Taiwan Strait Tensions: Taiwan resumed “anti-communist” patriotic classes for military graduates after a quarter-century gap, citing rising Chinese naval activity and “infiltration danger,” as Taipei also reported multiple Chinese ships and aircraft operating around the island. Philippines-China Friction: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Beijing’s sanctions on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. are “very unhelpful,” warning they raise tensions without advancing talks on West Philippine Sea disputes. US-China Religious Diplomacy: Underground church founder Ezra Jin (Mingri) was released from prison and arrived in Los Angeles after Trump raised his case with Xi, with rights groups noting other church members remain detained. Digital Economy & AI: China opened the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing, spotlighting digital-friendly cities and AI, with an industry expo featuring humanoid robots and large models. Robotics in Real Life: UBTech’s Walker S2 humanoids began live customs work at a border crossing with Vietnam, marking a major step from demos to government operations. China-India Trade Signals: India allowed four China-linked power firms to bid for critical government projects via a limited exemption, while its envoy pushed for more pharma exports and investment ties with China. Education Costs: Public universities in China are raising tuition, adding pressure on local government finances and shifting more costs to households. China-Europe ESG Cooperation: A Chinese legal expert urged stronger rule-of-law frameworks to expand China-Europe ESG cooperation amid tougher cross-border compliance demands.