China Spektrum

There are many comments from netizens reflecting on 2025 and looking forward to 2026, too numerous to list. 2026 is almost here, and our #ChinaSpektrum project in is current form will bid farewell. We thank everyone who cares about Chinese voices and wish you all the best for 2026!

Weibo @人民日报 posted "2025, thank you to yourself for living well," sparking numerous comments from netizens. @西安拆迁17年不安置 said, "I need help". @crab小丸子 said, "My best friend...passed away. I...then reunite with her with more life experiences." @露露今天开心嘛 said, "Really, I haven't been doing very well."

Zhihu user @了不起的白先生 shared his experience of going abroad for the first time in 2025, the numerous car repairs he had, and the pressure from a pay cut. He concluded by saying, "...Making money remains the main theme of my life. I haven't achieved any of my 2025 goals..."

Zhihu @罗Sir财话 shared his views on the "cutoff line" in the United States: "Poverty will gradually consume a society, even the United States... What we need to do is to protect the majority of people... because it supports not tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow, but our future."

With the New Year approaching, Chinese netizens reflect on 2025 in various ways. Bilibili user @完美的残缺 created a video reviewing major world events for 2025.@我的音乐live日记 commented on the video, saying, "Well, I hope for world peace."

In the Thai-Cambodian dispute, Chinese netizens generally do not support Cambodia because of the Hun Sen family's protection of telecom fraud and their deteriorating relations with China. Meanwhile, Thailand has gained support from netizens.

Some netizens also suggested that China's intervention was due to Cambodia's threat to release the shareholder list of the telecom fraud industrial park if mediation wasn't initiated. #WeChat user @炀哥 commented, "No need to release it, anyone with eyes can see... it's Chinese." .

Some netizens believe that a ceasefire should not be reached now. #Weibo user @村口的黑脸 said, "Why mediate the Thai-Cambodian war? Wouldn't it be more beneficial for domestic anti-fraud efforts?" #Douyin @用户1884095789428 said, "Let's talk peace after eliminating this cancerous tumor of telecom fraud.".

Some #Baidu users express opinions on how Thailand should react.@黑手怪物0D said, "Thailand should continue to do its work of eliminating evil for the people; it should bomb Cambodia and northern Myanmar." .@专骂1450 said, "Thailand should teach Cambodia, a two-faced villain, a lesson...".

Some users on #Zhihu commented on China's influence in the region.@余鹏 said: "China can accept the growth of local forces... but it will absolutely not accept the deliberate introduction of American and Japanese influence. In this respect, Hun Sen has violated China's biggest taboo.".

On December 20, Deng Xijun, China's Special Envoy for #Asian Affairs, visited Phnom Penh to promote a ceasefire between #Thailand and #Cambodia. The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia was an long-standing unresolved issues. The two sides engaged in multiple ceasefire attempts before December 7.

#WordOfTheWeek
画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) — “to draw a snake and add feet.” Meaning: to ruin something by adding unnecessary details; overdoing it.

Overall, online discussion of the Bondi Beach shooting focused largely on the Israel–Hamas conflict. On Zhihu in particular, some comments could be described as antisemitic, while on Weibo more users expressed sympathy for the victims. 6/6

On Weibo, user @后沙月光本尊 posted images related to the incident and expressed compassion, writing: “[…] May there be peace in the world, and no more killing.” In response, @米娜女神的球迷 commented: “A wave of anti-Jewish sentiment is sweeping the world.” 5/6

Another Zhihu user @Casper claimed that Australia is severely fractured and unsafe because class, race, and religious tensions are being deliberately inflamed by powerful elites - framed in his conspiratorial view as driven by “Jewish capital” using identity politics to keep society divided. 4/6

Zhihu user @十年的孤独患者 focused on the man who disarmed one of the shooters, writing: “Make sure—absolutely make sure—to loudly publicize it and put it in the headlines: thank the heroic guy who seized the gun! Let the whole world know him [...]." 3/6

One Zhihu user, @otherone, wrote: “If Israel can’t live peacefully with Palestine, then the battlefield definitely won’t stay limited to Gaza. […]” 2/6

The gun attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which killed 15 people and injured dozens, sparked discussions on Chinese social media platforms such as #Weibo and #Zhihu. 1/6

Chinese netizens have given many negative comments about Wadephul's visit to China, believing that seeking cooperation to solve own predicament without reaching a consensus on issues such as Taiwan raises doubts about his sincerity, and further observation is needed.

@Heartthrobbb said,"Why don't we just not come? Sitting in someone's living room cursing the host?What were you thinking?".@就是一个宝鉴 said:"Germany and Europe's freedom,security and prosperity have nothing to do with us! ...Taiwan is not a place where you can point fingers and tell people what to do!".

Weibo @德国驻华大使馆 posted the full text of a statement made by Wadephul on December 7(weibo.com/2209621235/Q...), prior to his visit to China, which sparked dissatisfaction among netizens.

Some netizens on Tencent believe that judging Germany's sincerity requires not only listening to its words but also observing its actions.@未忘初心 said: "Europe's economy is in a mess...and it cannot do without China's economic support.We should observe its words and actions before making a decision.".

Some Zhihu users believe that Europe is currently seeking closer ties with China to improve its own situation.@知乎用户 ozVHeE remarked: 'France has come crawling to cosy up with China, while Germany's gone one better – they've blown up their power stations and relocated factories straight to China’.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited China from December 8th to 9th, visiting Beijing and Guangzhou respectively. He had originally planned to visit China on October 26th, but abruptly cancelled his trip before departure, ultimately making his trip six weeks later.

Discussions on Chinese social media regarding Russia's visa-free policy have polarised. Some express dissatisfaction with perceived Russian unfriendliness towards Chinese visitors, Moscow's police force, alongside travel inconveniences. Others view this as long-term development.

Despite some negative views about Russia, some Chinese netizens still speak well of Russia. Weibo user @E_Jolakotturinn remarked: ‘Residents of smaller towns tend to be more down-to-earth and generally more welcoming towards Chinese visitors.’

Many netizens on Douyin have been poking fun at the Moscow police. @佛怒火莲 saied: ‘Moscow police will still issue fines on Red Square and at the Kremlin.’ @心境 observed: ‘One war zone(Russia), one scam zone(Myanmar)– both grant visa-free entry to Chinese nationals.’

Zhihu @鸽子传说 highlighted the pressure stemming from Russian women:‘Following China's visa-free travel for Russians, large numbers of Russian women have come to China seeking opportunities,sparking a range of controversies. .The most controversial is the matchmaking corners in Beijing and Shanghai. '.

Weibo@张会长说财经 cautioned: ‘Russia is the most unwelcoming country for Chinese tourists, bar none.’ @板尼呦 added: ‘It's a real hassle – bank cards, mobile SIMs and such are restricted by Western countries, forcing you to obtain local ones. GPS is also restricted, making even hailing a cab inconvenient.’.

Baidu @老犟爱说教 contends that visa-free travel represents a model of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Russia characterized.’ He argues that ‘this arrangement not only benefits both nations but also injects stability into a turbulent world.’