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In Chinese MediaNov 26, 2025
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NEWS IN CHINA
- CNSA Releases Action Plan for Commercial Spaceflight: China has unveiled a new blueprint to accelerate the growth of its commercial space sector. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has released the Action Plan for Promoting the High-Quality and Safe Development of Commercial Spaceflight (2025–2027), outlining measures to support innovation, regulate industry expansion, and strengthen safety oversight. The plan is in line with the 15th Five-Year Plan to support sectors like aerospace and the low-altitude economy. According to the plan, China intends to have a fully integrated, secure, and innovative commercial space ecosystem by 2027. The plan states that industry scale should expand significantly, governance capacity should improve, and high-quality development should take shape. The Action Plan lays out 22 measures across five key areas. These include opening national research projects to commercial firms, sharing major scientific facilities like test stands and tracking stations, and encouraging companies to enter more segments of the satellite and rocket supply chain. It also calls for speeding up national space legislation, improving market access through a negative list system, and enhancing industry services. To ensure safety, China will build a full-chain commercial space supervision mechanism and develop a digital platform for risk assessment and activity reporting.
- China Criticizes Japan’s Position on Taiwan: China has strongly rejected Japan’s recent claim that its stance on the Taiwan question remains ‘unchanged,’ calling it inadequate and misleading. At a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized a Cabinet-approved statement from Tokyo, which insisted that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in parliament did not alter Japan’s long-held position. Mao Ning argued that merely using the term ‘consistent’ does not explain whether Japan is still following the one-China principle, which is the basis of China-Japan relations. She emphasized that Takaichi's comments not only went against the four political documents between the two countries but also weakened the postwar international order. Mao further implied that the comments made by Takaichi had attracted criticism not only in Japan but also in other countries. According to her, Japan’s statement not only failed to correct the mistake but also made further unwarranted comments on Taiwan, which China views as interference in its internal affairs. Reflecting China's stance, Mao said, ‘Taiwan is China's Taiwan,’ and therefore, the question of reunification is the one to be decided by China only. She urged Japan to consider China's perspective, withdraw the incorrect statements, and be consistent with China not only in words but also in actions.
- Hong Kong Blaze Claims 44 Lives, Three Arrested: A massive fire broke out on the afternoon of November 26 in multiple residential buildings at Hung Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po Estate. This has resulted in 44 deaths and 45 injuries, marking it one of the city’s deadliest fire disasters. Authorities arrested three executives of the engineering firm which was responsible for the estate repair works on suspicion of manslaughter as the police stated that initial investigations cannot exclude the possibility of criminal liability. There was a heavy police presence of more than 400 officers along with large firefighting teams at the scene and the Home Affairs Department arranged shelters for the residents who had to leave their homes. Currently, there are over 700 people in the temporary accommodations. Social workers, psychologists, and volunteers from across Hong Kong have also come to the support of families in distress. Xi Jinping expressed deep concern over the Hong Kong fire and extended his condolences to the victims and the firefighters who had lost their lives. He called for rescue, medical, and relief work in Hong Kong to be wholeheartedly supported and directed the central departments concerned to offer help to the SAR government in reducing the number of casualties and the extent of the damage.
- State Council Announces Personnel Appointments and Removals: The State Council has announced a series of key personnel changes. Shen Yang became the Vice Chairman of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, and Qin He was made the Deputy Director of the State Religious Affairs Bureau. Qiu Baoli has been appointed Deputy Director of the National Immigration Administration and Song Gongde was appointed the Director of the State Secrecy Bureau. Also, Liu Changsheng made it to the position of Vice-Minister of Chongqing University. Meanwhile, Li Zhaozong and Shi Yingli were relieved from their respective roles of Director and Deputy Director of the State Secrecy Bureau. The personnel changes cover areas such as ethnic affairs, religious administration, immigration, state secrecy, and leadership in higher education.
- China Releases White Paper on Arms Control and Non-Proliferation: On November 27, the Chinese government issued a new white paper called “China's Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation in the New Era”. The document emphasizes China’s dedication to international peace, security, and development in the direction of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a New Era. The white paper also discusses the active participation of China in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation activities. It emphasizes China’s constructive participation in multilateral processes on nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, as well as its efforts to uphold the authority of UN-led arms control mechanisms. A problem identified in the paper relates to emerging security issues in outer space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence, which demand widespread international collaboration through the UN to establish global standards of governance and to grant developing countries a more effective voice. The paper also emphasizes the peaceful use of science and technology and enhancing international security governance.
SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER
Tiangong Space Cup Screenshot Sparks Viral Rumors on Weibo: A Screenshot from a past lecture at the Tiangong Space Station showing a water cup ‘not floating’ has sparked heated debate on social media platform Weibo. Hashtags like #Anti-China Party Starts with One Image, Everything Else is Fabricated# quickly trended on Weibo. The image, from a December 2021 “Buoyancy Disappearance Experiment,” was misinterpreted by some overseas accounts, claiming China’s space program is fake. The post triggered widespread discussion among netizens. Many pointed out the screenshot was taken out of context, explaining the cup was fixed with clips and the water’s surface tension kept it in place. Some users expressed pride in China’s achievements, saying, “If they claim our technology is fake, it only shows we’re already very advanced,” while others shared amusement, noting, “The children saw Wang Yaping pull the cup off—there’s glue at the bottom.” Many criticized the anti-China accounts, and accused them of undermining China’s achievements. Overall, the users dismissed the rumors, emphasizing China’s growing strength in space technology and celebrating the recent Shenzhou-22 mission.
INDIA WATCH
Global Times Discusses Japanese Media Commentary on India’s Challenges in Achieving Strategic Autonomy: An article in the Global Times, published on Sina has discussed the Nikkei Asian Review report on November 25 that India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy has created contradictions in its economy and foreign policy. The Japanese media article argues that India has been attempting to modernize, maintain control and selectively open to foreign investment and expertise, over decades. The Global Times article mentions the Japanese media article’s criticism of India’s automotive and energy sector. It also details the argument that India’s defensive bureaucracy drags down economic development and integration into the global market. Projects like the Jaitapur nuclear plant, built with French collaboration, which have been delayed for 15 years due to liability disputes and regulatory uncertainty are mentioned. The article mentions India’s foreign policy, but notes that economic and political demands are conflicting.
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.