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NEWS IN CHINA

• Chinese and Indonesian Navies Conduct Joint Exercise East of Taiwan: The Chinese and Indonesian navies conducted a joint navigation exercise in waters east of Taiwan, according to Chinese military authorities. The exercise involved the Chinese naval vessel Honghe and the Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai. According to the official statement, the two warships carried out practical drills that included maritime communications, formation manoeuvres and underway replenishment. The exercise marked the first time the PLA has conducted drills with a foreign navy in the area. While Chinese authorities said the participating ships coordinated closely and completed all scheduled training objectives, the announced activities did not appear to involve combat operations. The Indonesian Navy said the drills were not designed for “warfighting” but were merely “passing exercises,” consistent with Indonesia’s non-aligned foreign policy. Chinese authorities stated that the exercise demonstrated the willingness and capability of the two navies to conduct operational cooperation and contribute to regional peace and stability.
  
  
• Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at 98: Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died of illness in Beijing on August 12, 2026, at the age of 98. The Chinese leadership issued a joint obituary praising him as a veteran Communist Party leader and a key figure in China’s reform and modernisation efforts. Zhu served as mayor and Party secretary of Shanghai before becoming vice premier in 1991, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee in 1992, governor of the People’s Bank of China in 1993, and premier from 1998 to 2003. During his tenure, China was undergoing a major transition from a planned economy to a socialist market economy. The obituary highlighted his role in fiscal and tax reform, financial sector restructuring, state-owned enterprise reform, housing reform and the expansion of China’s opening-up policies. It also credited him with strengthening macroeconomic regulation, responding to the Asian financial crisis, maintaining renminbi stability, expanding domestic demand and overseeing negotiations that led to China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation.
  
  
• Ministry of Water Holds Special Meeting on White Dolphin Flood Risks: At a special meeting, China’s Ministry of Water Resources assessed flood risks posed by the remnants of Typhoon White Dolphin. The ministry also deployed additional flood control measures as prolonged heavy rainfall is expected across several river basins and densely populated regions. Officials said the typhoon’s residual circulation, combined with cold air, is forecast to affect the Taihu Lake Basin, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, parts of the Huai River Basin, sections of the Yellow River, the southern Haihe River Basin, and northeastern areas of the Liao River Basin. The ministry identified seven priority areas for flood prevention and response, including strengthening monitoring, forecasting and early warning systems, preventing flash floods, coordinating the operation of major water control infrastructure, ensuring the safety of reservoirs and embankments, improving flood management in small and medium-sized rivers, addressing urban flooding risks and protecting the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The meeting called for closer coordination between upstream and downstream authorities, stricter evacuation procedures in high-risk areas and reservoir-specific safety measures aimed at reducing the risk of dam failures and other flood-related disasters.
  
  
• FM Spokesperson says Border Situation with India Remains Generally Stable: China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated that the situation along the China-India border remains generally stable, in response to reports on Indian social media alleging increased Chinese military activity in disputed border areas. Guo made the remarks during a regular press briefing after being asked about videos purportedly showing heightened military activity and claims that a new border incident had occurred. The question also cited comments from an Indian government spokesperson who reportedly did not deny that a recent incident had occurred. Guo, without confirming any new incident, reiterated that the overall border situation remains stable and pointed to ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries. He noted that China and India held the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs last week, during which both sides agreed to maintain diplomatic and military communication channels and work together to preserve peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
  
  
• China Leads the World in Nuclear Power Construction: China is accelerating the construction of nuclear power projects, and has the world’s largest nuclear power construction program. The Haiyang Nuclear Power Phase II Project in Shandong has entered the installation and commissioning stage following the completion of a major safety-related construction milestone. According to Chinese authorities, 57 nuclear power units are currently under construction nationwide, accounting for more than half of the world’s reactors under construction. The total installed capacity of these projects has reached 135 million kilowatts, placing China first globally in nuclear power capacity under construction. Nuclear power currently contributes nearly 5 per cent of China’s electricity generation while accounting for less than 2 per cent of the country’s installed power capacity. In coastal provinces including Guangdong, Fujian, Liaoning and Hainan, nuclear power provides more than 15 per cent of electricity generation, making it an important source of clean energy supply in eastern China. Officials said future nuclear development will continue under the principle of “positive, safe and orderly development,” with a focus on coastal projects and broader nuclear energy utilisation.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Elon Musk’s Remarks Praising China: A post on Weibo discussing Elon Musk’s recent remarks about China has gained significant attention online. According to the post, Musk wrote on social media, “China is great. I strongly recommend everyone to have a look.” It also cited comments by his mother, Maye Musk, who said that Chinese cities each have their own distinctive charm and cultural attractions, and described them as clean, well-maintained, and safe for travellers. The post further referred to a recent survey finding, suggesting that international public attitudes toward China have become more favourable. The post quickly drew widespread reactions from Weibo users. One user wrote, “He just told the truth, hoping that there will be more and more foreigners.” Another commented, “We deserve it.” Other users argued that some foreigners hold unfair preconceptions about China and expressed hope that international perceptions would continue to improve. Several other users highlighted China’s natural scenery, food and urban environment, while some viewed the remarks as evidence of growing international appreciation of Chinese culture and development. A few users also emphasised the importance of friendly exchanges between China and other countries.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses ICCT Ranking of Indian Electric Vehicle Energy Efficiency: An article on Guancha discussed that Indian automakers Tata Motors and Mahindra ranked first and second in the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) 2025 energy efficiency ranking of electric vehicle manufacturers. According to the article, Tata recorded an average energy efficiency of 106 Wh/km, while Mahindra recorded 113 Wh/km, placing them ahead of Tesla and BYD in the ranking. The article noted that the ranking is based on official laboratory test data converted into comparable Wh/km values and evaluates the average energy consumption of each manufacturer’s battery-electric vehicle portfolio. The article also mentioned that some media outlets noted the comparisons between Indian manufacturers, Tesla and BYD, particularly in relation to differences in vehicle size and performance. It cited that the ICCT attributed the results largely to the product mix of the Indian companies, which focuses on smaller and lighter crossover models designed for efficiency and everyday practicality. The article also stated that ICCT identified slower charging performance and relatively lower range competitiveness as limitations for Tata’s electric vehicles, while underlining that electric vehicles currently account for less than 5 per cent of passenger car sales in India.