Table.Briefings

Feature

Beijing plans higher research spending

China's government leader Li Keqiang opened this year's plenary session of the Chinese People's Congress in Beijing this morning. The main points are: stronger market economic reforms, accelerating research and development, strengthening smaller businesses, more domestic consumption, expanding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At the same time, China plans to increase its military budget by 6.8 percent this year. That is 0.1 percent more than last year. In addition, Beijing wants to further restrict the leeway of the Hong Kong parliament.

By Frank Sieren

Czech Republic and China: relationship in crisis

The relationship between China and the Czech Republic is in tatters. Czech politicians are taking a confrontational course, also because the People's Republic is not fulfilling the expectations it has raised. Promised investments have largely failed to materialize. Chinese money, however, is flowing into local media companies to manipulate public opinion in Beijing's favor. In this series, China.Table reports on the relations of all EU member states with China.

By Marcel Grzanna

The Communist Party has a woman problem

If you look through the list of names of the members of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party, you will see 女 in brackets behind some of the names – the sign for "female". Although women make up nearly one-third of the party, they are rarely found in top offices. Xi Jinping's return to Confucianism reinforces this tendency because it envisions a patriarchal order.

By Ning Wang

Action plan for climate action

China wants to become carbon neutral by 2060 and reduce its emissions from 2030 at the latest. The 14th Five-Year Plan must contain the first concrete measures to achieve this. The announced draft gives the topic a lot of space, but details are available only in the plan itself.

By Christiane Kuehl

Zhong Shanshan: rich thanks to mineral water

It hasn't been a good year for Jack Ma – or for his billion-dollar fortune. Three countrymen have overtaken the Alibaba founder in the rich ranking. The richest Chinese is now 66-year-old Zhong Shanshan. He made his money not with a tech company or real estate but to a large extent with mineral water.

By Redaktion Table

China's unaffordable housing market

In China, too, there is hardly a political topic as emotionally discussed as the high housing and rental prices. The new Five-Year Plan addresses the issue and promises more affordable housing. Despite rapidly rising prices, the burst of a bubble is considered unlikely. Beijing is too worried that social unrest could occur in such a case.

By Redaktion Table

Gaming market grows despite government restrictions

The US gaming platform Steam was launched in China a few weeks ago. With a dramatically slimmed-down supply. Although China has the largest market and the world's largest gaming company, the hobby is unpopular with the authorities and subject to a variety of restrictions. Foreign companies, meanwhile, run afoul of their Western buyers when they bend to Chinese regulations and restrict gamers' freedom of expression.

By Redaktion Table

Beijing's 'silver hair economy'

Many older Chinese feel left behind by the country's rapid digitization. China's government wants to close the "digital divide" between young and older people by 2022. This means more social integration, but also more consumption – and thus follows the logic of the 14th Five-Year Plan. For companies, at any rate, the target group of senior citizens is a long underestimated growth market.

By Frank Sieren

Hong Kong: Domestic security spending increased drastically

The city has an additional €850 million at its disposal from an unnamed source to enforce the new security law. What the money will be used for became clear on Monday when a large police contingent accompanied the hearing of 47 opposition members in Hong Kong.

By Marcel Grzanna

Five-Year Plan 2021: No offer of friendship to the EU

In its 14th Five-Year Plan, Beijing clarifies: Foreign actions regarding Hong Kong and Taiwan are not desired. Brussels expects protectionist guidelines but also recognizes fields for possible cooperation. A progress report by EU foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell on relations with China is expected for the EU Council meeting at the end of this month.

By Amelie Richter