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Taiwan’s ‘Night Market Hero’ Makes Mainland Debut

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Taiwan actress Wang Tsai-hua, left, and Ke Chia-yen promote their film “Night Market Hero” in Taipei this week. More In film Bruce Lee Museum Put on Hold Donnie Yen: The Last Action Hero Zhang Ziyi’s Favorite Films Paz Vega: China’s Next Movie Star? Warner Bros. to Offer On-Demand Movies in China For Chinese moviegoers weary of the box-office-dominating propaganda film “Beginning of the Great Revival,” there is a lighter option en route from across the Strait. On July 12, the Taiwanese film “Night Market Hero” will open in 14 Chinese cities, becoming the first under new regulations that exempt Taiwanese movies from Beijing’s import quotas that limit the release of foreign films (only 50 a year are allowed in the mainland). The movie centers on a band of food hawkers seeking to save their night market from being turned into an apartment block by a corrupt politician and an unscrupulous developer. Although the Taiwanese government has billed the movie—which features iconic night-market treats like peppered steak and fried chicken— as a potential boon to tourism, the release also marks an opportunity for Taiwan’s film industry, past its glory days in the ’80s and ’90s when directors like Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien were putting out movies that still feature prominently in the pantheon of Chinese-language cinema. It remains to be seen how much money “Night Market Hero,” which will be released in mainland China by Bona Film Group Ltd. can bring in—US$4.9 million in Taiwan—but for a film industry with a domestic audience of only 22 million, every little bit counts. When the 2008 Taiwanese hit “Cape No. 7” was released in mainland China it earned only 20 million yuan (US$3.1 million), large by Taiwan standards, but peanuts by Chinese standards, says Wen-ching Chu, the head of Taiwan’s Government Information Office department of motion pictures. That puts some pressure on “Night Market Hero,” which Mr. Chu says has the eye of many Chinese film distributors looking to gauge how popular Taiwanese films will be in the Chinese market. Judging by the popularity of Taiwanese television in China, there will undoubtedly be interest. The common cliche in Taiwan is that mainland Chinese tourists who visit the island often fail to leave their hotel rooms at night they are so taken by evening variety shows. But “Night Market Hero” faces a unique set of challenges. True to the local side of Taiwanese culture it depicts, the movie is in the Hokkien dialect, spoken across Taiwan but incomprehensible to most residents of cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, where the movie will play. According to Mr. Chu, the movie will be translated into Chinese slang, but there is a strong possibility the translations of the dialect, which has its own sayings and jokes, will fall flat in Mandarin. Still, even if the translation doesn’t sparkle, the movie’s political elements may resonate with mainland audiences at a time when independent politicians are increasingly declaring their candidacy in county and township elections. In the film, the market democratically elects the film’s protagonist to stand up against the more powerful forces that want to shut it down. The rest of the characters, meanwhile, are free to protest and harness the power of the media to spread word of their plight. In Taiwan there is a well-worn idea that the best solution to the seemingly intractable cross-Strait political divide is for Taiwan to influence the mainland from within, holding itself up as an example of a democratic model.  One way to promote that model is through movies, assuming they can get past the government’s censors, as “Night Market Hero” did. And even if future movies do less to propel political ideas—the next Taiwanese movie slated to come out in the mainland is a romantic comedy called “L-O-V-E” –the larger China market offers great potential for a Taiwanese film industry that has often had much to say, but rarely enough people to say it to. –Paul Mozur and Jenny W. Hsu

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Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Taiwan actress Wang Tsai-hua, left, and Ke Chia-yen promote their film “Night Market Hero” in Taipei this week.

For Chinese moviegoers weary of the box-office-dominating propaganda film “Beginning of the Great Revival,” there is a lighter option en route from across the Strait.

On July 12, the Taiwanese film “Night Market Hero” will open in 14 Chinese cities, becoming the first under new regulations that exempt Taiwanese movies from Beijing’s import quotas that limit the release of foreign films (only 50 a year are allowed in the mainland). The movie centers on a band of food hawkers seeking to save their night market from being turned into an apartment block by a corrupt politician and an unscrupulous developer.

Although the Taiwanese government has billed the movie—which features iconic night-market treats like peppered steak and fried chicken— as a potential boon to tourism, the release also marks an opportunity for Taiwan’s film industry, past its glory days in the ’80s and ’90s when directors like Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien were putting out movies that still feature prominently in the pantheon of Chinese-language cinema.

It remains to be seen how much money “Night Market Hero,” which will be released in mainland China by Bona Film Group Ltd. can bring in—US$4.9 million in Taiwan—but for a film industry with a domestic audience of only 22 million, every little bit counts. When the 2008 Taiwanese hit “Cape No. 7” was released in mainland China it earned only 20 million yuan (US$3.1 million), large by Taiwan standards, but peanuts by Chinese standards, says Wen-ching Chu, the head of Taiwan’s Government Information Office department of motion pictures.

