China’s Yangtze River, once severely polluted and ecologically degraded, is showing signs of revival following a government-imposed fishing ban. The policy, implemented using evolutionary theory to enhance effectiveness, also provided alternative employment for fishers who depended on the river for their livelihood. A study published Thursday in the journal Science reported that fish biomass in the river has more than doubled, and several endangered species have returned.

French researcher Sébastien Bros from the University of Toulouse described the initiative as the most positive freshwater conservation step taken in two decades. His team analyzed changes across the vast waterway, which supports 400 million people and numerous major factories. The findings indicate that the ban not only restored aquatic life but also improved water quality.

The Chinese government spent about three billion dollars to compensate and retrain nearly two hundred thousand fishers, leading one hundred thousand to stop fishing. Between 2019 and 2021, total biomass doubled and biodiversity increased by 13 percent, signaling a remarkable ecological comeback for the world’s third-largest river.

At least seven people were killed in an explosion at a biotech factory in northern China, according to state media reports. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Jiapeng Biotech Company facility in Shanxi province’s Shanyin County, about 400 kilometers west of Beijing. Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday morning that one person remains missing following the blast, citing local authorities. Search and rescue operations are continuing at the site.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Industrial accidents are relatively common in China, often attributed to lax safety standards. In late January, a similar explosion at a steel plant in neighboring Inner Mongolia province killed at least nine people.

Authorities have not yet released further details about the victims or the extent of the damage, and investigations into the cause are ongoing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged US President Donald Trump to carefully consider any decision to send weapons to Taiwan, calling the island an integral part of China. The two leaders held a phone conversation following recent visits to China by Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During the call, Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding Taiwan.

According to Chinese state media, Xi emphasized Beijing’s strong interest in maintaining constructive relations with Washington. He expressed optimism that both countries could find ways to resolve their differences on various issues. The conversation came after Xi’s virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and ahead of Trump’s planned visit to China in April, which Xi said he was eagerly anticipating.

The latest exchange marks a continuation of dialogue between the two leaders, who last spoke in November when Xi invited Trump to visit China.

China has announced that it will not participate in nuclear disarmament talks at this stage, despite calls from Germany for Beijing to join global arms control discussions. The statement came on Thursday following the expiration of the last active nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, which has raised fears of a renewed global arms race.

At a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China’s nuclear capabilities are fundamentally different from those of the United States and Russia. For that reason, he explained, China will not take part in nuclear disarmament negotiations at this time.

China’s position comes as international concern grows over the potential escalation of global weapons competition following the end of the U.S.-Russia START treaty, which had been the final functioning nuclear arms control agreement between the two powers.

China has executed four additional members of a Myanmar-based mafia group connected to a large-scale online fraud operation, according to state media reports published on February 2, 2026. The four individuals, belonging to the notorious Bai family, were convicted by a court in Guangdong Province for crimes including fraud and murder.

The report noted that in November of the previous year, five other members of the Bai family, including their leader Bai Suocheng, had been sentenced to death. Bai Suocheng later died of illness following his sentencing. Earlier, Chinese authorities had already executed 11 members of the same family for their involvement in running scam centers in Myanmar.

Separately, a court in Zhejiang Province had sentenced members of the Ming family in September of the previous year for multiple serious crimes such as murder, illegal detention, fraud, and running gambling operations. The Ming family was among several influential groups controlling Laukkai, a small town near the China–Myanmar border that became known for casinos and nightlife under their rule.

China has executed 11 members of the notorious Ming family, who operated a large-scale fraud and gambling network in Myanmar. The executions followed a September verdict by a court in Zhejiang Province, which sentenced the group for crimes including murder, illegal detention, fraud, and running gambling dens. The family had managed a scam center in Laukkai, near the China-Myanmar border, and was extradited to China after being arrested by Myanmar authorities under Beijing’s pressure.

According to the court, the Ming family’s criminal operations between 2015 and 2023 generated over 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion dollars) and led to the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens, with many others injured. In total, 39 family members were convicted, with 11 receiving death sentences, 11 life imprisonment, and the rest prison terms ranging from 5 to 24 years.

The case highlights China’s ongoing crackdown on cross-border fraud networks that have trapped thousands of Chinese workers in Myanmar’s border regions.

Beijing has launched an investigation into two of China’s highest-ranking military officials, marking the latest phase in President Xi Jinping’s campaign to consolidate control over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Ministry of Defense announced that Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and Joint Staff Chief Liu Zhenli are under investigation for “serious disciplinary and legal violations.” Their removal leaves the CMC with its fewest members in history, now comprising only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, the head of the military’s anti-corruption body.

The CMC is China’s top military decision-making body, responsible for strategy and operations. Analysts note that the probe underscores Xi’s tightening grip on the armed forces, continuing a years-long effort to ensure political loyalty within the PLA. While “disciplinary violations” often refer to corruption, such investigations have historically been used to eliminate political rivals. Researcher Tristan Tang of the Pacific Forum said the move highlights Xi’s strength and may also relate to inefficiencies in defense resource management and combat readiness.

The investigation could last months or years, with most accused officials typically detained, convicted, and stripped of their positions and party membership.

Nine people have been confirmed dead following an explosion at a steel plant in China’s northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to state media reports on Tuesday. The incident occurred over the weekend at the Baogang United Steel plant, where a water and steam tank with a capacity of 650 cubic meters reportedly exploded. At least 84 people were hospitalized after the blast, and one person remains missing as rescue teams continue search operations.

