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NEWS IN CHINA

• Wang Yi Calls for Stable and Constructive China-US Relations: Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing is prepared to work with Washington to carry out the consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders and promote steadier bilateral ties that benefit both nations. During talks in Beijing with a bipartisan delegation of US senators led by Steve Daines, Wang described the visit as symbolically important, noting it was the first such delegation to travel to China since Donald Trump returned to office. He expressed hope that the trip would strengthen communication, expand cooperation, and create new momentum for relations between the two major powers. Wang stressed that China-US ties have a significant impact on global stability and prosperity. He said mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation should remain the guiding principles of engagement between the two sides. The Chinese foreign minister also emphasized the need to reduce misunderstandings and properly manage differences despite the countries’ distinct political systems and development models. He reiterated China’s commitment to peaceful development and urged Washington to approach China objectively, respect its core interests, and work together on issues that contribute positively to global peace and development.
  
  
• China and Uzbekistan Deepen Cooperation at Intergovernmental Committee Meeting: China and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation as Vice Premier Liu Guozhong met Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in Beijing and co‑chaired the eighth meeting of the China–Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. Liu stated that last year’s meetings between the two presidents strengthened the all‑weather comprehensive strategic partnership and guided progress across multiple cooperation areas. He noted that China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to advance the long‑term agenda set by both leaders, enhance the committee’s coordinating role, support each other on core interests, and deepen Belt and Road cooperation. Liu called for broader collaboration in trade, energy, transport, agriculture, science and technology, culture, security and poverty reduction to further enrich the China–Uzbekistan community with a shared future. Aripov described China as a dependable strategic partner and expressed readiness to expand political trust and practical cooperation. He reiterated Uzbekistan’s adherence to the one‑China principle and support for China’s global initiatives. Both sides signed meeting minutes and witnessed agreements in seed development, forestry and poverty reduction.
  
  
• China Reports Strong Growth in Patents and IP Protection Capacity in 2025: China’s intellectual property (IP) landscape continued to expand in 2025, according to the white paper “China’s Intellectual Property Protection Status in 2025” released by the State Intellectual Property Office on May 7. By the end of the year, the country held 6.318 million valid invention patents, marking an 11.1% year‑on‑year increase and reflecting steady improvement in innovation output. The report shows similarly strong growth across other IP categories. Valid registered trademarks reached 53.032 million, up 6.5% from the previous year. Copyright registrations totaled 10.677 million, while recognized geographical indication products climbed to 5,066. Applications for new plant variety rights rose to 17,104, an increase of 15.26%, underscoring rising activity in agricultural innovation. The white paper noted that China’s intellectual property governance has continued to advance, with the protection system strengthened and seven additional national IP protection and rapid rights‑protection centers established, bringing the total to 129. In addition, the overseas IP dispute‑response platform enabled Chinese enterprises to recover 2.75 billion yuan in losses.
  
  
• China Calls for Ceasefire Following Attacks in UAE and Strait of Hormuz: China expressed deep concern over recent strikes on the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, warning against actions that heighten instability. Responding to questions on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing firmly rejects any actions that intensify regional tensions. Lin emphasized that China’s long‑standing position is that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf nations must be respected. He added that civilians and non‑military facilities should be safeguarded. According to Lin, the most urgent task is to secure a comprehensive ceasefire to halt hostilities and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
  
  
• Chinese Authorities Crack Down on Online Rumors as April Sees Surge in False Claims: China saw a spike in online rumors in April 2026, with false claims spreading across public safety, livelihood policies, agriculture, and tourism, distorting public perception and disrupting social order. Rumor‑makers impersonated officials, fabricated policies, and created sensational stories to attract attention or commit fraud. False policy messages, such as the fabricated “2026 comprehensive subsidy," invented rules for seniors’ medical care, and misinterpreted rear‑seat belt requirements, were quickly refuted by authorities. Claims that doctors would stop 24‑hour shifts also misrepresented existing policies, fueling unnecessary anxiety. Agriculture‑related rumors resurfaced during spring plowing, including stories about green wheat being harvested for feed, fake land‑use offers, and AI‑generated claims of “artificial rice production lines” in Hubei. Long‑standing myths like “eels fed birth‑control pills” reappeared, deliberately stirring food‑safety fears. Rumors tied to daily life and tourism, such as fabricated egg‑price hikes, false free‑entry notices, and exaggerated claims about hospital bed vacancies, further misled the public and harmed local reputations. Regulators responded with coordinated enforcement. The Cyberspace Administration strengthened oversight of live‑streaming rewards, the broadcasting regulator removed over 23,000 AI‑altered videos, and public security imposed penalties on individuals behind major falsehoods.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Buzzes Over the Verdict of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu: A post with the hashtag #WeiFengheAndLiShangfuDeathSentencesWithReprieve# is going viral on Weibo following reports that former Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on May 7, 2026. The discussion revisited the June 27, 2024 announcement that both officials had been expelled from the military and the Communist Party, stripped of their rank of general, and transferred to military prosecutors for corruption-related investigations. According to the post, Wei Fenghe was convicted of bribery, while Li Shangfu was convicted of both bribery and offering bribes. Many users described the verdicts as evidence of the government’s continued anti-corruption campaign within the military, particularly targeting issues such as nepotism, opaque procurement practices, and abuse of power. One user stated that the punishments represented a “precise removal of deep-rooted problems in the armed forces.” Another user questioned “who exactly received the bribes,” while some users expressed curiosity over why the official reports did not disclose the amount involved. Several other users speculated that the case could involve “billions of yuan.” Some users remarked that the nearly two-year investigation reflected the seriousness and complexity of the case. A few users described the sentences as “extremely harsh,” while several others voiced strong support for the Party leadership’s decision and anti-corruption efforts.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India-Pakistan Air Battle and Challenges Facing India’s Fighter Modernization: An article in Guancha discussed the May 7, 2025, air battle between India and Pakistan, portraying it as a major setback for India’s airpower modernization efforts and questioning the effectiveness of its advanced fighter acquisitions. The article claimed Pakistan achieved a “6-0” BVR victory, downing multiple Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, and striking an Indian S-400 site. According to the article, India initially denied the losses and claimed that six Pakistani aircraft had been destroyed, but later issued an acknowledgement after photographic evidence and Western confirmation of at least one Rafale loss emerged. It highlighted that India had deployed 72 fighter aircraft during the operation, with Rafales leading the formation as the Indian Air Force’s most advanced platform. The article reviewed India’s long-running MMRCA fighter acquisition program, noting that the Rafale was selected in 2011 over competitors including the F-18, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16, MiG-35, and Gripen. The article argued that India’s original demand for domestic production and French quality guarantees delayed the program, eventually forcing New Delhi to scale back the order to 36 imported aircraft in 2016. It further noted India’s recent order for 26 Rafale naval variants for INS Vikrant and ongoing negotiations for 114 additional Rafales. However, the article suggested that the May 7 engagement raised doubts about whether costly acquisitions alone can compensate for operational gaps and missile 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.