China

Kangxin Partners PC | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 2, 2026 | UndeterminedIP Protection

In patent application drafting, the background technology section is not an isolated description but forms a legally logical "contract" with the claims, especially independent claims. A key principle is that independent claims must include all necessary technical features to solve the specific technical problem addressed. According to patent regulations and guidelines, independent claims should reflect a technical solution as a whole and solve one or more closely related technical problems, rather than addressing all problems mentioned in the background.

An example using winter melon meatball soup illustrates the pitfalls of an overly broad independent claim attempting to solve multiple problems simultaneously, resulting in a narrow protection scope. If all issues like excessive saltiness, lack of freshness, cooking time discrepancies, and seasonal flavor difficulties are combined into one claim, competitors can easily bypass the patent protection by omitting any single feature.

The solution is to identify and focus on the "core problem" that the invention primarily addresses, allowing the independent claim to be concise and targeted. For instance, if the main innovation solves the cooking time mismatch through core steps like frying meatballs and blanching winter melon, the independent claim should focus on these necessary features. Other optimizations can be included as dependent claims, creating a hierarchical and resilient protection system.

When drafting the application, it is essential to prioritize the central technical problem and craft independent claims as a precise "vanguard" addressing that core issue. Additional improvements should be protected through dependent claims, forming a clear and robust patent framework rather than attempting to cover all possible issues in a single claim.

Global Times | English | News | Jan. 2, 2026 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will visit China from January 4 to 7, 2026, marking his first state visit to China since taking office. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the visit will positively advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership under the guidance of the two heads of state.

The trip follows a November meeting in Busan between Chinese and South Korean leaders that helped stabilize relations and is seen as a chance to build a more substantive consensus on the future trajectory of bilateral ties. Lee's visit reflects a pragmatic diplomatic approach and a clear prioritization of relations with China compared to the previous South Korean administration.

During the visit, Lee will spend time in Beijing for official engagements before traveling to Shanghai to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of independence leader Kim Koo and the 100th anniversary of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea site. The events commemorate the shared anti-fascist history between China and South Korea and emphasize support for the post-World War II international order.

President Lee's itinerary also includes efforts to promote partnerships between South Korean and Chinese companies in the venture startup sector, with economic and trade cooperation expected to be a core focus of the visit. The visit has been broadly covered by South Korean media as a significant step in restoring and advancing bilateral relations.

储能行业重回高景气

Guangming Daily | Local Language | News | Jan. 2, 2026 | UndeterminedEnergy Prices

The energy storage industry in China is experiencing a return to high prosperity driven by clarified targets, improved revenue models, and decreasing system costs. By the end of September 2025, the installed capacity of new-type energy storage exceeded 100 million kilowatts, becoming a key factor in promoting new energy consumption and ensuring power supply reliability. The sector has attracted over 200 billion yuan in project investment since the 14th Five-Year Plan, stimulating more than one trillion yuan across the industrial chain.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have set development targets for 2025 to 2027, aiming to add over 100 million kilowatts to reach more than 180 million kilowatts of installed capacity by 2027. This expansion is expected to drive project investments of approximately 250 billion yuan. The energy storage market is being boosted by clarified capacity goals, optimized pricing mechanisms, and increased company investment enthusiasm. Globally, rising demand in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific aligns with domestic growth.

Cost reductions are a key contributor to recent industry growth, with energy storage system costs falling about 80% compared to three years ago and some regions seeing costs below 0.2 yuan per kilowatt-hour. Continued technological breakthroughs and increased industrial scale have enhanced energy storage performance while reducing prices. In 2025, over 300 new energy storage products were launched, emphasizing large capacity and high power. Leading companies like Ningde Times New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. have scaled commercial use of large-capacity cells, such as the 587 Ah cell, projected to ship 3 GWh by year-end.

The development of large-capacity cells improves system economics but also raises higher safety and reliability requirements. Technologies such as high-safety electrolytes and explosion-proof valves are key to meeting these demands. Industry leaders advocate for a focus on true safety and efficiency rather than overstated performance claims. Looking forward to the 15th Five-Year Plan, the market is expected to transition toward market-driven growth, leveraging the green value of energy storage, expanding application scenarios, and innovating business models. Stable value return mechanisms are anticipated to shift industry competition from price-based to value-based.