Stories from China

China is currently mirroring United States efforts to regulate artificial intelligence as a strategic asset. The move is driven by national security concerns regarding foreign investment in core strategic sectors. These developments may be subject to upcoming negotiations. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong met with a Belarusian delegation led by the Head of the Presidential Administration, Kirouski, in Beijing on April 27. The leaders discussed implementing consensus reached by their respective heads of state. Discussions focused on mutual support regarding core interests and high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation. The meeting also addressed multilateral coordination to advance China-Belarus relations.

Beijing may maintain leverage over the cross-border flow of MEDA core executives despite the deal being considered a done deal. Potential actions include asking executives not to leave the country or to resign from MEDA. This leverage remains a factor in the transaction, according to Bloomberg Radio. Analysts suggest the deal is not dead but could impact Chinese companies more than American ones due to the rapid evolution of AI technology. Competitors are actively attempting to catch up in the sector. The deal's outcome remains uncertain as technology evolves quickly.

Rumors claiming farmed grouper are fed contraceptives to increase size have circulated in markets since approximately 2000. Speculation continues regarding the use of hormones to increase the size of Huangshan grouper. Artificial cultivation techniques for Huangshan grouper involve managing energy consumption to prioritize growth. After sex reversal, nutrients are concentrated on body mass, resulting in larger farmed fish compared to wild specimens. Wild Huangshan grouper typically weigh between 10 and 20 grams, whereas farmed versions are significantly larger. This size difference has led to consumer confusion and rumors in the market. Improved aquaculture techniques have led to a increase in the yield and physical size of Huangshan Grouper. A quality and safety risk assessment laboratory conducted trials comparing fish fed with contraceptives against a control group.

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 98 kilometers east-southeast of Kuqa, China. The seismic event was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers on April 27, 2026, at 23:05:01 UTC. A 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Kuqa, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, at 3:16 AM. A magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred in the Kuqa region of Xinjiang, China, at 15:20 on April 29.

Chinese manufacturer Galbot, founded in 2023, has developed robots capable of real-time task planning. In pharmacy settings, the robots can receive a command, locate items, and deliver them to a counter in under 90 seconds. The technology allows for autonomous operation without human intervention during the retrieval process. In Beijing, similar robots are being used in grocery stores to greet customers and work alongside human staff.

Authorities are investigating how a construction project in Jilin Province was approved despite occupying basic farmland. The project was intended to cover 1.2375 million square meters with 47,600 square meters of construction focused on rural agriculture and mine gardens. However, a 0 yuan project was filed for the same area in 2019, leading to allegations that the promised development has not materialized after nearly eight years. Fu Wei, the magistrate of Yitong County, admitted that the implementation of an ecological project has been ineffective. The project's progress is reportedly poor and has been linked to several corruption cases. The local government is working to clarify the project's communication and content to avoid confusion caused by continuous construction in the same area.

The Chinese government has intervened to block a technology deal that previously appeared to be finalized. The Financial Times reported that two of the company's founders were barred from leaving China. Metta stated the transaction complied fully with applicable law and expects an appropriate resolution. The company moved to a Southeast Asian country last year. Manus is a Singapore-based company that originated in China and specializes in autonomous AI agents. The company's technology functions in the cloud to perform tasks without user prompting. Manus is a China-founded company now based in Singapore that produces an autonomous AI agent chatbot. Chinese regulators ordered the wind down of the deal despite Manus staff already working in Meta's Singapore offices to integrate AI capabilities.

The Changgye Civil Affairs Bureau issued a rectification notice on December 11, 2024, regarding an ecological project. Local civil affairs departments in Changgye have ordered most enterprises to convert cemetery sites into columbaria by the end of July.

Tech entrepreneur Luo Yonghao has publicly refuted accusations of ingratitude following the departure of four core anchors from East Buy. Luo Yonghao responded to online criticism regarding the departure of core anchors from East Buy, stating the exits were negotiated contract terminations rather than acts of ingratitude. Luo Yonghao issued a public response defending former Dongfang Zhenxuan anchors who left the company via negotiated contract terminations.

Twenty archaeological projects representing findings from 2025 are being presented to industry experts. Additional findings include sites in Henan spanning both the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The announcement was reported by Ding Fei of China National Radio. New archaeological findings at sites including Shanxi Xiyangzhongcun, Henan Zhengzhou Shangcheng, Shanxi Fuping Changchun, Shandong Qingdao Langya, Zhejiang Shaoxing Yue State Capital, and Ningxia Helan Mountains are reshaping understanding of regional civilization origins. Other discoveries include a high-ranking Late Xia dynasty noble wooden burial group and a sample of the Yelang Kingdom's political structure. The list also features the Langya Terrace, which reflects maritime strategy during the Qin and Han dynasties, and remains proving 6,000 years of human habitation in ancient cities.