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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and Latin America Expand Clean Energy Cooperation: China and Latin American countries are expanding cooperation in clean energy and infrastructure as both sides pursue energy transition and sustainable development goals. Chinese companies are participating in major electricity transmission, hydropower modernisation, and solar power projects across the region, particularly in Brazil and Argentina. Key projects include State Grid’s Belo Monte Phase II ultra-high-voltage transmission line in Brazil, the modernisation of the Jupia and Ilha Solteira hydropower stations by China Three Gorges, and the Cauchari solar project in Argentina. These projects combine investment with technology transfer, grid infrastructure development and operational expertise. Chinese officials have described energy cooperation as an important component of broader China-Latin America relations, with increasing emphasis on renewable energy and emerging sectors. The cooperation has also been linked to high-quality Belt and Road collaboration and the alignment of development strategies. Industry observers noted that future cooperation could expand into localised manufacturing, joint research and green financing as Latin American countries continue investing in renewable energy and infrastructure modernisation.
  
  
• China and Tanzania Promote Youth and Skills Cooperation: China and Tanzania called for expanded youth exchanges, vocational training and innovation cooperation during the China-Tanzania Dialogue on Youth Development and Exchange held on International Youth Day. Officials from both countries said greater collaboration could strengthen bilateral relations and support their broader development objectives. Chinese Ambassador Chen Mingjian said young people are an important foundation for future China-Tanzania relations and for broader China-Africa cooperation. She noted that educational exchanges, Chinese language programs and vocational and technical training opportunities for Tanzanian youth have grown in recent years. Tanzanian officials emphasised the need for deeper institutional partnerships involving Chinese companies, universities and vocational education providers. They proposed expanding internships, apprenticeships, scholarships, joint research initiatives, industry-linked skills development and technology transfer, along with long-term cooperation between educational institutions. Chinese education officials said skills development and professional training could help Tanzanian youth contribute to industrialisation and modernisation efforts. They also encouraged cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green development and the blue economy.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Signs State Council Decree Revising Environmental Regulations: China has revised and repealed several administrative regulations ahead of the implementation of its new Ecological and Environmental Code, scheduled to take effect on Aug 15. Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree that publicised the changes. According to the State Council, 12 administrative regulations will be revised, including rules governing pollution source censuses and environmental monitoring, to ensure consistency with the provisions of the new code. An additional three regulations will be repealed as part of broader efforts to support ecological protection and high-quality development. Officials said the revisions are intended to create a more coherent and coordinated regulatory framework for environmental governance. The Ecological and Environmental Code was adopted by China’s top legislature in March and contains 1,242 articles covering pollution prevention and control, ecological conservation, and green and low-carbon development. The code is designed to consolidate and standardise environmental legislation under a unified legal framework. The new code is also linked to China’s longer-term climate objectives, including its commitments to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
  
  
• SAMR Reports Progress in Food Additive Enforcement Campaign: China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said authorities have made progress in a nationwide campaign against the illegal use of food additives, which was launched in April last year by six government departments under the State Council’s food safety framework. Local market regulators targeted key food categories, including dairy products, meat products, aquatic products, starch products, edible oils, beverages and compound seasonings. Enforcement efforts focused on the excessive or unauthorised use of food additives during food production and catering processing, with increased inspections and product sampling. According to the administration, regulators investigated 23,603 cases involving the over-limit or unauthorised use of food additives. Authorities imposed fines totalling 145 million yuan, confiscated 43.62 million yuan in illegal gains, and transferred 278 cases to public security agencies for criminal investigation. Officials said the campaign was intended to strengthen deterrence against violations involving preservatives, sweeteners and colourants. The market regulator said enforcement efforts will continue, with increased supervision of products such as milk tea, cooked meat, pastries, noodles and alcoholic beverages. Authorities also said they would strengthen oversight of food businesses, promote compliance with food safety responsibilities and publicise major enforcement cases.
  
  
• China Deploys Aircraft for Falcon Strike-2026 Exercise in Thailand: China has deployed multiple types of aircraft and ground-based air defence equipment for the Falcon Strike-2026 joint air force exercise in Thailand.  The exercise includes fighter jets, fighter-bombers, early-warning aircraft, aerial refuelling tankers, transport aircraft, and air defence units. China and Thailand will conduct training in force deployment, joint air defence, humanitarian assistance, and medical rescue operations. The participating aircrafts include China’s J-10C, J-10S, and Y-20, along with Thailand’s JAS 39 Gripen and Alpha Jet aircraft. The overseas deployment of the J-10C has been presented as evidence of the aircraft’s operational maturity and combat capabilities. The combination of fighters, tankers, early-warning aircraft, and transport aircraft is also intended to support overseas deployment and operational coordination. The joint air defence component aims to improve coordination, target identification and interoperability between the two forces. The exercise marks the ninth joint training event between the Chinese and Thai air forces and the fifth consecutive Falcon Strike exercise to be held in Thailand. 
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to China Extending Anti-Dumping Duties on Indian Optical Fibre: A post on Weibo discussing China’s Ministry of Commerce announcement on anti-dumping duties on imported single-mode optical fibre originating in India has gone viral. According to the post, the duties will be extended for another five years from August 14, 2026, following the conclusion of an expiry review investigation. The post noted that the duties were first imposed in 2014 at rates ranging from 7.4% to 30.6% and were previously extended in 2020. It further added that the latest review, launched in August 2025, concluded that removing the measures could lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and renewed injury to China’s domestic optical fibre industry. The post drew significant discussion on Weibo. One user wrote, “Maintain domestic industries, and ensure reasonable compliance with anti-dumping measures.” Another commented, “Don’t we have it? We still want to buy the Indian one.” Other users urged the Chinese authorities to strengthen domestic production and learn how India had developed its optical fibre manufacturing capacity. Some commenters also argued that similar anti-dumping measures should be considered for additional products. Many users broadly expressed support for extending the duties and protecting domestic industry.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India’s Assessment of the Mecca Defence Agreement: An article on Guancha discussed that India has begun evaluating the Mecca Defence Agreement and its potential implications for national security and regional stability, following official statements from New Delhi. According to the article, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was studying the agreement from the perspective of national security and regional peace and would take necessary measures to protect national interests. The article mentioned that the agreement was signed on 7 August by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, and includes a collective defence clause stating that an armed attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all. It further noted that Turkish officials compared the arrangement to NATO’s Article 5, while also clarifying that the form and scale of assistance would be decided through consultations. The article argued that India’s principal concern lies in the agreement’s ambiguity rather than an automatic military intervention by Saudi Arabia or Turkey. It also stressed that expanded defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, and military coordination among the three countries could enhance Pakistan’s strategic capabilities and influence New Delhi’s military planning during a future India-Pakistan crisis.