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NEWS IN CHINA

• Foreign Minister Wang Yi Meets Bulgarian Counterpart: Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova in Sofia on October 19, with both sides expressing support for closer bilateral cooperation. Wang noted that China is ready to work with Bulgaria on Eurasian connectivity, common development and multilateralism. He described Bulgaria as a long-standing friendly partner and said the two countries should strengthen political communication and practical cooperation. Wang called for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, the Middle Corridor, and China’s engagement with Central and Eastern European countries and the European Union. He also emphasised that China and the EU are partners rather than rivals, urging the bloc to support openness, free trade and dialogue while opposing unilateralism and protectionism. Wang also called on Bulgaria to continue adhering to the one-China principle. Petrova reaffirmed Bulgaria’s commitment to the one-China policy and said closer relations with China are a priority for the new government. She highlighted opportunities in trade, education, culture, high technology and connectivity, including the potential launch of direct flights. The two ministers also discussed the Ukraine crisis and other regional issues.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Holds Talk with Belarusian Prime Minister: Premier Li Qiang met Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin on the sidelines of the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states in Tajikistan. Li said China is ready to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Belarus and fully realise the benefits of their Agreement on Trade in Services and Investment. Li described China and Belarus as close partners with strong strategic mutual trust, noting that their all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership has produced substantial results. With 2027 marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations, he called for deeper cooperation in automotive manufacturing, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and the green economy. China will also seek to import more quality Belarusian products and support Chinese enterprises investing in Belarus, while urging Minsk to provide an open, transparent and predictable business environment. Li also called for expanded exchanges in culture, tourism, youth, media and local affairs. Turchin stated that Belarus views China as a reliable friend and partner. He expressed readiness to use next year’s anniversary to deepen economic, industrial and technological cooperation. Both sides also agreed to strengthen coordination through the SCO and BRICS, promote multilateralism and free trade, and safeguard shared interests.
  
  
• China Issues Guidelines to Expand AI Applications in Commerce: China has introduced 18 measures to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies across commerce, aiming to upgrade consumption and improve distribution efficiency. The guidelines were jointly issued by nine government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce. The measures cover consumer goods, services, commercial distribution, new business applications and policy support. They encourage AI integration in product design, manufacturing and marketing, alongside greater supplies of smart devices and robots. In services, the guidelines promote AI applications in healthcare and elderly care, digital transformation in catering, and pilot projects in culture and tourism. To improve distribution, the guidelines support smart warehouses, intelligent logistics equipment, unmanned delivery and digital upgrades in wholesale and retail. They also encourage AI agents for shopping, business operations and logistics, as well as virtual shopping experiences and applications of embodied intelligence. Additional support will focus on technical standards, digital infrastructure and financing. The initiative follows guidelines issued in June containing 17 measures to promote “AI plus consumption.” Official data show that China’s retail sales of consumer goods rose 1.1% year on year to 37 trillion yuan in the first three quarters of 2026. Services retail sales grew by 5%, compared with 1% growth in goods sales.
  
  
• China Tightens Export Controls on Dual-Use Equipment: China has announced new export control measures covering drones, tunnel-boring machinery and dredging equipment to strengthen security oversight while facilitating compliant trade. The Ministry of Commerce announced on Monday that the regulations, jointly issued with relevant authorities, will take effect on 18 November to safeguard national security and fulfil international non-proliferation obligations. The measures introduce licensing requirements for specified unmanned aerial vehicles and related technologies, including aviation engines, navigation systems, communication equipment and flight control software. Simplified procedures will apply to certain exports. Controls will also cover shield tunnelling machines, key components, walking excavators and specialised wet-shotcrete machines. Exports of certain equipment to sensitive countries and regions will require government approval, while other destinations may follow a registration-based process. China has also revised controls on dredgers and associated equipment, including dredge pumps and cutterheads, requiring exporters to obtain licences. Separately, new customs procedures, effective immediately, require exporters to submit supporting documents within seven working days of an inquiry. Customs authorities must assess submissions or request further identification within 15 working days. Ministry officials stated that the measures support security and non-proliferation. Experts highlighted the growing difficulty of distinguishing civilian applications from potential military uses as industrial technologies advance.
  
