China’s Population Decline Continues with Notable Variance Among Regions
According to the recently released 2024 China Statistical Yearbook, China’s population decreased by 2.08 million people in 2023. The country’s natural population growth rate fell to -1.48 per thousand, marking a decline of 8.8 percentage points from the previous year. The national birth rate dropped to 6.39 per thousand, meaning fewer than 7 births per 1,000 people.
Among China’s 31 provinces and regions, only eight maintained positive natural population growth rates. These areas included Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Tibet, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. Among these, Guangdong Province stands out — despite being highly urbanized (ranking 4th in urbanization nationwide), the province achieved a birth rate of 8.12 per thousand, making it a significant exception to the general trend where higher birth rates typically correlate with lower urbanization levels.
Guangdong has maintained its position as China’s leading province in terms of births, being the only province to record over 1 million births (1.03 million) for four consecutive years. Population experts attribute this to several factors. Dr. Dong Yuzheng, president of the Guangdong Sociological Association, points to strong family values and traditional influences in the eastern (Chaoshan) and western regions of Guangdong. Additionally, Peng Peng, Executive Chairman of the Guangdong System Reform Research Society, notes that while fertility intentions are declining across the board, these regions maintain relatively higher birth rates due to cultural factors and a large, young migrant population of childbearing age.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 10, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202411100108.aspx
International Schools in China Face Closure Amid Economic and Demographic Challenges
Recent reports indicate a growing trend of prestigious international schools closing across China, with Beijing Fangcao Foreign Language School being the latest casualty. Industry insiders point to two main factors behind these school closures: China’s rapidly declining birth rate, which has significantly reduced the student population, and the country’s economic slowdown, which has impacted household incomes. As a result, many Chinese families can no longer afford the substantial costs associated with international education.
Fangcao Foreign Language School, established in 2018 in Beijing’s Shunyi District, was a collaborative venture between Bohua Education Group, Phoenix TV, Tencent Education, and Britain’s Kingwood School. The institution offered education from preschool through high school, with annual tuition fees around 100,000 yuan ($14,000).
The school’s closure follows a pattern of similar school closures across China. Notable examples include Beijing’s Nord Anglia School in Fangshan District, which closed in July after just five years of operation. In the same month, Shenzhen’s first private school, Haude Academy, reportedly accumulated debts of 170 million yuan. August saw the closure of Chengdu Foreign Language School’s Renshou campus despite nearly 1 billion yuan having been invested in the school.
The situation at Fangcao School became apparent when multiple wage dispute notices appeared at the local labor arbitration committee, and students began transferring out during the previous semester and summer break. The school’s last public communication was in June 2023, announcing a student-teacher art festival.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 8, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202411080029.aspx
Night Ride to Kaifeng: China’s Latest Youth Movement Sparks Nationwide Response
A spontaneous cycling movement that began with four female university students in Zhengzhou seeking late-night stuffed buns in Kaifeng has evolved into a nationwide phenomenon, drawing attention from Chinese authorities. What started as a simple food adventure in June has grown to attract over 200,000 participants, including students from across China and military veterans.
The movement gained significant momentum by early November, with students from Beijing, Tianjin, and other major cities organizing similar night rides in their regions. In Zhengzhou alone, the crowds became so large that shared bikes were completely booked, and many participants resorted to walking. Some participants were heard chanting patriotic slogans and calls for freedom, while veterans joined with their own rallying cries.
Chinese authorities implemented strict control measures in response to the growing movement. Universities across multiple provinces, including Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, imposed campus lockdowns and prohibited students from participating. Roads were blocked, shared bike services were restricted, and educational departments issued urgent notices warning students about potential consequences to their futures if they participated.
Local educators and analysts suggest the movement reflects young Chinese people’s desire for public participation and self-expression. Some view it as an exploration of freedom of assembly, while authorities have labeled it a “political movement.” The scale of participation has reportedly exceeded that of the “White Paper Movement,” making it one of the largest spontaneous youth gatherings in recent Chinese history.
Despite the restrictions, many young people continue to express support for the movement on social media, viewing it as a symbol of youthful rebellion and self-expression in an increasingly controlled environment.
