China and United States hold talks in Manila.
Today's events
AI-governance push.
A Qiushi commentary (July 23) spotlights Xi's World AI Conference keynote and a new AI Global Governance Action Plan, pledging capacity-building for the Global South.1Jul 23 · QiushiGrowth slows.
Second-quarter GDP rose 4.3 percent year-on-year, down from 5.0 percent in the first quarter; first-half growth was 4.7 percent.2Jul 16 · Stats BureauLand-sale slump.
First-half budget revenue rose 4.7 percent, but government-fund income fell 21.6 percent as land-sale proceeds dropped 31.5 percent.3Jul 22 · Finance MinistryDomestic-demand drive.
A Qiushi commentary (July 23) details a ¥100 billion central-fiscal package pairing fiscal and monetary tools to boost consumption and private investment.4Jul 23 · QiushiChina–U.S. talks.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi met U.S. Secretary of State Rubio in Manila, agreeing to prepare the next round of high-level exchanges toward “constructive strategic stability.”5Jul 22 · State CouncilGrid build-out.
Power-grid investment will exceed ¥5 trillion under the 15th Five-Year Plan — up over 80 percent — to feed surging AI data-center electricity demand.6Jul 17 · Energy AdministrationPrivate-economy signal.
The economic-planning chief convened private firms — including a humanoid-robot maker — on the second-half economy, pledging rule-of-law protection and lower financing barriers.7Jul 20 · Reform CommissionDouble expulsion.
The former deputy chief of Shanghai's civil-military-fusion office, Peng Song, was expelled from both the Party and public office for bribery.8Jul 21 · Discipline CommissionSouth China Sea protest.
China filed a formal protest with the Philippine ambassador after Manila's personnel rammed and attacked coast-guard officers at Ren'ai Reef, the foreign ministry said.9Jul 21 · Foreign Ministry
Voices
“We must broadly carry out international cooperation, help Global South countries strengthen capacity-building and bridge the digital divide, and avoid creating new historical injustice in artificial intelligence.”
President Xi Jinping, World AI Conference keynote · July 171
“This year is a ‘big year’ for China–U.S. relations. Our responsibility now is to follow the course the two presidents set, removing disruptions and overcoming obstacles.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Manila · July 225
“China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firmly opposes the Philippines' actions, and this morning we filed a formal protest with the Philippine ambassador.”
MFA Spokesperson Lin Jian · July 219
“Enterprises' read on the economy gives us an active reference for shaping policy — when businesses have vitality, the economy has momentum.”
Reform Commission Director Zheng Shanjie · July 207
“Compute power ultimately ends in electricity; advancing power-compute coordination is the inevitable path for China to win global competitiveness in the compute industry.”
Zhang Lin, China Electricity Council · July 176
“[Peng Song] engaged in power-for-money dealing, using his position to seek gains for others and illegally accepting huge sums.”
Shanghai Discipline Inspection Commission · July 218
Sources
- 求是 (Qiushi), “倡导和衷共济 完善全球治理” (Advocate working together, improve global governance — commentary on global AI governance), July 23, 2026. qstheory.cn/…/global-ai-governance
- 国家统计局 (Stats Bureau), “2026年二季度和上半年国内生产总值初步核算结果” (Preliminary Q2 and H1 2026 GDP accounting results), July 16, 2026. stats.gov.cn/…/h1-2026-gdp
- 财政部 (Ministry of Finance), “2026年上半年财政收支情况” (H1 2026 fiscal revenue and expenditure), July 22, 2026. mof.gov.cn/…/h1-2026-fiscal
- 求是 (Qiushi), “以更大力度落实财政金融协同促内需一揽子政策” (Implement with greater intensity the fiscal-financial package to boost domestic demand), July 23, 2026. qstheory.cn/…/domestic-demand-package
- 中国政府网 (State Council), “王毅会见美国国务卿鲁比奥” (Wang Yi meets U.S. Secretary of State Rubio), July 22, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/wang-yi-rubio
- 国家能源局 (National Energy Administration), “‘十五五’电网投资将达5万亿以上” (15th Five-Year Plan grid investment to exceed 5 trillion yuan), July 17, 2026. nea.gov.cn/…/grid-investment-15fyp
- 国家发展改革委 (NDRC), “郑栅洁主任主持召开民营企业座谈会” (Director Zheng Shanjie convenes private-enterprise symposium), July 20, 2026. ndrc.gov.cn/…/private-enterprise-symposium
- 中央纪委国家监委 (CCDI), “上海市委军民融合办原常务副主任彭崧被开除党籍和公职” (Peng Song expelled from Party and public office), July 21, 2026. ccdi.gov.cn/…/peng-song-expelled
- 外交部 (Foreign Ministry), “2026年7月21日外交部发言人林剑主持例行记者会” (Spokesperson Lin Jian regular press conference), July 21, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/…/lin-jian-2026-07-21