https://www.scmp.com/rss/506787/feed Ji Siqi joined the Post in 2020 and covers China economy. She graduated from Columbia Journalism School and the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi China’s exports of energy storage equipment are expected to keep rising as the US-Israeli war in Iran renews global calls for energy independence, industry insiders and analysts said. The total export value of Chinese inverters – key components in energy storage systems – jumped 57 per cent year on year to US$1.66 billion for the first two months of 2026, Chinese customs data showed. Inverters convert electricity generated from batteries and solar panels into usable power for homes, businesses... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349515/chinas-energy-storage-tech-exports-buffer-against-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349515/chinas-energy-storage-tech-exports-buffer-against-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:17 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi The world is bracing for an aluminium supply shock after two major Middle Eastern smelters were damaged in Iranian attacks over the weekend, a disruption likely to push more production to China in the near term and potentially for years to come, analysts said. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a leading regional producer, reported “significant damage” at its Abu Dhabi site following strikes by Iranian missiles and drones, while Aluminium Bahrain said it was assessing the extent of damage at its... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348426/will-irans-strikes-gulf-smelters-strengthen-chinas-aluminium-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348426/will-irans-strikes-gulf-smelters-strengthen-chinas-aluminium-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:00:12 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As China’s property downturn drags on, foreign companies in downstream industries are revamping their business models to cope with a decline in new construction projects, but the country’s stable policy environment is helping to ease the transition, according to an executive at a leading US supplier. Lift giant Otis is looking for new growth momentum in China’s government-led urban renewal drive, which includes a push to install or upgrade lift systems in ageing apartment buildings, said Judy... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348155/chinas-property-downturn-grinds-foreign-suppliers-strive-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348155/chinas-property-downturn-grinds-foreign-suppliers-strive-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China has sufficient capacity to absorb external shocks from the Iran war and meet its annual economic growth target, a prominent economist said, while adding it was also preparing for the possibility that Washington might renege on trade deals. Justin Lin Yifu, dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University and a former chief economist at the World Bank, said on Thursday that no country could be spared from the economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, which... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348154/chinas-economy-big-enough-absorb-iran-war-shocks-says-justin-lin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348154/chinas-economy-big-enough-absorb-iran-war-shocks-says-justin-lin?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi The havoc unleashed on global shipping by the US-Israel war on Iran has underlined China’s urgent need to fix its lack of a robust maritime insurance industry, a shipping expert has said. “In the maritime shipping sector, China’s industrial chain for ‘hardware’ is very well-established and mature,” said Chen Jihong, director of the Shenzhen International Maritime Research Institute. “However, when it comes to ‘software’, we are still constrained by others, and it will be difficult to change any... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348096/iran-war-shows-chinas-urgent-need-plug-maritime-insurance-gap-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348096/iran-war-shows-chinas-urgent-need-plug-maritime-insurance-gap-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Chinese government advisers are calling for government-set “red lines” in artificial intelligence development and applications, as mounting threats of job displacement and data security challenges spark concerns in the country. Jiang Xiaojuan, former deputy secretary general of the State Council, said at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan province that precaution was needed when using AI simply to reduce labour costs. “Those that do not improve service quality or promote... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347940/job-fears-security-risks-spark-call-chinese-government-red-lines-ai-applications?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347940/job-fears-security-risks-spark-call-chinese-government-red-lines-ai-applications?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi While China appears better prepared than other countries to deal with the shocks brought by the US-Israel war on Iran, its economy would still come under pressure in the short term if its regional partners suffer, an executive with a global consultancy has said. “China might be more resilient, but China is not resilient to a demand shock,” said Denis Depoux, a global managing director at consultancy Roland Berger. “For example, if the economy is slowing down in Southeast Asia, if people stop... