Article Highlights Policy Priorities for Emerging “New New Three” Industries
A Chinese policy article says the rise of the “new three” industries—new-energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar products—and the emerging “new new three”—robots, artificial intelligence, and innovative drugs—shows that technological breakthroughs, deeper application scenarios, new factor inputs, and targeted policy support are key to rapid industrial growth.
The article calls for more focused government support, replacing scattered subsidies with targeted assistance for priority industries. It also urges a shift from imitation and incremental improvements toward original and disruptive innovation, while expanding real-world applications in factories, business services, and public services.
For investment and business development, the article advocates greater government leadership and long-term investment, as well as cultivating companies of different sizes rather than focusing exclusively on industry leaders. It also calls for a more coordinated and flexible regulatory system, including stronger cross-departmental and cross-regional cooperation and more “inclusive and prudent” regulation of emerging industries.
Source: People’s Daily, August 25, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/BIG5/n1/2026/0825/c1004-40785486.html
Spanish Media Highlights Viral Robot Mishaps at Beijing’s World Humanoid Robot Games
Sohu published a Chinese translation of a Spanish report on the World Humanoid Robot Games, which opened in Beijing on August 22.
A total of 666 teams and 2,056 robots from 16 countries participated in the event. The five-day competition featured 51 events designed to test humanoid robots in realistic environments.
The event also produced numerous viral moments of robots falling, losing balance, colliding with walls, and struggling to coordinate their movements. One robot that reportedly broke Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record drew particular attention after it was unable to stop at the finish line and continued running along a wall.
The widely shared footage highlighted persistent limitations in humanoid robots, particularly their stability, coordination, and ability to respond to unexpected situations. China has promoted itself as a global leader in humanoid robot development and manufacturing, but the mishaps exposed some of the technology’s remaining shortcomings.
Source: Sohu, August 28, 2026
https://timeline.sohu.com/news/AI3ut1Yhxm
China’s Marriage Registrations Hit Record Low in First Half of 2026
China recorded 3.275 million marriage registrations in the first half of 2026, down 264,000 couples, or about 7.5 percent, from the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Yonhap News Agency reported that this was the lowest figure since nationwide marriage-registration statistics were systematically compiled following China’s revision of its Marriage Law in 1980.
Meanwhile, 1.383 million couples registered for divorce during the first half, up 52,000, or about 3.9 percent, from a year earlier. The continued decline in marriages, alongside rising divorces, highlights the demographic and social pressures facing China.
China’s annual marriage registrations peaked at 13.469 million couples in 2013 and have generally declined since then. The figure fell below 10 million in 2019, 9 million in 2020, 8 million in 2021, and 7 million in 2022. Although registrations temporarily rebounded to 7.68 million in 2023 amid a post-pandemic “catch-up” in marriages, they plunged to 6.106 million in 2024, a 20.5 percent decline from 2023.
Source: Radio France International, August 12, 2026
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/中国/20260812-中国今年上半年结婚登记327-5万对-创历史新低
China Formally Removes Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from Central Military Commission
China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee on August 28 formally removed Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member, from their positions on the state CMC. This marked the first formal removal at the state-institution level since the two were announced in January to be under investigation for alleged “serious violations of discipline and law.”
Zhang, formerly a member of the Politburo and the CMC’s first-ranked Vice Chairman, was widely regarded as the second-most powerful figure in China’s military hierarchy after Xi Jinping. Liu also served as Chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, overseeing PLA operational planning and joint operations. Chinese authorities have not disclosed specific allegations, evidence, financial details, or potential legal consequences in either case.
Xinhua also reported that Zhong Shaojun, regarded as a close military aide to Xi Jinping, was stripped of his National People’s Congress membership. Zhong served as Xi’s personal secretary during Xi’s tenure in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and later at the central government, despite having no significant military background. Xi appointed him Director of the CMC General Office in 2013. Zhong left that position in 2024 and became Political Commissar of the National Defense University before being removed from that post in October 2025.
