In April 2024, the Taiwan Constitutional Court held a hearing on whether the death penalty violates constitutional guarantees of human rights. On 20 September it ruled to uphold the death penalty, with some new safeguards around its use. While a coalition of abolitionist non-government organisations (NGOs) and research institutes led by the Taiwan Alliance to … more
Government digitisation initiatives worldwide are infamous for budget overruns, delays and failures to deliver on promises. China is no exception. Hundreds of headlines worldwide have claimed that the Social Credit System will control every step of citizens’ lives. These narratives were rarely matched by the reality. The Social Credit System for the most part does … more
Chinese digital nationalism is having a moment. One display is a growing nationwide public interest in cultural heritage, a trend that is particularly pronounced among young Chinese. They express their enthusiasm in the romantic consumption of heritage products, such as traditional Hanfu 汉服 fashion exemplified by the traditional skirt known as mamianqun 马面裙 as well … more
In June 2024, a report in the MIT Technology Review shows how AI is reinventing video games. Venture firms are investing in gaming start-ups, many of which utilise AI technologies to create immersive experiences while streamlining game development.[1] AI-augmented games from China have gained commercial success worldwide. Tencent and NetEase, China’s two largest gaming companies, … more
China is home to the world’s largest ageing population. In 2023, there were 216.76 million people over 65 years old: more than 15.4 percent of the total population and much higher than the global average of 10 percent.[1] China is on track to be a ‘super-aged’ society in 2030, when at least 20 percent of … more
World Cup winner Lionel Messi’s visit to Hong Kong with Inter Miami on 4 February stirred major controversy after he sat out a one-off exhibition game against the Hong Kong League Selection Team. Despite a major promotion campaign promising fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance of seeing their idol in action, the soccer star remained on the … more
On 4 October 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, and with it the Space Age itself. In February 2023, China’s National Museum put on a grand exhibition marking thirty years since the start of the Chinese human space program.[1] The environment in space is very different from that of Earth. The … more
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) turned 10 in 2023. Assessing its progress to date is challenging, given the persistent lack of consensus on its true nature. Few global initiatives evoke such disparate perceptions. To some, the BRI epitomises the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) audacious foray into twenty-first-century grand strategy, a bold vision for … more
China’s economy experienced a bumpy journey in 2023, with fluctuations in each quarter. In the first quarter, GDP growth reached 4.5 percent, exceeding market expectations and marking a strong start to an economic recovery following the three-year COVID-19 prevention and control policy regime. In the second quarter, it grew by 6.3 percent, which, considering the … more
The disappearance of former state councilor and foreign minister Qin Gang 秦刚 in June 2023, and the former defense minister General Li Shangfu 李尚福 in August, raises questions about the supreme leader Xi Jinping’s personnel management. A score of senior officers from the Rocket Force and departments in charge of weapons procurement also got the … more
