South China Sea Militarization: Satellite images show China rushing to finish Antelope Reef in the Paracels, with a ~3,000-meter runway nearing completion and the base set to extend surveillance and air/naval operations. Evergrande Fallout: China sentenced Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin (Hui Ka Yan) to life in prison and fined the group and an affiliate over $2 billion for large-scale financial fraud and related crimes, underscoring how the property slump keeps reshaping China’s economy. Humanoid Robots Boom: Beijing’s World Robot Conference spotlights embodied AI as Unitree’s Shanghai debut sent shares up about 460%, fueling investor bets on China’s “hard-tech” push. Tax Crackdown on Offshore Wealth: Beijing’s push to tax offshore trusts is pushing wealthy Chinese investors to reassess offshore structures and liabilities, as enforcement expands. Healthcare Security Plan: China released its 15th Five-Year Plan for universal healthcare security, including expanding long-term care insurance nationwide and boosting support for families and innovative medicines. US-China Detentions: The US designated American academic Min Zin as wrongfully detained in China, escalating pressure ahead of Xi’s expected meeting with Trump. GCC-China Talks: GCC officials met China in Riyadh to discuss cooperation and regional security, focusing on maritime routes, energy security, and counterterror efforts. Solar Expansion Study: A Science study warns pro-solar policies across China may reduce bird diversity, urging more ecologically informed solar siting.