Development of Agricultural Products Trade between China and Four South Asian Countries--An Empirical Analysis Based on Trade Competitiveness and Complementarity

For the purpose of study,based on the data provided by the United Nations Comtrade Database in 2006-2016,and using the trade competitive advantage index,trade intensity index and trade complementarity index,this paper made an empirical analysis on the development of agricultural trade between China and four South Asian countries. The results show that the scale of agricultural trade between China and the four South Asian countries was further expanded,but the growth rate was stable and the trade share declined,but the development potential of both sides has not been fully explored. Generally,China's agricultural products remain at a relatively disadvantaged position. Trade competitiveness and complementarity coexist. There is a large development potential and cooperation space for agricultural products trade between China and four South Asian countries.

An Inquiry into the Approach to Asian Regional Trade Integration Under the Belt and Road Initiative——The Case of the Alignment of a China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Area

It has been five years since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was first introduced. Though there has been a growing body of literature on regional cooperation between covered countries, Japan and South Korea have been barely discussed. This paper starts with the consensus-based mechanism of a China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Area (FTA) to probe the approach of its alignment with the BRI in terms of the sequence of “master plans,”“viability of cooperation,” and “embedding of rules.” This inquiry found that the three countries have a shared interest in cooperation in Central Asia to which China prefers a pragmatic approach, while Japan and South Korea an approach combining idealism with pragmatism. Given the huge potential of cooperation between the trio, it is suggested that a “Central Asia chapter” be incorporated in the negotiation framework of this trilateral FTA, and that the design feature three aspects;fundamental principles, specific rules, and an executive body with a view to functionally contributing to regional trade integration in Asia. This approach may also be applied to the alignment of other Asian areas with the BRI.

Exploring the moderating role of financial development in environmental Kuznets curve for South Africa:fresh evidence from the novel dynamic ARDL simulations approach

The extant literature has produced mixed evidence on the relationship between finan-cial development and ecological sustainability.This work addresses this conundrum by investigating financial development’s direct and indirect consequences on ecologi-cal quality utilizing the environmental Kuznets curve(EKC)methodological approach.Our empirical analysis is based on the novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulations approach for South Africa between 1960 and 2020.The results,which used five distinct financial development measures,demonstrate that financial develop-ment boosts ecological integrity and environmental sustainability over the long and short terms.In the instance of South Africa,we additionally confirm the validity of the EKC theory.More importantly,the outcomes of the indirect channels demonstrate that financial development increases energy usage’s role in causing pollution while attenuating the detrimental impacts of economic growth,trade openness,and foreign direct investment on ecological quality.Moreover,the presence of an inadequate financial system is a requirement for the basis of the pollution haven hypothesis(PHH),which we examine using trade openness and foreign direct investment variables.PHH for both of these variables disappears when financial development crosses specified thresholds.Finally,industrial value addition destroys ecological quality while tech-nological innovation enhances it.This research provides some crucial policy recom-mendations and fresh perspectives for South Africa as it develops national initiatives to support ecological sustainability and reach its net zero emissions goal.

Revisiting the nexus between fiscal decentralization and CO_(2)emissions in South Africa:fresh policy insights

The argument over fiscal decentralization and carbon dioxide emission(CO_(2))reduction has received much attention.However,evidence to back this claim is limited.Economic theory predicts that fiscal decentralization affects environmental quality,but the specifics of this relationship are still up for debate.Some scholars noted that fiscal decentralization might lead to a race to the top,whereas others contended that it would result in a race to the bottom.In light of the current debates in environmental and development economics,this study aims to provide insight into how this relationship may function in South Africa from 1960 to 2020.In contrast to the existing research,the present study uses a novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulation approach to assess the positive and negative changes in fiscal decentralization,scale effect,technique effect,technological innovation,foreign direct investment,energy consumption,industrial growth,and trade openness on CO_(2)emissions.The following are the main findings:(i)Fiscal decentralization had a CO_(2)emission reduction impact in the short and long run,highlighting the presence of the race to the top approach.(ii)Economic growth(as represented by the scale effect)eroded ecological integrity.However,its square(as expressed by technique effect)aided in strengthening ecological protection,validating the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis.(iii)CO_(2)emissions were driven by energy utilization,trade openness,industrial value-added,and foreign direct investment,whereas technological innovation boosted ecological integrity.Findings suggest that further fiscal decentralization should be undertaken through further devolution of power to local entities,particularly regarding environmental policy issues,to maintain South Africa’s ecological sustainability.South Africa should also establish policies to improve environmental sustainability by strengthening a lower layer of government and clarifying responsibilities at the national and local levels to fulfill the energy-saving functions of fiscal expenditures.

