CiCM 9th October 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China Rejects UK Espionage Allegations After Charges Dropped: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to the UK’s decision to drop espionage charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, who were accused of spying for China. In a statement on Thursday, spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that the withdrawal of the case by UK judicial authorities proves that the allegations were entirely fabricated and without any factual basis. Guo criticized the repeated promotion of “espionage activities” and the so-called “China threat” narrative, calling it an attempt to smear and vilify China. “We firmly oppose such groundless claims,” he said, adding that China advises certain individuals in the UK not to harbor illusions about being persecuted. The comments come amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the UK and China over intelligence and security concerns, with Chinese officials repeatedly rejecting accusations of state-sponsored espionage. Observers note that the case’s dismissal reinforces Beijing’s position that allegations against its citizens or interests abroad are often politically motivated rather than legally substantiated.
China Issues New Measures to Curb Unfair Price Competition: The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly released an “Announcement on Governing Disorderly Price Competition and Maintaining a Good Market Price Order.” The move aims to restore fairness and discipline in China’s increasingly volatile pricing environment. The Announcement emphasizes that while price competition is a key market mechanism, disorderly undercutting and manipulation are harming industry innovation, quality, and stability. Enterprises are urged to follow the Price Law and Anti-Monopoly Law, ensuring fairness, legality, and transparency in pricing. Key measures include assessing industry average costs, strengthening warnings and supervision, and enhancing credit-based regulation to penalize violators. Industry associations are tasked with promoting self-discipline and guiding reasonable pricing. The NDRC and SAMR will also cooperate with local governments to improve enforcement and raise awareness among operators. The initiative reflects Beijing’s effort to balance free-market principles with stronger state oversight, ensuring sustainable and healthy market competition.
Senior Hunan Official Wu Lan Under Investigation, 45 Central-Level Cadres Dismissed in 2025: The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission announced that Wu Lan, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress, is under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. Wu Lan, 62, of Mongolian ethnicity, hails from Inner Mongolia’s Kezuozhong Banner and is a graduate of the Central Party School. Her political career began in 1978, with long service in Inner Mongolia where she held several top positions, including Vice Chairman of the Regional Government and Minister of Propaganda. In 2016, she was transferred to Hunan as Deputy Party Secretary, and by 2023 she rose to her current post in the provincial legislature. Her probe adds to the 45 central-level officials investigated by the CCDI and National Supervisory Commission in 2025 alone, highlighting Beijing’s continued “tiger-hunting” anti-corruption drive, which targets both senior and mid-level officials across provinces.
China and DPRK Pledge to Deepen Strategic Ties Amid Regional Shifts: Chinese Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed Beijing’s readiness to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with North Korea during a meeting with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. Li, representing Chinese President Xi Jinping, conveyed Xi’s greetings and congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Li emphasized that China views its relations with the DPRK from a “strategic and long-term perspective,” pledging unwavering support to maintain and expand traditional friendship and cooperation. He called for closer coordination in international and regional affairs, joint defense of multilateralism, and efforts to build a fairer global order. Kim, in return, lauded China’s socialist achievements under Xi’s leadership and reiterated North Korea’s firm support for the “one-China principle,” opposing “Taiwan independence” and external interference. Declaring DPRK-China ties “unbreakable,” Kim said Pyongyang is ready to enhance cooperation in politics, economy, and regional stability, advancing both nations’ socialist causes and shared prosperity.
China Urges Permanent Gaza Ceasefire, Reaffirms Support for “Palestinians Governing Palestine”: China has voiced strong support for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, following reports that Israel and Hamas have reached a long-sought truce. On 9th October, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that an enduring ceasefire is essential to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis and de-escalate regional tensions. Guo reiterated China’s consistent stance that the future of Palestine must be determined by its own people, stressing the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine.” He further underlined Beijing’s firm backing of the two-state solution as the foundation for resolving the decades-long conflict. China expressed readiness to cooperate with the international community in advancing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace framework in the Middle East. Analysts note that Beijing’s renewed call reflects its growing diplomatic engagement in regional affairs and its bid to position itself as a constructive mediator amid shifting global alignments on the Israel-Palestine issue.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Bank’s Unauthorized Withdrawal Sparks Outrage on Chinese Social Media: A man from Rudong, Jiangsu, identified as Kang, faced a shocking situation when he discovered that 350,000 yuan he had saved for his son’s wedding had been withdrawn by his bank without authorization. The funds were deducted to cover a 200,000 yuan loan guarantee he had signed for a man named Zhao back in 2013. After Zhao defaulted and court enforcement failed, the bank unilaterally took Kang’s deposit to settle the debt. The court ruled that the bank’s move was illegal, emphasizing that it bypassed proper legal channels and violated the deposit safety agreement. The court ordered the bank to return over 90,000 yuan plus 3,000 yuan in interest. Legal experts noted that banks have no authority to arbitrarily deduct or freeze deposits without a court order. The case has since gone viral on Weibo, triggering heated debates about financial accountability and citizens’ rights. Many users criticized banks for “acting above the law,” calling for stronger consumer protections and regulatory oversight to prevent similar abuses.

INDIA WATCH

ChinaDaily Highlights on the UK-India £350 Million Arms Deal: China Daily highlighted the newly signed £350 million arms deal between the UK and India as a “symbolic yet strategic move” reflecting London’s post-Brexit pivot to Asian markets and New Delhi’s drive for defense diversification. It noted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s emphasis on boosting high-tech defense exports aligns with the country’s broader ambition to regain global influence through military-industrial partnerships.The author described the deal as part of the UK’s effort to “revive its defense industry and economic competitiveness” while also counterbalancing growing European dependence on U.S. security networks. The commentary suggested that New Delhi’s decision to buy British-made light multi-purpose missiles underscores its attempt to balance between multiple suppliers from Russia to the West in pursuit of strategic autonomy. From an Indian perspective, the deal strengthens bilateral defense ties and symbolizes India’s confidence in diversifying beyond its traditional partners. India views it as both an industrial and geopolitical win, enhancing indigenous capacity through technology transfers. Overall, China Daily’s coverage framed the agreement as a calculated step by both nations to reposition themselves within shifting global defense alignments.

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.