China

Global Times | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bowed farewell to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung after their visit to a World Heritage temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Despite the leaders' gestures of close ties during their two-day meetings, including a symbolic drum performance and gift exchange, analysts highlight that underlying differences remain between Tokyo and Seoul, particularly over historical issues and territorial disputes.

South Korean media detailed the leaders' interactions, noting Takaichi's attentive behavior and multiple handshakes with Lee, though some public reactions expressed skepticism about Japan's intentions. The summit talks aimed to promote economic cooperation and address historical concerns, such as testing remains of Korean forced laborers, but no significant breakthroughs were reported.

Experts suggest that while Lee prioritizes economic stability and cooperation, Japan under Takaichi emphasizes military and security alignment within the US-Japan-South Korea framework. Observers criticized Takaichi's overt displays of deference as overly eager and uncharacteristic of diplomatic protocol, contrasting with Lee's more measured responses. Overall, the meetings underscored the fragile nature of Japan-South Korea relations, with each side maintaining distinct strategic priorities.

Yicai Global | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Ronbay New Energy Technology has secured a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials order worth CNY120 billion (USD17.2 billion) from Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL). The company will supply 3.05 million tons of LFP cathode materials to CATL's factories in China and provide related services from the first quarter of 2026 through 2030. Ronbay and its subsidiaries will also have priority involvement in CATL’s new projects and product development.

Ronbay plans to develop capacity, product development, and production operation plans aligned with CATL's global battery manufacturing needs. The company highlighted that the declining cost of renewable energy, combined with growing electricity demand fueled by artificial intelligence development, will drive significant growth in energy storage battery applications, creating a large market for LFP cathode materials.

Following the announcement, the Shanghai Stock Exchange requested that Ronbay provide additional explanations within 24 hours regarding the handling of this large order and conduct a self-examination for potential insider trading or other regulatory violations. The exchange also asked for details on any undisclosed capacity expansions or asset acquisitions and how the order value was estimated. As a result, trading of Ronbay shares was suspended to allow time for the company’s response.

Ronbay had previously focused on ternary lithium battery cathode materials before shifting to large-scale LFP cathode material operations in 2025. In November 2025, Ronbay also became CATL's main supplier of sodium-ion battery cathode materials.

China Daily | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

China's top economic meeting has prioritized boosting domestic demand and building a strong national market as key objectives for 2026. Experts highlight that expanding effective internal demand is crucial for stabilizing economic growth and supports the development of a unified national market, which is foundational for Chinese modernization and high-quality development during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). Strengthening domestic circulation aims to offset external uncertainties and enhance competitiveness in the global economy.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows domestic demand contributed 71 percent to economic growth in the first three quarters of 2025. On the supply side, both industry and value-added services grew faster than GDP, with industrial value-added rising 6.2 percent year-on-year and services growing 5.4 percent. However, demand growth lagged behind, with retail sales and fixed-asset investment not keeping pace. Retail sales growth slowed from 5 percent in the first half of the year to 1.3 percent in November, indicating persistent imbalance marked by strong supply but weak demand.

The policy response includes near-term measures to remove consumption restrictions, boost consumption through targeted programs, and increase urban and rural incomes. Long-term plans focus on guiding consumption upgrades, promoting green and smart product upgrades, and phasing out high-energy consumption equipment. Experts emphasize a shift from goods-consumption dominance to equal emphasis on goods and services, with particular growth in healthcare, eldercare, culture, tourism, and childcare services. Policies aim to relax market entry, improve pricing mechanisms, attract private capital, and enhance service quality to meet diversified demand, especially among middle and high-income groups. Consumption and investment are seen as mutually reinforcing elements necessary to sustain domestic demand expansion.