China strengthens flood control and disaster prevention measures

China has implemented comprehensive measures to manage extreme weather and flood risks during the 2026 flood season. Following directives from Xi Jinping, the central government has emphasized a shift toward proactive prevention and early warning systems to protect lives and property.

Key strategies include strengthening the national disaster prevention system, improving meteorological forecasting, and conducting thorough inspections of critical infrastructure such as reservoirs and river embankments. In response to typhoons and heavy rainfall, local authorities have utilized early warning windows to facilitate the evacuation of residents in high-risk areas, including parts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

The government is also focusing on long-term capacity building through the ‘Fifteenth Five-Year Plan’ for modern emergency systems, aiming to integrate disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief efforts. This approach prioritizes the principle of ‘people first, life first’ and calls for a systematic improvement in national mobilization and emergency response capabilities.