‘Bigger picture’: China’s PLA hosts young Japanese officers in renewed military exchange
By Vanessa Cai
In a rare sign of defence cooperation amid frayed bilateral ties, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has hosted a Japanese delegation of young military officers.
The nine-day trip, which wrapped up on December 4, included visits to the cities of Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Friday.
During their trip, the Japanese officers visited the Beijing garrison’s guard division, a naval base and the air force’s aerobatic team. They also held talks with Chinese military officers at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, Wu said.
The visit is the second time such communications have been held in person in China since they resumed in July last year, when a Japanese delegation visited China for the first time in four years, following the suspension of regular exchanges during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May, China sent a delegation of 20 military officers to Japan for the first time since the pandemic.
The visits date back to 2001 when military officers from each country arranged an exchange programme that continued until it was suspended in 2012, and then resumed in 2018.
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By Vanessa Cai
In a rare sign of defence cooperation amid frayed bilateral ties, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has hosted a Japanese delegation of young military officers.
The nine-day trip, which wrapped up on December 4, included visits to the cities of Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Friday.
During their trip, the Japanese officers visited the Beijing garrison’s guard division, a naval base and the air force’s aerobatic team. They also held talks with Chinese military officers at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, Wu said.
The visit is the second time such communications have been held in person in China since they resumed in July last year, when a Japanese delegation visited China for the first time in four years, following the suspension of regular exchanges during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May, China sent a delegation of 20 military officers to Japan for the first time since the pandemic.
The visits date back to 2001 when military officers from each country arranged an exchange programme that continued until it was suspended in 2012, and then resumed in 2018.
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Hong Kong taxi drivers to face ban for failing to turn on surveillance cameras
By Ng Kang-chung
Hong Kong taxi drivers will be banned from plying their trade if they fail to turn on internal surveillance cameras and dashcams, according to proposed legislative amendments aimed at improving the industry’s service quality.
Newly appointed Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday also ruled out subsidising the cost of taxi operators installing the equipment, saying the potential price tag, about HK$3,500 (US$450) to HK$5,300 per cab, should be manageable.
She told the Legislative Council’s transport panel that the latest proposals would require all taxis to install in-car cameras, dashcams and global positioning systems (GPS), in addition to mandating that all drivers provide e-payment options.
“It is a three-win scheme. It is good for passengers, good for drivers and can also enhance the reputation of the taxi trade,” she said.
Lawmaker Chan Siu-hung asked Mable Chan what would happen if drivers failed to turn on their cameras.
The minister said: “It will be like the taximeter. It is illegal not to use the taximeter to calculate the fare. So, if your taximeter is not working, you simply cannot operate and have to get it repaired first.”
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By Ng Kang-chung
Hong Kong taxi drivers will be banned from plying their trade if they fail to turn on internal surveillance cameras and dashcams, according to proposed legislative amendments aimed at improving the industry’s service quality.
Newly appointed Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday also ruled out subsidising the cost of taxi operators installing the equipment, saying the potential price tag, about HK$3,500 (US$450) to HK$5,300 per cab, should be manageable.
She told the Legislative Council’s transport panel that the latest proposals would require all taxis to install in-car cameras, dashcams and global positioning systems (GPS), in addition to mandating that all drivers provide e-payment options.
“It is a three-win scheme. It is good for passengers, good for drivers and can also enhance the reputation of the taxi trade,” she said.
Lawmaker Chan Siu-hung asked Mable Chan what would happen if drivers failed to turn on their cameras.
The minister said: “It will be like the taximeter. It is illegal not to use the taximeter to calculate the fare. So, if your taximeter is not working, you simply cannot operate and have to get it repaired first.”
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China urges efforts to curb Syria’s descent into further division and refugee crisis
By Zhao Ziwen
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged efforts to prevent Syria from descending into further division and a repeat of the refugee crisis, in his first response to the sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s Beijing-friendly regime last week.
Wang also called for efforts to maintain the regional reconciliation brought by the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose peace deal brokered by Beijing last year was hailed by China as a major diplomatic win.
“The international community should … help the region to improve the humanitarian situation and alleviate the suffering of the people of the Middle East, in particular by preventing the resurgence of the refugee crisis in Syria,” Wang told his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Aaty in Beijing on Friday.
Wang also warned against sidelining the ongoing Palestinian issue, saying “the Middle East should not remain a victim of great power rivalries”, taking aim at the United States and its allies.
Wang’s response came as Assad’s regime suddenly collapsed on Sunday after a decade-long civil war.
