Philippines clash, internet upgrade plan · Jul 21

China files formal protest over clash with Philippines.

Today's events

South China Sea clash.
China’s coast guard says Philippine boats rammed its vessels and attacked officers at Second Thomas Shoal; Beijing filed a formal protest with Manila’s ambassador.¹Jul 21 · MFA
Internet upgrade plan.
The Party’s cyberspace commission published a 2026–2030 plan to shift China’s networks to the newer internet address standard, targeting 950 million active users by 2030.²Jul 21 · CAC
Transport network by 2030.
Transport ministry says China will complete a modern integrated transport network by 2030, lifting the national trunk network from 91 to 95 percent built.³Jul 21 · State Council
Childcare subsidy.
Health commission has paid this year’s childcare subsidy to 25.16 million recipients, at 3,600 yuan per child each year until age three.⁴Jul 21 · State Council
Party discipline drive.
State commentary on Xi’s July 1 anniversary speech restates that full and rigorous Party self-governance must continue without pause into the new five-year plan.⁵Jul 21 · State Council
Private firms consulted.
Central planning agency chief Zheng Shanjie convened five private companies, including a humanoid-robot maker, to gather views on second-half economic policy.⁶Jul 20 · NDRC
Foreign minister’s travel.
Wang Yi attends the China–Southeast Asia foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila on July 22, then the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ministers in Kyrgyzstan.⁷Jul 20 · MFA
Power grid spending.
Grid investment will top 5 trillion yuan through 2030, adding about 15 ultra-high-voltage lines and pushing west-to-east power transfers above 420 gigawatts.⁸Jul 17 · NEA
Judge expelled from the Party.
Gansu’s former high-court vice-president Chen Tianxiong was expelled for taking bribes and interfering in judicial cases; his case goes to prosecutors.⁹Jul 17 · CCDI

Voices

“To strengthen our confidence and carry the struggle forward, we must persevere without letup in advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance.”
General Secretary Xi Jinping, 105th anniversary of the Communist Party · July 1⁵

“China expresses strong dissatisfaction with and firmly opposes the Philippine side’s conduct. This morning we filed a formal protest with the Philippine ambassador.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian · July 21¹

“The 15th Five-Year Plan period is the critical window for China’s leap from large-scale deployment of the new internet protocol to full enablement of the economy.”
Implementation Plan for Internet Protocol Version 6, Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission · July 21²

“Though changes in the external environment bring many difficulties and challenges, the supporting conditions and basic trend of China’s long-term economic improvement have not changed.”
Zheng Shanjie, Director, National Development and Reform Commission · July 20⁶

“We will step up infrastructure investment in transmission corridors, backbone networks, new distribution systems and storage, and use artificial intelligence to digitize the grid.”
Zhang Lin, Planning and Development Director, China Electricity Council · July 17⁸

“He broke the law while enforcing it and fed off the cases he handled; retired but not resting, he wielded power to amass wealth.”
Gansu Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, on Chen Tianxiong · July 17⁹

Sources

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Regular Press Conference Held by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian,” July 21, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt/fyrbt/…/press-conference-jul-21
Cyberspace Administration of China, “Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Issues the Implementation Plan for Deepening IPv6 Technological Innovation and Integrated Application (2026–2030),” July 21, 2026. cac.gov.cn/2026-07/21/…/ipv6-implementation-plan
State Council, “By 2030 China Will Basically Complete a Modernized Comprehensive Transport System,” July 21, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/transport-system-2030
State Council, “China's 2026 Childcare Subsidy Has Been Paid to More Than 25 Million People,” July 21, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/childcare-subsidy
State Council, “‘We Must Persevere in Advancing Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance’ — Commentary on General Secretary Xi Jinping's Speech at the 105th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China,” July 21, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/strict-party-governance
National Development and Reform Commission, “Director Zheng Shanjie Chairs Symposium with Private Enterprises on First-Half Economic Conditions and Second-Half Work,” July 20, 2026. ndrc.gov.cn/xwdt/xwfb/…/private-enterprise-symposium
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Regular Press Conference Held by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian,” July 20, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt/fyrbt/…/press-conference-jul-20
National Energy Administration, “15th Five-Year Plan Grid Investment to Exceed 5 Trillion Yuan,” July 17, 2026. nea.gov.cn/20260717/…/grid-investment-15fyp
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, “Chen Tianxiong, Former Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-President of the Gansu Provincial High People's Court, Expelled from the Party,” July 17, 2026. ccdi.gov.cn/yaowenn/…/chen-tianxiong