SINGAPORE AND THE YUAN

Reading China’s Currency Internationalisation Strategy

Singapore has emerged as a pivotal offshore hub in China’s strategy to internationalise the renminbi (RMB) and reduce dependence on the dollar-led global financial order. It facilitates liquidity and capital flows, supported by clearing banks, trade settlements, digital currency and green finance cooperation. Despite this progress, structural limits like restricted capital mobility and regulatory uncertainty constrain the RMB’s global appeal. Consequently, Singapore acts as a stable external gateway while diversifying financial opportunities and risks, and enabling China to shape a gradual, regionally anchored RMB ecosystem.

CiCM 13th May 2026

China Reaffirms Commitment to Advancing Strategic Cooperation with South Korea, US President Donald Trump Arrives in Beijing for State Visit, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Approves China‑Led Standard on Digital Product Carbon Footprint, China Issues National Standards for Port Bulk Cargo Electronic Documents, China Reports Major Progress in Rural Water Supply Security, Weibo Buzzes Over Doubao Paid Subscription Plan, Finance Sina Discusses India’s Increase in Gold and Silver Import Tariffs

COMPLEX COMRADES

Deepening China-Vietnam Relations in an Uncertain World

Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to Beijing and several Chinese provinces reaffirmed Hanoi's view of China as a top strategic partner and highlighted growing alignment across political, economic, and technological priorities. Both sides are strengthening coordination through high-level engagement, cross-border connectivity, and expanding technology cooperation. Their relationship is further underpinned by ideological alignment and a shared focus on regime security. However, persistent tensions, especially over the South China Sea, continue to shape Vietnam’s cautious approach. As a result, Hanoi maintains a strategy of balancing cooperation with China while diversifying partnerships with other powers like the United States and India.

CiCM 13th May 2026

ENERGY CRISIS IN SOUTH ASIA

India, China and the Politics of Reliability

The imposition of intermittent restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran, in response to coordinated U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, has disrupted global energy markets. Smaller South Asian economies, heavily dependent on Gulf energy imports, have faced immediate and severe consequences. As a result, South Asian states have preferred to turn to India when the crisis unfolds rather than to Beijing. With little indication of a near-term rapprochement between Washington and Tehran, there is a high likelihood that the crisis will persist. For South Asian economies already operating with limited buffers, a prolonged disruption could translate into sustained price pressures and mounting fiscal strain. In this context, how India and China, the two regional powers, choose to respond, whether by extending sustained assistance, scaling up engagement, or retreating inward, will shape longer-term regional alignments.

Zìlì Gēngshēng Reimagined

China’s revival of zìlì gēngshēng (self-reliance) under Xi Jinping has crystallised into a core organising principle of its political economy, institutionalised through the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). No longer a historical slogan, it operates as a strategic doctrine linking technological capability, national security, and regime legitimacy. Rather than autarky, it reflects a calibrated response to supply chain vulnerabilities—simultaneously hedging against external shocks and driving domestic industrial upgrading. Its evolution from Maoist survivalism to Xi-era technological sovereignty underscores its conceptual elasticity. Yet, persistent tensions between self-reliance and globalization, and between indigenous innovation and external dependence reveal a model of selective integration—where openness is conditional and subordinated to control, resilience, and systemic endurance.

CiCM 13th May 2026

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AI ARCHITECTURE IN CHINA

China’s AI development is driven by a state-coordinated strategy that integrates data systems, computing infrastructure, policy frameworks, and industry collaboration to build global competitiveness. The government has prioritized data as a key production factor, established regulated data marketplaces, and expanded compute capacity through initiatives like the Eastern Data Western Computing strategy. Strong public-private partnerships, especially with major tech firms, and investments in education and research have accelerated innovation and large-scale AI deployment. At the same time, evolving governance frameworks aim to ensure security, ethics, and standardization. However, challenges such as high resource consumption, regulatory complexity, and dependence on advanced semiconductors continue to shape the limits of China’s AI ambitions.

CiCM 13th May 2026

ZERO DAY ATTACK- A WARNING SHOT FOR TAIWAN

Part 5: False Promises

This is the fifth of a six-part series analyzing the Taiwanese TV series ‘Zero Day Attack’ for the Organisation for Research on China and Asia’s (ORCA) ‘Reviewing Chinese Culture’ segment.

CiCM 13th May 2026

’रेड-टूरिज़्म’ का एक प्रमुख केंद्र रहे माओताई का ’तरल सोना’ संकट में

’बाईजियू’ की पारंपरिक मांग को बढ़ाने वाली वजहों में युवा अनदेखी भी एक कारण

CiCM 13th May 2026

INDIA'S SOFT PUSH FOR POWER IN SOUTH ASIA

Shaping a Favourable Tomorrow

The Special Issue “India’s Soft Push for Power in South Asia: Shaping A Favourable Tomorrow” was ideated keeping in mind the increasing need for Indian policymakers to mitigate challenges emerging against New Delhi’s South Asian policy. Through each chapter, contributed by emerging Indian scholars specializing in India’s neighborhood policy, the publications envisions new and existing strategies to effectively leverage India’s soft power appeal in South Asia.

CiCM 13th May 2026

CHINA’S 15TH FIVE-YEAR PLAN AT A GLANCE

Targets, Trends, and Priorities

CiCM 13th May 2026

Huānyíng to ORCA!

We are a Delhi NCR based research institute focusing on domestic Chinese politics/policy!
Our work studies the Communist Party of China's internal maneuvering and how that impacts China's external posturing.

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Daily CiCM Newsletters

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China's Provinces at a glance

Made with the intention of furthering our audience's knowledge, our interactive map will tell you some interesting facts about each province in China.