China’s Swimmers Tested Positive. What Happens to Their Medals?; Xi orders China’s biggest military reorganization since 2015
Japanese navy helicopters crash in Pacific Ocean during training, leaving one dead and seven missing
Welcome to this issue of The China Brief. Today is April 21, 2024. Here at The China Brief, we bring you the latest news on China's politics, economy, and society from global media sources, along with exclusive expert analysis. If you find our content helpful, please subscribe to our newsletter.
China’s Swimmers Tested Positive. What Happens to Their Medals?
NY Times
An investigation by The New York Times has revealed that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance in 2021, just months before the Tokyo Olympics. Despite this, the swimmers were cleared to compete by China's antidoping authorities and the World Anti-Doping Agency. The revelation has raised concerns within the antidoping community and has led to questions about the legitimacy of the medals won by the Chinese swimmers and the impact on other athletes who competed against them. So far, there have been no changes to the results or medals awarded. The investigation identified five events in which Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned substances won medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
Xi orders China’s biggest military reorganization since 2015
Japan Times
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered a reorganisation of the nation's military, which will involve terminating the Strategic Support Force and creating a new branch called the Information Support Force. The move affects the force responsible for capabilities such as cyberwarfare. The aerospace and cyber units previously under the Strategic Support Force will now be organisationally parallel to the newly created Information Support Force. The aerospace unit will enhance China's space capabilities and manage space crises.
Japanese navy helicopters crash in Pacific Ocean during training, leaving one dead and seven missing
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Two Japanese navy helicopters crashed into the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo during a night-time training exercise. One crew member was pronounced dead and seven others are still missing. The cause of the crash is unknown, but officials believe the two helicopters collided with each other before crashing into the water. The Japanese Ministry of Defense will suspend training flights for all SH-60 helicopters while the incident is investigated. The helicopters were on an anti-submarine training exercise and were modified and produced in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
South China Morning Post
Japan has sent mixed signals to China in its annual diplomatic blue book, which aims to build “constructive and stable” ties through dialogue, but also accuses China of posing significant challenges to Japan’s security. The blue book reinstates a reference to a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interest,” which had been absent for five years. However, Chinese observers argue that Japan’s consistent mention of the “China threat” undermines the positive effect of the cooperative elements in bilateral ties. Japan’s close alliance with the US and other countries that aim to contain China has also created distrust in Beijing. Experts have called for more substantial high-level exchanges between Japan and China to mend relations. While functional and technical meetings have begun to address mutual grievances, they are seen as having limited impact. Zhang Yun, an associate professor of international relations at Japan’s Niigata University, has called for the resumption of high-level economic dialogue between the two countries.
Battle for market share: Tesla cuts EV prices in mainland China in line with the US as sales slow
South China Morning Post
Tesla has cut the prices of its Shanghai-made vehicles by over 5% in mainland China as it joins a discount war in the country. The move comes after the US electric vehicle (EV) maker increased the price of the Model Y SUV by nearly 2% earlier this month, which attempted to buck the trend of price cuts in China. Tesla reduced the price of its entry-level Model 3 from CNY245,900 ($33,965) to CNY231,900. The price of the Model Y now starts from CNY249,900, compared to CNY263,900 previously. Tesla also reduced the prices of the higher-end Model S and Model X by over 15% and 19% respectively. The company's shares have dropped over 40% since the start of the year.
Chinese swimming doping case sparks spat between global and US anti-doping agencies
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has threatened legal action against Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), following accusations that WADA and Chinese anti-doping authorities covered up positive doping tests by Chinese swimmers. Tygart accused WADA of failing to follow global rules and said that USADA had handled contamination cases differently. WADA defended its actions, claiming that it acted in good faith and according to due process in deciding not to challenge the Chinese explanation for the positive tests.
South China Morning Post
The death of a Chinese student climbing Mount Everest has sparked controversy over misleading advertising about insurance coverage. The student, who died from altitude sickness, had purchased an insurance policy through Ant Insurance, an internet insurance agency service operated by Alibaba Group. The advertisement on the insurance page did not mention the policy did not cover Nepal, however, this exclusion was highlighted on AIG China's website. When the student needed to be rescued, AIG demanded payment in US dollars, but the student's father only had Chinese yuan, and the student died before the helicopter could reach him.
Taiwan says it will discuss with U.S. how to use new funding
Japan Times
Taiwan's Defense Ministry has announced that it will discuss with the United States how to use funding included in a $95 billion legislative package. The package mainly provides security assistance to Ukraine and Israel, but Taiwan will also receive funding. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, the United States is Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier. Taiwan has been facing increased military pressure from China, which claims the island as its own territory, but Taiwan's government rejects these claims.
Chinese nationalists take aim at Japanese animation master Miyazaki’s WWII film
South China Morning Post
Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, The Boy and the Heron, has received mixed reviews in China due to its portrayal of Japanese characters during World War II. Some critics claim that the film fails to sufficiently reflect on Japan's war history at a time when relations between China and Japan are deteriorating. Miyazaki, who is known for his anti-war stance, has been accused of hypocrisy, as the film depicts Japanese characters as victims of the war. The criticisms come amidst tensions between the two countries over various issues, including territorial disputes, the Fukushima nuclear plant water release, and Japan's security concerns in the Taiwan Strait. The film was a box office hit in China, but it received a lower rating on the country's popular film review site Douban compared to Miyazaki's previous works. Many criticisms centered on the metaphors used in the film, with some accusing Miyazaki of being vague about his anti-war stance. However, other Chinese viewers praised the film's visuals and storytelling and recognized the complexity of Miyazaki's reflections on the war.
Stay informed about the latest news, analysis, and policy briefs from across the globe related to China with the China brief. Our team aggregates, synthesizes, and summarizes the most important information from various sources, including media outlets, think tanks, government agencies, and industry experts.
Our mission is to provide you with easily accessible and critically valuable information tailored to your specific field of interest. We understand the significance of staying up-to-date on developments related to China and aim to make this information comprehensible for our readers.
Join the conversation and stay informed about the latest news and developments related to China by visiting our website at www.6dobrief.com