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347932/demand-shock-china-cannot-escape-impact-long-iran-war-analyst-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347932/demand-shock-china-cannot-escape-impact-long-iran-war-analyst-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has told the Boao Forum for Asia – a high-level gathering of governments and business leaders – that power politics should be rejected in favour of economic development and conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. “The people of Asia, having endured the scourge of war and chaos, deeply understand the value of peace and stability,” said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:39:36 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi China is still on course to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy in the next decade, as the global balance of power pivots towards Asia and America pursues a string of “self-defeating” policies, a prominent academic has said. While the Chinese economy is undergoing a structural transition, the current challenges facing the US are more severe, according to Li Cheng, the founding director of the University of Hong Kong’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World. The US is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347863/china-still-track-supplant-us-worlds-no-1-economy-10-years-academic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347863/china-still-track-supplant-us-worlds-no-1-economy-10-years-academic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China has pledged to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) security, including through a new data property rights framework, at a time when users and businesses are rapidly adopting the highly coveted but controversial OpenClaw. On Monday, Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, said security and compliance had become core challenges as AI spread across industry and daily life. Speaking at the China Development Forum, Liu cited challenges ranging from copyright disputes over... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347604/china-vows-stricter-ai-safeguards-openclaw-sparks-security-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347604/china-vows-stricter-ai-safeguards-openclaw-sparks-security-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China’s artificial intelligence breakthroughs in recent years stemmed from the country’s strategic strengthening of its power grid, commitment to open-source models and complete manufacturing supply chain, according to Joe Tsai, chairman of Alibaba Group Holding. “Currently, geopolitical complexities are deeply affecting supply chain security and the sharing of technological achievements,” Tsai said in a speech on Sunday at the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing. “In this era and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347485/alibaba-chairman-joe-tsai-credits-chinas-ai-edge-power-grid-open-source-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347485/alibaba-chairman-joe-tsai-credits-chinas-ai-edge-power-grid-open-source-models?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:46:56 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi Amid growing geopolitical turbulence, international capital is increasingly seeking certainty – which China offers – a leading Chinese government adviser highlighted on Sunday, as the country’s central bank governor reiterated commitment to rolling out the welcome mat for foreign investors. Speaking on the sidelines of the China Development Forum, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the school of public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, noted that capital had been flowing to Hong... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347470/international-capital-flowing-china-investors-seek-certainty-during-iranian-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347470/international-capital-flowing-china-investors-seek-certainty-during-iranian-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:24:20 +0000 Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma Beijing has urged global commitment to opening up, while pledging to create more blue ocean markets in a world engulfed by protectionism. Delivering the opening address to the China Development Forum on Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said, “protectionism is by no means a panacea for solving problems”, instead calling for opening up and technological progress to drive new market growth. “[Now,] power politics is running rampant, acting with impunity; at the same time, calls to uphold fairness... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347456/premier-li-qiang-calls-global-pledge-open-while-power-politics-runs-rampant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347456/premier-li-qiang-calls-global-pledge-open-while-power-politics-runs-rampant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:36:02 +0000 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong As diplomatic friction between China and Japan drags on, no Japanese business executives will attend a key forum in Beijing of multinational companies this coming week, according to an internal list seen by the South China Morning Post. Nearly 80 top executives from major foreign corporations, with those from the US making up the largest group, will attend the China Development Forum (CDF) from Sunday to Monday, according to the list. Meanwhile, some foreign CEOs – including a few from the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3347378/japanese-executives-absent-chinas-key-annual-summit-amid-diplomatic-tension-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3347378/japanese-executives-absent-chinas-key-annual-summit-amid-diplomatic-tension-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Ji Siqi Mia Nurmamat,Ji Siqi As Hainan pushes ahead with its free-trade port, the tropical island is emerging as a potential rival to Hong Kong’s long-standing role as a regional shopping and low-tax hub – even as both sides signal interest in closer cooperation. Since launching a separate customs regime three months ago, Hainan – now a gateway to the Chinese market – has positioned itself as a “super partner” to Hong Kong across industry chains, finance, tourism and other sectors, according to officials. “Hong Kong serves... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347323/chinas-hainan-free-trade-hub-reinvents-itself-hong-kongs-rival-and-partner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347323/chinas-hainan-free-trade-hub-reinvents-itself-hong-kongs-rival-and-partner?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:27:05 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Beijing is launching a pilot programme to expand industrial use of hydrogen energy, at a time when war in the Middle East is exposing the risks of global reliance on fossil fuels. Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid its war with the United States and Israel – now in its third week – has disrupted oil and gas supplies, prompting some nations to re-examine their energy mix, with renewables emerging as a potential hedge against volatility. In a Monday notice, the Ministry of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346850/china-targets-hydrogen-push-strait-hormuz-crisis-jolts-energy-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346850/china-targets-hydrogen-push-strait-hormuz-crisis-jolts-energy-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:03:05 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Two prominent Chinese business leaders have pledged to double down on outbound investment – including in the Middle East and Latin America – even as geopolitical risks intensify following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran and Washington’s increasing interventions in the western hemisphere. Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese electronics giant TCL, said the recent crisis in the Middle East had only a temporary impact on the company’s operations there and that the overall... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346500/top-chinese-entrepreneurs-commit-middle-east-expansion-despite-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346500/top-chinese-entrepreneurs-commit-middle-east-expansion-despite-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi The full implementation of taxation reforms pledged in China’s new five-year plan would substantially ease the fiscal strains on local governments, a leading tax policy expert said, while adding that it would not alter the central government’s dominant role in the country’s fiscal landscape. As a unitary state, China’s systematic advantage lay in strong central government finance that could coordinate fiscal resources in a unified manner and redistribute them through transfer payments, in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346372/fiscal-family-adviser-says-chinas-tax-flows-should-resemble-parental-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346372/fiscal-family-adviser-says-chinas-tax-flows-should-resemble-parental-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Despite its heavy reliance on oil and gas imports, China’s “national strength” insulates its energy security from short-term geopolitical shocks, a prominent petroleum geologist said. Jin Zhijun, dean of the Institute of Energy at Peking University, said that China – as a large country – could ensure its energy security amid a volatile international energy trading landscape, with multiple contingency plans in place. They included tapping more domestic resources by increasing oil and gas... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346173/chinas-size-strength-insulates-its-energy-security-amid-geopolitical-shocks-lawmaker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346173/chinas-size-strength-insulates-its-energy-security-amid-geopolitical-shocks-lawmaker?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:30:15 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi China’s new five-year plan targets both industrial innovation and “people-oriented” livelihoods for all, according to officials with the country’s top economic planner. “The draft outline of the plan … focuses on consolidating and expanding strengths, removing bottlenecks and constraints, and addressing weaknesses and shortcomings,” Zheng Bei, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said in Beijing on the sidelines of the “two sessions” on Saturday. The draft of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345822/innovation-plus-livelihoods-twin-tracks-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345822/innovation-plus-livelihoods-twin-tracks-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:30:13 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi The prime ministers of South Korea and Singapore will be among the world leaders attending this month’s Boao Forum for Asia, three sources said, adding to a growing string of leaders from developed economies who have visited China this year. The annual conference is scheduled to be held in Boao, Hainan province, from March 24 to 27, its organiser announced earlier. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai’s most recent trip to China was in June, when he met President Xi Jinping and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345739/prime-ministers-singapore-south-korea-attend-months-boao-forum-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345739/prime-ministers-singapore-south-korea-attend-months-boao-forum-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Zhang Shidong,Ji Siqi Zhang Shidong,Ji Siqi China’s high-level policymakers have reiterated the need to defuse financial risks and root out political corruption, two of President Xi Jinping’s long-term priorities, in the run-up to this year’s ‘two sessions’ – the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature and political advisory body. In this series, we take stock of how those efforts have progressed, and what remains to be done. When the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 points for the first time in early February, US... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345708/chinas-vision-powerhouse-stock-market-its-slow-and-steady-over-boom-and-bust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345708/chinas-vision-powerhouse-stock-market-its-slow-and-steady-over-boom-and-bust?