China, holding over half of the world's rare earth resources, recently introduced a draft of the 'Rare Earth Management Regulations' to strengthen supply chain management, which some analysts believe is to increase leverage over the United States. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is seeking public feedback on the draft. Despite China's dominance in rare earth production, with 63% of global output in 2019 and 37% of reserves, experts like Wang Weiluo note China's weakness in high-value-added production and reliance on raw material exports. The U.S. imports about 80% of its rare earths from China, but efforts are underway to reduce this dependency, including establishing processing plants in Texas with Australia and seeking alternative supplies in Japan. The new regulations aim to control the entire supply chain, from mining to export, and could use the export control law introduced last December to regulate strategic material flow. The potential tightening of exports is seen as a way to preserve resources and reduce environmental impact, rather than just a negotiation tactic with the West. The move may accelerate the separation of supply chains and could have geopolitical implications for global alliances and resource distribution.

The article by Perry Link reflects on the evolution of Western perceptions of China from the 1960s to the present. Initially, China was seen as a mysterious, almost mythical place, with limited information available to the outside world. Early Western writers who visited China, like Han Suyin and Felix Greene, presented an uplifting but incomplete picture, often missing the harsh realities of life under Mao Zedong. As China opened up, more nuanced and critical reporting emerged, with journalists and scholars gaining better access and understanding. The author discusses his own experiences in China, noting the changes in society and the role of dissident writers. The article also covers the shift in Chinese views of the West, with a growing sense of national pride and rivalry. The author concludes that despite improvements, Western writing on China is still flawed but better than it was six decades ago.

China is implementing a policy to replace old cars with new ones to boost the economy, improve consumer safety, and benefit the environment. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao emphasized the importance of promoting consumer confidence and long-term growth. Prime Minister Li Qiang set ambitious economic targets, including a 5% GDP growth and 3% inflation, despite economic challenges. Analysts are skeptical, predicting a lower growth rate and suggesting President Xi Jinping should ease central control. The article also discusses potential trade tensions with the US and EU over tariffs on electric vehicles.

The study investigates the heat transfer performance and structural optimization of spiral fin-and-tube heat exchangers, focusing on various structural parameters such as fin pitch, thickness, and height, as well as tube diameter and spacing. Using orthogonal experiments and finite element simulations, the research identifies optimal configurations to enhance heat transfer efficiency and reduce resistance. The study employs support vector regression and genetic algorithms to predict and optimize performance factors, achieving a 44.44% improvement in heat transfer and a 14.19% increase in resistance factor, with a comprehensive performance indicator increase of 38.79%. The findings support potential applications in industries like electronics, chemicals, and energy.