https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/8683/feed Ralph Jennings joined the Political Economy desk as a Senior Reporter in August 2022 having worked as a freelancer since 2011. Ralph previously covered news for Thomson Reuters in Taipei and for local newspapers in California. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese households are increasingly shifting assets from real estate and bank deposits into more lucrative investments at home and abroad, despite growing oversight, Moody’s Ratings said. A multi-year downturn in the Chinese property market and low interest rates are fuelling the demand for alternative investments, the ratings agency said in a report published this week. Chinese investors are looking for investments that “offer higher returns than deposits while maintaining relatively low risk,”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371785/even-beijing-boosts-oversight-chinese-investors-continue-pivot-offshore-assets https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371785/even-beijing-boosts-oversight-chinese-investors-continue-pivot-offshore-assets Fri, 23 Oct 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The European Union is likely to avoid a full-blown trade confrontation with China due to internal divisions in the bloc and fear of retaliation, according to a prominent research firm. The projection comes amid speculation that the two sides are on the brink of a trade war, with European policymakers raising the alarm about a looming “China shock 2.0” and pushing for stronger measures to protect domestic producers from Chinese competition. But the bloc would “continue to pull its punches” in any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371655/eu-will-pull-its-punches-china-despite-growing-trade-war-talk-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371655/eu-will-pull-its-punches-china-despite-growing-trade-war-talk-analysts Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A Chinese construction company has reached an agreement to work on tunnel projects in the tiny Middle Eastern nation of Qatar, as China’s global infrastructure push continues to gain momentum after recent railway deals in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The state-owned China Railway Tunnel Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with a subsidiary of the Qatari conglomerate Aamal Co, according to a statement released by the Doha-based company on Tuesday. The two firms had forged a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371195/risky-business-chinese-firm-agrees-build-rail-tunnels-qatar-amid-iran-war https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371195/risky-business-chinese-firm-agrees-build-rail-tunnels-qatar-amid-iran-war Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Artificial intelligence-powered glasses can act as tour guides, snap photos hands-free and translate foreign languages. The devices also sell at relatively affordable prices in China. But are they the perfect travel companion? Not yet. AI glasses were slowly catching on with travellers as the technology improved and more devices entered the market, analysts said, but technical hitches were slowing mass adoption of the smartphone-linked gear that could be worn like ordinary spectacles. “They can... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370754/ai-glasses-travel-guides-cheaper-china-technical-hitches-slow-adoption https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370754/ai-glasses-travel-guides-cheaper-china-technical-hitches-slow-adoption Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Indonesian officials, looking to alleviate poverty in their country and eyeing the rise of rural economies in China, are turning to Beijing for help that may include stoking the exports of a potentially lucrative durian crop. Indonesian Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara began a seven-day visit to China on Monday, with Indonesia’s state-owned Antara news agency saying consultations with Beijing’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, companies and academic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s chief civilian aircraft builder will command 5 per cent of the world’s fleet allocation by 2045 as global demand for narrowbody jets and the domestic order book look strong, an aviation analytics firm has forecast. Airbus would have 47 per cent of the passenger fleet allocation and Boeing 39 per cent, both leading state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), analytics firm Cirium forecast on Tuesday. It said Embraer would take 3 per cent and ATR 2 per cent. Comac has a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370841/c919-set-lead-way-chinese-aircraft-forecast-secure-5-world-market-20-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370841/c919-set-lead-way-chinese-aircraft-forecast-secure-5-world-market-20-years Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:52:28 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Mainland China fell three places this year on a global ranking for trade sustainability, tracking what the compilers of the index described as declines in economic and environmental metrics. The Hinrich-IMD Sustainable Trade Index, which was released on Tuesday, ranked the mainland 19th out of 30 major economies. The United Kingdom ranked first, Singapore second, New Zealand third and Hong Kong fourth. The 30 economies covered by the annual index are evaluated on their ability to grow... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370599/environmental-concerns-see-china-fall-3-places-global-trade-sustainability-ranking https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370599/environmental-concerns-see-china-fall-3-places-global-trade-sustainability-ranking Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A Thai government proposal to charge export duties on durians, a major cash crop, could raise prices for the fruit in China – its primary market – along with the quality, analysts said. Thailand’s draft bill to establish a fund for research and “sustainable” development of the durian sector would include the collection of fees, the government’s public relations department said last month. Southeast Asian media outlets and agricultural publications have tipped the export duty to be as high as 2... