India-China Relations

China Offers to Mediate India-Pakistan Tensions, Reaffirms Neutrality Amid Conflict Concerns

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its willingness to maintain communication with both India and Pakistan, offering to play a constructive role in achieving a full ceasefire and ensuring regional stability. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks during a press briefing, responding to questions about Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Beijing, his first since the recent military tensions with India. Mao reiterated China’s neutral stance, calling on both countries to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. On reports of China providing military or satellite support to Pakistan during the conflict, Mao deferred the queries to relevant authorities and denied any confirmed arms shipments. Dar is also expected to update Chinese officials on Pakistan’s response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Click here to read...

India Stresses 'Mutual Trust and Sensitivity' in China Ties Amid Reports of Support to Pakistan

India underscored the importance of “mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity” as the basis of its relationship with China, amid reports that Chinese military support was used by Pakistan during recent clashes following India’s Operation Sindoor. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a press briefing, noted that China is aware of India’s concerns and highlighted NSA Ajit Doval’s conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 10, the day both India and Pakistan agreed to halt military action.
Jaiswal also addressed Türkiye’s alleged involvement in the conflict, stating that Ankara should push Islamabad to end its support for cross-border terrorism. He confirmed that Turkish-made drones were used by Pakistan and that additional supplies were possibly made during the clashes. On the domestic front, the security clearance for Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services was revoked. Click here to read...

Geopolitical and Diplomatic Developments

Pakistan, China Pledge Deeper Trade Ties and Regional Coordination Post-Ceasefire

Pakistan and China agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and industrialization during Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing, days after Pakistan’s ceasefire with India following a deadly conflict. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed support for resolving India-Pakistan tensions through dialogue and emphasized China’s backing for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The two sides also committed to maintaining close diplomatic communication. In a separate trilateral meeting with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Pakistan and China agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan and strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. The next trilateral dialogue will be held in Kabul. Click here to read...

China Invites U.S. Firms to Deepen Economic Cooperation Amid Trade Talks Progress

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng welcomed continued engagement from U.S.-funded enterprises, emphasizing the importance of deepening mutually beneficial cooperation to support stable and sustainable China-U.S. economic relations. The remarks were made during a meeting in Beijing with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.
He highlighted recent substantive progress in China-U.S. economic and trade talks, which has created favourable conditions for further collaboration. He also reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding high-level opening-up and developing a unified national market. Dimon expressed optimism about the bilateral dialogue outcomes and confirmed JPMorgan’s intent to deepen involvement in China’s capital market and support cross-border business operations. Click here to read...

Military and Security Updates

PLA Reports Close Helicopter Encounters with Foreign Aircraft Over East China Sea

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has reported 11 close encounters between its helicopter units and a foreign military’s aircraft over the East China Sea within a span of 10 days, according to state broadcaster CCTV. In some instances, the aircraft came as close as 10 metres.
The report did not disclose the identity of the foreign military or specific locations of the encounters. The Chinese helicopter involved was piloted by Wang Ling from the PLA Ground Force aviation corps under the Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for operations in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait. The PLA described the incidents as “provocations by a foreign force.” Click here to read...

China’s Advanced Fujian Aircraft Carrier Completes Eighth Sea Trial Amid Stealth Jet Tests

China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has completed its eighth and reportedly “intensive” sea trial, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The trial included test flights by J-35 stealth fighters, although it remains unclear whether the jets were launched from the carrier’s electromagnetic catapult system.
The Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier and the first equipped with high-tech catapults, departed from Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, prompting local maritime authorities to issue traffic control alerts near the Yangtze River. State media emphasized the Fujian’s potential to significantly boost the PLA Navy’s offshore defense and long-range operational capabilities once commissioned. Signs from previous trials, including visible tyre marks, suggest aircraft may have performed "touch-and-go" landings on the vessel. Click here to read...

