To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland as well as the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wilson Chi-Ian Lam, a renowned Macao designer has unveiled a vibrate set of stamps honoring the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison stationed in Macao. In the first part of the Friday-aired documentary, "25 Years of Lotus Bond," produced by the China Media Group (CMG) to commemorate Macao's return, Lam, respected as the best cultural artifact designer in Macao, shared his story as the designer of the special set of stamps. "I think it is very representative. It is about a major national affair, so the theme of the stamps is quite serious. But I chose to use rich colors, which made the stamps look vibrate,"said Lin. With bright colors and a realistic approach to depict the PLA garrison, the stamps capture various scenes of the garrison in action, safeguarding Macao and engaging with the local community.
Over the past 25 years, the garrison has successfully carried out its defense duties. By strictly abiding by regulations and actively participating in community service, the garrison has upheld its reputation as a strong, disciplined, and trustworthy force in the hearts of the local people.
Stamp designer makes vivid embodiment of PLA garrison in Macao
EU is employing double standards in its electric vehicle (EV) policies, unfairly targeting Chinese EV imports with tariffs and subsidies, according to experts at the 17th Forum on WTO Laws and China opened in Guangzhou City of south China's Guangdong Province on Saturday.
One of the highlights was the release of a blue book titled "The EU's Industrial Subsidy Policy for Lithium Batteries, PV Products and Electric Vehicles in the Name of Green Transition", which claims that while continuing to impose anti-subsidy tariffs on imported Chinese electric cars, the EU is subsidizing domestic EVs, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products.
Shi Xiaoli, the book's lead researcher, claimed that while the EU restricts state aid that might cause market distortions, numerous exemptions still exist, which ultimately allows subsidies across these three sectors.
"For example, one of the exemptions is that even if a subsidy in a certain country distorts the EU market, even significantly, if it still aligns with the EU's long-term common interests, it can remain. The scope of European common interest projects is continuously expanding, and it includes these three industries," said Shi Xiaoli, Director, WTO Law Research Center.
The book reveals that EU member states heavily subsidize electric vehicles, with substantial support covering the entire industrial chain.
At the same time, the EU has recently introduced new tariffs of up to 35 percent on imported Chinese EVs. That's in addition to the existing 10 percent duty, which some experts deemed as counterproductive.
"We believe this policy is discriminatory. The EU acknowledges that Chinese electric vehicles have caused no harm to its EV sector. The EU's trade protectionist measures are in fact more detrimental to itself. While it may protect its market in the short term, once these measures are lifted, its technology and other aspects may fall even further behind," said Sun Xiaohong, secretary-general of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME).
A lawyer at the event argued that the EU's actions are not typical trade measures, but an attempt to curb China's EV sector growth.
"Subsidies for emerging industries exist in every country, including the United States and the European Union. Also, this time the European Commission initiated the case on its own authority, marking the first use of a special legal rule in the anti-subsidy investigation against Chinese export enterprises," said Pu Lingchen, Partner, Chance Bridge Law Firm.
The EU has given itself quite the ambitious goal - starting in 2035 all new cars sold will be emissions free.
Those involved in crafting of the blue book believed that EVs will be crucial in achieving this target. But they have also said that if Chinese imported EVs come with a higher price tag, then the EU's ambitious plan will certainly face difficulties.
Chinese think tank criticizes EU's double standards on electric vehicles
