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In Chinese MediaNov 19, 2025
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NEWS IN CHINA
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Education Ministry Launches Student Fitness Improvement Plan: Five government bodies led by the Ministry of Education released the ‘Opinions on Implementing the Student Physical Fitness Improvement Plan’. It aims to provide strong talent support for building a robust nation in education, science, technology, and human capital. It outlines 20 measures for comprehensive school sports reform, following a problem-oriented approach and focusing on practical outcomes. The Opinions highlight eight key tasks, such as deepening the reform of physical education teaching, enhancing training, competitions, and talent development systems, strengthening the workforce of sports personnel, expanding sports facilities and venues, improving health monitoring and evaluation systems, and fostering a healthy campus culture. The policy also highlights the significance of the social partnership which includes the pooling of resources from schools, families, and communities, and facilitates the integration of physical education with moral, intellectual, aesthetic, and labour education. Departments and local governments at all levels have been urged to enhance the coordination between different departments and open various funding channels to guarantee the effective implementation of school sports reforms.
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Zhang Guoqing Calls for Faster Digital Upgrading of Manufacturing: Vice Premier and Politburo member of the CPC Central Committee Zhang Guoqing toured Guizhou and Chongqing from the 16th to the 19th of November. His visit was primarily focused on the digital and smart transformation of industry, as well as the creative development of state-owned enterprises. He called for fully implementing the spirit of the recent Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee meetings and Xi Jinping’s instructions. He stressed the need to accelerate digital transformation in manufacturing and develop new-quality productive forces based on local conditions. Zhang inspected companies across data services, chemicals, food, metallurgy, automotive and communication equipment. He urged deeper integration of AI with R&D, design and production. He called for stronger development of industry-specific AI models and faster progress in domestic industrial software. He encouraged leading firms to build “lighthouse factories” and pushed SMEs to speed up intelligent and digital upgrades. Zhang also emphasized boosting SOE innovation, strengthening basic research, advancing key technologies, expanding pilot testing platforms, and deepening cooperation with universities and private firms.
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Jiangmen Experiment Breaks Precision Record for ‘Ghost Particles’: The Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced on November 19 that the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, has made the first release of its results, two months after its completion. The precision of its measurement of neutrino-related parameters is 1.5-1.8 times that of the best record from the previous experiments. Neutrinos, which are often called "ghost particles," are among the lightest and elusive particles in the whole universe. The Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment, a massive scientific installation designed to detect these "ghost particles," began its first official data recording, on August 26, 2025.
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China, Pacific Island Countries Meet for 5th Political Parties Dialogue: The Fifth China-Pacific Island Countries Political Parties Dialogue took place in Beijing on 19 November. The event was organised by the People's Republic of China International Department to strengthen mutual cooperation, as well as foster integration of China and Pacific Island countries. The event was attended by political leaders and ambassadors from Pacific Island nations in addition to the Minister of the department, Liu Haixing and the parliamentary speaker of Vanuatu. Liu emphasised that China highly values the Pacific Island countries that are constantly supporting the one-China principle. According to him, the Communist Party of China is a good match to strengthen ties with political parties in the region to implement the leaders' consensus. Trust between political parties, exchanging experiences, and cooperation in practical terms were discussed. Liu Haixing also included significant excerpts from the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. Officials from Pacific Island countries expressed their willingness to increase communication with China and also endorsed the idea of broadening collaboration to different sectors.
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New Rules Strengthen Supervision of Elderly Care Pre-Payment Systems: China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Financial Regulatory Commission have issued guidelines to regulate pre-payments to elderly care institutions. The jointly issued "Guidelines for the Custody of Pre-payments for Elderly Care Institutions" covers the supervision of deposit accounts, the management and use of escrow funds, and the procedures for refunds. It specifies that institutions must open dedicated pre-payment accounts at commercial banks, report plans for closing accounts, and transfer any funds collected through cash or other channels into these accounts promptly. The guidelines also provide rules for emergency use of funds for medical expenses and require custodian banks to process refunds quickly and through the original payment channels.
SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER
Huawei Mate X7 Pre-Orders Ignite Weibo Buzz: Huawei shocked social media users by announcing that their new Mate X7 folding flagship would be available for pre-order in just two hours on the morning of 19th November. The news spread like wildfire on Weibo, with people talking about what kind of surprise Huawei has in store. The new Mate X7 will be a massive upgrade in terms of durability, performance, and camera, as per the official teasers. It features the second-gen Red Maple Imaging System and might have Yun Brocade, an intangible cultural heritage fabric, directly from the back panel finishing, thus giving the phone a new look. A rumor from external sources also points to the Kirin 9030 chip that would make the phone run smoothly and upgrade the user experience. This produced a plethora of reactions by Chinese netizens on the social media. Users joked about zooming in on ads to read tiny details, questioned whether the visuals were aimed at Western markets, made fun of the “unflattering” promotional photos, and even suggested using crocodile skin or precious stones for a more luxurious touch.
INDIA WATCH
The Paper Discusses Why India Is Unlikely to Repatriate Former Bangladesh PM: An article in The Paper has analysed why India is unlikely to repatriate former Bangladesh PM, Sheikh Hasina. The article, citing Bangladeshi and Indian media, reported that on the 17th of November, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh in absentia sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death. It also notes that the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has urged India to immediately hand over Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. The author cited various articles of the India-Bangladesh bilateral extradition treaty to make the case that India is not legally bound to undertake extradition. The article also quotes legal experts, who state India is allowed to make a decision as per the extradition treaty. The “double criminality” rule, the political-offence exemption, and provisions allowing refusal of extradition are discussed to argue that India has strong grounds to decline extradition. Indian analysts quoted in the article also view the case as politically motivated, which further weakens the request. The article notes that India and Bangladesh relations have become less friendly after the change in Bangladesh's foreign policy that is less pro-India.
Prepared By
Neha Maurya
Neha Maurya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy. Her research interests lie in strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She aspires to engage in work that links research insights to policy outcomes.