CiCM 2nd October 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

Chinese Embassy Condemns Anti-China Protests in South Korea, Urges Safety for Citizens: The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has strongly condemned recent anti-China demonstrations organized by a minority of far-right groups in Seoul, labeling them as “ulterior” and “unpopular.” The protests, reportedly planned in areas like Myeongdong and Daelim-dong popular among Chinese tourists, coincide with China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as South Korea’s Chuseok celebrations. The embassy emphasized that these acts come despite positive bilateral steps such as South Korea’s trial visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists launched on September 29, following China’s similar policy last November. These reciprocal measures have boosted tourism and business, especially in Seoul’s shopping districts, earning praise from both governments and the public. Beijing expressed regret over disinformation spread by some South Korean politicians and demanded Seoul ensure the safety and rights of Chinese citizens. Senior South Korean officials and public figures have also criticized these protests, warning they harm South Korea’s image. The embassy reaffirmed confidence that such divisive attempts will not disrupt the growing China–South Korea strategic partnership.
China’s C909 Passenger Aircraft Debuts on International Route from Shenzhen: On October 2-3, China’s domestically produced C909 passenger aircraft made its maiden flight at Shenzhen Airport, marking the first time a China-made passenger jet operated an international route from the city. The inaugural flight, operated by Indonesian carrier Linya Airlines, connected Shenzhen with Manado, Indonesia, offering three weekly flights. The C909, China’s first medium- and short-range turbofan regional airliner with independent intellectual property rights, has been in commercial service since 2016, with over 160 aircraft delivered to more than ten domestic and international airlines. Linya Airlines, the first overseas operator of the C909, already uses five jets and holds a record of 15.88 hours daily utilization for a single aircraft. Alongside the ShenzhenManado route, Shenzhen Airport also launched flights to Da Nang, Vietnam, raising its direct Southeast Asia connections to 22 and highlighting the growing international presence and operational capability of domestically produced Chinese aircraft.
Guangxi and Hainan Drive China’s Opening-Up Through Free Trade Innovation: Under the “14th Five-Year Plan,” Guangxi and Hainan are spearheading China’s new phase of high-quality opening-up, driven by free trade innovation and land-sea connectivity. In Guangxi, the New Western Land-Sea Corridor has become a major trade artery. Beibu Gulf Port’s container throughput surpassed 36.47 million TEUs with 91 shipping routes, connecting 577 ports across 127 countries. Over 4.3 million TEUs have been transported via corridor freight trains. Infrastructure projects like the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway and the Qinzhou automated terminal have strengthened the region’s transport network, while the Pinglu Canal, set to open in 2026, will further boost maritime logistics. Guangxi’s Pilot Free Trade Zone has launched 120 reform pilots focusing on ASEAN markets and is fostering an “AI + Manufacturing” cluster through the China-ASEAN AI Innovation Center. In Hainan, trade openness continues to surge, with annual imports and exports exceeding 2 trillion yuan and foreign investment reaching 166.7 billion yuan. The province hosts 7,093 foreign-invested enterprises from 176 countries, and 86 nations enjoy visa-free access. Strategic industries now contribute 70% of GDP, powered by rapid growth in tourism, high-tech, and agriculture. With the launch of China’s first commercial spaceport and the Boao Lecheng medical hub, Hainan is positioning its Free Trade Port as a key gateway for China’s global integration.
China Slams U.S. Veto of UN Gaza Resolution, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire: At a UN General Assembly debate on Wednesday, China voiced deep disappointment over the U.S. veto of a Security Council draft resolution aimed at easing Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the UN, criticized Washington’s repeated vetoes, asserting they have paralyzed the Council’s response and allowed Israel to continue violating international law. The blocked resolution, tabled on September 18, had called for Israel to lift all restrictions on humanitarian access and deliveries in Gaza, where ongoing hostilities have caused massive civilian casualties and a severe humanitarian catastrophe. Fu accused the U.S. of shielding Israel, saying such obstruction undermines “the bottom line of human conscience.” China strongly condemned the weaponization of humanitarian aid and attacks on civilians, urging Israel to halt military operations and abandon its “dangerous plan” to seize Gaza City. Reaffirming that the two-State solution remains the only viable path to peace, Fu called for collective global action toward a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue. China pledged continued cooperation with the international community to end hostilities and restore justice in Gaza.
China Sets New Railway Record with 23.13 Million Trips on National Day: China’s railway network witnessed a historic surge on Wednesday, recording 23.13 million passenger trips, the highest ever for a single day as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays kicked off. The record, announced by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., reflects the country’s strong post-pandemic travel rebound and booming domestic tourism. To meet soaring demand, railway authorities scheduled 1,409 additional trains and projected 19.3 million trips for Thursday. The rare overlap of the eight-day “Golden Week” and Mid-Autumn Festival (falling on October 6) has fueled massive travel for tourism and family reunions.Railway operators nationwide have introduced smart luggage lockers, enhanced power supply checks, and tightened safety measures to ensure smooth operations at major hubs. According to the Ministry of Transport, total passenger trips across all modes are expected to reach 2.36 billion during the holiday, averaging 295 million daily, marking a 3.2% rise from 2024. This record-breaking travel wave underscores China’s expanding mobility and growing appetite for festive journeys.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Stuck on the Road for 2 Days”: National Day Travel Chaos Sparks Heated Discussion on Chinese Social Media: During China’s National Day Golden Week, travel chaos has taken over social media after a man in Lüliang, Shanxi Province revealed he’s been stuck on the road for two full days without reaching his destination. On October 2, he shared that traffic jams stretched from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m., calling the journey “back to square one.” His video, posted on Weibo’s Elephant News, went viral, drawing millions of views and trending under hashtags like #SomeoneHasn’tReachedDestinationAfter2Days and #NationalDayTrafficJam. Weibo users flooded comment sections with a mix of humor and frustration: “Golden Week? More like Gridlock Week”, “You travel for joy, but end up practicing patience!” Many sympathized with stranded travelers, while others questioned the country’s infrastructure readiness for mass holiday migrations, as over 1.2 billion trips were expected nationwide. Some even joked that “home is the best tourist spot.” The incident has become a symbol of China’s Golden Week paradox economic boom through tourism, but at the cost of overwhelming congestion. Authorities have since urged travelers to plan routes and avoid peak hours, though netizens remain skeptical about real improvements.

INDIA WATCH

Global Times Reports on India-China Direct Flights Resuming by Late October: Direct air services between China and India are set to resume by late October 2025, marking the first such move since 2020. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the decision follows months of technical-level discussions between civil aviation authorities, signaling a cautious but clear step toward normalizing relations. Global Times highlighted the development as a “vital litmus test” for the thawing of bilateral ties, emphasizing that the restoration of direct flights is more than symbolic; it represents renewed trust and practical cooperation. The outlet quoted Chinese scholar Long Xingchun, who noted that the move “serves Indian interests more,” citing growing numbers of Indian students and business travelers in China. He also urged India to further ease visa restrictions for Chinese citizens. From India’s perspective, experts view the step as a pragmatic shift. Indian experts told Global Times that this decision “builds bridges of trust” and could boost cooperation in trade, tourism and education. Indian media outlets also reported that IndiGo Airlines will resume operations from October 26, underscoring growing optimism about people-to-people exchanges, a crucial foundation for regional stability and mutual prosperity.

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.