China Fortnightly | 16 – 31 Oct 2025

The second half of October 2025 in China was marked with high-level political, military, bureaucratic and ambassadorial removals and reshuffling, evolving strategic posture in Asia and global outreach. The 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee underscored the focus on internal discipline, set the tone for internal consolidation, economic planning, and technological regulation amid a shifting global environment. In the security sphere, China maintained a steady rhythm of regional engagement—balancing assertive manoeuvres around Taiwan and the South China Sea with growing defence diplomacy across Southeast Asia and Africa. Continentally, Beijing displayed tactical pragmatism, recalibrating trade relations with major economies while deepening outreach to the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Global South. On the domestic front, centred on stability and digital transformation, highlighting both supply-chain resilience and industrial reform. Meanwhile, subsequent phases in space exploration and deep-sea research reflected China’s technological ambitions to expand its scientific and strategic horizons. Together, these developments provide an integrated picture of China’s evolving statecraft as it navigates the interplay between control, innovation, and international competition.