China

Global Times | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized Japan's recent military expansion and efforts to amend its pacifist constitution, arguing that these moves fuel doubts about Japan's future and prompt renewed scrutiny of its historical war crimes. Guo highlighted Japan's shifts in security policy, including lifting bans on collective self-defense, easing weapons export restrictions, and pursuing counterattack capabilities, along with discussions about acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. These actions, coupled with a 13-year consecutive increase in defense spending, have heightened regional and international concern.

Guo also pointed to Japan's insufficient reflection on its World War II aggression, noting that many war criminals remained active in politics and the military post-war. He criticized visits by former Japanese officials to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals, and efforts to revise history textbooks to downplay aggression. Guo claimed that Japanese militarism has never been fully eradicated and that right-wing factions focus on Japan's defeat rather than its responsibility for war.

Emphasizing Japan’s obligations under the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation and its Instrument of Surrender, Guo called for political and legal measures to restrict Japan's military capabilities and erase militaristic ideology. He urged the international community to remain vigilant against any attempts to revive Japanese militarism and to protect the post-World War II peace and security framework established by these agreements.

China Daily | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedEnergy Prices

In 2025, China has significantly expanded its power-trading market, allowing enterprises to purchase electricity at market-based rates, which enhances cost control and accelerates the transition to cleaner energy. For example, Xuzhou Shanshan Outlet Plaza reduced its monthly electricity bills by over 70,000 yuan ($9,910) by buying power through the market, while also benefiting from sourcing renewable energy to support low-carbon supply chains. Approximately 23,900 industrial and commercial businesses in Xuzhou participated in the market in 2025, with market-based power consumption reaching 10.2 billion kilowatt-hours in the first half of the year, saving users around 40 million yuan monthly.

China's unified national power market, launched in 2025, facilitates long-distance transmission of renewable energy, such as hydropower from Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, to energy-demanding industrial regions like the Yangtze River Delta. Market-traded electricity increased from 1.1 trillion kWh in 2016 to 6.2 trillion kWh in 2024, accounting for 63 percent of total electricity consumption. The State Grid's trans-provincial transmission capacity reached 370 million kilowatts by November, promoting efficient resource allocation and reliable energy supply amidst varying regional energy endowments.

Jiangsu province has aggressively promoted green power trading, boosting the trading volume from 1.37 billion kWh in 2021 to 20.34 billion kWh in 2024, resulting in reductions of 6.24 million metric tons of standard coal consumption and 15.56 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Concurrently, China's combined wind and solar installed capacity surged from 530 million kW in 2020 to 1.68 billion kW by mid-2025, growing at an average annual rate of 28 percent. The growing demand for green electricity includes trade fairs, conferences, and exporters aiming to enhance carbon neutrality and global competitiveness amid increasing carbon footprint awareness.

Global Times | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory on December 11, 2025, urging Chinese nationals to avoid traveling to Japan following a series of earthquakes off eastern Honshu. The earthquakes, with the strongest measuring magnitude 7.5, have caused injuries, tsunamis, and evacuation orders for more than 100,000 residents. The advisory also recommends that Chinese citizens currently in Japan stay alert to earthquake warnings, follow evacuation instructions, avoid high-risk areas like beaches, and seek assistance from local authorities or Chinese diplomatic missions if needed.

This advisory represents the second warning from Chinese authorities within a month. The previous notice, issued on November 14, 2025, highlighted concerns over multiple criminal incidents against Chinese nationals in Japan, a worsening security environment, and controversial remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, all of which adversely affected China-Japan exchanges and heightened risks for Chinese travelers.

The repeated travel warnings have led to a significant decline in Chinese visitors to Japan, severely impacting Japan's tourism sector. Cities such as Osaka, Japan's second-largest economic center, have faced substantial economic setbacks due to the decrease in Chinese tourists, who historically accounted for about 20% of Japan's total tourism revenue of 8.1 trillion yen. This downturn threatens one of the few positive contributors to Japan's economy.