Beijing, a long-term supporter of Assad, has closely monitored the ramifications of its overall Middle-East strategy and is expected to carefully manage relations with the new Syrian government, according to experts.
Syria had not been not a central pillar of China’s Middle East strategy, but Assad’s regime was risky for Beijing’s Middle East role, said Jesse Marks, a non-resident fellow with the Stimson Centre’s China programme and a former US defence adviser.
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By Zhao Ziwen
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged efforts to prevent Syria from descending into further division and a repeat of the refugee crisis, in his first response to the sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s Beijing-friendly regime last week.
Wang also called for efforts to maintain the regional reconciliation brought by the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose peace deal brokered by Beijing last year was hailed by China as a major diplomatic win.
“The international community should … help the region to improve the humanitarian situation and alleviate the suffering of the people of the Middle East, in particular by preventing the resurgence of the refugee crisis in Syria,” Wang told his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Aaty in Beijing on Friday.
Wang also warned against sidelining the ongoing Palestinian issue, saying “the Middle East should not remain a victim of great power rivalries”, taking aim at the United States and its allies.
Wang’s response came as Assad’s regime suddenly collapsed on Sunday after a decade-long civil war.
Beijing, a long-term supporter of Assad, has closely monitored the ramifications of its overall Middle-East strategy and is expected to carefully manage relations with the new Syrian government, according to experts.
Syria had not been not a central pillar of China’s Middle East strategy, but Assad’s regime was risky for Beijing’s Middle East role, said Jesse Marks, a non-resident fellow with the Stimson Centre’s China programme and a former US defence adviser.
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Chinese social media Xiaohongxu moves closer to IPO as profits surge in 2024, sources say
By Wency Chen
Social media platform Xiaohongshu, known as China’s Instagram, has the wind at its back in its pursuit of an initial public offering in Hong Kong, as its commercialisation efforts pay off, according to sources briefed on the matter.
The Shanghai-based company, which is influential among young Chinese women with its user-generated lifestyle content, has selected underwriters, including China International Capital Corporation, for the planned listing, according to several people familiar with the matter.
The company expects profits to double this year over 2023, exceeding US$1 billion, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, presenting favourable conditions for floating shares on the Hong Kong bourse.
One source, who declined to be named because the matter is private, told the Post that Xiaohongshu’s profits are mainly driven by advertising revenue, but its e-commerce segment still struggles to turn a profit amid sales growth.
Xiaohongshu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The platform, whose name means “little red book”, has more than 300 million monthly active users and a list of big-name investors, including Alibaba Group Holding, Tencent Holdings, Temasek Holdings, GSR Ventures, ZhenFund, HongShan, and DST Global. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
In July, DST Global invested in Xiaohongshu through a share transfer from early investors, valuing the company at US$17 billion.
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By Wency Chen
Social media platform Xiaohongshu, known as China’s Instagram, has the wind at its back in its pursuit of an initial public offering in Hong Kong, as its commercialisation efforts pay off, according to sources briefed on the matter.
The Shanghai-based company, which is influential among young Chinese women with its user-generated lifestyle content, has selected underwriters, including China International Capital Corporation, for the planned listing, according to several people familiar with the matter.
The company expects profits to double this year over 2023, exceeding US$1 billion, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, presenting favourable conditions for floating shares on the Hong Kong bourse.
One source, who declined to be named because the matter is private, told the Post that Xiaohongshu’s profits are mainly driven by advertising revenue, but its e-commerce segment still struggles to turn a profit amid sales growth.
Xiaohongshu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The platform, whose name means “little red book”, has more than 300 million monthly active users and a list of big-name investors, including Alibaba Group Holding, Tencent Holdings, Temasek Holdings, GSR Ventures, ZhenFund, HongShan, and DST Global. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
In July, DST Global invested in Xiaohongshu through a share transfer from early investors, valuing the company at US$17 billion.
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China needs incentives to power a lean, grass-roots-official machine, economic leaders say
By Xinlu LiangWilliam Zheng
China’s lower-level officials need incentives to take risks and spur growth but they also need to set a frugal example, according to a statement released on Friday after an annual top economic conference.
The balancing act was discussed at the central economic work conference, a gathering of the Communist Party elite in Beijing on Thursday to determine the overall tone for government action and the economic agenda for the coming year.
Chaired by President Xi Jinping, the conference reflected concerns that official inertia and red tape is hindering the country’s economic recovery.
China is facing slowing growth and rising debt levels amid wide-ranging competition with the United States.
To inject new life into the economy, Beijing plans to raise the fiscal deficit ceiling, issue more treasury bonds, cut interest rates and reduce the reserve requirement ratio.
