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.
How Xi Jinping is going back to Confucius to define China’s future / November 24, 2024
While the West has struggled with the disintegration of its history through various social and political groups denouncing Western values, President Xi has led a strong nationalist movement in China, even fusing modern Communist philosophy with ancient Confucianism, giving Communism an even stronger legitimacy as a governing philosophy. The “Confucian Canon” is the latest project to promote China’s historical roots (SCMP).
Xi's LatAm trip promotes friendship, solidarity, cooperation, development / November 24, 2024
President Xi’s participation in a number of conferences in South America in mid-November was a parade of his strong promotional ideals, including “fairness, justice, openness and inclusiveness,” words that South American countries ready for their turn at development were eager to hear. “Improving global governance” is Xi’s lofty agenda (The Global Times).
China says top military official suspended, placed under investigation / November 28, 2024
Miao Hua, director of the political work department on the powerful Central Military Commission that oversees the People’s Liberation Army is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline,” the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday. Nearly twenty Chinese officials have thus been removed from their offices for corruption charges over the last year or so (Al Jazeera).
APEC showdown: Xi at the center, Biden on the sidelines / November 24, 2024
President Xi appeared to be running circles around US President Biden at the APEC and G20 summits in South America in mid-November, with Xi taking center stage in two official photos while Biden was relegated to the back row in one photo and didn’t even appear in the second. Xi spoke in lofty terms and carried a truckload of economic offers while Biden’s offers were considered “outdated and stale” (T-Magazine).
Trump vows tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China on day one / November 26, 2024
In an effort to crack down on illegal immigration and the flow of drugs into the US, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to add a 25% tariff on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China once he is president. The tariffs would hit both American consumers as well as the three countries, but those countries could solve the issue by curtailing the flow of migrants and drugs into the US (BBC News).
'Counter to facts and reality': China, Mexico, Canada respond to Trump tariff threats / November 26, 2024
Leaders and representatives from China, Canada, and Mexico all responded negatively to Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on imports from those countries on his first day in office in January. China rejected the notion that it was exporting fentanyl precursors to the US, and Mexican and Canadian officials warned of the negative impacts of tariffs. None of them acknowledged the benefits of stopping illegal immigration or curtailing the drug trade (USA Today).
3 Americans detained for years in China have been released / November 27, 2024
The White House announced that three US citizens imprisoned in China have been released and are returning to the US in a prisoner exchange brokered between the Biden administration and China. No information on who the Chinese prisoners were was given. In response, the US State Department lowered its travel warning to “level two,” advising travelers to be cautious when traveling to China (PBS News).
Nvidia Slips Again On Post-Earnings Blues, New China Trade War / November 27, 2024
Nvidia stock slipped just below its 50-day average just before Thanksgiving as investor analysts were not very impressed at its third-quarter earnings, and how the threat of a tariff trade war would affect the economy. Nvidia’s earnings were better than expected but didn’t “wow” investors even though it is still the leader in the tech economy (Investor’s Business Daily).
China’s lonely-heart crisis fuels a growing ‘companionship economy’ / November 17, 2024
As China’s young adults avoid marriage and children, many of them are experiencing loneliness to the degree that they are seeking friendships and even romantic relationships online. “Companion chat” is a common hashtag as people look for others to simply talk to. “Otome” games, a romantic storyline-driven concept from Japan, have become big business in China (SCMP).
Eight die in knife rampage as China suffers second mass killing in a week / November 17, 2024
In the latest of a string of violent attacks on Chinese citizens and foreigners, eight people were killed and another seventeen were injured in Yixing, a city in Jiangsu province. The 22-year-old attacker is allegedly a student who recently failed his exams and was upset about his low-paying factory job (SCMP).
Car driven into crowd outside China primary school / November 18, 2024
“Taking revenge on society” is the term being used now for an increasing number of attacks against civilians in China. This week, a man plowed his SUV into a crowd of parents and children outside of a primary school, injuring many, but no life-threatening injuries were reported, fortunately. This is the third random attack on civilians in China in the last 10 days, and the 19th this year (BBC).
