How today looks from inside China

Xinhua Commentary: High-Level Rule of Law to Escort the Building of a Beautiful China

On August 15, China's fourth National Ecology Day, the country's new Ecological Environment Code officially took effect. A Xinhua News Agency commentary frames this as a historic milestone, the world's first code named after the ecological environment, and a major legislative practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. The piece argues the code provides a stronger legal foundation for environmental protection and high-quality development.

Beijing Zoo responds after panda Meng Lan seen walking backwards

Beijing Zoo has issued a statement addressing public concern over giant panda Meng Lan’s backward walking. The zoo says preliminary observation shows the behavior occurs as short-distance retreats during play and activity, with no continuous or repetitive pattern detected. Keepers are increasing monitoring, will intervene gently if needed, and are enriching the environment and adjusting indoor-outdoor rotation schedules to safeguard animal welfare. Veterinary and keeper teams will track behavioral data long-term and assess intervention effects.

Yiyang claims progress in digitalizing public services, cutting paperwork and wait times

A mid-year municipal review from Yiyang, Hunan, reports that government service reforms have reduced the number of documents required for procedures such as teacher qualification applications, shortened processing times, and expanded the share of affairs handled through a single integrated window. The article credits a suite of digital initiatives—including the 'Efficiently Handle One Matter' reform and the provincial 'Xiangyiban' app—with making it easier for residents to access public services.

Shanghai university turns tobacco control into youth-driven games and viral videos

Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance has spent a decade building a smoke-free campus through playful campaigns. Instead of lectures, it uses bowling challenges where pins are labeled with smoking harms, short videos riffing on internet memes, and a 300-strong student patrol. The approach, presented at a 2026 youth tobacco-control forum, frames compliance as a shared, youthful responsibility.

CNN reveals details of Trump's secret plane switch after NATO summit

CNN aired a program on August 11 detailing how former U.S. President Trump secretly switched aircraft after a NATO summit in July. The report, based on video footage, shows Trump boarded the old Air Force One, then covertly transferred to a C-32A military plane using an airport catering truck to fly to the UK. The operation involved three planes and was reportedly a response to a credible assassination threat from Iran after Trump ordered new strikes.

AI-generated fake tourist spots lure visitors, spark calls for tighter regulation

A commentary in Fuzhou News Network warns that AI-generated images of non-existent scenic spots are being used to deceive tourists and drive social media traffic. The piece cites cases of fabricated 'Shanghai secret paradises' and a photoshopped 'Dalian undersea tunnel,' noting that such posts often mix real landmarks with fake scenes and embed commercial links. It calls for coordinated action by regulators, internet watchdogs, and platforms to remove deceptive content and hold creators accountable.

Scholar warns US firms are undermining global AI cooperation for private gain

A commentary by Shen Yi, director of Fudan University's International Cyberspace Governance Research Base, argues that certain US AI companies, particularly Anthropic, are using unsubstantiated security allegations to disrupt Sino-US AI cooperation. The piece points to accusations that Chinese firm Moonshot AI 'distilled' Anthropic's model to create Kimi K3, calling the timeline technically implausible. It warns that corporate lobbying is creating a dangerous cycle where business complaints are converted into government sanctions.

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China's central bank to conduct overnight reverse repos to manage short-term liquidity

The People's Bank of China announced it will carry out overnight reverse repo operations on four specific dates in mid-August. According to the announcement, the move is designed to better match short-term liquidity needs in the banking system. The operations will use a fixed-rate, quantity-based bidding mechanism, with each day's volume capped at 600 billion yuan.

NEV share of monthly new car sales in China tops 60% for first time

China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales accounted for over 60% of all new cars sold in July 2026, a first, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The report, carried by People's Daily, also notes that cumulative NEV sales surpassed 50% of the total for the January–July period. Vehicle exports exceeded one million units for the second straight month, with NEVs making up more than half of those shipments.

China's NEV sales cross two historic thresholds, signaling market dominance

In July 2026, monthly new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in China exceeded 60% of total new car sales for the first time, while the cumulative share for the year surpassed 50%, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The People's Daily article frames these milestones as proof that NEVs have become the mainstream, citing supporting data like NEVs occupying nine of the top ten spots in monthly retail sales and three Chinese brands entering the global top ten by sales volume.