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370355/could-thai-durian-export-duty-mean-higher-prices-higher-quality-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370355/could-thai-durian-export-duty-mean-higher-prices-higher-quality-china Sun, 11 Oct 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese investors could face significant disruption if Indonesia imposes a moratorium on new nickel smelters to curb global overproduction and protect local industries across its vast minerals sector, analysts said. Indonesia was weighing a halt to the construction of smelters that produce semi-finished nickel products amid a global supply glut that had driven down commodity prices, state news agency Antara reported, citing energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia. Semi-finished... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370344/chinese-nickel-investors-brace-headwinds-indonesia-weighs-smelter-freeze https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370344/chinese-nickel-investors-brace-headwinds-indonesia-weighs-smelter-freeze Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ralph Jennings Sylvia Ma,Ralph Jennings China’s National Day holiday saw travel remain broadly stable as the break – an extended length of time compared with 2025 – supported longer-distance trips, though cinema cooled sharply, offering mixed signals on efforts to revive consumer spending. Over the seven-day break, which ended on Wednesday, China recorded 2.142 billion cross-regional passenger trips, averaging 306 million a day, up 0.7 per cent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370156/chinas-national-day-holiday-sees-uptick-longer-trips-overseas-travel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370156/chinas-national-day-holiday-sees-uptick-longer-trips-overseas-travel Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:01:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings TikTok owner ByteDance is China’s Going Global champion, according to a new SCMP Plus databank tracking mainland companies’ overseas expansion efforts. The social media giant topped the debut SCMP Plus Going Global 100 ranking ahead of Apple assembler Foxconn Industrial Internet, online fashion retailer Shein and electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD. More than 2,000 companies were assessed as part of the research project, which assigned each contender a weighted score based on overseas revenue,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370010/bytedance-heads-first-scmp-plus-going-global-100-ranking https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370010/bytedance-heads-first-scmp-plus-going-global-100-ranking Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:02:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese contractors will build Latin America’s longest cable-stayed bridge, a trans-bay span in Brazil, as their latest stamp on new infrastructure overseas. A consortium of Chinese companies is set to construct much of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, which is due to become the region’s biggest cross-sea project supported by cables once completed in 2031, Chinese and Brazilian media said. They would contribute to a 46.8km (29-mile) project including 12.4km crossing the Bay of All Saints along the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369850/chinese-consortium-build-latin-americas-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-brazil https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369850/chinese-consortium-build-latin-americas-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-brazil Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A railway station in Guangzhou has set a national record for trips in a single day and drawn attention for the frequency of bullet train departures – one every 40 seconds – during this month’s holiday period, according to the Guangdong provincial government. Guangzhou South Railway Station handled 1,252 train services and just over 1 million trips on October 1, the start of the seven-day National Day holiday across mainland China, the publicity department of the province’s Communist Party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369883/train-every-40-seconds-how-chinese-rail-station-handled-record-1-million-trips-day https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369883/train-every-40-seconds-how-chinese-rail-station-handled-record-1-million-trips-day Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:39:41 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Neighbouring China and Vietnam, two manufacturing giants, are building out railways, adding flights and boosting cargo links to leverage their geographic proximity for another boost in trade and tourism that will help both weather pressure from the US. The two countries set aside political disputes last year to step up economic ties, and analysts said they were now improving both the quality and quantity of transport links. “Overall, I see the China-Vietnam connectivity story moving from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369606/us-bears-down-export-powerhouses-china-and-vietnam-establish-closer-transport-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369606/us-bears-down-export-powerhouses-china-and-vietnam-establish-closer-transport-links Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:27 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A range of public and private-sector Chinese buyers have acquired a total of 44 small-model Bell helicopters, often for sightseeing and corporate travel. This makes China the vendor’s second biggest market in the Asia-Pacific, with growing demand for more despite safety concerns surrounding rotary-wing aircraft, an aviation services firm said. China lagged behind only South Korea in the total number of five-seat Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters, according to a statement by the Hong Kong-based... