Beijing Completely Banned Drones
Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, Beijing, the political center of China, has introduced the strictest drone regulations in its history, citing “challenges to low-altitude airspace safety in the capital.” This will make Beijing the first city to effectively ban the sale, transport, and flight of drones.
The new regulations clearly state that the entire area of Beijing is designated as controlled airspace for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and all outdoor flight activities require an application. This effectively prohibits the use of drones by individuals. The new regulations also prohibit the illegal production, assembly, modification, or hacking of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their systems. They also prohibit the sale or rental of UAVs and their core components to organizations or individuals in Beijing, and prohibit the transport or carrying of UAVs and their core components into Beijing. The scope of prohibited transportation and carrying includes various types of transport such as railways, civil aviation, road freight transport, postal services, inter-provincial passenger transport, and private cars.
Experts believe the new regulations mean that Beijing will completely shut down the consumer drone market, and industry-level applications will also gradually reach a standstill.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, March 28, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260328-8807386
Poll Shows 94.4 Percent of Taiwanese Refuse to Be Part of the Communist China
Taiwanese newspaper Business Today recently reported that the Taiwan Inspirational Association (TIA) just released the results of its public opinion poll. Public satisfaction with the government’s administration continued to rise to 57.6 percent, while dissatisfaction with the Legislative Yuan reached a high of 59.3 percent. On the issue of Taiwan’s future, if the factor of war is excluded, a high percentage of the public, 94.4 percent, support the Republic of China (Taiwan) maintaining its democratic, free, sovereign, and independent status quo, while only three percent hope to become part of communist China.
Over 60 percent of respondents supported the TWD$1.25 trillion (around US$39 billion) national defense special budget (primarily to acquire military equipment from the United States), and nearly 60 percent surveyed were satisfied with war preparedness.
The Legislative Yuan’s satisfaction rate was only 38.6 percent, while 59.3 percent expressed dissatisfaction, making it the worst-performing category in this poll. Partisan infighting is the primary cause.
In addition, the Taiwan-Japan security alliance received 60 percent approval.
Source: Business Today, March 24, 2026
https://www.businesstoday.com.tw/article/category/183027/post/202603240040/
Age Bias and a Tough Job Market Cast Shadow Over Shanghai Job Fair
A recruitment fair organized under the “Spring Breeze Initiative and Employment Assistance Season” was held this afternoon at the Oriental Pearl Tower City Plaza in Shanghai’s Lujiazui district. The event drew 80 companies offering positions across finance, trade, technology, information services, and other sectors. Job seekers were seen moving between booths, résumés in hand, pitching themselves to recruiters in search of their next opportunity.
The Spring Breeze Initiative is a long-running employment program jointly promoted by nine government departments, including China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Launched annually after the Lunar New Year, it connects employers and job seekers through on-site fairs, online recruitment, and community employment service networks.
Despite the activity on the floor, attendees painted a bleak picture of the broader job market, with age discrimination emerging as a recurring theme. A job seeker in his 40s, surnamed Gao, said he was laid off after his company downsized and had been unemployed for over six months. While on-site booths rarely listed age requirements, he noted that many online postings explicitly state applicants must be “under 35.”
A 36-year-old surnamed Gong echoed that concern, saying anyone over 35 tends to be filtered out at the résumé screening stage. He left his previous job about a month ago due to excessive stress and is now targeting administrative roles, hoping for a monthly salary of 5,000 to 7,000 yuan (approximately $685 to $960 USD). “If I don’t make the jump now,” he said, “it’ll only get harder after 40.”
A 23-year-old recent graduate surnamed Wang relocated from Shandong to Shanghai seeking better pay in electrical engineering. Despite submitting many online applications, he has received few responses, which he attributed to stiff competition and, perhaps, his academic credentials.
The job fair comes as China’s government continues to prioritize employment stability amid slowing economic growth. The 2026 Government Work Report set targets of keeping the urban unemployment rate around 5.5 percent and adding over 12 million new urban jobs. Compounding the pressure, China’s Ministry of Human Resources estimates that 12.7 million college graduates will enter the workforce this year — a new record high.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), March 28, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202603280184.aspx
Epoch Times Exclusive: China Seeks Shipping Guarantees in Strait of Hormuz, but Iran Offers Only Limited Assurances
Sources close to China’s Foreign Ministry told The Epoch Times that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has repeatedly communicated with Iran, seeking assurances for the safety of Chinese commercial shipping. However, Iran’s response was limited, stating it could only guarantee the safety of “some” cargo bound for Iran, emphasizing that such protection would be partial. The source described this as a form of “selective security,” suggesting Iran may be using it as leverage to pressure China to ship more military supplies to Iran.
This situation was reflected in maritime activity on March 27, when two Chinese container shipsCSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean—attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz but ultimately turned back. (Update: The vessels successfully transited the strait on their second attempt on March 30.)
Another source indicated that Beijing had initially hoped to use its relationship with Iran to act as a mediator in the U.S.-Iran conflict and expand its influence in the “Global South.” However, this effort has faced challenges, including Russia’s competing influence in Iran. According to the report, China and Russia have differing interests, while Tehran has its own—prioritize tangible military support over diplomatic engagement. This dynamic has placed Beijing in a difficult position between maintaining ties with Iran and avoiding broader confrontation with the United States and its allies.
Source: Epoch Times, March 26, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/3/26/n14727332.htm
North Korea Removes the Word “Socialist” from the Name of Its Constitution
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea has removed the word “socialist” from the name of its constitution and revised the document.
