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NEWS IN CHINA

• Ministry of Commerce Raises Concerns Over EU Public Procurement Proposal: China has raised concerns over the European Commission’s proposed Public Procurement Act, which includes “European preference” provisions that could favour EU suppliers and restrict access for companies from third countries. The draft, unveiled on September 9, also allows security and supply-chain resilience to be considered in procurement decisions. China’s Ministry of Commerce urged the European Union to reconsider provisions it considers discriminatory, comply with World Trade Organisation rules and maintain an open and non-discriminatory market for foreign companies. Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said China would monitor the legislative process and assess its potential impact. The comments came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would use available measures to rebalance economic ties with China, citing concerns over Chinese industrial competition. The European Commission has also proposed changes to its Cybersecurity Act and an Industrial Accelerator Act, which Beijing has criticised for potentially tightening market access. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to discuss bilateral economic and trade issues.
  
  
• Beijing Xiangshan Forum Calls for Greater International Security Cooperation: Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun called for greater international cooperation to address shared security challenges at the conclusion of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Dong made the remarks during meetings with defence officials from North Korea, Mauritania, Gabon and Somalia who attended the forum. The forum brought together nearly 2,000 government representatives, scholars and observers from more than 100 countries, regions and international organisations. Under the theme “Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together”, discussions covered multipolarity and the international order, major-power relations and strategic stability, maritime security, and risks associated with emerging military technologies. Participants discussed the role of multilateralism in international security governance and the need for broader participation in addressing shared security concerns. The forum, established in 2006 as a track-two dialogue platform, also marked its 20th anniversary. Chinese officials described it as a platform for dialogue and consensus-building, while foreign participants highlighted the value of multilateral exchanges in addressing differences and security concerns.
  
  
• China State Council Reviews Policies on Ageing, Sports and Healthcare Services: Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting that reviewed work related to population ageing and discussed measures to support the development of sports events and medical rehabilitation and nursing care services. On population ageing, the meeting called for strengthening elderly care, health promotion and social security services. It also highlighted the development of products and services for older consumers and the expansion of consumption opportunities linked to the “silver economy”. The meeting also discussed measures to increase the supply of sports events, improve the use of sports venues and resources, and support the development of competitive, professional and mass-participation sports. It called for greater integration of sports with culture, tourism and commerce, as well as wider use of new technologies to improve spectators’ experience. For medical rehabilitation and nursing care, the meeting emphasised expanding community- and family-based services, improving accessibility and using technology to develop new equipment and service models. The meeting also adopted a draft regulation on protecting traditional knowledge related to traditional Chinese medicine and stressed stronger protection and management of such knowledge.
  
  
• NPC Deputies Attend Study Session on Environmental Governance: The Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) held its fourth study session for NPC deputies in 2026 in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A total of 224 deputies from 31 electoral units participated in the session, which focused on Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilisation, the implementation of the Ecological Environment Code and measures related to the construction of a “Beautiful China”. At the opening ceremony, an official from the NPC Standing Committee’s working body said deputies should strengthen their understanding of environmental legislation and use their representative role to gather public views and local feedback on its implementation. Deputies were also encouraged to promote awareness of environmental laws through representative liaison platforms and other channels. The three-day programme included six special reports delivered by officials and representatives from the Central Institute of Party History and Literature, the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
  
  
• China’s CAC Proposes New Online Safety Rules for Minors: China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has released a 25-article draft regulation aimed at strengthening online safety and protection for minors. The draft was published for public consultation, with feedback accepted until October 17. The proposed rules would place greater responsibilities on online service providers, application operators and smart-device manufacturers to provide safer digital environments for young users. The draft would prohibit services such as virtual companions from being offered to minors and seek to limit practices that could contribute to excessive internet use. Social media and online community services would be required to offer a dedicated minors mode for users under 16. Smart-device manufacturers would also be required to include such a mode, with features including one-click activation, exit verification and controls over usage time, duration and content. Providers and device developers offering minors modes would need to register with provincial cyberspace authorities. The draft also assigns responsibilities to government agencies, including measures to address online gaming addiction and cybercrime involving minors.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to New Generative Engine Optimisation Standards: A Weibo post discussing the launch of five group standards for Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) in China’s advertising industry has attracted significant attention online. The post noted that the standards, officially launched on September 14 through the National Group Standard Information Platform, cover areas including terminology, evaluation, pricing, corpus management, processes and compliance. It mentioned that the standards were developed with the participation of 41 organisations and 75 experts over more than five months. The post prompted discussions on whether the new standards can address concerns over advertising practices and improve industry accountability. Some users welcomed the move as a step towards greater regulation of AI-driven marketing, while others questioned how effectively the standards would be implemented and enforced. One user wrote, “False advertisements are flying all around. When can we really make the goods at the right price?” Another asked, “Is there any credibility in Chinese advertising?” Several other comments also raised broader concerns about misleading advertising, online pop-ups and accountability mechanisms.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses Potential U.S. Tariffs and India’s Russian Oil Imports: An article on Guancha discussed the potential impact on India of a new U.S. sanctions bill that allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The article noted that the bill does not name specific countries; however, U.S. media and congressional discussions have identified India as a potential target. It stated that India could face significant pressure because it relies on Russian crude oil and is in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. According to Kpler data cited in the article, Russian crude accounted for more than 50% of India’s crude oil purchases in June and July and more than 40% in August. The article added remarks from India’s Foreign Ministry that New Delhi remains committed to ensuring the energy security of its 1.4 billion people and would work with domestic trade and industry bodies to address the impact of the developments. Several experts cited in the article said replacing Russian supplies could impose significant costs on India. They also suggested that further U.S. tariffs could complicate ongoing bilateral trade negotiations.

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Research Intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She is a recent postgraduate in East Asian Studies from the University of Delhi and holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Language from K.R. Mangalam University. She has previously worked as a Subject Matter Expert in Mandarin Language at Unacademy. Her primary research interests focus on China's domestic politics and international economic statecraft.