China

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Political Scandal or Corruption

Taiwan's legislature held the first plenary meeting to review an impeachment motion against leader Lai Ching-te on January 21, 2026. Lai was invited to attend and provide explanations but did not appear. The impeachment motion, submitted by lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party, had been approved on December 26, 2025.

This meeting was the first of four scheduled sessions for Lai to respond in person, with the remaining meetings planned for January 22 and May 13 and 14. Lai declined the invitation in a letter, stating that the legislature had no authority to question him. The KMT caucus criticized Lai for his absence, interpreting it as a sign of guilt and cowardice.

During the meeting, lawmakers placed satirical cardboard cutouts of Lai to express their dissatisfaction. KMT lawmaker Fu Kun-chi accused Lai of lacking courage and criticized the Democratic Progressive Party for allegedly harming Taiwan's interests in areas such as tariff negotiations with the United States and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s overseas expansion. The legislature is expected to vote on the impeachment on May 19, 2026.

时政微观察丨为人民出政绩 以实干出政绩

China Daily | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedPolitics and Elections

On January 20, 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to deepen the study and implementation of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, aiming to unify thinking and concentrate efforts to ensure a successful start to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. This plan prioritizes economic development-centered, high-quality growth amid a complex environment of risks and opportunities. Xi stressed the importance of leadership at all levels improving political judgment and execution, noting the Party Central Committee’s unified leadership is essential for steady and successful economic progress.

The seminar for provincial- and ministerial-level leading cadres underscored adhering to the Party’s major strategies, policies, and economic tasks outlined in the 2025 Central Economic Work Conference. Initial 2026 measures include national subsidies, green consumption promotion, and expanded government financing guarantees to stimulate market vitality and support business entities. Xi highlighted the need for localities to pursue sustainable development tailored to their unique resources and conditions, advocating against one-size-fits-all approaches by encouraging efforts aligned with comparative advantages and local realities.

Xi called for a correct view of performance focused on tangible achievements that benefit the people, emphasizing that success is measured by public satisfaction and improvements in livelihoods. The Party prioritizes practical work that addresses the urgent needs of the population, from ecological protection along the Yangtze River to child-raising subsidies and major infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing public services and living environments. Local and central plans must align strategically while remaining adaptable to local circumstances to ensure effective implementation.

In the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, authorities are tasked with anchoring targets in concrete actions, with solid results serving to establish momentum for the broader goals of building Chinese-style modernization. The leadership underscores that practical work and execution are paramount for political success and the continued prosperity of the people.

操盘必读：影响股市利好或利空消息_2026年1月22日_财经新闻

Sina Finance | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedInvestor Sentiment

U.S. Trade Representative Grier indicated potential new trade talks with China, supported by China’s call to implement important bilateral agreements to stabilize economic cooperation. The People’s Bank of China emphasized accelerating RMB cross-border payment systems and reinforced regulatory supervision to ensure healthy industry development. Tax policies were extended to exempt personal income tax on gains from innovative enterprise China Depositary Receipts (CDRs) through 2027. Former U.S. President Trump ruled out forcibly acquiring Greenland and canceled upcoming tariffs on Europe, prompting increased optimism in U.S. stock markets. Meanwhile, the European Parliament indefinitely froze the review of the EU-U.S. trade agreement, with Denmark opposing U.S. demands regarding Greenland.

Industry updates included the expansion of inbound duty-free shops at ports, new real estate policies focusing on controlling added supply and optimizing financing, and long-term supply agreements in the semiconductor memory industry valid through 2030. Guangdong proposed advancing AI-driven smart transportation and autonomous driving tests. Intel and AMD’s server CPU supply is sold out for 2026, leading to planned price hikes. Guangdong raised the minimum commercial housing mortgage down payment ratio to 30%. Suzhou outlined plans to promote AI-driven scientific development and housing market revitalization.

Among companies, several reported expected net losses for 2025, including Moore Threads (950 million to 1.06 billion yuan), Xinda Real Estate (7.6 to 8.2 billion yuan), Jinko Energy (5.9 to 6.9 billion yuan), and Hongqiang Co., which anticipated a swing from profit to loss. Notable profit forecasts included Tianfu Communications (1.881 to 2.15 billion yuan, up 40–60%), Demingli (650 to 800 million yuan, up 85–128%), Jin’an Guoji (280 to 360 million yuan, up 656–871%), Daikin Heavy Industry (1.05 to 1.2 billion yuan, up 122–153%), and Juhua Co., Ltd. (3.54 to 3.94 billion yuan, up 80–101%). Other announcements included large contracts by Tengjing Technology and Nankuang Group and strategic investments by Hualan Co., Ltd. and Binhai Energy in AI drug R&D and advanced materials.

Global markets reacted positively to Trump’s announcement, lifting major U.S. indexes by over 1%, with memory stocks like SanDisk rallying strongly. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index also gained 2.21%. Spot silver dropped intraday but recovered slightly, while spot gold hit a record high near $4,888 per ounce. Natural gas prices surged due to weather threats to U.S. exports and ongoing cold across Europe and Asia, with U.S. natural gas futures up 29% for the day. Crude oil prices edged up amid geopolitical uncertainties focused on Greenland rather than Iran.

Investment opportunities highlighted include the spin-off of Zhiyuan Robotics’ dexterous hand business into an independent company, reflecting a maturing robotics sector poised for rapid growth through 2030. Neuralink’s brain-machine interface chip now supports wireless over-the-air upgrades, signaling progress toward commercial-scale deployment in the brain-machine interface industry, expected to reach $7.63 billion globally by 2029.

Additional updates feature no new trading suspensions and the resumption of trading for ST Zhongzhuang. Operating data revealed mixed corporate earnings forecasts, with strong profit growth expected in some sectors and significant losses in others. Key contract wins, share buyback plans, and shareholder reductions were also noted, alongside industry-focused investments in battery materials and carbon technologies. Executive resignations and production capacity adjustments were reported at select mining and chemical companies.