China Vows No Interference in Afghanistan, Regulators Get Tougher on Ride-Hailing Sector, Covid Lockdowns Push Up Shipping Costs

Here is today’s ranking of the 10 most-read news stories in China, in economics, finance and current affairs, to help give you a sense of what’s trending in the Chinese language sphere.

Chinese social media users have been paying close attention to a disease control expert’s claim the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan could be linked to cold chain logistics. They are also following the meeting between China’s special envoy on climate change, Xie Zhenhua, and his U.S. counterpart John Kerry.

1. Covid outbreak may be linked to cold chain logistics, CDC expert says

Ma Huilai, an expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control, said the Covid-19 outbreak at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (external source, in Chinese) in Wuhan in 2020 could be attributable to viruses brought in by cold chain logistics.

2. Foreign ministry says China will not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs

“Afghanistan is turning a new page in its history,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference Wednesday. “China will as always pursue a friendly policy toward the entire Afghan people … and will not interfere in the country’s internal affairs.”

3. Tencent gives up all exclusive music rights

Tencent Holdings Ltd. on Tuesday announced that it had relinquished all its exclusive global music licensing deals (external source, in Chinese) following an order issued in an antitrust crackdown last month by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

4. China tightens nationwide education inspections

Amid a raft of recent regulatory changes affecting China’s education system, the Ministry of Education has tightened its oversight of local governments, schools and educational institutions in a new set of rules on the enforcement of national policies that took effect Wednesday.

5. A 14-year-old student dies of anthrax in East China

A 14-year-old student has died after contracting anthrax in East China’s Shandong province. It is believed to be the second death from the infectious disease in the country since dozens of local infections were detected earlier this year, according to China CDC Weekly.

6. China responds to Japan’s proposed defense budget increase

Japan’s defense budget has risen each year for nine straight years, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference Tuesday. “By making an issue out of its neighbors at every turn, the Japanese side is merely seeking to justify its military expansion.”

Photo: VCG

7. Chinese regulators tighten scrutiny of ride-hailing industry

Five Chinese departments, including the Ministry of Transport, have jointly interviewed 11 online ride-hailing firms (external sources, in Chinese), urging them to examine their problems and rectify their behavior after some companies were found to have illegal operations.

8. Top Chinese, U.S. climate envoys meet in Tianjin

China’s special envoy on climate change, Xie Zhenhua, is meeting his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, in the northern city of Tianjin through Friday to discuss bilateral climate cooperation and U.N. climate talks scheduled for later this year.

9. Afghan refugees stream into Iran through desert

A large number of Afghan refugees, including pregnant women and elderly people, were seen walking through a desert (external sources, in Chinese) on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area to Iran on Monday after the Taliban took over Kabul, according to a video circulating online.

10. Lockdown pressure forces up shipping costs

Teo Siong Seng, executive chairman of Singapore’s Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd., said transport capacity has been exceeded due to cities’ lockdowns to combat Covid-19, forcing a rise in shipping rental costs. A Panama-flagged ship, carrying 4,200 containers of goods, can cost up to $100,000 a day (external sources, in Chinese), he said.

Translated by reporter Wang Xintong.

Caixin has not independently verified the veracity or accuracy of all of the headlines or stories.

The daily ranking of most-read news stories among Chinese people, about China and global affairs, is jointly provided to you by Caixin Insight and HANA Data, an artificial intelligence technology team.

The key indicators calculated on the list are based on mass data sourced from China’s mainstream social media platforms and online news websites. Click here for a detailed introduction of our methodology.