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China economy

China economy
Breaking news and analysis on China’s economy, including its opening up, the US-China trade war, the impact of tariffs and trade talks, growth rates and other key economic data, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Greater Bay Area plan.
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
US-China relations

Why China may be better placed than US in tussle for rare earths

While Beijing has long engaged with resource-rich nations, Trump’s Washington is seen as more ‘aggressive’ and reactive.

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China-Latin America relations

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

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US-China trade war

As China defies US tech blockade, can local AI chipmakers capture Nvidia share?

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China GDP

China’s economic focus in 2026: what to expect as leaders prep for major meeting

Growth of ‘around 5 per cent’ may be revised to between 4.5 and 5 per cent, analysts say, as leadership gears up for tone-setting conference.

Chinese leaders will hold the central economic work conference in December, a closed-door meeting to discuss the top policy goals for 2026.
China property

Chinese developer Country Garden gains Hong Kong court-backed debt lifeline

Onshore and offshore restructuring plans expected to reduce debt by US$12.7 billion and ease repayment pressure over the next five years.

Banking & finance

China’s risky shadow banks back in spotlight after debt crackdown

Entities owned by local governments are borrowing billions from trust companies and leasing firms at rates of 8 per cent or higher, sources say.

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China exports

Waste to wealth: why China is building incinerators around the world

China’s economic slowdown has left its waste-to-energy sector without enough trash to burn. So, companies are heading overseas.

People work at a garbage incinerator power station in Zhangye, a city in China’s northwestern Gansu province. Photo: Getty Images
Banking & finance

CSRC vows deeper reforms to open China’s capital market and boost tech listings

CSRC chairman Wu Qing outlines ‘deep transformation’ of capital market to attract long-term investors who ‘can stay and can develop well’.

Mainland China

Chinese shipyards shift focus to advanced vessels as rivals gain ground

Chinese shipbuilders accounted for 65 per cent of global orders in the first three quarters, down from nearly 75 per cent a year earlier.

China exports

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
China trade

Explainer | The return of Red Sea shipping: 3 scenarios for Chinese trade

Houthi rebels have signalled a halt in attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, allowing a possible end to costly detours.

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A container ship crosses the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea in 2023. Cargo ships have largely avoided the area in recent years due to attacks by Houthi rebel groups. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-EU relations

As Macron eyes China deals to revive industry, trade shows tables have turned

China once exported cheap goods to Europe – now, French leader urges its firms to transfer tech expertise.

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China trade

‘Strong breakwaters’: China’s central bank vows to shield from external shocks

Governor Pan Gongsheng says policy must prioritise the domestic economy, warning against ‘excessive policy swings’ that could undermine long-term stability.

Electric & new energy vehicles

EU launches 1st formal review of Chinese EV tariffs after VW Anhui’s submission

Bloc’s acceptance of a narrow review process from a manufacturer may give others hope that tariffs could be reduced or removed.

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Staff at a factory in Tianjin operated by FAW-Volkswagen, a joint venture between the Chinese and German carmakers. Volkswagen has been among the noisiest corporate objectors to the EU’s tariffs targeting Chinese electric vehicles. Photo: Xinhua
Open Questions series

Open Questions | Huang Yiping on AI and stablecoins’ risks and rewards for China

Influential economist says growth in artificial intelligence must protect livelihoods and Chinese central bank’s cryptocurrency caution is warranted.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Mainland China

Opinion | How China engineered the rapid rise of its drug innovation industry

A market once dominated by generics is now an AI-powered pharmaceutical hub drawing billion-dollar investments from the likes of Pfizer and GSK.

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Mainland China

Chinese consumer and tourism firms turn to shareholder perks to stimulate sales

Companies from Sichuan to Anhui offer discounts and free tickets to shareholders amid slowing consumption in mainland China.

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US-China trade war

USMCA urged to form joint mechanism to address China’s national security threats

US, Mexico and Canada encouraged at US trade hearing to oversee ‘pragmatic and specific plan’ to strengthen economic rules against China.

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Shipping containers with flags of Mexico and China. The USMCA has been encouraged to adopt stronger economic security rules with China. Illustration: Shutterstock
China exports

How Chinese lifestyle brands are finding fans abroad with toys, tea and trends

From milk tea to blind boxes, China’s lighter consumer brands are winning worldwide recognition – though time will tell if the craze will last.

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China property

Shanghai launches clampdown on property market doom-mongering

City’s internet regulators shut down 70,000 accounts in a ‘special campaign’ against pessimistic content as real estate jitters continue.

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China's population

Living to 79: China’s record longevity puts economic wrinkles in focus

Improved healthcare outcomes are colliding with China’s three-year population decline, testing social safety nets despite improvements in medical infrastructure.

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The share of China’s citizens aged 65 and above rose to 15.6 per cent in 2024, up from 13.5 per cent in 2020. Photo: Getty Images
China stock market

China’s stock market set for earnings-driven growth after stretching valuations

China stocks’ next phase of growth hinges on earnings, not just higher valuations, says BofA Global Research’s Winnie Wu.

China’s AI and robotics sectors could underpin economic growth and stock market gains. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

Opinion | China’s shrinking credit reflects a financial reset, not a collapse

Beijing is moving away from the old growth model reliant on rising leverage, towards a framework that prizes risk management and data integrity.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla’s China plant sees shipment surge ahead of subsidy expiry

However, the rebound may not be sufficient to help the company reclaim lost ground in China, an analyst says.

China trade

Explainer | From railways to Labubus: how China Inc. went on a 50-year trip abroad

Chinese companies have steadily expanded their global reach over the past half-century, but it has been a winding, often turbulent journey.

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A container is unloaded onto a truck at a port in Kenya. The expansion of the port and a connecting railway was undertaken with Chinese support. Photo: Xinhua
China manufacturing

China Inc. goes global

With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter.

Cargo ships sail on the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China, November 30, 2025. Photo: EPA
China property

UBS predicts 2.4 million China property foreclosures as loan defaults rise

Apartments seized from small businesses could reach more than 2.4 million by 2027, according to UBS’ John Lam.

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China shipbuilding

Beijing woos foreign firms as China seeks bigger role in global shipbuilding supply chain

From cruise ships to deep-sea ocean drillers, China aims to open its vast shipbuilding industry wider to overseas partners.

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