NEWS / the week of Jan 17-23, 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.
Chinese New Year
Chinese Lunar New Year greetings / / Jan 23, 2026
Get their perspective? The Year of the Horse 2026 will be welcomed across China with blessings for money, health and more.
📊 Business & Investment
Chinese goods flood Africa, widening trade gap to record $102 billion / Jan 23, 2026
China significantly expanded its exports to Africa last year, widening its trade surplus with the continent by 64.5 percent to a record $102 billion, according to official Chinese customs data.
China’s stock market ‘overheats’ amid record high turnover / Jan 23, 2026
Regulators express concern as China’s stock market experiences unusually high trading volumes and signs of overheating.
Real Estate Crash Continues to Weigh on China’s Economic Growth / Jan 17, 2026
China’s property sector remains a major drag on the economy, with new reporting on the depth of the slowdown.
Factory Explosion in Inner Mongolia Kills Four, Injures Dozens / Jan 19, 2026
A tragic industrial accident in Inner Mongolia highlights ongoing safety concerns in China’s manufacturing sector.
China Builds World’s Largest EV Charging Network / Jan 19, 2026
China continues to expand its electric‑vehicle infrastructure, reinforcing its global leadership in EV adoption.
What’s a good man worth in China’s marriage market? / Jan 23, 2026
A viral social-media post reveals uncomfortable realities.
Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China’s Wind and Solar Buildout / Jan 13, 2026
🔌 Geopolitics & Resources
What’s Beijing doing in the Arctic? / Jan 19, 2026
Analysts note China’s wide-ranging ambition to expand its presence across the Arctic region in ways that pose new security concerns for Europe and North America.
China’s Birth Rate Hits a Record Low / Jan 23, 2026
Summary: China’s population continues to shrink as the birth rate falls to a historic low, raising concerns about long‑term demographic and economic impacts.
Hong Kong vigil organizer says she was not seeking end to Communist Party rule / Jan 23, 2026
A prominent activist who organized Hong Kong’s decades-old vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square military crackdown on democracy protesters said Friday that her group’s demand for “ending one-party rule” was a call for democratization, not for an end to the Communist Party’s leadership in China.
Islamic State group claims blast on Chinese restaurant in Kabul that killed 7 / Jan 23, 2026
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a bombing at a Chinese restaurant in Afghanistan’s capital that killed at least seven people, including a Chinese national, and wounded more than a dozen others.
Britain and China to revive 'golden era' business dialogue / Jan 23, 2026
Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a planned Beijing visit next week, said three sources familiar with the initiative, with top executives from both sides expected to participate.