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi With local governments in China struggling to replenish their treasuries while facing growing public service obligations, Beijing is setting its sights on securing more tax revenue as a major reform goal for 2026 and the four years beyond. Compared with the previous five-year plan period’s emphasis on “tax and fee cuts”, the language in the draft of the full 15th five-year plan – released on Thursday – emphasised “maintaining a reasonable macro tax burden”. The document also pledged to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345619/chinas-new-5-year-plan-targets-tax-reform-local-governments-face-fiscal-strain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345619/chinas-new-5-year-plan-targets-tax-reform-local-governments-face-fiscal-strain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Khushboo Razdan,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Khushboo Razdan,Ji Siqi China and the United States will hold a new round of high-level trade talks in Paris at the end of next week, according to sources from both sides, as preparations press on for US President Donald Trump’s visit to China. Led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, the two delegations will meet in the French capital to discuss trade and investment deals – including on tariffs, investment, soybeans and rare earths – that would be presented as deliverables... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345336/china-and-us-hold-high-level-trade-talks-paris-trumps-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345336/china-and-us-hold-high-level-trade-talks-paris-trumps-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:25:27 +0000 Ji Siqi,Mia Nurmamat Ji Siqi,Mia Nurmamat The escalating conflict in the Middle East – which is sending oil prices soaring and disrupting shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz – should not pose an immediate threat to China’s crude supply, but will add urgency to the country’s energy security drive, analysts said. Since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran over the weekend, commercial traffic has largely come to a standstill along the Strait of Hormuz – a waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345135/iran-conflict-will-accelerate-chinas-push-become-energy-powerhouse-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345135/iran-conflict-will-accelerate-chinas-push-become-energy-powerhouse-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Xinyi Wu Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Xinyi Wu On a day typically considered one of the happiest on the calendar for Chinese workers – the eve of Chinese New Year, when families gather for dinner in the midst of an extended public holiday – the annual Spring Festival Gala, the world’s most-watched television programme, left some in the viewing audience with a sense of profound disillusionment. As a troupe of humanoid robots break-danced, flipped, swung swords and performed comedy sketches at the gala, domestic AI brands occupied the show’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344920/iron-rice-bowl-vs-algorithm-why-chinas-economy-may-better-withstand-ai-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344920/iron-rice-bowl-vs-algorithm-why-chinas-economy-may-better-withstand-ai-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:00:19 +0000 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong China has added 20 Japanese entities to its export control list and 20 more to a watch list scrutinising the trade of select goods, increasing economic pressure on Tokyo in a move that widens the scope of the countries’ prolonged diplomatic row to include some of Japan’s largest companies. Chinese exporters have been banned from shipping dual-use goods – items with military and civilian applications – to the firms and institutions on the export control list, Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce said... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344394/china-adds-20-japanese-firms-export-control-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344394/china-adds-20-japanese-firms-export-control-list?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:12:47 +0000 Frank Chen,Ji Siqi Frank Chen,Ji Siqi China’s sprawling export sector is eyeing a brief window of opportunity to front-load shipments to the United States following a Supreme Court ruling that appears to have eased tariff rates – even as industry insiders remain wary of potential shocks ahead. All eyes are now on the coming Beijing summit, where US President Donald Trump is set to meet President Xi Jinping in a visit that could prove decisive for the future of bilateral trade, analysts and exporters said. Chinese goods had been... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344363/what-next-chinas-export-machine-after-top-us-court-blocks-trumps-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344363/what-next-chinas-export-machine-after-top-us-court-blocks-trumps-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:34 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Any coming high-level trade talks between Beijing and Washington will be in preparation for US President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April, analysts say, as both sides wish to keep a fragile trade truce intact, even though significant breakthroughs in the bilateral relationship remain up in the air. On Monday evening in the US, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent posted on social media that senior Treasury staff had travelled to China last week, “to strengthen channels of communication... