China

Peoples Daily | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Critical Infrastructure Failure

Power maintenance staff in Hubei Province, China, are actively conducting patrols and deicing operations to maintain the stability of the power grid amid widespread low temperatures and severe icing conditions in high-altitude areas.

These efforts are focused on ensuring the continuous and stable operation of power lines, which face significant risks due to ice accumulation. The maintenance activities include on-site inspections, deicing work on power towers, and vehicle patrols across affected regions such as Zouma Town in Hefeng County and Muyu Town in the Shennongjia Forestry District.

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Political Scandal or Corruption

Taiwan's legislature held the first plenary meeting to review an impeachment motion against leader Lai Ching-te on January 21, 2026. Lai was invited to attend and provide explanations but did not appear. The impeachment motion, submitted by lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party, had been approved on December 26, 2025.

This meeting was the first of four scheduled sessions for Lai to respond in person, with the remaining meetings planned for January 22 and May 13 and 14. Lai declined the invitation in a letter, stating that the legislature had no authority to question him. The KMT caucus criticized Lai for his absence, interpreting it as a sign of guilt and cowardice.

During the meeting, lawmakers placed satirical cardboard cutouts of Lai to express their dissatisfaction. KMT lawmaker Fu Kun-chi accused Lai of lacking courage and criticized the Democratic Progressive Party for allegedly harming Taiwan's interests in areas such as tariff negotiations with the United States and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s overseas expansion. The legislature is expected to vote on the impeachment on May 19, 2026.

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

China's economy showed strong resilience and vitality in 2025, achieving a 5-percent growth despite a complex domestic and international environment, according to Asif Cheema, Asian Development Bank's (ADB) country director for China. The ADB revised its 2025 growth forecast upward in December, reflecting confidence in China's economic trajectory. The growth was driven by robust export performance and active industrial sectors, notably in high-tech and new energy industries.

In 2025, China ranked among the top 10 of the Global Innovation Index and surpassed the OECD average with an R&D spending intensity of 2.8 percent. Cheema highlighted "resilience" and "innovation" as key attributes of China's economy, citing rapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) research and patenting. AI's integration with traditional industries is boosting productivity and fueling significant corporate revenue growth, positioning AI as a strong engine of economic expansion.

Cheema also praised China's macroeconomic policies aimed at improving productivity, enhancing social security to stimulate domestic consumption, and further opening the economy. Foreign investor confidence increased sharply, with offshore inflows into Chinese stocks reaching 50.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first ten months of 2025, up significantly from 11.4 billion dollars for all of 2024.

Looking ahead, Cheema expressed optimism about China's economic outlook, emphasizing stability and sustainable growth through continued efforts to boost domestic consumption and high-tech sectors. As the world’s second-largest economy and largest exporter, China plays a vital role in the global economy by fostering job creation, economic opportunities, and technology transfers through both trade and overseas investments.