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369016/chinas-police-sightseeing-operators-snap-bell-helicopters-despite-safety-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369016/chinas-police-sightseeing-operators-snap-bell-helicopters-despite-safety-concerns Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Business-class flights, once largely the domain of company reps on paid trips, are becoming more popular among tourists in China who do not mind spending a bit extra for a comfortable ride from start to finish, industry insiders said. Businesspeople once occupied 90 per cent of the spacious seats, but have lost that edge to leisure travellers who can buy their way out of economy class but not into first class, said Wong Hong, director general of the 18-member Association of Asia Pacific... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367287/no-brainer-growing-trend-chinese-tourists-seeking-luxury-business-class-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367287/no-brainer-growing-trend-chinese-tourists-seeking-luxury-business-class-flights Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A reported move by the United States to restrict exports of aircraft parts to China would place another speed bump on production of the C919 – a Chinese passenger jet designed to compete with Airbus and Boeing – as alternative sources of critical components for the plane are not readily available, according to analysts. The US Commerce Department has slowed export licensing for civilian aeroplane parts to China in recent weeks to strengthen Washington’s position in trade talks with Beijing,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369588/chinas-c919-jet-faces-further-delivery-delays-amid-us-export-chill-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369588/chinas-c919-jet-faces-further-delivery-delays-amid-us-export-chill-analysts Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The number of Japanese companies operating in China has fallen nearly 30 per cent since its peak in 2012 and is down 22 per cent over the past two years, according to a survey conducted amid prolonged political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. As of June, 10,118 Japanese enterprises were identified as having a presence in China, the lowest number since 2010, according to a survey and analysis released on Monday by the corporate credit research and business intelligence firm Teikoku... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369164/japanese-firms-pull-back-china-amid-geopolitical-tensions-supply-chains-shifts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369164/japanese-firms-pull-back-china-amid-geopolitical-tensions-supply-chains-shifts Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China officially opened 1,142km (710 miles) of high-speed railways in multiple parts of the country on Monday ahead of a golden week for travel, extending what is already the world’s largest network of its kind. The high-speed system would now link Xiongan New Area in northern China’s Hebei province to Shangqiu in the central province of Henan, and would eventually connect both cities with a Beijing-Hong Kong line, state broadcaster CCTV said. Xiongan, with a population of 1.4 million, was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369067/china-expands-high-speed-rail-network-1142km-linking-xiongan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369067/china-expands-high-speed-rail-network-1142km-linking-xiongan Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Indonesia is considering Chinese investment to help build a massive 2,772km (1,722 mile) railway network through the vast, resource-rich region of Kalimantan, following the completion of Southeast Asia’s first high-speed line between Jakarta and Bandung, state media and analysts said. However, analysts noted that any future commercial agreements were likely to be negotiated cautiously, given the financial strains that dogged the high-speed line and the challenges that stalled a proposed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368818/indonesia-eyes-china-massive-2772km-railway-project-caution https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368818/indonesia-eyes-china-massive-2772km-railway-project-caution Sun, 27 Sep 2026 02:00:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Travellers in China and the US would welcome more direct flights, as suggested by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week, but the American civil aviation industry has less interest in adding such routes as long as their planes cannot fly over Russian airspace. At a White House arrival ceremony on Thursday, Xi said that “our two sides may also increase direct flights to facilitate two-way travel and trade”. Analysts said passenger demand existed for more than the 50 weekly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3368776/more-us-china-flights-passengers-ready-pack-us-airlines-balk-xi-jinpings-call https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3368776/more-us-china-flights-passengers-ready-pack-us-airlines-balk-xi-jinpings-call Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:00:28 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A three-day public holiday used to be a big deal in China. Then came “golden weeks”, which would sometimes stretch to nine days, sending millions of people in search of new sights across the country and further afield. Now an alignment of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday will give many Chinese students and office workers up to a record 13-day