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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and ASEAN Issue Joint Statement on Middle East Developments: China and ASEAN member states issued a joint statement following the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila. The statement expressed concern over the regional implications of developments in the Middle East and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening energy cooperation. The statement noted that both sides have maintained close communication on international and regional issues of mutual concern and recognised that the evolving situation in the Middle East poses risks to civilian safety, regional and global peace, and economic activities, including trade, investment, energy security, and food security. China and ASEAN emphasised the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue, diplomacy, and other peaceful means in accordance with international law. It also acknowledged China’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, including its four-point proposal aimed at encouraging dialogue and de-escalation.​
  
  
• China Opposes New U.S. Tariffs, Says Trade Wars Benefit No One: China has criticised the United States’ decision to impose new tariffs on imports from China and 59 other economies over alleged forced labour concerns, saying the move is harmful to global trade and bilateral economic relations. The new tariffs impose a 12.5% duty on imports from China, while several other trading partners, including Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and Switzerland, face tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5%. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China opposes all forms of unilateral tariffs and reiterated that “tariff wars and trade wars serve no one’s interests.” Beijing argued that the new measures come at a time when China and the United States are discussing reciprocal tariff reductions and could negatively affect trade and market confidence. China’s Ministry of Commerce also reiterated its opposition to U.S. trade restrictions imposed under the pretext of “forced labour”. It urged Washington to work with China to maintain stable economic and trade relations. Chinese officials also stated that both sides should continue dialogue and implement agreed measures to promote mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation.
  
  
• China Plans to Refine its Visa-Free Entry and Digitise Immigration Services: China plans to refine its visa-free entry and transit policies while accelerating the digitisation of border and immigration services as part of efforts to support the country’s broader opening-up agenda. Vice Minister of Public Security Qi Yanjun, during a press conference in Beijing, said authorities will expand the use of digital travel documents, including passports and border-area travel permits, and improve the accessibility of immigration services through online platforms. The government also intends to broaden the use of expedited and smart customs clearance channels, enhance digital entry services for foreign visitors, and further adjust visa and residence permit policies to facilitate cross-border travel. Qi added that pilot free trade zones will be encouraged to test new public security and immigration management policies, with successful measures gradually extended to central and western regions where appropriate. The announcement builds on recent efforts to ease entry requirements for international travellers. China currently grants unilateral visa-free entry for citizens of 50 countries, while nationals of 55 countries are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit programme through 65 designated ports. In the first half of 2026, visa-free foreign arrivals increased by 30.6% year-on-year to over 17.8 million.
  
  
• Ministry of Commerce Highlights Consumption Growth and Expanding Role of Services in H1 2026: China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) stated that the country’s consumer market remained resilient in the first half of 2026, supported by policies aimed at boosting domestic demand and expanding consumption. The ministry official said commercial authorities had implemented measures including trade-in subsidy programmes, initiatives to promote service consumption, tax rebate policies for overseas visitors, and the “Buy in China” campaign to stimulate spending. According to the ministry, China’s consumption structure is shifting from being primarily goods-based to one driven by both goods and services. In the first half of the year, retail sales of services increased by 5.3% year-on-year, outpacing the 1.3% growth in retail sales of goods. Demand remained strong for green, smart, and health-related products, with notable growth reported in communication equipment, energy-efficient home appliances, sports cameras, and organic food. The ministry added that final consumption expenditure contributed 2.1 percentage points to GDP growth during the period, reaffirming consumption as a key driver of economic growth. It also underscored that continued policy support, technological innovation, and evolving consumer demand would further strengthen China’s domestic market.
  
  
• China Issues Guidelines to Strengthen Social Work and Grassroots Governance: China has issued new guidelines aimed at strengthening social work and improving grassroots governance to better serve the public and support national development. Jointly released by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, the guidelines emphasise upholding the Party’s leadership over social work while maintaining a people-centred approach. They call for further developing the “Fengqiao Experience” as a model for community-level governance and improving the social governance system through greater collaboration, public participation and shared benefits. The guidelines also stress strengthening Party building in new economic and social organisations, as well as among workers in emerging forms of employment. Additionally, they call for establishing more efficient, streamlined, and service-oriented township-level governance systems to better respond to public needs. Authorities are instructed to improve channels for citizens to express concerns and provide suggestions, while expanding mechanisms for regular public engagement to address pressing social issues more effectively. In addition, the guidelines advocate expanding volunteer services, strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for social work and accelerating the digital and smart technology transformation of social governance.​
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Money Laundering Case Involving Wuhan Official’s Son: A Weibo post discussing the sentencing of Xiao Rui, the son of former Wuhan Municipal Supervisory Commission official Xiao Jun, has attracted widespread attention online. According to the post, he has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after being convicted of four counts of money laundering involving more than HK$64 million and one count of using false documents to obtain Hong Kong residency. The post further added that while there was no direct evidence linking the funds to his father’s alleged bribery, the unexplained origin of the money warranted a deterrent sentence. The post sparked wide discussion on Weibo. One user asked, “Has the black money been confiscated?” Another commented, “The son of a high-ranking official is really rich.” A few users questioned the sentence reduction by the court and commented, “Still good character? Why do you go to jail if you have good character?" Other users speculated that the accused had intended to move his family abroad with illicit funds, while some questioned his claim of being unaware of the source of the money.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses China-India Relations and the Importance of Understanding India: An article on Guancha discussed the evolution of China-India relations through the perspective of Chinese Indologist Yu Longyu, who argued that a deeper understanding of India is essential for improving bilateral ties. The article noted his reflections on decades of research on Indian language and culture. Yu described India as a historically significant civilisation, emiphasising its cultural diversity, linguistic complexity, religious traditions, and global influence. He argued that while China and India share a long history of civilisational exchanges, mutual understanding has declined in modern times, making it difficult to build stronger relations. The article highlighted that India’s multilingual society, religious diversity, federal political structure, and historical social systems continue to shape its contemporary development. It also discussed the historical influence of Indian civilisation, particularly Buddhism, on Chinese culture and literature. Yu further suggested that China and India should strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, environmental management, and technological innovation, arguing that collaboration between the two countries would benefit both sides. The article concluded by portraying China and India as major Asian civilisations whose long-term cooperation is important for regional stability and development.