January 2026 - Friends of Socialist China

China brokers peace between Thailand and Cambodia

Intensive diplomatic efforts by China to halt the resumed armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia and to address its underlying causes scored a significant success with a December 29, 2025, trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Cambodia, and Thailand, held in Yuxi, Yunnan Province.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that since the outbreak of the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, China has upheld the spirit of the Global Security Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, actively mediating and using its good offices. Chinese leaders have maintained friendly communication with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, and the foreign ministers have held multiple phone conversations. The Chinese special envoy has made four shuttle visits for the important objective of listening to the two sides, accommodating their legitimate concerns, and seeking a path to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation. Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, the militaries of Cambodia and Thailand recently reached a ceasefire agreement, and China is pleased to see this progress.

Wang said that the trilateral meeting is timely. The three parties have held multiple bilateral talks here, and especially, the diplomatic and military departments of Cambodia and Thailand have engaged in face-to-face, in-depth exchanges. The discussions among the three parties were beneficial and constructive, leading to important consensus that:

It is necessary to look forward and move ahead together. The ceasefire agreement is hard-won and must not stagnate or be derailed halfway, let alone allow conflict to be reignited. This is not what the people want, nor what China hopes for.

Both sides should proceed step by step without stopping. The implementation of the ceasefire arrangement requires continuous communication and consultation. The restoration of bilateral relations should be gradually advanced. But as long as both sides maintain confidence and engage in equal dialogue, the goals will surely be achieved.

Rebuilding mutual trust is paramount. The conflict has led to a loss of trust, but Cambodia and Thailand are eternal neighbours with a long history of friendly exchanges. This gathering by the Fuxian Lake is intended to heal the wounds caused by the conflict, dispel the estrangement between the two sides, and truly restore friendly relations. This serves the interests of the Cambodian and Thai peoples and is the shared expectation of all parties. China will always be a promoter of the development of Cambodia-Thailand relations and is willing to provide all necessary assistance and support, including ceasefire monitoring, humanitarian aid, and demining cooperation.

After the trilateral meeting, a press release was issued, specifying five areas where Cambodia and Thailand will further strengthen communication and enhance understanding:

Jimmy Lai convicted: the truth behind Hong Kong’s US‑backed colour revolution

In the clip embedded below, Ileana Chan of Empire Watch interviews KJ Noh about the recent conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, which Western outlets have framed as an attack on press freedom. KJ notes that Jimmy Lai was found guilty on two counts of collusion with foreign forces and one count of sedition under Hong Kong’s national security laws following a 156-day trial.

Discussing the political context of the trial, KJ explains that the 2019 Hong Kong riots evolved into an attempted “colour revolution”, backed by the US, and observes that Lai used his media influence and resources to coordinate and publicise this movement. KJ also observes that Lai actively lobbied US officials to apply sanctions against China.

As such, KJ argues that Lai received a fair trial within Hong Kong’s legal system and that his conviction was justified given his involvement in sedition.

The interview expands into a discussion of Hong Kong’s colonial past, with KJ pointing out that Hong Kong under British control was not the model of liberal democracy it is sometimes painted as, but rather an apartheid colony.

China denounces Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

China has officially declared that it firmly opposes Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland as an “independent sovereign state” and its agreement to establish “diplomatic relations” with it.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced this at a regular press conference in Beijing on December 29, 2025, stating that China firmly supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and opposes any moves that undermine them.

China has noted that the federal government of Somalia immediately issued a statement firmly rejecting the move, and regional organisations including the African Union, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development have also expressed strong dissatisfaction and condemnation, Lin said.

He added that the Somaliland issue is entirely an internal affair of Somalia and should be resolved by the Somali people in a manner consistent with their national conditions and constitution. He also highlighted that countries outside the region should cease inappropriate interference and no country should incite or support separatist forces within another nation for its own selfish interests.

“We urge the Somaliland authorities to recognise the situation and immediately cease separatist activities and collusion with external forces.”

China has consistently supported Somalia in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Later, on December 29, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the situation at the request of Somalia, Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Guyana.

Addressing the session, Chinese Ambassador Sun Lei began by stating that China fully supported the four countries’ request, adding that Israel’s action had, “further increased the tensions in the Horn of Africa, drawing immediate and strong criticism and condemnations from regional organisations, including the AU [African Union], the Arab League, the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council], the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation], and IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development], as well as many regional countries. China also expresses grave concerns over this move and firmly opposes it.”

