China

【社论】“高效办成一件事”，让政务服务好办、易办

China Daily | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedInitiative

On January 12, the General Office of the State Council released the "List of Key Items for the First Batch of 2026 of 'Efficiently Completing a Task,'" aiming to enhance government service convenience by integrating online and offline channels and refining key service items based on local conditions. The effort targets a transition from government services being merely "can be handled" to "well-handled and easy-to-handle."

The list includes 13 items addressing both major development issues like innovation support for technology enterprises, intellectual property protection, and sports event hosting, as well as everyday concerns such as childcare allowance applications, flexible employment insurance enrollment, and new services for foreign nationals and shipping operations. These items are designed to serve market entities and the public directly.

Since July 2025, guidelines were issued to strengthen management, normalize implementation, and expand the application areas of the "Efficiently Completing a Task" mechanism. This reform involves complex systemic coordination across departments and requires revising processes, clarifying responsibilities, and enhancing data sharing to improve administrative efficiency.

Localities like Beijing and Shanghai have made significant progress by optimizing processes and fostering interdepartmental collaboration, achieving milestones such as "one-form application, one-time completion." These reforms address public and business demands by breaking down barriers, promoting data sharing, and reintegrating procedural steps to deliver perceptible improvements in service efficiency.

So far, five batches of the key-items list have been released nationally, totaling 55 items, progressively simplifying processes, reducing documentation, and cutting time costs. This continuous reform enhances administrative efficiency and public satisfaction, making government services more predictable for enterprises and more stable for individuals, while supporting economic and social development.

Looking forward, "Efficiently Completing a Task" is positioned not just to finalize specific items but to broadly improve government governance capacity and foster high-quality development. As new social needs and business models arise, ongoing reform must be dynamic and iterative, continuously addressing emerging issues to strengthen government responsiveness and service quality.

CNBC | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedInvestor Sentiment

Gold and silver experienced significant price rallies in 2025, with gold rising about 65% and silver increasing around 150%. These precious metals have continued to climb into early 2026, driven by factors such as supply constraints, geopolitical tensions, and concerns over central bank independence. Gold recently hit record highs above $4,600 an ounce, while silver surpassed the $90 mark, reflecting strong investor demand amid growing uncertainties.

A key driver behind the rising prices is "resource nationalism," where countries like the U.S. and China seek greater control over critical resources. China imposed export controls on silver in December 2025, limiting supply for manufacturing sectors heavily reliant on the metal. The U.S. has responded by attempting to restrict resources flowing to China, such as Venezuelan oil, increasing geopolitical risks that underpin precious metal demand. Industry experts expect this dynamic to continue, especially ahead of a potential April meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping that may address export restrictions.

Analysts predict gold could reach $5,000 per ounce and silver could surpass $100 this year, supported by ongoing geopolitical instability and physical shortages, particularly in silver. Silver is essential for various industries including electronics, electric vehicles, and renewables, making it critical for industrial production in Western economies. The price discrepancy between silver trading in Shanghai and Western markets points to increased demand and tighter supplies, which may push prices even higher.

Additional factors supporting precious metals include concerns over the independence of the U.S. Federal Reserve after an investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, which has increased gold's appeal as a safe-haven asset and inflation hedge. Central bankers globally have shown solidarity with Powell, but uncertainty remains. Economic issues such as U.S. budget deficits, expectations of lower interest rates, and sustained geopolitical tensions further bolster the outlook for gold and silver prices in 2026.

Global Times | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedIP Protection

China’s first AI companion chat app, Alien Chat, developed to provide intimate companionship and emotional support, entered its second trial stage in Shanghai following the arrest of its main developer and operator in April 2024 over pornographic content generated by the app. The initial court sentenced the defendants to prison terms for producing obscene materials for profit, but the defendants appealed, prompting a re-examination of the legal boundaries of emotional AI services.

The controversy centers on whether explicit content generated in private AI-user conversations carries social harmfulness and constitutes a criminal offense. The app allowed graphic violence and explicit sex content through system prompts designed to bypass moral restrictions of the language model. It amassed over 116,000 users, including 24,000 paying members, collecting more than 3 million yuan. The prosecution argued intentional production of obscene content, while the defense claimed the explicit material was AI-generated dialogue, intended for debugging, not dissemination, and should not be criminalized.

Experts emphasize the need for improved AI regulation in China, stressing that AI companion services require technical standards filings, comprehensive content supervision, and proactive filtering to prevent the release of harmful material. Draft national measures released in late 2025 prohibit AI services from generating or spreading obscenity, violence, or other illicit content, advocating for graded user management and prompt verification to guide outputs. The case’s outcome is anticipated to refine the legal framework governing AI emotional companion applications.