NEWS / the week of Nov 8-14, 2025
Current news about China and the Chinese people
NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. There is often a time lag in their reaching the US and in gaining our attention. These reports reflect the opinions of a variety of news sources.
🚀 Space & Technology
Shenzhou-20 crew delayed by space debris / Nov 14, 2025
Three Chinese astronauts had their return to Earth postponed after debris struck their vessel. They are now scheduled to land on November 14, 2025.
Moon race preparations / Nov 8, 2025
China is counting down to Long March-10 test flights, part of its push to return to the moon.
Chinese 3D-printed turbojet engine offers ‘new power option’ for military drones / Nov 14, 2025
Engineers say they have successfully tested the engine on a missile-shaped target drone, showing that it can operate at high altitudes
⚓ Military & Defense
New amphibious assault ship trials / Nov 14, 2025
Just a week after commissioning its latest aircraft carrier (Fujian), China began sea trials of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship. This vessel can launch both aircraft and landing craft with troops, showing rapid naval modernization.
Carrier combat readiness / Nov 14, 2025
Reports suggest the Fujian carrier is on track for rapid combat readiness.
China is deeply concerned over Japan's recent military, security moves / Nov 14, 2025
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday. Lin made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks at the parliament about Japan's principles of not to possess, produce or introduce nuclear weapons into its territory.
📉 Economy & Trade
China’s Economy Is Tanking Even Worse Than Everyone Expected / Nov 13, 2025
Fresh numbers from Beijing reveal a sharper economic nosedive than analysts predicted.
U.S.–China trade deal / Nov 10, 2025
Presidents Trump and Xi struck a sweeping agreement. China committed to halting fentanyl precursor exports, easing rare earth export controls, and opening markets to U.S. soybeans.
Tariff suspension / Nov 10, 2025
China extended its suspension of extra tariffs on U.S. goods for one year, prolonging a fragile trade truce.
Import Expo optimism / Nov 10, 2025
At the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, U.S. exhibitors expressed hope that the worst of the trade war is over.
Economic slowdown hits workers / Nov 13, 2025
Wage-seeking protests erupted across China as companies struggled with declining exports and rising bankruptcies. Workers in Guangdong staged mass demonstrations over unpaid wages.
Humanoid robots hit the mall in China's latest tech push / Nov 14, 2025
A new "7S" store dedicated to humanoid robots has opened in a bustling commercial district of Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, drawing large crowds as the country's rapidly growing robotics industry brings cutting-edge technology closer to daily life.
👥 Society & Demographics
Entire Section of China’s Newly Opened Bridge Collapses / Nov 11, 2025
Viral footage captured the moment that an entire section of a newly constructed bridge in China’s Sichuan province broke, crashing into the river below.
National Games / Nov 13, 2025
Opening ceremonies plus Team Guangdong won the men’s basketball title at China’s 15th National Games, a major domestic sporting event.
🌍 Diplomacy & Faith
The Water We Swim In / October 31, 2025
We bring to China our view of the world and our place in it, our sense of “the way things ought to be,” our values and priorities. Through this lens, we try to make sense of a culture and people very different from ourselves. We look for points of similarity, and when we find them we feel the story is starting to make sense. But more often than not, it is the incongruities that stand out, accentuating the differentness of China.
Reformation In Our Time (/ October 31, 2025
October 31 is celebrated in the Protestant world as Reformation Day, in addition to being marked as Halloween by the world at large. On Reformation Day, Protestant Christians remember the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses. We are pleased to publish this piece, written last year, on the Reformation that this house church pastor believes the modern world needs.
What the Chinese Mission Movement Means for the Global Church / November 4, 2025
Through their words and actions, Chinese university graduates will continue to bring the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth. They (and we) all have a part to play in God’s global mission. Perhaps Xu’s words say it best: “God is the one who’s pushing this agenda. He cares. He will make it happen. You are just a small part of this big picture, and there’s comfort in that. And, it’s enough just to do your part well.” May it be so.