Stories from China

Law enforcement officials in China have launched an investigation into a business suspected of producing and selling substandard children's cosmetics through e-commerce platforms and showrooms. Authorities seized 403 pieces of non-compliant products and ordered an immediate recall of all problematic items.

Ten Chinese departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration, issued the 'Measures for the Review of Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology Ethics and Services (Trial)'.

The 2026 Emeishan Yueye Challenge concluded yesterday in Leshan, Sichuan province. The event drew over 8,000 participants from 15 countries and regions.

China's National Development and Reform Commission has issued a decision to prohibit the foreign acquisition of the Minus project. The deal involved the transfer of core technology, code, data, and a complete research and development team. A joint security review by the Ministry of Commerce and the NDRC was initiated in early 2026 to investigate technology exports and cross-border data transfers. This follows a December 2025 announcement where US tech giant MATA agreed to acquire Manas for approximately $2 billion. Chinese regulators have blocked Meta's acquisition of the AI startup Manus. MENUS is described as the world's first general-purpose AI agent developed by a Chinese team. China continues to accelerate innovation through expanded digital infrastructure and clinical research capabilities.

The Palace Museum in Beijing is displaying Northern Song Dynasty Guan ware celadon ceramics. One specific piece, a primary vessel, is noted for its simple and solemn style used in Song imperial court settings. Only approximately ten such pieces are known to exist worldwide. The collection highlights the Song Dynasty's mastery of using subtle colors and shapes to create aesthetic value. An exhibition features Chinese porcelain, including items from the Qing Dynasty and the Puntsky period.

The Chinese national team secured a victory against Australia in their opening match of the tournament. The team's performance indicates strong potential for advancing in the tournament.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the United States is attempting to stifle Chinese companies through extreme pressure. China's Ministry of Commerce criticized a draft European Union law designed to strengthen strategic industrial sectors including batteries, electric vehicles, photovoltaics, and key raw materials. Beijing stated the draft contains serious investment obstacles and institutional discrimination. The law aims to bolster strategic industries within the European Union. Industrial firm profits in China rose 15.8 percent in March compared to the previous year. This follows a 15.2 percent increase recorded during the January-February period. The growth indicates signs of economic recovery in the first quarter despite Middle East war impacts. The data specifically covers firms with annual revenues of at least 20 million yuan from main operations.

Archaeologists have confirmed that most celadon ceramics from the Late Five Dynasties period originated from the Shanglin Lake area. This discovery follows the identification of a specific celadon artifact as a standard for the era. The findings provide new evidence for the origin of these historical ceramics. Research indicates that the majority of Five Dynasties period Mise celadon ceramics were produced in the Shanglin Lake area. The findings suggest that these jade-like ceramics were a primary product of that specific location. The study utilizes patterns and textures found in historical pottery to establish this connection. The findings suggest that celadon remained a mainstream production type during the Song Dynasty. These pieces frequently utilized incised patterns to break monotony rather than colorful coatings.

Enshizhou Yuezhong International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. has been penalized for violating tour contract terms. The agency failed to provide written or oral warnings regarding all scheduled shopping locations within the itinerary. Additionally, the agency unilaterally added unauthorized shopping stops and significantly extended time spent at these locations without traveler consent. These actions occurred despite existing agreements with travelers. Authorities are specifically targeting travel agencies involved in forced shopping and are increasing monitoring of social media and travel platforms for consumer reports.

Chinese authorities are implementing policies to reduce travel costs and encourage tourism through regional discount packages. Officials are specifically targeting travel agencies involved in forced shopping practices to protect consumer rights ahead of the May Day holiday.