Swarming drones and counter-drone systems dazzle at China’s Zhuhai air show / November 14, 2024
China has learned from Russia’s war with Ukraine that countering advanced drone “swarming” systems had to be a high priority for its military. At the recent Zhuhai air show, multiple companies displayed their answer to the drone threat: microwave weapons systems that can identify and destroy multiple drones in one shot (SCMP).
Major Chinese Bank Deals Blow to Russia's Economic Lifelines / November 18, 2024
For the last few months, the Bank of China has been blocking financial transactions from countries dealing with Russia if it is suspected that the transaction involved products that could be used by Russia in its war with Ukraine. Even smaller Chinese banks have blocked transactions since the Bank of China serves as an intermediary for those banks (Newsweek).
During meeting with Biden, China’s Xi cautions the U.S. to ‘make the wise choice’ / November 16, 2024
Presidents Xi and Biden met at the APEC summit in Peru on Saturday, but Xi’s comments were more directed to President-elect Donald Trump than to President Biden. Xi stated that China is ready for the new administration, and advised Trump to “keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other” (CNBC).
Why is Xi Jinping excited for President Biden to leave office? November 16, 2024
President Biden made numerous coalitions with East Asian countries to counter China’s growing geopolitical clout, making President Xi a bit frustrated. By comparison, President Trump’s tariff war caused prices to rise on imports from China, something US citizens didn’t want. Trump’s protectionist philosophy may also allow China to make a move on Taiwan (MSNBC).
China's Xi highlights 'Global South' measures at G20 / November 18, 2024
President Xi took advantage of the G20’s “podium” to announce a raft of measures to boost the economic development of “Global South” countries, which generally include South American, African, and Middle Eastern countries. Xi expects imports from developing countries to China to top $8 trillion by 2030 (VOA).
China, India should not be called developing countries, several Cop29 delegates say / November 19, 2024
Representatives from poorer countries at the Cop29 summit (a conference on Climate Change) in Azerbaijan are objecting to some countries’ status as “developing countries,” such as India and China. With that status, those countries are not obligated to cut greenhouse gas emissions, nor do they need to support other developing countries financially. In fact, they can receive financial support, although China has refused to do so (The Guardian).
What is behind Starmer's meeting with China's president? / November 18, 2024
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer became the first British PM to meet with President Xi in six years as he met with China’s leader at the G20 summit in Brazil. His intent was to foster a better relationship between the UK and China, primarily to boost the British economy (BBC).
Indo-Pacific Commander Gives Unvarnished View of Situation in Region / November 20, 2024
The commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo, stated in an interview that China’s military exercises this year grew in size and number, sometimes conducting joint exercises with Russia. China is the US’s greatest military rival; consequently, Paparo is on a daily watch (US Dept. of Defense).
Development finance veteran urges multilateral response to Trump challenges / November 22, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, with its tariff threats, may present a challenge to China, but it may also present an opportunity for China to respond to the US by gathering a coalition of countries and financial institutions that would use Chinese currency instead of the US dollar (SCMP).
Sen. Mark Warner stunned by China's penetration of US phones / November 22, 2024
Democrat Senator Mark Warner stated that he is stunned by the reach and depth of Chinese hackers made into major US phone companies this last summer. The hackers were able to access some conversations of then-candidate Donald Trump and JD Vance, as well as some democrat officials. The hackers were mainly looking for conversations among senior US officials (Newsmax).
100,000 Chinese students join 50km night-time bike ride for good soup dumplings / November 10, 2024
When four college students made a bike trip to the ancient city of Kaifeng in June to enjoy the city’s popular oversized soup dumplings, their posts of the trip resonated among other students to the point that last Friday, an estimated 100,000+ students on bikes flooded the roads to the city and overwhelmed the city’s parks and restaurants. Authorities and universities took action, creating no-bike zones and mandating permission slips for students to leave campus (the Guardian).
