NEWS/the week of Jan 9-16,2026
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.
📊 Business & Investment
Survey: Slowing economy tops concerns of U.S. firms in China / Jan 9, 2026
American Chamber of Commerce-China survey finds economic slowdown, not trade friction, is the main worry for U.S. businesses there.
Political heat back on illegal villas and resorts / Jan 16, 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping has refocused national anti-corruption efforts on illegal villas and “private resorts”, luxury developments that have come to symbolise excess and graft over the past two decades.
🔌 Geopolitics & Resources
China, Russia in talks after halt to power supplies / Jan 9, 2026
Beijing and Moscow discuss energy imports after a sharp drop in electricity flows, amid long-term cooperation on resources
Canada, China slash EV, canola tariffs in reset of ties / Jan 16, 2026
Canada and China have struck an initial trade deal that will slash tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday, as both nations promised to tear down trade barriers while forging new strategic ties.
ASIA GOLD Record rally stalls; China demand steady / Jan 16, 2026
Gold demand in India stayed muted this week as prices hit record highs again, taking the shine off retail buying, while bullion traded at a premium in China as demand remained steady ahead of the Lunar New Year.
Morning Bid: How much more yen jawboning before intervention? / Jan 16, 2026
Markets were set to end the week on a high on Friday as the artificial intelligence trade regained momentum, but more crucially for investors, attention will be on the yen.
Taiwan aims to be strategic AI partner in US tariff deal / Jan 16, 2026
Taiwan aims to become a close strategic partner with the United States in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) after striking a deal to cut tariffs and boost its investment in the country, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Friday.
TikTok to tighten age checks in Europe / Jan 16, 2026
TikTok will start rolling out new age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, it told Reuters on Friday, as the ByteDance-owned platform faces regulatory pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children under 13.
Taiwan says more US arms sales are in the pipeline / Jan 16, 2026
More U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are in the pipeline with four deals yet to be notified to Congress, a senior Taiwanese defense official said on Thursday, following the announcement of an $11 billion package last month, the largest ever for the island.
Christianity under Pressure
Several Christians detained amid continued crackdown / Jan 16, 2026
Reports that leaders and members of the Early Rain Covenant Church were detained in January in Sichuan province, with some held at undisclosed locations.
Chinese authorities crack down and arrest house church members / Dec 26, 2026
In late December, police reportedly detained and arrested hundreds of house church Christians during coordinated crackdowns in Wenzhou’s Taishun County (Zhejiang).
Influential church reports arrests as persecution intensifies / Jan 9, 2026
Recent enforcement actions in multiple provinces against clergy and believers reflect an expanding strategy against autonomous Christian networks.