Xi Jinping completed his Vietnam visit and arrived in Kuala Lumpur, marking the second leg of his Southeast Asian diplomatic tour. State media extensively covered the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism launch, emphasizing the "community with shared future" narrative consistent with recent diplomatic positioning.
Reports emerged of multiple deaths among top Chinese AI scientists, raising concerns about intense industry pressures in China's tech sector. Meanwhile, China issued arrest warrants for three alleged NSA agents accused of hacking the Asian Winter Games.
Pro-democracy banners appeared on a Chengdu pedestrian bridge, echoing the "Bridge Man" protest of 2022. Xiaomi faced scrutiny following a fatal crash involving its assisted-driving EV technology. Beijing's top Hong Kong official characterized US tariffs as targeting China's "very survival," while Hong Kong's education minister warned against "soft resistance" in schools, indicating continued political consolidation.