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3343081/next-us-china-trade-talks-tipped-advance-trump-xi-summit-fragile-truce-holds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3343081/next-us-china-trade-talks-tipped-advance-trump-xi-summit-fragile-truce-holds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi More than a month after China’s central bank upgraded the digital yuan from a cash equivalent to “digital deposit money” – allowing it to accrue interest like a bank deposit – many residents and merchants in Beijing have yet to notice a major difference. While signs accepting digital yuan – also known as e-CNY – have long been commonplace in department stores and supermarkets, multiple sales staff said the dedicated point-of-sale machines had sat idle for months, if not years. At most wet... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343032/china-takes-gradual-approach-digital-yuan-upgrade-and-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343032/china-takes-gradual-approach-digital-yuan-upgrade-and-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:29:06 +0000 Ji Siqi,Eunice Xu Ji Siqi,Eunice Xu With China explicitly banning onshore tokenisation of real-world assets (RWAs) while tightening scrutiny of related offshore activities, analysts say the clampdown is aimed at curbing financial fraud and disorderly capital outflows, while still preserving space for regulated innovation in markets such as Hong Kong. Tokenisation refers to the process of converting the rights to an RWA – including real estate, art, bonds and commodities like gold – into a digital token. Such tokens represent... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342952/chinas-necessary-asset-tokenisation-ban-targets-scams-and-capital-flight-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342952/chinas-necessary-asset-tokenisation-ban-targets-scams-and-capital-flight-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:30:19 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Across Europe, demand for Chinese goods is soaring as consumers seek quality products at a lower cost. Some goods – particularly electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels – have been shipped from China at a large enough scale that the continent’s lawmakers have begun taking action against an “overcapacity” they feel could throttle domestic industries. But in one European country where multi-day blackouts are commonplace, buyers are rushing to secure a piece of that excess supply, desperate... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342654/beijing-and-moscow-tout-ties-chinas-companies-keep-ukraines-lights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342654/beijing-and-moscow-tout-ties-chinas-companies-keep-ukraines-lights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:00:29 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China has tightened tax incentives and raised preferential rates in several sectors as part of a broader push to generate more government funds, after experiencing a sharp drop in fiscal revenues amid an economic slowdown and persistent deflationary pressure. The Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration released a slew of detailed provisions for the country’s new value-added tax (VAT) law over the weekend, which included raising the rate applied to telecommunication services from 6... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342098/china-pushes-shore-government-finances-tax-rises-several-sectors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342098/china-pushes-shore-government-finances-tax-rises-several-sectors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:30:11 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Ji Siqi Mandy Zuo,Ji Siqi As Shanghai resident Adam Liu drives his new Mercedes CLA – a German-manufactured car he has long revered – this edition of the luxury vehicle is carrying another point of pride: a smart system hailing from his home country. The recently launched pure-electric vehicle was assembled in Rastatt, Germany, but engineers at Beijing-based ByteDance designed its interactive system, based on the popular chatbot Doubao. “To me, it’s a fusion of German meticulous craftsmanship and China’s smart digital... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341689/how-chinas-tech-prowess-could-help-it-overtake-india-office-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341689/how-chinas-tech-prowess-could-help-it-overtake-india-office-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma,Dewey Sim Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma,Dewey Sim China and Canada have agreed to remove the triple-digit tariffs imposed on each other’s imports – a major thaw in relations after years of icy diplomatic and trade ties – as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up his state visit in Beijing. Canada will remove the additional 100 per cent in tariffs it had levied on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports – imposed in 2024 following a similar move from the United States – while China will lower its tariffs on Canadian canola, Carney said on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340160/canada-remove-100-tariffs-chinese-ev-imports-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340160/canada-remove-100-tariffs-chinese-ev-imports-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:08:04 +0000 Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma China’s central bank is looking to pump 900 billion yuan (US$129.2 billion) worth of additional funds into private and technology firms, alongside slashing key policy relending rates by a quarter of a percentage point, in a fresh round of monetary easing designed to shore up the economy. The new plan includes an extra 500 billion yuan for agriculture and small businesses, said Zou Lan, a deputy governor of the bank, at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. The bank will also expand its... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339992/china-cut-key-policy-lending-rates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339992/china-cut-key-policy-lending-rates?