Economic and Trade Trends

China and ASEAN Conclude CAFTA 3.0 Negotiations, Paving Way for Enhanced Trade Integration

China and the ten ASEAN member states have officially concluded negotiations on the Version 3.0 upgrade of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), marking a major milestone in regional economic cooperation. The announcement was made during a special online meeting of economic and trade ministers, with both sides aiming to formally sign the protocol by the end of 2025.
CAFTA 3.0 introduces nine new chapters covering areas such as the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity, aiming to deepen economic integration and improve industrial collaboration between China and ASEAN. The agreement is expected to enhance cross-border trade, improve digital infrastructure, and support small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Ministry of Commerce highlighted that CAFTA 3.0 represents China’s most expansive trade agreement to date, reinforcing its commitment to openness and multilateralism. Trade between China and ASEAN reached 2.38 trillion yuan in the first four months of 2025, up 9.2% from the previous year, with both parties maintaining their status as each other’s largest trading partner. Click here to read...

China Grants Market Access to Bulgarian Saffron and Croatian Tuna Amid Growing CEEC Trade

China has approved the import of Bulgarian saffron and Croatian tuna, expanding the range of agricultural and food products from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) available to Chinese consumers. The announcement was made during the opening of the fourth China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
According to the General Administration of Customs, 126 CEEC-origin products have now received market access. Recent improvements in approval and customs procedures have enabled smoother entry for CEEC goods such as Polish amber beer and Latvian canned fish. China-CEEC trade reached 142.27 billion USD in 2024, marking a 6.3% annual increase and outpacing China’s overall trade growth. Click here to read...

Technology and Innovation

Chinese Study Finds Ancestor of Animals and Plants Survived on Hydrogen, Not Oxygen

A Chinese research team has discovered that the last common ancestor of all eukaryotic life, cells with a nucleus, including animals and plants, likely metabolized hydrogen rather than oxygen. According to findings published in the journal Nature, this ancestral cell existed approximately 2.72 billion years ago, predating the Earth's Great Oxidation Event.
The study offers new insights into the origin of complex life on Earth, suggesting early eukaryotes evolved in an oxygen-deficient environment. Researchers believe these findings could advance our understanding of life’s development both on Earth and in extraterrestrial conditions. Click here to read...

China Conducts World’s First 5G Satellite-to-Phone Video Call, Raising Global Tech Policy Questions

Chinese scientists have successfully conducted the world’s first 5G satellite-to-smartphone broadband video call, marking a significant milestone in telecommunications. The test was carried out using a demonstration satellite operated by China Satellite Network Group (China SatNet), which is developing the 13,000-satellite Guowang internet constellation to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
The breakthrough could enable direct video content streaming to smartphones via satellites. However, experts caution that the technology faces substantial regulatory, technical, and operational hurdles before becoming commercially viable. The development has also sparked renewed debate over the effectiveness of U.S. restrictions on Chinese apps like TikTok amid rapidly advancing satellite communication capabilities. Click here to read...

New Microbial Species Discovered Aboard China’s Space Station

Chinese researchers have identified a previously unknown microbial species, Niallia tiangongensis, aboard China’s space station, marking the first such discovery in orbit. Announced by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the species was detected in surface samples collected by the Shenzhou-15 crew in May 2023 and confirmed through genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and metabolic profiling.
The microorganism demonstrates strong adaptability to the space environment, showing resistance to radiation, oxidative stress, and extreme conditions. Its ability to form biofilms and repair cellular damage suggests potential applications in aerospace, agriculture, healthcare, and industrial biotechnology. The findings were published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Click here to read...

Internal Politics and Policy Shifts

Mainland Rejects Taiwan Leader Lai’s Call for Dialogue, Labels It a “Hypocritical Gesture”

The Chinese mainland has strongly criticized Taiwan leader Lai Ching te’s recent proposal for cross-Strait dialogue “on equal terms,” calling it a “hypocritical gesture” rooted in separatist intent. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated that meaningful dialogue is only possible if both sides acknowledge the one-China principle.
Chen accused Lai of promoting a “two states” theory, inciting confrontation, exaggerating a “mainland threat,” and pushing economic decoupling from the mainland. He emphasized that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to national reunification, the 1992 Consensus, and opposition to all forms of separatism and foreign interference. The mainland reiterated willingness to engage with any political entities in Taiwan under the one-China framework. Click here to read...

