China's environmental code takes effect nationwide.
Today's events
Environment code.
China's second national code — the Ecological Environment Code — took effect August 15; a Zhejiang court decided the first case under it the same day.1Aug 15 · Supreme CourtFour nuclear approvals.
The State Council's executive meeting approved four nuclear power projects, including the first phase at Liaoning's Zhuanghe, and ordered the world's highest safety standards.2Aug 15 · State CouncilNew exit-entry rules.
Premier Li Qiang signed regulations effective September 15 barring exit for citizens who breach export-control or technology-transfer rules in ways endangering industrial security.3Aug 15 · State CouncilJuly credit data.
The central bank reported broad money up 7.7 percent in July, while household loans contracted 827 billion yuan across the first seven months.4Aug 14 · Central bankArtificial-intelligence usage.
A Qiushi commentary, August 15, reports Chinese models processed 140 trillion text units daily in March — a thousandfold rise in two years.5Aug 15 · QiushiJiang Zemin centenary.
Xi Jinping will address an August 17 ceremony in the Great Hall of the People marking 100 years since former leader Jiang Zemin's birth.6Aug 15 · XinhuaYasukuni offering.
China's defense ministry condemned Japan's prime minister for sending an offering to Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of Japan's surrender, warning against “new militarism.”7Aug 15 · Defense MinistryForced-labor listings.
The commerce ministry strongly condemned Washington for adding more than forty Chinese firms to its forced-labor import ban list a day after trade talks.8Aug 15 · Commerce MinistryAsia-Pacific talks in Dalian.
China will host more than 130 Asia-Pacific trade meetings in Dalian from August 17 to 28, with 2,300 delegates preparing November's leaders' summit.9Aug 14 · Foreign Ministry
Voices
“Comprehensively promote artificial-intelligence innovation, industrial development and application scenarios — let artificial intelligence empower every trade and industry.”
Xi Jinping, World Artificial Intelligence Conference keynote · July 175
“The courts must guard the environmental red line and also escort lawful market operators, letting the rule of law bridge survival today and lasting development.”
Qujiang District People's Court judgment, Zhejiang · Aug 151
“Nuclear units must be built and operated to the world's highest safety standards; we must ensure without the slightest failure that nuclear power is safe.”
State Council executive meeting, chaired by Premier Li Qiang · Aug 152
“If Japan willfully pursues a ‘new militarism’ and becomes a source of harm to regional peace, it will certainly again face justice and historical reckoning.”
Defense Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Bin · Aug 157
“One day after the trade talks, the United States rolled out a measure damaging China's interests. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this.”
Commerce Ministry Spokesperson · Aug 158
“Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. Establishing and managing a national nature reserve there falls within China's sovereignty; the United States has no right to comment.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun · Aug 149
Sources
- Supreme People's Court, “First case tried under the Ecological Environment Code decided in Zhejiang” (“生态环境法典施行第一案”在浙宣判), August 15, 2026. court.gov.cn/zixun/…/508821
- State Council, “Li Qiang chairs a State Council executive meeting; four nuclear power projects approved” (李强主持召开国务院常务会议), published August 15, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/content_7077210
- State Council, “Li Qiang signs a State Council decree promulgating the Regulations on Exit and Entry Administration” (《国务院关于出境入境管理的规定》), published August 15, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/content_7077180
- People's Bank of China, “Financial statistics report for July 2026” (2026年7月金融统计数据报告), August 14, 2026. pbc.gov.cn/goutongjiaoliu/…/2026-07-financial-statistics
- Qiushi, “Driving high-quality development of the intelligent economy with tokens as the engine” (以词元为引擎推动智能经济高质量发展), August 15, 2026. qstheory.cn/20260815/…/intelligent-economy
- Cyberspace Administration of China (Xinhua release), “Ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Comrade Jiang Zemin's birth to be held in Beijing on the 17th”, August 15, 2026. cac.gov.cn/2026-08/15/…/jiang-zemin-centenary
- Ministry of National Defense, “Spokesperson Jiang Bin answers questions on Japanese political figures visiting the Yasukuni Shrine”, August 15, 2026. mod.gov.cn/gfbw/xwfyr/…/16479566
- Ministry of Commerce, “Spokesperson answers questions on the United States placing Chinese firms on the entity list under the so-called Xinjiang act”, August 15, 2026. mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/xwfyrth/…/uflpa-entity-list
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Spokesperson Guo Jiakun answers reporters' questions, August 14, 2026”, August 14, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt/fyrbt/…/t20260814