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NEWS IN CHINA

• CPC Politburo Reviews Ideological Work, National Unity Law Draft: The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chaired by General Secretary Xi Jinping, convened on August 29 in Beijing to deliberate two major policy documents, the Regulations on Ideological and Political Work of the Communist Party of China and the draft Law on Promoting National Unity and Progress. The Politburo stressed that ideological and political work remains a defining strength of the Party and crucial for unifying thinking, building consensus, and strengthening national confidence. The new regulations aim to institutionalize and standardize ideological guidance, while ensuring Xi Jinping Thought continues to shape education, publicity, and governance practices. Leading cadres were urged to take the lead in ideological work and foster innovation in adapting it to evolving social conditions. On ethnic policy, the draft law seeks to codify the Party’s achievements in ethnic affairs into national legislation, enhancing institutional mechanisms for forging a strong sense of community among all ethnic groups. The meeting also addressed safety production and disaster prevention, urging all regions to prioritize people’s lives, improve risk management, and coordinate high quality development with strict safety standards.
  
  

• China Warns US and Japan Against Missile Deployment in Asia: At a press briefing on August 29, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun strongly opposed reports that the United States plans to deploy its Tiyuho (Tsutsumi) intermediate-range missile system in Japan during joint exercises in September. Although the system is expected to be withdrawn after the drills, Beijing expressed “serious concerns,” calling the move a direct threat to regional strategic security. Guo emphasized that such deployments undermine the legitimate security interests of neighboring countries and could destabilize Asia’s security balance. He urged Washington and Tokyo to respect the concerns of regional nations, refrain from stationing the missile system, and instead contribute constructively to peace and stability. The spokesperson also highlighted Japan’s historical legacy of militarist aggression, noting that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Guo urged Japan to reflect on its past, act prudently in military matters, and avoid steps that could erode regional trust. He further called on the US to “learn from history” and redirect resources toward cooperation rather than confrontation.
  
  

• Xi Jinping Stresses Strict Implementation of Eight-Point Regulations to Strengthen Party Discipline: Xi Jinping, issued an important directive underscoring the need to persevere in implementing the Party’s Eight-Point Regulations and ensure long-term effectiveness in improving work style. He emphasized that the Party’s image and credibility directly impact public support and its ability to fulfill historic missions. Xi highlighted that recent education campaigns on the regulations achieved notable results by combining study, investigation, and rectification. However, he cautioned that the “Four Undesirable Work Styles” formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance remain persistent and must be addressed with determination akin to a protracted battle. Special focus should be placed on young and newly promoted cadres, with stricter supervision, rectification mechanisms, and firm accountability. At a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Party Building, led by Cai Qi and attended by Li Xi, officials were urged to consolidate campaign outcomes, strengthen oversight, and deepen the fight against corruption. The meeting reaffirmed Xi’s call for Party members to embody discipline, responsibility, and service to the people.
  
  

• China’s Economic Planner Rolls Out New Measures to Boost Consumption: China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Friday announced a package of measures aimed at stimulating consumption and sustaining economic momentum, even as July data showed mixed trends. Retail sales of consumer goods rose 3.7% year-on-year in July, while combined goods and services sales grew nearly 5% in the first seven months of 2025. NDRC spokesperson Li Chao emphasized that while China is already the world’s largest physical consumption market, there remains vast untapped potential in per capita spending, particularly in services. To unlock this, the commission outlined three key initiatives. First, enhancing employability and income security through large-scale vocational training programs, especially targeting college graduates and migrant workers, along with improving minimum wage adjustment mechanisms. Second, expanding high-quality supply, including trade-in policies, new initiatives in digital and AI-driven consumption, and differentiated support for service sectors such as cultural tourism, sports, and camping. Third, improving the consumer environment by fostering reliable service brands and promoting family- and elderly-friendly consumption models. Officials stressed that these measures will reinforce market vitality and support stable, long-term growth.
  
  
  
• China Launches Crackdown on Misuse of Veterans’ Identity Online: The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has launched a month-long special campaign to curb inappropriate online behavior and harmful content involving veterans. Running from late August until the end of September 2025, the initiative aims to protect the image of retired military personnel and create a respectful online atmosphere ahead of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War. The campaign targets online accounts that exploit veterans’ identities for profit, including livestreaming sales of counterfeit goods, vulgar performances in military attire, and spreading misleading content under the guise of military expertise. Ten categories of misconduct have been identified, ranging from fabricating veteran personas with fake uniforms and medals to online fraud, rumor-mongering, AI-generated fake images, and false policy consultations. Authorities stressed that veterans are a valuable asset to the Party and nation. Local internet regulators are tasked with urging platforms to fulfill their responsibilities, strengthen supervision, and swiftly remove harmful content to safeguard veterans’ dignity online.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Taizhou Sanmen’s Joint Service Fair Brings Anti-Drug Awareness to Residents: In Jiantiao Town, Sanmen County of Taizhou, a unique multi-department joint service fair recently drew strong community participation. Organized under the theme “Gathering Strength and Benefiting the People’s Livelihood,” the event brought together the Jiantiao Town Social Organization Service Center, the Auxiliary Service Station, and several government departments to provide residents with practical, doorstep services. The anti-drug awareness zone became the highlight. Staff members used real-life cases to explain the harmful impact of drugs, from traditional narcotics to disguised new substances. They demonstrated how to spot hidden risks and offered preventive measures. Residents crowded around the displays, many photographing the materials and vowing to share the knowledge with their families. “It’s important that the whole family stays alert,” one participant remarked. On Weibo, the hashtag #Taizhou Sanmen Multi-department Joint Service Fair to Deliver Services and Talk about Drug Control# quickly gained traction. Netizens praised the initiative as “practical and heartwarming,” with many urging for similar grassroots campaigns nationwide. Some users highlighted that such face-to-face education is more effective than online lectures, making the event a model for community-driven safety efforts.

INDIA WATCH

Modi’s Japan-First Strategy Before SCO Summit Highlighted by Guancha: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to visit Japan on August 29–30 before heading to China for the SCO Tianjin Summit (August 31–September 1) has stirred debate in Chinese media. Guancha, citing analysis from Yao Yuanmei of East China Normal University, described Modi’s itinerary as “special” and worth close observation. Yao highlighted three unusual aspects: the late announcement of Modi’s attendance, his Japan-first approach, and his avoidance of the September 3rd military parade in Beijing a move contrasted with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s participation. Chinese commentators see this sequence as more than scheduling; it hints at India’s balancing act between strategic partnerships with Japan and managing strained ties with China. Guancha stressed that Modi’s timing also came against the backdrop of US tariff pressure, suggesting India seeks leverage through closer engagement with both China and Japan. However, the visit underscores New Delhi’s multi-alignment strategy strengthening its “special strategic partnership” with Tokyo while cautiously re-engaging Beijing, without compromising its border-related positions. The outcome may shape the trajectory of Sino-Indian ties in the near term.

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.