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NEWS IN CHINA

• PLA Completes Participation in Russia's Centre-2026 Military Exercise: China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has completed its participation in Russia's Centre-2026 (Tsentr-2026) military exercise and begun withdrawing its troops following a closing ceremony in Chelyabinsk. The exercise involved multiple countries and focused on intelligence reconnaissance, command and control, fire strikes and logistical support. Chinese troops from the PLA Central Theatre Command participated in field training at Russia's Chebarkul training ground, conducting reconnaissance, coordinated fire strikes, multi-directional assaults and rapid pursuit operations. The drills featured Type 99A main battle tanks, drones, attack helicopters and unmanned ground vehicles, highlighting the integration of manned and unmanned systems. According to Chinese military experts, the exercise provided an opportunity to learn from the combat experiences of Russia, Pakistan and Central Asian countries, particularly in counterterrorism and modern warfare. The drills also highlighted the growing vulnerability of armoured vehicles to drone attacks and precision-guided weapons, underscoring the importance of improving battlefield coordination and survivability. The PLA Daily stated that the exercise tested China's long-distance deployment, cross-border logistics, joint operational command and multinational coordination capabilities.
   
• MSS Warns Against Illegal Smuggling of Genetic Resources and Biological Materials: China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) has warned that some overseas organisations are attempting to obtain the country's genetic resources and research data through illegal collection of blood samples, unauthorised scientific activities and smuggling of biological materials. According to the ministry, there are several cases, including a cross-border network involved in smuggling pregnant women's blood samples, dismantled by Guangzhou Customs in 2025 across 23 provinces. Customs authorities also intercepted 5,439 batches of non-native species in 2025 and more than 1,000 exotic pets in the first quarter of 2026. The ministry also raised concerns over the illegal movement of plant seeds and seedlings, citing cases involving concealed cannabis seeds and unauthorised transportation of plant materials across borders. It warned that such activities could threaten ecosystems, agricultural production, public health and national biosecurity. The ministry described genetic resources as strategic national assets and urged travellers to comply with quarantine and approval requirements when transporting biological materials across borders. It also called on the public to report suspected violations and urged research institutions to obtain the necessary permits before importing or exporting biological materials.
  
  
• China Strengthens Cultural Heritage Protection and International Cooperation: China has introduced a five-year plan to strengthen cultural heritage protection and expand international cooperation, according to a document issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The plan calls for a nationwide cultural heritage database, stronger legal oversight, improved disaster monitoring and greater use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones. By 2030, China aims to complete a comprehensive survey of its cultural heritage resources and improve its supervision system. The plan also emphasises the use of digital technologies in conservation. Projects involving 3D modelling and remote sensing have been undertaken to document and preserve the Great Wall in Gansu and Beijing's Central Axis. International cooperation is another key priority, with the plan promoting joint archaeological missions, museum exchanges, restoration projects and efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural property. Since 2020, China has conducted more than 80 joint archaeological projects with 30 countries. The plan aims to establish a more systematic approach to heritage preservation through stronger domestic safeguards and international partnerships.
  
  
• China's Longest Undersea Highway Tunnel Completes Shield Excavation: China's longest undersea highway tunnel, the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Second Tunnel in Shandong Province, has completed all shield-driven excavation work, according to China Railway Construction Corporation. The 17.48-km tunnel will connect Qingdao's main urban area with the Qingdao West Coast New Area, with a design speed of 80 km per hour. The project includes two main tunnels and a central service tunnel, with excavation reaching a maximum depth of 105 metres below sea level. Engineers used a combination of drill-and-blast and shield tunnelling methods, alongside new technologies to improve excavation efficiency, prevent blockages and ensure stability under high water pressure. Once completed, the tunnel will strengthen Qingdao's cross-bay transport network, complementing the existing Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel, bridge and highway. The project is also aligned with China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for integrated transport development, which aims to improve connectivity between transport modes, facilitate passenger transfers, enhance freight logistics and establish a modern integrated transport service system by 2030.
  
  
• NDRC Introduces Measures to Support Service Industry Growth: China has introduced a series of policies to expand and improve the quality of its service industry, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The measures aim to strengthen productive services, including research and development, modern logistics and software, while improving the supply of consumer services, particularly elderly care. The policies also focus on improving access to land and financing by promoting the redevelopment of underutilised industrial land, reusing idle properties and supporting service businesses in industrial parks. The government will prioritise land allocation for elderly care services and use structural monetary policy tools to support sectors such as scientific and technological services, logistics, tourism and sports. According to the NDRC, the service industry's contribution to China's economic growth reached 66.1% in the first half of the year, an increase of 5.9 percentage points compared with the same period last year.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to China's Development of Six Major Infrastructure Networks: A post on Weibo discussing China's development of six major infrastructure networks, described as the "six nets", has gained widespread attention. According to the post, the initiative includes water networks, new power grids, computing power networks, next-generation communication networks, urban underground pipeline networks and logistics networks. It highlighted their role in addressing water management challenges, integrating renewable energy, improving access to computing resources, advancing connectivity through 6G and satellite internet, strengthening urban utilities and improving logistics efficiency. The post prompted positive reactions from users, who described the initiative as "very forward-looking" and "the power module of the future". Others highlighted its potential to support economic development, improve people's livelihoods and strengthen China's infrastructure capabilities. Some users also emphasised the country's advantages in coordinating large-scale projects. However, one user questioned whether the development of communication networks would translate into more affordable services for the public, while another expressed hope that the networks would become more practical and accessible in everyday life.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses V4's Support for India's Bid for a Permanent UNSC Seat: An article on Guancha discussed the Visegrad Group's (V4) recent expression of support for India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), following the group's first foreign ministers-level meeting with India on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. The article argued that the statement was primarily a diplomatic gesture aimed at strengthening economic and political ties with India, as the four Central European countries seek new markets and investment partners. It noted that the V4, comprising Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, has limited influence over UNSC reform and that its endorsement carries no binding commitment.The article argued that there were significant institutional hurdles to India's bid, including the requirement for approval by two-thirds of UN member states and ratification by all five permanent members of the Security Council. It also pointed to competing positions among the permanent members and opposition from the Uniting for Consensus group. It further stated that Indian media coverage had amplified the V4's statement to portray it as a major diplomatic achievement, reinforcing India's aspirations for greater international recognition.

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Research Intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She is a recent postgraduate in East Asian Studies from the University of Delhi and holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Language from K.R. Mangalam University. She has previously worked as a Subject Matter Expert in Mandarin Language at Unacademy. Her primary research interests focus on China's domestic politics and international economic statecraft.