CiCM 23rd December 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China’s Special Envoy Concludes Week-Long Diplomatic Engagements in Cambodia and Thailand: China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun concluded a week‑long round of shuttle diplomacy between Cambodia and Thailand (Dec 18–23) aimed at de‑escalating the fresh border clashes that have left dozens dead. During the time, he held meetings with senior leaders, including Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Deng urged both sides to agree to an “immediate ceasefire” and resume dialogue through existing channels such as the General Border Committee. Beijing reaffirmed support for ASEAN’s mediation and offered to host or facilitate future talks. Both Phnom Penh and Bangkok thanked China for its “constructive neutrality” and commitment to peacebuilding.
Xi Urges SOEs to Power Chinese Modernization Drive: Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged centrally administered state-owned enterprises to sharpen their role as “pillar forces” of the economy, telling executives they must better serve the Party’s overall agenda and contribute more to Chinese modernization. Xi called on central SOEs to anchor themselves in the real economy, pursue breakthroughs in key and core technologies, and deepen reforms while guarding against major risks and corruption. He stressed stronger Party leadership, tighter supervision, and building world‑class, globally competitive firms that support high‑quality growth and improved living standards. Premier Li Qiang pressed SOEs chiefs to push forward state‑capital and SOE reforms with a more proactive, enterprising approach, underlining expectations that these giants carry more weight in stabilizing growth and driving restructuring.
Beijing Urges City-Based Solutions to Ease Housing Glut, Reform Sales Model: China’s housing ministry has pledged to empower local governments to tackle mounting housing inventories through city‑specific policies, signaling a more flexible approach to stabilizing the real estate market in 2026. Speaking at a two‑day national work conference, Housing Minister Ni Hong called on municipalities to “fully utilize their autonomy” and adjust measures to local conditions, while promoting the sale of completed units under a “what you see is what you get” model. The ministry will also back local authorities in purchasing unsold homes for conversion into affordable housing, resettlement projects, and dormitories. Officials said the 2022 campaign to restart stalled projects has been “fully accomplished,” though analysts warn of continued price declines into next year.
China, Kuwait Seal EPC Deal for Flagship Mubarak Al‑Kabeer Port: China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) and Kuwait’s Public Works  Ministry signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the first phase of the Mubarak Al‑Kabeer Port on Boubyan Island. Chinese diplomat Liu Xiang hailed the project as pivotal to implementing bilateral agreements and advancing Kuwait’s Vision 2035 for economic diversification. CCCC deputy general manager Chen Zhong noted it is the company’s first Middle East port project built partly to Chinese technical standards, integrating CCCC’s engineering expertise throughout construction.
China’s ‘Zuchongzhi 3.2’ Quantum Prototype Clears Fault‑Tolerance: China’s superconducting quantum prototype “Zuchongzhi 3.2” has achieved below‑threshold quantum error correction on a distance‑7 surface code. Experiments showed that logical error rates fell noticeably as the code distance increased, confirming that once the error‑correction threshold is crossed, additional qubits deliver genuinely stronger protection rather than amplifying noise. The results, published as a cover paper and Editors’ Suggestion in Physical Review Letters, help narrow the gap between lab‑scale demonstrations and practical quantum machines by pushing control precision past the stringent surface‑code threshold.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Tax Deduction Deadline Triggers Year-End Personal Finance Rush Online: The government’s requirement to update the Individual Income Tax app before 31 December 2025 has sparked a wave of activity on Weibo, where users are exchanging detailed guides on maximizing eligible deductions. Popular posts circulate checklists covering housing rent and mortgage interest, education expenses, elder and childcare support, and major medical costs, alongside step-by-step advice on personal pension contributions. One widely shared reminder notes that each 1.2 yuan contributed to a personal pension account requires users to download a bank voucher and manually upload it into the tax system. Reactions blended anxiety with tactical enthusiasm: some users boast of having already deposited the annual maximum of 12,000 yuan into low-volatility, high-dividend products, while others caution that ETF-style investments within pension accounts may remain locked up for decades. Meanwhile, netizens from across provinces simply tagged the topic to signal they have “completed filing,” turning tax optimization into a collective year-end ritual rather than a purely administrative task.

INDIA WATCH

India Uncovers Long-Running Crypto Fraud Network in Nationwide Raids, Sina Reports: Chinese financial media outlet Sina Finance reported that India’s Financial Intelligence Unit–Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out coordinated raids at 21 locations across Karnataka, Maharashtra, and New Delhi as part of a major anti–money laundering investigation. Authorities say the operation exposed a decade-old syndicate running fake cryptocurrency investment platforms that have been active since at least 2015. According to the report, the network targeted both domestic and overseas investors by promising unusually high returns through counterfeit trading websites. The schemes relied on stolen celebrity images, fabricated “expert” endorsements, and falsified performance data to build credibility and lure victims. Investigators found that illicit proceeds were funneled through a complex web of crypto wallets, peer-to-peer transfers, shell companies, and informal hawala channels, reflecting a high level of operational sophistication. Sina cited ED officials describing the group as a persistent financial threat that exploited the anonymity of digital assets to siphon funds from unsuspecting users.

Prepared By

Arav Neil Dey

Arav Neil Dey is a research intern at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). Currently in his second year at FLAME University, he is pursuing a degree in International Studies. Driven by a fascination for global dynamics, he is passionate about international relations, peace and conflict studies, and military history. Arav especially enjoys diving into the shifting strategic landscape of China and West Asia, always seeking out unconventional perspectives and a deeper understanding.