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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Inspects National Information Technology Innovation Park in Beijing: On February 9, Xi Jinping visited the National Information Technology Innovation Park in Yizhuang, Beijing. This marked his first inspection tour of the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. He learned about the application and innovation of information technology, Beijing’s efforts to accelerate the construction of an international science and technology innovation center, and observed displays of representative achievements in areas such as artificial intelligence and robotics. Xi emphasized that the key to building a modern socialist country lies in achieving self-reliance in science and technology to accelerate innovation-driven development. He further noted that China must seize opportunities to accelerate development and address shortcomings in original innovation and key core technologies. During the inspection, Xi called for leveraging China’s advantage in mobilizing resources for major tasks, pooling high-quality innovation resources, and accelerating breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies. He also stressed promoting the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. The National Information Technology Innovation Park has attracted around 1,000 enterprises until now, extending to fields such as quantum information, 6G communications and smart hardware.

• Cambodia and China Hold First Public-Private Dialogue to Support Chinese Investors: The first Cambodia-China public-private sector dialogue was held on Monday to address challenges faced by Chinese enterprises operating in Cambodia. The meeting took place at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and was co-chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and CDC First Vice Chairman Sun Chanthol and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin. Representatives from over 80 Chinese companies attended the event. Sun Chanthol noted that the dialogue was designed to address concerns raised by Chinese investors and work toward practical solutions. He noted that the mechanism will be institutionalized and convened every six months to monitor progress and follow up on unresolved issues. Emphasizing China’s role as Cambodia’s largest investor and trading partner, he expressed appreciation for Chinese companies’ long-term commitment to the country. Their investments, he said, have made important contributions to economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction. Wang Wenbin welcomed the dialogue, describing it as a crucial platform to help enterprises overcome operational barriers and support business expansion. He added that Chinese firms in Cambodia have generated more than one million jobs, playing a significant role in sustaining growth and boosting trade links.

• China Releases White Paper on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong: China’s State Council Information Office released a white paper titled “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”. The document reviewed Hong Kong’s efforts and experience in safeguarding national security and clarified political and legal principles surrounding the issue. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee noted that the release was timely and significant, stressing that risks to national security persist and constant vigilance is required. He stated that national security falls under the central authorities’ purview and that high-level security is essential to ensure the steady development of One Country, Two Systems. The white paper, consisting of five chapters plus a preface and conclusion, detailed the central government’s responsibility for national security in Hong Kong, the 2019 turmoil, the strengthening of legal and enforcement mechanisms, and the completion of legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. It also reviewed judicial actions taken to safeguard national security.

• China Plans to Launch  Over 100 Import Promotion Events in 2026: The “Sharing the Big Market, Exporting to China” series of events for 2026 was officially launched recently. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the initiative is a proactive move to better connect international suppliers with China’s vast consumer market. In 2026, the ministry plans to organize more than 100 diversified import promotion activities across multiple sectors and regions. By 2025, China’s total imports are expected to reach 18.5 trillion yuan, consolidating its position as the world’s second-largest import market for the 17th consecutive year. Imports from more than 130 countries and regions have increased, and China has become a major export destination for nearly 80 countries. The Ministry of Commerce noted that it will strengthen coordination between “Exporting to China” and “Buying in China,” create more consumption scenarios, and help high-quality imported goods and services enter and perform well in the domestic market. Additionally, China plans to adopt a “policy plus activities” dual approach, expand market opening, improve trade facilitation and continue platforms such as the China International Import Expo to further unleash import potential.

• China’s Foreign Ministry Responds to Japan’s Ruling Coalition Victory: Japan’s ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Restoration Party secured a majority of seats in the House of Representatives election held on February 8. Responding to the result, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, stated that elections are Japan’s internal matter, but the deeper structural problems and political trends reflected in the vote merit serious reflection by Japan and the international community. Lin noted that history offers clear lessons that should not be ignored, urging Japan’s ruling authorities to respond responsibly to international concerns. He called on Japan to adhere to a path of peaceful development, avoid repeating the mistakes of militarism and honor the four political documents that underpin China-Japan relations. Lin warned that if far-right forces in Japan misjudge the situation and act recklessly, they would face opposition from the Japanese public and strong resistance from the international community. He emphasized that China’s policy toward Japan remains stable and unchanged regardless of electoral outcomes. 

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Discusses Risks of Password-Free Payments: A CCTV investigation into the risks of “password-free payment” sparked debate on Weibo, with the hashtag #CCTV Exposes the Chaos of Password-Free Payment# trending rapidly. The report highlighted how consumers, while enjoying convenience, are increasingly exposed to fraud, hidden deductions and complicated cancellation procedures. One case involved a woman from Wuhan who lost 2,592 yuan after being tricked into disclosing her Apple ID and password, with the funds later taken through password-free payment. Weibo users flooded the comment section with personal experiences. One user said that Taobao keeps reminding users to enable password-free payment which is very appalling for consumers. Another complained that Ping An Insurance automatically deducted money from his salary card without any consent even though the user had planned to cancel the policy. Few users called for a complete shutdown of continuous renewal and automatic top-up services, noting  that there should be a time limit and no indefinite deductions. Others pointed out that password-free payment is often enabled by default without users realizing it, adding that banning default activation would largely solve the problem. 

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Reports Signs of India’s Scaling Back of Russian Oil Imports: An article in Guancha examined signs that India may be quietly scaling back its purchases of Russian oil, in the context of a prospective India-US trade agreement. Citing a Reuters report, the article notes that major Indian refiners have suspended new orders of Russian crude for April deliveries, although New Delhi has avoided issuing any formal policy statement on the matter. According to Guancha, this adjustment comes shortly after Washington and New Delhi announced a preliminary trade framework aimed at reducing tariffs and deepening economic and energy cooperation. Industry sources quoted in the article state that India’s leading state-owned refiners and private giant Reliance Industries have declined recent Russian oil offers, although some previously contracted March deliveries will still be completed. The article highlights the Indian government’s deliberate ambiguity in this matter, with officials neither confirming nor denying a halt in Russian oil imports. It also argues that falling global oil prices have reduced the appeal of discounted Russian crude, weakening one of India’s main incentives for continued large-scale purchases. It concludes that India is rebalancing its energy strategy under growing geopolitical pressure, while Russia increasingly turns to China as its primary outlet for discounted crude oil.

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.