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• China Successfully Launches the 8A Carrier Rocket: According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, China successfully conducted the debut flight of the Long March 8A carrier rocket, transporting a group of satellites. The carrier rocket which is designed and assembled by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology is 50.5 meters tall with a lift-off weight of 371 metric tons and a thrust of 480 tons. The rocket is mainly tasked with deploying satellites in sun-synchronous orbits and is capable of transporting heavy payloads weighing as much as 7 tons. Song Zhengyu, a senior rocket scientist who led the rocket’s design work, stated that the new type is based on the Long March 8 configurations and has similar designs for the core stage and side boosters. However, the Long March 8A has more space for satellites as it can accommodate two types of payload firings having a diameter of 4.2 meters and 5.2 meters. He noted that the new rocket model also includes several improvements including a modified engine with stronger thrust, better servo devices, and an optimized top structure with lighter weight. Song also added that the Long March 8A will be used to deploy a large number of satellites in the future and all the launches will take place from the Wenchang Space Launch sites and Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center.

• People’s Liberation Army Releases Statement on the Movement of US Ships in the Taiwan Strait: The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) released a statement regarding the transit of US vessels in the Taiwan Strait. Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, stated that the Eastern Theatre Command released naval and air forces to monitor the transit of the US destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch in the Taiwan Strait. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert noted that US vessels have previously transited through the Taiwan strait in pairs of Destroyers, but this was the first occasion when a survey ship was also a part of the operation. Moreover, he mentioned that unlike previous instances, the transit of the ships lasted longer this time which is likely due to the survey ship’s tasks including mapping the seabed’s geological structures, gathering hydrological and meteorological data, and underwater surveillance for maritime intelligence collection. The Eastern Theater Command had previously released a statement on the movement of US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft in the Taiwan Strait on November 26, 2024. Zhang also highlighted that the proactive release of the statement by the Eastern Command aims to counter the false narratives of the US and reveal the truth of the matter.

• Tesla’s New Factory Starts Operations in Shanghai: Tesla’s new factory in Shanghai’s Lin Gang special area commenced its operations with the first Megapack battery system rolling off the production lines. The Megapack which is an advanced battery system for large-scale energy projects, can store more than 3,900 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a single unit. The Mega factory which covers about 200,000 meters is a new energy storage project and involves a total investment of 1.45 billion yuan. Chen Haisheng, Chairman of the China Energy Storage Alliance stated that the targeted output of new-type energy storage will cross over 3 trillion yuan by the end of 2025. Tesla’s new factory marks its second establishment in Shanghai after it built the Gigafactory in Lin-gang in 2020. In January, Tesla announced that the Gigafactory had turned out over 3 million EVs over the past five years among which one million were sold in overseas markets. Lu Yu, head of the high-tech industry and innovation department of the Lin-gang special area stated that Tesla’s energy storage projects with Lin-gang show the company’s recognition of Lin-gang’s business environment. He also emphasized that Lin-gang special area has actively participated in the development of Tesla’s energy storage project, including assistance in construction plans, and obtaining land use and construction permits.

• List of New Laboratories for Innovation in Southwest China Released: Sichuan has unveiled the list of eight new laboratories to be built in cooperation with the neighbouring Chongqing municipality. According to the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, a rigorous evaluation process to advance regional scientific collaboration and technological breakthroughs will be followed after the announcement. The laboratories that are being built under the Sichuan-Chongqing joint innovation initiatives span across various fields like healthcare, clean energy, and smart agriculture. Moreover, these laboratories will also benefit leading universities, research institutes, and enterprises across regions. Significant initiatives include the pathology diagnosis laboratory, hydrogen energy production, storage and utilization laboratory, and digital transportation and safety laboratory. In recent years, the Sichuan and Chongqing in the southwestern regions have emerged as new sci-tech hubs in China and have also played a major role in reshaping the area as new regions for economic growth and high-quality development.
• Newspaper Article Sparks Debate on Nanjing vs Hangzhou: Xinhua Daily has sparked a debate with the publication of a three-part series that emphasized why the provincial capital of Jiangsu, Nanjing, falls behind Hangzhou in the age of artificial intelligence as Hangzhou based startups DeepSeek and Unitree garner global attention. The First part titled “Why did DeepSeek appear in Hangzhou” praised Hangzhou for promoting innovation and providing a strong industrial chain. The second part of the installment titled “Why can’t Nanjing develop Hangzhou’s six small dragons” highlighted the development of six major technological companies in Hangzhou and compared both cities in terms of development, industry, and business climate. The third part titled "Hangzhou Has DeepSeek, What Does Nanjing Have?" highlighted the GDP disparity between the two cities. The newspaper also published a fourth article “Observation on Nanjing” further elaborating on DeepSeek and Hangzhou’s Small Dragons. The article addresses the stark contrast between the two cities; Hangzhou has developed because of its higher tolerance for failure and risk-taking in venture capital which has encouraged young innovators. On the other hand, the article urges Nanjing to focus on its shortcomings and create a more tolerant and inclusive urban atmosphere to support private enterprises. 

Article in China Daily Focuses on the Performance of Indian Athletes at Asian Winter Games: An article in the China Daily by Sun Xiaochen highlights the experience of Indian skaters at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, and how the Indian team has faced various setbacks in the competition. The article points out that Indian athletes failed to reach the top 15 in any of the 10 individual events they signed up for at the games. Former inline skater, Amitesh Mishra aspires to see India stand atop the podium but Mishra along with the remaining Indian long-track skaters failed to even come close to the podium in any of the events at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center. Mishra stated that it feels overwhelming to witness and skate along with other skaters he admires and the gap is also too large. The article emphasizes that despite the vast gap between India and other major competitors like China and Japan, Mishra and his teammates have continued to strive. Mishra also notes that participation in winter sports is essential because there is not much awareness about winter sports in India. The article also quotes his teammate, Srinivasa Srikantha Rao who finished 19th among 23 athletes in the 100 meters finals, who stated that it was an excellent experience and he hopes to make India proud alongside his fellow countrymen in upcoming competitions. The article reiterates that similar to other tropical countries in Asia, Indian athletes have to practice in makeshift conditions and manage with a lack of facilities and international exposure. However, the situation is improving with the Indian government providing financial support to the winter athletes and hosting an annual domestic sports tournament known as the Khelo India Winter Games since 2020.