China

Beijing will launch a national childcare subsidy in 2025, offering ¥3,600 annually per child until age three. Trip.com CEO James Liang argues subsidies boost demand and stimulate the economy, calling children the best investment amid overcapacity. However, critics note the subsidy covers only a small fraction of childcare costs. The article proposes tiered support: cash subsidies (¥1,000-¥3,000 monthly based on the number of children), tax/social security reductions, and housing subsidies, costing 2-5% of GDP, deemed necessary to restore birth rates.

China’s pioneering missing persons website, “China 寻亲网,” established in 2000 with over 57,000 reports, has abruptly shut down. This closure sparked debate, with some accusing commercialized “seeking relatives” KOLs of contributing to its demise. While early websites like “宝贝回家” and CCTV reality shows once dominated, short-video platforms now reign. The efficiency of these KOL-driven searches is now under scrutiny as users question their motives and the ethics of profiting from family reunions. Concerns arise about authenticity and the potential for exploitation.

China’s NAFR fined Haier Consumer Finance 2.35 million yuan (approximately $325,000 USD) for various violations, including misleading marketing, dubious debt collection, poor loan management, opaque fees, and violating consumer rights. Several executives received warnings and fines. The infractions related to actions before 2021, and Haier Consumer Finance stated it has taken corrective measures. This is not the first regulatory action against them; they were previously fined for credit information management issues. Despite the fines, Haier Consumer Finance has seen revenue and net profit growth since 2021.

Tencent is facing a lawsuit in China over the matching algorithm in “Honor of Kings.” A player alleges the algorithm manipulates matches to force a 50% win rate and is suing for disclosure of the algorithm’s mechanics. The plaintiff cites consumer rights to information. Tencent claims the algorithm is a trade secret. This is reportedly China’s first case concerning gaming algorithms. The lawyer aims to raise awareness about algorithmic fairness in the industry.

Team China achieved significant success at the 32nd Summer World University Games, securing 2 gold and 6 bronze medals on Thursday. The Chinese women’s basketball team triumphed over Team USA 81-69 in the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games final, defending their title after an undefeated run. Overcoming an initial deficit, China dominated the third quarter to secure the victory. Chen Yujie led China with 19 points. The win sparked widespread celebration in China. The USA currently leads the overall medal count, followed by China and Japan.

Wuhan authorities recently uncovered a counterfeit amusement park ticket scheme. A woman initially commissioned 200 fake tickets for personal use, then ordered 1,000 more for resale after seeing a profit opportunity. The amusement park discovered the scheme due to inconsistencies, but the woman continued, alternating fake and real tickets and ordering another 1,000 to improve quality. She produced 2,000 fake tickets in total; 1,600 were seized. She compensated the park and faces potential penalties, including fines and detention, for forging valuable securities.

Chinese authorities in Zhejiang Province warned against sophisticated telecom fraud after police in Tongxiang City rescued a woman, Ms. Li, from a scam. Fraudsters, posing as “Douyin customer service,” tricked her into installing a screen-sharing app, gaining control of her phone and linking her bank cards to online platforms. The scam began with a false claim about unwanted live-streaming fees. Police intervened, seizing the remotely controlled phone and preventing financial loss by removing the SIM card. Authorities emphasize similar scams target users across various platforms.

China’s *People’s Daily* advocates a shift from price wars to value-driven strategies for sustainable growth, criticizing “burning money” tactics as detrimental to long-term quality and innovation. The article emphasizes that focusing on customer satisfaction and technological advancements, supported by legal safeguards and industry collaboration, can foster healthy competition, benefit all stakeholders, and drive high-quality economic development. Initiatives are underway to curb “involutionary” competition and promote fair market practices.

Tickets for Jackson Yee’s Shanghai concert sold out instantly on Damai, a Chinese ticketing platform, triggering frustration among fans. Demand was astronomical, with over 3.3 million users vying for only around 7,000 tickets, a 463:1 ratio. Damai cited high traffic for website slowdowns, attributing successful ticket acquisition to “pure luck.” The event highlights the challenges of managing high demand, combatting scalping, and ensuring positive fan experiences in China’s live entertainment market.

China’s Ministry of Public Security is increasing oversight of ADAS technologies amid growing adoption. New regulations and stricter scrutiny of automakers’ marketing claims are expected. The focus is on enhanced automaker accountability, refined legal frameworks for Level 0-2 ADAS, and public awareness campaigns emphasizing driver responsibility. Authorities will collaborate to clarify “human-machine co-driving” definitions and safety standards. The core message is that drivers are responsible for vehicle safety as current systems are not fully autonomous, and “hands-off, eyes-off” behavior carries risks.