CiCM 24th December 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

Politburo Reviews Anti-Corruption Work, Plans 2026 Agenda: Xi Jinping chaired a December 25 meeting of the CPC Political Bureau, hearing reports from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission on 2025 achievements in Party conduct, high-pressure anti-corruption, political supervision, upholding the "two safeguards," Eight-Point Regulation education, and full provincial inspections. For 2026, organs will deepen supervision around 15th Five-Year Plan goals, normalize style construction, rectify mass-affecting corruption, unrelentingly fight corruption through "not daring, not able, not wanting" integration, and standardize discipline work to guarantee economic and social development. The Politburo also set the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's Fifth Plenary Session for January 12-14, 2026.
PBOC, Eight Departments Issue Financial Support for Western Land-Sea New Corridor: The People's Bank of China joined NDRC and several other ministries to release 21 measures implementing Xi Jinping's directives of enhancing financing and settlement for the corridor linking the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road. Key actions include preferential credits, syndicated loans, supporting overseas networks, infrastructure funds/REITs in Chongqing, logistics innovations like railway bills and multimodal "single documents," supply chain finance for industries, RMB cross-border expansion, and digital RMB pilots. The plan proposes to build the "Central Bank’s Western Land-Sea Smart Integration" platform for bank-enterprise matching, promotes green finance with ASEAN/HK/Macao, and strengthens risk controls via regulatory cooperation to drive "corridor-logistics-trade-industry" development and high-level opening-up.
NPC Revises Trademark Law to Curb Malicious Registrations: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress submitted a draft amendment to the Trademark Law for first review, aiming to strengthen IP protection amid China's world-leading 83.52 million applications and 49.78 million valid trademarks by December 2024. The 84-article draft targets malicious squatting, hoarding, and infringement by clarifying standards, fining agencies up to 200,000 yuan for fraud or defamation, and rejecting non-use applications that exceed business needs, with penalties of up to 100,000 yuan for bad-faith filers. Agencies are required to safeguard client secrets, while associations are expected to enforce self-regulation. Streamlined reviews boost efficiency to promote legitimate use and high-quality growth, following broad public consultations.
Foreign Ministry States Japan's Nuclear Remarks not Isolated: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian declared that a senior Japanese official's nuclear weapons advocacy, right after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan comments, is no isolated incident but reveals her and right-wing forces' erroneous stance, sending a dangerous signal. Japan has lifted collective self-defense bans, developed intermediate-range offensive weapons, ramped up military deployments, restructured command systems, hit 2% GDP defense spending two years early, eased arms export restrictions, pushed security document revisions, and discussed altering the three non-nuclear principles while hinting at nuclear-powered submarines. Lin condemned these moves as severe violations of the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation, Japan's own Constitution, and post-war international order, challenging regional peace and stability against Japanese interests.
China Updates Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment: China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) unveiled the 2025 Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, effective February 1, 2026, with a net addition of 205 items to guide capital toward advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech, green industries, and underdeveloped regions. The revision, first in three years, expands national entries by 100 and regional ones (central/western areas, northeast, Hainan) by 105, offering incentives like tariff exemptions on imported equipment, discounted land, a 15 percent corporate tax rate in eligible zones, and reinvestment tax breaks. Eligible sectors gain priority access, while MOFCOM pledges roundtables, fast-track projects, and issue resolution to ensure benefits reach firms. The catalogue underscores Beijing’s interest in economic globalization, easing manufacturing restrictions and expanding services in telecom and education sectors, as foreign chambers report rising optimism about China’s market amid protectionist headwinds elsewhere.
Chinese Envoy Urges US to Halt Anti-Venezuela Campaign: China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Sun Lei, told the UN Security Council that the United States must immediately stop its drug-trafficking pretext campaign against Venezuela. Washington has boosted Caribbean military deployments, sunk Venezuelan vessels, killed crew members, seized oil tankers, labeled the Maduro government a terrorist organization, and threatened strikes while claiming Venezuelan assets as its own. Sun condemned these actions as sovereignty violations breaching the UN Charter and international law, urging an end to sanctions, interference, and threats while upholding Venezuela's right to independent cooperation and regional stability.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Bosses Monitoring Employee WeChat for 300 Yuan Sparks Privacy Outrage: A viral post exposing employers hiring WeChat monitors for just 300 yuan ignited fury across Weibo, with users slamming it as "shameless and illegal" while praising an alternative employer philosophy of "win with virtue, skill, money" emphasising fair rules, extra rewards, and trusting delegation. Top comments from Henan, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Chongqing blast the privacy invasions, stating "no privacy left," "sue him," "use people you trust,” contrasting it with envy for bosses who overlook slacking, but demand client excellence. Netizens argued that the surveillance of employees’ WeChat accounts was "illegal" repeatedly, questioning why distrustful bosses hire employees in the first place, and predicting that such firms "won't make big money."

INDIA WATCH

Beijing Daily Reports on India-Bangladesh Tensions: Beijing Daily News reported escalating diplomatic friction after protests erupted in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata following the killing of a Hindu man amid violent unrest in Bangladesh. The violence was triggered by the death of Osman Hadi in Dhaka on December 12, with police suspecting that the gunman fled to India. The article reported that Hindu militant groups rallied hundreds near Bangladesh's High Commission with signs and chants accusing Bangladeshi groups of targeting minorities. The article also noted that demonstrations were met with roadblocks, dispersals, and arrests by Indian authorities. Beijing Daily reported that India summoned Bangladesh's envoy earlier, which Dhaka reciprocated on the 23rd by summoning the Indian High Commissioner to express "deep concern and protest" over diplomatic safety, condemning "deliberate violence or intimidation" and urging thorough investigations.

Prepared By

Arav Neil Dey

Arav Neil Dey is a research intern at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). Currently in his second year at FLAME University, he is pursuing a degree in International Studies. Driven by a fascination for global dynamics, he is passionate about international relations, peace and conflict studies, and military history. Arav especially enjoys diving into the shifting strategic landscape of China and West Asia, always seeking out unconventional perspectives and a deeper understanding.