China
Jiang Zemin Appears, Squelching Death Rumors
Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese president and Communist party chief, made a surprise appearance in public Sunday for the first time since he was reported to be seriously ill– and possibly dead –three months ago. Mr. Jiang, who is 85 years old, took a seat on stage among other Chinese leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty imperial government in 1911. State-run China Central Television showed Mr. Jiang, who retired as party chief in 2002 and as president in 2003, waving and listening to speeches during the ceremony, although his hair seemed to have thinned and at one moment he appeared to be falling asleep. Mr. Jiang, who came to power after the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests around Tiananmen Square in 1989, failed to appear at a similar ceremony in July to mark the 90th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party’s founding, sparking widespread rumors that he was either dead or at the point of death. The Chinese government is extremely secretive about the health of its leaders, not least because the deaths or funerals of previous party chiefs have often been triggers for political unrest, including the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989. Chinese censors suppressed the rumors about Mr. Jiang’s health online and forbade state media from reporting them, but at least one media outlet in Hong Kong –a former British colony which is allowed greater media freedom–reported that he had actually died in early July. The state-run Xinhua news agency eventually published a rare denial, quoting “authoritative sources” saying the reports were “pure rumor.” Although Mr. Jiang hasn’t played an active role in day-to-day decision-making since his retirement, he has still been consulted on major party decisions, copied in on many important internal documents, and permitted to write notes alongside them, according to Chinese and Western political analysts. Those observers say he and other retired leaders also have a say in the selection of the next Party Politburo Standing Committee – the top decision-making body – which is due to see seven of its nine members retire next year in the biggest shakeup in a decade. Vice President Xi Jinping, 58, has already been anointed as the next party chief and president through his promotion to a key military post last year, but other seats on the Standing Committee are up for grabs and will be decided through horse-trading and maneuvering between various interest groups. Mr. Jiang helped to promote several key allies to the 25-person Politburo and the Standing Committee to preserve his political influence after he was succeeded as party chief by Hu Jintao in 2002, according to political analysts. – Jeremy Page
Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese president and Communist party chief, made a surprise appearance in public Sunday for the first time since he was reported to be seriously ill– and possibly dead –three months ago. Mr. Jiang, who is 85 years old, took a seat on stage among other Chinese leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty imperial government in 1911. State-run China Central Television showed Mr. Jiang, who retired as party chief in 2002 and as president in 2003, waving and listening to speeches during the ceremony, although his hair seemed to have thinned and at one moment he appeared to be falling asleep. Mr. Jiang, who came to power after the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests around Tiananmen Square in 1989, failed to appear at a similar ceremony in July to mark the 90th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party’s founding, sparking widespread rumors that he was either dead or at the point of death. The Chinese government is extremely secretive about the health of its leaders, not least because the deaths or funerals of previous party chiefs have often been triggers for political unrest, including the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989. Chinese censors suppressed the rumors about Mr. Jiang’s health online and forbade state media from reporting them, but at least one media outlet in Hong Kong –a former British colony which is allowed greater media freedom–reported that he had actually died in early July. The state-run Xinhua news agency eventually published a rare denial, quoting “authoritative sources” saying the reports were “pure rumor.” Although Mr. Jiang hasn’t played an active role in day-to-day decision-making since his retirement, he has still been consulted on major party decisions, copied in on many important internal documents, and permitted to write notes alongside them, according to Chinese and Western political analysts. Those observers say he and other retired leaders also have a say in the selection of the next Party Politburo Standing Committee – the top decision-making body – which is due to see seven of its nine members retire next year in the biggest shakeup in a decade. Vice President Xi Jinping, 58, has already been anointed as the next party chief and president through his promotion to a key military post last year, but other seats on the Standing Committee are up for grabs and will be decided through horse-trading and maneuvering between various interest groups. Mr. Jiang helped to promote several key allies to the 25-person Politburo and the Standing Committee to preserve his political influence after he was succeeded as party chief by Hu Jintao in 2002, according to political analysts. – Jeremy Page
Go here to read the rest:
Jiang Zemin Appears, Squelching Death Rumors
China
China Implements New Policies to Boost Foreign Investment in Science and Technology Companies
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced new policy measures on April 19, 2023, to encourage foreign investment in the technology sector. The measures include facilitating bond issuance, improving the investment environment, and simplifying procedures for foreign institutions to access the Chinese market.
On April 19, 2023, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) along with nine other departments announced a new set of policy measures (hereinafter, “new measures”) aimed at encouraging foreign investment in its technology sector.
