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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi, Luiz Vow to Strengthen China-Brazil Partnership as Model for Global South: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a telephonic conversation, reaffirming their commitment to closer bilateral ties. Xi stressed that China is ready to work with Brazil to set an example of unity and self-reliance among major Global South countries, aiming for a more just world and sustainable planet. Calling current China-Brazil relations the strongest in history, Xi highlighted smooth progress in building a shared future community and aligning national strategies. He pledged deeper cooperation, stronger coordination, and mutual support in defending sovereignty while opposing unilateralism and protectionism. Xi praised Brazil’s successful hosting of the BRICS Summit and urged joint efforts to safeguard fairness, justice and developing countries’ rights. He emphasized cooperation on global challenges, the success of the upcoming UN Climate Conference in Belem, and advancing Ukraine peace talks through the “Friends of Peace” initiative. Lula, in turn, valued China’s role in multilateralism, vowed to deepen strategic alignment, and committed to opposing unilateral bullying while protecting shared interests. China reiterated its support for Brazil’s leadership in regional integration, encouraging greater collaboration in renewable energy, agricultural technology and the digital economy. Further, Beijing welcomed broader cultural exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding and people-to-people ties.
  
  
• China, U.S. Extend Tariff Suspension in Stockholm Trade Talks: China and the United States issued a joint statement following their Economic and Trade Meeting in Stockholm, reaffirming commitments made under the Geneva Joint Statement of May 12, 2025. Both sides agreed to extend partial tariff suspensions for an additional 90 days starting August 12. The U.S. will continue suspending 24 percentage points of its additional ad valorem duty on Chinese goods, including those from Hong Kong and Macao, while retaining a 10% rate under Executive Order 14257. Similarly, China will suspend 24 percentage points of its additional tariff on U.S. goods, maintaining a 10% rate, and will uphold agreements to remove certain non-tariff countermeasures. The Stockholm meeting, following earlier rounds in London and Geneva, was led by China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
  
  
• CPC Issues Revised Regulations for Party Schools: The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has released a revised set of regulations governing the work of Party schools and academies of governance, aimed at strengthening their role as the primary institutions for training Party members and officials. According to the statement, the new regulations will refine training systems and operational mechanisms, helping cultivate a capable team of key governing officials committed to the mission of national rejuvenation. Party schools are tasked with enhancing members’ and officials’ abilities to advance Chinese modernization and improve their governance performance. Training will align closely with the CPC Central Committee’s major decisions and national strategic needs, focusing on fostering capacity for high-quality development, serving the people, and effectively guarding against and resolving risks. The revision underscores the importance of preparing officials to shoulder critical responsibilities in the evolving domestic and global landscape. The original regulations, first issued in 2019, have been updated to reflect new priorities and to strengthen the Party’s governance capabilities for the future.
  
  
• China to Subsidize Personal Consumer Loans to Boost Spending: China has announced a new policy offering subsidies on personal consumer loans in a bid to stimulate spending, with the measure described as relatively conservative and serving as a pilot program. Qualified loan providers include six major state-owned banks, 12 national joint-stock banks, and five other consumer loan institutions. Local governments are encouraged to expand participation, with the policy’s duration and scope potentially extended based on results. Strict supervision will ensure subsidies are used exclusively for intended purposes. The move is part of China’s broader push to promote nationwide consumption, complementing the consumer goods trade-in program launched in 2024. Recently unveiled plans aim to stimulate domestic demand, boost purchasing power, and ease financial burdens by raising incomes and reducing costs.
  
  
• China Evergrande to Be Delisted from Hong Kong Exchange on August 25: China Evergrande (03333.HK) announced it will be delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on August 25, 2025, after failing to meet resumption guidelines. Trading in its shares, priced at HK$0.163, has been suspended since July 2025. The last trading day will be August 22, and from August 25 the shares will no longer be listed or tradable, though share certificates remain valid.Once China’s largest property developer, Evergrande rose through a “high leverage, high debt, high turnover” model, but its aggressive expansion into autos and new energy led to a liquidity crisis in 2021. The company is burdened with trillions of yuan in debt and has seen its share price collapse from HK$14 to under HK$2 in a year.Overseas debt restructuring has stalled, and legal troubles mount. Founder Xu Jiayin and former executives face lifetime market bans, fines, and fraud charges. Liquidators say no viable restructuring plan exists, sealing the fate of a once-dominant giant now exiting the market in disgrace.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Ocean University of China’s Talent Policy Sparks Buzz: Ocean University of China (OUC) unveiled a distinctive talent recruitment policy that quickly trended across Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat. The policy notably rejects the controversial “up or out” system and competitive elimination, offering stable career security to high-level recruits, along with doctoral supervisor status, generous remuneration, ample research funding, team support, and housing benefits. The announcement, tied to the 2025 National Excellent Young Scholars (Overseas) Program, drew praise from academics and netizens alike. Many lauded OUC’s approach as “human-centered” and a refreshing alternative to the high-pressure environment prevalent in other top universities. Posts tagged with #OceanUniversityTalentPolicy# garnered thousands of shares, with commenters calling it “a beacon for young scholars” and “a model worth emulating nationwide.” However, some users expressed skepticism, questioning whether such favorable terms could be sustained long-term without affecting academic competitiveness. Overall, the online reaction leaned positive, framing OUC’s stance as a progressive step in China’s higher education talent strategy.

INDIA WATCH

US Tariffs Ignite Debate on India’s Economic Path, Chinese Media Notes Regional Impact: The South China Morning Post reported Washington’s decision to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, citing India’s continued Russian crude imports. The report highlighted the move as a pivotal moment, questioning whether the world’s most populous democracy should double down on self-reliance or adapt its export-led growth model. Chinese readers engaged with the piece on social media, interpreting the tariffs as both an economic challenge and a strategic warning. Some posts argued that India’s dependence on the US market had left it vulnerable; others viewed the dispute as part of a broader US effort to maintain global dominance. From the Indian perspective, industry leaders, including Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal urged India to aim for unapologetic superpower status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed calls for competitive, sustainable manufacturing, while trade bodies pushed for domestic product promotion. Economists urged India to diversify towards Asian, European, and South American markets, an approach that could reduce over-reliance on any single partner, including the US.

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.