Latest news with #NanjingUniversity
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Could China's Tibet mega dam help boost its sway with South Asian neighbours?
China's latest mega dam on the Tibetan Plateau could help draw neighbouring countries closer into its economic orbit by supplying electricity and boosting growth, analysts have argued. According to some estimates, the dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo will be the world's biggest, producing up to 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam. State news agency Xinhua said over the weekend that its output would 'primarily deliver electricity for external consumption' but would also meet local demand in Tibet. But the project has drawn concerns about the impact on water supply and ecological risks downstream in India and Bangladesh, where the river is known as the Brahmaputra, although Beijing has said it was not seeking to benefit at the 'expense of its neighbours'. India is also worried about Beijing's efforts to strengthen its influence in South Asia, and Chinese observers said the project could help increase its sway over countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, which have long struggled with power shortages. The project 'will undoubtedly become a major power hub for surrounding countries and related neighbouring regions', according to Zhu Feng, dean of the school of international studies at Nanjing University. 'It will have significant strategic value in boosting electricity supply and industrial growth in the surrounding regions,' he said. It would also play an important role in driving economic cooperation with its neighbours, something Beijing has made a priority in light of its rivalry with the US. Lin Minwang, deputy director of Fudan University's Centre for South Asian Studies, said that in the long run, the hydropower project could help draw Southeast and South Asian countries more closely into China's economic orbit through electricity exports. He said India might also benefit from the power generated from the dam, but border tensions would complicate the issue. 'The key issue is political relations,' said Lin. 'Northeast India is a highly sensitive area for New Delhi, and if electricity is to be sent to Bangladesh, it would require a transit route.' India has already been investing heavily in hydropower projects in Nepal and Bhutan to secure its own supplies. 'Whether those countries will choose China or India [for future power imports] is another much bigger question,' Lin added. The dam will be built close to the border with India and flows through Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian-controlled state that China claims as part of southern Tibet. Beijing has previously objected to Indian infrastructure projects in the state. Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Beijing's Renmin University, said the project was first of all designed to meet China's own power needs, and 'whether demand is sufficient in the present domestic economic downturn and whether it is environmentally less risky are other matters'. China has tried to address concerns about the environmental risk posed by the project and its impact on water supplies downstream, and said it would continue to strengthen cooperation with neighbouring countries. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that the project 'aims to accelerate the development of clean energy' and 'comprehensive ecological and environmental protection measures' would be adopted. 'It will, as a by-product, aggravate the tensions with India and attract some Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries to China's power diplomacy. So it has double effects both internal and external,' Shi said. 'It will correspondingly increase China's influence [in Southeast Asia], in a competitive geopolitical arena over which the US and its allies have somewhat preponderance, especially because of [Donald] Trump's most recent trade agreements.' Lu Gang, director of the Institute of International Studies at East China Normal University, said ensuring stable power supplies for its neighbours could 'help shape a positive image of China'. '[This] will build trust with other countries. And, naturally, economic dependence will follow,' Lu said. He also said the project may also have a longer-term strategic impact on regions such as Central Asia. 'For Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan – both have abundant hydropower resources, but their infrastructure is weak. So if the project in Tibet is successfully implemented and generates economic benefits, it will serve as a stimulus,' he said. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Could China's Tibet mega dam help boost its sway with South Asian neighbours?
Advertisement According to some estimates, the dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo will be the world's biggest, producing up to 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam. State news agency Xinhua said over the weekend that its output would 'primarily deliver electricity for external consumption' but would also meet local demand in Tibet. But the project has drawn concerns about the impact on water supply and ecological risks downstream in India and Bangladesh, where the river is known as the Brahmaputra, although Beijing has said it was not seeking to benefit at the 'expense of its neighbours' India is also worried about Beijing's efforts to strengthen its influence in South Asia, and Chinese observers said the project could help increase its sway over countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, which have long struggled with power shortages. Advertisement The project 'will undoubtedly become a major power hub for surrounding countries and related neighbouring regions', according to Zhu Feng, dean of the school of international studies at Nanjing University.
Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Japanese hitchhiker experiences authentic China beyond tourist trails
Tanikawa poses for a photo before leaving Nanjing University on the first day of his journey in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Jan 21, 2025. – Xinhua photo NANJING (July 12): Far from an impulsive adventure, Japanese student Tanikawa Hibiki's over 3,000-km hitchhike from Nanjing to Urumqi on a tight budget and schedule was a thought-out plan to experience the real China. After coming across some stereotypes on how Chinese and Japanese people perceive each other, the 24-year-old felt reality might tell a different story. 'Only by communicating with Chinese people can one see the real China,' he said. With that belief in mind, Tanikawa, who is a postgraduate student at the School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing University, set out on a unique journey on Jan 21 this year. 'I want to understand China through its people, not just view China as a foreigner,' Tanikawa added, noting that beyond this social exploration, he also wanted to discover more of the country and meet as many people as possible. Before setting out on his hitchhiking journey, Tanikawa picked up a camera for the first time to document the lives of ordinary Chinese people. At the start of his journey, he conducted a 'social experiment' by asking drivers if they were willing to give him a ride. If they said yes, he would then reveal that he was Japanese to see whether they would change their minds. Traveling from Nanjing to Urumqi, Tanikawa's journey involved more than a dozen car rides. Of the 17 drivers he encountered, only one refused him after learning that he was Japanese. Most, upon learning his nationality, still chose kindness and offered their help. What impressed him most was a driver who openly admitted to holding negative views about Japanese people but still offered help to Tanikawa, simply because helping others had been a habit since childhood. Tanikawa said this encounter made him rethink the true meaning of kindness. Tanikawa poses for a photo during his journey in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, on Feb 5, 2025. – Xinhua photo Along the journey, Tanikawa embraced a variety of authentic experiences. He took time to adjust to the accent of a northwestern couple, watched students returning to school aboard a slow green train, chatted with a young driver about cartoons, and listened to another driver in the city of Luoyang in Henan Province explain how the city's architecture inspired Kyoto's. These moments – some new, some engaging, some profoundly meaningful – combined to shape Tanikawa's deeper understanding of the real China. 'The hardest part of the journey was not getting a ride and being stuck in one place,' Tanikawa said. 'Luckily, I could sometimes chat with passersby, and it felt like a recharge.' Looking back on the challenges he encountered, he vividly remembers the emotions and feels grateful for having embraced a mindset that allowed him to welcome the uncertainties of the journey. On the second day of his journey, while in Taihe County, east China's Anhui Province, Tanikawa was struck by severe stomach pain and abandoned his plan to stay in a tent, opting for a hotel instead. 'I experienced the same in Xinjiang,' he recalled. 'I really enjoyed eating lamb skewers. The meat was cut into big, satisfying chunks. But my digestion couldn't keep up. At night, I felt uncomfortable and had to sleep holding my stomach.' On the eighth day of his journey, Tanikawa celebrated his first truly memorable Chinese Spring Festival at a classmate's home in Luoyang. It was New Year's Eve, and sitting around the tea table with his classmate's family, he savored the festive feast and heartfelt conversations about life. Tanikawa said he felt like he had become part of an ordinary Chinese family. Coming from Japan, where personal space is highly valued and people tend to keep their distance, Tanikawa found himself immersed in China, filled with warmth and close personal connections. He spoke candidly about how this experience transformed his outlook. 'At first, everyone thought I was very shy because I wasn't used to such closeness. But gradually, as I communicated more with Chinese people, our bonds grew stronger. 'If I could speak to my past self, I'd say: 'Don't worry so much. As long as you're not hurting others, it's okay to be more direct'.' Throughout his 30-day hitchhiking journey, despite numerous challenges, Tanikawa experienced the warmth and sincerity of China and was deeply touched by the countless kind-hearted faces of ordinary people. 'What I experienced wasn't just a hitchhiking trip, but a journey through the very fabric of a nation,' he said. Tanikawa added that his journey is just beginning, and he intends to continue savoring the most authentic sides of China with every step. 'I'm planning to visit Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan during the summer break. I'd love to go to Xizang as well, but I'll need to save up before making that trip.' – Xinhua adventure China hitchhike Japanese Tanikawa Hibiki Xinhua
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will US tariff pressure on Japan and South Korea push them closer to China?
