CiCM 5th February 2026

NEWS IN CHINA

China and Laos Announced 2026 as the China-Laos Friendship Year: Xi Jinping replied to a letter from the Lao President and Party General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith. Together, they announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the “China-Laos Friendship Year,” with a series of activities marking the occasion. Xi noted that China and Laos are not only close neighbors but also trusted partners who share common ideals and destinies. He added that, in recent years, both nations have advanced development through win-win cooperation, supported each other on core issues, and strengthened solidarity in facing challenges. Xi noted that their relationship is at its best historical stage, with broad prospects ahead. He emphasized that the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the Friendship Year will serve as opportunities to deepen cooperation further. He added that China is willing to enhance strategic coordination and push forward the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, contributing to regional peace and prosperity. Thongloun, in his New Year’s greeting, praised Xi’s leadership and China’s support. He affirmed Laos’ commitment to organizing the celebrations and strengthening political trust and bilateral ties.
Wang Yi Met with Cuban Special Envoy: Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, met with Cuba's Special Envoy and Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, in Beijing. Wang reaffirmed China’s strong support for Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and national security, stressing opposition to external interference and defending the Cuban people’s right to pursue development. He noted that China is prepared to work with Cuba to implement the consensus reached by their leaders and to further strengthen bilateral relations. He also stated that, currently, the situation in Latin America is undergoing complex and profound changes, noting that upholding fairness and justice has always been a consistent principle of China's foreign policy. In response, Rodriguez expressed gratitude for China’s consistent backing in the face of external blockades and sanctions and its support in Cuba's development. He reiterated Cuba’s firm adherence to the One-China principle, its opposition to “Taiwan independence.” He added further, its commitment to deepening cooperation with China across multiple sectors.
PLA Navy Commissions New Type 052D Destroyer Ganzi, Releases Combat Training Footage: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned another Type 052D guided missile destroyer, the Ganzi (Hull Number 128), with official media releasing footage of its recent training exercises on Thursday. According to China Central Television (CCTV), the Ganzi recently conducted independent, combat-oriented drills in an undisclosed area of the Yellow Sea under complex sea conditions. The exercises covered a range of operational subjects, including anti-submarine warfare, night anchoring, mooring and unmooring from buoys, maritime rescue operations, and helicopter takeoff and landing. According to the CCTV channel, the drills improved the crew’s sustained combat readiness and emergency response capabilities, helping the warship build combat effectiveness at an early stage. The Ganzi is the second newly commissioned Type 052D destroyer publicly announced this year, following the entry into service of the Loudi on January 1. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, noted that continuous upgrades, including an improved radar system seen on the Ganzi, have strengthened the vessel’s detection range, making it a backbone force in safeguarding China’s maritime interests.

China Issues Guidelines to Improve Digital Services for Overseas Visitors: Eleven Chinese government departments, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission and the People’s Bank of China, jointly issued the “Implementation Opinions” on Improving the Convenience of Digital Services for Overseas Personnel Entering the Country. The document aims to remove barriers in digital services for inbound travelers and build an interconnected, inclusive and internationally compatible digital service system. According to the Opinions, China will work to create a more convenient and international digital environment to support high-level opening up and foster a new development pattern. By 2030, China aims to bring digital services for inbound travellers to an internationally leading level, supported by an integrated digital service ecosystem. The document sets out 14 measures across five key areas. These include strengthening basic digital services, improving digital payment and consumer services, enhancing digital tourism and transport services, expanding digital public services including healthcare and education, and reinforcing network security, data protection and personal information safeguards.
China’s Internet Penetration Crosses 80% with 1.125 Billion Users: According to the latest report from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), China’s internet users reached 1.125 billion by the end of December 2025, pushing the national internet penetration rate to 80.1 percent. The report shows steady growth in both user numbers and access, with a decrease in the urban-rural digital divide. The penetration has risen by 9.7 percentage points since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021. Rural access has jumped to 69.5%, which is over 13.6 points of improvement. Internet use among people aged 60 and above also grew, with 53.7% now online. This growth points towards China's investment in digital infrastructure as by 2025, it built 4.838 million 5G base stations, covering all townships and 95% of villages, with advanced networks in over 330 cities. Generative AI users reached 602 million, a 141.7% rise from 2024. The report also shows over 60 million SMEs, including “little giant” firms in core industries and emerging fields like quantum technology. Further, the report noted that continued investment in digital infrastructure and skills will drive China’s digital economy forward.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

‘Ghost Employees’ Spark Debates on Weibo Over Fairness in Public Institutions: A post with the hashtag #Official Response to Health Center Employee's Years of Absence# has gone viral on Weibo, reigniting debate over the long-standing issue of “employees on the payroll but not actually working.” The discussion was triggered by a case in Sichuan’s Kaijiang County, where a health center employee was found to have been absent for years while working elsewhere, yet remained formally employed on unpaid leave. Public reaction has been critical of this news. One user questioned whether such cases were linked to personal connections, with repeated calls to “check the relationship chain.” Another expressed frustration that ordinary people struggle to secure public-sector jobs, while some individuals can remain employed without working. Several comments pointed out that unpaid leave had once been encouraged in public institutions or poorly performing state-owned entities, arguing that today’s problems are partly a legacy of past management practices. Others demanded tougher action as comments such as calls to “fire them directly,” “impose strict legal penalties,” and “accept public supervision” were widely echoed. Some users commented that the phenomenon is especially common in smaller cities, where social ties make enforcement difficult.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses How India’s Defense Budget Increase Exposes Gap Between Ambition and Capability: An article in Guancha highlighted India’s latest defense budget increase and questioned whether New Delhi’s ambitions to narrow the military gap with China were realistic. According to Indian official announcements cited in the article, India’s defense budget for the new fiscal year rose by 15 percent, reaching 7.85 trillion rupees, which is about 2 percent of GDP. However, when compared with last year’s actual spending, the increase is only around 7 percent, the article noted. The article also highlighted that the share of defense spending in GDP had steadily declined under the Modi government, falling from about 3 percent to 2 percent, even as India claimed it could challenge China by 2035 and match its military strength by 2047. The article compared this with China’s defense budget, which reached 1.81 trillion yuan last year. In absolute terms, it was about one-third larger than India’s and continued to grow at a faster rate, while taking up a smaller share of China’s GDP. The article also stressed that while China benefited from an integrated and cost-efficient defense-industrial system, India’s limited R&D spending and reliance on state-owned firms limited its progress. The article concluded stating that without a major rise in spending or a far more efficient innovation system, India’s military goals would be difficult to achieve.

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy. Her research interests lie in strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She aspires to engage in work that links research insights to policy outcomes.