China

China Daily | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Climate Change

China is advancing its carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology to reconcile sustained economic growth with its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. Facing an energy system heavily reliant on coal and heavy industry, the government and state-owned energy companies are shifting from pilot projects to large-scale industrial CCUS clusters. Beijing has incorporated CCUS into its national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and updated its technology roadmap, stressing CCUS as essential for the low-carbon use of fossil fuels and overall carbon neutrality efforts.

The National Energy Administration (NEA) has promoted CCUS to transition from experimental stages to industrial demonstration and scaled production through enhanced policy support and technological innovation. The oil and gas sector is operating over 90 CCUS projects, including more than 10 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) initiatives, with annual CO2 injection reaching 4 million tons. As of the end of 2024, China had 126 planned or operational CCUS projects, capable of capturing 6 million tons of CO2 annually, led by energy conglomerates.

Sinopec operates the first million-ton scale CCUS project at its Qilu petrochemical plant, capturing 1 million tons of CO2 per year and injecting it for EOR at the Shengli oilfield. This project provides key engineering experience to support nationwide CCUS expansion. Sinopec views CCUS as critical to upgrading traditional industries and fostering new productive forces, and it aims to collaborate internationally on technology breakthroughs and cluster development. Meanwhile, China National Petroleum Corporation is developing major CCUS hubs in Heilongjiang, Gansu, and Tianjin, integrating emissions from nearby industrial sources.

Globally, CCUS is gaining momentum as an important tool in the energy transition. Although much captured CO2 is currently used for EOR, Chinese state firms are increasingly exploring geological storage in deep saline aquifers, especially near coastal regions, to secure long-term carbon sequestration.

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.

Peoples Daily | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

A spokesperson from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council criticized recent statements by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te and deputy Hsiao Bi-khim about relocating Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) production capacity overseas. The comments highlighted the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities’ role in undermining Taiwan's industrial base.

Chen Binhua argued that what Lai described as efforts to support TSMC's global presence in the United States, Japan, and Europe, ostensibly to promote "global prosperity and progress," actually represents the loss of Taiwan’s key industrial assets. The move was characterized as damaging to Taiwan's industries, companies, and the livelihoods of ordinary Taiwanese people.