China

Jaw-Hwa International Patent & Trademark & Law Offices | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

The Israel Patent Office (ILPO) and the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) established a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program, effective January 2, 2026, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed on November 17, 2025. This bilateral arrangement allows applicants with favorable examination results from either office to request accelerated examination at the other office.

To utilize the PPH between Taiwan and Israel, applications must share the same earliest filing date. The Israeli patent application must have at least one allowable claim, and all claims in the Taiwanese application must correspond to those allowable claims. Additionally, the Taiwanese application must not have received a first Office Action but must have a notice indicating that substantive examination will begin.

Required documents for a PPH request include ILPO office actions and their translations into Chinese or English, although applicants may omit these if accessible via the Israel Patents Search system. Translations of prior art references cited by ILPO are not necessary. Applicants must also submit a claim correspondence table mapping Taiwanese claims to allowable Israeli claims. Further inquiries can be directed to the provided email contact.

China-US Focus | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 23, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

In January 2026, Europe faces a critical choice between remaining a subordinate partner in a declining transatlantic alliance or becoming a key player in an integrated Eurasian economic bloc. The ongoing Ukraine conflict has turned unfavorably for Western ambitions, with Russian advances and widespread support among Ukrainians and Russians for peace negotiations signaling a shift toward diplomatic resolution. The United States is retreating from its commitment to Europe, focusing on Asia and demanding European countries take full responsibility for NATO's defense, while reducing support to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Europe remains heavily dependent on costly U.S. LNG imports, undermining its industrial competitiveness and geopolitical independence.

Europe’s energy situation is framed as an urgent sovereignty challenge. The phase-out of Russian gas has left Europe reliant on expensive U.S. LNG, inflating industrial costs and risking deindustrialization. Although energy efficiency programs have reduced demand, Europe continues to face potential shortfalls in cold winters. Diversification of LNG imports from Qatar, Algeria, Norway, and others may offer a temporary reprieve, but true energy independence requires rapid electrification, expansion of renewables, and demand-side management. China’s dominance in clean energy technologies presents a pragmatic partnership opportunity, offering both supply of key components and potential investments in European manufacturing, provided Europe eases tariffs and balances protectionism with realistic supply needs.

Geopolitically, Europe is urged to overcome Russophobia and Sinophobia to assert genuine autonomy. Leading European politicians are advocating normalized relations with Russia and the establishment of a new pan-European security architecture, replacing NATO as US troop withdrawals signal diminishing American engagement in European defense. This includes direct peace negotiations with Russia acknowledging past provocations by NATO expansion. Simultaneously, stronger ties with China through cooperation on nuclear, renewable technology, and green hydrogen are seen as essential for energy security and economic revitalization. The recent EU-Mercosur trade deal enhances food security and trade diversification, reducing dependence on traditional partners.

Social and political pressures across Europe indicate a growing demand for bold leadership to break from outdated transatlantic loyalty. Rising populism, protests over energy costs, and war fatigue signal potential for a historical rupture in Europe’s trajectory if Brussels fails to act decisively. The proposed strategy emphasizes accelerating electrification with Chinese technology, LNG diversification for transition, pragmatic engagement with Russia, dismantling NATO in favor of a new security framework, and ensuring energy and food sovereignty. Europe’s future depends on embracing this courageous pivot to establish itself as the western anchor of a flourishing Eurasian economy rather than fading into geopolitical irrelevance.

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

Hong Kong is taking a proactive yet cautious approach to developing digital assets, emphasizing the principle of "same activity, same risk, same regulation" to ensure responsible and sustainable market growth. Since 2023, Hong Kong has licensed 11 virtual asset trading platforms and plans to introduce a stablecoin licensing regime later this year. The government has also been a leader in tokenization, issuing three batches of tokenized green bonds totaling about 2.1 billion U.S. dollars.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan highlighted the synergy between finance and technology, noting that digital assets improve transparency, efficiency, inclusiveness, and risk management in financial services. These innovations also support better capital allocation to the real economy. Chan's remarks were made during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, where he also met with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to express Hong Kong and China's strong support for free trade, multilateralism, and WTO reform efforts.

Additionally, Chan held discussions with senior officials from various economies, international organizations, and business leaders to promote Hong Kong's latest developments and strategic advantages as an international financial center.