China has worked to fortify its economic footprint and shield its regional manufacturing networks in Southeast Asia, signing pacts with both Thailand and Cambodia amid escalating geopolitical pressure on global trade supply chains.

Earlier this week, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued detailed measures on conducting supply chain security investigations, as the implementing rules of a legal mechanism introduced in April. These rules could lead to conflict with various Western sanctions and other measures aimed at China.

China has a new regulation on supply chain security that establishes a formal legal framework for monitoring risks, protecting key sectors, and responding to foreign measures perceived as threatening China’s supply chain security.  The rules, titled the Provisions on Industrial and Supply Chain Security (国务院关于产业链供应链安全的规定, link in Chinese), took

China and South Korea have pledged to deepen cooperation in semiconductors, batteries and other advanced industries while working more closely to stabilize critical supply chains, after a series of ministerial‑level meetings in Beijing last week.

China's state media reported that the Chinese government summoned U.S. retail giant Walmart for a meeting earlier this week, over reports that it had pressured Chinese suppliers to lower prices to offset the impact of U.S. tariffs.

A recent publication from Chinese researchers looked at Russia's experience with Western sanctions for insights into strengthening Chinese supply chain resilience. The report highlights the importance of diversifying supply chains, bolstering domestic production, and fostering international cooperation.

In a recently posted research paper, three trade law experts offered a detailed examination of China’s strategies and policies related to critical minerals, both inward and outward, arguing that they are designed to address China's internal challenges to secure supplies while ensuring sustainable development, rather than being