NEWS / the week of Oct 17 to 23, 2026

Current news about China and the Chinese people.

NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. Reports from China often reach the US with a time lag, and the views expressed reflect a variety of news sources.

U.S.–China Relations

Falling exports to China take toll on US businesses, jobs — Oct 23, 2026

A new US-China Business Council report finds American goods exports to China fell 26 percent last year, linked to about 148,000 fewer US jobs. Soybeans, grain, oil and gas were hit hardest, and the council urges both governments to negotiate lasting tariff relief. (China Daily)

Ex-US treasury secretary, 100, visits Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum — Oct 19, 2026

W. Michael Blumenthal, who fled Nazi Germany and spent his youth in wartime Shanghai, returned to the city's Jewish refugee museum at age 100. He thanked local residents for their kindness then and said the US and China "must learn to get along." (China Daily)

US Treasury proposes a rule to crack down on high-tech investments in China, other adversaries — Oct 22, 2026

The Treasury Department proposed limits on American investments above $50,000 in sensitive fields such as AI, supercomputing, hypersonics and biotechnology in China, Russia and North Korea. Ordinary stock purchases would largely be exempt, and the public can comment before a final rule. (AP)

China & the World

Chinese premier says SCO should promote regional stability, prosperity, contribute to global development — Oct 20, 2026

At a Shanghai Cooperation Organization heads-of-government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Premier Li Qiang called for closer trade, transport and supply-chain ties. China offered to train 1,000 health specialists from member states, and leaders signed a joint communique and several cooperation documents. (Xinhua)

UN biodiversity chief hails China's conservation as a global model — Oct 21, 2026

Speaking at the COP17 biodiversity conference in Yerevan, Armenia, UN biodiversity head Astrid Schomaker praised China's mix of science, institutions and funding for nature protection, while warning that fewer than half of countries' targets under the global biodiversity framework are on track. (CGTN)

Economy & Business

China's economy accelerates on robust exports as domestic weakness persists — Oct 18, 2026

Third-quarter growth rose to 4.5 percent, powered by booming exports and a $938 billion trade surplus so far this year. Economists from Moody's, the Conference Board and Cornell caution that household demand remains weak and that gains are uneven across regions and industries. (AP)

China September youth jobless rate at 18% — Oct 21, 2026

Unemployment among urban 16-to-24-year-olds, excluding students, eased to 18 percent in September from 18.9 percent in August, a one-year high. The rate for 25-to-29-year-olds slipped to 7.4 percent, showing young graduates still face a tough job market. (Reuters)

China unveils five-year plan to strengthen industrial foundation, upgrade manufacturing — Oct 22, 2026

A new 2026–2030 plan from the industry ministry and other agencies targets weak spots in core components, basic materials and industrial software. Experts describe China's industrial base as "large but not strong," and the plan aims to reach internationally advanced levels by 2030. (Xinhua)

Science & Technology

Hainan betting on Wenchang spaceport — Oct 23, 2026

Hainan province hopes to grow commercial space revenue to 50 billion yuan by 2030 around its Wenchang launch site. The commercial pad has completed 14 of 20 planned launches this year, and its four pads could eventually support about 60 rockets annually. (China Daily)

Over 150 Chinese Apps Deny AI Assistant's Use on Smartphone — Oct 19, 2026

More than 150 apps, including WeChat and Alipay, have blocked ByteDance's Doubao AI assistant from operating them on a new AI smartphone. A Tsinghua researcher notes China has no rules yet on how AI agents may control other companies' apps. (Sixth Tone)

Scientists discover ghostly, eyeless creature hidden in Chinese cave — Oct 20, 2026

Researchers described a new transparent, eyeless snail from a cave in Yunnan, the first freshwater cave snail found in China, named after a faceless god in an ancient Chinese classic. Only three live adults were found, and its survival outlook is poor. (ScienceDaily)

Society, Culture & Sports

Update: Casualties reported after 7.0-magnitude quake hits China's Xizang — Oct 23, 2026

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu, Xizang, late Thursday night, collapsing houses and cutting power and phone service. Casualties were reported, and regional and national emergency responses were activated as rescue teams headed to the area. (Xinhua)

China's tourists flock to experience a pretend typhoon as 'dark tourism' flourishes — Oct 17, 2026

Young Chinese are paying to live through simulated disasters. At Lvxing Base in Hangzhou, a 200,000-square-metre site opened in 2024 by former documentary makers, groups of visitors experience typhoon-force winds, floods and mudslides; most individual customers are in their twenties. One 28-year-old travelled more than 1,300 km from Chongqing after seeing videos on RedNote. Online, the trend is nicknamed "paying to suffer." Other travellers visit real sites such as Beichuan, the Sichuan town preserved as a memorial after the 2008 earthquake that killed more than 70,000 people. (The Guardian; this site may not open in mainland China)

Cultural heritage protection to be bolstered — Oct 20, 2026

A new five-year plan aims to build a full framework for protecting relics, historic towns and intangible heritage by 2030. More than 6,000 small and mid-sized museums will be upgraded, and a national heritage protection law is being drafted. (China Daily)

Rehab, Release, Repeat: Nana, the Seal Who Refuses to Return to the Wild — Oct 20, 2026

Nana, a rescued spotted seal released into the Yellow Sea, keeps swimming back to Dachangshan Island in Liaoning and has become a local celebrity. Authorities now plan a shelter for him, while researchers worry about his safety and food this winter. (Sixth Tone)

Faith & Mission

Beyond the Door: A Decade of Encounters and Concerns at a Christian Bookstore — Oct 19, 2026

A Christian bookstore owner in southern China reflects on ten years serving students, believers and volunteer preachers, his main customers. He hopes pastors will read more widely and that churches will give them time for rest and spiritual retreat. (China Christian Daily)