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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Condemns Kabul Attack, Urges Stronger Protection for Chinese Nationals in Afghanistan: China has strongly condemned the explosion outside a Chinese restaurant in Kabul that killed one Chinese national and injured five others, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Responding to questions after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, Guo said Beijing has lodged an urgent representation with Afghan authorities, calling for immediate medical care for the injured, a swift investigation, accountability for those responsible, and concrete measures to enhance the security of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Afghanistan. Guo added that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan has visited the hospital to convey condolences and provide assistance. Reaffirming China’s firm opposition to terrorism in all forms, he said China supports Afghanistan and regional countries in jointly combating terrorist and violent activities. He also advised Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Afghanistan in the near term and urged those currently in the country to remain highly vigilant, strengthen security precautions, and leave high-risk areas as soon as possible.
  
  

• China Rolls Out New Financial Measures to Boost Private Investment and Consumption: China’s Ministry of Finance has unveiled new policies aimed at stimulating private investment and consumption, including a large-scale corporate loan guarantee program and expanded interest subsidies for businesses and individuals. The ministry will introduce a 500 billion yuan special guarantee program, under the National Financing Guarantee Fund for two years, to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises by covering medium and long-term loans as well as day-to-day financing needs such as factory expansion, shop renovation and working capital. At the same time, a loan interest subsidy policy will be launched for newly issued fixed-asset loans and funds from new policy-based financial instruments, focusing on key industrial chains and producer services, with subsidies set at 1.5 percentage points per year for up to two years. To further support demand, the ministry has also optimized and extended interest subsidy policies for service-sector loans and personal consumption loans through the end of 2026, expanding coverage to digital, green and retail sectors, raising subsidy limits, and including credit card installment services.
  
  

• Xi Jinping Outlines Priorities for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for solid and practical efforts to ensure a strong start to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), underscoring five-year planning as a core governance practice of the Communist Party of China and a key institutional advantage that ensures policy continuity. Addressing senior provincial- and ministerial-level officials at a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Xi noted that China is entering a phase in which strategic opportunities and risks coexist amid growing uncertainties. Xi stressed the importance of accurately understanding the strategic arrangements outlined at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He identified building a modern industrial system and upgrading the industrial structure as central tasks, calling for maintaining a reasonable share of manufacturing, accelerating advanced manufacturing, and strengthening modern infrastructure. He also emphasized faster progress toward a new development pattern anchored in the domestic economy, better coordination between physical and human capital investment, stronger focus on improving livelihoods, and the need to uphold firm Party leadership alongside a sustained high-pressure anti-corruption campaign.
  
  

• China Urges Global Community to Prevent Japan’s Return to Militarism: China has called on the international community to work together to prevent Japan from returning to what it described as the old and dangerous path of militarism. Speaking at the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity in New York, charge d’affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said crimes against humanity are grave offenses that threaten international peace and security and embody the conscience of humankind. He recalled that during World War II, Japanese militarism committed serious atrocities against China, other Asian countries and the wider world, noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo trials. Sun stressed that the tribunal systematically exposed and judged Japan’s crimes of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity, serving as irrefutable historical evidence and laying important foundations for international criminal law. He emphasized that safeguarding the outcomes of World War II, upholding the international order based on international law and strengthening efforts to prevent and punish crimes against humanity are especially important at a time of global uncertainty.
  
  

• Former Hainan Discipline Inspection Official Sentenced to 12 Years for Bribery: A Shanghai court sentenced Chen Xiaobo, former deputy secretary of the Hainan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and former deputy director of the Hainan Provincial Supervisory Commission, to 12 years in prison for bribery. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court also imposed a fine of 3 million yuan and ordered that more than 37.35 million yuan in illicit gains and related proceeds be confiscated and handed over to the state treasury. The court found that between 2007 and 2024, Chen abused multiple senior posts in Hainan, including county and municipal leadership roles as well as his later disciplinary positions, to provide assistance in land acquisition, project contracting and job promotions in exchange for bribes. While the court determined the amount involved was exceptionally large, it granted leniency after noting that Chen confessed truthfully, disclosed crimes previously unknown to investigators, pleaded guilty, showed remorse and returned all illegal gains.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Auxiliary Police Officer’s Snowy Rescue in Nanjing Goes Viral: The hashtag #AuxiliaryPoliceSlidesDownSteepSlopeToRescueAMan trended on Weibo after an auxiliary police officer’s swift response during heavy snowfall in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, drew widespread attention online. Icy road conditions caused a car to slide into a river, prompting an urgent police response. Li Guanquan, an auxiliary officer with the Fifth Squadron of the Jiangning Traffic Police, rushed to the scene and, despite a steep, snow-covered slope and the risk of slipping, slid down toward the river to assess the situation. Video footage of his decisive actions quickly circulated on social media, sparking an outpouring of praise from netizens. Many hailed him as “the real people’s police,” “the most beautiful figure in the snow,” and “the warmest protection of this winter,” commending his courage, professionalism, and sense of duty. Others called for greater recognition of auxiliary police officers, with comments ranging from “salute” and “pay tribute” to “this is the most beautiful skiing posture this winter.”

INDIA WATCH

Indian Antitrust Regulator Issues Ultimatum to Apple, Sina Finance Reports: Sina Finance reported that Indian regulators have issued a stern warning to Apple amid an ongoing antitrust investigation, cautioning that the company could face fines of up to USD 38 billion if it fails to cooperate. According to the report, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given Apple one week to respond, warning that the investigation and related legal proceedings will continue even in the company’s absence. The case dates back to 2022, when Match Group along with several Indian technology firms accused Apple of abusing its dominant position in the App Store. The complaints alleged that Apple forces developers to use its in-house payment system, charges commissions of up to 30 percent, and restricts third-party payment options. Indian media cited in the report noted that antitrust penalties in India are calculated on the basis of a company’s global revenue rather than its local earnings. Apple has denied the allegations, submitting a detailed response arguing that the proposed penalties are arbitrary and unfair. The company has repeatedly sought extensions and requested that the investigation be paused until the Supreme Court rules on penalty standards - requests that have been rejected by Indian regulators.

Prepared By

Mohit Singh Mehra

Mohit Singh Mehra is a Master’s student of International Relations at South Asian University, New Delhi. His academic and research interests focus on China, Himalayan geopolitics, and border dynamics, with a particular emphasis on strategic, security, and political developments in the region. He is interested in understanding how geography, power, and policy interact in shaping regional order in Asia.