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NEWS IN CHINA

• Shanghai Unveils Six Measures to Ease Housing Purchase Restrictions: Shanghai has rolled out a real estate policy adjustment with its newly announced “Six Measures” effective from August 26, 2025. The policy aims to expand housing access and ease financial burdens for buyers. The policy removes purchase restrictions for eligible families outside the city’s Outer Ring Road, allowing both Shanghai and non-Shanghai residents, who have contributed to social insurance or income tax for at least one year, to buy homes without limits in those areas. Within the Outer Ring Road, however, Shanghai families can buy up to two homes, while non-Shanghai residents with at least three years of tax or social security records are limited to one. Housing provident fund policies were also enhanced. Loan limits have been raised, with the first-home ceiling lifted from 1.6 million yuan to 1.84 million yuan, and further increases for families with multiple children. Buyers of green-certified buildings enjoy an additional 15% boost. Crucially, provident funds can now be withdrawn for down payments, and mortgage interest rates will no longer differentiate between first and second homes.
  
  
• Wang Yi Reaffirms China-South Korea Partnership: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met South Korean President’s special envoy Park Byeong-seug in Beijing, highlighting the need to consolidate friendship and expand shared interests as the two nations marked the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic ties. Wang recalled that Xi Jinping and Lee Jae-myung had recently reached key consensus on strengthening the strategic cooperative partnership, setting the direction for future relations. He stressed that good-neighborliness, managing differences, and boosting cooperation remain the right path for both countries. Wang also linked the anniversary to broader history, noting 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the liberation of the Korean Peninsula. He highlightedChina welcomes Seoul’s participation in commemorations and urged both sides to uphold free trade, oppose protectionism, and strengthen cooperation in the UN. Park conveyed a personal letter from Lee, reaffirming South Korea’s respect for the one-China principle and its readiness to expand high-level exchanges, youth and education ties, and practical cooperation to bring relations back on track.
  
  
• Chinese Political Advisors Mobilize to Shape 15th Five-Year Plan: The Standing Committee of the 14th CPPCC National Committee opened its 13th session, where top political advisors were urged to actively contribute ideas for drafting China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning, who presided over the meeting, highlighted that the 2026–2030 period will be pivotal for consolidating the nation’s development base and accelerating efforts toward the goal of “basically realizing socialist modernization.” Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang underlined the significant progress made under the ongoing 14th Five-Year Plan, citing advancements in economic strength, scientific and technological innovation, and overall national capabilities. He stressed that the upcoming plan must be drafted through rigorous research, analysis, and broad consultation to ensure it reflects both practical needs and long-term strategies. Ding further emphasized that the 15th Five-Year Plan should set realistic but ambitious goals, outline major strategic initiatives and provide concrete steps to drive decisive progress in China’s modernization journey.
  
  
• Zhao Leji Urges Stronger China-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation: China’s top legislator Zhao Leji called for deepening parliamentary cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, underscoring its role in advancing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. Hosting the 10th meeting of the China-Russia Committee for Parliamentary Cooperation, Zhao stressed that the partnership, under the guidance of both heads of state, has maintained “healthy, stable, and high-level” momentum. Marking the 20th anniversary of the parliamentary cooperation mechanism, Zhao emphasized the need to fully leverage platforms to enhance legislative exchanges, mutual learning in governance, and joint efforts in legislation and supervision. He urged both sides to consolidate political trust, expand cooperation formats, and coordinate closely within multilateral frameworks to safeguard WWII outcomes, defend a UN-centered international system, and promote true multilateralism. Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin echoed Zhao’s views, reaffirming Russia’s willingness to strengthen exchanges, improve business cooperation, deepen cultural ties, and uphold a correct historical narrative of WWII. Both sides framed parliamentary dialogue as essential to supporting national development goals and global stability.
  
  
• China Unveils 15 Financial Measures to Boost High-Quality Forestry Development: The People’s Bank of China, together with the State Administration of Financial Supervision and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, has released a joint notice outlining 15 measures to strengthen financial support for forestry development. The initiative focuses on five areas: advancing the collective forest rights reform, supporting major ecological strategies, enhancing financing for forestry industries, creating mechanisms to realize ecological product value, and improving policy guarantees. Key steps include expanding the scope of forest rights eligible for mortgages, extending loan terms, and encouraging the establishment of forest rights collection and storage institutions. Local governments are urged to optimize forest rights valuation and build databases and trading platforms to facilitate transactions. Financing channels will be widened to support national reserve forest construction, the “Three Norths” project, and the growth of forest-based industries, including raw material processing, cold chain logistics, and ecological product development. The notice also emphasized innovation in forest insurance products, establishing risk management systems for forest rights loans, and building consultation mechanisms to ensure collaboration across regions. 

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Debate Over Lu Xun’s Smoking Mural Sparks Heated Reactions Online: A mural depicting Lu Xun smoking at his hometown scenic area in Shaoxing has ignited controversy on Chinese social media. The debate began when a woman surnamed Sun posted online that the wall painting misleads young people by normalizing smoking, demanding it to be replaced. The post quickly went viral, picked up by multiple media outlets, and triggered a flood of responses. The scenic area authorities responded firmly, stating the mural created in a woodcut style has been part of the site for 22 years and embodies Lu Xun’s cultural and artistic legacy. Officials emphasized they will not alter it lightly, as over a hundred citizens contacted the “12345 Mayor’s Hotline” urging protection of the historical image. On Weibo, the hashtags #ScenicAreaResponseToLuXunCigaretteWallPainting and #MuseumSaysLuXunImageWillNotBeChangedEasily trended, drawing millions of views. Many netizens defended the mural, arguing that erasing such details distorts history, while others echoed concerns about its influence on young people. The debate reflects China’s broader tension between cultural preservation and evolving social values.

INDIA WATCH

Jaishankar Rejects ‘Black-and-White’ View of India-China Ties Amid US Tensions, Guancha Reports: The Chinese media outlet Guancha reported that Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar dismissed claims that India’s recent engagement with China is a byproduct of worsening ties with the United States. Speaking at an Economic Times forum on August 23, Jaishankar said it was a wrong analysis to suggest that the tariff war with Washington is pushing New Delhi closer to Beijing. Guancha quoted Jaishankar as saying: “India-China relations are not black and white… they evolve over long timelines, not as reactions to a single event.” The outlet highlighted his remarks as a clear attempt to de-link India’s China policy from US pressure, portraying India as an assertive actor with independent strategic choices. The report emphasized Jaishankar’s firm rejection of what he described as Western inconsistent narratives, particularly regarding India’s purchase of Russian oil, while underscoring his criticism of US tariffs as unfair and unreasonable. According to Guancha, Jaishankar’s stance signaled both defiance and balance: India will not compromise farmers’ and small producers’ interests in trade talks with Washington, while cautiously normalizing ties with Beijing through resumed visas, relaxed trade curbs, and the potential restoration of direct flights.

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.