Among the new measures, China intends to facilitate the issuance of RMB bonds by eligible overseas institutions and encourage both domestic and foreign-invested tech companies to raise funds through bond issuance.
In this article, we offer an overview of the new measures and their broader significance in fostering international investment and driving innovation-driven growth, underscoring China’s efforts to instill confidence among foreign investors.
The new measures contain a total of sixteen points aimed at facilitating foreign investment in China’s technology sector and improving the overall investment environment.
Divided into four main chapters, the new measures address key aspects including:
Firstly, China aims to expedite the approval process for QFII and RQFII, ensuring efficient access to the Chinese market. Moreover, the government promises to simplify procedures, facilitating operational activities and fund management for foreign institutions.
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.
China
Q1 2024 Brief on Transfer Pricing in Asia
Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance released Regulation No. 172 of 2023 on transfer pricing, consolidating various guidelines. The Directorate General of Taxes focuses on compliance, expanded arm’s length principle, and substance checks. Singapore’s Budget 2024 addresses economic challenges, operational costs, and sustainability, implementing global tax reforms like the Income Inclusion Rule and Domestic Top-up Tax.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) has released Regulation No. 172 of 2023 (“PMK-172”), which prevails as a unified transfer pricing guideline. PMK-172 consolidates various transfer pricing matters that were previously covered under separate regulations, including the application of the arm’s length principle, transfer pricing documentation requirements, transfer pricing adjustments, Mutual Agreement Procedure (“MAP”), and Advance Pricing Agreements (“APA”).
The Indonesian Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) has continued to focus on compliance with the ex-ante principle, the expanded scope of transactions subject to the arm’s length principle, and the reinforcement of substance checks as part of the preliminary stage, indicating the DGT’s expectation of meticulous and well-supported transfer pricing analyses conducted by taxpayers.
In conclusion, PMK-172 reflects the Indonesian government’s commitment to addressing some of the most controversial transfer pricing issues and promoting clarity and certainty. While it brings new opportunities, it also presents challenges. Taxpayers are strongly advised to evaluate the implications of these new guidelines on their businesses in Indonesia to navigate this transformative regulatory landscape successfully.
In a significant move to bolster economic resilience and sustainability, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr. Lawrence Wong, unveiled the ambitious Singapore Budget 2024 on February 16, 2024. Amidst global economic fluctuations and a pressing climate crisis, the Budget strategically addresses the dual challenges of rising operational costs and the imperative for sustainable development, marking a pivotal step towards fortifying Singapore’s position as a competitive and green economy.
In anticipation of global tax reforms, Singapore’s proactive steps to implement the Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) and Domestic Top-up Tax (DTT) under the BEPS 2.0 framework demonstrate a forward-looking approach to ensure tax compliance and fairness. These measures reaffirm Singapore’s commitment to international tax standards while safeguarding its economic interests.
Transfer pricing highlights from the Singapore Budget 2024 include:
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.
China
New Report from Dezan Shira & Associates: China Takes the Lead in Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024
China has been the world’s largest manufacturer for 14 years, producing one-third of global manufacturing output. In the Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024, China ranks highest among eight emerging countries in the region. Challenges for these countries include global demand disparities affecting industrial output and export orders.
Known as the “World’s Factory”, China has held the title of the world’s largest manufacturer for 14 consecutive years, starting from 2010. Its factories churn out approximately one-third of the global manufacturing output, a testament to its industrial might and capacity.
China’s dominant role as the world’s sole manufacturing power is reaffirmed in Dezan Shira & Associates’ Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024 report (“EAMI 2024”), in which China secures the top spot among eight emerging countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The other seven economies are India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
The EAMI 2024 aims to assess the potential of these eight economies, navigate the risks, and pinpoint specific factors affecting the manufacturing landscape.
In this article, we delve into the key findings of the EAMI 2024 report and navigate China’s advantages and disadvantages in the manufacturing sector, placing them within the Asia-Pacific comparative context.
Emerging Asia countries face various challenges, especially in the current phase of increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). One notable challenge is the impact of global demand disparities on the manufacturing sector, affecting industrial output and export orders.
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.
- China Implements New Policies to Boost Foreign Investment in Science and Technology Companies
- Q1 2024 Brief on Transfer Pricing in Asia
- New Report from Dezan Shira & Associates: China Takes the Lead in Emerging Asia Manufacturing Index 2024
- Is journalist Vicky Xu preparing to return to China?
- Guide for Foreign Residents: Obtaining a Certificate of No Criminal Record in China
- China Unveils Plan to Upgrade Industrial Equipment
