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Individuals selling homes within two years of purchase will be subject to a VAT rate of 3 per cent, down from 5 per cent, from January 1. Photo: Getty Images

Banking & Finance

China housing market gets VAT relief on resales but demand outlook stays subdued

Policy lowering VAT to 3 per cent reduces seller costs but demand recovery is key to stabilising the housing sector, property agents say.

China rolls out trade-in funding for 2026 as campaign to spur spending continues

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Beijing renews trade-in subsidy scheme amid domestic car market’s gloomy outlook

China Economy

China’s factory activity breaks 8-month contraction, but headwinds persist

China’s manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 in December, but analysts said it was too early to point to a sustained recovery.

A major indicator of China’s factory activity returned to expansion in December, after eight straight months of contraction. Photo: AFP
A major indicator of China’s factory activity returned to expansion in December, after eight straight months of contraction. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Airbus scores major win in China with orders for 145 A320 aircraft

The flurry of orders, worth billions of US dollars, marks a big victory for the European aviation firm over US rival Boeing in a key market.

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Policy

Xi renews call to boost grain output after trade war sharpens food security push

Beijing renews push to fortify domestic crop supplies and modernise agriculture amid a tense geopolitical climate.

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China Economy

How China is upgrading its digital yuan for the stablecoin era

Beijing is upgrading its digital currency in response to the rise of stablecoins, but the goal is to create a fundamentally different system.

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A booth promotes the digital yuan at an expo in Beijing. China is upgrading its digital currency as it aims to create an alternative to stablecoins and cryptocurrencies. Photo: AP
A booth promotes the digital yuan at an expo in Beijing. China is upgrading its digital currency as it aims to create an alternative to stablecoins and cryptocurrencies. Photo: AP

China Economy

China’s Shenzhen targets AI in ‘every household’ as US tech rivalry heats up

Local officials want to embed cutting-edge tech across society in coming five-year plan.

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Global Economy

China’s lagging basic research calls for core tech pivot, economic adviser urges

Wang Yiming says Beijing must innovate from the ground up to create deterrents against foreign supply cuts, citing missed R&D spending target.

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China Economy

China’s Hainan hosts duty-free shopping spree under new customs regime

A flurry of activity accompanied the official establishment of the island’s tariff and tax exemptions - but will the frenzy last?

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The Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, capital of Hainan province. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

China has logged a US$1 trillion trade surplus. Where is all that money going?

Trade surplus growth has not been matched in foreign exchange reserves – a gap analysts said can be explained by private sector outflows.

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China’s status as the world’s manufacturing leader has helped it record a record trade surplus in 2025. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
China’s status as the world’s manufacturing leader has helped it record a record trade surplus in 2025. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Economic Indicators

China sets yuan fixing rate at 15-month high amid offshore gains

The move follows offshore yuan briefly breaching seven-per-US-dollar mark, with analysts citing dollar weakness, seasonal factors for rally.

China Economy

No more empty trains: China tightens rules on subway expansions to curb debt

Rich hubs, including Ningbo and Suzhou, are hitting regulatory roadblocks as the central government prioritises fiscal discipline over infrastructure-led growth.

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China Economy

Consumer demand and public services top China’s financial priorities for 2026

National fiscal work conference ends in Beijing with pledge to spur domestic market.

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The Ministry of Finance says it will this year focus on building a robust domestic market through “vigorously boosting consumption”. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

Why are rich Chinese moving private jets offshore, slumming it in budget seats?

Strict flight rules and economic headwinds are forcing scrutiny-wary tycoons to rebase aircraft in places such as Singapore or downgrade to commercial cabins.

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Two crew members walk past business jets in Shanghai. Photo: AFP
Two crew members walk past business jets in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Soaring to the top: China appoints first female captain for C919 flights

Promotion of former Boeing 737 pilot Yu Yue, who holds a ‘zero error’ record, called an inspiration to women across the nation.

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China Economy

Wild goose chase? France works to rouse China’s appetite for foie gras imports

French producers hope their famed pate can win a slice of China’s market, but price sensitivities and domestic competition could mean their goose is cooked.

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Global Economy

Why America’s brute-force effort on rare earths may not work against China

China spent decades carving out a commanding lead in the rare earth realm. Now the US wants its old piece of the supply chain back – is it still within reach?

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Illustration: Henry Wong

Global Economy

Chinese ‘vertical dramas’ are booming in America. Should Hollywood be worried?

Chinese platforms hosting bite-size soap operas about werewolves and mafia dons are drawing big audiences – and shaking up the streaming market.

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China Economy

As megacities slow, China’s smaller counties lead as new consumer hotspots

Survey last year found that nearly 80 per cent of consumers in China’s third- and fourth-tier cities were optimistic about the economy.

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China Economy

China rises up ‘elite quality’ league table as AI investment booms

China ranked 19th in the latest Elite Quality Index, which assesses whether national elites create sustainable value for their countries.

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Visitors watch humanoid robots fight at the Unitree Robotics booth during the World Robot Conference in Beijing. China has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging sectors in recent years. Photo: Reuters
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OPINION
James David Spellman

Opinion | How China’s home-grown luxury labels took on Western brands

James David Spellman
Nicholas Spiro

The View | How AI helped Asia’s real estate sector pass the tariff stress test

Nicholas Spiro
David Dodwell

Outside In | As the US pursues unilateralism, China faces challenging task as Apec host

David Dodwell
Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | Why Wall Street remains bullish on China amid economic slowdown

Nicholas Spiro
Nicholas Spiro

The View | Rebound in Hong Kong’s Central office market could be turning point

Nicholas Spiro
Christine Loh

Opinion | Arguing about China’s overcapacity overlooks its drive for clean energy

Christine Loh
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Shares in Baby Shark creator soar on IPO debut

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China’s ‘Goddess of Wealth’ jailed for over 11 years by UK court

China cryptoqueen jailed for more than 11 years by UK court over US$6.4 billion bitcoin fraud
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US-China soybean row leaves farmers caught in the middle

US-China soybean row leaves farmers caught in the middle
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Why is China’s youth unemployment rate so high?

People read job information at a job fair in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, April 18, 2020.
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TRENDING TOPICS
China trade
China manufacturing
China's economic recovery
China inflation
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MOST POPULAR
1

Why are rich Chinese moving private jets offshore, slumming it in budget seats?

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2

China has logged a US$1 trillion trade surplus. Where is all that money going?

3

Soaring to the top: China appoints first female captain for C919 flights

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4

Hard work, long hours fuelled China’s rise. Now, it weighs longer breaks

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China’s offshore yuan breaks major benchmark as appreciation momentum builds