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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Voices Three Oppositions at UN Human Rights Council Session on Iran: China stated its position at a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Iran, voicing three clear points of opposition, according to remarks made on January 23. Speaking at the session, Jia Guide, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva, said China upholds the right of all countries to choose their own path of human rights development independently and firmly opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. He also presented China’s opposition to the establishment of country-specific human rights mechanisms without the consent of the country concerned and rejected the use of double standards on human rights issues. Jia stressed that the human rights situation in Iran is fundamentally an internal matter that the Iranian people themselves should decide. He added that China supports adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law and opposes the use or threat of force or the imposition of one country’s will on another. He said the international community should respect Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, while supporting efforts to maintain national stability and protect legitimate rights and interests. He also emphasized that differences should be resolved through dialogue, adding that China is ready to play a constructive role.
  
  

• ACFTU Studies Xi Jinping’s Speech, Calls for Full Implementation of CPC Decisions During 15th Five-Year Plan: The Party Group of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions held a meeting in Beijing to study and convey the spirit of an important speech delivered by Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of a seminar for provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres on implementing the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. Chaired by Xu Liuping, the meeting emphasized that trade unions at all levels must comprehensively, profoundly, and accurately grasp the strategic deployment of the plenary session, unify thinking and action with CPC Central Committee decisions, and resolutely carry out assigned tasks. The meeting highlighted the guiding significance of the speech for promoting steady economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, calling on trade unions to strengthen theoretical study, deepen ideological and political guidance among workers, and translate learning outcomes into concrete achievements. It stressed formulating a trade union development plan aligned with the 15th Five-Year Plan, maintaining strategic focus, improving cadre capacity, advancing strict Party governance, and ensuring that CPC decisions and deployments are fully implemented across the trade union system.
  
  

• China Coast Guard Transfers Rescued Filipino Crew After Cargo Ship Capsizes: The China Coast Guard announced that it has successfully transferred 17 Filipino crew members to the Philippines after rescuing them from waters near Huangyan Island, where a foreign cargo ship capsized early Friday, about 55 nautical miles northwest of the island. According to the Sansha maritime search and rescue center in Hainan, 21 Filipino sailors were aboard the vessel at the time of the accident, with 17 recovered so far, including two confirmed fatalities, while four remain missing. Following the alert, the China Coast Guard dispatched two vessels, Dongsha and Sanmen, to carry out a coordinated search and rescue operation. At the request of Philippine authorities, the rescued personnel were formally handed over at the scene on Sunday afternoon, with the operation jointly completed by the Chinese vessels and a Philippine Coast Guard ship. The China Coast Guard said it will continue search and rescue efforts for the missing crew members.
  
  

• China’s Central Military Commission Issues New Rules on Party Elections in the Armed Forces: The Central Military Commission has issued the Regulations on the Election of Party Organizations in the Armed Forces, which will take effect on February 1, 2026. These regulations are guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and based on the Party Constitution., The regulations implement the general requirements for Party building and the Party’s organizational line in the new era, while adapting to the needs of strengthening the military’s Party organizational system. It summarizes and incorporates practical experience from intra-Party elections in the military since the 18th CPC National Congress, emphasizing both institutional continuity and innovation. Additionally, it provides comprehensive rules covering the election of delegates to military Party congresses, Party committees and discipline inspection committees at and above the regimental level, as well as grassroots Party committees, general branches and branch committees. As an important set of intra-Party regulations, the new rules aim to standardize election procedures, strengthen democratic centralism, and enhance the leadership and execution capacity of Party organizations in the military. They also seek to promote the comprehensive strengthening of Party leadership and Party building, and provide a solid organizational guarantee for achieving the centenary goal of the People’s Liberation Army.
  
  

• China U23 Team’s Historic Asian Cup Finish Sparks Renewed Optimism: Despite a 4–0 loss to Japan in the final, China’s men’s under-23 football team delivered its best-ever performance at the U23 Asian Cup by finishing as runners-up, a result that has drawn widespread praise and renewed optimism for the future of Chinese football. On January 25, both the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Football Association issued congratulatory letters, calling the achievement a historic breakthrough that has reignited hope for the revitalization of the sport. The sport authority said the team’s performance boosted morale, strengthened confidence, and injected fresh momentum into the development of football and the broader push to build a strong sporting nation. The CFA noted that the team entered the tournament as the fourth-seeded team, battled powerful opponents with resilience, maintained an impressive defensive record, and reached the final for the first time in 22 years for a Chinese men’s national team at a major continental tournament. Describing the run as a critical milestone, the association urged national teams at all levels to learn from the squad’s unity, fighting spirit, and disciplined professionalism.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Down Jacket Washing Explosion Triggers Safety Warnings On Weibo: The incident gained widespread attention on the social media platform Weibo after a National Emergency Broadcast report on January 25 revealed that a woman was seriously injured when a down jacket exploded while being washed in a washing machine, blowing off the machine’s door and injuring her face. In a separate incident, another woman experienced a similar explosion after hand-washing a down jacket and placing it in a dehydrator. The report warned that some down jackets use special coatings to prevent fluff leakage, making them less breathable, and that high-speed spinning during machine drying can, in rare cases, cause internal air pressure to build up and trigger an explosion. Authorities advised consumers to carefully check washing labels and use dedicated down jacket modes instead of washing them casually. The incident triggered a heated online discussion, with many netizens sharing their own experiences and opinions. Some pointed out that “washing machines already have a down jacket mode,” while others said, “I’ve machine-washed down jackets for more than ten years and nothing ever happened.” Several users offered practical tips, such as “put the jacket in water first and press out the air before washing, then it won’t explode,” while others complained, “I spent so much money on a jacket and now it feels like I have to serve it instead of wearing it.” Some netizens said, “I’ll just send it for professional cleaning once a year,” and others asked, “Which brand of down jacket and which washing machine caused this?” Some expressed shock, saying they “never expected washing clothes could be this dangerous,” especially when jackets are labeled as not suitable for dry cleaning.

INDIA WATCH

Nipah Virus Outbreak Reported in India’s West Bengal: A Guancha article, citing a report by the British newspaper The Independent, stated that a Nipah virus outbreak has recently occurred in West Bengal, India. The article detailed that Indian authorities have taken emergency response measures, asking nearly 100 people to self-isolate at home, while one confirmed patient is currently in critical condition. The article noted that the situation has drawn regional attention due to the highly infectious and deadly nature of the virus. The virus is classified by the World Health Organization as a zoonotic disease mainly carried by fruit bats and capable of spreading through contaminated food or human-to-human contact, with a mortality rate ranging from 40 to 75 percent. In response to the outbreak, Nepal has ordered strengthened quarantine and monitoring measures at airports and border checkpoints, given its proximity to West Bengal. Thailand has also tightened disease prevention and control at several major airports, carrying out infectious disease screenings for passengers arriving from West Bengal, India.

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.