Dozens killed in China by driver who rammed car into crowd ahead of army air show / November 12, 2024
A 62-year old man, apparently upset over details of his divorce, rammed his car into a sports complex in Zhuhai, killing thirty five and injuring more than forty others on Monday, just before an annual PLA aviation show in the city. Posts and inquiries about the incident at the sports complex were scrubbed from social media ahead of the air show (CBS News).
When horror hits China, the first instinct is shut it down / November 12, 2024
Wanting to report on tragic incidents in China, foreign journalists have been met by “staged,” outraged citizens or police blocking their way to the crime scene, which is usually cleaned up within hours of the incident by local authorities. Part of this strategy is to prevent hype and copycat incidents, but even flowers or memorials to the injured or deceased are not allowed for long (BBC).
From Taiwan to technology, China ponders what's to come under Trump 2.0 / November 9, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump’s unpredictability is China’s challenge as they project what will come in the next four years as Trump takes the helm for a second term. China’s leadership is projecting stability, but they are also planning more punitive measures if Republicans, not just Trump, step on too many toes in the next dance (NPR).
Would the US defend Taiwan under Trump if China invades? / November 10, 2024
It is difficult to determine what President-elect Trump would do if China invaded Taiwan because Trump has said he wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen in the first place. He would rather wage an economic war and display military superiority to hold China back. Trump has often expressed disdain for Taiwan’s apparent lack of financial support for the military aid it gets (Fox News).
China’s president unveils a megaport in Peru, but locals say they’re being left out / November 14, 2024
President Xi was in Lima, Peru, before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum to celebrate the inauguration of a new Chinese funded megaport in Chancay, Peru, a fishing town north of Lima. Locals say the new port has destroyed fish breeding grounds and even changed surfing waves and currents due to newly installed breakwaters (AP News).
Biden and Xi will meet in Peru as US-China relations tested again by Trump’s return / November 13, 2024
President Biden will meet with President Xi on Saturday at the APEC forum in Lima, Peru, just a few months from President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, presenting new challenges to the troubled relationship between the two countries. Biden will press for stability and cooperation as the transition takes place (AP News)
China reasserts South China Sea sovereignty amid Philippine boundary laws / November 10, 2024
After Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed two laws on Friday to define its territory around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, China rejected the move in Manila and reasserted its own claims in the area. The two countries have been embroiled in skirmishes along the Philippine’s territory for years (Al Jazeera).
Indonesia's new leader calls for collaboration with China before heading to US / November 10, 2024
Indonesia’s new president, President Prabowo Subianto called for collaboration with China rather than confrontation as he met with President Xi in Beijing and strengthened the relationship between the two countries. China has invested heavily in Indonesia, but a flood of low-priced Chinese imports has hurt Indonesia’s garment makers as they are now calling for tariffs on Chinese goods (ABC News).
Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier / November 11, 2024
China has built a nuclear-powered reactor for a military aircraft carrier as part of its modernizing efforts. China already has the largest navy in the world with three carriers, but the US has eleven nuclear powered carriers, allowing it to have a global presence at all times.
Foreign firms pull more money from China’s slowing economy / November 10, 2024
Foreign direct investment in China fell in the third quarter of the year, bringing the total annual loss of foreign investment to almost $13 billion through September this year. Geopolitical tension was named the primary reason for investors’ skittishness. However, some investors are putting their money into small and medium investments (Fortune).
China’s recent rally fuels youth rush for quick gains. How are they faring? / November 12, 2024
Young Chinese adult investors under 30 made a surge of investments in October after the government announced stimulus measures in September to boost the economy, marking an unusual trend from a typically more conservative group of investors. But, the Chinese stock market’s volatile ride since then has put some young investors in the red (CNA).
