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NEWS IN CHINA 

• Xi Jinping Visits Tibet for 60th Anniversary of the Autonomous Region: Xi Jinping arrived in Lhasa to attend celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It marks the first time a sitting General Secretary has personally led a central delegation to such an event, underscoring Beijing’s emphasis on Tibet’s political and cultural importance. Xi was accompanied by senior leaders including Wang Huning and Cai Qi, highlighting the significance of the visit and the central leadership’s presentation of a united front. At Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport, Xi was greeted by top Tibetan officials and locals offering khatas, barley wine, and folk performances, symbolizing loyalty and festivity. He attended a grand ceremony and parade at Potala Palace Square, featuring songs, dances, disciplined formations, and floats, with thousands of people waving red flags and placards stressing stability, development, ecological protection, and border defense under Xi Jinping Thought. During the ceremonies, Wang Huning delivered a speech highlighting the Party’s leadership, Tibet’s historic progress, and a “modern socialist” transformation under Xi’s guidance.

• SAMR Invites Public Opinion on Antitrust Guidelines for Utilities Sector: The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the draft Anti-monopoly Guidelines for the Public Utilities Sector for public consultation, a move signaling Beijing’s growing scrutiny of industries deemed “natural monopolies.” The guidelines cover essential services including water, electricity, gas, heating, sewage treatment, waste disposal, broadcasting, and public transport sectors long shielded from competition due to their public-service orientation. SAMR noted that monopolistic practices remain widespread, with operators often extending their dominance into upstream and downstream markets, limiting fair competition. Reporters discovered that under the guidelines, excuses such as "safety protection" without legal or regulatory basis will no longer serve as a shield for utility operators to engage in abusive practices such as restricting transactions and bundling. It will also refine the analytical approach and identification criteria for monopolistic behavior, and provide clearer and more precise guidance for antitrust enforcement and business operator compliance in the public utilities sector. If finalized, the guidelines could reshape operational practices, strengthen consumer protections, and reinforce Beijing’s long-term regulatory push in the utilities sectors.

• China’s Land Transfer Revenue Falls 4.6%: The Ministry of Finance reported that from January to July 2025, revenue from the transfer of state-owned land use rights totaled 1.695 trillion yuan, down 4.6% year-on-year. While the figure is a steep decline compared to the 3.51 trillion yuan peak in 2020, analysts note a narrowing drop since late 2024, suggesting policy measures are cushioning the downturn. It highlights that the decline reflects a combination of factors; tightened land supply, weaker sales, project delays, and developers’ focus on deleveraging rather than expansion. Many mid-tier firms have avoided new acquisitions, while leading developers are concentrating their purchases on high-value plots in core cities. Data from CRIC shows residential land transactions in 30 key cities rose 17% year-on-year, contrasting with a 9% fall across 300 cities nationwide. This divergence underscores strong competition in tier-one and core cities, but subdued demand elsewhere. Policy adjustments, such as changing land use ratios, aim to address structural imbalances and support a gradual stabilization of China’s real estate market.

• China Eases Withdrawal Rules for Private Pensions: China has announced new rules allowing greater flexibility in the country’s private pension system, which supplements the state pension program. Beginning September 1st, individuals will be able to withdraw funds under relaxed conditions, a move designed to ease financial pressures and adapt the scheme to real-life needs. According to a joint notice issued by five central departments, participants can now withdraw pensions if major medical expenses for themselves, spouses, or underage children exceed the previous year’s per capita disposable income of their province after insurance reimbursements. Withdrawals will also be permitted for those receiving unemployment insurance for up to 12 months within two years, or for people on minimum subsistence allowances. Previously, withdrawals were limited to retirement, loss of work ability, or emigration. Those conditions remain, but the new policy marks a significant step toward a more responsive system. The reform reflects Beijing’s focus on strengthening the social safety net while addressing the realities of rising healthcare costs and labor market uncertainties.\

• Afghan Acting PM Meets Wang Yi, Reaffirms Strong Ties with China: Afghanistan’s acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, praising China’s steadfast support and commitment to Afghanistan. Akhund highlighted Beijing’s consistent goodwill, contrasting it with foreign interventions that, he argued, have historically brought instability. He stressed that Afghanistan will never allow its territory to be used to threaten China, pledging closer cooperation on security and development. Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, culture, and governance model. He underlined that China sees Afghanistan as an important partner in regional modernization and vowed continued support for Kabul’s independent development. Wang also issued a clear call for Afghanistan to intensify action against the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group Beijing considers a direct threat to its security. Wang Yi also met with the foreign minister and the interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. He stressed that China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its development path chosen by the Afghan people. Haqqani expressed appreciation for China's long-standing support of Afghanistan's development.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Social Media Excited About PLA Military Parade: China is set to hold a major military parade on September 3, marking a new milestone in the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This year’s parade promises several “firsts” from the simultaneous display of the Party flag, national flag, military flag, and armed police flag, to the debut of advanced unmanned, anti-unmanned, and precision strike systems. Netizens on social media expressed their excitement about the showcase of China’s restructured force composition, highlighting both land-based strategic weapons and the latest air combat power, including newly unveiled fighter aircraft. On Weibo, hashtags such as “I can’t hold back my desire to watch the military parade” and “September 3rd parade’s many firsts” have surged, drawing millions of views. Netizens expressed pride and anticipation, with many praising the PLA’s rapid modernization and describing the event as a “visual proof of national strength.” Some, however, raised critical questions about military expenditure amid domestic challenges. The overwhelming sentiment online reflects patriotic enthusiasm ahead of the parade.

INDIA WATCH 

Article Discusses India’s Engagement With China Amid Economic Strains: An article in China.com highlighted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 18, calling it a striking shift in New Delhi’s diplomatic posture. The visit, officially framed around the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ Meeting on the Boundary Question, carried symbolic weight as Modi personally hosted Wang Yi. The article argues that India, facing economic pressure from U.S. tariffs and questions about the quality of its growth, now views China, its largest trading partner, as indispensable. The report also linked India’s softened tone to declining U.S. interest under Trump and the backlash of rising nationalism at home. While improving ties could ease trade strains and stabilize the border, skepticism persists. The article cautions that Modi’s outreach may be tactical rather than strategic, consistent with India’s history of balancing between Washington and Beijing. Still, the resumption of direct flights, if achieved, would be seen as a tangible breakthrough, signaling more than diplomatic theater.

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.