The 30–60-day Intraseasonal Variability of Sea Surface Temperature in the South China Sea during May–September

This study investigates the structure and propagation of intraseasonal sea surface temperature（SST） variability in the South China Sea（SCS） on the 30-60-day timescale during boreal summer（May-September）. TRMM-based SST, GODAS oceanic reanalysis and ERA-Interim atmospheric reanalysis datasets from 1998 to 2013 are used to examine quantitatively the atmospheric thermodynamic and oceanic dynamic mechanisms responsible for its formation. Power spectra show that the 30-60-day SST variability is predominant, accounting for 60% of the variance of the 10-90-day variability over most of the SCS. Composite analyses demonstrate that the 30-60-day SST variability is characterized by the alternate occurrence of basin-wide positive and negative SST anomalies in the SCS, with positive（negative） SST anomalies accompanied by anomalous northeasterlies（southwesterlies）. The transition and expansion of SST anomalies are driven by the monsoonal trough-ridge seesaw pattern that migrates northward from the equator to the northern SCS. Quantitative diagnosis of the composite mixed-layer heat budgets shows that, within a strong 30-60-day cycle, the atmospheric thermal forcing is indeed a dominant factor, with the mixed-layer net heat flux（MNHF） contributing around 60% of the total SST tendency, while vertical entrainment contributes more than 30%. However, the entrainment-induced SST tendency is sometimes as large as the MNHF-induced component, implying that ocean processes are sometimes as important as surface fluxes in generating the30-60-day SST variability in the SCS.

Intact Polar and Core Tetraether Lipids in Sediments from the Haiyang 4 Cold-seep of the Northern South China Sea and their Implications

A number of cold seeps have been discovered in the northern South China Sea(SCS) including the Haiyang 4 cold-seep area where Core 973-5 was collected. Intact polar lipids(IPLs) and core lipids(CLs) were analyzed separately in sediments from Core 973-5. The most abundant lipid biomarkers were isoprenoidal GDGTs(iso GDGTs), with Crenarchaeol and GDGT-0 predominating. IPL-iso GDGTs and CL-iso GDGTs were mainly derived from Thaumarchaeota. IPL-iso GDGTs were mainly produced and retained in situ thus containing most of the in situ microbiological information. Branched GDGTs were predominantly derived from generated in marine production, and mixed with some terrestrial inputs. All IPLs groups presented a high value in the sulfate-methane transition zone(SMTZ). Furthermore, IPL and CL-MI, IPL-R;showed the highest values within the SMTZ, while IPL and CL-R;had the lowest values at the SMTZ, suggesting that the contribution of Methanophila and methanogenic to GDGTs increased, while the contribution of ammonia-oxidizing Archaea to GDGTs decreased at the SMTZ.

Contributions of Overseas Chinese Merchants in South Seas to the Development of Shanghai's International Trade in Modern Times

Contributions of Overseas Chinese Merchants in South Seas to the Development of Shanghai's International Trade in Modern

Differential interformational velocity analysis as an effective direct hydrocarbon indicator under velocity reversal conditions,an example from the anomalously high temperature and over-pressured DF1-1 Gas Field in the Yinggehai Basin,South China Sea

