China in July 2026: the most important developments in politics
China's politics in July 2026 were dominated by relations with the United States. On July 17 President Donald Trump accused China of interfering in the 2020 US election, saying it stole data from 220 million voter files. China called the claims groundless and fabricated and threatened countermeasures. The White House declined to detail any consequences and said Xi Jinping's visit was still on. Trump later said Xi will visit the US on September 24, the two sides agreed to prepare high-level exchanges and to hold AI talks in September, and China's vice premier held a video call with the US Treasury Secretary about trade curbs.
The South China Sea was the second theme. On July 12, the tenth anniversary of the 2016 arbitration ruling, fourteen nations and the EU reaffirmed it, while China repeated that the award is illegal and non-binding. ASEAN's Secretary-General said he was optimistic about concluding a Code of Conduct, and China's foreign minister urged an early conclusion. China and the Philippines traded accusations after an encounter at sea on July 21 that reportedly injured a Chinese law enforcement officer, and each summoned the other's envoy. The Philippines also condemned a China Daily video that it called racist. President Marcos criticised China in veiled terms on July 27. China also clashed with Japan, and the US, Japan and South Korea voiced concern over a Chinese missile launch.
At home, the Communist Party marked its 105th anniversary on July 1, and a new ethnic unity law took effect, which rights advocates criticised and state media defended. Xi Jinping named a new head of the military's anti-corruption body and promoted two generals. On July 14 the party expelled former Politburo member Ma Xingrui over corruption and sexual misconduct charges, and a court in Tianjin sentenced a former official to death for accepting $325 million in bribes.
Elsewhere, Xi met North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song around the treaty's 65th anniversary, held talks with Kazakhstan's President Tokayev in Shanghai, and spoke by phone with Brazil's President Lula about a Mercosur trade deal.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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