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NEWS IN CHINA 

• China Issues Overall Plan for Inner Mongolia Free Trade Zone: The State Council has released the “Overall Plan for the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone”, marking a major step to deepen reform, expand high-level opening up, and promote high-quality development. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, the plan emphasizes strengthening the sense of community of the Chinese nation and aligning with the goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The plan grants the zone greater autonomy in reform, encouraging pilot projects and innovative explorations. It outlines 19 measures, including innovating border trade, enhancing international logistics, improving the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and expanding international exchanges. The zone will serve as a hub for information exchange, logistics, resource allocation, technology innovation, and industrial cooperation, acting as a bridgehead for China’s northward opening-up. The plan also stresses strengthening Party leadership, ensuring integrity in governance, safeguarding national security, and promoting green development. Relevant authorities are required to build an efficient management system, improve the legal environment, and ensure the effective implementation of all reform tasks. 
  
  
• China, Russia Hold UN Consultations, Reaffirm Support for Multilateralism: Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cai Wei met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alimov Alexander Sergeevitch in Beijing for China-Russia Consultations on United Nations (UN) and Security Council Affairs. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the international situation, UN matters, and regional and global hotspot issues. Both countries agreed to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, and promote political solutions to global challenges. Discussions also covered Security Council reform, the UN80 Initiative marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, elections for non-permanent Security Council members, and the presidency of the 81st General Assembly session. The two sides reviewed regional issues, with a focus on diplomatic solutions regarding Iran and cooperation within the Security Council. They also emphasized that the future UN Secretary-General should remain neutral, adhere to the UN Charter, and build consensus among member states. The consultations followed a recent UN Security Council vote in which China and Russia opposed a draft resolution on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries highlighted the importance of dialogue, balance of interests, and opposition to unilateral pressure and the use of force. 
  
  
• China Urges Restraint and Respect for Lebanon’s Sovereignty: China on Thursday called for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, urging efforts to ease tensions and end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to Israel’s large-scale airstrikes on more than 100 targets in Lebanon within a short period. Following the attacks, Lebanon declared April 9 a national day of mourning, while Iran stated the strikes violated a ceasefire agreement and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Mao emphasized that Lebanon’s sovereignty and security must not be violated, and stressed the importance of protecting civilians’ lives and property. She called on all relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, and work toward de-escalating regional tensions. Reiterating China’s consistent stance, Mao stated that China supports an immediate ceasefire and an end to hostilities. She underscored that disputes should be resolved through political and diplomatic means to achieve long-term peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region. 
  
  
• China Regulators Provided Guidance to Internet Platforms on Price Compliance: The State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Cyberspace Administration of China jointly convened a guidance meeting on price compliance for internet platforms. The meeting aimed to ensure companies implement the “Rules on Price Behavior of Internet Platforms”, which will take effect on April 10, strengthen primary responsibilities, and regulate price competition. Companies were urged to establish robust compliance mechanisms, maintain market stability, and prevent price manipulation. The meeting stressed that platforms must strictly regulate subsidy practices, curb vicious competition, and avoid false or exaggerated claims about subsidies. They must respect operators’ pricing autonomy, prohibit interference in pricing, and refrain from forcing participation in promotions or imposing hidden costs. The guidance also emphasized the importance of adhering to honest business practices, protecting consumer rights, and avoiding false promotions or price fraud. Regulators pledged to strengthen supervision, rectify “involutionary” competition, and safeguard a fair, high-quality market environment. The initiative aims to foster healthy competition and promote a market order characterized by fairness and transparency. 
  
  
• China Delivers Type 056 Corvette to Cambodia, Strengthening Maritime Security:  China has provided Cambodia with a Type 056 corvette, which recently arrived at the Ream Naval Base as part of ongoing military cooperation between the two countries. At a press briefing, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang emphasized that the delivery is part of an existing program and is not directed at any third party. Military expert Zhang Junshe explained that the Type 056 is a light multipurpose combat vessel with a displacement of about 1,500 tons. Designed for coastal patrols and surveillance, it is equipped with advanced missile systems, close-in air defense, anti-ship weaponry, and a naval gun, giving it strong combat capabilities despite its modest size. The vessel also has anti-submarine functions, enhancing Cambodia’s maritime security and rescue capacity. The Ream base also hosts the Cambodia-China Joint Support and Training Center, inaugurated in April 2025. The center has facilitated joint exercises such as “Golden Dragon-2025,” enabling cooperation in training, logistics, and humanitarian operations. With the corvette’s arrival, China-Cambodia defense ties have now expanded from joint drills and training to equipment and technology collaboration. 
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

WeChat Crackdown on AI Content Sparks Debate on Weibo: A post with the hashtag #WeChat Official Accounts Batch Deletion of AI-Written Articles# is going viral on Weibo as reports show that WeChat deleted articles in batches from official accounts for “non-human automated creation behavior”. The incident is widely seen as part of a broader crackdown on AI-generated and automatically published content. In response, WeChat stated that it has always encouraged human-led creation and recently observed a growing reliance on automated tools replacing human input. It reiterated its platform rules, emphasizing that official and service accounts must not use AI, scripts, or other automated methods to fully replace human involvement in content creation and publishing, nor promote such services. Online public reaction centered on confusion and concern regarding the implementation. Many users referenced a recently trending story about individuals earning huge incomes through AI-written content, stating that the crackdown shows such “easy money” models are short-lived and unreliable. Others emphasized that the platform is not banning AI entirely, noting that using AI for polishing, editing, or inspiration remains acceptable. However, several users questioned how WeChat can accurately determine whether content is AI-generated. Others also expressed concern that “evolving AI tools can mimic human writing styles”, increasing the risk of wrongful penalties. 

INDIA WATCH 

Finance Sina Discusses India’s Ambitions and Challenges in AI Expansion: An article published in Finance Sina discussed the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in India and its implications for economic transformation. It noted that AI adoption is accelerating across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance, with projections that India’s AI market could grow sixfold to $45 billion within five years, placing it behind only the United States and China. The article highlighted India’s structural advantages, including its large population, expanding digital infrastructure, multilingual data resources and cost competitiveness. It also pointed to strong policy backing, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has actively encouraged global technology firms to invest and promoted India as a future global AI hub, attracting over $250 billion in pledged investments from multinational and domestic companies. However, the article underscored several structural constraints. It identified power shortages and inadequate grid infrastructure as major obstacles to scaling data centers, alongside water scarcity concerns. It also noted India’s limited high-end computing capacity and reliance on foreign technology, particularly in advanced chips and AI models. Additionally, it stated that low R&D spending and a shortage of highly skilled AI talent remain critical bottlenecks. The article concluded that while AI could drive up to $1.7 trillion in economic growth by 2035, it is simultaneously disrupting India’s traditional IT outsourcing sector, putting millions of jobs at risk, and posing new challenges to economic and social stability.

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.