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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Unveils Five-Year Plan to Strengthen Geological Disaster Prevention: China has unveiled a five-year action plan to strengthen geological disaster prevention and improve climate resilience between 2026 and 2030. The plan, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources, aims to reduce disaster risks through improved monitoring, early warning systems and stronger local response capabilities. The initiative includes relocating 50,000 households from high-risk areas, carrying out engineering projects at more than 4,200 disaster-prone sites and eliminating safety hazards at over 6,100 locations. It also calls for expanded risk surveys and research into disasters triggered by extreme rainfall, rapid weather changes and alternating drought and flood conditions. Over the next five years, China has planned to develop an integrated national geological disaster information platform linking national and provincial systems while incorporating big data, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to improve disaster management. The ministry said China's complex terrain, active tectonic activity and increasing frequency of extreme weather events continue to heighten geological disaster risks. 
  
  
• Hainan Conducts UN-Backed Workshop on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture: Hainan convened a six-day United Nations-supported workshop focused on advancing sustainable tropical agriculture across countries in the Global South. The event was attended by more than 40 government representatives, agricultural specialists, and development partners. The workshop was organised under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative and co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. It focused on sustainable crop production, post-harvest management, value addition, and improving market access for tropical specialty products. The OCOP initiative, launched by the FAO in 2021, has expanded to include 94 participating countries, including 60 tropical nations. During the workshop, delegates exchanged experiences and discussed ways to address agricultural challenges through technological innovation and international cooperation. The workshop also highlighted China’s role in sharing agricultural expertise through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme. Previous initiatives under the programme have helped increase fruit yields in Sri Lanka, improve cassava production in the Republic of the Congo, and introduce environmentally friendly pest control methods in the Maldives.
  
  
• Ministry of Education Introduces Mandatory Science Inquiry Projects for Students: According to the new guidelines issued by China’s Ministry of Education, students in grades four to nine will be required to complete at least one specific inquiry project each semester, beginning in the fall of the 2026 academic year. The "Learning by Doing" initiative aims to strengthen hands-on science education by shifting from traditional classroom instruction to project-based, interdisciplinary learning focused on real-world problems. The guideline has outlined age-specific learning objectives. Primary school students will be encouraged to observe scientific phenomena, ask questions, conduct simple experiments and develop basic projects to foster curiosity. Middle school students will be expected to formulate hypotheses, design research plans and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to solve practical problems. Suggested projects cover six major themes including health, environmental protection, Earth sciences, aerospace, emerging industries and artificial intelligence. Student performance will be assessed through practical skills, problem-solving, teamwork and reflection rather than written examinations, with results recorded in their comprehensive evaluation portfolios.
  
  
• ​China Introduces New National Safety Rules for Self-Driving Vehicles: China has issued a mandatory national standard – Safety Requirements for Intelligent Connected Vehicle Autonomous Driving Systems, which will take effect on July 1, 2027. The regulation establishes a unified safety framework for Level 3 (L3) and Level 4 (L4) self-driving vehicles. Developed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and approved by national regulators, the standard applies to passenger and commercial vehicles equipped with L3 and L4 systems, excluding automated parking functions. It requires manufacturers to establish comprehensive safety management systems covering product design, production, deployment, risk assessment and continuous improvement throughout a vehicle's lifecycle. The framework requires automakers to provide users with detailed information on system capabilities, limitations and operational responsibilities. Chinese authorities said the regulation aligns with international rules while addressing domestic road conditions and supporting the large-scale commercialisation of autonomous driving technology.
  
  
• China’s Trade Unions Strengthen Workplace Safety and Labour Protection Measures: The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has issued a new notice calling for stronger workplace safety and labour protection measures to help prevent major industrial accidents and safeguard workers' health and safety. The notice has asked trade unions at all levels to take a bigger role in monitoring workplace safety by helping companies identify and fix safety risks and follow production safety rules. It has also encouraged companies to establish mechanisms that allow employees to report safety risks and hidden hazards, including incentive programs for internal whistleblowers. Trade unions are further asked to work with relevant authorities to strengthen inspections in high-risk sectors such as mining, hazardous chemicals and construction. In addition, the ACFTU called for expanded labour protection inspections, greater safety education and emergency response training, particularly for platform-based businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises. Enterprises are encouraged to improve fire safety, heat protection and occupational safety measures while participating in nationwide workplace safety campaigns. The notice also promotes public awareness initiatives, practical training exercises and educational programs aimed at fostering a stronger workplace safety culture and improving employees' ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
  
  

​SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

​Weibo Users Debate China's Response to Japan's 2026 Defence White Paper: A Weibo post discussing Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi's response to Japan's 2026 Defence White Paper has gained significant attention online. The post highlighted Chen’s rejection of Japan's characterisation of China as its "greatest strategic challenge," describing the document as promoting a "China threat" narrative to justify Japan's military expansion. It further stated that Japan is boosting defence spending and advancing military technologies and urged Tokyo to stop interfering in the Taiwan issue and avoid "re-militarisation." The post attracted widespread reactions from Weibo users. Many expressed support for Beijing's position by commenting, "Adhere to the one-China principle". A few users took a more critical stance, with one commenting, "I learned it all, strong dissatisfaction, strong condemnation, and then no action at all." Several others called for China to further strengthen its defence capabilities, arguing that Japan had underestimated China's growing military strength and regional influence.

​INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India’s Trade Policy Shift to Balance Ties With the US and China: An article in Guancha argued that India is recalibrating its trade and investment policies as it seeks to balance its strategic interests while expanding economic engagement with both the United States and China. The article noted that New Delhi has gradually eased several long-standing restrictions, including relaxing foreign direct investment (FDI) rules in e-commerce, permitting limited Chinese investment in selected sectors, and reassessing anti-dumping measures on imported goods. The article highlighted data from India’s Centre for Digital Economy Policy (C-DEP), showing that the rejection rate for anti-dumping proposals has increased significantly since 2020, with a large share of rejected cases involving Chinese products. The article also highlighted that India’s imports from China are increasingly composed of capital goods, intermediate products and raw materials that support domestic manufacturing and exports. It further emphasised that recent policy adjustments allow companies with up to 10% Chinese ownership to use the automatic FDI approval route and permit selected Chinese-linked firms to participate in power project bids. The article concluded that the changes are intended to attract investment, strengthen manufacturing, boost exports and maintain strategic flexibility.