China

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.

China Daily | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has introduced two compulsory national standards for civil drones, set to take effect on May 1, 2026. The standards focus on real-name registration and activation of civil UAVs, and operational identification systems, aiming to clearly identify operators and enable real-time monitoring of drones during flight.

The real-name registration standard sets requirements for registrants, management, data exchange, and mandates that drones cannot fly before activation or after deactivation. The operational identification standard requires drones to automatically transmit identity, location, speed, and status information to regulators throughout their flight, facilitating better management of drone activities.

These measures respond to rapid growth in drone usage in China, with 2.726 million drones registered by mid-2025, a 74.7% year-on-year increase, and 24.47 million cumulative flight hours recorded in the first half of 2025, a 149% rise compared to the previous year. The standards also support the enforcement of China’s Interim Regulations for Managing UAV Flight, which took effect on January 1, 2024, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for drone production, operation, and supervision.

Caixin | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Political Scandal or Corruption

A Chinese court sentenced Sun Yuning, former deputy head of the General Administration of Customs, to 13 years in prison for bribery. In addition to the prison term, Sun was fined 4 million yuan ($551,700).

The court found that Sun had illegally accepted property and funds totaling over 50.72 million yuan. This case is part of a broader anticorruption campaign targeting senior officials within China's trade and border control sectors.