Dear Focus Reader,

The United States unveiled its new National Security Strategy last week, outlining Washington's priorities for foreign policy and national security over the coming years and marking a notable shift in tone towards China. The document emphasizes strategic interests, such as economic and technological competition with China, but doesn't explicitly reference Beijing as one of America's greatest geopolitical threats, as has been the case in previous U.S. strategies. The strategy also calls on allies in the Indo-Pacific to increase cooperation on shared security challenges, including deterring conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it is "willing to work with the U.S. to promote continued stable development in China‑U.S. relations, while firmly safeguarding [its] own sovereignty, security and development interests."

Meanwhile, China's top leaders convened the annual Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing this week, setting the country's economic agenda for 2026. The meeting, held from Wednesday to Thursday, featured a keynote address by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who reviewed the nation's economic performance in 2025 and outlined priorities for the year ahead. Officials highlighted that 2025 marked a year of notable achievements as China nears the conclusion of its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025).

Looking towards the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the conference emphasized strengthening domestic demand, promoting high-quality development, and supporting innovation-driven growth, which includes advancing the AI Plus Initiative.

Leaders also called for measures to stabilize employment, expand consumption, and guide the property sector toward a firmer footing.

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