DPG China Monitor
China Monitor
Authors Ambassador Biren Nanda
, Sanket Joshi
Date: January 01, 2025
The monitor features developments related to China during the month and is compiled by our research team of Amb. Biren Nanda, Senior Fellow, and Sanket Joshi, Research Associate, from open-source reports and publications.
India and China continued their high-level engagement during the month, with the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives (SRs) being held in Beijing on December 18, 2024, preceded by the 32nd Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) which met in New Delhi on December 5, 2024.
During the SRs meeting, India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, and the Director of China's Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, positively affirmed the implementation of the latest disengagement agreement of October 2024, resulting in patrolling and grazing in relevant areas of eastern Ladakh. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship while seeking a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable framework for resolving the boundary issue.
Earlier, on December 3, 2024, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, briefed Parliament on recent developments in India-China relations. He confirmed that the disengagement in eastern Ladakh had been completed, resolving the issues in Depsang and Demchok, and this has set bilateral relations in the direction of “some improvement”. India's next priority will be de-escalation, which will address the massing of troops along the LAC and better management of the border areas.
President Xi sent a congratulatory message to the US-China Business Council (USCBC) for its meeting on December 11, 2024. He reiterated that China and the US stand to benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and expressed Beijing's willingness to expand cooperation, manage differences, and seek long-term peaceful co-existence with the US.
Notwithstanding these sentiments, the US Commerce Department unveiled new regulations aimed at curbing China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductors which are critical to artificial intelligence and military technology. China's Ministry of Commerce criticised these export controls for undermining the international economic and trade order, and threatening global industrial and supply chain stability.
On December 18, 2024, the US Department of Defence released a report on “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China”. Among other things, the report expressed concern over China's rapid expansion and modernisation of its nuclear arsenal, which is reported to have reached 600 operational nuclear warheads by mid-2024. The US estimates that China will have over 1000 nuclear warheads by 2030, and the PLA will continue to expand its nuclear capabilities beyond that.
Reacting sharply, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the US to cease publishing such irresponsible reports, abandon its "Cold War mentality" and "hegemonic" mindset, and maintain stability in bilateral relations by rationally assessing China's strategic policies.
President Xi addressed the annual ‘Central Economic Work Conference’ in Beijing on December 11-12, 2024. He noted that the Chinese economy has remained stable and made steady progress towards advancing high-quality development and fulfilling socio-economic development goals for 2024. While outlining key tasks for 2025, Xi called for a “more proactive fiscal policy” and a “moderately loose monetary policy” to expand domestic demand and boost consumption.
To read this China Monitor, Vol. VII, Issue 12, please see the PDF attached.
India and China continued their high-level engagement during the month, with the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives (SRs) being held in Beijing on December 18, 2024, preceded by the 32nd Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) which met in New Delhi on December 5, 2024.
During the SRs meeting, India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, and the Director of China's Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, positively affirmed the implementation of the latest disengagement agreement of October 2024, resulting in patrolling and grazing in relevant areas of eastern Ladakh. Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining a political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship while seeking a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable framework for resolving the boundary issue.
Earlier, on December 3, 2024, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, briefed Parliament on recent developments in India-China relations. He confirmed that the disengagement in eastern Ladakh had been completed, resolving the issues in Depsang and Demchok, and this has set bilateral relations in the direction of “some improvement”. India's next priority will be de-escalation, which will address the massing of troops along the LAC and better management of the border areas.
President Xi sent a congratulatory message to the US-China Business Council (USCBC) for its meeting on December 11, 2024. He reiterated that China and the US stand to benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and expressed Beijing's willingness to expand cooperation, manage differences, and seek long-term peaceful co-existence with the US.
Notwithstanding these sentiments, the US Commerce Department unveiled new regulations aimed at curbing China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductors which are critical to artificial intelligence and military technology. China's Ministry of Commerce criticised these export controls for undermining the international economic and trade order, and threatening global industrial and supply chain stability.
On December 18, 2024, the US Department of Defence released a report on “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China”. Among other things, the report expressed concern over China's rapid expansion and modernisation of its nuclear arsenal, which is reported to have reached 600 operational nuclear warheads by mid-2024. The US estimates that China will have over 1000 nuclear warheads by 2030, and the PLA will continue to expand its nuclear capabilities beyond that.
Reacting sharply, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the US to cease publishing such irresponsible reports, abandon its "Cold War mentality" and "hegemonic" mindset, and maintain stability in bilateral relations by rationally assessing China's strategic policies.
President Xi addressed the annual ‘Central Economic Work Conference’ in Beijing on December 11-12, 2024. He noted that the Chinese economy has remained stable and made steady progress towards advancing high-quality development and fulfilling socio-economic development goals for 2024. While outlining key tasks for 2025, Xi called for a “more proactive fiscal policy” and a “moderately loose monetary policy” to expand domestic demand and boost consumption.
To read this China Monitor, Vol. VII, Issue 12, please see the PDF attached.
