German President Steinmeier, currently visiting China, stated in a speech at Peking University on October 30 that China should not let other countries become overly dependent on it. On October 31, he met with Xi Jinping and Li Qiang, with Li Qiang stating that China is willing to import more high-quality products from Germany.
On October 30, German President Steinmeier held talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing, emphasizing that China should play a role in maintaining the international order based on the UN Charter, and that both China and Germany bear this responsibility.
On October 30, China and Switzerland signed the protocol on upgrading their free trade agreement along with a complementary labor cooperation agreement. The agreement stipulates that neither side shall lower labor protection standards to promote trade and investment, must guarantee channels for handling labor rights violations, and respect freedom of association and collective bargaining. It will take effect after domestic approval by both sides.
On October 29, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Peking University, where he was awarded an honorary professorship and delivered a speech. In his address, he mentioned Cai Yuanpei's experience studying in Germany, cited his advocacy for "freedom of thought and inclusiveness," and called for upholding this spirit.
On October 26, responding to India's accusation that Chinese troops deviated from established patrol patterns and undermined border peace, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China abides by the agreements and consensus reached between the two countries, carries out normal patrol and control activities on the border, and that both sides are maintaining communication through diplomatic and military channels.
On October 22, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement criticizing recent social media remarks by the Chinese embassy for undermining mutual trust, destabilizing the situation, and undermining efforts to improve bilateral relations, and reiterated that it reserves the right to take further diplomatic action.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Stirling announced that Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets will conduct defensive air operations over Saudi Arabia, helping to protect the country from Houthi attacks.
According to a post by X account @ChinaSelect on October 20, 2026 Beijing time, Iran is the mastermind behind a plot to attack US military assets in Britain last month, and the account noted that the regime has long been supported by China, with the CCP assisting Tehran in confronting the West, including purchasing Iranian oil and providing satellite imagery-related assistance for the attack.
Beijing time October 20, 2026, according to a message posted by the X account @__Inty__, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps publicly announced that the major submarine internet cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz have become targets of its military strikes. This move has triggered outside concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the Middle East and the stability of global internet communications.
On October 20, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines posted on X a joint statement signed by 10 Philippine House representatives calling for action against Ambassador Jing Quan, accompanied by the caption “Noted for the record. You are now on the list.”
The political party of three Philippine House representatives from Akbayan who joined the joint statement responded to threats from the Chinese embassy: "We will take pride in this. We will not be silenced by intimidation."
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for China on October 19, rarely adding a D rating, determining that Americans face a serious risk of being illegally detained in China.
On October 19, 2026, Beijing time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the public support of former U.S. President Trump. Netanyahu stated that only he and Trump can destroy Iran's nuclear program. The remarks drew international attention to the situation in the Middle East and the future direction of U.S.-Israeli diplomatic policy.
On October 19, 2026, Beijing time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu displayed a map dividing the Middle East into different factions during a speech on Israeli national security. According to information posted by the X account @clashreport, the map was intended to illustrate the current situation in the Middle East and the security environment facing Israel. The presentation drew outside attention to Israel's regional strategic intentions.
On October 19, 2026, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio posted on social media, commenting on the situation in Iran. Rubio pointed out that Iran has already attempted to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage, and warned that if Iran possesses nuclear weapons, it would be able to use them as leverage to gain complete control of the strait, at which point the international community would be unable to take effective countermeasures against it.