Embassy described pollution as “hazardous.” And in an interview published Friday in the Beijing Times newspaper , Du Shaozhong, a spokesman for the municipal environmental bureau, questioned the embassy’s independent readings, which have long been a point of contention between Beijing and Washington. “I’m not clear about their monitoring tools and methods, and how they ensure accuracy” Mr. Du said. The interview appeared to be a response to a wave of criticism he and the city’s environmental bureau have come under in recent days, particularly on Sina Weibo, the popular microblogging site owned by Sina Corp. Mr. Du has 79,000 followers on the site, and hundreds of them were demanding more information from the city on current air pollution levels. In particular, many wanted to know when the city would begin releasing measurements of PM2.5 pollution particles – that is, those particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. The city currently releases measurements only for coarser PM10 particles. Experts say fine PM2.5 particles are especially dangerous and can easily penetrate a person’s lungs and bloodstream. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing publishes independent hourly PM2.5 readings as well as an air-quality index on an official embassy Twitter feed , much to Beijing’s chagrin. Leaked WikiLeaks cables this summer revealed a tense meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in 2009 over the independent U.S. readings, which Beijing argued might confuse the Chinese public because the U.S. data conflicted with official Chinese data . The U.S. index regularly surpasses a level of 300, which the U.S. government classifies as hazardous pollution. On more than one occasion this year, the index has topped its ceiling of 500. Adding insult to insult to injury, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, citing an air-purification equipment firm, reported Friday that top Communist Party officials had amassed fleet of air purifiers for buildings inside Zhongnanhai, the leadership’s heavily guarded residential compound. The SCMP said Broad Group, a Hunan-based air conditioner maker, had touted the Zhongnanhai air purifiers on its website. “They are everywhere in Zhongnanhai, from living rooms and meeting rooms to swimming pools and gyms,” the SCMP quoted Broad Group’s website as saying . “It is a blessing for the people that our purifiers have created a healthy and clean environment for state leaders.” The company’s claims couldn’t be independently confirmed. The state-run Global Times newspaper weighed in Wednesday with an editorial on the pollution. The gist: Be patient, people. “The public sees world standards, and they expect China to adopt the most advanced ones,” the editorial read. “But we must accept that the national can’t reach these standards quickly.” On Friday afternoon in Beijing, the U.S. Embassy’s air-quality index hovered around 170, or a mere “unhealthy” rating. That’s several steps below the “hazardous” levels of earlier this week. It’s a relative breath of fresh air for smog-weary Beijingers. –Brian Spegele. Follow him on Twitter @bspegele .
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Smog, Bureaucratic Waffling Add to Beijing’s Murk
Business
China Limits Apple Operations as BYD Manufacturing Moves to India and Southeast Asia Amid Trade Frictions | International Business News – The Times of India
China is restricting the export of high-tech manufacturing equipment and personnel to India and Southeast Asia, aiming to maintain domestic production amid potential US tariffs, impacting companies like Foxconn and BYD.
China Curbs on High-Tech Manufacturing
China is intensifying restrictions on the movement of employees and specialized equipment essential for high-tech manufacturing in India and Southeast Asia. This measure aims to prevent companies from relocating production due to potential tariffs under the incoming US administration. Beijing has urged local governments to restrict technology transfers and export of manufacturing tools as part of this strategy.
Impact on Foxconn and Apple’s Strategy
Foxconn, Apple’s primary assembly partner, is facing challenges in sending staff and receiving equipment in India, which could impact production. Despite these hurdles, current manufacturing operations remain unaffected. The Chinese government insists it treats all nations equally while reinforcing its domestic production to mitigate job losses and retain foreign investments.
Broader Implications for India
Additionally, these restrictions affect electric vehicle and solar panel manufacturers in India, notably BYD and Waaree Energies. Although the measures are not explicitly targeting India, they complicate the business landscape. As foreign companies seek alternatives to China, these developments are likely to reshape manufacturing strategies amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
China
China’s GDP Grows 5% in 2024: Key Insights and Main Factors
In 2024, China’s GDP grew by 5.0%, meeting its annual target. The fourth quarter saw a 5.4% increase, driven by exports and stimulus measures. The secondary industry grew 5.3%, while the tertiary increased by 5.0%, totaling RMB 134.91 trillion.
China’s GDP grew by 5.0 percent in in 2024, meeting the government’s annual economic target set at the beginning of the year. Fourth-quarter GDP exceeded expectations, rising by 5.4 percent, driven by exports and a flurry of stimulus measures. This article provides a brief overview of the key statistics and the main drivers behind this growth.
According to official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on January 17, 2025, China’s GDP reached RMB 134.91 trillion (US$18.80 trillion) in 2024, reflecting a 5.0 percent year-on-year growth at constant prices. During the 2024 Two Sessions, the government set the 2024 GDP growth target of “around 5 percent”.
By sector, the secondary industry expanded by 5.3 percent year-on-year to RMB 49.21 trillion (US$6.85 trillion), the fastest among the three sectors, while the tertiary industry grew by 5.0 percent, reaching RMB 76.56 trillion (US$10.63 trillion) and the primary industry contributed RMB 9.14 trillion (US$1.31 trillion), growing 3.5 percent.
A more detailed analysis of China’s economic performance in 2024 will be provided later.
