NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : SCMP
In Brief
INTERNAL
Beijing quietly sets up new social stability body ahead of 2027 party congress
On 10 September, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China's ruling Communist Party has quietly established a high-level party group, the Leading Group for Social Governance, signalling a renewed push for social stability about a year ahead of its 21st national congress, expected in autumn 2027. Beijing has never officially announced the body's formation, nor disclosed its leadership. Its existence has instead emerged through a trail of local government reports over recent months. The latest hint came in an online post from Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, where local authorities said they had convened a meeting to "convey and study" the spirit of the group's "fifth plenary meeting" alongside its regional counterpart. The group's creation underscores growing focus on internal security and grass-roots governance ahead of the party congress.
("China's Communist Party quietly signals social stability push with new high-level body," South China Morning Post, 10 September 2026)
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366894/chinas-communist-party-quietly-signals-social-stability-push-new-high-level-body
Xinjiang hosts 300 foreign officials; Scholars to showcase governance model
On 08 September, Xinhua reported that more than 300 government officials, scholars, business representatives, and journalists from 33 countries gathered in Urumqi for the Xinjiang Friendship and Exchange Conference with Distinguished International Guests, themed "Xinjiang's Governance Experience and Its International Significance." Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev praised the region's security and economic cooperation, while Minzu University professor Mark Levine described witnessing "the shift from insecurity to lasting peace and vitality" across multiple visits. A 2025 white paper cited at the conference said Xinjiang's railways reached 9,202 kilometres and its highway network about 230,000 kilometres by 2024, with average life expectancy rising to 77 years, up from 30 in 1949. Sessions covered counter-terrorism, ethnic unity, social governance, and opposition to "unilateral sanctions."
("China Focus: Xinjiang governance experience, global relevance in focus at Urumqi conference," Xinhua, 08 September 2026)
https://english.news.cn/20260908/43273ae8e7454982b8cffaa07af1022d/c.html
444 residents return home as Xizang mudslide barrier lake threat eases, death toll hits 43
On 08 September, Xinhua reported that 444 residents evacuated from villages near Gyirong Town, Xizang, have safely returned home after the threat from a barrier lake was largely eliminated, following the mudslide triggered by a 26 August glacier collapse in Nepal. The barrier lake above Gyirong Port's core area has been drained, with the river resuming normal flow after days of safety inspections and hydrological monitoring. Local officials assisted evacuees' livestock, poultry, and crops during the displacement, and delivered food and necessities door to door upon their return. As of 05 September, 43 people were confirmed dead and 519 remained missing, including 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries.
("Evacuated residents returning home after mudslide hits border port in China's Xizang," Xinhua, 08 September 2026)
https://english.news.cn/20260908/01ce64f8f7844b658b65ee2585fac1f2/c.html
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
China unveils leapfrog tech next-gen J-36 fighter
On 10 September, SCMP reported that China's Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute, the developer of the secretive J-50 fighter, published a paper laying out its vision for next-generation combat jets which are likely relevant to the J-50 and J-36 programs. The plan centers on three big upgrades: first, aircrafts that can take over flying themselves if a pilot becomes unconscious or is overloaded, second, navigation systems (including quantum-based sensors) that work even when GPS is jammed, and third, drone "wingman" formations that can automatically reorganize if one aircraft is damaged or lost. The researchers frame this as a shift from older eras of air combat, focused on maneuvering, then stealth and sensors toward an AI-driven, networked style of warfare where manned and unmanned aircraft coordinate as a team. Furthermore, they are also highly cautious about AI as they want it handling tactics and coordination, not the safety-critical core flying functions, which stay under tightly controlled, predictable systems. The paper published is a proposed roadmap rather than confirmation that these technologies are already flying today.
(“J-50 designers reveal leapfrog tech for China’s next-gen stealth fighters,” SCMP, 10 September 2026)
https://sc.mp/1bee4?utm_source=copy-link&utm_campaign=3367010&utm_medium=share_widget
China’s 5th Global Digital Trade Expo showcases AI and global partnerships
On 08 September, Xinhua net reported that the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo will take place from 23 to 27 September in Hangzhou, China, focusing heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) across its 170,000-square-meter exhibition space. Over one-third of the exhibitors will showcase AI innovations, alongside side competitions covering robotics and brain-computer interfaces in the event. The highly international event features Malaysia and Hungary as guest countries, drawing attendees from 121 nations and 40,000 buyers who are expected to drive USD 977 million in procurement orders. This expo highlights China's rapid digital trade growth which averaged 11.2 per cent annually from 2016 to 2025, as the country aims to have digital services command over 50 per cent of its total service trade by 2035.