Even as Washington ramps up pressure on Japan and South Korea to settle trade disputes with the US, diplomatic observers believe tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are not likely to push its two Asian allies closer to Beijing. However, they suggest that the trade tensions could create an opportunity for China to offer stronger incentives to enhance trilateral cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul. The assessment was made following US announcements that reciprocal tariffs on Japan and South Korea had been raised to 25 per cent , effective from August 1. Zhang Yun, a professor of international relations at Nanjing University, said that tariff tensions might bring the three countries to develop closer ties, but Tokyo and Seoul would not abandon their alliance with Washington. 01:42 Trump imposes 25% unilateral tariffs on Japan, South Korea amid slow negotiation progress Trump imposes 25% unilateral tariffs on Japan, South Korea amid slow negotiation progress He added that the pragmatic and less ideology-driven characteristics of Japanese and Korean leaders pushed them to pursue stable ties with China, which would be inclined to offer further incentives to promote economic cooperation.
The Star
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Once a beauty queen, Vietnamese lass wins full scholarship to study data science in China
Le Thi Ngoc Anh on her graduation day. -- Photo provided to VnExpress HANOI (VnExpress - Vietnam News): Once a beauty queen, now a data scientist-in-the-making, Vietnamese Le Thi Ngoc Anh's journey is anything but ordinary. The 25-year-old, crowned Miss Vietnam National University in 2019, has just completed her first year pursuing a master's degree in Information Management at China's Nanjing University, one of the country's top six institutions according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Her place at the elite university comes with a full scholarship from the Chinese government, a prestigious award she earned through grit, reinvention, and a year of disciplined preparation. Ngoc Anh earned a degree in English Language from Hanoi's University of Languages and International Studies, before entering the healthcare marketing field following her pageant win. The role sparked an unexpected passion for consumer behavior, business strategy, and data-driven decision-making. "I finally understood the core principles of marketing and sales," she said. "Not just following orders or gut instinct; real strategy requires long-term vision." But the realization also exposed a weakness: data analysis. Determined to close that gap, she decided to pursue a second master's degree, this time in applied data science. Her first attempt to secure a scholarship in China fell flat. She missed the national deadline and was rejected by a city-level fund in Shanghai. "I was overconfident," she admitted. "I didn't research the process properly. My study plan wasn't deep or convincing enough." Rather than give up, she regrouped. She enrolled in a joint master's program in marketing, sales, and services offered by the French-Vietnamese Center for Management (CFVG) and IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School, becoming the youngest student accepted. After graduating, she returned to the scholarship process with renewed focus and sharper strategy. She rewrote her study plan to align closely with Nanjing University's curriculum, proposed a specific thesis topic, referenced a professor's research that matched her interests, and clearly articulated how the program fit into her long-term career goals. She also retook the IELTS, scoring 7.5, refined her motivation letter, secured strong recommendations and included certifications in soft skills. The hard work paid off. She passed both the document review and interview stages, impressing evaluators with her clarity, confidence and critical thinking. "They wanted to check if I really understood my own plan," she said. "Because I'd prepared thoroughly, I could speak with confidence." Anh's former lecturer, Nguyen Hong Yen, praised her determination and discipline: "What I admire most is her willingness to confront her weaknesses head-on. She's serious, professional, and always well-prepared." Now back in Vietnam for the summer, Anh plans to share her experiences online, aiming to inspire other young people, especially women, to pursue non-traditional paths and take ownership of their growth. "A strong application shows more than ambition," she said. "It shows commitment, not just to studying, but to the impact you want to make afterward." - VnExpress - Vietnam News
