石平の中国週刊ニュース解説・１月２７日号

Summary

The transcript covers economic and political topics related to China. It discusses the Chinese government's efforts to boost confidence in the economy, a recent unsuccessful visit by a Japanese business delegation, and speculation over a new foreign minister appointment.

Takeaways

• 😊 The Chinese government is pushing a positive narrative about the economy despite skepticism
• 😕 Foreign business leaders visited China but their requests were ignored
• 🤔 There are questions about the accuracy of the government's economic claims
• 😐 Japan continues to have trade issues with China
• 🧐 There may be power struggles within the Chinese foreign ministry
• 👀 A new foreign minister was appointed in China
• 😯 Economic experts in China seem reluctant to publicly back the government's claims
• 😣 The meeting with Japanese business executives did not go well
• 😫 Japan-China trade frictions remain
• 😌 The new foreign minister signals a personnel change

Q & A

What was the main focus of the National Political Consultative Conference held on January 19, 2023, regarding China's economy?

The main focus was on enhancing the public's expectations for economic development by promoting the concept of China's economic prosperity.

What strategy did the Chinese government decide to adopt at the end of last year to improve its economy?

The Chinese government decided to undertake a propaganda campaign to promote the concept of China's economic prosperity as a key measure to improve the economy.

Why did the speech by Mr. Da Gao at the conference attract attention?

Mr. Da Gao's speech attracted attention because, despite his role typically not being associated with propaganda work, he emphasized the importance of promoting China's economic prosperity, indicating a significant governmental focus on this narrative.

What was the reaction of prominent economists to the government's propaganda efforts regarding China's economic prosperity?

Prominent economists responded coolly, with some becoming passive or silent, indicating skepticism or disagreement with the government's approach.

What were the main topics discussed during the visit of Japanese economic delegates to China from January 23 to January 26, 2024?

The main topics included improvements in the application of anti-spyware laws, the reopening of visa-free travel for Japanese nationals, and the lifting of financial restrictions on Japanese seafood products.

What was the outcome of the Japanese economic delegation's requests to the Chinese government?

The Chinese government did not respond to any of the Japanese delegation's requests, effectively ignoring them.

How did Chinese official media report on the visit of the Japanese economic delegation?

Chinese official media did not report on the Japanese delegation's specific requests, effectively omitting these facts from their coverage.

What does the treatment of the Japanese economic delegation's visit in Chinese media suggest about China's stance towards Japan?

The treatment suggests a dismissive or undervaluing stance by China towards Japan, as evidenced by the low prioritization and omission of the delegation's requests in Chinese media.

What are the implications of the apparent cold reception to the Japanese economic delegation by China?

The cold reception implies strained diplomatic relations and a lack of willingness from China to address or negotiate on issues raised by Japan, reflecting broader tensions in China-Japan economic and political relations.

What could be the potential impact of the Chinese government's propaganda campaign on China's economic perceptions domestically and internationally?

The propaganda campaign could potentially widen the gap between government narratives and public or international perceptions of China's economic health, leading to skepticism and challenges in gaining trust from both domestic and international observers.