(“AI to take center stage at 5th global digital expo,” Xinhua net, 08 September 2026)
https://english.news.cn/20260908/d9679f5f0163435f93dc46997225a746/c.html
CHINA AND EAST ASIA
Japan's military build-up faces mounting domestic constraints amid China tensions
On 09 September, South China Morning Post reported that Japan's most ambitious military transformation since World War II, driven by the risk of being drawn into a Taiwan conflict, faced significant economic, demographic, and political constraints at home. Analysts said Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF) had only 217,701 personnel against an authorised 247,154 as of March, with defence ministry projections suggesting numbers could fall to around 130,000 by 2045 without corrective action. The defence ministry requested a record JPY 8.9 trillion (USD 55.7 billion) for the 2027 financial year, its 15th consecutive annual increase, with officials indicating the figure could rise to around JPY 10 trillion once Japan's security documents are revised by year's end. Analysts warned that rising debt-servicing costs and a weak yen, which raises the cost of dollar-priced US equipment, could limit how much military capability Japan can actually afford. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks last November suggesting a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" drew strong criticism from Beijing, which could tighten controls on rare earths and dual-use materials in response, analysts said, potentially reinforcing Japanese threat perceptions and further complicating regional dynamics.
("Japan's China-facing military build-up confronts labour, budget and political limits," South China Morning Post, 09 September 2026)
https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3366923/japans-china-facing-military-build-confronts-labour-budget-and-political-limits?module=top_story&pgtype=section
CHINA AND THE AMERICAS
US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams
On 10 September, South China Morning Post reported that the United States has sanctioned the Chinese-language online marketplace Xinbi Guarantee and two affiliated organisations as part of a wider crackdown on transnational cybercrime. The US Department of Justice also seized Telegram channels and cryptocurrency wallets associated with the platform, freezing more than US$52 million in potentially laundered funds in a single day. Xinbi Guarantee, which operates through Telegram and reportedly has more than 650,000 users, is accused of providing a marketplace where scam centres could purchase and sell illicit services targeting Americans. The sanctions also targeted Singapore-based SafeW Technology and Cambodia-based Anwen Technology, which Washington alleges provided applications supporting Xinbi’s operations. The enforcement action was carried out by the Justice Department’s inter-agency Scam Centre Strike Force alongside the Treasury Department. The case highlights the increasingly transnational nature of online scam networks and adds another dimension to US concerns over Chinese-linked cybercrime infrastructure.
(“US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams,” South China Morning Post, 10 September 2026)
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3366977/us-sanctions-chinese-language-xinbi-guarantee-marketplace-over-cyber-scams
Brazil scraps tax on small parcels as Chinese platforms gain tariff-free access
On 10 September, South China Morning Post reported that Brazil has eliminated its federal import tax on small overseas parcels, providing Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Shopee and AliExpress with continued tariff-free access to Latin America’s largest economy. The decision reverses efforts to impose greater taxation on low-value imports and comes as the United States and European Union move in the opposite direction by closing similar trade loopholes. The report noted that Brazil’s tax had applied to lower-value purchases including clothing, electronics, toys and household goods. Although its removal is expected to reduce government tax revenues, the measure had become politically unpopular ahead of Brazil’s October 4 presidential election. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the decision as a matter of social justice, arguing that lower-income consumers should not face additional costs when purchasing inexpensive goods from abroad. The development could strengthen the position of Chinese online retailers in the Brazilian market while highlighting contrasting approaches to regulating low-value Chinese imports across major economies.
(“Brazil scraps tax on small parcels as Chinese platforms lose US and EU access,” South China Morning Post, 10 September 2026)
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3366975/brazil-scraps-tax-small-parcels-chinese-platforms-lose-us-and-eu-access