Source: Radio Free Asia, November 11, 2024
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql1-bike-ride-kaifeng-student-suppress-repress-11112024013053.html
China Unveils “Strategic Plan to Strengthen Industrial Workforce and Foster Master Craftsmen by 2035”
Recently, China issued a document titled “Opinions of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Industrial Workforce Development.” The document outlined “strategic and comprehensive measures to strengthen reforms in building the industrial workforce.” It set a goal that, by 2035, China will have developed 2,000 national-level master craftsmen, 10,000 provincial-level craftsmen, and 50,000 municipal-level craftsmen, with the aim of fostering more top-level craftsmen to lead the development of a world-class industrial workforce.
Currently, China’s industrial workforce faces challenges, such as generally low skill levels and an overall shortage of skilled workers. Xinhua reported that that “manufacturing is the foundation of the country’s strength and prosperity. To advance new industrialization, it is essential to encourage and support more workers, especially the younger generation, to enter the manufacturing sector.”
Source: Xinhua, October 27, 2024
http://www.news.cn/mrdx/20241027/34912838d32c4033963df4492a10faf8/c.html
Chinese Blogger: Sinwar is a “Sacred Warrior”
After Israel released a video of the death of Hamas leader Sinwar, a Chinese blogger wrote an article praising Sinwar as the “sacred warrior.” The article, being in line with the Chinese government’s pro-Hamas position, was widely circulated on Chinese media. The following are some key excerpts from the article:
The world wonders why Hamas, a resistance group with limited equipment and logistical support, can stand against the powerful Israeli invasion force. Why has the 300,000-strong, heavily armed Israeli army been unable to take Gaza in a year, suffering over 30,000 casualties? This video offers the best answer.
According to Israeli media, Hamas leaders are allegedly indulging themselves in luxury mansions, with none of them on the front lines. But what’s the reality? The former leader, Ismail Haniyeh, lost over 60 family members to Israeli attacks. If he wanted a life of luxury, he could have taken his family to Qatar, but he didn’t. His family stayed in Gaza, suffering tremendous losses. In the end, Haniyeh himself was assassinated.
Sinwar, despite being severely injured and losing an arm, refused to surrender. Even when he couldn’t hold a gun, he was determined to resist with a stick if necessary. That’s why Gaza has held on until today and will continue to stand.
Israel’s release of this video (editor’s note: referring to the video of Sinwar’s death) backfired. According to Israeli claims, Hamas leaders live in luxury, but the video showed Sinwar on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s son has spent years in a luxury villa in Miami.
Many pro-colonial voices urge the Palestinian people to give up resistance and accept a life under the iron rule of the Israelis. What is the outcome? Fatah surrendered long ago, but did that stop Israel’s occupation of the West Bank? On the contrary, Israel has accelerated its expansion since the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since Fatah’s surrender, Israel has “confiscated” over 30 square kilometers of West Bank land, leaving Fatah with less than 2,500 square kilometers under fragmented control, surrounded by Israeli military and armed settlers. So, it’s not that the Palestinian people choose to resist out of nothing; it’s that resistance is the only option. Even if you want to bury your head in the sand like an ostrich, doing so is simply not feasible.
Israel will not conquer Gaza in a year, nor in two. The Israeli government often accuses others of anti-Semitism or Nazism, using political correctness as a weapon. But they haven’t considered that if they leave no path for others, if they drive up the price of bread to unaffordable levels, if they label even basic acts of resistance as terrorism, they can’t blame the world for turning against them and for moderate tactics giving way to extreme measures.
Source: Sohu, October 25, 2024
https://www.sohu.com/a/820262668_120899619
Subtle Shifts in Military Protocol Signal Possible Change in Xi Jinping’s Authority Over Chinese Military
The question of whether Xi Jinping has lost some of his power has been a recent topic of hot discussion among Chinese-language media operating outside of mainland China. The following are some points made on this topic analyzing Chinese military activity.
- From October 24 to 26, Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Central Military Commission (CMC), visited Vietnam. He received a high-level reception. Political analysts suggest that Zhang’s visit subtly hints that Zhang may have superseded Xi Jinping in terms of authority over the Chinese military.
On October 24, Zhang’s Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Giang welcomed Zhang with a red carpet. During their talks, Zhang did not mention Xi Jinping, stating only that Chinese-Vietnamese relations have been cultivated by “generations of leaders from both countries.” Zhang reportedly “emphasized the need to implement the consensus reached” by the two parties and by “high-level leaders of both countries” (not referring to Xi by name).