That puts some pressure on “Night Market Hero,” which Mr. Chu says has the eye of many Chinese film distributors looking to gauge how popular Taiwanese films will be in the Chinese market. Judging by the popularity of Taiwanese television in China, there will undoubtedly be interest. The common cliche in Taiwan is that mainland Chinese tourists who visit the island often fail to leave their hotel rooms at night they are so taken by evening variety shows.

But “Night Market Hero” faces a unique set of challenges. True to the local side of Taiwanese culture it depicts, the movie is in the Hokkien dialect, spoken across Taiwan but incomprehensible to most residents of cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, where the movie will play. According to Mr. Chu, the movie will be translated into Chinese slang, but there is a strong possibility the translations of the dialect, which has its own sayings and jokes, will fall flat in Mandarin.

Still, even if the translation doesn’t sparkle, the movie’s political elements may resonate with mainland audiences at a time when independent politicians are increasingly declaring their candidacy in county and township elections. In the film, the market democratically elects the film’s protagonist to stand up against the more powerful forces that want to shut it down. The rest of the characters, meanwhile, are free to protest and harness the power of the media to spread word of their plight.

In Taiwan there is a well-worn idea that the best solution to the seemingly intractable cross-Strait political divide is for Taiwan to influence the mainland from within, holding itself up as an example of a democratic model.  One way to promote that model is through movies, assuming they can get past the government’s censors, as “Night Market Hero” did.

And even if future movies do less to propel political ideas—the next Taiwanese movie slated to come out in the mainland is a romantic comedy called “L-O-V-E” –the larger China market offers great potential for a Taiwanese film industry that has often had much to say, but rarely enough people to say it to.

–Paul Mozur and Jenny W. Hsu

China’s economy during the past 30 years has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy.

One demographic consequence of the “one child” policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world.

China is also the second largest trading nation in the world and the largest exporter and second largest importer of goods.
The PRC government’s decision to permit China to be used by multinational corporations as an export platform has made the country a major competitor to other Asian export-led economies, such as South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Available energy is insufficient to run at fully installed industrial capacity, and the transport system is inadequate to move sufficient quantities of such critical items as coal.

Agricultural output has been vulnerable to the effects of weather, while industry has been more directly influenced by the government.

China has acquired some highly sophisticated production facilities through trade and also has built a number of advanced engineering plants capable of manufacturing an increasing range of sophisticated equipment, including nuclear weapons and satellites, but most of its industrial output still comes from relatively ill-equipped factories.

The market-oriented reforms China has implemented over the past two decades have unleashed individual initiative and entrepreneurship, whilst retaining state domination of the economy.

China now ranks as the fifth largest global investor in outbound direct investment (ODI) with a total volume of $56.5 billion, compared to a ranking of 12th in 2008, the Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday.

“The growth rate (for ODI) in the next few years will be much higher than previous years,” Shen said, without elaborating.

China is aiming to be the world’s largest new energy vehicle market by 2020 with 5 million cars.

China’s challenge in the early 21st century will be to balance its highly centralized political system with an increasingly decentralized economic system.

Since the late 1970s, China has decollectivized agriculture, yielding tremendous gains in production.

Except for the oasis farming in Xinjiang and Qinghai, some irrigated areas in Inner Mongolia and Gansu, and sheltered valleys in Tibet, agricultural production is restricted to the east.

Due to improved technology, the fishing industry has grown considerably since the late 1970s.

China is one of the world’s major mineral-producing countries.

Alumina is found in many parts of the country; China is one of world’s largest producers of aluminum.

China also has extensive hydroelectric energy potential, notably in Yunnan, W Sichuan, and E Tibet, although hydroelectric power accounts for only 5% of the country’s total energy production.

Brick, tile, cement, and food-processing plants are found in almost every province.

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Taiwan’s ‘Night Market Hero’ Makes Mainland Debut

China

Trends and Future Prospects of Bilateral Direct Investment between China and Germany

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China and Germany experienced a decline in direct investment in 2023 due to global economic uncertainty and policy changes. Despite this, China remains an attractive destination for German FDI. Key industries like automotive and advanced manufacturing continue to draw investors, although FDI outflows from Germany to China decreased by 30% in the first three quarters of 2023. Despite this, the actual use of foreign capital from Germany to China increased by 21% in the same period according to MOFCOM. The Deutsche Bundesbank’s FDI data and MOFCOM’s actual use of foreign capital provide different perspectives on the investment trends between the two countries.


Direct investment between China and Germany declined in 2023, due to a range of factors from global economic uncertainty to policy changes. However, China remains an important destination for German foreign direct investment (FDI), and key industries in both countries continue to excite investors. We look at the latest direct investment data between Germany and China to analyze the latest trends and discuss key factors that could shape future business and commercial ties.