He made a daring escape from China. Then his real troubles began. / November 10, 2024
Facing persecution in China, Uyghur Hasan Imam managed to escape from China, but he got caught in Thailand, was jailed, escaped to Malaysia, and got caught again. After six years of being smuggled and imprisoned throughout southeast Asia, Imam was one of the rare people who made it to Turkey (The New York Times).
China’s population woes deepen as marriage registrations tumble / November 4, 2024
With only 4.75 million marriage registrations by the end of September, China is likely to have fewer than 6 million marriages this year, the lowest number since 1980, and a 16.6 percent drop since the same time in 2023. Local governments are issuing cash incentives to encourage marriages and consequently, new births (SCMP).
Asia’s factory activity stagnates, taking shine off rebound in China / November 2, 2024
While China’s manufacturing activity rose in October, supported by government stimuli, other Asian markets, such as South Korea and Japan, saw declines in factory output due to weaker growth in other global markets (Hellenic Shipping News).
US asks China to 'curb' North Korean troops in Russia's Ukraine war / November 1, 2024
US officials have spoken with China this week in an effort to address North Korean soldiers now assisting Russia in its war against Ukraine. North Korea’s involvement in the war escalates tensions both in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. Up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers are training in Russia (USA Today).
Don't get 'river-crabbed!' How China is cracking down on punny dissent /November 2, 2024
Chinese citizens and ex-patriots have been using puns and slightly off homonyms to deceptively criticize President Xi Jinping and government entities, but the Chinese Cyberspace Administration and Ministry of Education has caught on and is erasing suspected jabs from social media (WAMC Northeast Public Radio).
Why India Is Disappearing Under China In Tectonic Tug-Of-War / November 3, 2024
As China and India squabble over border lines on the surface, India’s landmass has been losing ground five to six centimeters under the Eurasian Tibetan Plate for eons, creating the tension that spawns earthquakes in the region. (NDTV).
China gears up for a big week as markets await U.S. elections and stimulus details / November 3, 2024
China is watching the US presidential election and how the stock market reacts to the outcome as it determines how it will form its next economic stimulus for its own struggling economy. The standing committee of the National People's Congress ends a five-day meeting this week, and will likely increase the stimulus by ten to twenty percent if Trump wins the election (NBC New York).
China hopes for 'peaceful coexistence' with US as Trump nears win / November 6, 2024
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that China will continue to deal with the US as it has in the past as Donald Trump edged closer to winning the US presidential election. Reactions among Chinese citizens to the election were mixed, with many expressing little interest in the election outcome (CNA).
What Trump's win means for Ukraine, Middle East, and China / November 6, 2024
Based on Trump’s previous presidential term and his campaign speeches, BBC analysts predict what Trump’s next presidential term may do when it comes to current major global conflicts. While Trump respects President Xi and China’s importance in the global economy, his “America First” philosophy will likely mean he will apply protectionist measures against China (BBC).
China files complaint at WTO over EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles / November 4, 2024
China has issued a complaint to the WTO against the EU for its imposition of duties up to 35% on Chinese EV imports. The EU says it is protecting its own EV industries against the impact of Chinese subsidies on its exports to the EU. China says the duties violate WTO rules (ABC News).
China's premier 'fully confident' of hitting growth targets / November 5, 2024
Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced at an international trade show in Shanghai that he expects China will meet its growth target of around five percent this year. The government’s recent stimulus in September caused an uptick in parts of the economy, but the lack of detail regarding the government’s next steps has analysts and investors hesitant to move forward (CNA).
China's Summer and Autumn Harvests Drive Record Grain Output / October 28, 2024
China is expecting a record grain harvest this year—reaching 700 million tons, even after areas of China have experienced flooding and drought. That will benefit China’s food security in an era of geopolitical instability. Unfortunately, China also is experiencing low consumer demand, so the bounty may negatively impact prices (WSJ).
