Xi on state firms, solar tops coal · Nov 13

Xi orders tighter Party control of state firms.

Today's events

Orders on state firms.
Xi told state-owned enterprises to deepen Party control and strict discipline; Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi carried the instruction to a national conference.¹Nov 13 · State Council
Japan's nuclear line.
Defense ministry called Tokyo's reported plan to allow exceptions to its non-nuclear principles a blatant challenge to the postwar order and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.²Nov 13 · MND
Solar tops coal.
Energy agency said solar overtook coal in July as China's largest installed power source; renewables now supply more than forty percent of generation.³Nov 13 · NEA
Oversight of top leaders.
Politburo member Li Hongzhong detailed the new supervision rules: discipline commissions must report upward twice a year on how “top leaders” exercise power.⁴Nov 13 · State Council
Hainan free port.
Four ministries issued sixteen measures to open Hainan's free trade port further, widening autonomous opening in medical services, insurance and professional licensing.⁵Nov 12 · MOFCOM
Crisis-communication talks.
Defense ministry confirmed the fourth China-US crisis communication working group met in Washington November 2–3 to implement the two presidents' consensus.⁶Nov 13 · MND
Xinjiang blacklist.
Commerce Ministry strongly condemned Washington's addition of three Chinese firms to the forced-labor import blacklist, saying it breaks the two presidents' consensus.⁷Nov 12 · MOFCOM
High seas treaty.
Foreign ministry objected to a merged Belgium-Chile bid to host the ocean-biodiversity treaty secretariat, pressing China's own candidate city, Xiamen.⁸Nov 12 · MFA
Grid standard.
Market regulator said the International Electrotechnical Commission approved a China-led proposal to write the first global standard for virtual power plants.⁹Nov 13 · SAMR

Voices

“[We must] persevere in advancing full and strict Party governance, providing a strong guarantee for making state-owned enterprises and state capital stronger, better and bigger.”
Xi Jinping, instruction on Party building in state-owned enterprises · Nov 13¹

“The international community needs to stay highly vigilant and take countermeasures against Japan's push for remilitarization, uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and defend security and peace of the world.”
Senior Colonel Chen Xi, Defense Ministry Spokesperson · Nov 13²

“For a long time the vast majority of the world's major international institutions have been based in Europe; not one has been in Asia.”
Mao Ning, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson · Nov 12⁸

“Lower-level discipline commissions must report to the level above at least every six months on how leading-group members, especially ‘top leaders,’ exercise power.”
Li Hongzhong, Politburo Member · Nov 13⁴

“The storm hit; China stood unshaken. Renewable power exceeded forty percent of generation, and every kind of energy demand was securely met.”
National Energy Administration, account of the solar buildout · Nov 13³

“The US measures have no factual basis; Washington manipulates the human-rights issue as a cover for unilateral protectionism and bullying. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this.”
Spokesperson, Ministry of Commerce · Nov 12⁷

Sources

State Council (gov.cn), “习近平对国有企业党的建设工作作出重要指示” (Xi Jinping Issues Important Instruction on Party Building in State-Owned Enterprises), November 13, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/content_7085945
Ministry of National Defense, “国防部：日本右翼势力种种行径是对战后国际秩序的公然挑衅” (Acts of Japanese Right-wing Forces Blatantly Challenge the Postwar International Order), November 13, 2026. mod.gov.cn/gfbw/xwfyr/…/16499517
National Energy Administration, “超越煤电，光伏成为我国装机第一大电源” (Surpassing Coal Power, Solar Becomes China's Largest Installed Power Source), November 13, 2026. nea.gov.cn/20261113/…/solar-tops-coal
State Council (gov.cn), Li Hongzhong, “进一步完善党和国家监督体系” (Further Improving the Party and State Supervision System), November 13, 2026. gov.cn/yaowen/…/content_7085935
Ministry of Commerce, “商务部等4部门印发关于进一步提高海南自由贸易港贸易自由化便利化水平的通知” (Four Departments Issue Notice on Further Raising Trade Liberalization and Facilitation in the Hainan Free Trade Port), November 12, 2026. mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/rcxwfb/…/hainan-free-trade-port
Ministry of National Defense, “国防部：中美两国防务部门就各层级交流对话保持沟通协调” (Chinese and U.S. Defense Establishments Maintain Coordination on Dialogues at Different Levels), November 13, 2026. mod.gov.cn/gfbw/xwfyr/…/16499519
Ministry of Commerce, “商务部新闻发言人就美国将中国企业列入所谓涉疆法案实体清单答记者问” (Spokesperson on the United States Adding Chinese Companies to the So-Called Xinjiang-Related Entity List), November 12, 2026. mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/xwfyrth/…/xinjiang-entity-list
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “2026年11月12日外交部发言人毛宁主持例行记者会” (Regular Press Conference of Spokesperson Mao Ning), November 12, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt/fyrbt/…/t20261112_12058185
State Administration for Market Regulation, “我国牵头虚拟电厂一次调频国际标准正式立项” (China-Led International Standard on Primary Frequency Regulation for Virtual Power Plants Formally Approved), November 13, 2026. samr.gov.cn/xw/sj/…/virtual-power-plant-standard