In the DF1-1 Gas Field in the Yinggehai Basin, South China Sea, the velocity-depth plot and velocity spectra show significant variations from a linear trend, exhibiting a distinct reversal phenomenon. Velocity parameters derived from velocity spectral analysis of the seismic data and sonic logs indicate that the interval velocity reverses below 2,100 m (2.2 s two-way time (TWT)) in the DF1-1 Gas Field. Some direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHIs) models developed for the shallow strata cannot be simply applied to the moderately to deeply buried strata for direct exploration target recognition because the velocity reversal has caused the middle-deep gas reservoirs to exhibit a moderate or weak seismic amplitude. The hydrocarbon indicator method of “Differential Interformational Velocity Analysis (DIVA)” with the aid of other hydrocarbon indicating techniques was employed to effectively identify DHIs in the middle-deep strata under velocity inversion. The result has shown that the DIVA technique can be effectively used as a DHI in both the shallow and the middle-deep strata in the study area with the shallow strata characterized by Type I DIVA anomaly and the middle-deep strata characterized by the Type II DIVA anomaly.

COMPARISON STUDY ON THE INTRASEASONAL VARIATIONS IN CIRCULATIONS AND PRECIPITATION MODULATED BY THE TROPICAL CYCLOGENESIS OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA-WESTERN PACIFIC DURING GUANGDONG FLOODING PERIOD

Based on tropical cyclone datasets from Shanghai Typhoon Institute of China Meteorological Administration,the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP,USA) reanalysis data and the rainfall records from 743 stations in China,the impacts of cyclogenesis number over the South China Sea and the western Pacific are studied on the 30-60-day oscillations in the precipitation of Guangdong during the flooding period.The year with more-than-normal (less-than-normal) tropical cyclogenesis is defined as a 'high year' ('low year').In light of the irregular periodic oscillations,the method used to construct the composite life cycle is based on nine consecutive phases in each of the cycles.Phases 1,3,5,and 7 correspond to,respectively,the time when precipitation anomalies reach theminimum,a positive transition (negative-turning-to-positive) phase,the maximum,and a negative transition phase.The results showed that the precipitation of the 30-60-day oscillations is associated with the interaction between a well-organized eastward propagation system from the Arabian Sea/Bay of Bengal and a westward-propagating system (with cyclonic and anticyclonic anomalies in the northwest-southeast direction) from the South China Sea to western Pacific during the high years,whereas the precipitation is affected during a low year by the circulation over the South China Sea and western Pacific (with cyclonic and anticyclonic anomalies in the northeast-southwest direction).During the high year,the warm and wet air mass from the ocean to the west and south are transported to Guangdong by westerly anomalies and an enclosed latitudinal cell,which ascends in the Northern Hemisphere low latitudes and descends in the Southern Hemisphere low latitudes.During the low year,the warm and wet air mass from the ocean to the south is transported to Guangdong by southwesterly wind anomalies and local ascending movements.Because the kinetic energy,westerly,easterly shift,vertical velocity and vapor transportation averaged over (109-119° E,10-20° N) is stronger in high years than those in low years,the precipitation of the 30-60-day oscillations in Guangdong is higher in high years than that in low years.

South China Sea-A Conflict-Prone Place?

A military escalation between China and the United States in the South China Sea(SCS)is staged which resembles the Cold War crisis in Europe in the 1950’s and 1960’s.The PRC has reclaimed and fortified its holdings in the SCS since 2013;in 2017,the US has declared an“Indo-Pacific Strategy”to contain China.Due to differences of interest of the relevant countries,it will be difficult to create an effective united front against China in the near future.It remains to be seen whether armed conflict between China and the US be avoided.

Learning by Doing Effect in North South Trade under the Global Value Chains： An Empirical Analysis of Various Industries in the U.S.

This paper studies the division of labor and economic development under global value chains in North South trade by mainly investigating the changes of production hours and cost per unit along with more and more output and increasing trade value in several industries in the U.S., because the U. S. is at the leading position in the division of labor by global value chains. The empirical evidence reveals that more international outsourcing, there will be more detailed division of labor, and the industry unit production time and production cost will show more declining trend year by year. This is consistent with that the global value chains and the outsourcing play more and more important roles in the international division of labor and economic growth in both developed and developing countries, and helps explain the integration of workforce across countries in the global value chains.