He went on to say that: “Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of the UN Charter and an unshakable cornerstone of international law and international relations, which all UN member states must strictly observe. Somaliland is an integral part of Somali territory. China firmly supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and opposes any act to split its territory. China has always maintained that the Somaliland issue is entirely Somalia’s internal affair. It should be resolved by the Somali people in a way consistent with the national conditions and the constitution… We urge the Somaliland authorities to grasp the situation, immediately stop separatist activities and collusion with external forces, and return to the track of dialogue with the federal government of Somalia as soon as possible to avoid further threatening regional peace and stability and opening the door to more tensions and conflicts.”

CPC delegation strengthens ties with Cambodia and Laos

At the invitation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), led a CPC delegation on visits to Cambodia and Laos from December 22-26, 2025.

During the visits, Xie met with Cambodian and Lao party and government leaders, including CPP President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

Cambodian and Lao leaders highly praised the importance of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee for China and the world and expressed willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote the building of a community with a shared future.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen reaffirmed the iron-clad friendship between the two countries and called for expanded joint capacity-building programs between the two parties.

President Thongloun praised the close cooperation between the two parties and countries and stressed the importance of implementing the master plan on building a Lao-China community with a shared future. He thanked the delegation for briefing Lao leaders on the outcomes of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, noting that China’s development experience offers valuable lessons for Laos.

Xie Chuntao expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed China’s commitment to translating agreements between the two leaders into practical cooperation across various sectors. He also conveyed best wishes for the success of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s 12th National Congress, scheduled for January 6-8, 2026.

During the visit, the delegation also held working meetings with senior Lao officials and delivered presentations on major CPC policy developments.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency, Agence Kampuchea Presse and the KPL Lao News Agency.

CPC delegation visits Cambodia, Laos

VIENTIANE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) — At the invitation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Xie Chuntao, vice president of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), led a CPC delegation on visits to Cambodia and Laos from Dec. 22 to 26.

Xie briefed the party and government officials from both countries on the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Cambodian and Lao leaders highly praised the importance of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee for China and the world, and expressed willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote the building of a community with a shared future.

President Xi: No issue of the people is too small; we care for every leaf and tend every branch in the garden of people’s well-being

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his New Year Address for 2026, on December 31, 2025.

Below we reprint the full text of the address, as released in English by the Xinhua News Agency, preceded by a short introductory commentary by our co-editor Keith Bennett.

President Xi Jinping’s inspiring new year address represents a message of confidence, determination and optimism which stands in stark contrast to the depression, crisis and sense of drift prevailing in the major capitalist countries. Both in tone and content it reflects how socialism, with a strong communist party at its core, is again rising and assuming an enhanced role in the world in terms of both achievement and attraction.

This spirit animates the entire speech. As President Xi notes, this year just past saw the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the celebration of which, immediately following the largest ever gatherings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where the Global Governance Initiative was unveiled, further raised the international prestige and standing of socialist China, with the participation of leaders from dozens of countries, the elucidation of ways and means to achieve a better world, and the demonstration of China’s ever growing defensive military prowess which constitutes a fundamental guarantee of peace.

A similar message can be seen in the economy and domestic development. With the world having experienced a ‘Deep Seek moment’, President Xi underlined the purpose of socialist competition as being a “race to the top”, a ‘win win’ concept contrasting with the race to the bottom that characterizes the decadent stage of monopoly capitalism.

In turn, the cultural self-confidence that this facilitates and embodies, from humanoid robots performing kung fu kicks, through Wukong and Nezha, to the grassroots football leagues of Guizhou, shows both how life for the masses of the Chinese people is becoming more dignified and joyful as well as the growing attraction of Chinese civilization, culture and ‘soft power’ for people throughout the world – and most importantly how these two aspects are inextricably interconnected and mutually reinforcing.

When President Xi speaks of how the rights and interests of workers in new forms of employment, not least the ‘gig economy’, have been better protected, better facilities have been created for the elderly, and increased subsidies provided to help families with childcare, it is simply impossible not to draw comparisons with our situation in Britain, where ‘gig economy’ workers lack the most basic protections, social care for the elderly is a national shame that successive governments have been singularly unwilling and unable to tackle, and ever growing numbers of children are being raised in poverty, with consequences they will carry for the rest of their lives.