CiCM 14th January 2026

NEWS IN CHINA

Canadian PM Mark Carney Begins China Visit: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing on January 14 for a four‑day official visit to China. This is the first visit by a Canadian Prime Minister to China in eight years, marking an important step in rebuilding ties between the two countries. Over the past year, relations between China and Canada have slowly improved through joint efforts. A key moment was the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Carney in Gyeongju, South Korea, which set the direction for restoring cooperation and exchanges in different areas. Carney’s visit is seen as an opportunity to maintain this positive momentum. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China hopes the visit will strengthen dialogue, build political trust, expand practical cooperation, and help both sides manage differences more effectively. The goal of the visit is to address mutual concerns, deepen understanding, and ensure that the relationship benefits the people of both nations.
Li Qiang Chairs State Council Meeting: Premier Li Qiang chaired a meeting of the State Council’s Party Group to study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech at the Fifth Plenary Session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The meeting focused on promoting fair governance and strengthening the fight against corruption. Xi Jinping’s speech gave strategic direction for deepening the Party’s self-reform and enforcing strict discipline with higher standards. The State Council and its departments were urged to align their work with this guidance, uphold the “two establishments” and “two safeguards,” and integrate strict Party governance into all areas of government activity. The meeting reviewed progress made last year in improving work style and advancing anti-corruption efforts. Officials were asked to focus on serving the people, improving laws and regulations, and tackling both misconduct and corruption. The State Council Party Group was reminded to take full responsibility for strict Party governance, strengthen its own construction, improve efficiency, and ensure members remain disciplined, honest, and committed to integrity in government work.
China Extends Condolences Over Deadly Rail Incident in Thailand: China has expressed condolences following a deadly train accident in northeastern Thailand after a passenger train collided with a collapsed construction crane in Nakhon Ratchasima province, leaving at least 22 people dead and 55 others injured. Responding to media questions on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China has taken note of reports about the incident and extends deep sympathy to the victims and their families. She said the Chinese government places great importance on the safety of overseas projects and personnel and is currently seeking further details about the accident. Mao noted that China is one of the partners in the planned China-Thailand high-speed rail project, which has drawn public attention following the incident. She clarified that based on current information, the construction section involved in the accident was undertaken by a Thai company and the exact cause of the crane collapse and the subsequent derailment is still under investigation by Thai authorities.
Ministry of Finance Extends Tax Support for Residents Upgrading Homes: China’s Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration, and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development have jointly announced the continuation of individual income tax incentives to support residents who upgrade or replace their homes. The policy came into effect on January 1, 2026, and will be operational until December 31, 2027. Under the policy, taxpayers who sell their own homes and purchase another home within one year of the sale can apply for a refund of the individual income tax paid on the original transaction. If the purchase price of the new home is equal to or higher than the selling price of the old home, the full tax paid will be refunded. If the new home costs less, the refund will be calculated in proportion to the purchase price. The policy applies only to transactions within the same city, defined as the full administrative area of a municipality, sub-provincial city, or prefecture-level city. Taxpayers must be owners of both the sold and newly purchased homes. Eligible taxpayers must submit valid housing sale and purchase contracts and other required documents to tax authorities for review. Authorities will process refunds after verification. Housing and tax departments are also required to strengthen information sharing to ensure smooth implementation of the policy.
CCDI Concludes Fifth Plenary Session and Issues Communique: The Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) was held in Beijing from January 12-14, 2026, with 120 members and 265 observers present. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, joined by senior Party leaders. The session reviewed achievements in 2025, approved Li Xi’s work report, and set tasks for 2026, emphasizing comprehensive and strict Party governance during the crucial first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Xi’s speech highlighted progress in strengthening Party discipline and combating corruption, while calling for higher standards and concrete measures to safeguard unity, purity, and modernization goals. The plenary emphasised the importance of political oversight, rectification of misconduct, and intensified anti-corruption efforts in key sectors, including finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, education, and healthcare. It also underscored reforms in discipline inspection systems, promotion of integrity culture, and grassroots supervision. The session outlined six priorities: strengthening political oversight, rectifying conduct, tackling corruption at the root and symptom, enforcing discipline for the people, enhancing inspections, and improving standardisation of discipline work.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Erupts Over China’s Shortest-Ever Drama: A new short drama has taken Weibo by surprise after viewers noticed that each episode lasts only three seconds. The discovery quickly went viral, with users sharing screenshots in disbelief. Hashtag #ShortDramaHasReached3SecondEpisode# shot up the trending list, as curiosity turned into a heated discussion online. What followed was overwhelming excitement rather than mockery. Many users said the three-second format felt “more intense than a full TV episode.” Viewers praised the fast pace, packed storytelling, and constant plot twists. One popular comment read, “Every three seconds is a cliffhanger.” Another wrote, “The suspense and foreshadowing make you unable to stop watching.” Some users joked they now “desperately need a three-second foresight ability” in real life. Overall, the atmosphere surrounding this 3-second drama has left netizens hooked, curious, and questioning how much more can three seconds hold?

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Discusses Merz’s India Visit: The Paper discussed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first visit to India as a clear signal of closer strategic alignment between India and Europe amid growing external pressure. The article noted that Merz’s decision to choose India as his first Asian destination breaks with past practice and shows Berlin’s effort to diversify partnerships under the EU’s “de-risking” approach toward China. The visit resulted in a memorandum of understanding and multiple cooperation announcements spanning key minerals, healthcare, artificial intelligence, talent mobility, and security. The article argues that these outcomes show mutual needs rather than pure diplomacy. The article further stressed that India is seeking advanced technology, investment, and defence cooperation to support its “Made in India” agenda. Similarly, Europe is seeking new markets and production bases as it faces declining competitiveness and increasing uncertainty in its relations with both China and the United States. The article emphasises that defence cooperation, with speculation surrounding the joint production of Type 214 submarines, reflects India’s desire for technology transfer and industrial capability development. On the economic front, Merz’s push for an EU-India free trade agreement stresses Europe’s urgency to rebalance trade ties. Finally, the outlet cautions that implementation risks remain high, noting India’s complex regulatory environment and past delays in major defence projects.

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.