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NEWS IN CHINA

• China-Central Asia Special Police Challenge Concludes in Xinjiang: The first China-Central Asia Public Security and Internal Affairs Department Special Police Skills Challenge concluded on September 10 in Urumqi, Xinjiang, after three days of intense competition. The event brought together 80 elite special police officers from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to compete across seven demanding disciplines, including rapid fire, combat sniping, pursuit and assault, and frontline operations. China dominated the competition, securing four group championships, one runner-up, and multiple individual honors. Notable winners included Qiu Hongtao in pistol events, Xie Dong in rifle combat shooting, and Geng Shuguang in the 78 kg combat class. Kazakhstan earned one team championship and several individual medals, while Uzbekistan stood out with four individual golds. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also won individual and team placements, with Tajikistan receiving a Fighting Award. A key highlight was the use of a self-developed intelligent officiating system that enabled real-time scoring, ensuring transparency and fairness. Officials hailed the challenge as a milestone in regional police cooperation, laying the foundation for deeper law enforcement collaboration and future joint exercises.

• China Condemns Israeli Airstrike in Qatar as Breach of Sovereignty: China has sharply condemned Israel’s airstrike in Doha, calling it a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and a threat to regional security. The strike, launched on Tuesday, targeted a building allegedly used by senior Hamas officials and was described by Israel as an assassination attempt. At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned that the attack risked escalating regional tensions and undermined ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and backed by the United States. He stressed that “force will not bring peace to the Middle East” and urged all sides, particularly Israel, to pursue dialogue instead of intensifying hostilities. The timing of the strike was especially sensitive, occurring while Hamas representatives were discussing a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal. Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ political bureau, strongly condemned the attack. Lin also criticized Israel’s alleged coordination with Washington, pointing to the “unbalanced stance” of a certain major power in the Middle East. China urged that power to adopt a fairer role in promoting peace and de-escalation.

• China Launches Campaign to Clean up Online Chaos in Auto Industry: Six state departments led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced a joint campaign to address widespread online misconduct in China’s automotive sector. The Cyberspace Administration, Central Social Work Department, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Public Security, and State Administration for Market Regulation are coordinating the initiative. The operation focuses on three priority areas. First, authorities will target profiteering schemes that rely on fake photos, fabricated topics, coerced “reviews,” and the rise of online troll armies using evasion tools. Second, they will curb exaggerated or false claims about vehicle performance and power batteries, along with manipulated reviews and hype organized through forums and agencies. Third, the campaign will punish malicious slander, corporate smear tactics, and cases where executives deliberately provoke disputes to weaken competitors. Automakers and platforms are expected to conduct self-inspection, open reporting channels, and cooperate with probes. Regulators pledged to close violative accounts, investigate companies behind the schemes, and impose strict penalties to restore fair order in the industry.

• Finance Minister Outlines Next Phase of Fiscal Policy with Focus on Domestic Circulation: Finance Minister Lan Fo’an, on behalf of the State Council, presented a report to the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, highlighting China’s budget implementation and fiscal policy direction. He noted that fiscal operations this year have remained stable under proactive and sustained measures, with funds being allocated efficiently and securely. Lan emphasized that the government will continue implementing special actions to stimulate consumption, including interest subsidies for personal loans and service industry financing in areas like elderly care and childcare. Special government bonds, including ultra-long-term issues, will be actively used to expand investment, while fiscal and financial coordination will be deepened to encourage private capital participation. Looking ahead, fiscal policy will prioritize supporting employment, stabilizing foreign trade, fostering new growth drivers, and improving livelihoods. Lan underscored that strengthening domestic circulation will be the central focus, with flexible, forward-looking macroeconomic policies aimed at stabilizing markets and ensuring long-term high-quality development.

• Preparations Completed for the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum: At a press conference on September 10, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin announced that preparations for the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum are essentially complete. The forum, scheduled to host leaders of defense departments and militaries from over 100 countries, will also welcome representatives from major international and regional organizations. Confirmed participants include delegations from Vietnam, Singapore, Russia, France, Nigeria, and Brazil, underscoring the forum’s growing inclusiveness and openness. This year’s forum will center on four plenary sessions and eight parallel discussions, addressing pressing issues such as global security governance, Asia-Pacific cooperation, international order, and regional peacebuilding. Significantly, the event will coincide with the 80th anniversaries of both the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the founding of the United Nations. Special academic events will explore themes including the contemporary relevance of the Anti-Fascist War, UN’s evolving role, and war memory in peacebuilding.

• China Presses U.S. to Respect Core Interests in Defense Chiefs’ Video Call: Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video call with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, stressing that both nations must respect each other’s core interests to maintain stability in their relationship. The call, initiated by Hegseth, comes amid growing regional tensions. Dong emphasized that China seeks a military-to-military relationship based on equality, respect, and peaceful coexistence. He urged Washington to keep communication channels open and foster steady and constructive growth in bilateral defense ties. On Taiwan, Dong delivered a firm warning, stating that any attempt to promote “Taiwan independence” or to use the issue as a tool to contain China would be “resolutely thwarted.” He cautioned that external interference in this matter directly challenges China’s sovereignty. Addressing the South China Sea, Dong reiterated China’s commitment to regional peace while condemning what he described as provocations and infringements by certain countries, backed by external forces. He concluded by asserting that efforts to contain or deter China “will lead nowhere.”

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Xiaohongshu Under Cyber Regulator Scrutiny, Sparks Heated Online Debate: The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has placed Xiaohongshu, popularly known as RedNote, under investigation for failing to fulfill its responsibilities in managing online content. According to an official statement on September 11, the platform was accused of frequently amplifying trivial and celebrity-related gossip in its hot search list, which regulators claim has disrupted the “healthy network ecology.” As a result, Xiaohongshu faces penalties including official interviews, warnings, strict accountability measures, and a time-bound order to correct its practices. On Weibo, the hashtag “Little Red Book is under investigation” (#小红书被查#) quickly climbed trending charts, drawing millions of views. Many netizens welcomed the move, saying the platform had increasingly become “a gossip hub rather than a lifestyle app.” Others voiced skepticism, arguing that cracking down on trending topics stifles online discourse and limits user freedom. A recurring sentiment is that Xiaohongshu’s commercialization strategy relying heavily on influencer-driven gossip contributed to its regulatory troubles. The online discussion highlights growing tensions between user-driven trends and state-directed online governance, with Chinese social media users split between supporting stricter oversight and defending digital spontaneity.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Article Critiques India’s Military R&D Roadmap: India’s Ministry of Defense recently unveiled the Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR 2025), a 15-year plan focusing on self-reliance in defense research and production under the banner of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The document envisions indigenous nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, carrier-based fighter jets, and advanced propulsion systems. An article in Guancha argued that such plans often resemble “wish lists on PowerPoint” grand on paper but limited in execution. It highlights India’s ambitious target of ten nuclear propulsion systems and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, IAC-3, dubbed INS Vishal. While the roadmap emphasizes indigenous technologies like the TEDBF fighter and electromagnetic catapult systems, the Guancha article questions whether India’s defense budget and industrial base can sustain such projects. Citing delays in past programs, the author suggests India risks being caught between aspirations of parity with China and the harsh reality of technological dependence, especially visible in negotiations with France over Rafale fighters and the lack of access to critical avionics codes. From an Indian perspective, the roadmap signals a strategic attempt to balance China’s maritime rise while boosting domestic defense capacity. However, the tension between ambition and feasibility remains. 

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.