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NEWS IN CHINA

• Chinese Experts Warn of Global Risks as Trump Raises Tariffs to 15%: Chinese experts have expressed concerns over the United States’ sudden decision to raise its global import tariff to 15 percent, following the US Supreme Court ruling that declared previous emergency tariffs illegal. The move, announced by US President Donald Trump, comes less than a day after he had proposed a 10 percent global tariff. According to Gao Lingyun, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the latest tariff adjustment is highly arbitrary and politically motivated. He noted that frequent, sudden changes to trade policy erode predictability, disrupt global supply chains, and undermine free trade rules. Gao explained that while a uniform 15 percent rate may lower the nominal tariff burden for China, whose previous tariffs were above 15 percent, it raises costs for other countries and destabilizes global commerce. Experts emphasized that such unilateral and politically driven measures harm global trade, American businesses, and consumers alike. Gao further warned that the US’s unpredictable tariff policy could backfire, weakening both domestic and global economic growth.
  
  
• Chinese AI Model Pushes Astronomical Imaging to New Heights: Chinese researchers have developed a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) model that is transforming deep-space observation. A cross-disciplinary team from Tsinghua University has created ASTERIS (Astronomical Spatiotemporal Enhancement and Reconstruction for Image Synthesis), combining computational optics with advanced AI algorithms to extract extremely faint cosmic signals. According to findings, the model enables scientists to identify galaxies more than 13 billion light-years away and generate the deepest astronomical images to date. The study shows that applying ASTERIS to data from the James Webb Space Telescope extends observations from the visible to the mid-infrared and increases detection depth by 1 magnitude, enabling the detection of objects 2.5 times fainter than before. According to Cai Zheng, an associate professor in the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University, the team used the model to identify more than 160 candidate high-redshift galaxies dating back to the “Cosmic Dawn.” Researchers believe that this technology could become a universal data-enhancement platform for future telescopes.
  
  
• China Steel Industry Nears Ultra-Low Emission Milestone: China’s steel industry is on track to achieve a major green transition milestone. According to the China Iron and Steel Association, by the end of 2026, the ultra-low emission transformation of the steel sector will be fully completed. Additionally, more than 80 percent of the nation’s crude steel production capacity will meet ultra-low emission standards. Zhao Mingge, president of the association, stated that the “Three-Year Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Benchmarking in the Iron and Steel Industry”, launched at the end of 2022, has become a key driver for energy saving, carbon reduction, cost control, and efficiency gains. Among 143 participating enterprises, energy consumption of blast furnaces and converters fell by 2.5 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively, compared with 2023. Over two years, these improvements saved 13.2 million tons of standard coal and cut China’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 34 million tons. 
  
  
• Guidelines Issued to Strengthen Protection in Water Transport and Logistics: China has released new judicial guidance to better safeguard property rights in the water transport and logistics sector. The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Public Security have jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Punishing Property Crimes in the Water Transport and Logistics Sector According to Law.” The document systematically clarifies legal application and policy interpretation in this field, aiming to protect the legitimate interests of the public and market entities. The guidelines provide targeted provisions for common issues in judicial practice, including the determination of charges, jurisdiction rules, standards for evidence collection, calculation of involved amounts, and the handling of seized assets. At the same time, the guidelines emphasize systematic governance by combining punishment with prevention. They call for stronger industry governance and enhanced legal education in law enforcement.
  
  
• Multiple Forest Fires in Guangdong Linked to Fireworks Misuse: On February 21, the Guangdong Emergency Management Department released a list of recent forest fires caused by illegal use of fireworks. The incidents occurred between February 8 and 16, with several perpetrators, including minors, facing legal consequences. On February 16, five forest fires broke out in Qingxi, Chayang, Gaobei, Huliao, and Zhourui towns in Dapu County. The first, in Chankeng Village, Qingxi Town, started due to a villager setting off firecrackers and was extinguished after three hours. Other fires on the same day involved minors or villagers, with economic losses totaling up to 200,000 yuan in some cases. Guardians of minors were also held financially responsible. Earlier, on February 15, a fire in Wanzi Village, Wuhua County, was started near a house and was quickly controlled; the villagers involved faced administrative detention and fines. On February 8, a 58-year-old in Huangche Village, Zijin County, accidentally ignited weeds while setting off firecrackers during ancestral worship, receiving seven days’ detention. Authorities emphasized strict enforcement to prevent ecological damage and protect forest resources.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Erupts Over China’s Winter Olympics Medals: A post by People’s Daily with the hashtag #ChinaFinishesWith5Gold4Silver6Bronze# has gone viral on Weibo, celebrating China’s historic performance at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The Chinese delegation won 15 medals in total, which include 5 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze, marking their best result ever at an overseas Winter Olympics. According to the post, this achievement highlights the athletes’ dedication, hard work, and breakthroughs in winter sports on the global stage. Online public reactions reflect excitement, pride, and admiration. Many users praised the speed skating team for standout performances, while others noted that the medal tally matches China’s results at the Beijing Winter Olympics, tying for the country’s highest Winter Games record. One user commented, “Aside from the short circuit malfunction, everything else was fine.” A few other users commented that if the short track team had performed slightly better, China could have won even more medals. One prominent comment noted that they had expected it to be the “biggest overseas competition ever”, but were increasingly surprised as the event progressed, describing the results as a major “breakthrough”. Another comment emphasized that each medal represents years of training and perseverance, calling the athletes heroes who bring glory to the nation. Others celebrated the broader development of China’s ice and snow sports. 

INDIA WATCH

The Paper Discusses India–Brazil Minerals Pact: An article published in The Paper discussed the strategic implications of the memorandum of understanding on critical minerals and mining signed by India and Brazil in New Delhi. The agreement, witnessed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, was framed as a response to India’s surging demand for iron ore, rare-earth elements, and other key inputs for steel production and clean energy development. The article noted that Brazil, one of the world’s largest holders of critical mineral reserves and India’s biggest trading partner in Latin America, plays a pivotal role in supporting India’s rapidly expanding steel industry. It highlighted projections showing Brazil’s iron ore exports to India could reach $1.13 billion by 2025, accounting for nearly one-fifth of Brazil’s total exports to the country. Beyond trade, the article analyzed the agreement’s focus on technology transfer, infrastructure investment, and value-chain integration, particularly in rare earth processing, as a move to reduce India’s reliance on existing dominant suppliers. It also cited commercial cooperation signed on the sidelines of the visit, including a deal between India’s NMDC Limited and Brazil’s Vale to develop an iron ore blending facility at Gangavaram Port. 

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.