Direct investment between China and Germany has undergone profound changes over the past decade. An increasingly complex investment environment for companies in both countries has led to falling two-way FDI figures in the first three quarters of 2023, in stark contrast to positive trends seen in 2022.

At the same time, industries with high growth potential, such as automotive and advanced manufacturing, continue to attract German companies to China, and high levels of reinvested earnings suggest established firms are doubling down on their commitments in the Chinese market. In Germany, the potential for electric vehicle (EV) sales is buoying otherwise low investment among Chinese companies.

According to data from Deutsche Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, total FDI outflows from Germany to China fell in the first three quarters of 2023, declining by 30 percent to a total of EUR 7.98 billion.

This is a marked reversal of trends from 2022, when FDI flows from Germany to China reached a record EUR 11.4 billion, up 14.7 percent year-on-year.

However, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the actual use of foreign capital from Germany to China increased by 21 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2023. The Deutsche Bundesbank’s FDI data, which follows standards set by the IMF, the OECD, and the European Central Bank (ECB), includes a broader scope of transactions within its direct investment data, including, broadly, direct investment positions, direct investment income flows, and direct investment financial flows.

Meanwhile, the actual use of foreign capital recorded by MOFCOM includes contracted foreign capital that has been concluded, including the registered and working capital paid by foreign investors, as well as the transaction consideration paid for the transferred equity of domestic investors.

This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.

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Manila blasts China’s ‘unprovoked aggression’ in latest South China Sea incident

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China’s coast guard on Saturday fired a water cannon at a Philippine supply boat in disputed waters in the South China Sea, causing “significant damages to the vessel” and injuring its crew, the Philippine coast guard said.

Manila was attempting to resupply troops stationed on a ship at the Second Thomas Shoal, known locally as Ayungin Shoal, when the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia “harassed, blocked, deployed water cannons, and executed dangerous maneuvers against the routine RoRe (rotation and resupply) mission,” said the Philippine National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

The West Philippine Sea is the part of the South China Sea that Manila claims as its jurisdiction.

The Chinese coast guard also set up “a floating barrier” to block access to shoal where Manila ran aground an old warship, BRP Sierra Madre, to serve as a military outpost.

The Philippine task force condemned China’s “unprovoked aggression, coercion, and dangerous maneuvers.”

Philippines’ RoRe missions have been regularly blocked by China’s coast guard, but this is the first time a barrier was set up near the shoal. 

The Philippine coast guard nevertheless claimed that the mission on Saturday was accomplished.

Potential consequences

The Second Thomas Shoal lies within the country’s exclusive economic zone where Manila holds sovereign rights. 

China, however, claims historic rights over most of the South China Sea, including the Spratly archipelago, which the shoal forms a part of.

A Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson on Saturday said the Philippine supply vessel “intruded” into the waters near the shoal, called Ren’ai Jiao in Chinese, “without permission from the Chinese government.”

“China coast guard took necessary measures at sea in accordance with law to safeguard China’s rights, firmly obstructed the Philippines’ vessels, and foiled the Philippines’ attempt,” the ministry said.

“If the Philippines insists on going its own way, China will continue to adopt resolute measures,” the spokesperson said, warning that Manila “should be prepared to bear all potential consequences.”

Chinese Maritime Militia vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. (Adrian Portugal/Reuters)

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson wrote on social media platform X that her country “stands with the Philippines” against China’s maneuvers.

Beijing’s “interference with the Philippines’ freedom of navigation violates international law and threatens a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she wrote.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu also said that Canberra shares the Philippines’ “serious concerns about dangerous conduct by China’s vessels adjacent to Second Thomas Shoal.” 

“This is part of a pattern of deeply concerning behavior,” Yu wrote on X.

Edited by Jim Snyder.

Read the rest of this article here >>> Manila blasts China’s ‘unprovoked aggression’ in latest South China Sea incident

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Foreigners in China: 2024 Living and Working Guidelines

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China’s Ministry of Commerce released updated guidelines for foreign businesspersons living and working in China in 2024. The guidelines cover accommodations, visas, work permits, and emergency protocols. It also outlines responsibilities regarding social security premiums and individual income tax obligations. prompt registration for temporary accommodation is required upon arrival.


The updated 2024 guidelines for foreign businesspersons living and working in China, released by the country’s Ministry of Commerce, outline essential procedures and considerations covering accommodations, visas, work permits, and emergency protocols.

On January 25, 2024, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) released the latest version of the Guidelines for Foreign Businessmen to Live and Work in China (hereinafter referred to as the “guidelines”).

The document is divided into four main sections, labeled as:

Furthermore, the guidelines elucidate the regulatory framework governing foreign businessperson’s responsibilities concerning social security premiums and individual income tax obligations.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the guidelines, delving into their significance and implications for foreign businesspersons in China.

Upon arrival in China, prompt registration for temporary accommodation is required.

If staying in a hotel, registration can be facilitated by the hotel staff upon presentation of a valid passport or international travel documents.

This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.

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