  
• Multiple Departments Issue Financial Support Guidelines: Multiple Chinese government departments have jointly issued guidelines to strengthen financial support for the development of international science and technology innovation centres in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The document, led by the People’s Bank of China and involving 10 other departments, aims to improve financial services for scientific and technological innovation and regional industrial cooperation. The guidelines call for deeper structural reform of financial supply, better allocation of financial resources and the development of a comprehensive technology finance service system. By 2030, authorities aim to establish a more complete financial system covering the entire innovation chain, significantly increase the share of direct financing and create a broadly integrated regional financial service framework. The three regions will adopt different approaches. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei will focus on original and collaborative innovation and financial support for major science and technology infrastructure. The Yangtze River Delta will develop a technology finance ecosystem based on its industrial clusters, while the Greater Bay Area will promote an open system and closer financial interaction among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. The guidelines also call for stronger policy coordination, information sharing, common standards and joint risk prevention. The PBOC will coordinate implementation with relevant departments and regions.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users Debate US Restrictions on DeepSeek: A post by Sina Tech discussing the US government’s reported restrictions on DeepSeek is going viral on Weibo over technological competition, data security and barriers to market access. According to the post, the US Department of Homeland Security had ordered the removal of DeepSeek products and related technologies from federal civilian computer systems, while prohibiting government departments from purchasing related products. Many users questioned the security rationale behind the restrictions, with some suggesting that “if the US wants to prohibit others from doing something, it may already be doing the same itself”. Others argued that “US-developed AI tools such as GPT could also have monitoring capabilities”. Several users viewed the restrictions as evidence of DeepSeek’s competitiveness, with one suggesting that “the ban demonstrates that DeepSeek offers strong product performance at an affordable price”. Others noted that users could turn to alternative Chinese AI platforms, including Kimi, if DeepSeek became unavailable. A few users argued that “open-source technology remains available regardless of whether the US chooses to use it”. Some users considered the restrictions a normal feature of technological competition, arguing that “countries are increasingly imposing barriers on AI products developed by their competitors”. Others highlighted the commercial implications, noting that “restrictions extending to third-party products using DeepSeek technology could limit market access for companies supplying US government agencies.” Several users suggested that “fears of technological backdoors could be influencing the US approach to Chinese AI products.”

INDIA WATCH 

Guancha Discusses Challenges Facing India’s Semiconductor Chemical Industry: An article in Guancha examined the challenges facing Indian chemical companies seeking to enter the semiconductor supply chain as India expands its domestic chip manufacturing industry. Citing Nikkei Asia, the article noted that although India has an established chemical industry, producing semiconductor-grade materials requires ultra-high purity standards, specialised purification technologies and lengthy supplier approval processes. It highlighted that at least 10 Indian companies, including Gujarat Fluorochemicals, Navin Fluorine and Tatva Chintan, have expressed interest in entering the sector. However, the article emphasised that India’s limited technological capabilities and lack of established customers remain significant barriers to entry. It further noted that critical semiconductor chemicals and gases are largely supplied by companies in Japan, South Korea and the United States, making international partnerships important for Indian firms. The article highlighted Acutaas Chemicals’ partnership with South Korea’s J & Materials and Anupam Rasayan’s acquisition of US-based Jayhawk Fine Chemicals as strategies to access specialised technologies and established customer networks. It also discussed Inox Air Products’ investment in a speciality gas facility in Gujarat to support India’s emerging semiconductor manufacturing capacity. According to the article, infrastructure gaps, dependence on imported equipment and supplier qualification periods of up to three years could delay the development of domestic capabilities. The article concluded that India’s semiconductor ambitions depend not only on building fabrication plants but also on establishing a reliable domestic ecosystem for specialised materials, technologies and industrial gases.

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.