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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Oversees Promotion of Two Theater Commanders to General: China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) held a ceremony at Beijing’s Bayi Building to promote two senior PLA officers to the rank of general, with CMC chairman Xi Jinping presiding. The event opened with the national anthem, after which CMC vice-chair Zhang Youxia read out Xi’s promotion order and vice-chair Zhang Shengmin hosted the proceedings.​ Xi personally presented certificates to Eastern Theater Command commander Yang Zhibin and Central Theater Command commander Han Shengyan, congratulating them as they donned their new insignia and saluted Xi and all attendees, drawing prolonged applause. The ceremony concluded with the PLA military song, followed by a group photo of Xi and other CMC leaders with the newly promoted generals; CMC members Liu Zhenli and heads of key departments and Beijing-based units were also present.
  
  
• China Issues Temporary Countervailing Duties on EU's Dairy Products: China’s Ministry of Commerce has issued a preliminary ruling that certain dairy products imported from the European Union are unfairly subsidised and have caused “material injury” to the domestic dairy industry, establishing a causal link between the two. The case stems from an investigation that was carried out last year into EU-origin cheeses and high‑fat milk and cream. ​Acting on the ministry’s recommendation, the State Council Tariff Commission will, from December 23, 2025, impose temporary countervailing measures in the form of cash deposit guarantees, calculated ad valorem for each EU firm based on subsidy rates set in the preliminary decision. The measures cover a wide range of products, including fresh and processed cheese (such as blue cheese and other mold‑ripened varieties) and unsweetened milk or cream with fat content above 10 percent.
  
  
• China Launches Mine Safety Inspections in 12 Regions: China's State Council Work Safety Committee Office dispatched inspection teams in two batches to 12 key regions for open and covert mine safety checks, targeting abandoned shafts and illegal mining. This follows recent deadly accidents, including 11 deaths in Heilongjiang province's Shuangyashan coal mine and a runaway incident at Kunyuan Coal Mine.​The campaign strengthens "whole-chain" supervision across coal, metal, and other mines to curb risks amid production pressures. Teams will seal hazardous abandoned sites, eliminate illegal operations, and enforce strict accountability on local governments and enterprises. ​Hou Qiang, from the National Mine Safety Administration, emphasized rectifying deep concerns like inadequate safety input and weak oversight. Recent tragedies, such as Xinjiang's Hami mine incidents underscore urgency, with nationwide efforts aiming for zero tolerance on violations.
  
  
• High-Speed Rail Connecting Baotou and Yinchuan Opens: A new High-Speed Rail (Baotou-Yinchuan) fully opened in China, with the inaugural D4667 train departing Baotou at 10 am, completing China's "eight vertical eight horizontal" high-speed rail network's critical Beijing-Lanzhou east-west corridor. Spanning 519 km through Inner Mongolia (Baotou, Bayannur, Ordos, Wushi) and Ningxia (Shizuishan to Yinchuan), slashing travel time from over 6 hours to about 2.5 hours.​ The line links Jingbao and Yinlan high-speed rails, connecting Beijing, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Gansu. Builders overcame ecological challenges via green measures like avoiding sensitive areas and resource recycling, as noted by Montji Railway's Liu Sanjun. Initial operations feature up to 12 daily EMU trains, expanding to Beijing-Yinchuan/Lanzhou routes by Q1 2026. It aims to boost tourism ("1-hour cultural circle"), fresh produce logistics to Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and western development by accelerating flows of people, goods, and info. 
  
  
• China Advances Drafting Ecological Environment Code: China submitted a newly revised draft Ecological Environment Code to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for a fresh round of deliberations, advancing the legislative process for this comprehensive environmental law.​ The code consolidates and updates existing regulations on pollution prevention, ecological protection, and environmental governance into a unified framework, reflecting Beijing's push for high-quality green development amid climate goals.​Deliberations occur during an ongoing NPC Standing Committee session, building on prior drafts to strengthen enforcement, liability mechanisms, and integration with carbon neutrality targets by 2060.​This move aligns with recent legislative priorities, including state-owned assets law and audits, signaling intensified ecological oversight as economic recovery balances sustainability. 

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Huawei Nova 15 Sparks Hype OverStunning Design: Huawei's upcoming Nova 15 smartphone is generating massive buzz on Weibo with its eye-catching aesthetics, vibrant colors like green and purple, and promises of being the thinnest phone in Huawei’s Nova series yet. The phone has several features, like a dynamic horizontal camera module, dual-ring design, and a premium metal frame. Endorsed by Chinese actor and singer Jackson Yee, posters highlighted its trendy, high-saturation look, blending style and performance. Social media reactions exploded with praise for its stunning looks and recognizability, users calling it “this year's best-looking phone” and "super stylish." Comments flooded in: Eye-catching and incredibly stylish! Holding it brings good fortune and happy moods! and tempted to buy, the green is so vibrant! Netizens gushed over the ultra-thin build, colors, and premium feel, with many echoing "nice," "beautiful," "want to," and "worth having." 

INDIA WATCH

Sina News Reports India-China Visa Simplification: Chinese media outlet Sina News reported that India and China have taken reciprocal steps to simplify visa procedures, interpreting the moves as signals of gradually warming bilateral ties amid post-pandemic economic recovery. The article noted that India announced on December 17 a streamlined e-visa process for domestic companies employing foreign specialists, such as engineers for equipment installation, quality inspection, and training —measures that directly benefit Indian importers of Chinese machinery. The report also highlighted China’s introduction of the “Production Investment Visa (B-4)” on November 29, supported by a new online platform that enables invitation guarantees without prior approvals from the Commerce Ministry. According to Sina News, this marks a reversal of restrictions imposed after the 2020 border clash, which the article claims contributed to a $15 billion decline in India’s electronics output over five years. In parallel, China has eased access for Indian travelers as the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi began accepting online applications for first-time visas from December 22. The article suggested these steps are aimed at tapping into India’s $21.6 billion outbound tourism market, as travel to China rebounds from a pre-pandemic level of about 142,000 Indian visitors. Chinese media portrayed the visa liberalization as a critical step toward normalizing trade and people-to-people exchanges.

Prepared By

Kanav Aggarwal

Kanav Aggarwal is an undergraduate student majoring in International Relations and minoring in Literary and Cultural Studies at FLAME University. He is Passionate about geopolitics, defence strategy, and international security. Through his studies and research experience, he aims to deepen his understanding of global power dynamics and contribute analytical insights to the team’s ongoing projects.