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NEWS IN CHINA 

• China, Turkmenistan Launch Fourth Phase of Galkynysh Gas Field: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the fourth phase of Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field, alongside Turkmen National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Ding hailed the project’s smooth start as a milestone that will elevate bilateral energy cooperation to a new level, noting that natural gas collaboration has already delivered significant benefits for both economies and peoples. In his remarks, Ding emphasized that the project reflects shared aspirations and proposed three guiding principles: prioritizing quality to build a high-standard, enduring project; pursuing innovation-driven development to set benchmarks in management, technology and cooperation models; and adhering to win-win cooperation to strengthen technical exchanges and ensure mutual benefits. He stressed that China is ready to use the gas field expansion as a new starting point to deepen practical cooperation across multiple sectors, promote common development and build a closer China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future. Ding and Berdimuhamedov jointly launched drilling operations via video link, laid the foundation stone and toured an exhibition of oil and gas equipment. 
  
  
• Experts Highlight Development-Driven Focus of Mozambique President’s China Visit: As part of his ongoing state visit to China, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo made Xining, Qinghai Province, his next stop, highlighting energy, industry and innovation as key areas of focus. Liu Naiya, executive director of the South African Studies Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explained that Mozambique is keen to deepen energy cooperation, noting the similarities between Qinghai and Mozambique in terms of resource conditions. He emphasized that African nations increasingly look to China’s development experience as a model for modernization. Song Wei, professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, pointed to platforms such as the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone as vital for strengthening China-Africa production capacity cooperation. She emphasized that Chinese technology, particularly in the construction machinery sector, is crucial for Africa’s industrialization. Song warned that amid rising global protectionism, Africa must seize opportunities to modernize or risk falling behind again. Experts also highlighted the importance of historical ties, noting that the long-standing China-Africa friendship continues to support mutual development, with both sides seeking deeper cooperation and greater opportunities within the Global South. 
  
  
• CPC Central Committee Initiates Seventh Round of Inspections: The 20th CPC Central Committee has deployed its seventh round of inspections, with 15 central inspection teams tasked to conduct routine checks across 36 central and state organs. Mobilization meetings were held, where inspection team leaders emphasized the importance of thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s guidance on inspection work and strengthening political responsibility. The inspection teams highlighted that central and state organs are the “first line of defense” in upholding the Two Safeguards and ensuring the Party’s decisions are effectively implemented. This year, marking the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, inspections aim to reinforce political building, deepen self-revolution and advance comprehensive and strict Party governance. Inspection leaders described the process as a “sharp sword” for intra-party supervision, pledging precise and effective political oversight. Focus areas include performance evaluation, reform progress, governance, leadership construction and rectification measures. The inspections will last about two and a half months, with hotlines and mailboxes open until June 23, 2026, to collect reports on violations of political and organizational integrity and work discipline. 
  
  
• China Unveils Large-Scale Hydrogen Blending Gas Project: China’s first large-scale natural gas hydrogen blending project at the 100,000-household level was officially launched in Weifang, Shandong Province, on Sunday, marking a milestone in hydrogen energy application. Covering urban households and commercial catering, the project employs a 30,000-cubic-meter blending facility capable of adjusting hydrogen ratios between 0% and 10%. It leverages existing urban gas pipelines to ensure stable transmission and distribution. The project includes a 5,000-cubic-meter-per-hour electrolyzed water hydrogen production facility, China’s first 5.2-kilometer urban hydrogen pipeline and a full-process testing platform capable of consuming 13 million cubic meters of hydrogen annually. Preliminary estimates suggest that nationwide adoption of a 10% hydrogen blend could replace 15 billion cubic meters of natural gas and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 30 million tons annually. Experts highlighted the project’s significance in advancing green energy, emission reduction and energy security. Lin Boqiang of Xiamen University noted that the initiative transitions China’s hydrogen industry from demonstration to commercial application, providing valuable testing data and technical standards for future expansion. The article concludes that with annual hydrogen production exceeding 36.5 million tons in 2024, China remains the world’s leader in hydrogen development. 
  
  
• China Rolls Out New Round of Urban Renewal Support: China has initiated a new round of urban renewal support for 2026, with the central government providing financial backing to selected prefecture-level and above cities. According to a joint notice, no more than 15 cities will be chosen, with subsidies capped at 800 million yuan for eastern regions, 1 billion yuan for central regions and 1.2 billion yuan for western regions. Funding will focus on building key model areas and improving development mechanisms. A major shift this year is the expansion of eligibility from key cities to a broader range of urban centers, reflecting efforts to address regional imbalances and stimulate domestic demand. Many prefecture-level cities face aging infrastructure and inadequate services, creating strong demand for renewal projects. Central funding is expected to encourage local investment and foster coordinated development. The policy also introduces stricter financial requirements, emphasizing that cities must have sufficient fiscal capacity and maintain controllable debt risks without incurring new hidden liabilities. The initiative is expected to boost infrastructure-related industries and attract private capital, while promoting investment in emerging sectors such as green building and smart infrastructure.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Crackdown on “Ghost Food Delivery” Shops Sparks Debates on Weibo: A post with the hashtag #7EcommercePlatformsHaveRemovedRelatedGhostShops# is going viral on Weibo after the State Administration for Market Regulation fined seven major e-commerce platforms a combined 3.597 billion yuan for enabling illegal “ghost kitchen” operations. Authorities stated that these unverified vendors operated without proper licenses or physical storefronts, raising serious food safety concerns. Following the investigation, platforms were ordered to remove such listings and halt cooperation with order-switching intermediaries, prompting swift compliance. Online reactions show strong support for stricter enforcement, with many users praising regulators for taking action. One user commented that “punishing ghost delivery services severely is the right move,” while another said “strict management will give consumers peace of mind.” Some users singled out specific platforms, arguing that “certain companies should face heavier penalties” due to their market dominance. Others questioned platform accountability, with one comment asking whether claims of only partnering with verified physical stores were truly enforced. At the same time, several users expressed skepticism about whether fines alone are sufficient. One user commented that “platforms only care about profits and lack real offline supervision,” while another suggested suspending operations until full rectification is achieved. A few users questioned whether “only cost-cutting vendors can survive under current platform conditions”. 

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Highlights India’s Concerns Over Strait of Hormuz Escalation: An article in Guancha examined the recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and their implications for India following reported attacks on Indian-flagged vessels. According to the article, two Indian ships were reportedly targeted in the area, including the oil tanker “Sanmar Herald,” which sustained minor damage after Iranian gunboats opened fire, while the crew remained safe. It noted that the Indian-linked vessel was also reportedly driven out of the strait by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. The article stated that India responded by summoning the Iranian ambassador on April 18 to express its “deep concern” over the incident and emphasized that India attaches great importance to the safety of merchant vessels and their crews. It highlighted that New Delhi urged Iran to ensure the resumption of safe passage for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to India. The article also referenced that Iran had previously facilitated safe passage for Indian-bound vessels, making the latest developments particularly concerning for New Delhi. It further highlighted confusion surrounding navigation in the strait, as Iran briefly announced reopening it on April 17 following a ceasefire, only to reimpose strict control the next day.

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.