On October 25, Vietnam’s top leader To Lam held a meeting with Zhang. To Lam conveyed greetings and well-wishes to Xi Jinping, but Zhang did not mention Xi. Chinese state media claimed that Zhang had passed along Xi’s greetings and well-wishes to To Lam, however. Vietnamese President Luong Cuong also met Zhang on the same day. Luong Cuong mentioned Xi but Zhang did not respond, expressing only congratulations to Luong on the recent start of his presidency and that it was his pleasure to visit Vietnam as Vice Chairman of the CMC.
On October 26, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also met with Zhang.
- On October 31, the General Office of the CMC issued a document titled “Guidelines for Developing and Promoting a Strong Military Culture.” The document mentions “strong military culture” and “strong military ideology” but does not include references to “Xi Jinping’s strong military ideology” or the “CMC Chairman Responsibility System” as it used to do in the past. It says that the military should “follow the Party’s command” but not that it should “follow Xi Jinping’s command” or “follow the command of the CMC Chairman.”
- On October 17, during an inspection of a Rocket Force unit in Anhui Province, Xi Jinping said “We must uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the military… to ensure the troops obey the (CCP’s) Central Committee and CMC at all times and under any circumstances.” He did not emphasize “absolute loyalty” or the “CMC Chairman Responsibility System,” however
- On November 4, during Xi’s visit to the Airborne Corps in Xiaogan City, Hubei Province, Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi did not mention “the Party’s absolute leadership over the military” or “obeying the (CCP’s) Central Committee and CMC,” nor did he mention “loyalty.”
Sources:
1. Epoch Times, October 28, 2024
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/10/28/n14358971.htm
2. People’s Daily, October 31, 2024
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2024/1031/c1001-40350708.html
3. Aboluo, November 1, 2024
https://www.aboluowang.com/2024/1101/2123502.html
4. Epoch Times, November 6, 2024
https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/24/11/5/n14365087.htm
CNA: HIMARS Tactical Missile Systems Arrives in Taiwan
According to primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA), Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense recently confirmed that 11 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) have arrived in Taiwan. People familiar with the matter confirmed that the 300-kilometer-range MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMS) included in the HIMARS Arms Sale program have also arrived in Taiwan. The exact number of missiles arriving in Taiwan was not disclosed due to the sensitivity of the program. Scholars pointed out that this tactical missile provide the Taiwanese military with the ability to counterattack against a hypothetical invasion by the Chinese communist army.
Taiwan originally purchased 11 HIMARS systems from the United States. Later, it purchased an additional 18 systems, bringing the total to 29. The original purchase included 64 MGM-140 ATACMS missiles, with the total increasing to 84 missiles after the second purchase.
The Ukrainian military carried out in-depth interdiction strikes in combats after Ukraine obtained ATACMS missiles as part of a U.S. aid package in the first half of 2024, attacking Russian supply lines, ammunition depots, and so on, with very powerful effects. In October 2020 the United States announced the sale of HIMARS systems and ATACMS missiles to Taiwan during Donald Trump’s first term as president.
Source: CNA, November 9, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202411090197.aspx
Lianhe Zaobao: TSMC Suspends Supply of 7nm and Below Chips to China
Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, after Huawei’s AI processors were found to contain U.S.-banned TSMC chips, TSMC is suspending the supply of seven-nanometer and below chips to all mainland Chinese customers, regardless whether they are on the U.S. trade control list or not. TSMC has sent an official email to all mainland China AI chip customers, announcing the starting date of November 11 for the suspension.
TSMC’s decision is a huge blow to mainland Chinese AI and GPU companies and will have a significant impact on their performance and market competitiveness. Chip design companies in mainland China may have to find new foundries, which will lead to the reorganization of their supply chain. Mainland China’s current production capacity for advanced-process chips is currently very limited.
Bloomberg reported last month that semiconductor industry research organization TechInsights dismantled Huawei’s AI server chip Ascend 910B and found that a TSMC chip was part of the Huawei chip’s multi-chip architecture. Huawei was included on the U.S. trade control list in 2019.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, November 8, 2024
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20241108-5315456?amp