NEWS / the week of August 1 to 7, 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.
Trade & Economy
China's exports and imports posted strong July gains / August 6, 2026
with exports up 23.9% year-on-year and imports up 27.5%, leaving a $112.5 billion trade surplus — AI-related investment helped offset weather-related trade disruptions.
China's factory activity contracted for the first time in five months / August 6, 2026
in July, with a sharper drop in non-manufacturing activity too.
China's currency and export-driven growth model / August 6, 2026
drew criticism as trade tensions with Western economies persist.
US–China Relations & Trade Retaliation
Beijing retaliated against widening US tech and trade curbs / August 5, 2026
by tightening drone export controls and issuing sanctions, using its dominance in global drone production as leverage — while still signaling it wants to keep the relationship from derailing ahead of a planned Trump visit to China.
The US barred imports from 43 more companies / August 1, 2026
over alleged forced labor tied to China's treatment of Uyghurs — the first such additions under the current administration. (Reuters, via The Wire China roundup)
China launched its first-ever national security investigation in foreign trade / August 5, 2026
described by state media as a "governance upgrade."
Trump signed an executive order imposing a 15% tariff on polysilicon products / August 6, 2026
prompting Chinese state-media pushback.
Taiwan & Military
Tensions around Taiwan remain a live flashpoint / August 1, 2026
though the PLA's military pressure has been comparatively steadier in 2026 than late 2025, partly due to several Xi–Trump meetings this year. Analysts expect China to try to "lock in a new edge" on Taiwan ahead of the next Trump-Xi summit.
Taiwan is running drills this month simulating wartime conditions / August 2, 2026
including deliberately slowed mobile internet and dispersed weapons production.
Other Notable Items
CCP leadership convened its secretive annual Beidaihe retreat
fueling the usual speculation about internal political jockeying. (Reuters, via The Wire China roundup)
China approved $25 billion in new nuclear reactor construction / August 4, 2026
(8 reactors) to meet surging energy demand.
CXMT (state-backed memory chipmaker) is reportedly planning a second Beijing plant / August 4, 2026.
amid a global AI-driven chip shortage.
Ssentenced to 10 years for bribery / August 5, 2026.
A former deputy head of China's defense-technology agency was sentenced.