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NEWS IN CHINA

• Wang Yi Calls for Stronger Global Human Rights Governance: Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on Monday that China is ready to work with all countries to improve global human rights governance and promote the healthy development of international human rights. Wang made the remarks in a video address to the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Wang noted that China’s Global Governance Initiative has gained support from more than 150 countries and international organizations. He called for upholding sovereign equality and respecting development paths suited to national conditions and people’s needs, stressing that there is no single model for human rights development. Wang urged all parties to follow international law, uphold non-interference in internal affairs and reject double standards under the pretext of human rights. Wang also emphasized the need to practice multilateralism, oppose colonialism and racial discrimination, and address emerging issues in artificial intelligence and climate change. He emphasized that China will continue advancing whole-process people’s democracy and promoting shared development, fairness and justice globally.

• CPC Launches Party-Wide Campaign on Correct Perception of Performance: The General Office of the CPC Central Committee issued a notice on “Carrying Out Learning and Education on Establishing and Practicing a Correct View of Performance Throughout the Party". Approved by the Party Central Committee, the campaign will begin after the Spring Festival in 2026 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of July. The study and education campaign will focus on leading bodies and officials at the county and departmental levels and above, particularly top leaders. According to the notice, the campaign emphasizes serving the people, making scientific decisions, and achieving results through hard work. It will integrate learning, investigation and reform, with efforts centered on identifying problems, correcting deviations, improving systems, and strengthening supervision. According to the notice, party organizations are required to listen to public opinion, accept public oversight and prioritize people’s livelihoods. It also stresses that Party committees at all levels must treat the campaign as a major political task, ensure solid implementation, avoid formalism and deliver results.

• Fangchenggang Strengthens Border Crackdown During Spring Festival:  During the Spring Festival, public security, coast guard, border management and customs anti-smuggling departments in Fangchenggang maintained strict vigilance along national borders and coastal areas. Under the “Spring Thunder” special operation, authorities intensified efforts to combat illegal border crossings, smuggling and other cross-border crimes. At sea, patrols focused on unregistered vessels and illegal airships, while on land, border trails were closely monitored, key areas investigated and smuggling routes disrupted. Authorities also expanded QR code reporting for border-related crimes, encouraging public participation to broaden intelligence sources and strengthen community-based border defense. Technological tools were widely deployed, including smart surveillance systems, drones and continuous ground patrols. Authorities carried out ongoing raids and crackdowns, seizing illegal vessels, vehicles and smuggled goods, and arresting multiple suspects to maintain high-pressure deterrence. From February 15 to 22, Fangchenggang authorities investigated 12 border-related crime cases, apprehended 19 suspects, seized 69 vehicles and 14 vessels, and confiscated goods. A total of 29 public tips contributed to the investigations.

• China Expands High-Standard Farmland as a Part of Agricultural Modernization: China made significant progress in agricultural modernization, establishing more high-standard farmland, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. According to the official data from last year, China constructed and renovated 75.68 million mu (5.05 million hectares) of high-standard farmland, bringing the national total to over 1 billion mu. Technological advancements played a key role, contributing more than 64 percent to agricultural output. The market share of domestic seed varieties also rose, exceeding 80 percent for livestock and poultry, 86 percent for aquatic products and 91 percent for vegetables. Mechanization of crop cultivation, planting and harvesting reached 76.7 percent. Notably, the number of agricultural drones in operation exceeded 300,000, with an annual coverage of more than 460 million mu.

• China Maintains Second Place in Civil Remote Sensing Satellites: China has strengthened its position as a global space technology leader, maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest operator of civil remote sensing satellites. According to the China Association for Geographic Information Society, China launched more than 120 remote sensing satellites in 2025 alone, bringing the total number of active civilian satellites in orbit to over 640. The expanding satellite network integrates optical, hyperspectral, infrared and microwave technologies, enabling all-weather, round-the-clock earth observation. This capability supports a range of applications, including environmental monitoring, disaster response, urban planning and industrial management. While state-led programs continue to play a major role, the commercial sector has emerged as a key driver of growth. China is also accelerating the launch of specialized satellites tailored to specific industries. Notable additions include AIRSAT-05, or Haishao-2, the country’s first commercial satellite with full-polarization radar capabilities, along with Geology-1 for mineral exploration.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Train Delays Due to Overcrowding Spark Debate on Weibo: A post with the hashtag #12306RespondsToTrainDelayedForHalfAnHourDueToOvercrowding# has sparked online discussion on Weibo. Posts relating to train delays during the spring festival remained in the top 20 trends on Weibo. The post about a person named Mr. Liu shared that the G3191 train from Jiaozuo in Henan to Wenling in Zhejiang was halted at Zhoukou East Station for half an hour as the train could not start due to excess passengers. Liu explained that while more people kept boarding, only a few got off, prompting a temporary stop. In response, 12306 (China’s railway ticketing platform) responded that long-distance trains are required to have sufficient capacity and that passengers must disembark if a train is full. They advised avoiding ticket misuse and suggested purchasing connecting tickets if stranded. Many users echoed dissatisfaction with the ticketing system and overcrowding issues. A user complained that short-distance tickets aren’t released, and when they do appear, they sell out immediately, leaving only full-route tickets available. Another user remarked that long-haul travelers cannot get tickets, while short-haul travelers are forced to buy long-haul tickets, questioning where the problem truly lies. Several users suggested systemic improvements, with many users recommending adding more regular trains. Some called for stricter measures, noting that if the train scheduling and ticketing system does not improve, these problems will continue every year.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses Tejas Runway Incident and Growing Strain on India’s Indigenous Fighter Program: An article in Guancha discussed the runway overrun involving India’s domestically produced Tejas fighter jet and its implications for India’s military aviation ambitions. Citing a February 23 report by The Hindu, the article notes that an Indian Air Force Tejas jet overran the runway during landing after brake failure, forcing the pilot to eject safely while leaving the aircraft severely damaged. It states that following the incident, the Indian Air Force grounded its entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets for comprehensive technical inspections. The article underscores the persistent reliability concerns surrounding the Tejas platform, as it mentions the March 2024 crash near Jaisalmer and the November 2025 crash at the Dubai Airshow, highlighting that the investigations into the latter incident are still ongoing. The article further points out the mounting pressure on the Tejas MK-1A program, which has faced repeated delivery delays. It argues that while the Indian Ministry of Defence has signed large procurement contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, production has reportedly been hampered by delayed engine supplies from GE Aerospace. The article concludes that the latest grounding can complicate India’s push for defense self-reliance as the Air Force prepares for a critical review of the MK-1A program in April, emphasizing that delivery speed cannot come at the cost of core operational capability.

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy. Her research interests lie in strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She aspires to engage in work that links research insights to policy outcomes.