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Government/Politics

China Reportedly Orders 18 Stability Measures Ahead of Fifth Plenum

The Chinese Communist Party’s Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee is set to open in Beijing on October 26. According to the X account “Baodian Weekly,” a confidential central-level document discloses for the first time 18 security and stability measures the party has arranged for the meeting, including stepped-up intelligence gathering on, and behavior prediction of, “sensitive” foreigners.

The report says the office of the central leadership group for safeguarding political security and social stability recently sent a notice to provincial-level coordination bodies, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and relevant member units and task forces. The notice urges officials to maintain bottom-line and worst-case thinking, concentrate on defusing major political and social risks, and ensure stability throughout the session.

Authorities are told to enforce party and national security responsibility systems, with local governments, industry regulators and legal organs sharing accountability. Departments must keep staff on duty around the clock and report any major emergency promptly, without delay, omission, falsification or concealment. A daily reporting mechanism requires submissions by 6 p.m. each day, whether or not anything has happened.

Among the 18 requirements, officials must watch for infiltration and subversion by overseas separatist forces and tighten vetting and monitoring of diplomats, journalists and NGO staff from key countries traveling to sensitive areas in China. They are also to guard against flash-mob disruptions, reactionary slogans displayed on screens or banners, and illegal drone flights, and to curb foreign religious infiltration and illegal domestic religious activity. Other measures include enforcing the no-fly zone over the capital, tightly controlling petitioners traveling to Beijing, preventing mass incidents and individual extreme cases, and strengthening management of online public opinion.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), October 13, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202610130073.aspx

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Shifts Land-Use Strategy from “Land Finance” to Long-Term Spatial Economic Development

For decades, local governments in China have relied heavily on “land finance”—selling long-term land-use rights to fund rapid infrastructure development and urbanization. However, as the real estate market cools and land-driven growth reaches its limits, urban planners and economists are shifting toward a spatial-temporal framework. This emerging approach treats land not merely as a one-time financial asset, but as a dynamic resource whose value can be optimized across both physical space and longer-term time horizons.

Xinhua News Agency reported that China’s Ministry of Natural Resources says the country’s urban and rural development has entered a stage increasingly reliant on existing land and assets, requiring a shift away from traditional policies focused on expanding land supply. Vice Minister Zhuang Shaoqin said spatial planning should create new opportunities for growth from existing resources and shift the development model from “land finance” toward higher-quality “spatial-temporal economics.”

During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, China will seek to make better use of existing land and spatial assets by increasing their value through safety, coordination, intensive use, distinctive development, and resource sharing. Officials said local governments should unlock the value of distinctive resources, revitalize underused spatial assets, optimize functional layouts, and develop innovative industrial communities, business districts, and high-quality living areas.

Vice Minister Zhang Wentong said land policy would also shift from one-time land sales toward long-term asset management. The realization of resource value would move from relying primarily on immediate returns to combining current income with long-term operating revenue. The government plans to coordinate market mechanisms with government policies and strengthen efforts to revitalize existing assets, using new demand to drive new supply and new supply to generate new demand as part of broader urban renewal efforts.

Source: Xinhua, September 22, 2026
https://www.news.cn/politics/20260922/64b4dfa598074ed9963419d5c23ee651/c.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Government/Politics

European Intelligence Agencies Reportedly Examine Global CEOs Dinner Club Over Possible CCP United Front Links

The Global CEOs Dinner Club, a self-described nonprofit social organization that brings together business leaders and political figures in Brussels, is seeking to expand into France. According to Euronews, a Western intelligence official said the club’s activities have characteristics associated with influence-building and intelligence gathering and resemble tactics used by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) United Front. French investigative outlet La Lettre reported that the organization has attracted the attention of Western intelligence agencies and raised concerns among senior European officials.

The club was founded in Brussels in March 2025 by Yifei Yang, who previously studied in China and at a private European institution in Nice, France. Yang denied that China is behind the organization, telling Euronews, “We are neutral.” She said the club’s goals are to “have an impact on society” and “build sustainable businesses.” The club currently has about 20 members from France, Belgium, Denmark, Japan, China, and Singapore, with annual membership fees of €2,400 for individuals and €5,000 for companies. Yang said 10 percent of the club’s revenue is donated to NGOs and charities.

