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 NEWS IN CHINA

• Chinese Foreign Minister Meets U.S. Ambassador, Calls for Stronger Ties: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with David Perdue, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to China. Wang welcomed Perdue and expressed hope that he would serve as a reliable channel of communication and contribute to fostering cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Wang underscored the importance of mutual respect and equality, calling them essential foundations for dialogue and diplomatic engagement. He noted that following the recent economic and trade talks in Geneva, China has faithfully implemented the agreed-upon outcomes. However, he voiced concern over what he described as unjustified actions and baseless accusations that have undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests. Wang stressed that restoring bilateral relations requires the creation of conducive conditions by both sides. In response, Ambassador Perdue conveyed that President Biden holds President Xi Jinping in high regard, and affirmed his commitment to maintaining open and constructive communication with Beijing.
  
  
• Beijing Intensifies Crackdown on Telecom Fraud: Beijing police have ramped up efforts to combat telecommunications fraud, resolving over 2,600 cases and arresting more than 3,200 suspects since January 1, 2025, according to the Municipal Public Security Bureau. These figures mark a 29.2% increase in resolved cases and a 24.4% rise in arrests compared to the same period last year. Authorities have also recovered approximately 360 million yuan ($50.09 million) in defrauded funds. Li Xiaoyan of the bureau’s criminal investigation division noted a sharp rise in credit-related scams, often carried out via text messages and phone calls. In response, police are working closely with cyberspace, telecom, and postal departments to track and dismantle these schemes. To address evolving threats, the public is being urged to avoid downloading apps from unofficial sources and to be cautious with links or numbers received via text. Police have also begun releasing a weekly list of fraudulent websites and apps, and have issued warnings against scanning QR codes from courier packages or entering personal details on unverified platforms. 
  
  
• Dragon Boat Festival Draws Surge in Visitors: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) reported a strong rebound in domestic travel during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday. An estimated 119 million domestic trips were made, marking a 5.7% year-on-year increase. Correspondingly, domestic tourism spending rose 5.9% to 42.73 billion yuan compared to the same period last year. Across the country, museums, libraries, and public venues hosted diverse cultural activities celebrating local heritage. Highlights included hands-on experiences with traditional woodblock and movable type printing in Chengdu, and a Song Dynasty Tea Ceremony in Jinzhou. These initiatives reflect intensified efforts by provinces to enhance tourism appeal. Foreign visitor numbers also saw a notable rise, largely driven by China’s visa-free entry policies. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) reported that 231,000 foreign nationals entered visa-free during the holiday, a significant 59.4% increase year-on-year.
  
  
• China to Launch Collaboration Initiatives at Belt and Road Tech Conference: China is set to unveil a series of new initiatives aimed at enhancing global cooperation in science and technology at the second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange. The event, taking place from June 10 to 12 in Chengdu, Sichuan province, will serve as a platform to strengthen international scientific partnerships under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Chen Jiachang, Vice-Minister of Science and Technology, stated that delegates from more than 100 countries and international organizations are expected to attend. Centered around the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, the conference will feature in-depth discussions on boosting innovation collaboration among BRI countries and refining the global governance framework for science and technology. Li Wenqing, Vice-Governor of Sichuan, highlighted the launch of a new “Double Thousand” initiative. Jointly developed with Chongqing, the plan includes 1,000 cooperation projects and 1,000 young scientist exchanges. The initiative aims to advance joint research, facilitate technology transfer, and promote scientific and cultural exchange between China and BRI partner nations.
  
  
• China Condemns U.S. and Allies’ Actions at Shangri-La Dialogue: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed China’s strong displeasure and firm opposition to the United States’ cooperation with Japan, Australia, and the Philippines during the Shangri-La Dialogue. China views this collaboration as an attempt to escalate the so-called "China threat" narrative. Lin Jian confirmed that China has lodged solemn representations concerning these actions. He emphasized China’s steadfast commitment to protecting its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the East and South China Seas, stressing that China will not be intimidated by such tactics. Lin Jian concluded by calling on the United States and its allies to halt their smear campaigns against China, to avoid forming exclusive blocs that sow division, and to stop interfering with efforts to resolve disputes through direct dialogue and negotiation.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

The Essence of China’s Strength’ Sparks Buzz Across Chinese Social Media: The current trending topic on Weibo is “文脉华章” which means Cultural Context. President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping made profound statements regarding China’s rich cultural heritage. On the occasion of the second anniversary of the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, he emphasises that China’s long history and a profound civilisation are the bedrock of its confidence and the source of our strength. He believes that five thousand years of civilisation should be promoted and respected. The contribution of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s engagements with cultural preservation and development underscores the importance of safeguarding, inheriting, and disseminating the invaluable treasures of Chinese culture. One Weibo user commented, “Protect the flame of 5,000 years of civilization, build a solid foundation for self-confidence, and forge ahead into a new era!” Another wrote, “Chinese culture is extensive, profound, and has a long history. We must work together to protect, inherit, and share it with the world.”

INDIA WATCH

India-Canada Rift Deepens as PM Modi Reportedly to Miss G7 Summit, SCMP reports:  PM Modi is expected to skip the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, marking his first absence from the forum in six years, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The article highlighted that India has regularly participated as an invited guest at past G7 summits, but Indian media reports indicate that no formal invitation was extended this year. Modi’s expected absence is being interpreted as a barometer of the continued strain in bilateral ties. Relations between the two countries sharply deteriorated last year after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The diplomatic fallout led to the expulsion of envoys and the suspension of trade negotiations. While the arrival of Carney’s government, featuring four ministers of Indian origin, initially raised hopes for a diplomatic reset, the SCMP report underscores that the Khalistan issue remains a significant obstacle. The piece reported that the Liberal Party’s reliance on support from the New Democratic Party, which is perceived as sympathetic to the Khalistan movement, further complicates efforts to restore ties with India.

Prepared By

Maheshwar S Chhaunkar

Maheshwar S Chhaunkar has completed his Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi. He is currently working as an IT Assistant at CENJOWS. His areas of interest include India-China relations, Indo-Pacific affairs and Asian politics.