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The Ministry of Commerce announced the total quantity, application conditions and procedures for 2027 non-state-owned crude oil imports. The announcement was made according to China's Regulations on the Administration of the Import and Export of Goods and China's WTO accession commitments.

The US Navy awarded a US$39.6 million contract on September 28 for three second-hand extended-range King Air 350-series aircraft for the Philippine Coast Guard, two of them modified for improved surveillance. The aircraft will be fitted with extended-range fuel systems and upgraded avionics, giving Manila greater reach and endurance to monitor Chinese coastguard, naval and research vessels across the South China Sea.

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday for a significantly tougher China position, calling Beijing a decisive enabler of Russia and urging continuous European naval presence and joint exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait. The chamber also called for swift action to counter Beijing's industrial policy, which it described as an existential threat.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed requiring universities and certified schools to pay US$70,000 for each foreign student entering the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, with an additional US$30,000 for subsequent participation. The measure could sharply raise costs for thousands of Chinese graduates seeking employment experience in the U.S.

The US Treasury announced its first penalty under outbound investment rules, fining Amidi, LLC US$200,000 for failing to report a US$92,478 investment in Shanghai Qiongche Intelligent Technology, a robotics AI company. The Treasury said the parent of Plug and Play Tech Centre's Chinese fund subsidiary did not submit the required notification.

China has nominated health official Song Li to run for director general of the World Health Organization, the foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday. If elected, Song would be the first person from mainland China to head the UN health agency. The nomination comes as the WHO faces a major funding shake-up following the US exit.

Japan and the US will conduct expanded military exercises near Taiwan from October 19 to 29, with about 45,000 Japanese personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 ships and 260 aircraft, up from 33,000 personnel, 30 ships and 250 aircraft in 2024. Analysts say the exercises could complicate Beijing's planning for a Taiwan or East China Sea conflict.

The Pentagon announced a new initiative worth around US$350 million aimed at maintaining American leadership in quantum computing capabilities. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defence for Research and Engineering said the funding addresses accelerating competition between the US and China over military applications of advanced technology.

The Trump administration, through the Department of Labor's inspector general, announced an investigation into nine US universities over alleged J-1 visa fraud, with officials expressing concerns about Chinese scholars and the Chinese government. Anthony D'Esposito, inspector general of the US Department of Labor, announced the investigation at a Thursday press conference.

The Xi-Trump meetings produced a new framework describing US-China relations as a 'constructive strategic stability relationship based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity.' The two-month tariff extension pushes the November 10 deadline to January 10, 2027. The State Council executive meeting signaled potential Q4 stimulus including property market stabilization policies. Questions remain about whether Nvidia will receive licenses for more AI chips to China.