Daily Conversations Daily Conversations

• China Responds to U.S. Withdrawal from International Organisations: China has criticised the United States’ decision to withdraw from dozens of international organisations, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry saying such moves are “no longer news,”. Responding to a question on Washington’s announcement that it would exit 35 non-UN bodies and 31 UN-related entities, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said international and multilateral organisations exist to protect the shared interests of all member states, rather than serve the priorities of any single country. She noted that the UN-centred international system has played a key role over decades in maintaining global peace, promoting development, and safeguarding the equal rights of countries. Mao argued that current global challenges underscore the importance of an effective multilateral system to prevent international relations from being driven by power politics. She added that China will continue to support multilateralism, back the UN’s central role in global affairs, and work with other countries to promote a fairer and more balanced system of global governance.
  
  

• China Cautions Against Revival of Japanese Militarism: China has urged the international community to remain vigilant against what it described as signs of a revival of Japanese militarism, following recent military-related actions and statements by Japanese officials. Speaking at a regular press conference, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said criticism of Japan’s military posture has been growing across the international community, including in Southeast Asia. He argued that instead of reflecting on its wartime history, Japan has accelerated military expansion, promoted arms exports, and made remarks related to nuclear armament, moves that have drawn widespread concern. Zhang said these actions reveal the intentions of right-wing forces in Japan to push for remilitarisation. He called on peace-loving countries to work together to uphold the post-war international order and safeguard regional and global stability.
  
  

• China’s Central Bank to Conduct 1.1-Trillion-Yuan Reverse Repo to Support Liquidity: China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China, has announced that it will conduct a 1.1-trillion-yuan outright reverse repo operation to maintain sufficient liquidity in the banking system, according to Chinese media. The operation, with a maturity of three months, will be carried out through fixed-quantity, interest-rate bidding, with winning bids determined at multiple price levels. The move effectively rolls over the same amount of three-month reverse repos set to mature in January, indicating a continuation rather than an expansion of liquidity support. Analysts said the operation reflects the central bank’s intent to keep monetary conditions accommodative at the start of the year, particularly to support government bond issuance and ensure stable credit supply by financial institutions. Outright reverse repo operations, introduced in October 2024, have since become a regular policy tool, adding flexibility to China’s monetary policy framework alongside temporary repos and treasury bond trading.
  
  

• Beijing Sanctions Taiwan Officials, Warns Against Separatism: Chinese mainland authorities have announced sanctions against two senior officials from Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, accusing them of promoting “Taiwan independence” and warning that they will face lifelong legal accountability. Speaking at a press conference, a spokesperson for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Liu Shih-fang, head of Taiwan’s “interior affairs department,” and Cheng Ying-yao, head of the island’s “education department,” had been added to a mainland list of die-hard separatists for advancing separatist rhetoric, restricting cross-Strait exchanges, and promoting related narratives through policy and education. Mainland authorities have barred the two officials and their family members from entering the mainland as well as Hong Kong and Macao, and banned affiliated organisations from conducting business with mainland entities. The spokesman also named a Taiwan prosecutor as an accomplice to separatist activities, accusing her of targeting individuals supportive of cross-Strait engagement, and warned that any attempts to challenge the mainland’s Anti-Secession Law or redefine cross-Strait relations would face serious consequences.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Jingdezhen Fatal Crash Case Sparks Intense Online Debate: The Jingdezhen case involving a driver who killed a family of three after speeding through a traffic intersection has resurfaced on Chinese social media app Weibo ahead of the court’s verdict announcement. According to court transcripts circulated online, the driver reportedly accelerated after an argument with his girlfriend over a trivial topic, eventually reaching nearly three times the speed limit before hitting the victims. Details of the case, including the driver ignoring repeated pleas to slow down, triggered widespread outrage. Many netizens said the incident should be treated as murder rather than a traffic accident, questioning how emotional instability could lead to such extreme behaviour. Others commented that “if you’re unwell, go to the hospital don’t hurt innocent people,” while some pointed to the driver’s age, saying he lacked emotional maturity. Online users also questioned delays in the verdict, with comments asking whether the ruling was being postponed until the New Year. Calls to avoid people with unstable emotions and demands for strict accountability dominated the discussion, alongside sympathy for the victims’ family.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Reports on Sign of India’s Pragmatic Adjustment towards China: Chinese news media outlet Guancha reported on India’s plan to ease restrictions on Chinese companies bidding for government contracts, stating it as a pragmatic correction driven by economic realities rather than a fundamental policy shift. India’s finance authorities are considering removing a five-year-old requirement that effectively shut Chinese firms out of public procurement after the 2020 border tensions. As stated in the report, Chinese experts saw these restrictions not only as a disruption of normal economic cooperation but also one that would harm India’s own development goals, contributing to supply shortages, project delays, and higher costs in key sectors such as power and infrastructure. The reported move is seen as an implicit acknowledgment that politicising economic ties is unsustainable, especially as India faces external pressures including trade frictions with the United States and uncertainty in its broader strategic environment. While New Delhi remains cautious and has yet to fully roll back controls on Chinese investment, Chinese observers noted that steps such as resuming direct flights and easing visa procedures reflect a gradual return to rational, interest-driven engagement. Beijing has consistently maintained that China and India should approach bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective, focusing on cooperation and mutual benefit rather than confrontation, an approach Chinese media argue ultimately serves India’s economic and developmental interests as well.