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NEWS IN CHINA 

• Wang Yi Chaired UN Security Council Meeting on Upholding the UN Charter: China chaired a high-level United Nations Security Council meeting on “Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the international system with the UN at its core." The meeting was led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, along with representatives from more than 100 countries, including senior officials and foreign ministers from over 20 nations. Addressing the gathering, Wang Yi stated that the world is facing increasingly complex global challenges and rising uncertainty, making international unity and cooperation more important than ever. He urged countries to strengthen the role of the United Nations and support multilateralism in order to safeguard global peace and development. Wang outlined five priorities, including improving the effectiveness of the UN Charter, strengthening the authority and actions of the Security Council, enhancing international development cooperation, improving global governance mechanisms, and boosting the efficiency of the UN system. He also noted that 2026 marks 55 years since the People’s Republic of China regained its lawful seat at the United Nations, reaffirming China’s commitment to promoting fairness, cooperation, and a shared future for humanity. 
  
  
• China Expands Public Rental Housing Support for Non‑Registered Residents: The State Council Information Office briefed that new measures under the Implementation Opinions on Promoting Basic Public Services in Places of Residence will further improve housing security for non‑registered permanent residents. At the briefing, the Ministry of Housing and Urban‑Rural Development outlined efforts to ensure that people working and living in cities, regardless of household registration, can settle, integrate, and access essential services. The ministry highlighted three major areas of progress. First, policy frameworks have been upgraded, guiding local governments to meet the basic housing needs of groups such as young people, new urban residents, and low‑income households through public rental housing or rental subsidies. Second, support capacity has expanded: from 2008 to 2025, around 16 million public rental units were built nationwide, with over 1.4 million households receiving subsidies and more than 3 million migrant workers gaining access to housing support. Third, management systems have been modernized, with nationwide digital platforms enabling unified applications, joint reviews, and streamlined services. Next steps include refining eligibility rules, incorporating more qualified non‑registered families into waiting lists, and improving professional management to ensure residents can live securely and integrate more fully into urban life. 
  
  
• Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Beijing: President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Beijing, reaffirming the strength of their partnership and pledging to expand cooperation across multiple fields. Vucic was awarded the Friendship Medal, the highest honor China bestows on foreign nationals, recognizing his contributions to bilateral ties. Xi noted that since his 2024 visit to Serbia, the two countries have opened a new chapter in building a China‑Serbia community with a shared future, underpinned by mutual support and trust. He emphasized aligning Serbia’s development with China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan, advancing Belt and Road projects, and expanding collaboration in transport, energy, AI, digital economy, and green industries. Both leaders also highlighted the importance of people‑to‑people exchanges, facilitated by visa exemptions, direct flights, and cultural cooperation. Vucic expressed gratitude for China’s consistent support, stressing Serbia’s commitment to deepening ties and endorsing Xi’s global initiatives. The talks concluded with the signing of over 20 agreements spanning politics, trade, science, education, and culture, alongside joint statements reinforcing shared global governance goals.
  
  
• China’s Provinces Unveil 15th Five-Year Development Plans: All 31 provincial-level regions in China have released their 15th Five-Year Plan outlines, following Henan Province's issuance of its blueprint for future economic and social development. The plans are based on national policy guidance and define regional priorities, growth targets, and reform strategies for the coming years. Most provinces have set annual economic growth goals while emphasizing high-quality development alongside steady expansion. Building internationally competitive modern industrial systems has emerged as a common focus, with many regions prioritizing sectors such as digital technology, biomanufacturing, and green energy to strengthen industrial competitiveness. Expanding domestic demand is another major priority. Provinces have introduced measures to stimulate consumer spending, enhance public services, and promote investment in infrastructure and social programs. Several regions also highlighted reforms aimed at improving market integration, reducing local protectionism, and supporting private-sector participation. Improving living standards remains central to the plans. Provincial governments placed strong emphasis on employment stability, healthcare, education, housing, elderly care, and childcare services as part of broader efforts to advance balanced and sustainable modernization across the country.
  
  
• China Reiterates Opposition to Quad ‘Small Circles': On May 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s position on the Quad grouping. Her remarks followed the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, which announced a new maritime surveillance initiative for the Indo-Pacific region. Mao stressed that China has consistently expressed its views on the Quad, emphasizing that cooperation among nations should be directed toward regional peace, stability, and prosperity rather than aimed at any third party. She stressed that China does not endorse exclusive “small circles” or bloc confrontations, warning that such arrangements risk undermining mutual trust and cooperation among countries in the region.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users Demand Accountability After Shanxi Coal Mine Explosion: A post with the hashtag #PoliceInvestigateLiushenyuCoalMineExplosion# is going viral on Weibo following the Supreme People’s Procuratorate’s decision to supervise the investigation into the deadly gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate stated that it would work with public security organs and relevant departments to thoroughly investigate the accident, uncover the facts of the case, and hold those mainly responsible legally accountable. Many users also argued that mining tragedies should not be treated as ordinary “safety accidents” resolved through light penalties, with several insisting that criminal liability should be strictly pursued against those responsible for negligence. A few users praised the Supreme People’s Procuratorate for directly supervising the case and viewed the move as a necessary step toward ensuring accountability. One user questioned “where the routine oversight had gone,” while another user stated that “so many lives have been lost” and supported severe punishment for those responsible. Several other users described the incident as a reminder that workplace safety cannot be treated lightly and expressed hope that the tragedy would serve as a warning to improve production safety standards nationwide. Others stated that there would be no further casualties and called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the cause of the disaster.

INDIA WATCH 

Guancha Discusses Rubio’s India Visit and Strategic Uncertainty in India-US Relations: An article in Guancha discussed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s four-day visit to India, describing it as a key effort by Washington to stabilize ties with New Delhi amid growing bilateral tensions. The article noted that Rubio’s meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar focused on trade, energy, defense, maritime security, and cooperation through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). It stressed that the United States continues to regard India as a crucial strategic partner in balancing China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region. However, the article highlighted that relations have weakened following US tariff measures linked to India’s Russian oil imports and controversial remarks by senior American officials suggesting India could become an economic and strategic competitor to the United States. It further noted concerns over a possible shift in Washington’s China strategy that have increased fears in New Delhi that India’s strategic importance to the United States may decline. The article added that India has simultaneously sought to cautiously improve relations with China through easing travel restrictions and reconsidering Chinese investment in selected sectors, reflecting New Delhi’s efforts to diversify its geopolitical options amid growing uncertainty in US policy.