China to Extend Anti-Dumping Duties on Indian Single-Mode Optical Fiber for Five Years

China's Ministry of Commerce announced on August 13 that it will extend anti-dumping duties on imports of single-mode optical fiber originating in India. The decision follows a sunset review investigation initiated in August 2025 at the request of the domestic industry. The ministry concluded that dumping and injury to the Chinese industry would likely recur if the measures were terminated. The new duties, recommended by the ministry and approved by the State Council Tariff Commission, will take effect on August 14, 2026, and last for five years.

China releases five-year plan targeting 1.4 trillion yuan safety and emergency equipment industry

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Emergency Management jointly published the '15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Safety and Emergency Equipment Industry.' The plan sets a target for the sector to reach a scale of 1.4 trillion yuan in key areas by 2030, up from over 1 trillion yuan in 2025. It outlines 15 specific tasks focused on innovation, application, industry consolidation, and ecosystem development.

Summer tourism surge drives China's cultural and travel market, boosted by digital tech and vouchers

China's summer tourism season is in full swing, with domestic trips and spending up in the first half of 2026. People's Daily reports that local governments are using digital technology to create immersive cultural experiences and issuing consumption vouchers to stimulate demand. The article cites experts who frame these measures as key to unlocking the market's 'new potential energy'.

China allocates 80 million yuan in emergency disaster relief for central provinces hit by Typhoon Bailu remnants

China's Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Emergency Management jointly pre-allocated 80 million yuan from central natural-disaster relief funds on August 13, according to a Xinhua report republished by People's Daily Online. The money is directed to Henan, Hubei, and Anhui provinces, which suffered severe flooding and geological disasters after the remnants of Typhoon Bailu moved north. The funds are earmarked for emergency rescue, relocation of affected people, hazard removal, and repair of damaged homes.

People's Daily: Let the Algorithm Learn to 'Wait for the Red Light'

A People's Daily commentary praises a new policy in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, that integrates the time delivery drivers spend waiting at red lights into their delivery timing system. The piece argues this is a pioneering move that prioritizes worker safety and legal compliance over pure efficiency. It frames the policy as a model of government-platform collaboration that embeds 'human warmth' into algorithmic management.

Inner Mongolia’s Horinger New District Enters National Computing Power ‘Millisecond Circle’

People’s Daily reports that the Horinger New District, a key hub for China’s 'East Data West Computing' project, has achieved network latency under 5 milliseconds to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, under 15 ms to the Yangtze River Delta, and under 20 ms to the Greater Bay Area and Chengdu-Chongqing. The article highlights the district’s green electricity usage (over 86% for operating data centers) and its top national ranking in green computing power index. The piece frames this as a landmark in China’s digital infrastructure and a model for green development.

China's new Ecological Environment Code: Originality and global contribution

The People's Daily presents China's newly enacted Ecological Environment Code as a milestone in legal history. The article, authored by a Wuhan University scholar, argues the code is the world's first named 'ecological environment' and represents a systemic legislative model that integrates pollution control, ecological protection, and green low-carbon development. It frames the code as a shift from a Western-influenced approach to an autonomous Chinese legal knowledge system, rooted in the philosophy of 'harmony between humanity and nature'.

Beijing pushes 'China Service' brand-building as economic engine shifts

A major People's Daily commentary frames the cultivation of 'China Service' brands as the cornerstone of a national economic upgrade. It reports that the service sector grew 5.2% in the first half of 2026, making up 59.5% of GDP, and cites a July Politburo meeting and a landmark April national services conference as policy anchors. The piece presents the push, including a projected 100-trillion-yuan total sector size by 2030, as a historically necessary turn from investment-led to consumption-led growth.

Premier Li Qiang signs State Council order to amend and repeal administrative regulations

Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council order to amend 12 administrative regulations and repeal three, effective August 15, 2026. The changes aim to align existing rules with the new Ecological Environment Code, which takes effect the same day. The order updates legal references and resolves inconsistencies, while repealing outdated regulations to support 'high-quality development' and ecological progress.