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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.
Justin Lin Yifu, dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, is seen at last month’s Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 in China’s Hainan province. Photo: Xinhua
China trade

Learn from the East, says economist Justin Lin, refuting ‘overcapacity’ rhetoric

Former World Bank economist defends Beijing’s industrial strategy amid ‘overcapacity’ allegations, points to Germany and a ‘double standard’.

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China-EU relations

China’s CRRC drops bid for Lisbon metro deal as EU finds ‘billions’ in subsidies

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China energy security

China confronts Middle East supply shock, as State Council mulls energy strategy

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Artificial intelligence

Crypto industry sees AI-driven agent economy as next growth driver

Experts gather in Hong Kong for Web3 Festival as firm predicts AI agents could facilitate up to US$5 trillion in global crypto sales by 2030.

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Experts gathered at the Web3 Festival in Hong Kong predict AI agents will lead the next leap in global finance with crypto, while how we interact with blockchain is likely to change indefinitely. Photo: AFP/Getty/TNS
China energy security

China’s vast nuclear power sector now able to build 50 reactors at a time

China has more reactors under construction than the rest of the world combined, as it aims to become a global leader in nuclear power.

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China stock market

Outlook for China stocks brightens on capital flows, rebounding home prices

Resilience shown since start of Middle East war likely to continue amid haven demand, according to fund managers and investment banks.

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China jobs

China’s youth unemployment crunch deepens as record graduation season looms

China’s official youth jobless rate climbed to 16.9 per cent in March, with another 12.7 million graduates set to enter the job market this summer.

A jobseeker meets with a recruiter at a job fair in Shanghai on April 9. The job fair was for aged-care services. Nearly 50 organisations and enterprises offered more than 100 opportunities. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

Jump in EU EV sales amid Iran war boosts Chinese brands’ fortunes

Chinese-made EVs accounted for 16 per cent of the EU market in the year’s first two months, up from 12.2 per cent in 2025, CPCA data shows.

China energy security

Turning point? Clean energy met 100% of world’s new power needs in 2025: report

World has ‘firmly entered’ the clean growth era, with renewables overtaking coal as a power source for the first time last year, report finds.

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US-China trade war

US firms dash to recover tariffs paid on Chinese imports as refund system starts

Companies scramble on Monday to recover illegally collected tariffs from US government as thousands rush to file claims.

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Companies scramble on to recover illegally collected tariffs from US government. Photo: AFP
China energy security

‘Hormuz moment’ could herald decline of US dominance: analysts

Drawing comparisons with UK’s watershed ‘Suez moment’ in 1950s, report says US now ‘wedged’ in strait and searching for a way out.

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Tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on Saturday. Photo: AP
China energy security

As the Hormuz crisis exposes ‘fragile’ supply chains, how will China respond?

Beijing has so far managed to contain fallout from the Iran war – but policymakers are still moving to reinforce resilience.

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China trade

China presses IMF for quota reform, better surveillance of advanced economies

PBOC head urges IMF to ‘stand against protectionism’ amid effects from tariffs, Iran war.

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China GDP

First tariffs, now war: how Asia is facing a second year of economic shocks

Global institutions forecast slower growth in Asia-Pacific this year, as the Iran war and tariff risks combine to disrupt global trade.

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A crane loads cargo onto a ship at a port in Zhangjiagang, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
China airliners

‘Not compromising quality’: why China’s C919 is falling behind on deliveries

Deliveries of the home-grown airliner billed to take on US, European competitors have been slow, with just three dispatched in the first quarter.

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A domestically-produced C919 lands at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Photo: Handout
China jobs

Shanghai mobilises seniors to work longer amid China’s demographic crisis

With one in three residents above retirement age, Shanghai’s 28-department plan aims to mobilise retirees to offset shrinking payrolls and rising pension strains.

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China technology

Letters | Chinese motorcycle brand ZXMOTO’s victory more than a sporting achievement

Readers discuss ZXMOTO’s wins in the WorldSSP class of the Superbike World Championship, and the connection between competition for oil and the space race.

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Renewable energy

China begins building US$1 billion hydropower station in Cambodia

As focus switches to renewable energy, pumped-storage hydropower project in Koh Kong province expected to be completed by 2029.

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The groundbreaking ceremony for the Upper Tatay pumped storage hydropower project in Koh Kong province, Cambodia, on April 10. Photo: Xinhua.
Electric & new energy vehicles

Why Canadians dream of electric vehicle price cuts, thanks to China

Canada slashed tariffs on Chinese EVs from the start of last month, but Chinese brands have yet to set up showrooms.

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China manufacturing

Iran war energy shock sees Chinese firms recalibrate overseas expansion plans

Businesses are rethinking short-term strategies as they adapt to rising costs and slowing growth across major economies.

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China manufacturing

China focuses on car standards to put industry in global driving seat

New five-year plan also emphasised importance of stronger standards in boosting Chinese manufacturers’ competitiveness.

Chinese carmaker Nio’s one millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line in Hefei, Anhui province, in January. Photo: Xinhua
China property

Tycoon Pan Shiyi slams China property ‘Ponzi’ as Evergrande boss pleads guilty

Writing from US in a since-deleted post, Soho China founder warns that property recovery is impossible without buyer trust, as new data shows home sales still plunging.

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An abandoned Evergrande construction project is seen on Tuesday in China’s Anhui province. The founder of the Chinese property giant has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and bribery, a court said on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Comac

VietJet Air to lease up to 10 C909 jets in boost for Chinese aircraft maker

Deal follows talks between Chinese and Vietnamese presidents in Beijing this week.

China energy security

China’s energy mismatch

China’s renewables drive depends on connecting power-hungry provinces in the south and east with generating regions thousands of kilometres away in the north and west.

China food security

‘Sharp swings’: why China is warning of food security risks despite bumper crops

The country has ample grain supplies but could still face challenges if extreme weather or global conflict spark global shortages, Beijing says.

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A worker sorts imported soybeans at a processing company in Binzhou, China, on March 6, 2025. Photo: Getty Images
Artificial intelligence

How the rise of AI agents could finally make China’s open-source models pay

Free models helped Chinese firms find rapid success – but thin margins are forcing a shift towards hybrid business strategies.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
US-China trade war

Why the biggest threat to US dollar dominance may well be Washington itself

Economic sanctions, access to US-led banking systems are powerful tools, but overuse reduces their effectiveness over time, Congress told.

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US-China trade war

‘Buy what they can, steal what they can’t’: US lawmakers slam China’s AI tactics

US lawmakers, experts accused Beijing of buying ‘what they can’ and stealing ‘what they cannot’ from America to advance their AI technology.

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