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China Monitor
The monitor features developments related to China during the month and is compiled by our research team of Amb. Biren Nanda, Senior Fellow, and Sanket Joshi, Research Associate, from open-source reports and publications.
India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, met China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister, Ma Zhaoxu, in New Delhi on February 10, 2026. The two sides reviewed progress made in stabilising and rebuilding bilateral relations and ways to take bilateral engagement forward. They reiterated the importance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas for overall progress in India-China relations.
A Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister of Science and Technology Chen Jiachang attended the AI Impact Summit hosted by India from February 16-20, 2026. The Chinese side shed light on President Xi’s ‘Global AI Governance Initiative’, emphasising the importance of building consensus through dialogue, establishing an open, fair, and effective global governance system, and promoting AI technologies for the benefit of humanity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald J. Trump held a phone conversation on February 4, 2026. In his remarks, President Xi conveyed his intent to work with President Trump to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations forward through wind and storms, and achieve good results. He maintained that the “Taiwan question remains the most important issue” in China-U.S. relations and that Beijing will never allow Taiwan to be separated from the motherland.
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling striking down tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Reacting to this, President Trump announced a new 15 percent global tariff “effective immediately” under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. China, on its part, reiterated that it has always opposed unilateral tariff hikes and protectionism, stressing that these policies are not in the interest of any party.
On February 6, 2026, the US accused China of failing to disclose an underground nuclear test conducted by the country on June 22, 2020. Beijing rejected Washington's assertion, stressing that the US's accusation was an excuse to resume nuclear testing.
Wang Yi, the Director of China’s Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, addressed the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 14, 2026. He shed light on China’s ‘Global Governance Initiative’ (GGI) and called for building a more just and equitable global governance system by revitalising the United Nations system.
On February 14, 2026, President Xi extended Spring Festival greetings, ushering in the Chinese Lunar New Year – the Year of the Horse. Xi called upon the Chinese people to maintain high morale and advance the country’s modernisation through high-quality development, social harmony and stability, and exercising rigorous party self-governance.
China's humanoid robotics industry is coming of age. During the Spring Festival Gala held on February 16, 2026, Unitree Robotics’ G1 humanoid robots executed complex martial arts manoeuvres alongside human masters from a kung-fu school. This represents a major leap, from basic mobility capabilities to a humanoid robot that has mastered intricate and culturally rich physical artistry.
To read this issue, please click China Monitor, Vol. IX, Issue 2.
