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NEWS IN CHINA

• Chinese Experts Say PM Takaichi’s Remarks Aim to Ease Domestic Pressure: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday called China an “important neighbour” and stated that Japan would continue advancing its strategic relationship of mutual benefit with Beijing. She also emphasised Japan would firmly assert its positions on the East and South China Seas and China’s regional military activities. Her remarks came amid strained bilateral relations and growing pressure from Japan’s business community to restore normal economic and trade ties with China. According to Lü Chao, an expert at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, Takaichi’s conciliatory remarks were mainly aimed at responding to pressure from Japan’s business community. He noted that a recent Japanese economic delegation’s visit to China and growing calls for restoring normal economic exchanges had increased pressure on Takaichi to ease tensions through verbal gestures. However, Lü Chao argued that Takaichi’s fundamental position toward China remained unchanged, characterising her remarks as largely perfunctory. He also criticised her plans to strengthen Japan’s defence capabilities, arguing that the government was portraying the regional security environment as increasingly dangerous in order to build public support for expanding Japan’s military capabilities. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Japan to draw lessons from history and develop a more objective and rational understanding of China.
  
  
• UNHRC Adopts China-Proposed Resolution on Accessibility: On Monday, the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted by consensus a China-proposed resolution, titled “Promoting accessibility for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all”, which was submitted on behalf of 47 countries. China’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Jia Guide, stated that the resolution seeks to promote accessible and age-friendly environments, particularly amid population ageing. He also highlighted opportunities and challenges arising from emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The resolution calls on countries to prioritise innovation, inclusiveness, openness, fairness, safety and security in developing and using emerging digital technologies. It also aims to improve access to information and communications and strengthen the ability of people from all groups to participate equally in social life and enjoy their human rights. Representatives of Cuba and Egypt, among others, supported the resolution and commended China’s efforts to advance accessibility. They also highlighted provisions calling for technical assistance to developing countries and greater international cooperation. The adoption follows a similar resolution proposed by China in 2024 under the same title, which was the first thematic resolution on accessibility adopted in UN history.
  
  
• China Unifies National Standards for Tax Penalties: The State Taxation Administration has released the “National Tax Administrative Penalty Discretionary Benchmark (2026 Edition).” This will take effect on November 1 and establish nationally unified standards for determining tax administrative penalties. According to an official, the new benchmark builds on previous practices across different regions and revises the discretionary levels, applicable conditions and specific standards for 66 penalty items across nine categories. The changes are intended to improve the classification of tax violations, clarify discretionary factors and ensure more consistent enforcement standards nationwide. The administration also released a list of eight minor tax violations that will not be subject to administrative penalties, based on the new benchmark. Local tax authorities have been instructed to follow the unified standards, impose penalties strictly according to laws and regulations, and make decisions within the prescribed scope while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of taxpayers. According to officials, unified penalty standards would strengthen rule-based and fair tax administration and improve compliance management. Tax authorities are required to strengthen training, interpretation and public communication, while updating the system when necessary to improve enforcement efficiency. 
  
  
• MIIT Unveils 15th Five-Year Plan for New Battery Industry: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and six other departments have released the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the New Battery Industry, making innovation across the entire battery industry chain the top priority among five key tasks. The plan calls for the high-end, diversified and integrated development of batteries for different applications while improving their safety and reliability. It proposes a battery supply system led by lithium batteries, alongside the development of sodium-ion batteries, flow batteries and other technologies. For new energy vehicles and electric ships, the plan aims to improve battery safety, fast-charging performance, low-temperature adaptability, lightweight design and energy density. It also calls for the development of high-safety, large-capacity and long-life energy storage batteries suited to grid applications and long-duration storage. The plan places particular emphasis on sodium batteries, highlighting their cost, safety and resource-security advantages. Additionally, it calls for faster development and application of high-capacity cathode and high-density anode materials. For consumer electronics, China plans to develop safer lithium batteries while supporting thinner and more flexible battery designs.
  
  
• China Advances Offshore CO2 Injection for Natural Gas Recovery: China has completed the main structure of its first offshore platform designed to inject carbon dioxide (CO2) to enhance natural gas recovery, according to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The central platform at the Dongfang 1-1 gas field has now entered the commissioning stage. Once operational, the platform is expected to store more than 1 million tons of CO2 annually in geological formations beneath the seabed. It will capture and purify CO2 produced during natural gas extraction, pressurise it and reinject it underground. The process is intended to increase the recovery of difficult-to-extract gas while permanently storing the CO2. The nearly 17,000-ton platform has decks covering more than 10,000 square meters and stands taller than a 28-story building. The Dongfang 1-1 gasfield, China’s first independently operated offshore gasfield, has produced more than 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas since 2003. As the field moves into its mid-to-late development stage, gas production is declining while CO2 concentrations are increasing, creating conditions for the application of CO2 injection technology. The project will be China’s first large-scale offshore application of CO2 injection for enhanced natural gas recovery and is expected to contribute to the development of offshore carbon storage and the utilisation of captured CO2.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users Support Stronger Protection for Flight Attendants:  A post by Xinhua News Agency about the China Air Transport Association (CATA)’s response to the China Eastern Airlines flight attendant’s kneeling apology incident is going viral on Weibo. The statement said the airline had reported the incident to police after reviewing evidence and providing psychological support to the flight attendant. CATA also called for stronger protection of cabin crew and urged passengers to resolve service disputes through legal channels. Many users stated that “they support governing the country by law; service workers have it so tough”. Others stressed that “serving customers is part of an employee’s professional responsibility and should not be treated as a sign of inferiority”. Some users described the industry as “too difficult” for people who mistreat employees and argued that “words alone are useless” without concrete measures to prevent similar incidents. Others welcomed the association’s response as an appropriate way to maintain workplace order. A few users also commented that “service is important, but order is also crucial”, adding that preventing unreasonable or petty customers from exploiting service workers was “a key indicator of social progress”. Several users also praised the prospect of stronger institutional safeguards. Others described the approach as “excellent”, noting that support from airlines combined with advocacy by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) could provide “a reliable approach” to protecting employees and maintaining proper service standards.

INDIA WATCH 

Guancha Examines India’s High-Profile Strategy in Global AI Governance: An article in Guancha examined India’s efforts to expand its influence in global AI governance despite its continued dependence on foreign suppliers for advanced hardware, computing power, and software. According to the article, these industrial limitations have not prevented New Delhi from seeking an “excessive role” in shaping global AI governance. It pointed to India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit and its success in securing support from 92 countries and international organisations for the New Delhi Declaration as examples of this effort, arguing that New Delhi has sought to leverage its large population and market potential to attract major technology companies. The piece further suggested that India has sought to use global capital, alongside concepts such as “sovereign AI” and data security, to encourage developing countries to support its approach. It characterised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proactive strategy as a strategic effort to project India as a major power and a potential counterweight to China, encouraging greater Western investment, assistance, and preferential support. According to the article, President Trump’s transactional approach to diplomacy has increased the pressure on India to demonstrate its strategic value to the United States. It concluded that while PM Modi’s strategy has helped attract external resources, India has struggled to convert them effectively into domestic development. This has widened the gap between India’s ambitions and its actual capabilities. The article argued that while this does not mean his strategy has failed, the return of Trump to the presidency has exposed its limitations and made sustaining this image increasingly costly.

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a Project Assistant at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). A recent graduate of FLAME University with a major in International Studies and a minor in Public Policy, her research interests include strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She is interested in contributing to research that informs effective policy design and implementation.