NEWS / the week of Feb 14 to Feb 20, 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.
Censorship and Control
Censorship Practices of the People’s Republic of China / Feb 20, 2026
This report, prepared for the Commission by Exovera’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis (CIRA), examines the elaborate and pervasive censorship apparatus used by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to maintain the Party's monopoly on political legitimacy, shape the behavior of China’s citizenry, and control information beyond its borders.
China’s Global Police State: Background and U.S. Policy Implications / Feb 20, 2026
This staff research report details China’s evolving and expanding transnational repression “toolkit.” This toolkit includes “overseas police stations,” intelligence operations targeting Beijing’s critics in foreign countries, efforts to undermine free speech at universities, online harassment, coercion-by-proxy, and abuse of the INTERPOL red notice system, as well as extradition treaties.
Economy & Finance
IMF Urges Shift in China's Economic Model: / Feb 20, 2026
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for a major shift in China's policy framework to focus on consumption-led growth rather than investment, warning that the current model is hurting the global economy and projecting growth to slow to 4.5% in 2026.
Record Trade Surplus and Deflation Concerns: / Feb 20, 2026
China's trade surplus reached a record $1.2 trillion in 2025, with exports continuing to rise despite tariffs, while the country faces persistent deflationary pressures.
EV Market Price War Regulation: / Feb 20, 2026
Chinese regulators are stepping in to curb a "price war" among electric vehicle makers that has led to significant industry losses after sales experienced a 20% drop.
Technology & AI
AI Startup Surge: / Feb 20, 2026
Chinese generative AI startups, including Zhipu and MiniMax, saw their valuations soar in Hong Kong after the Lunar New Year, with investors shifting focus toward AI, according to Bloomberg.
Humanoid Robots in Spotlight: / Feb 20, 2026
Following their appearance at the Spring Festival Gala, orders for humanoid robots in China have surged, with industry leaders like Unitree positioning for massive output.
Alibaba's New AI Model: / Feb 20, 2026
Alibaba released Qwen-3.5, a multimodal AI model, signaling a push to lead in global AI deployment.
ByteDance AI Controversies: / Feb 20, 2026
ByteDance is strengthening safeguards for its AI video tools after a "Seedance" AI video featuring celebrities went viral.
International Relations & Geopolitics
US-China Dialogue in Munich: / Feb 20, 2026
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference to discuss stabilizing relations, with a focus on a potential visit by President Trump to Beijing in April.
CIA Recruitment Video Aimed at Chinese Military: / Feb 20, 2026
The CIA has released a new public video aimed at recruiting Chinese military officers, capitalising on recent purges of top military leadership.
Japan-China Tension: / Feb 20, 2026
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has warned of growing Chinese "coercion" and is reviewing defense strategies, while a Japanese fishing boat was seized by Chinese authorities.
Society & Politics
Spring Festival Inbound Travel: / Feb 20, 2026
Travel to China for the Spring Festival has seen a 400% increase in foreign bookings, boosted by expanded visa-free policies.
Celebrating Spring Festival with the people / Feb 20, 2026
Dating back nearly 600 years, Longfusi is a Beijing cultural landmark once known for hosting one of the city's most important temple fairs. After urban renewal, it has re-emerged as a Spring Festival draw, with families stocking up on New Year goods and revisiting traditions linked to old Beijing.
China orders nationwide fireworks safety inspection / Feb 20, 2026
China has ordered an immediate, comprehensive safety overhaul of the fireworks sales after two recent explosions revealed safety risks of the popular holiday activity.