China

China Daily | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Chinese companies are shifting from a traditional overseas expansion model focused on exporting products and achieving scale to one emphasizing deep localization, digital integration, and service differentiation. This strategic shift aligns with China's growing outbound direct investment, which increased 6.9 percent year-on-year to $158.21 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, with non-financial investments covering 153 countries and regions. The key transformation lies in how Chinese firms operate abroad, moving toward "high-quality globalization" characterized by stronger operational depth, governance, and local integration.

In consumer sectors, experience gained in China's competitive domestic market, especially in digital execution and user engagement, is becoming a competitive advantage overseas. Trip.com Group exemplifies this by prioritizing service differentiation, offering 24-hour customer support in 35 languages with over 20,000 agents worldwide, which has driven triple-digit growth. Granular localization, such as tailoring services to local preferences like smart toilet features for Japanese users, has strengthened user stickiness and market performance.

Chinese brands are also leveraging digital technology to embed themselves into daily life abroad, moving beyond mere exposure to integrating within consumers' cultural contexts through coordinated data, technology, and content strategies. For example, Govee, a smart home brand, effectively used programmatic advertising in the U.S. to boost purchase intent and outperformed social media advertising in conversion rates. Despite these advances, challenges remain in brand recognition, as shown by Beijing Ultrapower Software, which relies heavily on overseas revenue but struggles with global brand awareness, with users often recognizing products without knowing the brand or country of origin.

中方重申：日本根本没有资格要求“入常”

Xinhua | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Sun Lei, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, stated that Japan lacks the qualifications to demand permanent membership on the UN Security Council. He argued that Japan cannot shoulder the responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security or win the trust of the international community.

Sun Lei highlighted that the Security Council is central to the international collective security mechanism and recalled the Tokyo Trials that punished Japanese war criminals and upheld international justice. However, he claimed that Japanese militarism has resurfaced in new forms through efforts to deny historical crimes such as the Nanjing Massacre and the forcible conscription of "comfort women," revision of history textbooks, and visits by Japanese leaders to Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of militarism. He also pointed to remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, support for nuclear armament, and moves to revise Japan's security policies as evidence of attempts to revive militarism, posing threats to regional and global peace.

Sun Lei emphasized that a country showing no remorse for historical crimes and violating international norms cannot be entrusted with the responsibilities of maintaining peace and security or seek permanent Security Council membership.

Regarding Security Council reform, China supports necessary and reasonable reforms aimed at enhancing the Council's authority and efficiency, particularly emphasizing the increased representation and voice of developing countries. He urged for a comprehensive resolution to fundamental reform issues through a “package” solution during the current intergovernmental negotiations.

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

China's 2025 GDP growth demonstrated resilience amid global uncertainties, reflecting the early effects of a strategic economic rebalancing under the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Policymakers are shifting focus from pursuing headline growth figures to enhancing economic stability and balance by expanding domestic demand, investing in human capital, and promoting innovation. This approach prioritizes long-term resilience through targeted support rather than broad stimulus measures.

The central bank's recent cautious monetary easing and planned increased fiscal spending for 2026 underscore the government's commitment to sustainable development. Fiscal resources will be directed towards consumption, human capital investment, and livelihood protection, balancing current needs with medium- and long-term financial sustainability. External observers see this as a sign of China's strategic transformation toward economic maturity.

Structural rebalancing is central to the new economic direction, with domestic consumption and technological advancement replacing traditional growth drivers like investment and exports. The government plans to release a domestic demand expansion strategy for 2026-2030, emphasizing sectors such as elderly care, green technology, and cultural tourism. Innovation, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, is expected to enhance productivity and drive future growth.

A strong emphasis is placed on investing in people, viewing human capital as essential to sustainable growth and innovation. Policies aim to increase household incomes, stabilize and improve employment quality, and leverage China’s vast pool of STEM graduates to transition from a "population dividend" to a "talent dividend." This focus on intrinsic economic stability through rebalancing is poised to shape China's development trajectory amid global complexities in 2026 and beyond.