Cross-border corruption law, defense bill · Aug 26

China’s legislature reviews first cross-border corruption law.

Today's events

Cross-border corruption law.
China’s anti-graft commission submitted the country’s first standalone law on overseas corruption, adding integrity-compliance duties for Chinese companies operating abroad.¹Aug 25 · NPC
Defense mobilization law.
A second reading defines mobilization as converting economic and social strength into defense strength, and authorizes state collection of mobilization-related data.²Aug 25 · NPC
Cadre performance rules.
A Xi directive carried in Qiushi on August 24 orders a permanent mechanism policing how officials chase results, laying groundwork for provincial leadership turnover.³Aug 24 · Qiushi
Half-year growth report.
Central planners told the legislature first-half growth hit 4.7%, the largest increment in five years, and promised more fiscal and monetary easing.⁴Aug 25 · NPC
U.S. Iran sanctions.
The Foreign Ministry said it firmly opposes the new American Iran measures, which name Chinese companies, and will take all necessary countermeasures.⁵Aug 25 · MFA
Long-term care insurance.
A third reading of the medical insurance law writes a national long-term care insurance system into statute and opens employee coverage to gig workers.⁶Aug 25 · NPC
Provincial official expelled.
A former economic committee chairman of Sichuan’s provincial legislature was expelled from the Party and public office for bribery and resisting investigation.⁷Aug 25 · CCDI
Fusion energy.
The science ministry said the 15th Five-Year Plan lists controlled fusion as a national frontier mega-project, opening a Shanghai conference on industrializing it.⁸Aug 25 · MOST
Grid storage.
The energy administration reported new-type storage reached 136 gigawatts by end-2025, up 84%, overtaking pumped hydro as the grid’s largest balancing resource.⁹Aug 21 · NEA

Voices

“Establishing and practicing a correct view of performance is a long-term task requiring sustained effort, to create real achievements that withstand the test of practice, the people and history.”
Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party · August 24³

“China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions with no basis in international law and no Security Council authorization. Economic warfare and maximum pressure only sharpen conflict.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian · August 25⁵

“National defense mobilization means measures the state takes by law, when sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, security or development interests are threatened, to turn economic and social strength into defense strength.”
Draft revised National Defense Mobilization Law, second reading · August 25²

“The second half’s economic work is arduous and heavy. We must complete this year’s development targets with quality and deliver a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.”
Wang Changlin, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission · August 25⁴

“Greed swelled until he turned public power into a tool for private gain, taking especially large sums for steering contracts and job transfers.”
Sichuan Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision · August 25⁷

“We must hold firm confidence while respecting scientific law, giving full play to the new whole-nation system to speed the engineering and industrialization of fusion technology.”
Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology · August 25⁸

Sources

National People's Congress, “搬建反跨境腐败制度“四梁八柱” — Draft Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law submitted for first reading,” August 26, 2026 (session of August 25). npc.gov.cn/c2/c30834/…/t20260826_456932
National People's Congress, “明确国防动员数据收集使用及安全管理规定 — Revised National Defense Mobilization Law, second reading,” August 26, 2026 (session of August 25). npc.gov.cn/c2/c30834/…/t20260826_456937
Qiushi (Party Theoretical Journal), “习近平作出重要指示强调 — Xi Jinping instruction on consolidating the correct performance-outlook education campaign,” August 24, 2026. qstheory.cn/20260824/…/c.html
National People's Congress, “努力实现“十五五”良好开局 — Report on execution of the 2026 national economic and social development plan,” August 26, 2026 (report delivered August 25). npc.gov.cn/c2/c30834/…/t20260826_456921
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Regular press conference held by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian,” August 25, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt_674879/fyrbt_674889/…/t20260825
National People's Congress, “增加长期护理保险相关规定 — Draft Medical Security Law submitted for third reading,” August 26, 2026 (session of August 25). npc.gov.cn/c2/c30834/…/t20260826_456933
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, “Liu Zhongbo, former member of the Sichuan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee and chairman of its Economic Committee, expelled from the Party and from public office,” August 25, 2026. ccdi.gov.cn/yaowenn/…/t20260825_508646
Ministry of Science and Technology, “Vice Minister Zhang Guangjun attends the opening of the 2026 Fusion Energy Conference and Fusion Week,” August 25, 2026. most.gov.cn/kjbgz/…/t20260825_197198
National Energy Administration, “新型储能成为第一大调节性资源 — China New-Type Energy Storage Development Report (2026),” August 21, 2026. nea.gov.cn/20260821/…/c.html