Source: VOA, August 29, 2026
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-formally-removes-zhang-youxia-and-liu-zhenli-from-state-central-military-commission-posts-20260828/8191566.html
Japan’s Pro-China Lawmakers Visit China to Improve Bilateral Ties, but Beijing Lectures Them Instead
A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers recently visited Beijing in an effort to restore political exchanges amid deteriorating Japan-China relations. The delegation included Shinichi Isa of the Centrist Reform Alliance, Gaku Hashimoto of the Liberal Democratic Party, and lawmakers from Komeito. Many of the delegates are considered relatively China-friendly and maintain some distance from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government.
But Beijing offered no apparent concessions. Instead, Lu Kang, a deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, told the delegation that Beijing had no intention of changing its current Japan policy unless Takaichi reverses her November parliamentary remarks that “a Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan.” The message was clear: Beijing is prepared to improve bilateral relations, but expects Japan to make concessions first.
Japanese commentator Akio Yaita criticized the lawmakers’ visit as a diplomatic miscalculation, arguing that Beijing used the meeting to pressure Tokyo rather than offer substantive concessions on issues such as export controls. He said Japan needs dialogue with China, but such engagement should be based on mutual respect. If Beijing believes Japan is eager to improve relations, he warned, it may demand a high price and repeatedly humiliate Japan.
Source: Liberty Times (Taiwan). August 29, 2026
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/5556051
TechInsights: Huawei’s Kirin 9030 Pro Still Lags Behind Leading-Edge Chips
Semiconductor research firm TechInsights said in an August 27 report that Huawei’s Kirin 9030 Pro is manufactured using SMIC’s N+3 process, an evolution of its 7nm-class technology. While N+3 significantly improves transistor density over SMIC’s N+2 process, it remains well behind TSMC’s and Samsung’s commercially deployed 5nm processes.
The N+3 process relies on complex deep-ultraviolet (DUV) multi-patterning because SMIC lacks access to EUV lithography, increasing manufacturing complexity and potentially reducing efficiency, cost competitiveness, and yields. SemiAnalysis similarly found that the Kirin 9030 Pro’s performance is roughly comparable to Android flagship chips from three years ago and trails current flagship processors from Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung.
TechInsights previously concluded that N+3 can produce commercially viable smartphone chips but is poorly suited for large AI data-center processors, where larger chip sizes could amplify yield problems.
Source: Epoch Times, August 30, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/8/29/n14839226.htm
China’s Local Government Revenue from Land Sales Falls 30.8 Percent
China’s Ministry of Finance reported that national government fund budget revenue fell 21.2 percent year on year in the first seven months of 2026, reflecting continued weakness in local government finances. While central government fund revenue increased 6.8 percent, local government revenue fell 24.8 percent, with revenue from state-owned land-use rights declining 30.8 percent.
Tax revenue, often viewed as an indicator of economic activity, increased 6.7 percent during the same period. Domestic VAT revenue rose 6.1 percent and corporate income tax increased 7.2 percent, while personal income tax grew 14.9 percent. However, domestic consumption tax declined 2.2 percent, and deed tax revenue fell 14.5 percent, pointing to continued weakness in the property market.
Revenue from state-owned land-use rights has declined for four consecutive years since 2022, as the prolonged property downturn has sharply reduced demand for land and weakened land prices. Local governments have historically relied heavily on land sales to finance public spending.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), August 22, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202608220043.aspx
China Proposes Expanded Background Checks for Aviation Personnel After China Zun Crash
China’s Civil Aviation Administration has proposed new background-screening requirements for aviation license holders and other civil aviation personnel, citing national and aviation security concerns. The proposal follows a small aircraft crash at Beijing’s China Zun skyscraper in June.
The draft covers eight types of aviation licenses, including private, commercial, airline transport, and unmanned-aircraft pilot licenses, as well as flight and ground personnel such as flight attendants. Applicants must have no criminal record, terrorism- or drug-related violations, recent administrative detention, or involvement in organizations prohibited by the state.
For several pilot licenses, background checks would also extend to spouses, parents, and siblings, who must not have certain national-security, terrorism, or drug-related convictions or involvement in banned organizations. Those who fail the checks could be denied licenses and airport access, with background assessments conducted on an ongoing basis. Public comments on the proposal are being accepted through September 4.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), August 23, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202608230145.aspx