Forest Rangers Safeguard Biodiversity in China’s Greater Khingan Mountains

Forest rangers in Zhalantun City, Inner Mongolia, are playing a key role in preserving biodiversity on the southern slopes of the Greater Khingan Mountains. At forest farms such as Baimaogou and Chaihekou, rangers patrol protected habitats of rare species like the Amur Cork-tree and monitor wildlife including roe deer and lynxes.
Led by experienced rangers like Cao Haihong, teams use both traditional knowledge and modern tools like drones and infrared cameras to survey forests, prevent wildfires, and document ecological changes. These efforts have helped restore biodiversity following past deforestation. The region now shelters nine nationally protected first-class animal species and 17 second-class species, along with a wide variety of rare plants. The Chaihe Forestry Bureau continues to lead long-term conservation efforts across this vital ecological corridor. Click here to read...

China Warns Public of Espionage Threats from Foreign Agents Disguised as Tourists, Scholars, and Businessmen

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) issued a public advisory warning of espionage risks posed by foreign spies operating under false identities such as detectives, scholars, tourists, journalists, and NGO workers. The MSS outlined various tactics used by foreign intelligence agencies to access sensitive national security information, including posing as consultants or academic collaborators to gather data on military sites and high-tech sectors.
The ministry cautioned citizens against engaging in suspicious part-time work involving photography or verification of sensitive locations and emphasized the risks of unauthorized information sharing during academic exchanges. Additional threats highlighted include espionage through romantic relationships with Chinese students abroad and covert operations disguised as tourism or investment initiatives.
The MSS stressed the need for vigilance as China continues to expand its international engagement. Experts underscored the importance of strengthening legal and institutional safeguards to balance openness with national security. Click here to read...

Key Readings & Reports

Book from the People's Liberation Army Conference - The PLA in a Complex Security Environment: Preparing for High Winds and Choppy Waters

A newly released book titled The PLA in a Complex Security Environment: Preparing for High Winds and Choppy Waters compiles research presented at the 2023 People’s Liberation Army Conference, jointly organized by the National Bureau of Asian Research, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s China Strategic Focus Group, and the Miller Center of Public Affairs.
The volume examines China’s evolving assessment of its security environment and how this shapes the People’s Liberation Army’s strategic posture, modernization efforts, and regional ambitions. Topics include the PLA’s transition to a war-oriented mobilization system, implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, PLA capabilities in key theatres such as the Taiwan Strait and Southeast Asia, and China’s growing security interests in the Pacific Islands. Contributions from leading experts also assess party-army relations, national defense policy, and strategic lessons influencing China’s military planning through 2049 and beyond. Click here to read...

Survey Highlights Strong Public Support for SCO’s Role in Global Governance and Cooperation with China

A joint survey released by the International News Department of the People’s Daily and the Global Times Institute during the 2025 SCO Media Cooperation Forum in Urumqi revealed widespread public recognition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) contributions to global governance. Conducted across ten SCO member states, the survey gathered 5,719 responses in 11 languages, showing that over 80% of respondents viewed the SCO as a positive force in promoting international cooperation, development, and security.
Ninety-five percent of participants acknowledged the tangible benefits of partnering with China, particularly in trade, infrastructure, agriculture, and technological cooperation. Anticipation was also high for future collaboration in areas such as 5G, AI, energy, and digital economy. Over 90% supported deepening security cooperation, especially in counter-terrorism, data protection, and combating drug trafficking.
Cultural exchange remains a key pillar of SCO cooperation, with strong interest in youth exchanges, vocational training, and tourism initiatives. The survey reflected growing public desire for SCO-led solutions to regional and global challenges, with China emerging as the most favoured destination and cooperation partner among member states. Click here to read...