Start of Production at the Ya 13-1 Gas Field in South China Sea

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Stratigraphical Time——Correlation and Mass Extinction Event Near Permian——Triassic Boundary in South China

Shaw's method used to correlate 40 sections across the Permo-Triassic boundary in South China is applied in the paper. Two steps are adopted to get an Integral Composite Section (ICS) by synthesizing these data : First , South China is divided into five areas and composite section developed for each area . Then the second step . the Changxing composite section is regarded as a composite standard (CSRS) while the ICS is produced by matching the CSRS with composite sections of the other areas. Three biozones in the Changxingian and two biozones in the Griesbachian can be discerned on the basis of computing Z values in the ICS. These biozones are marked by the Z values which quantitatively represent their time ranges ; therefore , they may increase accuracy of stratigraphic time correlation . The mass extinction at the end of the Permian is an abrupt event that is supported by the relative rate of extinction near the P/T boundary . About 90% of invertebrate species died out by the end of the Permian . The duration of the mass extinction is rather short ,approximately 0.018Ma .

Zircon U–Pb dating of Pubei granite and strontium isotope from sphalerite of the Xinhua Pb–Zn–(Ag) deposit,Yunkai Area of Guangxi Province,South China

The Yunkai Area is located at the southern South China Block and is part of the Qinzhou Bay-Hangzhou Bay Metallogenic Belt, which is a famous polymetallic mineralization belt. The Xinhua Pb–Zn–(Ag)deposit is located in the western part of Yunkai Area, with an abundance of Pubei batholiths. Zircon U–Pb geochronology of Pubei batholiths shows that crystallization age ranges from 251.9 ± 2.2 to 244.3 ± 1.8 Ma, thus belonging to Indosinian orogeny. Geochemistry and Sr isotopic compositions of the Pubei batholiths show that it is derived from the partial melting of large scale crustal melting during the stage of exhumation and uplifting of the lower-middle crust. In addition, strontium isotope of sphalerite from the Xinhua Pb–Zn–(Ag) deposit, has limited ranges in ^(87)Rb/^(86)Sr and ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr, ranging from 0.4077 to 1.0449, and 0.718720 to 0.725245, respectively. The initial ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios of sphalerite ranges between 0.718720 and 0.725245, which is higher than that of upper continental crust and lower than that of the Pubei batholiths, illustrating the fluid might be derived from the mixing of Pubei pluton and upper continental crust.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 30 TO 60 DAY OSCILLATION OF ATMOSPHERIC HEAT SOURCE AND THE DROUGHT AND FLOOD EVENTS IN JUNE IN THE SOUTH OF CHINA

Based on the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and the observed precipitation data in the south of China from 1958 to 2000,the impact of 30 to 60 day oscillation of atmospheric heat sources on the drought and flood events in June in the south of China is discussed.During the flood(drought) events,there exists an anomalous low-frequency anticyclone(cyclone) at the low level of the troposphere over the South China Sea and the northwestern Pacific,accompanied with anomalous low-frequency heat sinks(heat sources),while there exists an anomalous low-frequency cyclone(anticyclone) with anomalous heat sources(sinks) over the area from the south of China to the south of Japan.On average,the phase evolution of the low-frequency in drought events is 7 to 11 days ahead of that in flood events in May to June in the south of China.In flood events,low-frequency heat sources and cyclones are propagated northward from the southern South China Sea,northwestward from the warm pool of the western Pacific and westward from the northwestern Pacific around 140°E,which have very important impact on the abundant rainfall in June in the south of China.However,in drought events,the northward propagations of the low-frequency heat sources and cyclones from the South China Sea and its vicinity are rather late compared with those in flood events,and there is no obvious westward propagation of the heat sources from the northwestern Pacific.The timing of the low-frequency heat source propagation has remarkable impact on the June rainfall in the south of China.

