News that caught our eye / The week ending May 16, 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.
Robot dog tested in China’s mountains / May 10, 2025
A robot dog developed by China's Unitree Robotics was tested to carry loads for hikers at high altitudes in Sichuan Province. The short video has no English dialogue or an accompanying article, but it does stir the mind as to the potential uses for such technology: delivering needed medicine or materials to people trapped in hard-to-reach areas, for example (Xinhua News).
China's passenger car sector sees much improved retail sales in April / May 11, 2025
Passenger car sales in China reportedly spiked in April, rising over 14% year-on-year, as government policies evidently had an impact on consumer demand in this sector of the economy. The China Passenger Car Association reported that 1.76 million units were sold last month (Xinhua News).
Sea Dragons: Special Operations and Chinese Military Strategy / May 12, 2025
China’s military has a special naval unit called the Sea Dragons. This report describes how this special unit fits into China’s military strategy, especially in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, what it is capable of as well as its limitations (INSS).
U.S. and China begin talks amid tensions over Trump's tariff war / May 10, 2025
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and a small team met with the Chinese vice premier for economic affairs, He Lifeng, in Geneva Switzerland on Saturday to begin talks to de-escalate the current trade war initiated by President Trump earlier this year. At the time of the writing of this article, speculation still surrounded the meeting, and nothing had been stated about any progress made on Saturday (NPR).
Trump says 'total reset negotiated' with China during tariff talks in Geneva / May 10, 2025
While no specific announcements were made on Saturday from the talks in Geneva, Switzerland, about any resolution to the trade war between China and the US, President Trump did say late Saturday night that a “total reset” had been negotiated. Both the US and China are suffering from the trade war even as it has just begun, however, since China’s exports to the US are much greater than the US’ exports to China, China has more to gain by negotiating a deal (Fox News).
U.S. and China agree to slash tariffs for 90 days in major trade breakthrough / May 12, 2025
The talks between the US and China brought about a 90-day reduction in tariffs on both sides of the trade between the two countries, with China’s tariffs on US goods brought down to 10% and the US tariffs on Chinese goods reduced to 30%. The three-month pause allows trade to resume and for talks to continue, hopefully for more permanent agreements (CNBC).
Trump says China will ‘open up’ to U.S. businesses, suspend trade barriers / May 12, 2025
A 90-day rollback of the high tariffs from both China and the US is not the best part of the deal that was struck in Geneva over the weekend, according to President Trump. Rather, China’s declaration to “open up” was potentially the best result of the negotiations. However, what that referred to was not defined, and formalizing it had yet to occur (CNBC).
Relief on China's factory floors as US tariffs put on hold / May 14, 2025
Empty factory floors quickly filled up with workers and machines began humming quickly as China and the US agreed to the 90-day pause in the tariff war that took effect on Wednesday, but the affair has motivated Chinese businesses to look elsewhere for new global clients, which may be a win for China (BBC).
China seeks a united front with Latin America in countering Trump’s trade war / May 13, 2025
A day after China and the US reached an agreement to slash tariffs on each other’s exports, China was touting greater trade and cultural exchanges with Latin American countries to continue its counter-offensive against what it calls President Trump’s bullying tactics on the world economy. China has increased its investments in Latin American countries as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (AP News).
China Slams US-UK Trade Deal, Calls It 'Poison Pills' Worse Than Tariffs / May 14, 2025
Part of the new trade agreement between the US and the UK includes a requirement that scrutinizes supply chains and ownership structures for goods exported to the US from the UK. China complains that such a requirement likely pushes Chinese companies and products out of UK manufacturing of products sent to the US (NDTV World).
India Blocks X Accounts of Chinese, Turkish State Media / May 14, 2025
India’s government blocked access to Chinese and Turkish state media sites on X after it accused the three outlets of pushing misinformation about India’s “Operation Sindoor” on the platform. Operation Sindoor was India’s recent military response to a terrorist attack that killed 25 Indians and 1 person from Nepal (NDTV).
White Paper on National Security: Propaganda & Promises to Fight “Religious Extremism” / May 15, 2025
China’s State Council Information Office released a long report calling for stronger national security measures that included preserving the power of the CCP and China’s socialist system as well as fighting “religious extremism.” The report calls for the repression of religious extremists and other separatists to be even stronger than before (Bitter Winter).
How Beijing’s “Academic Bars” Are Helping to Democratize Knowledge / May 7, 2025
Happy hour now comes with academic lectures by university professors, business professionals, and even government workers in an increasing number of “academic bars” across China. Both presenters and listeners find the relaxed atmosphere and the diverse audience offer a greater exchange of knowledge and information (The World of Chinese).