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NEWS IN CHINA

• CMC Publishes Part IV of Xi Jinping On Strengthening the Army: With the approval of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the Political Work Department has released Part IV of Xi Jinping on Strengthening the Army, marking a new phase in the military’s study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This publication aims to deepen officers’ and soldiers’ understanding of Xi Jinping’s military thought, reinforce awareness of the “two establishments,” and strengthen political and ideological alignment with the Party’s leadership and directives. The CMC has issued a directive requiring all levels of the armed forces to integrate this volume with previous works and the 2023 Outline for Studying Xi Jinping’s Military Thought. Troops are encouraged to engage deeply with original texts, connect theoretical insights with the PLA’s historic achievements, and ensure the study remains central to Party committee activities, cadre training, and political education. Emphasis is placed on aligning theory with practice, enhancing political training, and promoting ideological transformation. Cadres are expected to lead by example, while political work departments and military media are tasked with driving implementation. The goal is to purify the political ecology, strengthen mission readiness, and advance toward the PLA’s centenary in 2027 with concrete achievements.
  
  
• Beijing Rejects San Francisco Peace Treaty, Reaffirms Taiwan as Inseparable Part of China: The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly dismissed the San Francisco Peace Treaty as “illegal and invalid”, stressing that Taiwan has always been an inseparable part of China. The statement came after Taiwan’s foreign affairs department claimed that the treaty, signed after World War II, superseded earlier agreements such as the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation, and did not transfer Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning criticised these remarks, labelling them a distortion of history and evidence of the Lai Ching-te administration’s separatist stance. She emphasised that Taiwan’s return to China was a key outcome of World War II, reaffirmed by binding international legal documents including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and Japan’s Terms of Surrender. Mao added that the San Francisco Treaty excluded China and the Soviet Union, violating the UN Charter and international law. She concluded that no separatist narrative could alter the fact that Taiwan belongs to China, nor halt the irreversible trend toward eventual national reunification.
  
  
• China Issues Level IV Response to Geological Disasters in Three Provinces: China’s Ministry of Natural Resources activated a Level IV emergency response to geological disasters in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi. The move followed meteorological forecasts warning of heavy rainfall in the region over the next three days. The Ministry’s Geological Hazard Technical Guidance Centre assessed that the risk of landslides, mudslides, and related disasters remains high, particularly in northern Shanxi, central Inner Mongolia, and northern Shaanxi. The Level IV response requires local authorities to strengthen monitoring, issue timely warnings, and prepare for rapid evacuation if risks escalate. It also directs closer coordination between meteorological agencies and disaster prevention units to minimise casualties and property damage. With several provinces already grappling with floods this summer, authorities are prioritising early action to prevent localised risks from turning into wider humanitarian and economic crises.
  
  
• China’s Legislative Progress Strengthens Governance During 14th Five-Year Plan: China has aimed to advance governance since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021, according to a press conference held by the State Council Information Office. Song Rui, deputy secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), reported that the NPC and its Standing Committee have enacted 35 new laws, adopted 62 amendments, and passed 34 binding resolutions over the past four years. These legislative efforts were highlighted as crucial steps in advancing socialist democracy and refining China’s legal system. Song emphasised that the new laws and amendments have improved state governance, responded to growing public demands for a better quality of life, and bolstered national security. Other senior officials, including representatives from the CPC Central Committee’s United Front Work Department, the CPPCC, and the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, also attended the briefing. The speakers underlined that China’s legislative achievements reflect institutional progress aimed at building a modern socialist legal framework and promoting stable, long-term national development.
  
  
• Chinese Cities Push NEVs Toward Green Electricity to Boost Low-Carbon Transition: China’s southern tech hub, Shenzhen, has rolled out a new initiative, “Green Car, Green Electricity,” encouraging new energy vehicle (NEV) owners to charge their cars using renewable power. Under the scheme, drivers who charge at any of the city’s 11 certified green electricity stations will earn a National Energy Administration (NEA) certificate for every 1,000 kWh consumed. At a recent event at Shenzhen’s Lianhuashan supercharging station, NEV users received commemorative badges and 50-yuan charging cards, symbolising their contribution to sustainable transport. Officials explained that all participating stations draw power from wind, solar, and biomass sources, with traceability certificates proving their renewable origin. The program follows guidelines issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other agencies to promote green charging piles and expand the green electricity certificate market. Beyond Shenzhen, cities like Jingjiang in Jiangsu Province are adopting similar measures, while Beijing has pledged to scale up green charging networks.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Urges Stronger Policy Action to Meet 2025 Development Goals: Chinese Premier Li Qiang, chairing the ninth plenary meeting of the State Council in Beijing, called for intensified efforts to meet China’s annual economic and social development targets. Stressing the importance of balancing recovery momentum with structural reforms, Li underscored the need to counter global uncertainties with effective macroeconomic policies and domestic stability. Li highlighted the importance of boosting domestic consumption, urging systematic removal of barriers and fostering new growth drivers such as service-oriented and technology-driven consumption. He also pressed for concrete steps to stabilise the property market, a sector that remains under pressure despite recent policy support. The premier emphasised deeper integration of science and technology with industrial upgrading, along with advancing high-standard opening-up and promoting both voluntary and unilateral liberalisation measures. Beyond growth targets, Li placed equal focus on employment stability, social welfare, workplace safety, and disaster resilience. 

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Food Delivery Riders Granted Paternity Leave and Allowance: The introduction of China’s new social security regulations is drawing wide attention after cases in Yinchuan, Ningxia, highlighted their impact on ordinary workers. Two food delivery riders recently received 25 days of paid paternity leave along with an allowance of over 2,000 yuan under the “five insurances and one fund” scheme. For one rider, this marked a significant shift; he had previously lost his job when his first child was born. But now, despite working in a gig economy role, his employment comes with security and tangible family support. On Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, hashtags such as “Your rider is taking paternity leave” and “Delivery riders get 20 days of paternity leave and 2,000 yuan allowance” are trending. Many netizens praised the policy as a breakthrough for labour rights, especially for workers in high-pressure service sectors. Some celebrated it as a sign of improving family protections, while others questioned whether similar benefits would be extended to more precarious workers. Overall, the discussion reflects growing public concern over social equality and labour security in China’s rapidly evolving economy.

INDIA WATCH 

The Paper Reports Wang Yi's Visit to India: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is currently in India, holding the 24th round of boundary talks with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s readiness to continue constructive dialogue, uphold existing consensus, and jointly maintain peace and stability along the border. According to The Paper, the visit is aimed at managing the long-standing boundary dispute while preparing the ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Chinese media have highlighted positive momentum since Xi Jinping and Modi’s 2024 meeting in Kazan, pointing to recent progress in trade, visa facilitation, and pilgrimage exchanges as signs of a cautious thaw. The article highlighted that the Indian media, however, continues to stress that sustained border stability remains a prerequisite for broader cooperation. As India faces trade and energy-related frictions with the USA, Wang’s visit carries strategic weight. For India, the priority remains balancing constructive engagement with Beijing while firmly safeguarding sovereignty.

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.