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Featured Article
From Hakka Tulous to Blue Ocean Views: A Glimpse into 2025 Church Dedications Across China (December 28, 2025, China Christian Daily)
For the Christian community in China, the year 2025 saw a diverse array of new church dedications. These projects, ranging from rural sanctuaries to urban landmarks, reflect a changing landscape where the church is increasingly adapting to local culture, urban planning requirements, and the need for standardized venues. While an exhaustive list is impossible given the scale of the country, a review of key dedications reveals distinct trends in how churches are being built—and rebuilt—across China.
Government / Politics / Foreign Affairs
Chinese Legislature Seeks Public Comment on 8 Bills: Environmental Code, Ethnic Unity, Childcare, Antarctic Affairs, Banking Regulation, Trademark & More (December 26, 2025, NPC Observer)
China encircles Taiwan in massive military display (December 30, 2025, Reuters)
China fired rockets into waters off Taiwan on Tuesday, showcased new assault ships and dismissed prospects of US and allied intervention to block any future attack by Beijing to take control of the island in its most extensive war games to date. As part of drills rehearsing a blockade, China’s Eastern Theatre Command conducted ten hours of live-fire exercises, launching rockets into waters to the north and south of the democratically governed island.
Religion
The Man Who Longed to Go Home (December 23, 2025, ChinaSource)
As I approached, he reached out eagerly and grasped my hand, his own trembling with excitement. “I never imagined that this Christmas, here of all places, I would meet someone from China!” he said. He asked where I was from. When I told him, his eyes brightened even more. “I’m from China too!” he said, and tears filled his eyes as he began to tell his story.
Receiving the Gifts of Advent (December 26, 2025, ChinaSource)
Praying through the ChinaSource Advent Calendar this month, we are reminded of pastors leading through relentless change, parents struggling to provide children with a biblical foundation for life, pioneering church leaders detained and imprisoned, and missionaries sent from China to the nations.
Two Tracks—Liberal and Fundamentalist Currents in China (December 29, 2025, ChinaSource)
Today’s conversations—urban ministry, intellectual life, social engagement, the place of revival—still echo these two currents. If the liberal–fundamentalist argument arrived as a dispute, it should remain as a discipline: a reminder to seek catholic breadth and evangelical depth, not a license to harden into camps. China’s church has flourished most when it refused small binaries and chose both fidelity and neighbor-love.
Society / Life
Influencers barred from vulgar, false, or harmful content (December 26, 2025, China Daily)
China’s top internet regulator on Friday outlined a negative list of prohibited behaviors for online influencers as part of efforts to tighten management of social media accounts and foster a healthier online environment. Accounts operated by online celebrities have large followings and significant social influence. The list is intended to strengthen routine management of such accounts, guide influencers to consciously regulate their online behavior, and prevent negative impacts arising from improper speech and conduct, the Cyberspace Administration of China said.
China’s Xi’an expands subway network to 422 kilometers with new automated line (December 30, 2025, China Daily)
Xi’an, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi province renowned for its iconic Terracotta Warriors, inaugurated a new fully autonomous subway line on Monday, extending its urban rail transit network to 422 kilometers. With this addition, the city now operates 12 subway lines with a total of 246 stations.
Economics / Trade / Business
Why economists got free trade with China so wrong (December 30, 2025, NPR)
As US trade with China exploded in the early 2000’s, American manufacturing began to shrivel. Those workers struggled to adapt and find new jobs. It ran counter to how mainstream economics at the time viewed free trade…that it would be a clear win for the U.S. Greg Rosalsky talks with David Autor about why economists got free trade with China so wrong.
Science / Technology
China to crack down on AI firms to protect kids (December 29, 2025, BBC)
China has proposed strict new rules for artificial intelligence (AI) to provide safeguards for children and prevent chatbots from offering advice that could lead to self-harm or violence. Under the planned regulations, developers will also need to ensure their AI models do not generate content that promotes gambling.
Virtual Reality Is Taking Off in China — as Immersive Shows (December 30, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Hundreds of VR experiences have launched across the country, allowing visitors to go back in time, visit faraway places, or join the action of their favorite movies.
History
Christmas (Carol) at Sea (December 26, 2025, China Call, via Substack)
This is the 4th in a series I published in 2023 about “The Millionaire Missionary,” William Borden, adapted from his unabridged biography, Borden of Yale.
British writer donates family’s archives to Peking Union Medical College Hospital (December 29, 2025, China Daily)
British writer John Gimlette recently visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) to retrace his family’s medical legacy in Beijing and donate precious archives of their work around the turn of the 20th century. Gimlette’s donation included an annual report of Peking Hospital written by his great-grandfather Eliot Curwen in 1896, historical photographs of the hospital and Union Medical College, and letters to Curwen and his wife from their assistant Li Xiaoquan in 1900 and 1901. In exchange, the hospital presented Gimlette with a certificate of appreciation.
Arts / Entertainment / Media
In 2025, China’s Film Industry Chased a Fragmenting Audience (December 26, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Chinese cinemagoers are increasingly discerning. They prefer high-quality movies over holiday blockbusters, and pick films that appeal to their demographic.
A Rural Mother’s Unfiltered Rage Gives Chinese Comedy Its Edge (December 30, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Fang Shaoli is on stage, mic clamped in her right hand, a huge smile on her face as she revels in the laughter. Although still a relative newcomer to China’s standup comedy scene, she’s been playing to sell-out crowds up and down the country in recent months.
Events
Online Courses for those working with Chinese students (Thriving Turtles)
19-30 January 2026. Thriving Turtles Training is an initiative to equip front-line gospel workers with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective cross-cultural gospel ministers. These courses are asynchronous (not in real time) running for 6-10 hours over a 2-week period. They are NOT webinars, so you are free to work in your own time and time zone. Courses contain a variety of interactive activities including (written) discussion forums. For more information see our website https://www.thrivingturtles.org/online-courses/
Courses offered this year:
• Cultural Intelligence for Ministry
• Helping Your Friend Thrive in China
• Discipling People with a Chinese Worldview
• Culture Values and Distance
East Asian Christianity Conference | Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
The East Asian Christianity Conference is an annual event for scholars and practitioners to come together to explore comparative research on Christianity’s development and significance in East Asia, with applications to church ministry and mission today. The theme of the second annual conference is: Christian witness and presence among East Asian religions.
April 9-11, 2026
Hamilton, MA
Pray for China
Praying Through the ChinaSource Journal (October 13, 2025, ChinaSource)
Praying Through ZGBriefs (August 29, 2025, ChinaSource)
Operation World (April 21, 2025, ChinaSource)
Pray for China (prayforchina.us)
Prayer Walking as a Rhythm of Life (May 30, 2025, ChinaSource)
