Daily Conversations Daily Conversations

NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Delivers 2026 New Year Address: Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2026 New Year address on the eve of the New Year via state media and online platforms, reviewing China’s progress during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Xi said China had overcome multiple challenges over the past five years, with total economic output expected to reach around 140 trillion yuan, alongside gains in technological strength, environmental protection and living standards. He highlighted major national commemorations held in 2025, including the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Looking ahead, Xi said 2026, the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, would focus on high-quality development, reform and opening up, advancing common prosperity, and maintaining long-term stability in Hong Kong, Macao and across the Taiwan Strait.
• Joint Mekong River Patrols Strengthen Cross-Border Cooperation: Joint patrols and law enforcement operations conducted by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand along the Mekong River have significantly improved security and stability in the region. The 160th joint operation was carried out over four days and involved personnel and patrol vessels from all four countries, covering key stretches of the river in Yunnan Province. Officials said the patrols have helped curb cross-border crime, ensure safer navigation for commercial vessels, and support smoother trade and travel along the river. Participants also highlighted improved intelligence-sharing and coordination under the joint mechanism. Local residents and visitors reported feeling safer while travelling and engaging in cross-border commerce, with businesses in border towns seeing increased activity. Analysts noted that the joint patrol framework has become an important platform for regional security cooperation and plays a stabilising role in the broader Lancang-Mekong region.
  

• China Urges Netherlands to Reverse Measures on Nexperia: China’s Ministry of Commerce on 31 December criticised remarks by the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs defending restrictive measures against Nexperia, calling the actions improper and harmful to the global semiconductor supply chain. A ministry spokesperson said that the Dutch government’s administrative intervention in the company’s internal affairs had already triggered disruption and uncertainty within the chip industry, and that the Netherlands should bear responsibility for the consequences. The spokesperson added that China has repeatedly raised concerns over the impact of such measures on global supply chain stability, and urged the Dutch side to correct its approach and remove obstacles to restoring security and normal operations in the semiconductor sector. The comments reflect Beijing’s broader opposition to what it sees as politically driven restrictions affecting international technology and trade cooperation.

• China Launches Campaign to Tackle ‘AI-Modified’ Online Videos: China’s State Administration of Radio and Television has announced a nationwide one-month campaign to curb the spread of so-called “AI-modified” videos, starting from 1 January 2026. The regulator said some online accounts have been misusing generative AI tools to alter classic films, television dramas, animations, and other well-known works in ways that distort original meanings and promote sensational or vulgar content. The campaign will focus on videos that significantly misrepresent classic literary adaptations, historical and revolutionary themes, and heroic figures, as well as content that promotes violence, inappropriate values, or cultural misinterpretation. Platforms will also be required to remove AI-generated content targeting children that adapts familiar characters in misleading ways. Authorities have called on online audiovisual platforms to strengthen content review, deal with problematic accounts, and improve safeguards for minors. The regulator said it will use the campaign to develop longer-term governance mechanisms for managing AI-generated content.

• China Releases First National Standard for Solid-State Batteries: China has released its first national standard for solid-state batteries for public consultation, marking a key step in moving the technology from laboratory research towards industrial application. The draft standard, issued by the National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee, defines core terminology and classification for solid-state batteries used in electric vehicles and introduces stricter criteria than earlier industry guidelines. Notably, it removes the use of the term “semi-solid-state battery” and sets clearer benchmarks for distinguishing solid-state batteries based on electrolyte type, ion conduction, and application scenarios. The standard also tightens technical thresholds, including a lower allowable weight-loss rate during testing, reflecting higher requirements for battery purity and safety. Chinese analysts said the move is intended to unify technical standards, reduce confusion within the industry, and provide a regulatory foundation for large-scale production, market supervision, and safety compliance. The release is seen as part of China’s broader push to gain an early advantage in next-generation battery technologies as global competition in the sector intensifies.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

New National Consumption Subsidies for 2026 Spark Online Discussion: A post shared by state-affiliated media announcing the allocation of 62.5 billion yuan in national subsidies for 2026 quickly gained traction on Chinese social media app Weibo. The funds, drawn from ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, will support trade-ins of old consumer goods, including cars, home appliances, and digital products such as mobile phones, tablets, and smart home devices. While many netizens welcomed the continuation of subsidies ahead of the New Year and Spring Festival, others focused on uneven local implementation. Users asked when cities like Shenzhen would receive mobile phone subsidies, while some complained that no national subsidies were available in provinces such as Jiangxi. Others expressed frustration, saying they rushed to trade in cars earlier fearing subsidies would end, only to feel “cheated” by dealerships. At the same time, some netizens treated the policy as a clear buying signal, calling national subsidies a “guidebook” for purchasing new energy vehicles and high-efficiency appliances without hesitation.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Reacts to India’s GDP Claim: Chinese media have revisited India’s claim that it has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, while offering a more cautious and critical reading of the figures. Reporting by Jiemian News, citing India’s Press Information Bureau, noted that India’s GDP is estimated at around USD 4.18 trillion and that New Delhi expects to surpass Germany within the next three years. However, Chinese outlets pointed out that the figures remain preliminary and that official confirmation will only come with the release of annual data in 2026. While acknowledging India’s demographic advantage and the growth of its services sector, the coverage also highlighted persistent structural challenges, including inflationary pressures, foreign capital outflows, and trade frictions with the United States. Chinese analysis further questioned the depth of India’s industrial transformation under the “Make in India” initiative, noting that manufacturing still accounts for a smaller share of GDP than originally targeted. Despite policy emphasis on sectors such as electronics, semiconductors and electric vehicles, India’s share of global manufactured exports remains modest. Commentaries also drew attention to labour market constraints, particularly low female workforce participation, suggesting that headline GDP rankings may mask deeper issues related to productivity, employment quality and long-term growth sustainability.

Prepared By

Mohit Singh Mehra

Mohit Singh Mehra is a Master’s student of International Relations at South Asian University, New Delhi. His academic and research interests focus on China, Himalayan geopolitics, and border dynamics, with a particular emphasis on strategic, security, and political developments in the region. He is interested in understanding how geography, power, and policy interact in shaping regional order in Asia.