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NEWS IN CHINA

• Wang Yi Met Polish President Nawrocki, Pledges Stronger Bilateral Ties: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Polish President Karol Nawrocki, and emphasized China’s commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation with Poland. Wang underscored that China values Poland’s role in Europe and supports its growing influence within the European Union (EU). Wang highlighted the importance of Poland maintaining an objective and balanced view of China within the EU framework, noting that stronger China-Poland cooperation could contribute to regional stability and global peace. He also co-chaired the fourth China-Poland Intergovernmental Committee with Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, where the two sides discussed bilateral ties and pressing international issues, including the Ukraine crisis. President Nawrocki praised China’s development achievements, conveyed greetings to President Xi Jinping, and reiterated Poland’s adherence to the one-China principle while recalling shared historical bonds forged during World War II.
  
  
• China rolls out 19 measures to boost service consumption: China’s Ministry of Commerce, along with nine other departments, released a policy package aimed at expanding service consumption and enhancing domestic demand. The new document outlines 19 targeted measures across five key areas. One of the major highlights is the launch of a nationwide “Service Consumption Season,” featuring promotional activities designed to stimulate consumer spending in culture, tourism, education, and entertainment. Authorities also plan to support cross-border cooperation between high-quality consumer brands and well-known intellectual property (IP) resources, strengthening China’s position in the global consumer market. To improve accessibility, local governments will be encouraged to extend the business hours of cultural sites, museums, and scenic spots, while also simplifying reservation procedures and promoting no-reservation entry where feasible. Additionally, the plan emphasizes optimizing student holiday arrangements and improving supporting policies to encourage family-centered consumption. By expanding the supply of high-quality services and aligning with evolving consumer preferences, the measures aim to create a more vibrant service market that better meets the public’s diverse and growing needs.
  
  
• China Issues Strict Rules on Online Conduct of Religious Personnel: China’s National Religious Affairs Administration has released a new 18-article regulation aimed at tightening oversight of religious personnel’s online behavior. The rules specifically address online preaching, scripture teaching, and religious training. Under the regulation, such activities are permitted only through legally established and licensed platforms run by recognized religious groups, institutions, temples, or churches. Unauthorized platforms are barred from hosting religious content. The rules further prohibit clerics from engaging in online self-promotion, exploiting religion for profit, spreading extremist ideologies, promoting cults or heresies, or participating in overseas religious infiltration activities. Officials stressed that the move is as part of Beijing’s broader effort to standardize religious affairs in cyberspace and maintain social order.
  
  
• China strengthens transport services for Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day travel rush: As the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays overlap this year, China’s Ministry of Transport has unveiled a comprehensive plan to ensure safe and efficient travel amid a surge in passenger and logistics flows. Authorities announced enhanced safety controls across 13 major risk areas, including passenger and hazardous materials vehicles, bridges, ports, cruise ships, and fishing vessels. Special oversight will target port operations, waterway safety, and high-risk construction projects. Passenger services will be boosted through expanded transport capacity and emergency dispatch in key regions. A “one ship, one policy” approach will apply to large cruise vessels, while “one route, one policy” will govern busy passenger routes. Online ticketing channels will be expanded, and support for vulnerable groups will be strengthened, alongside preferential travel policies. Coordination with meteorological agencies will ensure timely advisories on heavy rains, typhoons, and severe weather. Logistics safeguards include emergency transport reserves, strengthened hub monitoring, and the continued “green channel” for fresh produce and key supplies. 
  
  
• Han Zheng Meets ASEAN Leaders to Strengthen Regional Ties at China-ASEAN Expo: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with top leaders from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo and Business and Investment Summit in Guangxi, reaffirming China’s commitment to building closer ties with its Southeast Asian neighbors. Han highlighted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Myanmar, pledging to deepen cooperation on stability, cross-border security, and Belt and Road projects. Myanmar’s Prime Minister Nyu Soe expressed gratitude for China’s earthquake aid and reiterated support for the one-China principle. With Lao Vice President Bounthong, Han stressed the progress of the China-Laos community with a shared future, noting next year’s 65th anniversary of ties. Laos pledged to enhance political trust and practical cooperation. Han also emphasized the “Diamond Hexagram” framework with Cambodia, calling for faster development of the “Industrial Development Corridor” and “Fish and Rice Corridor.” Cambodia reaffirmed its “ironclad friendship” with China. Meeting Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, Han underlined joint efforts to celebrate 75 years of relations and deepen cooperation under the Year of People-to-People Exchange. 

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Young Migrant Workers’ Push to Fund Parents’ Pensions Ignites Online Debate: A trending topic on Chinese social media has drawn attention to a growing phenomenon: young migrant workers returning to their hometowns to spend tens of thousands of yuan covering overdue social security payments for their parents. The goal is to secure a stable pension for elderly rural residents, typically ranging from a few hundred to several thousand yuan per month. On Weibo, the hashtag “workers spend tens of thousands to pay parents’ social security” quickly went viral, sparking heated debate and amassing millions of views. Many praised the act as a moving display of filial piety, reflecting strong family bonds and a deep sense of responsibility. Others, however, questioned whether the trend exposes deeper flaws in China’s rural pension system, where older citizens often lack sufficient coverage. For many families, the decision is not taken lightly. It often requires lengthy negotiations among siblings, since the financial commitment can be significant and repayment may take years. While pensions provide aging parents with dignity and security, critics note that the financial burden falls heavily on young workers already grappling with rising housing costs, childcare expenses, and job insecurity.

INDIA WATCH

Water Security and Frontier Disputes in China–India Relations, Guancha Reports: In a recent interview with Guancha, Gao Zhikai, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, outlined two “clear points” that India must grasp in the ongoing frontier dispute. Beyond territorial claims, Gao stressed the importance of water security, highlighting China’s hydropower projects on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. Gao maintained that Beijing’s dam-building efforts adhere to international norms and demonstrate China’s responsible management of shared rivers. He noted that India’s handling of the Indus River, particularly in relation to Pakistan, could be seen as using water resources as leverage—an approach that, he argued, complicates New Delhi’s position when it criticizes China. Guancha’s report echoed this position, framing China’s dams as development-oriented while presenting India’s record as politically motivated. According to Gao, India’s stance on the border dispute is shaped less by geography than by a strategic calculation to counterbalance China. From India’s perspective, China’s large-scale dam construction near contested frontiers raises serious concerns over ecological security and potential strategic leverage on the Brahmaputra. Gao’s remarks underscore how water management has emerged as a critical lens in the Sino-Indian rivalry, where narratives of development and responsibility intersect with deep-rooted security anxieties.

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.