The Capsule Oct 10th-17th, 2023

1. China plans to double the size of its self-built space station, Tiangong, from three to six modules. Last week, China announced that Tiangong is expected to be operational for 15 years, offering an alternative for astronauts once NASA's ISS is decommissioned in 2030.
2. This week, China's Civil Aviation Administration granted Ehang an airworthiness certificate for its self-driving passenger drone. It is the first to receive it and seeks international approvals with doubled shares this year.
3. China's first hydrogen fuel cell ship, Sanxia Qingzhou 1, completed its maiden voyage on October 11th in Hubei province, marking an advance in hydrogen fuel cell technology for inland waterway vessels. It saves 103.16 tons of fuel oil and reduces 343.67 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
4. Amid economic uncertainties, China faces stagnant consumer prices and declining exports, amidst a persistent property crisis and slowing export demand. Concerns about deflation and future economic challenges loom, shaping a complex economic picture.
5. China's Belt and Road Initiative revives Silk Road, enhancing trade and infrastructure. Projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor grapple with corruption and delays, raising geopolitical and financial concerns.
6. EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell urged China to recognize the EU's independent geopolitical identity, highlighting a trade surplus, warning against protectionism, and discussing Russia's Ukraine deal.
7. The Biden administration enforces tighter restrictions on U.S. firms' semiconductor sales to China, aiming to hinder China's advances in supercomputing and Al, affecting shipments to Chinese data centers with military concerns.