Videos circulating on social media showed the plant’s collapsed roof, debris, and thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Firefighting vehicles were deployed to the site, and footage captured a large object being hurled into the air during the explosion. Residents living several kilometers away said the blast shook their homes and shattered windows.

The report noted that China has experienced several major industrial accidents in the past, including a fireworks factory explosion in Hunan Province last June that killed nine people and a 2015 chemical warehouse blast in Tianjin that claimed more than 170 lives.

China’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1949, according to official data released Monday. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that only 7.92 million babies were born in 2025, resulting in a birth rate of 5.63 per 1,000 people. This marks the fourth consecutive year of population decline, with the total population dropping by about 3.39 million to 1.4 billion, as deaths outnumbered births.

Experts cited declining marriage and childbirth trends, rising living costs, and difficulties balancing work and family life as key reasons for the sustained drop in births. Despite government measures such as child allowances, tax breaks for housing, and free preschool education, younger generations remain reluctant to have children due to economic uncertainty and the high cost of raising families.

The continuing demographic decline is reducing China’s labor force and increasing the proportion of elderly citizens, posing a significant long-term challenge for the world’s second-largest economy.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first direct meeting between the two countries’ top leaders in eight years. The talks took place at the Great Hall of the People and were viewed as a significant signal toward rebuilding diplomatic relations. Carney also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang before departing for Doha to meet Qatar’s Amir. The visit is seen as a milestone for Canada in rebuilding bilateral ties and exploring new economic opportunities while reducing dependence on the United States.

Relations between Ottawa and Beijing had been strained for nearly a decade, particularly after the 2018 arrest of a Huawei executive in Vancouver at the request of the United States. Both sides now indicate a desire to move past that period, focusing on overcoming the fallout from the Huawei case and the detention of Canadian citizens in China. However, challenges remain, including allegations of election interference, human rights concerns, and limited media access.

The visit could pave the way for practical trade agreements, though managing sensitive issues will remain the key test for both governments.

China’s export trade reached a record $3.77 trillion in 2025 despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s year-long imposition of high tariffs on multiple countries. According to customs data released Wednesday, exports rose 5.5 percent from the previous year, while imports remained stable at $2.58 trillion, resulting in a trade surplus of $1.19 trillion. Although exports to the United States declined, Beijing expanded sales to markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

The data showed that China’s exports grew 6.6 percent in December, surpassing economists’ forecasts of 3 percent, while imports increased 5.7 percent, also exceeding expectations. However, trade with Russia fell for the first time in five years, as demand for Chinese cars dropped and crude oil imports from Russia declined due to Western sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

At a press briefing, China’s Vice Minister of Customs Administration Wang Jun said global trade growth remained insufficient and the current environment was not favorable for China’s foreign trade development.

A robot traffic police unit has started operating on the busy streets of Wuhu city in China’s Anhui province. Beginning last Saturday, the smart robot joined human traffic officers to help manage road control and maintain order at key intersections, according to CCTV. The robot, dressed in a police uniform with a traffic police logo and identification number, was seen directing vehicles from a small mobile platform that allows it to move to designated positions and rotate to oversee traffic in all directions.

The robot has been trained in four main areas: raising public awareness about traffic laws, coordinating vehicle movement at intersections, detecting and warning irregular behavior, and automatically collecting evidence of traffic violations. It is connected to the city’s traffic light and management systems, enabling it to assist human officers with repetitive tasks during peak hours.

Authorities expect the robot’s integration to improve traffic efficiency and reduce workload for human officers in high-traffic zones.

China has declared its firm support for Cuba following recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China stands strongly for Cuba’s national sovereignty and security and opposes any external interference. She urged the United States to end its long-standing blockade, sanctions, and pressure on Cuba, calling for actions that promote regional peace and stability.

Trump had earlier announced on his social media platform that Cuba would no longer receive oil or financial assistance from Venezuela. He claimed that Cuba had been receiving substantial oil and funds in exchange for providing security services to Venezuelan leaders, but that arrangement had now ended. Trump also alleged that many Cubans were killed during recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the United States’ decades-long blockade for his country’s deep economic crisis, asserting that Cuba remains an independent and sovereign nation despite persistent external pressure.

China has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about forming an “exclusive partnership” in Venezuela’s oil sector, calling them a violation of international law and a direct threat. At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Venezuela is a sovereign state with full and permanent control over its oil resources and economic activities.

Mao accused the United States of using coercion and attempting to force Venezuela to align with American interests in managing its oil assets, describing such actions as a serious breach of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. She added that China and other countries have legitimate rights in Venezuela that must be respected and protected. The spokesperson emphasized that cooperation agreements between Beijing and Caracas are legally binding under both domestic and international law.

The dispute underscores renewed competition between the U.S. and China over influence in Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Analysts noted that China’s strong response following Trump’s remarks could further strain already tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

China has announced the suspension of exports of dual-use goods to Japan following heightened bilateral tensions triggered by Japan’s comments on the Taiwan issue. In a statement issued on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the restriction applies to products usable in both civilian and military sectors. The ban covers items such as drones and certain rare earth materials used in semiconductor production. Exports to Japanese military users or for purposes that could enhance Japan’s military capability are prohibited. The ministry also warned that individuals or entities violating the restrictions would face legal action.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested the decision, calling it “completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable.” Tokyo accused Beijing of violating international norms and targeting Japan specifically. Japan has urged China to immediately withdraw the export suspension.

The move underscores escalating friction between the two Asian powers, with trade and security dimensions now intersecting over the sensitive Taiwan issue.