China

Global Times | English | News | Nov. 21, 2025 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

Hiroyuki Nishimura, founder of the Japanese online forum 2ch and a social media influencer with 2.68 million followers, warned that provocative and irrational anti-China rhetoric in Japan risks repeating the mistakes of World War II. He criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for making reckless remarks about Taiwan that have provoked strong backlash from China and increased the burden on ordinary Japanese citizens.

Nishimura highlighted Japan's economic dependence on China, noting that a cutoff of Chinese exports would lead to shortages of fertilizers affecting food supply and rare earths critical for Japan's high-tech industry. He criticized irresponsible anti-China sentiment stoked by some netizens, celebrities, and media outlets, emphasizing that such actions harm the public and create unnecessary hostility.

Referencing history, Nishimura pointed out that despite Japan’s navy acknowledging the country's unpreparedness for World War II, irrational public sentiment pushed the nation into devastating conflict. He urged rational judgment to avoid repeating this error. Nishimura also condemned unethical media practices that inflame uninformed public opinion, emphasizing that ordinary people bear the consequences of such conflicts.

Public responses on social media reflected agreement with Nishimura’s critique, expressing concern over the current right-wing government’s policies and media narratives. Many called for politicians to prioritize peace over populism, warning against the dangers of militarization and the misuse of collective self-defense rights. Nishimura reaffirmed that most Japanese and Chinese people desire peace, and cautioned against allowing a radical minority to disrupt peaceful coexistence.

Xinhua | English | News | Nov. 21, 2025 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

Michelin recently produced its 100 millionth passenger tire at its Shenyang plant in Liaoning Province, highlighting the growing collaboration between foreign companies and China's manufacturing sector, particularly in the green transition. This milestone marks 30 years of Michelin's expansion in China, which is now its largest and most advanced production base globally. The company has developed a new tire series specifically for electric vehicles (EVs), emphasizing energy efficiency, safety, and noise reduction, responding to the unique demands EVs place on tires.

Michelin currently controls over 30 percent of China's high-end new energy vehicle (NEV) tire market and collaborates with many local automakers. The company's investment in Shenyang has surpassed 12.5 billion yuan (approximately 1.76 billion USD) since 2010, improving manufacturing flexibility and reducing order response times significantly. Michelin's growth reflects a broader trend of multinational automakers integrating their operations and innovation efforts into China's booming NEV market and manufacturing ecosystem.

Other foreign enterprises are also deepening their presence in China. Tesla has begun production at its first energy storage super factory outside the U.S. in Shanghai. BMW’s largest global production base is in Shenyang, where its new "Neue Klasse" models are expected by 2026. Volkswagen has established its largest R&D center outside Germany in China, focusing on intelligent connected vehicles. These moves illustrate increased integration of technology, capital, and innovation between foreign companies and China’s industrial chain, supported by higher environmental standards, faster technological advancements, and global competition.

第一观察｜总书记为新征程上推进全面依法治国指明前进方向

China Daily | Local Language | News | Nov. 21, 2025 | UndeterminedLegal Exposure

From November 17 to 18, the Central Conference on Comprehensively Governing the Country According to Law was held in Beijing, where General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on legal governance were conveyed. Marking the five-year anniversary since the first such conference in 2020, this meeting coincides with the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the planning phase of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which sets higher goals for building a socialist rule-of-law country.

General Secretary Xi emphasized two main areas for greater focus: coordinating the rule of law with reform, development, and stability; and ensuring social fairness and justice. He highlighted the rule of law as essential to Chinese-style modernization, urging the integration of legal thinking into governance to guide reform, stabilize expectations, and secure long-term development. Additionally, Xi stressed that social fairness and justice are the lifelines of the rule of law, underscoring the importance of protecting people's rights and promoting fairness across all legal processes to meet rising public demands in various aspects of life.

The instructions also called for comprehensive advancement in four areas: scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial judiciary, and law-abiding behavior by all. These interconnected components aim to strengthen the legitimacy and effectiveness of legal governance, enhance national governance modernization, and safeguard ecological and cultural values. The unity of ruling by law and governing the Party according to regulations is key to fostering high-quality economic and social development.

Finally, Xi urged collective effort to build rule-of-law China, emphasizing top-to-bottom coordination among Party committees, departments, and society at large. Leadership, responsibility, and broad participation are necessary to forge a solid foundation for legal governance. The path toward socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is set to expand, supporting the country's prosperity and strength in the new era.