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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and Singapore Hold a Joint Naval Exercise in Zhanjiang: China and Singapore have launched their fifth bilateral maritime exercise in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, with drills taking place in surrounding waters and airspace. The exercise involves the Chinese guided-missile frigate Dali and Singapore’s frigate RSS Steadfast. The two navies will conduct live-fire exercises, replenishment-at-sea, communications training, joint maritime strikes and search-and-rescue drills. They will also exchange expertise on diving operations, submarine search and rescue, and underwater medicine. The exercise is divided into two phases, covering activities at the naval port and training at sea. According to China’s Ministry of National Defence, the drills are intended to build mutual trust, expand practical military cooperation and strengthen the two sides’ ability to contribute to regional peace and stability. Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe highlighted the importance of the search-and-rescue component, given heavy maritime traffic and challenging weather and sea conditions in the South China Sea. He noted that both China and Singapore have maritime rescue responsibilities in designated areas of the region. China and Singapore first held a bilateral maritime exercise in 2015. Such drills have since become a regular feature of military exchanges between the two countries.
  
  
• China Issues Compliance Guidelines for Overseas Auto Expansion: China’s Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and State Administration for Market Regulation have jointly issued guidelines to support automobile companies expanding into overseas markets. The guidelines address competition practices and compliance in areas including production safety, quality management, labour protection, and data security. The move comes as China’s automobile industry continues to expand internationally. In 2025, China exported 8.32 million vehicles to more than 200 countries and regions. Chinese companies have also invested in automobile manufacturing across more than 80 countries and regions, contributing to the development of the global automotive industry. The guidelines call on companies to follow local laws and market practices when setting vehicle prices overseas. They recommend establishing clear price differences between vehicle configurations and avoiding frequent or major price changes that could affect consumers and damage brand reputation. Companies are also advised to consider local taxes, market conditions, and logistics costs when setting prices across different markets. The guidelines further stress compliance throughout overseas operations and stronger protection of intellectual property to reduce infringement risks.
  
  
• China and Russia Begin Joint Arctic Sea Ice Survey: China and Russia have launched their first field cooperation on Arctic sea ice monitoring as the icebreaker Xuelong 2 carries out China’s 16th Arctic expedition. Chinese researchers and two scientists from Russia’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute are conducting observations along the vessel’s route. The teams compared their observation standards and methods, documenting sea ice concentration, type, size and thickness, snow depth, atmospheric conditions, ship data and large animals. The cooperation comes as Arctic sea ice continues to decline, a major indicator of global climate change. Ship-based surveys provide detailed, high-resolution information and can operate despite cloud and fog, complementing satellite monitoring and offering more precise measurements of ice thickness. Team leader Lin Long stated that the joint work is more practical than previous Chinese expeditions because it records irregular changes in ice conditions and may support ship design and navigation assessments in ice-covered waters. The researchers noted that their findings will improve understanding of Arctic summer sea ice and ocean changes, while strengthening scientific exchanges and creating a foundation for broader international cooperation.
  
  
• Eight State Financial Firms Announce 360 Billion Yuan Capital Boost: Eight major Chinese state-owned financial institutions, including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and four insurers, have announced plans to raise a combined 360 billion yuan ($53.6 billion) to replenish core Tier-1 capital. The move aims to strengthen financial institutions’ resilience, improve their ability to absorb external shocks, and expand their capacity to support the real economy. ICBC and ABC plan to raise up to 100 billion yuan and 160 billion yuan, respectively, through share issuances to major state investors. The Ministry of Finance will also directly inject capital into policy institutions and insurers, including the Export-Import Bank of China, China Life Group and China Taiping. According to an expert, stronger capital positions would allow banks to expand lending, particularly to private firms and emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and big data. Additionally, Dong Shaopeng of Renmin University’s Chongyang Institute described the 360 billion yuan package as “not a particularly large amount,” noting that banks periodically need additional capital because of bad debts, business expansion and regulatory capital requirements.
  
  
• China Launches National Anti-Fraud AI App: China has launched a new AI-powered mobile application aimed at strengthening public awareness and prevention of telecommunications and online fraud. The Ministry of Public Security announced on September 6 that the “National Anti-Fraud AI” App was recently introduced, with the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau developing the platform under the guidance of the Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Bureau. The app uses artificial intelligence to help users assess potential fraud risks, identify different scam methods and receive tailored prevention advice. It can also connect users with relevant video cases, enabling them to better understand real-world fraud scenarios. Beyond AI-based assistance, the platform provides regularly updated warnings, news and case analyses covering emerging fraud tactics. It also features an anti-fraud knowledge database containing digital versions of official prevention manuals and guides, supported by keyword searches and audio reading. The app is now available through major mobile application stores, while WeChat and Alipay mini-programs offer access to similar services.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users Debate Allowance Cancellation After Girl Attends Hong Kong Concert: A post about a reported decision to cancel a low-income family’s minimum living allowance after their daughter travelled to Hong Kong for a concert is going viral on Weibo. According to the post, the vocational school student had reportedly saved several thousand yuan through summer work for the trip, despite being warned that such spending could prompt a review of the family’s welfare eligibility. Ganzhou authorities stated that the case was still under investigation. Many users supported the reported cancellation, arguing that “welfare assistance should be directed toward households facing genuine financial hardship.” One user commented that, “If you have the money to go to a concert, why would you need welfare?” While  another stated that “they support cancelling it, so that the minimum living allowance can be given to those who need it more.” Others argued that “having the ability to save money for entertainment indicated that the family might no longer meet welfare requirements.” Some users also noted that “if the family has the ability to save money to go to a concert, they can also save money to support your whole family.” A few users also criticised spending personal earnings on entertainment while receiving public assistance, noting, “It’s wrong to use your own money for entertainment but live off society’s money.”

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India-Japan Military Ties: An article in Guancha discussed whether India and Japan could eventually form a military alliance, arguing that the Veer Guardian 26 exercise signals a deeper phase in bilateral defence cooperation. According to the article, unlike Japan’s participation in the multinational Tarang Shakti 2024, the bilateral format provides greater scope for developing operational coordination and interoperability. It highlighted maritime-security cooperation as particularly significant, potentially expanding collaboration between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in logistics, exercises, shipbuilding and defence technology. The article noted that future drills could also cover unmanned systems and special forces, indicating a gradual institutionalisation of defence ties. At the same time, it argues that India’s engagement with Japan should be viewed alongside its cautious rapprochement with China. The article stated that New Delhi’s efforts to ease border tensions with Beijing while strengthening maritime partnerships suggest a strategy of maintaining strategic flexibility rather than choosing an exclusive camp. However, it questioned whether closer defence ties can quickly develop into a formal military alliance, noting that differences in procurement systems, costs, technology-transfer demands and production capacity could limit deeper integration. The article therefore concluded that India-Japan cooperation is therefore likely to remain primarily deterrence-oriented in the near term.

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a Project Assistant at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). A recent graduate of FLAME University with a major in International Studies and a minor in Public Policy, her research interests include strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She is interested in contributing to research that informs effective policy design and implementation.