Since its establishment, the club has organized events bringing together business figures and people connected to Belgian and EU politics to discuss topics including sustainability, diversity, technology, AI, and semiconductors. In June, it hosted an event at Brussels’ Hotel Amigo titled “Exploring the Future of AI and Semiconductors,” featuring Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Flemish Government, and Luc Van den hove, former CEO and current president of Belgian semiconductor research center imec. The club is also planning to expand into France, including a women executives’ event reportedly scheduled for November at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.

A Western intelligence official declined to confirm whether their agency is investigating Yang but said the activities described were consistent with United Front methods. A reliable source reportedly also confirmed to Belgian Dutch-language newspaper De Morgen that European intelligence agencies are examining the club’s founder, particularly amid growing European concerns over the strategic importance of semiconductors.

Source: Aboluo, October 2, 2026
https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/1002/2440831.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

About 150 Chinese Teachers Leave Philippine Schools Amid Concerns Over CCP United Front Activities

About 150 Chinese teachers working at Chinese-language schools in the Philippines have reportedly begun returning to China in batches since late September, amid concerns over alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) United Front activities and national security. The departures affect several prominent Chinese-Filipino schools and come as tensions between Manila and Beijing continue to rise over maritime disputes.

The concerns were heightened by reports from Ray Powell, founder and director of the Stanford-affiliated SeaLight project. Powell’s reports alleged that PCERC, which coordinates more than 100 Chinese-language schools in the Philippines, has close ties to the CCP’s United Front system. The reports also highlighted PCERC programs that bring Chinese teachers to the Philippines and send Filipino-Chinese students to Chinese universities for training. They cited a seminar at Jinan University at which Chinese scholars reportedly questioned Philippine sovereignty over the Batanes Islands, as well as a 2025 essay competition jointly organized by PCERC and the Philippine Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. subsequently warned the public to remain vigilant about China-related cultural and educational exchanges, saying United Front activities are a core part of the CCP’s strategy and that foreign-funded academic exchanges could potentially be used to establish footholds and collect intelligence. He also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had instructed intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to take evidence-based action against malicious activities, while cautioning against anti-foreign sentiment or prejudice toward the Chinese-Filipino community.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected the allegations as a “malicious smear campaign” against China-Philippines educational exchanges. The Philippine Chinese Education Research Center (PCERC) and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) said the teachers’ return was approved by the Chinese Embassy and relevant authorities, citing safety concerns raised by the teachers’ families.

Source: The Epoch Times, October 6, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/10/5/n14863967.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

China Promotes Patriotic Education Among Hong Kong and Macao Youth Through Flag-Raising Activities in Beijing

Beijing is continuing to promote “patriotic” education among young people in Hong Kong and Macao as the Chinese Communist Party has tightened its political control over the two regions, after substantially terminating the autonomy originally promised under “One Country, Two Systems.”

Xinhua News Agency reported that from September 18 to 22, the Hong Kong and Macao governments, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council, and the Beijing municipal government organized a “Salute to the National Flag” themed visit to Beijing for representatives of flag-raising teams from schools and universities in the two regions.

About 1,000 representatives from flag-raising teams at 121 primary and secondary schools and 21 universities in Hong Kong and Macao participated. The delegation was led by Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki and Macao Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Leong Wai-ling.

During the visit, participants attended the national flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square and visited the Great Hall of the People, the Palace Museum, and the National Museum of China. They also visited the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Honor Guard Regiment, as well as schools, cultural and technology institutions, companies, and rural communities in Beijing.

Source: Xinhua, September 18, 2026
https://www.news.cn/20260918/f3857342e36a40e6b87f1df3c5bdde4c/c.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Prominent Chinese Economists Urge Stronger Fiscal Measures to Address Local Government Debt

At the 2026 Tsinghua PBC School of Finance Chief Economists Forum on September 19, several prominent Chinese economists said local government debt has become a more urgent economic problem than the real estate sector and called for more expansionary fiscal and monetary policies. During a roundtable on macroeconomic policy and global rebalancing, economists including Lin Yifu of Peking University, Yao Yang of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Li Xunlei of Zhongtai International, and Ju Jiandong of Tsinghua University’s PBC School of Finance said the central government should issue more debt to replace local government debt.

