News that caught our eye / The week ending April 25, 2025
Tap here for our archives.
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.
Humanoid robots run a Chinese half-marathon alongside flesh-and-blood competitors / April 19, 2025
Humanoid robots ran alongside (well, in a separate lane) human runners in a half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, with the winning robot clocking in at 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds. Twenty robotic teams participated in the race. Awards were also given out for endurance, gait design and innovative form (AP News).
China poised to interfere as Trump seeks tariff deal with EU, experts warn / April 19, 2025
Frustrated by President Trump’s tariff duel, China and the EU could benefit from increased trade between the two entities, or, at least, it looks that way at the start. However, the EU is also fearful of Chinese “dumping,” that is, flooding the EU market with an abundance of Chinese goods at lower prices. And, neither China nor the EU can do well economically without the US consumer (Fox Business).
China vows retaliation against countries that follow U.S. calls to isolate Beijing / April 20, 2025
In response to the Trump Administration’s apparent order for partner countries to limit their dealings with China, China itself announced that it would respond with its own retaliation against nations that threaten China’s interests by following Trump’s demand (CNBC).
Trump and Xi are locked in a standoff over direct trade negotiations / April 19, 2025
President Trump’s insistence that tariff negotiations with China should commence only between President Xi and Trump himself, and the concern in China that a failed encounter between the two presidents, or one that makes Xi look like the loser of the deal, has trade negotiations between the two superpowers at a standstill as of Easter weekend (Politico).
Designed in US, made in China: Why Apple is stuck / April 18, 2025
Apple finds itself caught between the opposing sides in Trump’s tariff war with its home-grown design and a strong US market on the one side, and a complex, global web of resources that lead to Foxconn factories in China, where many of its products are manufactured. Moving its factories to the US, or anywhere outside of China to appease the Trump administration, would be difficult (BBC).
Trump says China tariffs will ‘come down substantially,’ hinting at potential U-turn / April 23, 2025
President Trump stated that tariffs against China will come down substantially very soon, signaling a possible turn for the better in the standoff between the world’s two major economies. Comments on Chinese media claimed that Trump “chickened out” by hinting that the tariffs won’t remain so staggeringly high (CNN Business).
China says 'door open' to trade talks after Trump signals tariffs will fall / April 23, 2025
Reacting to President Trump’s comment that “tariffs will come down,” China stated that the “door was wide open” for talks between the world’s two largest economies. Both countries acknowledge that trade wars aren’t beneficial to anyone. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects the conflict to “de-escalate” soon (CNA).
Bad News for China: Rare Earth Elements Aren’t That Rare / April 23, 2025
China’s latest restrictions on the sale of “rare earth minerals” to US companies may sound frightening, but these minerals are used in extremely small quantities, and US companies can rely on available stockpiles or even recycle those found in used devices and automobiles. Rare earth minerals are “rare” because they are found mixed with other minerals. The mining process is highly damaging to the environment, making domestic extraction a challenging effort (Wired).
Opportunity for big US-China trade deal, says Bessent / April 22, 2025
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Wednesday that there is a great opportunity for China to have a trade deal that works for both countries if China relies less on manufacturing exports and focuses on its own domestic economy (BBC).
China sends Boeing planes back to US over tariffs / April 23, 2025
China sent back two Boeing aircraft to the US company after the tariff escalation between the US and China has soured the relationship between the two countries. Boeing says it has dozens of other planes that were originally ordered by China, but that those planes could be diverted to other countries, as the demand for planes is high (BBC).
Trump says the U.S. and China are 'actively' discussing tariffs. Beijing says that's false / April 24, 2025
There appears to be some disagreement between China and the US regarding negotiations to de-escalate the trade war between the two countries. President Trump said that talks are actively taking place, but a Chinese spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, rejected that statement, calling it false. While low level conversations may be taking place, talks on a Cabinet level or higher have yet to occur (NBC News).
China launches new crewed mission into space / April 24, 2025
China successfully launched a rocket into space on Wednesday, delivering three “taikonauts” and supplies to its Tiangong Space Station. Fish, worms and other life forms are also along for the ride for experiments on the space station (BBC).
China Closed Christian Bookstores. Digital Publishing Grew in the Vacuum / April 21, 2025
Before President Xi took office in 2013, there were 300 Christian bookstores in China. Now, there are ten, as Christian book publishers and bookstores have been shuttered under Xi’s pro-Communist agenda. Still, the need for Christian literature continues to exist, so Christians have moved to digital versions of Christian book translations, sometimes with one person reading the book out loud in an online group meeting (Christianity Today).