Evaluation and Assessment Measures for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality; Crackdown on Cambodian scam centers?; AI distillation; US as a "predatory hegemon"; PLA Navy turns 77

On Thursday the government publicly released the “Comprehensive Evaluation and Assessment Measures for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality 碳达峰碳中和综合评价考核办法”, approved by the Politburo Standing Committee on February 26, 2026 and issued by the General Offices of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council on April 12. The Measures institutionalize an annual cadre-evaluation regime that grades every provincial Party committee and government on their climate performance, beginning with the 2026 reporting year. I have posted a full translation here. The Measures instruct the NDRC to draft the 15th Five-Year Plan Carbon Peaking Action Plan to meet 2030 targets: cutting emissions intensity by more than 65% from 2005, raising non-fossil energy to 25% of consumption, peaking both coal and oil use, and progressively covering new electricity demand with clean generation. Provinces must draft matching provincial action plans, and from the 16th Five-Year Plan onward equivalent plans will govern the transition toward carbon neutrality. This document is important as it provides political incentives, accountability and enforcement powers for the pledges of peaking emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality before 2060.