But local government officials must be incentivised and unburdened to effectively execute the central government’s economic agenda and policy changes, according to the conference statement.
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By Xinlu LiangWilliam Zheng
China’s lower-level officials need incentives to take risks and spur growth but they also need to set a frugal example, according to a statement released on Friday after an annual top economic conference.
The balancing act was discussed at the central economic work conference, a gathering of the Communist Party elite in Beijing on Thursday to determine the overall tone for government action and the economic agenda for the coming year.
Chaired by President Xi Jinping, the conference reflected concerns that official inertia and red tape is hindering the country’s economic recovery.
China is facing slowing growth and rising debt levels amid wide-ranging competition with the United States.
To inject new life into the economy, Beijing plans to raise the fiscal deficit ceiling, issue more treasury bonds, cut interest rates and reduce the reserve requirement ratio.
But local government officials must be incentivised and unburdened to effectively execute the central government’s economic agenda and policy changes, according to the conference statement.
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Thai teen, 14, stabs schoolmate to death in a fight
By Associated Press
A 14-year-old has been arrested on charges alleging that he stabbed a Thai-Australian schoolmate to death in a fight after having an ongoing feud, police in Thailand said on Friday.
The suspect told investigators he and the victim harboured a mutual dislike from school and they agreed via the Line messaging app to meet outside a grocery store near their homes on Tuesday in Sattahip in Chonburi province, said police colonel Tanapol Klinkesorn, director of the Sattahip police station.
The suspect appeared to have lost the fight because the other boy was bigger, but the suspect rushed to his car to grab a cooking knife and stabbed the victim in the back, Tanapol said.
The victim was also 14, but the suspect was an eighth-grader while the victim was a year behind him, police said. They did not release their names because of their age but said the Australian embassy confirmed the victim had dual nationality.
The boy was found lying at the entrance to the store with the knife in his back and its broken handle on the ground, according to Sawang Rojanatham Rescue Foundation, a charity organisation whose EMS workers rushed to the scene.
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By Associated Press
A 14-year-old has been arrested on charges alleging that he stabbed a Thai-Australian schoolmate to death in a fight after having an ongoing feud, police in Thailand said on Friday.
The suspect told investigators he and the victim harboured a mutual dislike from school and they agreed via the Line messaging app to meet outside a grocery store near their homes on Tuesday in Sattahip in Chonburi province, said police colonel Tanapol Klinkesorn, director of the Sattahip police station.
The suspect appeared to have lost the fight because the other boy was bigger, but the suspect rushed to his car to grab a cooking knife and stabbed the victim in the back, Tanapol said.
The victim was also 14, but the suspect was an eighth-grader while the victim was a year behind him, police said. They did not release their names because of their age but said the Australian embassy confirmed the victim had dual nationality.
The boy was found lying at the entrance to the store with the knife in his back and its broken handle on the ground, according to Sawang Rojanatham Rescue Foundation, a charity organisation whose EMS workers rushed to the scene.
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Hong Kong’s Peak Tram to scrap regular fare, charge same price on all days
By Fiona Sun
Hong Kong’s famed Peak Tram will scrap its current fare for regular rides and charge up to HK$108 (US$14) for a ticket on all days, resulting in passengers having to pay about 23 per cent more per trip.
The Peak Tramways Company announced on Friday that ticket prices of the rides would be standardised on all days starting from December 30.
Under the price adjustment, a single ticket for adults will cost HK$76, while a return fare will be HK$108.
The regular fare for children and elderly will also be removed, and under the new pricing, a single highest-priced ticket for children aged three to 11 and the elderly aged 65 or above will cost HK$38, while a return fare will cost HK$54.
The new prices are the same as current fares for peak days, while those for regular days cost less – between HK$62 and HK$88 for adult tickets, and from HK$31 to HK$44 for tickets for children and seniors.
The company said the price adjustment was designed to reduce customer confusion arising from the current dynamic pricing structure.
“Through the implementation of a unified ticketing structure, we aim to make it easier for our customers to plan their visit schedules,” it said.
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By Fiona Sun
Hong Kong’s famed Peak Tram will scrap its current fare for regular rides and charge up to HK$108 (US$14) for a ticket on all days, resulting in passengers having to pay about 23 per cent more per trip.
The Peak Tramways Company announced on Friday that ticket prices of the rides would be standardised on all days starting from December 30.
Under the price adjustment, a single ticket for adults will cost HK$76, while a return fare will be HK$108.
The regular fare for children and elderly will also be removed, and under the new pricing, a single highest-priced ticket for children aged three to 11 and the elderly aged 65 or above will cost HK$38, while a return fare will cost HK$54.
