Party anti-corruption body elects two deputy chiefs.
Today's events
Party discipline plenum.
The Party's anti-corruption commission met August 22 in Beijing, elected two deputy secretaries, and ordered strict discipline over the coming leadership reshuffles.1Aug 23 · CPC NewsCabinet on growth.
Premier Li Qiang told the State Council's twelfth full meeting that weak domestic demand remains the main problem, and pressed for new stimulus.2Aug 18 · State CouncilInternet industry plan.
China's top cyberspace commission published a 2026–2030 action plan for internet and information-technology firms, setting seven action lines and backing their expansion abroad.3Aug 21 · Cyberspace Admin.Countermeasures on Washington.
The commerce ministry opened China's first foreign-trade national-security investigation, targeting imported office printers running foreign software, and tightened drone export controls.4Aug 19 · MOFCOMJuly economy.
Fixed-asset investment fell 6.7% over seven months and property development 19.2%, while high-technology manufacturing output rose 13.8%.5Aug 17 · Stats BureauChip design protection.
The State Council rewrote its 2001 rules protecting integrated-circuit layout designs, with the revised regulation taking effect October 15.6Aug 18 · State CouncilSwiss trade deal.
China and Switzerland completed talks to upgrade their free-trade agreement, signing a memorandum in Bern after five rounds of negotiation.7Aug 21 · MOFCOMBattery storage.
The energy administration reported new-type storage capacity hit 136 gigawatts by end-2025, up 84.3%, making it the power system's largest balancing resource.8Aug 21 · NEAKuwait visit.
Kuwait's foreign minister begins a two-day official visit to China on August 23, as Beijing again refused American pressure to sanction Iran.9Aug 21 · MFA
Voices
“Insufficient domestic demand remains a prominent problem, difficulties are mounting for some industries and enterprises, and uncertainty in the external environment is rising.”
Premier Li Qiang, State Council full meeting · Aug 172
“Strengthen political supervision, deepen political inspection tours, enforce strict discipline through the leadership transition, and press on unswervingly to rectify conduct and fight corruption.”
Communiqué, Sixth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Discipline Inspection Commission · Aug 221
“China's countermeasures are on the whole restrained. China values the hard-won stability of its economic and trade relationship with the United States.”
Commerce Ministry spokesperson · Aug 194
“China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack any basis in international law and any Security Council authorization, and calls on all parties to act responsibly.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian · Aug 219
“Firms driven at their core by network and information technology are a vital force in building a cyber-power, and are decisive for new quality productive forces and international competitiveness.”
Action Plan on Internet and Information Enterprises, 2026–2030 · Aug 213
“Production and supply grew steadily, employment and prices stayed broadly stable, foreign trade showed continued resilience, and the national economy ran generally smoothly.”
National Bureau of Statistics, January–July report · Aug 175
Sources
- CPC News, “Communiqué of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China,” August 23, 2026. cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0823/…/ccdi-sixth-plenum-communique
- State Council (via Ministry of Commerce), “Li Qiang Chairs the 12th Plenary Meeting of the State Council, Stressing Full Implementation of the Party Central Committee's Decisions,” August 17, 2026. mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/ldrhd/…/state-council-12th-plenary
- Cyberspace Administration of China, “Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Issues the Action Plan for Promoting the High-Quality Development of Internet and Information Enterprises (2026–2030),” August 21, 2026. cac.gov.cn/2026-08/21/…/internet-enterprise-action-plan
- Ministry of Commerce, “Spokesperson Answers Questions on Countermeasures Against a Series of Negative China-Related Measures by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and Department of Homeland Security,” August 19, 2026. mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/xwfyrth/…/fcc-dhs-countermeasures
- National Bureau of Statistics, “The National Economy Maintained Overall Stability and Continued to Develop Toward New Drivers and a Better Structure in January–July,” August 17, 2026. stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202608/…/jan-jul-national-economy
- State Council, “Regulations on the Protection of Integrated Circuit Layout Designs” (State Council Order No. 842, revised July 23, 2026; effective October 15, 2026), published August 18, 2026. gov.cn/zhengce/content/202608/…/ic-layout-design-protection
- Ministry of Commerce, “China and Switzerland Announce Completion of Free Trade Agreement Upgrade Negotiations,” August 21, 2026. mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/bldhd/…/china-switzerland-fta-upgrade
- National Energy Administration, “New-Type Energy Storage Becomes the Largest Regulating Resource” (China New-Type Energy Storage Development Report 2026), August 21, 2026. nea.gov.cn/20260821/…/new-type-energy-storage-report
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference,” August 21, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt/fyrbt/202608/…/lin-jian-aug-21-presser