Origins of intraseasonal rainfall variations over the southern South China Sea in boreal winter

This study investigates the origins of intraseasonal rainfall variations over the southern South China Sea（SCS） region in boreal winter.It is found that intraseasonal rainfall variations over the southern SCS have different origins on the 10-20-day and 30-60-day time scales.On the 10-20-day time scale,large rainfall anomalies over the southern SCS are preceded by strong northerly wind anomalies associated with the East Asian winter monsoon（EAWM）,by about two days.On the 30-60-day time scale,the strong EAWM-related northerly wind anomalies almost appear simultaneously with large rainfall anomalies over the southern SCS.In addition,obvious large rainfall anomalies occur over the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean about one week before the peak southern SCS rainfall anomalies.It indicates that the convection and related circulation anomalies with origins over the tropical Indian Ocean may play an important role in inducing intraseasonal rainfall variations over the southern SCS on the 30-60-day time scale,but not on the 10-20-day time scale.

Ethical Trading： The Implications of the Human Rights Watch Report on South African Fruit Exports

This paper presents an ex-ante assessment of the potential implications of the 2011 Human Rights Watch Report on the South African fruit industry. The report explicitly mentions the lack of compliance with ethical codes within the fruit industry, the prevalence of exploitative conditions for farm workers and diverse human rights abuses in farms. The report recommends import ban on culprits as well as engaging third party auditing to ensure compliance. The high vulnerability of the smallholder farmers justified the special interest in the implications on their reputation and hence their ability to access profitable export markets. Although large-scale commercial farmers are potentially at risk of reputational damage due to the Human Rights Watch Report, they are better able to cope owing to their stronger capital base. The opinions of knowledgeable industry insiders were therefore elicited through qualitative research that used a five-point Likert scale to assess perceptions about market access. On the basis of the results, it is probable that the report will lead to improved working conditions for farm workers, improved concern for consumers＇ health, and enforcement of legislation by the govemment. The negative implications involve increased competition, possibility of retailers＇ rationalising their supply base and increased evaluation that ends at the farm gate. There is also high probability of increased marginalisation of the already disadvantaged smallholder suppliers, and possible increase in costs of auditing and accreditation for the entire fruit industry. Thus, active collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the competitiveness of the fruit industry is inevitable.

Collective Action and Networks in Civil Society： The Case of South Korea＇s Protest Movement

The Free Trade Agreement （FTA） was nearly ratified by United States and South Korea countries＇ administrations and can be described as a network of transnational trade. However, the candlelight protests have been held that network was set between the individuals of the South Korean society as a reaction against the FTA and Korean government, The network was the results of a new method of amassing power which comparing past protest in South Korea, and it was able to deal a severe blow to the ongoing FTA negotiations. In this paper, we will be using the actor-network theory （ANT） set forth by Law （1992） and Latour （2005） to explain Korean candlelight protest situations. A key claim is that ANT must range beyond studies of science and technology to other ＂social＂ subjects because it raises much broader questions about the construction of the social and nature. Therefore, this paper focused more on how the public opinion was aggregate in the social process, rather than the result. And we can see that the role of non-human actors is highly important. Through this attempt the citizen can reveal undisclosed information and get power to have communication with the government.

RCEP背景下中日韩三国生产性服务贸易国际竞争力分析

中日韩三国是RCEP框架内重要经济体,都是东亚制造业大国,生产性服务业发展对结构优化升级具有重要价值。通过2010—2022年间三国的生产性服务贸易国际竞争力的对比分析发现:相对日韩而言,中国生产性服务贸易规模巨大、增长速度快,2020年以来已实现顺差且规模不断增加;电信服务竞争力显著提升,加工服务、其他商业服务具有显性比较优势,运输服务世界占比上升。为进一步培育生产性服务业国际竞争的新优势,促进生产性服务业创新发展,中国在不断扩大高水平制度性对外开放的同时,可通过发展集群式价值网络促进生产性服务业与制造业深度融合,发挥数字经济活力与潜力,推进RCEP服务贸易国际合作,提升生产性服务贸易规模和发展水平,以满足现代产业体系建设的更高需求。

RCEP协定下中日韩贸易竞争性与互补性分析

本文采用RCA、GL、ES和TI指数对比分析了RCEP三个工业成员国中日韩的贸易竞争性和互补性。分析结果表明,中日韩三国之间的贸易关系日益紧密,但三国之间的贸易互补性逐渐走弱、竞争性日益增强。本文提出在RCEP框架下进一步发展中日韩三国经贸关系的建议。