China

Global Times | English | News | Jan. 7, 2026 | Cyber Attacks and Data Loss

Chinese authorities have issued warnings about a new near-field communication (NFC) scam that enables criminals to remotely steal funds from bank cards and harvest personal data. The scam exploits the misconception that NFC’s short-range technology, which works within about 10 centimeters, is secure. Fraudsters pose as customer service agents, using scenarios like flight cancellation refunds or membership cancellations to gain victims’ trust.

Once trust is established, victims are tricked into downloading malicious apps or allowing remote phone control through screen-sharing. Scammers then instruct victims to enable NFC and hold their bank cards near their phones to skim card details, which are linked to fake payment tools to transfer funds. These scams leverage illegally obtained data and small-amount password-free payments, allowing unauthorized transactions without victims entering passwords.

Victims often lose control over their phones, with malicious apps accessing contacts, messages, locations, and other sensitive permissions. Real-time screen-sharing lets scammers capture verification codes and passwords. The exposure of personal information can lead to reselling of data, targeted scams, fake accounts, money laundering, and long-term damage to credit and digital security.

Authorities advised the public not to trust unsolicited calls about refunds or compensation, avoid clicking unknown links or downloading apps, and refrain from enabling screen-sharing. They also recommended turning off NFC when not in use and disabling password-free small transactions to reduce risk.

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 7, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

The 19th Asian Financial Forum will take place on January 26 and 27 in Hong Kong, featuring the inaugural Global Business Summit. The event is co-organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and is expected to attract over 3,600 participants globally.

Under the theme "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape," the forum will host more than 100 global business and political leaders, along with financial experts, to discuss geopolitical shifts and macroeconomic trends. The Global Business Summit aims to emphasize the integration of finance with the real economy, focusing on unlocking potential in high-value industries to promote innovation and economic growth.

Participants will engage with leaders from technology, consumer, healthcare, and finance sectors while exploring Hong Kong’s recent advancements. The forum's program includes discussion panels, keynote speeches, thematic luncheons, and breakfast sessions that will address global economic trends, forecasts, and other pertinent topics spanning finance and industry.

China-US Focus | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 7, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Japan’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons would seriously undermine the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and destabilize the postwar international order. Recent provocations, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements linking Taiwan incidents to Japan and suggestions from senior advisers about nuclear armament, have sparked international condemnation and heightened regional tensions.

Japan possesses the technological capacity and materials to develop nuclear weapons, with large plutonium stockpiles and advanced technological expertise. However, political obstacles, including its pacifist constitution and strong domestic opposition, have so far prevented progress. Far-right groups advocate revisiting Japan’s “Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” but strategic risks and geopolitical repercussions remain significant deterrents.

Should Japan acquire nuclear weapons, it could trigger a nuclear arms race in East Asia, a region already fraught with complex nuclear deterrence and territorial disputes. Japan’s historical militarism and lack of trust with neighbors would exacerbate the proliferation risk. This move could also increase Japan’s vulnerability to nuclear attacks, as it would weaken the international nuclear taboo and reduce moral constraints on other powers.

Possessing nuclear arms would damage Japan’s international image as a peace-loving victim of nuclear warfare, eroding its diplomatic prestige and potentially reducing the credibility of its deterrence due to its geographical vulnerability. Economically and diplomatically, Japan would face isolation, possible sanctions, and widespread global backlash, including opposition from traditional allies and neighboring countries. The article underscores the importance of learning from history to avoid repeating past mistakes linked to nuclear conflict and militarism.