The new prices are the same as current fares for peak days, while those for regular days cost less – between HK$62 and HK$88 for adult tickets, and from HK$31 to HK$44 for tickets for children and seniors.
The company said the price adjustment was designed to reduce customer confusion arising from the current dynamic pricing structure.
“Through the implementation of a unified ticketing structure, we aim to make it easier for our customers to plan their visit schedules,” it said.
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Ice, snow economy eyed to heat up northeastern Chinese province with tourist influx
By Daisy Wu
Northeast China’s Jilin province is leveraging the snow season to enhance the ice and snow economy, with a plan to attract 230 million tourists and generate 420 billion yuan (US$57.7 billion) in revenue by 2027-28.
Authorities announced on Thursday an action plan aiming to establish the province as a globally hub for the ice and snow economy by supporting winter tourism, sports and related equipment manufacturing through targeted policies.
The plan includes applying for up to two additional national-level ski tourism resorts, and ensuring at least 100 snow parks operate annually.
Data from the local commerce department showed that nine major ski resorts in Jilin generated a combined revenue of 1.647 billion yuan during the last snow season, representing a 37.1 per cent year on year increase.
The number of operational snow parks also rose by 68 per cent, reaching 158.
The plan also focuses on growing leading brands and companies in the snow equipment sector, targeting a total output value of over 5 billion yuan by 2030.
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By Daisy Wu
Northeast China’s Jilin province is leveraging the snow season to enhance the ice and snow economy, with a plan to attract 230 million tourists and generate 420 billion yuan (US$57.7 billion) in revenue by 2027-28.
Authorities announced on Thursday an action plan aiming to establish the province as a globally hub for the ice and snow economy by supporting winter tourism, sports and related equipment manufacturing through targeted policies.
The plan includes applying for up to two additional national-level ski tourism resorts, and ensuring at least 100 snow parks operate annually.
Data from the local commerce department showed that nine major ski resorts in Jilin generated a combined revenue of 1.647 billion yuan during the last snow season, representing a 37.1 per cent year on year increase.
The number of operational snow parks also rose by 68 per cent, reaching 158.
The plan also focuses on growing leading brands and companies in the snow equipment sector, targeting a total output value of over 5 billion yuan by 2030.
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Cafe in Indonesia’s most conservative province sets out to defy norms
By Yannis Tan
In the capital of Indonesia’s most conservative province, Aceh, lies a sole woman-run cafe owned by Qurrata Ayuni.
Morning Mama was opened in 2023 to create a space that caters to women in Banda Aceh, also known as the “city of 1,001 coffee shops”.
Owner Qurrata aims to provide an alternative to coffee shops that typically cater to men in the city.
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By Yannis Tan
In the capital of Indonesia’s most conservative province, Aceh, lies a sole woman-run cafe owned by Qurrata Ayuni.
Morning Mama was opened in 2023 to create a space that caters to women in Banda Aceh, also known as the “city of 1,001 coffee shops”.
Owner Qurrata aims to provide an alternative to coffee shops that typically cater to men in the city.
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Xi Jinping pledges full support for Hong Kong’s John Lee to reform economy
By Willa WuKahon ChanNatalie Wong
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Hong Kong’s leader that Beijing will continue to support him to seek reforms and new momentum for the city’s economic development.
The president also praised Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Friday for completing the legislation of the domestic national security law, tackling housing issues and enhancing Hong Kong’s international influence. Xi met Lee during the Hong Kong chief executive’s duty visit to Beijing.
The high-level closed-door meeting at the central government’s headquarters in Zhongnanhai was also attended by Premier Li Qiang, the same as last year when Lee briefed both him and Xi for the first time.
“You are pragmatic and enterprising in leading the SAR government in completing the historic legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, focusing on striving for economic development and promoting solutions to people’s livelihood problems such as housing and healthcare,” Xi said.
“[You and the government] have strengthened external exchanges and cooperation, which have not only enhanced [Hong Kong’s] international influence, but also further consolidated the great momentum of Hong Kong’s stable development.
“The central government fully recognises the work of you and the [Hong Kong] government.”
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By Willa WuKahon ChanNatalie Wong
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Hong Kong’s leader that Beijing will continue to support him to seek reforms and new momentum for the city’s economic development.
The president also praised Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Friday for completing the legislation of the domestic national security law, tackling housing issues and enhancing Hong Kong’s international influence. Xi met Lee during the Hong Kong chief executive’s duty visit to Beijing.
