China's State Council has approved an extensive plan to accelerate the opening of its service sector, expanding pilot projects to include nine new cities, a commerce official said at a regular press briefing on Monday.
Building on a decade of innovation, the plan adds cities such as Dalian, Ningbo, Shenzhen, and Suzhou, targeting key services such as telecommunications, medical services, commerce and trade, and finance, with a focus on easing foreign ownership restrictions, promoting green finance, and supporting international operations.
Since 2015, the State Council has approved the pilot program in 11 provinces and cities including Beijing.
"To accelerate the formation of more diverse institutional innovations and further improve the efficiency of the pilot projects, we have expanded the scope of the initiative across all eligible regions. The previous distinctions between regions and task batches no longer apply, and the program has been fully implemented in all the existing 11 pilot provinces and cities simultaneously," said Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy Representative for International Trade Negotiations.
"In addition to the existing 11 pilot provinces and cities, we are also adding nine more cities to the program, which include Dalian, Ningbo, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Hefei, Fuzhou, Xi'an, and Suzhou. These cities will now be included in the pilot initiative as well," Ling added.
The additional nine cities selected for the pilot program were chosen for their strong service sector foundations, regional and industrial significance, and capacity for effective implementation.
The plan also outlines 155 tasks designed to open key industry sectors such as removing foreign ownership limits in telecommunications, expanding international gaming operations, and supporting foreign doctors. It also encourages international factoring, green finance, and foreign investment in travel agencies.
The plan also focuses on improving support for foreign talent, simplifying visa processes, permanent residency applications, and professional qualification recognition. It also strengthens legal protections for foreign-related arbitration, legal practices, and labor regulations.
The initiative aims to harmonize rules and standards across various sectors, including cross-border data flow, intellectual property, and environmental regulations. In parallel, it emphasizes risk prevention and coordinated supervision to ensure orderly progress in opening key industries.
China expands opening up of service sector, adding nine new pilot cities
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi should apologize for and retreat her errouneous aggressive remarks on China's Taiwan region, as the rhetoric in her words could destabilize domestic society and harm Japan's relations with neighbors, Japanese scholars said recently.
Shinako Oyakawa, a lecturer at the Okinawa University who has long focused on security and peace issues, said that Takaichi' remarks are inflammatory, have seriously violated the spirit of Japan's pacifist constitution and caused harmful consequences for the public.
She said that Takaichi needs to issue a clear apology and formally retract her remarks.
Takaichi on November 7, 2025, made blatant and provocative remarks on Taiwan at the Diet, claiming that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and implying that Japan might invoke the so-called "right to collective self-defense" for armed intervention across the Taiwan Strait.
"She made such remarks in parliament, the kind of rhetoric commonly used by the 'internet right wing,' sounding exactly like what people in that circle would say. Such remarks give the impression that they are ready to go to the battlefield, even willing to start a war. This kind of rhetoric is extremely dangerous," said Oyakawa.
Oyakawa said that the remarks have caused significant losses and both ruling and opposition parties have oversimplified the issue.
"The remarks have already caused significant damage in various aspects. The relevant figures are still being tallied, and the extent of the damage is truly unimaginable. Both the ruling and opposition parties have oversimplified the issue; or, their attitudes have been ambiguous, out of fear of facing it. However, this is not an issue that can be easily glossed over. She must issue a clear apology and formally retract her remarks," Oyakawa said.
Japan's history education has long avoided or distorted accounts of its wars of aggression launched by Japan against Asian neighbors, leaving few with a true understanding of historical facts. This, Oyakawa said, has further accelerated the overall rightward shift in Japanese society.
"As the number of war survivors dwindles, the practice of distorting history in Japan is becoming increasingly rampant. Almost no one knows about the suffering endured by our Asian neighbors. What the Japanese exactly did abroad and what war responsibility Japan bears are completely absent from textbooks," said Oyakawa.
As an Okinawan, Oyakawa said she strongly feels the government's military buildup has brought fear and anxiety to residents.
"Fighter jets and helicopters fly overhead everyday, and the roar of military aircraft becomes routine. On average, Okinawa experiences several plane crashes or incidents of falling parts each year. The militarization of Okinawa is escalating, bringing fear and unease to residents. I think that this situation must be stopped from further worsening," said Oyakawa.
Koichi Nakano, professor of political science at Sophia University, also criticized Takaichi's leadership, saying her team showed little consideration for relations with China and her remarks damage Japan-China relations and undermine Japan's own economic and social stability.
Nakano also said that Japanese society faces a serious problem, as awareness about and reflection on Japan's wartime aggression continue to fade. He stressed that only by facing up to history and engaging with neighboring countries on equal terms can Japan lay the groundwork for rebuilding ties with China.
"Japan's biggest problem is that the recognition of history with China is gradually fading. The sentiment of reflecting on the aggression history and apologizing for it has not been fully passed down between generations. More and more people are unaware of the historical facts, believing that 'that's all in the past' and that no further apology or remorse is necessary. This is an extremely serious issue. (The Japanese government should) build friendly relations on an equal footing, conduct objective and accurate mutual evaluations of the past and present, and rebuild bilateral relations," said Nakano.
Japanese prime minister should apologize, retract erroneous remarks on Taiwan: Japanese scholars
