Daily Conversations Daily Conversations

NEWS IN CHINA

• China Introduces New Financial Policies to Boost Personal and Service Consumption: China has announced two new financial policies aimed at stimulating personal spending and supporting service-sector businesses, Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min said at a State Council Information Office press conference on Wednesday. The first policy offers interest subsidies on personal consumer loans, covering single purchases under 50,000 yuan ($6,965) or higher amounts in sectors like education, elderly care, and healthcare. The second policy provides subsidized loans to businesses in eight major consumer service areas, including catering, accommodation, health, elderly care, childcare, housekeeping, culture and entertainment, tourism, and sports. Eligible businesses can access loans up to 1 million yuan with a 1 percentage point interest subsidy. Yu Hong, finance department director at the Ministry of Finance, said the measures aim for wide coverage with low eligibility thresholds. China’s six major state-owned commercial banks and several national joint-stock banks have committed to implementing the policies. Officials stressed the dual focus on supply and demand to enhance livelihoods and promote domestic consumption.

• China Seeks Public Input on Stricter Oversight of Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicles: China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have released a draft notice to strengthen supervision over intelligent connected new energy vehicles (ICNEVs), inviting public feedback until September 15. The draft focuses on four key areas: defect investigation and recall management, production consistency oversight, regulation of advertising and promotional activities, and thorough reporting of incidents involving ICNEVs. It mandates that automakers provide truthful, complete information on automation levels, system capabilities, and operational boundaries, avoiding exaggerated or misleading claims. Naming or marketing that suggests autonomous driving capabilities beyond the product’s actual functions will be prohibited to prevent driver misuse. The proposal also bans unregistered over-the-air (OTA) software updates, deployment of unverified versions, or concealing defects through OTA. Manufacturers must ensure product consistency with approved specifications and bear safety responsibilities. SAMR plans to intensify inspections of exaggerated promotional claims and, alongside MIIT, conduct joint investigations and enforce rectifications to standardize the ICNEV market.

• China Issues Joint Guidelines to Strengthen Ecological Protection in Yangtze River Basin: The Supreme People’s Court, along with 12 other central institutions, has jointly released the Opinions on Strengthening Coordinated Law Enforcement and Judicial Work to Safeguard Ecological and Environmental Protection and High-Quality Development in the Yangtze River Basin. The document emphasizes closer coordination between judicial bodies and law enforcement agencies to address environmental violations, restore damaged ecosystems, and promote sustainable economic activities in the basin. It calls for improving mechanisms for information sharing, joint investigations, and evidence exchange to enhance enforcement efficiency. Key measures include stricter penalties for illegal pollution discharge, enhanced monitoring of industrial activities along the river, and prioritizing ecological restoration projects. The opinions also stress the need to balance environmental protection with high-quality development, encouraging green industries and sustainable resource use. By integrating legal and administrative actions, the initiative aims to create a unified protection framework for the Yangtze River Basin, ensuring long-term ecological health while supporting the region’s role as a vital economic corridor for China.

• China Backs Peaceful Resolution Efforts for Ukraine Crisis: China supports all initiatives aimed at peacefully resolving the Ukraine crisis and welcomes continued contact between Russia and the United States, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday. Speaking at a regular press conference, Lin expressed hope that such engagement would help advance a political settlement. Media reports indicate that U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin plan to meet on August 15 to discuss the Ukraine issue. Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Union representatives have not been invited to the talks. In response, Lin stressed that all relevant parties and stakeholders should eventually join the negotiation process to ensure inclusivity and fairness. He urged that discussions lead to a “fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement” acceptable to all concerned parties at the earliest possible date. China reiterated its consistent stance of promoting dialogue over confrontation, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement remains the most viable path toward ending the conflict and achieving long-term stability.

• Shanghai and Suzhou Pledge Deeper Cooperation to Drive Yangtze River Delta Integration: Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining and Mayor Gong Zheng met with Suzhou Party Secretary Liu Xiaotao and Mayor Wu Qingwen on Tuesday to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two cities. Chen emphasized implementing President Xi Jinping’s guidance on Yangtze River Delta integration and Shanghai’s role in advancing the “Five Centers” strategy. He called for aligning efforts with the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, leveraging each city’s strengths to boost cross-regional scientific, technological, and industrial innovation. The two sides aim to develop modern city clusters, enhance business environments, integrate domestic and foreign trade, and improve enterprises’ resilience to risks. Liu thanked Shanghai for its long-standing support, noting Suzhou’s commitment to integrating into the Shanghai metropolitan area. He highlighted plans to expand cooperation in technology, industry, and ecological governance, using Shanghai’s influence to accelerate high-quality development. The meeting underscored both cities’ shared goal of contributing to national strategies and advancing the Yangtze River Delta’s high-quality, coordinated growth. Shanghai leaders Wu Wei and Hua Yuan also attended.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Chinese Social Media Erupts Over Company Firing All Smokers: A small Chinese company’s decision to dismiss all smokers has sparked heated debate on Weibo, quickly climbing the trending charts. The firm claimed smoking breaks significantly reduced efficiency, estimating that employees who smoked six cigarettes daily lost the equivalent of 25.8 working days per year. In an online post, the employer controversially compared smokers’ productivity loss to the costs of hiring pregnant women, arguing that smokers were “more expensive” in terms of work hours. Reactions on Weibo have been sharply divided. Many praised the move as a bold step toward a healthier, more efficient workplace, saying it might encourage employees to quit smoking. “This is fair, smoking affects others and wastes time,” one user commented. However, others criticized the comparison to maternity leave as discriminatory and insensitive. “Pregnancy is not a bad habit, it’s a natural life event. Comparing it to smoking is offensive,” wrote another. Some also questioned whether such a firing violated labor rights. The discussion reflects deeper tensions in China over workplace productivity, employee rights, and health-driven corporate policies.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Article Argues Trump’s Tariff Offensive is Strategic Setback for Modi: An article on Chinese media platform Guancha opined that Trump’s tariff escalation against India is a geopolitical setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The author suggested that it undercuts New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific ambitions and could destabilize the India Prime Minister's domestic political standing. The piece, penned by an author named Wang Yi, and heavily citing Indian scholar Sushant Singh, portrays a swift reversal from February’s $500 billion trade pledge and QUAD camaraderie to punitive tariffs, cancelled summits, and Trump’s overtures to Pakistan. Guancha’s framing leans on the symbolism: Modi’s “Make India Great Again” slogan now undercut by U.S. trade hostility, and India’s diplomatic capital eroding. The tariffs set to go into effect by late August threaten labor-intensive exports, risk a 40–50% drop in the U.S. bound shipments, and could shave up to one GDP percentage point. The article also outlines the political implications for Modi’s cultivated image as a foreign-policy strongman which could take damage; Congress’s “Narendra Surrender” jibe may stick. Guancha’s article reflects Beijing’s interest in spotlighting Indo-U.S. rifts, implicitly positioning China as a pragmatic partner. Yet, for India, the challenge is avoiding “strategic drift” while leveraging ties with Russia, China, and the West to preserve autonomy without ceding Indo-Pacific influence.

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.