China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a ban on hidden car door handles for all electric vehicles, effective January 1, 2027. The move, aimed at enhancing crash safety, requires mechanical release mechanisms for all passenger car doors, addressing concerns over emergency egress and rescue.
Dr. Gao Zhonghua, an NIH-funded biomedicine researcher previously at Pennsylvania State University, has taken a full-time research professorship at China's Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology. His move, effective last month, underscores a growing trend of scientific talent returning to China, bolstering the nation's research capabilities in cutting-edge fields like biomedicine and artificial intelligence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi in Beijing on February 3, 2026, to advance their comprehensive strategic partnership. Discussions focused on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, global governance, and fostering an 'equal and orderly multipolar world.' The leaders also oversaw the signing of various cooperation documents during Orsi's seven-day state visit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi in Beijing on February 3, 2026, for talks aimed at deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership. The leaders oversaw the signing of over 10 cooperation documents covering trade, investment, and emerging sectors, reinforcing bilateral ties and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
China is moving to significantly strengthen its cybercrime laws, introducing a draft bill that would impose exit bans of up to three years on citizens convicted of cyber-related offenses after they complete their sentences. This comes alongside recent amendments to the Cybersecurity Law, which took effect on January 1, 2026, dramatically increasing fines for various cybersecurity violations.
An unfinished section of the Yuegang Bridge in Yancheng City, Jiangsu province, eastern China, collapsed on Monday, resulting in the deaths of two workers and leaving three others unaccounted for. Rescue operations are underway at the site of the critical infrastructure project.
China has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing international law enforcement cooperation to combat cross-border telecom fraud, online gambling, and related criminal activities. This initiative targets criminal networks operating primarily in Southeast Asia, with recent crackdowns leading to thousands of arrests and repatriations, and the execution of key syndicate leaders.
Restaurant Brands International (RBI) and Chinese alternative asset manager CPE have completed a joint venture, with CPE investing $350 million. The partnership aims to expand Burger King's network in China from approximately 1,250 to over 4,000 restaurants by 2035, supported by a 20-year master development agreement.
Liang Jie, recognized as North America's leading computer vision scientist, has returned to China to assume a chair professorship at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo. His expertise, including work on Microsoft tech products and sensor systems, is set to significantly enhance the university's burgeoning AI and technology research initiatives.
Medical Corporation Nasukai, supported by Japan's SBC Medical Group, has announced a strategic alliance with Shanghai-based Daibi Medical Aesthetics. The collaboration aims to enhance service quality and brand recognition for Shonan Beauty Clinic in China, leveraging Nasukai's expertise and addressing the growing Chinese medical aesthetics market and cross-border medical tourism.
China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) recently disclosed cases of foreign intelligence operatives infiltrating professional online groups by posing as industry experts or investment advisers. These operatives aimed to extract sensitive information, including key technical data and internal policymaking details, highlighting an evolving landscape of online espionage threats.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on February 1, 2026, reaffirming Moscow's 'consistent and unwavering support' for China's position on Taiwan. Shoigu emphasized adherence to the 'one-China principle' and expressed concern over destabilization in the Taiwan Strait. The meeting underscored the deepening strategic coordination between the two nations.
China is set to implement mandatory artificial intelligence education for all primary and secondary school students from September 1, 2025. The curriculum will feature a tiered approach, requiring at least eight hours of AI instruction annually, aiming to cultivate a generation proficient in AI and bolster the nation's technological prowess.
China is preparing to launch its pioneering solar exploration satellite, Xihe-2, also known as the Lagrange-V Solar Observatory, to the Sun-Earth L5 point between 2028 and 2029. This mission aims to significantly enhance space weather forecasting and solar activity monitoring from a unique gravitational equilibrium point, marking a world-first for a probe at this location.
The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo has reissued a travel advisory for Chinese citizens, urging them to avoid non-essential travel to Japan. This follows a robbery in Tokyo's Ueno district on January 29, 2026, where Chinese nationals were among the victims of a tear gas attack and theft of approximately 420 million yen in cash. The embassy has called on Japanese authorities to ensure the safety of Chinese residents.
China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has fined Chengdu Kuaigou Technology Co. Ltd., a Kuaishou subsidiary, 26.7 million yuan ($3.8 million) for e-commerce violations. The penalties, imposed on Friday, January 30, 2026, stem from issues including inflated sales data, enabling illegal wildlife trade, unreasonable fees, and inadequate consumer protection.
China-Europe freight trains have significantly increased the flow of European goods into Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, in preparation for the upcoming Spring Festival. A total of 208 trains operated between January 1 and 28, 2026, delivering products like wine, ham, and dairy to meet holiday demand in 'the world's supermarket'.
AstraZeneca has announced a significant licensing agreement with China's CSPC Pharmaceutical Group for experimental obesity and weight-related drugs. The deal involves an upfront payment of $1.2 billion and up to $17.3 billion in milestones, granting AstraZeneca global rights outside Greater China to eight drug programs, including the clinical-ready SYH2082.
Sun Shaocheng, the former Party secretary of China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region and a former veterans minister, is currently under investigation for suspected severe violations of Party disciplines and national laws. The probe was announced by China's top anti-corruption bodies, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.
Liu Haixing, a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visited Vietnam from January 29-30, 2026, to extend congratulations on the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the re-election of General Secretary To Lam. The visit underscores the strong party-to-party relations between China and Vietnam.