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:17:43 +0000 Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu Beijing and Brussels on Monday announced a milestone in resolving their years-long trade dispute over Chinese electric vehicles, with the European Union releasing guidance set to address the countervailing tariffs it levied in 2024. The European Commission issued a document outlining how Chinese exporters can submit price undertaking offers, which it said must be “adequate to eliminate the injurious effects of the subsidies and provide equivalent effect to duties”. It added that it would amend... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339588/china-eu-reach-deal-electric-vehicle-tariffs-after-lengthy-negotiations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339588/china-eu-reach-deal-electric-vehicle-tariffs-after-lengthy-negotiations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:50:37 +0000 Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma Ji Siqi,Sylvia Ma China has launched a market competition probe and assessment for its food delivery platforms, the State Council announced on Friday, a move analysts said was an affirmation of the country’s determination to continue to combat self-defeating competition. “Recently, issues such as excessive subsidies, price wars and control over traffic flow in the online food delivery platform service industry have become prominent,” according to a statement issued by the Anti-Monopoly and Anti-Unfair Competition... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339342/china-probe-food-delivery-platforms-under-anti-monopoly-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339342/china-probe-food-delivery-platforms-under-anti-monopoly-law?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:17:12 +0000 Ji Siqi,Ben Jiang,Vincent Chow,Coco Feng Ji Siqi,Ben Jiang,Vincent Chow,Coco Feng China’s Ministry of Commerce says it will conduct a review and investigation into Meta Platforms’ US$2.5 billion acquisition of Manus, examining whether the deal complies with export controls and technology transfer rules, underscoring Beijing’s determination to assert oversight over cross-border technology transactions. Spokesperson He Yadong said at a briefing on Thursday that the ministry would work with other Chinese regulators to assess whether the deal, announced by Meta and Manus a week... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3339158/china-probe-metas-purchase-manus-regarding-export-control-and-tech-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3339158/china-probe-metas-purchase-manus-regarding-export-control-and-tech-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:29:31 +0000 Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu China has launched an anti-dumping investigation against Japan over a crucial chemical for chipmaking, marking a new escalation in tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. The investigation, set to run for one year with a possible extension of six months, targets dichlorosilane – a chemical that is primarily used in thin-film-deposition processes in semiconductor manufacturing and which plays a key role in the production of various types of chips, according to a notice from the Ministry of Commerce... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339053/china-initiates-anti-dumping-probe-against-japan-over-key-semiconductor-chemical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339053/china-initiates-anti-dumping-probe-against-japan-over-key-semiconductor-chemical?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:00:17 +0000 Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu China has banned the export of products with both commercial and military applications to end users linked to the Japanese military amid a protracted diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo. Effective immediately, the export of these items – known as “dual-use” goods – to those entities for military purposes, or for any other purpose that would “contribute to enhancing Japan’s military capabilities,” is prohibited, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday. While dual-use items are... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338907/china-bans-exports-military-related-goods-japan-dispute-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338907/china-bans-exports-military-related-goods-japan-dispute-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 08:18:13 +0000 Ji Siqi,Shi Jiangtao,Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Ji Siqi,Shi Jiangtao,Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings As a diplomatic row sees Japanese company executives put visits to China on hold, Beijing is preparing to roll out the red carpet for South Korean business leaders accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on a state visit starting Sunday. The contrasting receptions highlight how geopolitics is reshaping corporate ties in East Asia. Analysts expect continued friction between Beijing and Tokyo in 2026 to accelerate Japanese efforts to de-risk from the Chinese market. Conversely, Beijing’s warming... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338540/chinas-diplomatic-divide-red-carpet-south-korea-cold-shoulder-japanese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338540/chinas-diplomatic-divide-red-carpet-south-korea-cold-shoulder-japanese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi China is kicking off 2026 with a three-year import quota for beef shipments from major trading partners, in a move aimed at protecting its struggling domestic industry over the coming years. Effective Thursday, a 55 per cent tariff will be levied on over-quota beef from countries including Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand and the United States, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday. “The objective of these safeguard measures on imported beef is to help the domestic... