News that caught our eye / The week ending March 21, 2025
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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.
Curated by James Getka.
Changsha’s Star Turn: How a Historic City Became China’s “Capital of Entertainment” / March 21, 2025
Once a transit stop for travelers going west, the capital of Hunan province, Changsha, has become a popular tourist destination for its food and entertainment. But some wonder if the city’s popularity is just a result of media influencers. Will it stand the test of time? (The World of Chinese).
Tesla’s China rival Zeekr to roll out advanced driver assistance system for free / March 18, 2025
China’s electric car company Zeekr plans to offer driver assistance technology for free in its vehicles as a way to compete against Tesla’s offerings of the same technology, which can cost up to $8,850. Other Chinese automakers offer various forms of driver assistance, but Zeekr is willing to bear the cost if it puts them ahead of their competitor (CNBC).
China maps out plan to raise incomes and boost consumption / March 16, 2025
China has big plans to increase wages, adjust the minimum wage, provide childcare subsidies, and a flurry of other incentives to boost consumption, increase investment, and promote bearing children. China’s stock market rallied on the news last Friday (Fortune).
Trump’s cuts to Voice of America may be welcomed by China’s government / March 18, 2025
President Trump’s cuts to the US state-run media outlets like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America may open the door to authoritarian governments like China to fill the gap. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, hailed Trump’s move as a blessing for China, as she criticized VOA and RFA as sources of misinformation against China (AP News).
China conducts drills near Taiwan in response to US and Taiwanese statements / March 18, 2025
China ramped up its military exercises around Taiwan from Sunday through Monday with some of its aircraft entering Taiwan’s air space. China claims the increased activity was in response to statements and actions made by both the US and Taiwan that supported the island’s independence (AP News).
China scrutinizing Hong Kong firm’s sale of Panama Canal ports / March 18, 2025
A Hong Kong company, CK Hutchison, has entered negotiations with the American investment company, Blackrock, to sell some of its global ports near the Panama Canal, causing senior officials in the Chinese government to criticize the pending deal and to condemn political coercion. China may try to block the deal with lawsuits (Al Jazeera).
China’s military is going to war against itself / March 19, 2025
Recent purges in China’s military suggest to some that China may be facing an internal crisis. Two theories are possible: either President Xi is getting paranoid and is purging even those officers he has appointed, or Xi’s opponents are targeting Xi’s appointees. Beginning last July, unusual articles in the Chinese military newspaper challenged Xi’s philosophy on military unity (The Hill).
Xi inspects Guizhou, stresses high-quality development / March 19, 2025
President Xi toured Guizhou, a province in the western region of China, promoting industrial growth and high-quality development, stressing the importance of the western provinces to the Chinese economy. To achieve this goal, Xi stressed that the provinces must fervently adhere to the Party’s leadership (The Global Times).
Canada says China executed four Canadians earlier this year / March 20, 2025
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, announced that China executed four dual-citizenship Canadians in China for drug crimes in the last few months, further souring relations between the two countries. Like the US, Canada is in a tariff war with China. China does not recognize the dual citizenship of its citizens (NPR).
Trump says Xi Jinping will visit Washington in 'not too distant future' / March 18, 2025
President Trump suggested on Monday that President Xi may visit Washington D.C. sometime soon, possibly in April or June. The President was inspecting Washington D.C., recommending improvements to clean up the city after an increase in homelessness and graffiti during the Biden administration, and improving the city’s roads and highways, preferably before a Xi visit (Yahoo News).