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NEWS IN CHINA 

• NPC Standing Committee Launches Inspections for Hainan Free Trade Port and Tourism Laws: The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) began enforcement inspections of the Hainan Free Trade Port Law and the Tourism Law, aiming to evaluate implementation and strengthen legal compliance. For the Hainan Free Trade Port Law, inspections will combine on‑site visits, special investigations, legal assessments, and research projects to gain a comprehensive understanding. Focus areas include trade and investment liberalization, fiscal and taxation systems, ecological protection, industrial development and talent support, complementary regulations, and addressing existing problems. Authorities will also collect opinions and suggestions to improve enforcement of the law. The Tourism Law inspection will be conducted through on‑site checks and delegated reviews by provincial congresses. Key areas include establishing effective systems, protecting tourists’ rights, promoting tourism development, standardizing market order, ensuring safety, strengthening supervision, and dispute resolution. The review will also examine supporting regulations and consider proposals for revising the law.
  
  
• Wang Yi Meets Singaporean Counterpart Balakrishnan in Beijing: Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing, stressing the need for joint efforts to tackle global challenges and safeguard regional stability. Wang described both nations as stabilizing forces despite their size differences, highlighting shared commitments to multilateralism, free trade and a UN‑centered international system. He called for stronger strategic communication, enhanced trust, and expanded cooperation in diverse fields, including people‑to‑people exchanges and supply‑chain security. Wang emphasized China’s readiness to maintain high‑level exchanges with Singapore and to play a leading role in regional cooperation, noting Singapore’s upcoming ASEAN chairmanship. He expressed hope that Singapore would continue to advance China‑ASEAN ties. Balakrishnan reaffirmed Singapore’s long‑standing one‑China policy, and underscored the importance of close cooperation with China in trade, investment, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, regional connectivity, science and technology, and talent development. He also stressed the need to keep the Strait of Malacca open for global maritime traffic. Balakrishnan voiced support for China’s Global Development Initiative and multilateralism, pledging to work with China to uphold the WTO‑based trade system.
  
  
• China Targets 76 percent Urban Waste Recycling by 2030: The Ministry of Housing and Urban‑Rural Development announced that China aims to increase its urban household waste recycling utilization rate to above 76 percent by 2030. The target was unveiled during the launch of the country’s fourth national urban household waste sorting publicity week, running from May 25 to 31, alongside a national conference in Beijing. Officials emphasized advancing goals of waste sorting, reduction, resource utilization and safe disposal this year, while refining policy frameworks and strengthening management of recyclable materials. The officials stated that over the past decade, pilot programs and model demonstrations have expanded waste sorting coverage to nearly all residential communities in 297 prefecture‑level cities, supported by 199 local regulations and more than 100 technical standards. According to the latest data from the ministry, by the end of 2025, the country operated 1,137 incineration plants with a combined daily capacity of 1.18 million tonnes. Additionally, fifteen provincial‑level regions, including Beijing, Zhejiang and Shandong, have already eliminated landfilling of untreated household waste, with higher emission control standards.
  
  
• China Issues First Rules to Protect Rights of Over‑Age Workers: Five departments, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, jointly issued the “Interim Provisions on the Protection of the Basic Rights and Interests of Over‑Age Workers”, set to take effect on July 1. This marks China’s first regulation specifically safeguarding the rights of workers employed beyond the statutory retirement age. The provisions cover retired experts re-hired for technical roles, as well as grassroots workers in security, domestic services and similar jobs. The provisions clarify that protection is based on the fact of employment rather than the existence of a formal labor contract, filling gaps in the current legal framework. Key measures include ensuring timely payment of wages not below minimum standards, compliance with statutory working hours and holidays, restrictions on overtime, and mandatory work injury insurance. According to the regulations, employers are required to provide safe working conditions, appropriate job assignments and written agreements. Disputes involving over‑age workers are explicitly included in labor mediation, arbitration and supervision procedures, strengthening legal remedies. 
  
  
• China Releases Ethical Rules for Human Genome Research: The Ministry of Science and Technology released the Ethical Guidelines for Human Genome Data Research, the country’s first comprehensive framework regulating the use of genetic data. Drafted by the Life Science Ethics Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee, the guidelines aim to ensure responsible practices and safeguard participants’ rights while promoting the healthy development of genome research. Authorities noted that rapid advances in gene sequencing, omics research and data analysis have expanded the role of genetic studies in precision medicine, disease prevention and biomedical innovation. The guidelines require all genome-related scientific activities to follow Chinese laws and uphold ethical principles, including fairness, safety, autonomy, and prevention of misuse. According to the guideline, researchers must obtain informed consent from participants, and may adopt broader or dynamic consent mechanisms for long-term studies where legally permitted. To strengthen privacy protection, the rules require anonymization measures and encourage the use of graded access systems to ensure the secure handling and controlled sharing of genetic data.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users Celebrate Huawei’s New Semiconductor Breakthrough: A post with the hashtag #HuaweiPublishesNewPathForSemiconductorEvolution# is going viral on Weibo after Huawei Director and Semiconductor Business Unit President He Tingbo unveiled the new “Tao Law” at the 2026 International Circuits and Systems Symposium in Shanghai. Huawei claimed that the company has already designed and mass-produced 381 chips in the past six years using this approach and announced that a new Kirin mobile chip with this technology will be released this autumn. The post further stated that chips developed under the “Tao Law” path could reach transistor density comparable to 1.4-nanometer processes by 2031. Many users described the development as a major technological breakthrough and evidence of China’s growing semiconductor capabilities. One user called it “the light of technology” and praised Huawei’s technological leadership, while another user remarked that the announcement reflected what a true high-tech company should aspire to achieve. Some users expressed excitement over the upcoming Kirin chip launch and speculated that the Huawei Mate 90 series may be the first to debut the technology. Several other users stated that Huawei had returned stronger than before, while many users hailed the company as a key pillar of national technological strength. A few users also highlighted the importance of open collaboration in future semiconductor innovation and welcomed Huawei’s call for global scientific cooperation.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Highlights India’s T-90 Tank Milestone as Defence Self-Reliance Push: An article published in Guancha discussed India’s production of its 1,000th T-90IM Bhishma main battle tank, presenting the milestone as a significant step in the country’s long-term effort to build an indigenous defence manufacturing base. The article noted that the tank rolled off the production line at the Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory near Chennai on May 22, marking two decades of licensed production and technology absorption from Russia. According to the article, India has now localized nearly 80 percent of the T-90 platform’s components, including the V-92 engine and electric turret drive systems, despite what it described as “less than expected” technology transfer from Moscow. It highlighted that India initially imported fully assembled T-90 tanks from Russia after signing a procurement agreement in 2001, before gradually shifting towards domestic assembly and licensed manufacturing. The article argued that India’s strategy represented a calculated decision to accept delays and higher costs in exchange for developing long-term industrial and engineering capabilities. At the same time, the article noted that critical systems, including the 125mm gun system and advanced armour-piercing ammunition, remain dependent on foreign technology. It concluded that India is now seeking domestic production of these systems as part of a broader push for defence indigenization and potential tank exports.