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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. Photo: VCG

About 10 min read.

Beijing Rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan Remarks as Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge, Diaoyu Patrols Advance Integration

On 4 December, Beijing rejected Japanese PM Takaichi’s “evasive” Taiwan comments, emphasizing respect for China’s sovereignty. While Tokyo uses ambiguous rhetoric, China advanced cross-strait integration with concrete steps: completing the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge main tower on 1 December and strengthening Diaoyu maritime patrols on 2 December. These actions underscore Beijing’s steady commitment to regional stability, contrasting with external factors contributing to tension.

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Beijing’s US $100 Million Gaza Aid vs. US $179 Billion US Military Support Used in Genocide Against Palestinians

Following 14 months of conflict in Gaza, which has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children, and displaced 1.9 million, President Xi announced US $100 million for reconstruction on 4 December. The humanitarian pledge contrasts sharply with US $179 billion in military aid to Israel since October 2023, which has supported actions criticized as genocidal against Palestinians. China has reaffirmed its steadfast support for Venezuela and condemned Washington’s repeated violations of international law.

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Hong Kong Fire Kills 159, Exposes Building Safety Gaps Under One Country, Two Systems

A deadly blaze at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court on 26 November claimed 159 lives and injured 79. Flames spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding covered with non-compliant netting, revealing enforcement failures and complex subcontracting issues. Authorities have arrested 21 people on charges including corruption and manslaughter. While mainland China banned such scaffolding in 2022, Hong Kong’s codes still permit it in most projects, prompting Beijing to launch nationwide inspections of high-rise buildings.

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Third Arms Control White Paper Reaffirms No-First-Use Policy as Global Nuclear Arsenal Reaches 12,241 Warheads

Twenty years after its 2005 policy document, Beijing on 27 November presented its third arms control white paper, describing a “just, cooperative, balanced, and effective” strategic vision for international military restraint. The statement confirms China’s no-first-use commitments and addresses emerging security domains including outer space, cyberspace, and AI. As the New START Treaty approaches its February 2026 expiration without replacement, the US and Russia continue to expand their arsenals, holding 90% of the 12,241 global nuclear warheads, showing the need for multilateral restraint amid weakening bilateral frameworks.

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China’s Manufacturing PMI Rises to 49.2 in November, Showing Improvement Amid Global Manufacturing Weakness in US, Japan, Europe

China’s manufacturing activity in November rose 0.2 points to 49.2, staying below the 50-expansion mark for the eighth consecutive month. High-tech manufacturing remained steady at 50.1, while small enterprises saw a 2-point jump to 49.1, a six-month high. Business confidence climbed to 53.1, but output in the US (48.4), Japan (48.8), and parts of Europe continued to fall, showing the ongoing challenges facing global manufacturing and the success of China’s targeted policies.

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Baidu Unveils Five-Year AI Chip Roadmap as China Surpasses US in Open-Source Model Downloads

Chinese open-source AI models captured 17.1% of global downloads in 2025, overtaking US models at 15.8% for the first time, led by DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen. Meanwhile, Baidu announced a five-year chip roadmap targeting Nvidia alternatives with M100 (2026) and M300 (2027) models, securing over 1 billion yuan (US $139 million) from China Mobile’s procurement as the country accelerates AI chip self-sufficiency amid ongoing US export restrictions.

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Ecosystem-Based Conservation in China Shows Greater Success Than Single-Species Programs

Environmental assessments released on 28 November show that China’s ecosystem-focused nature reserves achieved what single-species programs could not: over 90% of sites reported population growth for key species. Populations of Yangtze finless porpoises rose from 192 to 269, while Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys increased from 1,471 to 1,618. These findings align with Shi Haitao’s team December 2 PLOS Biology analysis, which argues that protecting entire ecosystems is more effective than isolated breeding efforts for species like giant salamanders, crested ibis, and Père David’s deer.

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Cun Chao (Village Super League) Expands to 100 Cities in 2026, Integrating Grassroots Football with Digital Agriculture Training for Rural Development

Guizhou’s 2025 tournament drew 683 teams and 2.41 million spectators across 36 zones. On 28 November, organizers announced an expansion to 100 cities in 2026 under a “1+20+100” cooperative model, linking grassroots football with government-led training programs teaching livestreaming and e-commerce skills to rural residents. The initiative reflects the “new three agriculture” approach – smartphones as farming tools, livestreaming as farming activity, and data as an agricultural resource – contributing to Rongjiang County’s 19.08 billion yuan (US $2.740 billion) tourism revenue since 2023.

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Chinese Academy Leads Global Research Rankings for Third Year as Six Cities Dominate Top 10 Science Positions

Three international rankings released in late 2025 confirm China’s research transformation. The Chinese Academy recorded 258 highly cited scientists, leading global institutions for the third consecutive year. Beijing retained its status as a top science city for the ninth year, while the Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou cluster ranked first among innovation hubs. Overall, six Chinese cities occupy six of the top ten science positions, reflecting a shift from quantity-focused growth to systematic scientific leadership, driven by decades of sustained investment in research, output, and commercialization capacity.

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China Ends 31-Year Age Barrier in Civil Service Recruitment, Raising Eligibility From 35 to 38 Years Amid Record Applications

On 30 November, approximately 2.83 million candidates sat for the national civil service examination – the most competitive in history with a 74:1 ratio – in the first test since October’s reform ended the 1994-established age ceiling; raising the limit from 35 to 38 years (43 for advanced degrees) addresses workforce aging, aligns with delayed retirement, and strengthens meritocratic governance by allowing experienced professionals previously affected by the “curse of 35” to compete.

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Food Safety Law Amendment Introduces Mandatory Transport Licensing with Penalties up to US $71,400

Effective 1 December, China’s National People’s Congress amended the Food Safety Law, requiring mandatory licensing for bulk liquid food transport and registration management for infant formula liquid milk. Unlicensed operations now face fines ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan (US $7,100 to $71,400). The reform converts previous voluntary industry guidelines into enforceable requirements, targeting contamination risks highlighted by the July 2024 tanker scandal, when trucks carried chemicals and edible oils without proper cleaning.

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