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338320/china-imposes-beef-import-quota-slaps-over-quota-tariffs-shield-local-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338320/china-imposes-beef-import-quota-slaps-over-quota-tariffs-shield-local-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:00:14 +0000 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong In an effort to offer an alternative amid the global rise of stablecoins – cryptocurrencies pegged to a reference asset, such as a fiat currency – China’s central bank is poised to upgrade its digital yuan from a cash equivalent to “digital deposit money”. The move, which will allow the digital currency to function like a deposit in a bank account, is expected to broaden global usage of the e-CNY by making it more attractive to banks and individuals, but it also reflects Beijing’s cautious... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338159/how-china-upgrading-its-digital-yuan-stablecoin-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338159/how-china-upgrading-its-digital-yuan-stablecoin-era?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu Ji Siqi,Xiaofei Xu In an effort to further promote the internationalisation of China’s currency, Beijing has pledged to expand the use of its digital yuan, including by establishing a cross-border payment pilot with Singapore. The measures, announced by the People’s Bank of China on Wednesday, are tied to a broader financial support plan for China’s New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor – a trade and logistics network, launched in 2017, that links landlocked cities in western China with hundreds of global... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337642/china-expands-digital-yuan-push-singapore-and-asean-trade-routes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337642/china-expands-digital-yuan-push-singapore-and-asean-trade-routes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:30:09 +0000 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Though it did not come as a surprise, the US’ formal ban on the sale of new drones produced by China marks a “milestone” in the two countries’ strategic competition and technological decoupling, analysts said, with their rivalry continuing across numerous fields despite the temporary trade truce agreed between their leaders in October. Washington’s telecommunications regulator said on Monday that it is adding all foreign producers of drones and critical components – including those made by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337500/bad-policy-chinas-drone-makers-shrug-us-ban-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337500/bad-policy-chinas-drone-makers-shrug-us-ban-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Carol Yang,Ji Siqi Carol Yang,Ji Siqi China’s central bank has unveiled a credit-rehabilitation policy to help individuals who defaulted on small loans rebuild their financial standing – part of a broader push to bolster the economy and repair household balance sheets. The People’s Bank of China said the measure targets borrowers with a single instance of overdue debt incurred between 2020 and 2025 and not exceeding 10,000 yuan (US$1,421). If the debt is fully repaid by March 31, the default record will be hidden from credit... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337354/china-hide-bad-debt-records-pandemic-hit-borrowers-who-repay-small-loans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337354/china-hide-bad-debt-records-pandemic-hit-borrowers-who-repay-small-loans?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:00:28 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi China has slapped provisional anti-subsidy fees of up to 42.7 per cent on European producers of certain dairy products, including various types of cheese and cream, Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Monday. Chinese investigators made a “preliminary determination” – following a 16-month investigation – that the European Union provided “substantial subsidies” to the milk and dairy products industry “through programmes such as the common agricultural policy” and caused “material injury”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337356/china-slaps-tariffs-eu-cheese-and-cream-amid-trade-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337356/china-slaps-tariffs-eu-cheese-and-cream-amid-trade-row?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:00:17 +0000 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Beijing confirmed on Thursday that it has begun granting general licences with lengthier terms for exports of rare earth elements to foreign companies, though business groups said more guidance was needed on the policy’s implementation. “With the accumulation of relevant export compliance experience, some exporters have initially met the basic requirements to apply for general licences,” said He Yadong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom), at a press conference. “To my knowledge,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336916/china-confirms-issuing-first-general-licences-rare-earth-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336916/china-confirms-issuing-first-general-licences-rare-earth-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi China’s Ministry of Commerce has expressed strong opposition to recent European Union investigations into Chinese companies and vowed to use necessary means to defend their rights. “The European Union has recently launched a series of Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) investigations targeting Chinese enterprises … such actions are egregious, with clear targeting and discriminatory intent,” ministry spokesman He Yadong said during a press conference on Thursday. Last week, Brussels launched an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336941/china-slams-eu-subsidy-probes-egregious-and-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336941/china-slams-eu-subsidy-probes-egregious-and-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:30:09 +0000