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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Tightens Export Controls on Dual-Use Items to Japan: China has announced stricter export controls on dual-use items destined for Japan, with the measures taking immediate effect, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce. The ministry stated that the decision was made in line with China’s Export Control Law and related regulations, citing the need to safeguard national security and interests while fulfilling international non-proliferation obligations. Under the new rules, dual-use items are prohibited from being exported to Japan for military end users, military purposes, or any use that could contribute to strengthening Japan’s military capabilities. The ministry also warned that any organisation or individual, including those outside China, found transferring Chinese-origin dual-use items to Japan in violation of the measures would be held legally responsible.
  
  

• Beijing Unveils Plan to Build Trillion-Yuan AI Industry: Beijing has announced a new action plan aimed at expanding its core artificial intelligence (AI) industry beyond 1 trillion yuan within the next two years, as the city seeks to strengthen its position as a global centre for AI innovation. The plan outlines nine key initiatives covering technological research, data development, and the wider application of AI across different sectors. It places particular emphasis on coordinated innovation, attracting high-end talent, mobilising long-term investment, and supporting open-source ecosystems. Officials said the city also plans to build a large domestically produced AI computing cluster, increase the number of listed AI companies, and cultivate more unicorn firms in the sector. 
  
  

• CPC Sends Congratulations to Laos on Opening of LPRP’s 12th Party Congress: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has sent a congratulatory message to the Lao People's Revolutionary Party on the opening of its 12th National Congress. In the message, the CPC praised the LPRP’s leadership since its previous congress, noting progress in party building, governance, and efforts to pursue a socialist development path suited to Laos’s national conditions. The CPC described the congress as an important milestone that will set the direction for Laos’s political and economic development in the coming period. It expressed confidence that under the LPRP’s leadership, Laos would continue advancing its socialist cause. The message also reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening strategic communication and cooperation with Laos, and to promoting the building of a China–Laos community with a shared future, in line with the consensus reached by the two countries’ top leaders.
  
  

• Chinese Authorities Warn of New NFC-Based Fraud Scams: Chinese authorities have issued a warning about a new type of fraud that exploits near-field communication (NFC) technology to steal bank card funds and personal data. Officials said criminals are taking advantage of the widespread use of NFC in mobile payments, transport cards and electronic keys, as well as the public perception that the technology is inherently safe due to its short operating range. In typical cases, scammers pose as customer service staff, citing reasons such as flight refunds, mistaken memberships or financial compensation, before persuading victims to download malicious apps or enable screen-sharing. Victims are then instructed to turn on NFC and place their bank cards near their phones, allowing card information to be skimmed and funds transferred without passwords. Authorities noted that such scams are becoming more professional and targeted, often resulting in broader data leaks and long-term risks to personal financial security. The public has been advised to remain cautious of unsolicited refund offers, avoid downloading unknown apps, disable NFC when not in use, and turn off password-free payment features.
  
  

• Asian Financial Forum to Launch Global Business Summit in Hong Kong: The 19th Asian Financial Forum will be held in Hong Kong on 26 and 27 January, featuring the debut of a new Global Business Summit aimed at linking financial discussions more closely with developments in the real economy. Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the event is expected to draw more than 3,600 participants from across the world. Held under the theme “Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape,” the forum will bring together global political leaders, business executives and financial experts to discuss geopolitical shifts, macroeconomic trends, and industry transformation. Organisers said the new summit is designed to broaden the forum’s focus beyond finance to high-value industries such as technology, healthcare, consumer markets and innovation, while showcasing Hong Kong’s role as an international financial and business hub.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Syphilis Trend in Japan Sparks Online Debate in China: A discussion trended on Chinese social media app Weibo after reports highlighted persistently high syphilis infection rates in Japan, with confirmed cases exceeding 13,000 annually for four consecutive years. Alongside official data, attention focused on videos circulating online that showed young Japanese women gathering to display visible symptoms, accompanied by messages urging early testing and treatment. The footage triggered strong reactions among Chinese netizens. Many stressed that adolescent health education is urgently needed and should be strengthened before problems escalate, while others criticised the behaviour as self-destructive. Some comments called on the Japanese government and society to improve public awareness campaigns and step up prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases. Others framed the issue in moral terms, arguing that personal integrity and responsibility should not be replaced by public display, with remarks suggesting that shame should prompt caution rather than being openly flaunted.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Questions Long-Term Role of India’s Special Frontier Force: Chinese media outlet Guancha has offered an assessment of India’s Special Frontier Force (SFF) that suggests its role is becoming more limited and less central than in the past.The article noted that while several SFF battalions remain deployed near the Line of Actual Control, there are no visible indicators of heightened combat readiness or expanded deployment patterns. It further observed that the SFF’s original focus on contingencies involving China appears to have evolved over time, alongside the growth of Indian Army paratrooper units and the establishment of additional high-altitude reconnaissance and light assault formations. The assessment also pointed out certain organisational challenges, including constraints on career progression, and competition from civilian employment opportunities in border regions. Overall, the article presents the SFF as an organisation undergoing a period of adjustment, with its future role within India’s military framework described as less clearly defined.

Prepared By

Mohit Singh Mehra

Mohit Singh Mehra is a Master’s student of International Relations at South Asian University, New Delhi. His academic and research interests focus on China, Himalayan geopolitics, and border dynamics, with a particular emphasis on strategic, security, and political developments in the region. He is interested in understanding how geography, power, and policy interact in shaping regional order in Asia.