Stories from China

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a stern protest against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for offering tributes to the Yasukuni Shrine. Beijing condemned the move, stating the shrine serves as a symbol of Japanese militarism. Demonstrators in China have criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's actions, alleging they deny Japan's history of aggression.

Police in Shanghai have dismantled a major fraud syndicate that utilized automated software to defraud victims. Scalpers instruct patients to request maximum allowable quantities from doctors to maximize profit. Deputy Captain Yu Zemin of the Shanghai Public Security Administration Police Fifth Detachment provided details on the scheme. Officers identified a scheme where intermediaries instructed patients to request maximum prescriptions for emergency medications from doctors. These individuals then sold the excess supplies to drug dealers and beggars in the Baoshan, Putuo, and Pudong districts of Shanghai. Yu Zemin, a deputy captain of the 5th Brigade, 1st Detachment of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Administration, confirmed the crackdown.

Germany's economy chief is scheduled to make an inaugural trip to China to discuss bilateral trade relations. The meeting marks the second leg of Wong's East Asia tour. The two officials will co-chair the eighth round of the China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. China's Foreign Ministry stated the talks will cover bilateral relations and regional and global issues of common concern. The response followed a visit by 166 members of the Diet, including conservative groups and members of the Sanseito party, on June 28. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed the issue during a regular press conference. The shrine is viewed by China as a spiritual tool of Japanese militarism used to justify aggressive wars. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong indignation and stern condemnation regarding the actions of Japanese conservative groups.

International flight bookings to China have increased by over four times as travelers flock to the country for the Lunar New Year celebrations. This surge highlights the growing global appeal of Chinese cultural festivities. China expects cross-regional passenger flows to reach 1.52 billion people during the upcoming holiday period. China's May Day Cultural Tourism Week will run from late April through the end of the May Day holiday. China's Ministry of Transport announced that cross-regional passenger travel during the upcoming May Day holiday is expected to reach a record high for this period. China expects highway traffic to account for 91.6% of holiday travel, with approximately 64 million vehicles expected on national expressways. China expects 107 million railway passengers and 11.75 million civil aviation passengers during the upcoming May Day holiday.

Reports from the PLA Daily suggest a continued purge of military and political leadership to address 'residual corruption.' This follows the arrest of Zhang Youxia and signals a deepening internal crackdown within the People's Liberation Army.

The 2025 version of the 'Guidelines for the Construction of the Standard System for the Technology Service Industry' has been released in Beijing. This update aims to optimize the layout and development of the technology service sector following a major annual meeting. China's State Administration for Market Regulation has released new mandatory national standards for hazardous substances in indoor decoration and renovation materials.

China's exports of batteries, electric vehicles, and solar products surged to $21.9 billion in March. This represents a significant 70% increase compared to the same period last year. The growth highlights China's expanding dominance in the global green energy supply chain. China's energy storage and virtual power plant infrastructure require megawatt-scale batteries. This demand significantly exceeds the capacity used in electric vehicles, which typically use 80 kilowatt-scale batteries. The scale of grid-related requirements is rapidly absorbing existing battery manufacturing capacity. This shift is impacting the supply chain for domestic automotive manufacturers. Customs data shows China's thermos flask exports reached 5 billion yuan in the first quarter of the year.

Ten Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration, have issued new measures regarding AI technology ethics review and services. The initiative aims to guide long-term capital toward the technology sector through insurance innovation.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has expressed a desire for increased cooperation between China and the United States. This statement comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions and discussions regarding global stability.

China Pacific Insurance's Hubei branch has been penalized by regulators, contributing to a cumulative total of 16 penalties for the company so far this year. This indicates heightened regulatory scrutiny on the insurer's regional operations.