Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing notes that as China’s economic and business policies shift and change, foreign companies are finding it difficult to decide whether to stay in China or pull out, given the challenges in meeting new regulations and requirements. But there are others who see opportunities.
Government intervention
Economy
The market for Chinese developers’ dollar-denominated bonds has seen a meltdown over the past two years, losing 87% of its value, sparking renewed calls for a fresh approach to stimulating the property market.
Economy
Facing the threat of investment flight, China can seek to assuage fears with incentives, but in the long term, it would need to transform itself from a government-directed investment-driven economic growth model to a more balanced growth model from private sector investment and domestic consumption.
Politics
Political analyst Wang Qingmin notes that given the near-total power of the Chinese government over Hong Kong, perhaps Beijing can afford to show more tolerance towards the people and government of Hong Kong. This might actually encourage the moderate pan-democrats who love Hong Kong to contribute, which would also benefit mainland China.
Society
As schools are held liable when students get injured for whatever reason, some Chinese schools have taken to implementing measures such as making all students wear helmets to school — whether or not they ride scooters or motorcycles — and restricting their movements in between classes. What effect is this having on schools, parents and children? How much is too much?
Society
Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing recaps this year’s Halloween parade in Shanghai, which saw young people expressing their thoughts on current affairs through their costumes. Will Halloween celebrations be as boisterous next year?
Technology
China put forth a draft Degree Law recently that includes harsh consequences for degree holders who use artificial intelligence tools to ghostwrite their dissertations. These aggressive measures reflect a conundrum that the country’s academia and wider community finds themselves in: how can China balance between the desire for technological progress and the fear of losing its identity and autonomy?
Technology
The Chinese national team won the first e-sports gold medal at the Asian Games, marking a landmark moment in the country’s gaming history. But with Beijing cracking down on youth gaming addiction and parents frowning upon it as a professional career path, what will it take for e-sports to go mainstream in China?
Economy
Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing notes that despite the high likelihood of China’s economy meeting its growth target this year, there is still a chance that the government might take strong measures to stimulate the economy further. However, given that it is late in the year, would any measures implemented achieve their intended effect and which sectors should they be targeted at?