The high-level closed-door meeting at the central government’s headquarters in Zhongnanhai was also attended by Premier Li Qiang, the same as last year when Lee briefed both him and Xi for the first time.
“You are pragmatic and enterprising in leading the SAR government in completing the historic legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, focusing on striving for economic development and promoting solutions to people’s livelihood problems such as housing and healthcare,” Xi said.
“[You and the government] have strengthened external exchanges and cooperation, which have not only enhanced [Hong Kong’s] international influence, but also further consolidated the great momentum of Hong Kong’s stable development.
“The central government fully recognises the work of you and the [Hong Kong] government.”
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Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai admits ‘mistake’ of sharing British activist’s tweet
By Brian Wong
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said he would “take full responsibility” for a “mistake” allowing a British political activist’s appeal for sanctions on Hong Kong and Beijing officials to be shared on his social media profile.
Lai also told his high-profile national security trial he had “misread the situation” by claiming Beijing realised the June 2020 imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong was “a big mistake” and that he would not be arrested.
The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid returned to West Kowloon Court on Friday to give evidence for a 17th day regarding the online comments he made about mainland China and Hong Kong.
The 77-year-old has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces as well as a third count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.
The court’s attention was drawn to an online comment by British political activist Benedict Rogers, dated July 30, 2020, slamming the disqualifications of Hong Kong opposition hopefuls from the Legislative Council election originally slated for that year.
The government later postponed the poll for a year, citing the public health risks of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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By Brian Wong
Former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has said he would “take full responsibility” for a “mistake” allowing a British political activist’s appeal for sanctions on Hong Kong and Beijing officials to be shared on his social media profile.
Lai also told his high-profile national security trial he had “misread the situation” by claiming Beijing realised the June 2020 imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong was “a big mistake” and that he would not be arrested.
The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid returned to West Kowloon Court on Friday to give evidence for a 17th day regarding the online comments he made about mainland China and Hong Kong.
The 77-year-old has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces as well as a third count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.
The court’s attention was drawn to an online comment by British political activist Benedict Rogers, dated July 30, 2020, slamming the disqualifications of Hong Kong opposition hopefuls from the Legislative Council election originally slated for that year.
The government later postponed the poll for a year, citing the public health risks of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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China ups the ante on humanoid robotic innovation, applications to boost economy
By Ralph Jennings
Local government officials across China are rushing to introduce policies to level up the innovation and deployment of robots, especially humanoid robots, as Beijing’s policymakers upped the ante for future industries at the tone-setting central economic work conference.
The cities of Hangzhou, Chongqing and Nanjing, plus a part of the southwestern Sichuan province, have released robotics policies to accelerate robotics innovations and the “concentration of business entities” involved, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.
The eastern tech hub of Hangzhou has a development plan that would run from this year until 2029, to promote the development of humanoid robot industry development.
“Hangzhou will focus on the optimal body plus the strongest brain, and accelerating the constriction of an integrated innovation system and the whole industry chain of research and development, design, manufacturing and application of humanoid robots,” according to a statement posted on the Hangzhou city government website.
While Nanjing – the capital of the neighbouring eastern Jiangsu province – is pursuing a 2024-26 plan to promote the development of a “high quality robotics” sector.
In southwest China, Sichuan’s Tianfu New Area has proposed support, including subsidies for “core algorithm” and “large-scale industry model” research and development, while the Chongqing municipality has urged a local tech innovation fund to lead venture capital offers for robotics projects.
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By Ralph Jennings
Local government officials across China are rushing to introduce policies to level up the innovation and deployment of robots, especially humanoid robots, as Beijing’s policymakers upped the ante for future industries at the tone-setting central economic work conference.
The cities of Hangzhou, Chongqing and Nanjing, plus a part of the southwestern Sichuan province, have released robotics policies to accelerate robotics innovations and the “concentration of business entities” involved, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.
The eastern tech hub of Hangzhou has a development plan that would run from this year until 2029, to promote the development of humanoid robot industry development.
“Hangzhou will focus on the optimal body plus the strongest brain, and accelerating the constriction of an integrated innovation system and the whole industry chain of research and development, design, manufacturing and application of humanoid robots,” according to a statement posted on the Hangzhou city government website.
While Nanjing – the capital of the neighbouring eastern Jiangsu province – is pursuing a 2024-26 plan to promote the development of a “high quality robotics” sector.
In southwest China, Sichuan’s Tianfu New Area has proposed support, including subsidies for “core algorithm” and “large-scale industry model” research and development, while the Chongqing municipality has urged a local tech innovation fund to lead venture capital offers for robotics projects.
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