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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Signs Seven Presidential Orders Covering Key Laws and Appointments: The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) concluded its session on Friday by passing several landmark laws. Among the most significant is the Atomic Energy Law, the country’s first comprehensive legislation on the use of nuclear power. Comprising 62 articles in eight chapters, the law emphasizes peaceful research and development, strict nuclear security systems and opposition to nuclear proliferation. Equally notable is the National Parks Law, which was passed after a yearlong legislative process. With 63 articles, it establishes a stringent framework to preserve ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources. Taking effect on January 1, 2026, the law emphasizes holistic conservation of forests, rivers, grasslands and deserts, while strictly prohibiting harmful human activities in core zones. The NPC also adopted a Law on Legal Education, requiring government officials, juveniles and the wider public to undergo lifelong legal education. Apart from these laws, lawmakers approved revisions to the Food Safety Law, the Arbitration Law and legislation on public health emergency response. The last order removed Pan Yue as the Director of State Ethnic Affairs Commission and was replaced by Chen Ruifeng.

• Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to Visit Spain for U.S. Trade Talks: Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit Spain from September 14 to 17 to hold talks with U.S. officials, China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed on Friday. He Lifeng will lead a high-level delegation focused on critical economic and trade issues. According to the ministry, the agenda will cover U.S. unilateral tariff measures, restrictions on Chinese exports and the ongoing dispute over TikTok. The spokesperson emphasized that China’s stance on TikTok remains firm, reiterating that Beijing is committed to protecting the legal rights of its companies while ensuring data privacy and security. The statement underlined that China has never required, and will not require, firms to hand over foreign user data in violation of local laws. Beijing urged Washington to adopt a balanced and respectful approach, creating a fair business environment for Chinese enterprises. The upcoming discussions are being framed as essential for ensuring stable and sustainable economic ties between the two nations.

• Finance Ministry Releases Report on China’s Debt Situation: At a press conference by the State Council Information Office on Friday, Finance Minister Lan Foan addressed concerns over China’s fiscal stability, emphasizing that the country’s government debt ratio is “within a reasonable range”, and that risks remain safe and controllable. Lan highlighted that in late 2024, the Ministry of Finance rolled out a package of debt-reduction measures under the guidance of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. These included debt swaps and expanded special bonds quotas. By the end of August 2025, 4 trillion yuan had been issued from a one-time 6 trillion yuan special debt quota, cutting average regional borrowing costs by 2.5 percentage points and saving over 450 billion yuan in interest. This year, 2.78 trillion yuan in local government special bonds have been issued, with 800 billion yuan specifically allocated for local debt reduction. By end-2024, total government debt stood at 92.6 trillion yuan, which includes 34.6 trillion yuan in central debt, 47.5 trillion yuan in local government statutory debt and 10.5 trillion yuan in implicit debt. Lan stressed that China’s government debt is also supported by substantial high-quality assets, underscoring overall stability.

• China and Indonesia Launch Local Currency Settlement and QR Code Trial: The People's Bank of China (PBOC) and Bank Indonesia officially launched a local currency settlement framework to boost bilateral trade and investment. The initiative, built on a memorandum signed in May 2025, expands earlier cooperation by allowing settlements across all balance-of-payments items. Alongside this, the two central banks announced the two-way trial of a cross-border QR code interconnection project, enabling direct payments in yuan and rupiah. The system, expected to be operational by 2025, is designed to simplify retail and business transactions between the two countries. PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng described the framework and QR code project as “important achievements of China-Indonesia financial cooperation”. He emphasized plans to deepen collaboration in digital currency development, payment system connectivity and local currency usage. Both central banks also agreed to set up a joint working mechanism to institutionalize financial cooperation, ensuring more structured and long-term financial integration between Beijing and Jakarta.

• Beijing’s Fourth PM2.5 Source Analysis Highlights Rising Role of Regional Transmission: Beijing recently released the results of its fourth round of PM2.5 source analysis, showing that regional transmission now accounts for 57% of fine particulate matter, while local sources contribute 43%. Despite overall emission reductions, the proportion of pollutants transported from surrounding areas has grown, particularly during moderate to severe pollution episodes when it can reach up to 80%. Among local emissions, sources such as vehicles and machinery account for half of total emissions, followed by household sources at 18%, while industrial and dust sources each stand at 10%. Compared to 2020, the absolute contribution of local emissions has dropped sharply: dust by 46%, industry by 42%, mobile sources by 36% and households by 33%. However, their relative proportions have shifted, with mobile and household sources becoming more prominent. Experts stress the importance of deepening joint prevention and control across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, promoting structural emission cuts, phasing out high-emission vehicles and expanding new energy adoption. Targeted seasonal and district-specific governance is also recommended to sustain improvements.

• China Issues Revised Rules for Regulation of Trust Companies: On September 12, the State Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau announced the revision of Trust Company Management Measures, marking a significant step to reform the country’s trust industry in line with the Central Financial Work Conference. The new regulations emphasize the core responsibilities of trust companies, requiring them to prioritize traditional trust functions while adjusting business scope to focus on asset service trusts, asset management trusts and public welfare or charitable trusts. Trust firms are instructed to integrate Party building with corporate governance, strengthen oversight of shareholder behavior and related-party transactions, and establish performance-driven internal assessment and incentive systems. The rules specify that trust companies must enhance comprehensive risk management, particularly in entrusted duties and operational risks, while adhering to standardized procedures throughout the trust business process.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

AI-based Healthcare Expansion in Rural China Catches Social Media Attention: At the 2025 Inclusion Bund Conference in Shanghai, Ant Group revealed that its AI health butler, AQ, has already served over 140 million people, with 60% of them from China’s small towns and villages. This trend highlights how rural residents are increasingly turning to digital tools for medical support, bypassing long travel and hospital queues. AQ currently offers more than 100 services, ranging from basic health education and symptom consultations to medical report interpretation. Unlike traditional apps, it actively follows up with patients and connects them to real doctors from over.5,000 hospitals. The news quickly trended on Weibo, where users from smaller towns praised AQ for “bringing big-city doctors to village homes”. Many urban netizens also welcomed the move, highlighting its contribution to promoting a ‘healthy China’ and noting how digital healthcare reduces pressure on overcrowded hospitals. Some netizens, however, questioned data privacy and overreliance on AI.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Media Criticizes US Senator’s Bizarre Claim on India-China Border Clash: A bizarre remark by US Senator William Hagerty, claiming that China once used electromagnetic weapons to “literally melt” Indian soldiers during a border clash, has sparked criticism across Indian and Chinese media. At a Senate hearing for the new US ambassador to India, Hagerty invoked the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, insisting that China deployed futuristic arms against India. Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor, instead of correcting him, stressed India’s closeness with the US. Indian media reacted with disbelief by calling this claim baseless and false. Guancha article also states comments from Indian media which focused on the US’ intentions to create tensions between India and China. The commentary also stresses that Washington’s narrative reveals anxiety over India’s balancing act between China and the US. It also highlights reports from foreign media which speculate about US’ efforts to pressurize European countries to put secondary sanctions on countries buying oil from Russia – mainly China and India. 

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.