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NEWS IN CHINA

• China, Thailand Pledge to Expand Trade and Investment Cooperation: Chinese and Thai officials and business representatives pledged to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation at a symposium in Bangkok that promoted the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the "Big Market for All: Export to China" initiative. The event brought together over 200 participants from government and industry to share their insights on new opportunities for economic collaboration. Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Yan Dong noted that China has remained Thailand's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years and encouraged Thai businesses to participate in the upcoming CIIE to strengthen commercial ties and access China's expanding market. Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jianwei highlighted the steady development of China-Thailand relations and called for greater business engagement to support the China-Thailand community with a shared future. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, director general of Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion, reiterated that Thailand will fully support enterprises from both countries and promote the stable, balanced, and sustainable development of Thailand-China trade. Chinese and Thai enterprises also participated in on-site business negotiations and explored cooperation opportunities in key areas such as rubber, fruits, and cosmetics.
  
  
• China Rejects Joint Statement on South China Sea Arbitration Ruling: China's Foreign Ministry rejected a joint statement issued by the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Philippines and several other countries marking the 10th anniversary of the Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. Beijing reiterated that it neither accepts nor recognises the arbitral award, describing it as “illegal, null and void” and asserting that it has no binding force on China. The ministry reaffirmed China's sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and its associated maritime rights, arguing that these claims are based on historical facts and long-standing jurisdiction. It claimed that territorial disputes fall outside the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Beijing accused countries outside the region of militarising the South China Sea and increasing regional tensions through military deployments and support for the arbitration ruling. Additionally, the statement questioned whether countries supporting the “award” had voluntarily surrendered their own maritime rights and interests. It argued that the “illegal award” undermines regional peace, stability, and development. The statement urged relevant countries to respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea and refrain from actions that disrupt regional stability. 
  
  
• Senior CPC Official Calls for Deeper Efforts to Reduce Bureaucratic Burdens on Grassroots Officials: Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi called for intensified efforts to curb unnecessary formalities and reduce administrative burdens on grassroots officials during a meeting. Cai stressed integrating burden-reduction measures with the Party-wide campaign promoting the "correct view of performance", urging officials to translate these efforts into more effective governance. Attendees at the meeting agreed and highlighted the need to address issues such as short-term decision-making, poorly considered policies, and new officials disregarding commitments made by their predecessors. The meeting described reducing bureaucratic burdens as a long-term task and called for stronger education on performance-oriented governance, particularly following leadership reshuffles. It also emphasised that central Party and state organs should lead by example in implementing burden-reduction measures, while local Party committees should take primary responsibility for resolving issues of concern at the grassroots level.
  
  
• China Unveils Draft Revision of Government Procurement Law: China has introduced a draft revision of its Government Procurement Law, marking the first comprehensive overhaul of the legislation since it came into effect in 2003. The proposed amendments aim to improve fair competition, support the construction of a unified national market, and align government procurement with the country's high-quality development goals. The draft prohibits discriminatory treatment of suppliers, strengthens transparency by requiring greater disclosure throughout the procurement process, and simplifies supplier qualification requirements to reduce institutional barriers. The revised law also shifts the focus of government procurement from programme-based to performance-based management. It requires purchasers to conduct demand assessments before procurement, particularly for major projects, and strengthens accountability by making procuring agencies responsible for procurement outcomes, contract implementation, and internal oversight. In addition, the draft expands the policy role of government procurement by embedding national development priorities into procurement decisions. It includes support for scientific and technological innovation, green and low-carbon development, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The amendments also refine procurement procedures, improve dispute resolution mechanisms, and update rules governing evaluation committees and procurement methods to enhance efficiency and standardisation.
  
  
• China Intensifies Flood Relief Efforts as Typhoon Bavi Moves Inland: China has intensified flood control and disaster relief efforts as Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, made landfall twice in Zhejiang Province before moving inland. Authorities described Bavi as the strongest July typhoon to hit Zhejiang since 1949, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and heightened risks of flash floods, landslides, and urban waterlogging. Before the landfall, Zhejiang local authorities relocated 2.68 million residents, opened over 19,000 emergency shelters, suspended classes, halted operations at 830 construction sites, and closed hundreds of tourist attractions and high-risk amusement facilities. The National Development and Reform Commission allocated 100 million yuan in emergency funds to Zhejiang for restoring damaged roads, schools, hospitals, and water conservancy facilities. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue across several provinces, including Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Liaoning, and Jilin. Nearly 14,000 people have been evacuated in Anhui, while authorities in Liaoning suspended schools and outdoor activities. The Ministry of Water Resources upgraded its flood warning to yellow, and central authorities dispatched 70,000 relief items to support evacuation and resettlement efforts in affected regions.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users Debate Report Claiming Faster Replacement Cycle for China’s New Energy Vehicles: A post discussing the replacement cycle of China’s new energy vehicles (NEVs) has recently gone viral on Weibo. The post referred to the 2025 China Automotive Aftermarket Annual Development Report, which was jointly released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Hejun Consulting. According to the post, the report stated that the average age of traditional fuel vehicles is 8.2 years, while NEVs average only 1.8 years. The post also noted that more than 60% of fuel vehicles have been in service for more than seven years. The post mentioned that NEVs are generally replaced every 3-5 years, compared with 6-8 years for fuel vehicles. The post immediately sparked debate among netizens. Some users questioned the findings, arguing that the 1.8-year figure mainly reflects the rapid growth in NEV sales after 2021 rather than frequent replacement. One user commented that most NEV owners they know have kept their vehicles much longer. Others attributed shorter replacement cycles to rapid technological advancement. One user mockingly said that their 2021 electric vehicle, once considered “alien technology,” now feels outdated. Another remarked that NEVs are shifting from durable consumer goods toward “fast-moving consumer goods.”

​INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses Rising Indian Migration to Japan Amid Talent Demand: A Guancha article examined the sharp rise in the Indian population in Japan, attributing it to Tokyo's growing demand for skilled foreign workers, particularly in technology. The article noted that the number of Indians living in Japan increased from about 26,244 in 2015 to 56,686 by 2025, with many concentrated in Tokyo's Edogawa district, often referred to as "Little India of Japan." The article mentioned that during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to India in early July, a draft joint statement issued with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed Japan’s plan to bring 500 highly skilled Indian professionals to Japan by 2030. The article highlighted Japan's talent shortages, especially in AI, engineering, healthcare and IT, which have encouraged greater recruitment of Indian professionals. It also mentioned the Japan-India Human Resources Exchange and Cooperation Action Plan, which aims to expand bilateral personnel exchanges and facilitate the entry of Indian technical talent into Japan. It further noted that Indian migration has sparked domestic debate, with some Japanese expressing concerns over immigration, prompting the government to tighten permanent residency rules and increase application fees. Despite stricter immigration measures, the article said Japan continues to prioritise highly skilled Indian professionals, particularly in AI. It also highlighted initiatives such as the Lotus Project and expanded recruitment of Indian students, reflecting Japan's long-term strategy to address labour shortages through skilled talent cooperation with India.