(1USD = 7.1785 RMB)
| This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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China
Can science be both open and secure? Nations grapple with tightening research security as China’s dominance grows
The U.S.-China science agreement renewal narrows collaboration scopes amid security concerns, highlighting tensions. Nations fear espionage, hindering vital international partnerships essential for scientific progress. Openness risks declining.
Amid heightened tensions between the United States and China, the two countries signed a bilateral science and technology agreement on Dec. 13, 2024. The event was billed as a “renewal” of a 45-year-old pact to encourage cooperation, but that may be misleading.
The revised agreement drastically narrows the scope of the original agreement, limits the topics allowed to be jointly studied, closes opportunities for collaboration and inserts a new dispute resolution mechanism.
This shift is in line with growing global concern about research security. Governments are worried about international rivals gaining military or trade advantages or security secrets via cross-border scientific collaborations.
The European Union, Canada, Japan and the United States unveiled sweeping new measures within months of each other to protect sensitive research from foreign interference. But there’s a catch: Too much security could strangle the international collaboration that drives scientific progress.
As a policy analyst and public affairs professor, I research international collaboration in science and technology and its implications for public and foreign policy. I have tracked the increasingly close relationship in science and technology between the U.S. and China. The relationship evolved from one of knowledge transfer to genuine collaboration and competition.
Now, as security provisions change this formerly open relationship, a crucial question emerges: Can nations tighten research security without undermining the very openness that makes science work?
Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping and American President Jimmy Carter sign the original agreement on cooperation in science and technology in 1979.
Dirck Halstead/Hulton Archive via Getty Images
China’s ascent changes the global landscape
China’s rise in scientific publishing marks a dramatic shift in global research. In 1980, Chinese authors produced less than 2% of research articles included in the Web of Science, a curated database of scholarly output. By my count, they claimed 25% of Web of Science articles by 2023, overtaking the United States and ending its 75-year reign at the top, which had begun in 1948 when it surpassed the United Kingdom.
In 1980, China had no patented inventions. By 2022, Chinese companies led in U.S. patents issued to foreign companies, receiving 40,000 patents compared with fewer than 2,000 for U.K. companies. In the many advanced fields of science and technology, China is at the world frontier, if not in the lead.
Since 2013, China has been the top collaborator in science with the United States. Thousands of Chinese students and scholars have conducted joint research with U.S. counterparts.
Most American policymakers who championed the signing of the 1979 bilateral agreement thought science would liberalize China. Instead, China has used technology to shore up autocratic controls and to build a strong military with an eye toward regional power and global influence.
Leadership in science and technology wins wars and builds successful economies. China’s growing strength, backed by a state-controlled government, is shifting global power. Unlike open societies where research is public and shared, China often keeps its researchers’ work secret while also taking Western technology through hacking, forced technology transfers and industrial espionage. These practices are why many governments are now implementing strict security measures.
Nations respond
The FBI claims China has stolen sensitive technologies and research data to build up its defense capabilities. The China Initiative under the Trump administration sought to root out thieves and spies. The Biden administration did not let up the pressure. The 2022 Chips and Science Act requires the National Science Foundation to establish SECURE – a center to aid universities and small businesses in helping the research community make security-informed decisions. I am working with SECURE to evaluate the effectiveness of its mission.
Other advanced nations are on alert, too. The European Union is advising member states to boost security measures. Japan joined the United States in unveiling sweeping new measures to protect sensitive research from foreign interference and exploitation. European nations increasingly talk about technological sovereignty as a way to protect against exploitation by China. Similarly, Asian nations are wary of China’s intentions when it seeks to cooperate.
Australia has been especially vocal about the threat posed by China’s rise, but others, too, have issued warnings. The Netherlands issued a policy for secure international collaboration. Sweden raised the alarm after a study showed how spies had exploited its universities.
Canada has created the Research Security Centre for public safety and, like the U.S., has established regionally dispersed advisers to provide direct support to universities and researchers. Canada now requires mandatory risk assessment for research partnerships involving sensitive technologies. Similar approaches are underway in Australia and the U.K.
Germany’s 2023 provisions establish compliance units and ethics committees to oversee security-relevant research. They are tasked with advising researchers, mediating disputes and evaluating the ethical and security implications of research projects. The committees emphasize implementing safeguards, controlling access to sensitive data and assessing potential misuse.
Japan’s 2021 policy requires researchers to disclose and regularly update information regarding their affiliations, funding sources – both domestic and international – and potential conflicts of interest. A cross-ministerial R&D management system is unrolling seminars and briefings to educate researchers and institutions on emerging risks and best practices for maintaining research security.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development keeps a running database with more than 206 research security policy statements issued since 2022.
Emmanuelle Charpentier, left, from France, and Jennifer Doudna, from the U.S., shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020 for their joint research.
Miguel RiopaI/AFP via Getty Images
Openness waning
Emphasis on security can strangle the international collaboration that drives scientific progress. As much as 25% of all U.S. scientific articles result from international collaboration. Evidence shows that international engagement and openness produce higher-impact research. The most elite scientists work across national borders.
Even more critically, science depends on the free flow of ideas and talent across borders. After the Cold War, scientific advancement accelerated as borders opened. While national research output remained flat in recent years, international collaborations showed significant growth, revealing science’s increasingly global nature.
The challenge for research institutions will be implementing these new requirements without creating a climate of suspicion or isolation. Retrenchment to national borders could slow progress. Some degree of risk is inherent in scientific openness, but we may be coming to the end of a global, collaborative era in science.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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