The report states that on March 23, the second day of the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, the chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Choe Ryong Hae, delivered a report. He said the amendments of the Constitution align with the “requirements of a new stage of revolutionary development.” He further explained that the constitution would be renamed from the “Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” to the “Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” along with other revisions included in the draft law.
An account on X, “@SoundofAmerica1,” also noted that Kim Jong Un delivered a speech at the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea on February 26, 2026. He was reported as saying:
“If the U.S. respects the present position of our state specified in the Constitution of the DPRK and withdraws its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there is no reason why we cannot get on well with the U.S.”
Sources:
1. Sputnik, March 24, 2026
https://sputniknews.cn/20260324/1070403851.html
2. X Platform, @SoundofAmerica1
https://x.com/SoundofAmerica1/status/2037582020675862719
Taiwan Skips WTO Meeting After Cameroon Labels It “Province of China”
The 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held on March 25 in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, with Taiwan absent for the first time. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated on March 20 that Cameroon listed the nationality of Taiwan’s delegation members on visa documents as “Taiwan, a province of China,” which it said “seriously demeaned” Taiwan’s status. As a result, Taiwan was “forced to be absent” from the conference. Taiwan had attended every WTO Ministerial Conference since its accession was approved in 2001.
In a press release, MOFA stated that Cameroon’s handling of the nationality designation implied subordination to another WTO member, constituting a clear violation of WTO rules and a departure from long-standing international practice. MOFA described the move as unacceptable political manipulation and said it had lodged a strong protest with both Cameroon and the WTO Secretariat on March 20.
MOFA further noted that, following Taiwan’s protest, Cameroon acknowledged Taiwan’s right to participate with proper status and dignity and proposed a remedial measure by offering visa exemptions for the delegation. However, the exemption documents reportedly contained numerous errors, including misspelled names and incorrect gender information, with most entries mistakenly listed as female. MOFA said these mistakes reflected administrative negligence and a lack of sincerity. Given the late timing of the corrective measures and the inability to resolve the issues in time, Taiwan concluded that entering Cameroon with flawed documents could lead to complications or potential mistreatment. After a comprehensive assessment, Taiwan decided not to attend the conference.
Sources:
1. Central News Agency (Taiwan), March 26, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202603260316.aspx
2. VOA, March 27, 2026
https://www.voachinese.com/a/u-s-lawmakers-slam-china-over-taiwan-s-wto-snub-20260326/8131242.html
China’s Economy: A Tale of Two Temperatures
A prominent Chinese economist recently described China’s economy as a study in stark contrasts — blazing hot in some sectors, bitterly cold in others.
Mao Zhenhua, a professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Business School, made the remarks at a forum analyzing the outcomes of China’s “Two Sessions” — the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference — held earlier this month. The sessions approved China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026 to 2030.
On the bright side, Mao noted significant technological advances over the past five years. Young people’s enthusiasm for the tech sector, combined with the wealth-generating capacity of capital markets, has boosted social efficiency. Driven by technological progress and private enterprise, China’s exports have also performed well despite a volatile global trade environment. In these areas, he said, the economy is running hot.
However, Mao painted a sobering picture elsewhere. China has entered its 12th consecutive quarter of deflation, with prices remaining persistently low. Declining corporate profits have slowed wage growth, and weakening investment appetite contributed to a historic contraction in investment last year.
“Outside of high-tech and exports, you know just how cold the economy really is,” he said.
Youth unemployment among those aged 16 to 24 remains stubbornly high despite government efforts. A fading demographic dividend — and the prospect of negative population growth — poses further long-term risks.
While the new Five-Year Plan prioritizes breakthroughs in high-tech and expanding domestic demand, Mao expressed skepticism. Investment is hard to stimulate due to a lack of attractive projects, while boosting consumer spending is equally challenging. With companies struggling to turn profits, taxes remaining high, and employment pressures mounting, he argued that meaningfully raising household incomes — and thus consumer spending — will be an uphill battle.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), March 28, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202603280065.aspx
BYD Posts Revenue Growth but Profit Decline Amid China’s EV Price War
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD reported annual revenue of 803.9 billion yuan (approximately $110.6 billion USD) for 2024, a modest 3 percent increase year-on-year. However, net profit fell 18 percent to 32.6 billion yuan (approximately $4.5 billion USD), marking the company’s first “growth without profit” financial report in four years. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu described the EV industry as enduring a brutal “elimination round.”
Despite the profit squeeze, BYD achieved record sales of 4.6024 million vehicles in 2024, placing it among the world’s top five automakers and retaining its title as the global leader in new energy vehicle sales. The company’s international footprint expanded significantly, with operations in 119 countries and overseas sales reaching 1.05 million units. Total sales for 2025 are projected to hit 5.12 million vehicles.
Monthly domestic sales were inconsistent in the second half of 2024, with BYD failing to break the 500,000-unit monthly threshold in Q4. October, November, and December figures came in at 441,700, 480,200, and 420,400 units respectively. Overseas revenue reached 310.7 billion yuan (approximately $42.8 billion USD), accounting for roughly 38 percent of total revenue, an increasing share compared to the previous year.
The broader context is China’s overcapacity crisis in the EV sector. After 13 years of government subsidies ending in 2022, China’s EV output surged to over 12.8 million vehicles in 2024, yet nearly half of production capacity sits idle. To offload excess supply, Chinese automakers have engaged in a fierce price war, with EV prices dropping 9.2 percent in 2024 and profit margins shrinking to just 4.3 percent. BYD itself launched an aggressive new pricing round in May 2024 with discounts as steep as 34 percent, drawing sharp criticism from industry peers and state media alike.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), March 28, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202603280134.aspx