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NEWS IN CHINA

• Wang Yi Calls for Deeper China-Indonesia Economic Ties: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that stronger China-Indonesia friendship and cooperation have supported both countries’ development and demonstrated the potential of mutually beneficial partnerships among Global South nations. During a meeting with Indonesian National Economic Council Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Wang highlighted China’s support for Indonesia’s industrialization, particularly through investment by Chinese enterprises. He stated that Chinese companies have helped Indonesia convert its resource advantages into economic opportunities, improve local livelihoods and accelerate development. Wang also expressed hope that Indonesia would continue providing a safe, stable and favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises. Luhut praised the contribution of Chinese investment to Indonesia’s economic growth and improvements in people’s livelihoods, describing China as Indonesia’s most trusted friend and partner. He reaffirmed Indonesia’s willingness to welcome more Chinese companies and pledged to provide them with a fair and friendly business environment.
  
  
• China’s Discipline Commission Sets Priorities for Anti-Corruption Work: The Sixth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing on August 22, with 116 members attending. The meeting was chaired by the CCDI Standing Committee, with Li Xi, Secretary of the commission, delivering the keynote address. The session reviewed discipline inspection and supervision work during the first half of 2026 and outlined priorities for the remainder of the year. It called for stronger political supervision, deeper inspections, strict discipline during leadership transitions, and intensified efforts to address corruption and misconduct affecting the public. The meeting placed particular emphasis on studying and applying Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, describing it as a key framework for advancing the Party’s self-reform and strengthening comprehensive Party governance. The session also stressed systematic risk management and professional development within the discipline inspection system. It called for continued implementation of the campaign to standardize and strengthen discipline inspection and supervision work. The plenary elected Zhao Shiyong as CCDI Deputy Secretary and Zhang Zhong as a member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary.
  
  
• China, Arab States Adopt Five-Year Plan on Desertification: China and Arab countries have adopted a five-year action plan to strengthen joint efforts against drought, desertification and land degradation. The plan was released on August 22 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, during a China-Arab cooperation seminar held alongside the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Under the plan, both sides will expand cooperation in desertification control, dust-storm monitoring and early warning, grassland management, biodiversity conservation, and wetland restoration. The initiative also seeks to strengthen the China-Arab desertification control network and expand partnerships under the Belt and Road framework by involving governments, research institutions, businesses and local communities. The plan places particular emphasis on scientific and technological cooperation, including joint research, data sharing and the development of remote-sensing and intelligent monitoring technologies. Demonstration projects and technical training will also be promoted to strengthen practical capacity and support the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The conference brought together Chinese, Arab and international representatives, including officials and experts from UN agencies and the World Bank. Established in 2023, the China-Arab International Research Center aims to provide scientific and policy support for joint environmental governance
  
  
• China Plans Modern Climate Service System by 2030: China has unveiled a plan to modernize its climate service system by 2030, with greater emphasis on technological innovation, digitalization and artificial intelligence. The plan, issued by the China Meteorological Administration, outlines 19 priority tasks for 2026-2030 aimed at improving climate monitoring, prediction, disaster risk assessment and sector-specific services. It calls for a national-provincial data-sharing network that will allow updates made at one administrative level to be quickly shared across the system. National institutions will focus on research, technology development, platform construction and standards, including the development of Earth system models and AI-based climate prediction tools. Provincial services will provide detailed local monitoring, impact assessments, customized forecasts and risk evaluations, while city- and county-level offices will adapt these services to local conditions. The plan also seeks to strengthen infrastructure and institutional support for climate services. China has already introduced technologies such as drone swarms for typhoon monitoring and AI-powered early warning models. The plan aims to build on these capabilities and improve climate-related services and disaster preparedness across the country.
  
  
• China's Trade Unions Set Priorities for 15th Five-Year Plan: The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has released a new five-year plan outlining priorities for trade union work during China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period. The document is intended to guide unions in strengthening services for workers while supporting national economic and social development. The plan identifies 11 major areas of work, including reinforcing the political orientation of trade unions, strengthening ideological guidance among workers, and encouraging employees to contribute to technological innovation and economic development. It also calls for deeper reform of the industrial workforce and improvements in the quality of rights protection and public services provided by unions. Greater attention will be given to workers’ immediate concerns, particularly those of key and vulnerable groups, alongside stronger legal frameworks for trade union activities. The plan also stresses safeguarding political security in the labour sector, expanding and improving trade union organizations, and strengthening international as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan-related trade union work. The document sets 12 measurable targets across eight areas, including developing master craftsmen, expanding worker and craftsman innovation studios, improving employment services and increasing trade union membership.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users Question Earthquake Warning Accuracy After Sichuan Quake: A post by the official Weibo account of the China Earthquake Networks Center reporting a 4.7-magnitude earthquake in Changning County, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, at 08:26 on August 24 is going viral on Weibo over the accuracy and presentation of the earthquake early-warning system. Several users in Sichuan stated that “their phones displayed a 7.7-level warning, causing significant alarm despite the officially measured magnitude being 4.7.” One user questioned “whether earthquake early-warning systems could be “a little more rigorous,” while another questioned the accuracy of the magnitude of the earthquake.” Others described “being frightened after receiving the warning,” with some users in Guangdong and Tianjin noting that “they received alerts despite being hundreds or even more than a thousand kilometres away.” Some users also questioned discrepancies between the warning displayed on their phones and the later reported earthquake magnitude, with one saying the alert initially appeared as 7.7 before changing to 5.4 after the phone was unlocked. Several Sichuan users stated that “they felt the tremors strongly and doubted whether the reported 4.7 magnitude fully reflected their experience.” Others raised “concerns over repeated earthquake forecasts and warnings,” while some questioned “whether shale gas extraction could continue in the affected area given the region’s history of earthquakes.”

INDIA WATCH

Global Times Discusses India’s Growing Interest in Arctic Shipping: An article in Global Times discussed South Korea’s first container ship trial voyage through the Arctic and India’s plans to send its first pilot vessel along the Northern Sea Route in 2027. The article noted that the moves reflect growing interest among major Asian trading economies in exploring the commercial potential of Arctic shipping as an alternative to traditional routes. It highlighted China’s shift from trial voyages to weekly China-Europe Arctic Express services during the 2026 summer navigation season, with fixed departures and transit times of around 20 to 22 days, providing a stronger test of the route’s commercial viability. The article stated that the Arctic route could reduce some Asia-Europe journeys by about 7,000 kilometres and around 10 days compared with the Suez Canal route. It further noted that India sees “huge possibilities” in the Northern Sea Route and plans to conduct its first pilot voyage next year. However, the article stressed that seasonal ice, specialised vessels, limited rescue and resupply infrastructure, and geopolitical risks remain major constraints. It also highlighted the route’s dependence on cooperation with Russia for port access, refuelling and other services. The article concluded that, given navigation conditions, infrastructure and regional cooperation remain stable, the Arctic route could emerge as an increasingly important alternative for Asia-Europe trade, offering significant long-term commercial potential.

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.