China

深圳“迷你宅地”出让获追捧 溢价率高达65%

STCN | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedReal Estate

On December 10, Shenzhen’s Futian District sold the mini residential land parcel B405-0308 after 148 rounds of bidding, with China Railway Real Estate winning at 792 million yuan. The parcel, covering 4,994.02 square meters, sold at a premium rate of 65%, equivalent to 42,695 yuan per square meter, and all units must be sold as completed homes. This marks Futian’s first pure residential land sale since 2016 and represents the last residential plot sale in Shenzhen for 2025.

The sale is significant as a pilot for the completed-home sales model, which encourages industry consolidation by favoring large developers and promoting competition based on quality rather than speed. This model is expected to boost buyer confidence and stabilize market expectations. The high premium rate signals Shenzhen’s housing market is entering a phase of structural recovery, driven by land scarcity in core districts. Moving into 2026, Shenzhen is projected to maintain a strong market through a limited number of high-quality land parcels to avoid oversupply, with premium transactions in key locations becoming the norm.

On December 8, China Overseas Property acquired parcel T207-0068 in Shenzhen Bay for 3.186 billion yuan, and Longfor Group purchased parcel A627-0268 in Guangming District for 766 million yuan, together raising 3.952 billion yuan. Shenzhen has sold 12 residential parcels in 2025, totaling 29.09 billion yuan with an average premium rate of 32.81%.

Analysts note a divergence between land auctions and new-home market activity, with luxury homes in prime Shenzhen locations maintaining strong sales despite overall market weakness, driven by geographic rarity and limited competing offerings. Policy trends continue to focus on stabilizing the market by removing restrictive measures, lowering purchase costs, and promoting urban redevelopment, aiming to stimulate demand while emphasizing quality over quantity in land supply.

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.

海关总署原副署长孙玉宁被判13年

Beijing News | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Political Scandal or Corruption

On December 10, 2025, the Hefei Intermediate People’s Court sentenced former Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs Sun Yuning to 13 years in prison and fined him RMB 4 million for bribery. Additionally, the bribery proceeds and accrued interest seized during the case, totaling over RMB 50.72 million, were ordered turned over to the state treasury, with any remaining amount to be recovered.

Between 2005 and 2024, Sun Yuning abused his multiple leadership roles within the customs system to assist organizations and individuals in business operations, project contracting, job promotions, and placements after transfer. He accepted substantial bribes directly or through others in exchange for these favors. Despite the severity of the crime, the court considered mitigating factors such as his confession, remorse, cooperation, and the recovery of most illicit gains when determining his sentence.

Sun Yuning was publicly tried on September 19, 2025, with evidence presented by the prosecution and cross-examined by the defense. He admitted guilt and expressed remorse in court. His investigation began on September 24, 2024, and he was expelled from the Communist Party and removed from office on March 14, 2025, following findings of serious misconduct including violation of Party regulations, abuse of power for personal gain, improper acceptance of gifts and travel, and unethical behavior combining money and sex.

Throughout his career, Sun held various key customs positions, culminating in his 2020 appointment as Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs. The disciplinary actions against him were decided by the CPC Central Committee and the National Supervisory Commission, reflecting the gravity of his violations and their adverse impact.