Ju said that faster and larger central government bond issuance to replace local debt has become an important tool for supporting economic growth. Li said local governments face heavy debt and arrears pressures, with a 2027 deadline for clearing outstanding payments, making debt replacement an urgent priority. Yao said local government debt is currently China’s biggest economic problem and is more serious than the property market. He estimated that a chain of interconnected debts arising from local government debt has reached about RMB 30 trillion. Both Yao and Lin called for the government to address the problem with the same level of determination used to resolve China’s banking-sector bad loans around 2000.

At that time, the Ministry of Finance issued special government bonds to recapitalize the four major state-owned banks and established four asset-management companies to absorb their non-performing loans. Lin argued that much of today’s local government debt was incurred in support of central government fiscal policies. Because the borrowing ultimately involves banks, he said that if local governments cannot repay, the losses could eventually fall on the banking system and the Ministry of Finance, making debt replacement the preferred approach.

Source: 21st Century Business Herald, September 20, 2026
https://www.21jingji.com/article/20260920/herald/c9d4680a5be88c901027977f013cb3a2.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Government/Politics

Study Times: Strengthening Public Opinion Guidance and Management

Qin Lu, deputy director of the Central Party School’s Department of History and Culture, argues that China’s rapidly changing media environment has made public opinion a growing source of social tensions and a major governance challenge. He proposes the following measures for the authorities to strengthen public-opinion management:

  • Shift from emergency response to routine governance: Rather than treating public-opinion incidents as isolated “emergencies,” authorities should integrate public-opinion management into the broader national governance system.
  • Address problems before they become public-opinion crises: Qin emphasizes that resolving underlying social and livelihood problems should be the foundation of public-opinion management. Governments should use social-governance centers, the 12345 government-service hotline, public-opinion monitoring, and government social-media platforms to identify public concerns, respond to grievances, and defuse potential tensions.
  • Build an integrated system: He proposes combining regular press briefings, daily public-opinion guidance, and emergency response. Government press offices and social-media platforms should proactively explain policies, respond to public concerns, build credibility, and serve as rapid official-information channels when controversies emerge.
  • Respond quickly with both “emotion and facts”: Officials should establish clear criteria for when and how to respond to emerging controversies. Initial responses should address both the underlying incident and public emotions through empathy, reassurance, apologies when appropriate, and transparent updates. Qin warns that defensive messaging or attempts to shift responsibility can intensify negative sentiment and trigger secondary controversies.
  • Strengthen information management and preparedness: Government communications should provide both factual information and confidence-building messages, including clear explanations of an incident’s causes, investigation, response, and follow-up. Qin also calls for regular training, simulation exercises, and reviews of past cases to develop practical response plans and improve interdepartmental coordination.
  • Overall framework: Qin proposes a comprehensive system of “good governance of people’s livelihoods → information release → public-opinion guidance → public-opinion response,” making public-opinion management a routine component of governance rather than a response limited to exceptional crises.

Source: Study Times, September 18, 2026
https://www.studytimes.cn/llsd/202609/t20260917_91732.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics Social Stability

Another Incident of Beijing-Organized Supporters Clashed with Protesters During Xi’s Visit to the U.S.

Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States drew demonstrations by at least 39 anti-CCP groups. Chinese authorities reportedly organized large numbers of supporters—one source estimated nearly 1,000—to welcome Xi. Supporters and protesters clashed outside Joint Base Andrews during Xi’s arrival (see Chinascope briefing).

Another altercation occurred around 3:30 p.m. on September 24 outside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., where Falun Gong practitioners were peacefully demonstrating. A woman identified as Li Huahong confronted practitioner Xin Qin, who was photographing the demonstration. Xin said Li repeatedly pressured him to move back before grabbing and pulling him down, after which several people accompanying Li allegedly struck, scratched, and bit him. Xin said he did not fight back and called police. A police officer reportedly witnessed the incident and intervened, handcuffing Li, who was later taken away by ambulance.

According to the report, Li had previously attacked Falun Gong practitioners in New York and had been arrested several times. She was convicted of assault in 2013.

Also, an earlier incident occurred on September 22 outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, Canada, where a Chinese-Canadian man allegedly damaged Falun Gong protesters’ display boards and banners, issued threats, and injured a practitioner who tried to protect a banner. Police reportedly arrived, documented the incident, and said the case could proceed to legal action.

Sources:
{1} NTDTV, September 25, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/09/25/a104136302.html
{2} NTDTV, September 26, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/09/26/a104136553.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics US-China Relations