China's 'Hawaii' under water as tropical storm dumps record rainfall / October 29, 2024
Tropical Storm Trami, which made landfall in central Vietnam last Sunday, brought almost a foot of rainfall in Hainan province over a 24-hour period on Monday. Hainan is known as China’s “Hawaii” due to its palm trees, lovely beaches, and hotels. Three days of rain left the area waterlogged and adds to a difficult season of flooding on China’s east coast (Reuters).
State alien land laws drive some China-born US citizens to rethink their politics / October 26, 2024
Recent US state laws banning the purchase of US farmland near US military sites by Chinese nationals have fueled a reaction by Chinese-born US citizens to fight against the laws and their GOP sponsors. Twenty-four states have enacted such laws as concerns rose when large swaths of land in Texas and North Dakota were sold, or about to be sold, to Chinese nationals (AP News).
China vows 'countermeasures' after $2 billion US arms sale to Taiwan / October 26, 2024
The Pentagon announced last Friday that it had approved a $2 billion arms deal with Taiwan, including a new air defense missile system that was battle-tested in Ukraine. It will be the 17th sale of arms to Taiwan by the Biden Administration. China lodged “solemn representations” to the US (VOA).
India-China disengagement complete, exchange of sweets today / October 31, 2024
After President Xi and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia last week, the two countries have completed their disengagement process in two areas in the eastern Ladakh region, with the border lines returning to their pre-2020 status (NDTV).
Some companies change tack in China with no recovery in sight / October 27, 2024
Some foreign companies—from elevator manufacturers to luxury clothiers—are either lowering prices or closing factories in China as the economy continues to drag on, consumer demand is stubbornly low, and subsidized competition sells similar products at lower prices. One company, however, is taking advantage of the rock-bottom prices to expand (Yahoo Finance).
TSMC suspended shipments to China firm after chip found on Huawei processor / October 27, 2024
In spite of sanctions against the sale of US chip technology to Chinese companies, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported that one of its chips was discovered in a Huawei AI processor. TSMC states it hasn’t done business with Huawei since 2020. The company has, however, sold the chips to a company called Sophgo in the past; TSMC halted shipments to Sophgo at about the same time it was alerted to the discovered chip in the Huawei product (Reuters).
China's Sept industrial profits post steepest fall of the year / October 26, 2024
China’s industrial profits tumbled over 21% in September from a year earlier, and after August’s 17.8% fall as well. September’s drop was the largest monthly decline this year. Other indicators show that the economy is still struggling and the recently announced stimulus packages from the government haven’t shown any positive impact yet (Reuters).
China considers over $1.4 trillion in extra debt over next few years / October 29, 2024
China's top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), is evidently considering a large stimulus package to jump-start its struggling economy. A final decision will come out of a four-day meeting in early November that coincides with the US election. The package will address local government debt, financial system stability, and domestic demand (Reuters).
Shanghai puts a stop to spooky season / October 28, 2024
Police in Shanghai set up barriers in an area where people customarily gather for annual Halloween festivities earlier this week and discouraged people from wearing costumes out of concern that some may wear politically sensitive outfits. Last year, some people wore white papers, echoing a protest against the government that occurred during the zero-COVID lockdown in 2022 (NBC News).
China's private tutoring firms emerge from the shadows after crackdown / October 28, 2024
Back in 2021, China’s government cracked down on for-profit tutoring companies in an effort to help parents and students afford the extra educational help they needed in an ultra-competitive system. The tutoring sector, whose largest companies employed 170,000 people, took a huge hit. Recently, however, the government seems to be pulling back to aid the economy, allowing the businesses to operate again (VOA).
China declares success as its youngest astronauts reach space / October 30, 2024
A Chinese spacecraft successfully launched three “taikonauts” (astronauts)—including China’s first female space engineer—into space, taking them to the Tiangong Space Station where they will relieve another three-man crew that will return to Earth on November 4th. The event sparked national pride in China but issued concern by Westerners that China’s space program could be weaponized (BBC).