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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 by Lau Ka-kuen
China manufacturing

AI, flying cars drive economic transition in China’s Kunshan

City at heart of Yangtze River Delta region sees new tech dreams emerge as old ones based on mass production of electronics fade.

US-China trade war

China reports ‘stunning’ critical minerals finds as hi-tech US race heats up

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China manufacturing

China’s exports are booming – so why are plants in this factory hub closing?

China travel

Middle East oil shock sparks global airfare rises, with 9% increases feared

Surging jet fuel prices are pushing airlines – including several Chinese carriers – to raise fares, with a warning of 9 per cent price rises.

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Smoke rises above aircraft parked at Dubai International Airport after a drone strike on March 16. The growing conflict in the Middle East is causing global airlines to raise fares amid a spike in jet fuel prices. Photo: AP
2026 Trump-Xi summit

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

After confirmation that the high-stakes Xi-Trump summit will be delayed, analysts find a complex story beneath the official surface.

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China consumption

Opinion | To unlock consumption, China must go local

China’s consumption drive will test Beijing’s willingness to give local governments room to experiment.

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Yuan

China adds 12 banks to digital yuan system, expanding e-CNY’s economic presence

More than doubling the number of institutions using digital yuan in day-to-day operations, China is deepening the currency's role in its financial system.

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A security guard drinks from a bottle near an ad for e-CNY, or digital yuan, in Beijing on August 31, 2022. Photo: AP
Mainland China

How China plans to use new law to further its financial superpower ambitions

The draft finance law, released by the Ministry of Justice, central bank and three other regulators, will solicit feedback until April 19.

China energy security

China’s Russian oil imports spike in early 2026, but Iran war changes outlook

China’s need to bolster crude stockpiles amid rising geopolitical risks likely to have been a factor behind pre-war import surge, analyst says.

Hainan

How China’s Hainan reinvented itself as Hong Kong’s rival – and partner

The island province has become a low-tax gateway and is ready to tap Hong Kong’s strengths in finance, research and other sectors, officials say.

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A drone photo taken on February 21 shows tourists taking yachts in Sanya, south China’s Hainan province. Photo: Xinhua
China stock market

Chinese stocks shake laggard image amid oil shock as green transition pays off

China’s push into renewables helps shield its markets from the latest oil turmoil, with analysts pointing to limited downside risks.

An oil tanker is guided to a berth at a port in Qingdao, Shandong province. China has oil reserves of 1.3 billion barrels, enough for four months of supply, according to UBS Group and S&P Global. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

US federal debt becoming ‘alarmingly unsustainable’ as Iran war fuels spending

Washington’s rapid accumulation of sovereign debt sparks outcry, with some analysts questioning if Trump has the political will to cut the deficit.

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China society

Opinion | China’s high household savings reflect old values and new anxieties

Economic uncertainties strengthen the deep cultural instinct for thrift. Policies must address the anxieties that make saving feel necessary.

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China jobs

Survey shows China’s professionals have high expectations – for low pay

As some Chinese workers switch jobs to boost salaries, many remain pessimistic about pay increases amid economic uncertainty.

Hays found that 51 per cent of professionals in China also received no pay rise in 2025, a sign of wider pressures in the job market. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

China’s central bank pledges stability in capital markets amid global sell-off

With worries over the Iran war driving down stock prices, the People’s Bank of China has named market stability as a ‘major task’ in 2026.

Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Pan Gongsheng, speaks during a press conference on the sideline of the National People’s Congress in Beijing on March 6, 2026. Photo: AP
China energy security

If the Iran war takes oil above US$120 a barrel, how bad could the shock get?

With major energy assets now coming under attack and the Strait of Hormuz still closed, analysts fear a longer supply shock.

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Shanghai

Shanghai certifies 30 overseas offices amid China’s investment sales pitch

The city welcomed a batch of new regional headquarters and R&D centres this week, as China continues its campaign to win back overseas capital.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war prompts global energy rethink that favours China

Surging oil prices and supply disruptions are causing countries to reassess investment in nuclear and renewable energy – two key Chinese strengths.

Flames rise after a March 7 strike on an oil depot in Tehran. Photo: TNS
China energy security

Macroscope | China is weathering the Iran war oil shock better than others in Asia

As the conflict threatens Asian economies, the best protected are those that can leverage import diversification and energy independence.

China jobs

China’s youth unemployment falls for sixth consecutive month in February

But young job-hunters say they are still struggling to find work in a testing post-holiday labour market amid rising global economic uncertainty.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China presses EV makers to end price war and focus on innovation as demand cools

Oversight of China’s industry intensifies, with carmakers urged to move beyond discounts and focus on chips and self-driving systems.

Visitors look at a new-energy sports car at an expo in Tianjin. Photo: Xinhua
Banking & finance

How China opened the door to creating a direct rival to US payment systems

Beijing has removed several key restrictions on its payment system, allowing it to expand beyond yuan settlements, economist says.

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China has been promoting its own cross-border payment system as it seeks to hedge against potential weaponisation of the US financial system. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Fears grow over US drug supply’s growing dependence on Chinese ingredients

Beijing’s global pharmaceutical push follows same playbook as rare earths, semiconductors and electric vehicles, warn US lawmakers.

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Apple

Apple’s Tim Cook visits China as reliance on Chinese suppliers endures

Cook shows up at an Apple Store in Chengdu as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

China energy security

Red Sea fix? China-bound oil tankers tap Saudi plan to dodge Strait of Hormuz

But analysts warn the strategy can only partially offset disruptions and that security risks remain high.

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This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC shows the oil infrastructure at Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea port of Yanbu on March 4, 2026. Photo: AFP
Chinese offshore investment

China’s multibillion-dollar minerals investment lifts foreign economies: report

Country has invested more than US$120 billion in overseas mining and mineral processing projects since 2023, study says.

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The Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe plant in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe, is run by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Photo: EPA-EFE
Artificial intelligence

Tencent makes OpenClaw-based tool available as WeChat mini-program

Company says users will be able to use mini-program to send commands from smartphones to PCs via audio messages and images.

China’s C919 passenger plane

China fine-tunes C909 jet operations in Laos – a blueprint for Southeast Asia?

Lessons from Laos could help Comac boost overseas sales of C909 and C919 – but analyst says buyers will be closely watching for safety.

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