China

Global Times | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

China’s Jetank drone, described as an “airborne UAV carrier,” completed its maiden flight in Shaanxi Province. The aircraft is notable for its large size and ability to carry swarms of smaller drones, marking a significant advancement in China’s large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the Jetank features a modular mission payload design, enabling flexible applications across civilian and military sectors.

The Jetank drone measures 16.35 meters in length with a 25-meter wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, and a payload capacity of 6,000 kilograms. It offers a 12-hour endurance and a ferry range of 7,000 kilometers, placing it among the top performers in its class. Its modular payloads allow it to support heavy transport, logistics in remote areas, disaster relief, geographic surveying, and various other national economic uses.

Unveiled at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, the Jetank has eight hardpoints capable of carrying 1,000 kilogram-class guided bombs, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles, and loitering munitions. Its open architecture permits rapid swapping of mission pods within two hours to fulfill different military and civilian missions, including airdrop, airlift, information support, countermeasures, and strike operations.

A distinctive feature of the Jetank is its isomerism-hive module integrated into the fuselage, designed to house hundreds of loitering munitions or small drones, justifying its “airborne UAV carrier” nickname. Experts highlight the Jetank’s comparable payload capacity to manned fighter jets and fighter bombers, emphasizing its potential as a world-class large UAV system capable of deploying swarms of smaller drones.

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.

回望2025，看见中国经济高质量发展的确定性

China Daily | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

In 2025, China faced significant economic challenges stemming from uncertainties in the global environment and the transition between old and new growth drivers. Despite concerns about global trade disruptions, such as tariff increases and reduced shipping frequency on China-U.S. routes, the Chinese economy demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining steady progress and achieving its key economic and social development goals as the 14th Five-Year Plan concludes.

China’s response involved coordinated domestic and international efforts led by the Party Central Committee, with policy adjustments including a more proactive fiscal stance, issuance of 1.3 trillion yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds, and a shift to moderately accommodative monetary policies. These measures helped stabilize the economy, maintain social stability, and support domestic demand, contributing to a 6.2% year-on-year increase in exports by November 2025 and securing China’s position as the world’s largest goods trader.

Key drivers of this resilience include China’s vast market of over 1.4 billion people, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading. Breakthroughs in AI, robotics, pharmaceuticals, and energy technologies characterized 2025, with domestic large language models and robot production reaching new heights. Innovation-led sectors outperformed in capital markets, reflecting a transition toward technological rather than factor-driven growth, while China earned significant recognition as a global innovation hub.

Institutional openness and stable macroeconomic governance further bolstered confidence in China’s economic prospects. With the OECD and IMF raising growth forecasts to 5% for 2025, global observers expressed optimism regarding China’s ability to weather external shocks. The Central Political Bureau’s December 8 meeting emphasized maintaining stable, quality growth in 2026 through proactive fiscal and monetary policies, continued structural reforms, and prudent macroeconomic management to sustain recovery and improvement.

Looking toward the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China acknowledges a complex and uncertain environment with intertwined opportunities and risks. However, the country remains committed to facing challenges directly, enhancing reforms, and maintaining confidence to achieve sustained high-quality development and advance toward long-term strategic goals.