break, potentially pushing tourist traffic to new heights. “The more interesting change this year is not simply higher volume, but the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368623/skydiving-whale-watching-and-burst-bookings-holidays-extend-millions-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368623/skydiving-whale-watching-and-burst-bookings-holidays-extend-millions-china Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:33:29 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Five years after China pledged to stop building or financing new coal-fired power plants overseas, the country’s state sector has made “significant progress” towards meeting that goal, though private projects are still being developed, according to a new report. Two-thirds of China’s overseas coal power projects planned five years ago have since been cancelled, a 61.5-gigawatt (GW) cut in capacity that has saved 6.4 billion tonnes of “lifetime” carbon dioxide emissions, the study by a pair of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368556/china-has-scrapped-two-thirds-its-planned-coal-power-plants-abroad-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368556/china-has-scrapped-two-thirds-its-planned-coal-power-plants-abroad-report Thu, 24 Sep 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A special Air China flight from Beijing reached New York over the objections of a trade association representing the biggest US airlines, according to a flight data tracker, and a second additional flight by the same Chinese carrier is being considered for Friday. The flight took off from the Chinese capital around 4pm on Saturday and landed after 6pm local time the same day, according to global flight tracking and data platform FlightAware. Flight 621 was the first US flight China’s flagship... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3368289/no-us-ruling-yet-air-chinas-bid-extra-flights-during-xi-jinpings-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3368289/no-us-ruling-yet-air-chinas-bid-extra-flights-during-xi-jinpings-visit Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:56:53 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese firms have shown “very strong interest” in investing in Oman – across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran – as they aim to tap the lucrative Middle East market while minimising risks, an Omani official said. Banks, asset managers and law firms from China were getting in touch every day to ask about setting up in the International Financial Centre Oman, a free-standing legal zone in the country, the centre’s associate director for business development, Al Hussain al-Qalhati, said. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368019/chinese-firms-keen-investing-omans-international-financial-centre-official https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368019/chinese-firms-keen-investing-omans-international-financial-centre-official Sun, 20 Sep 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings,He Huifeng Ralph Jennings,He Huifeng President Xi Jinping has reiterated calls for China to make its supply chains more resilient and self-sufficient while accelerating the creation of a modern industrial system underpinned by advanced manufacturing. Xi’s latest directives, issued at a national conference on advanced manufacturing in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday, were said to be aimed at strengthening the Chinese economy, the state-run Xinhua reported. Xi’s push this week echoed Beijing’s previous statements and came as the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367877/president-xis-industrial-power-play-sees-china-bet-big-ai-chips-and-smarter-factories https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367877/president-xis-industrial-power-play-sees-china-bet-big-ai-chips-and-smarter-factories Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:29:58 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Among the world’s most connected airports, Guangzhou’s hub has posted the fastest rise through the latest rankings, according to an annual list compiled by aviation data firm OAG. And overall, Chinese hubs stood out as carriers expanded their international networks with added flights. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China jumped to 19th place, from 36th last year, in OAG’s Megahubs 2026 report, released on Wednesday. An OAG spokeswoman called its jump the biggest of any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367718/china-airports-climb-global-connectivity-ranking-international-routes-rise-oag-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367718/china-airports-climb-global-connectivity-ranking-international-routes-rise-oag-report Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is increasingly expected to push for a trade agreement binding a wide swathe of the Pacific Rim, including the US, when it hosts a forum of major Asia-Pacific economies in November, but a real deal may be hard to secure as Washington is likely to resist, according to analysts. The anticipated push for the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), covering all 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, would – even if unsuccessful – earn Beijing goodwill from other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3367713/china-mulls-bid-apec-free-trade-area-taunt-us-tantalise-asia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3367713/china-mulls-bid-apec-free-trade-area-taunt-us-tantalise-asia Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:30:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Revenue from inbound travel to China is forecast to reach US$470 billion by 2040, more than doubling its current share of the economy and helping offset weak domestic demand, according to UBS. Tourism from outside mainland China would expand to 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on a compound annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent from 2025, the Swiss investment bank estimated. China’s inbound travel revenue would represent 15 per cent of the world tourism market by around 2040, said Chen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367459/chinas-inbound-tourism-revenue-projected-reach-us470-billion-2040-ubs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367459/chinas-inbound-tourism-revenue-projected-reach-us470-billion-2040-ubs Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Christina Zhao Ralph Jennings,Christina Zhao Expanding use of the Chinese yuan in fast-growing Central Asia, where China is a top investor, can reduce risks and costs for infrastructure firms, part of a broader trend that sees the currency gaining ground wherever commercial flows create demand for it, according to speakers on an investment panel in Hong Kong on Thursday. Smoother access to the yuan would lower risks inherent in currency exchanges, particularly when the more internationalised US dollar is trending strong, and bring down the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3367078/investment-surge-central-asia-drives-calls-expanded-use-chinese-yuan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3367078/investment-surge-central-asia-drives-calls-expanded-use-chinese-yuan Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The Chinese mining firm that carried out the first Hong Kong-Kazakhstan dual stock exchange listing after a tough start in the industry could motivate many more initial public offerings (IPOs) by peers who are keen on the Central Asian country’s extensive mineral deposits, a financial official said on Monday. The dual listing of Jiaxin International Resources Investment last year established a “proof of concept”, said Renat Bekturov, governor of Kazakhstan’s Astana International Financial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366674/jiaxins-hong-kong-kazakhstan-listing-paves-way-mining-peers-official-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366674/jiaxins-hong-kong-kazakhstan-listing-paves-way-mining-peers-official-says Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:00:17 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s three biggest airlines are expected to absorb steep financial losses from the first half of 2026 – but avoid notable fare increases – in a long game aimed at stimulating air travel, especially on international routes, aviation experts said this week. Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines all reported widening net losses in the first six months of the year due to fuel price increases driven by the Iran war, according to stock market filings by the carriers. Muted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365988/chinas-3-major-airlines-bet-international-demand-relief-deep-losses-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365988/chinas-3-major-airlines-bet-international-demand-relief-deep-losses-analysts Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Patriot Critical Minerals of the US plans to dig into a long-abandoned mining site in the sparsely populated state of Nevada to extract tungsten, an important raw material with industrial uses ranging from aerospace gear to common cutting tools. The company, with only that single asset, is applying to the US departments of defence and energy for funding – now more readily available as President Donald Trump tries to bring critical-minerals production onshore in case China makes the resources... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364570/money-and-lot-noise-how-us-critical-minerals-industry-vying-chinas https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364570/money-and-lot-noise-how-us-critical-minerals-industry-vying-chinas Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:00:17 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings At the Goodtime Chinese School in the Bethany suburb of Portland, Oregon, an American child stops school director Zhou Yanzhuo, of China, in the hallway to ask a question in English. She requests that he speak in Chinese and the third grader, who has no Chinese heritage, handily switches languages. The child is one of several dozen students attending rigorous summer classes for Chinese language instruction at an age when experts believe language acquisition is easiest. While American... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364145/us-k-12-immersion-schools-expand-across-country-early-age-chinese-language-education https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364145/us-k-12-immersion-schools-expand-across-country-early-age-chinese-language-education Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:00:02 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings US soybean growers are “adapting” to a steep decline in China-bound exports by selling to third countries and the American biofuel sector, compensating enough to cause only a small drop in production, according to a top trade association’s chief economist. In November, Beijing committed to buy at least 25 million tonnes of American soybeans annually through 2028, as part of an agreement reached after China stopped the purchases during US President Donald Trump’s trade war in early 2025. But just... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363731/fearing-deflated-china-demand-us-soybean-growers-pivot-new-buyers-and-biofuel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363731/fearing-deflated-china-demand-us-soybean-growers-pivot-new-buyers-and-biofuel Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Fresh US tariffs targeting alleged forced labour risk legal challenges over possible misuse of the underlying law, but major Chinese companies already see the impact of the levies easing and expect new hurdles from other trade barriers, according to two reports. The legal foundation for US President Donald Trump’s 10 to 12.5 per cent tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 is “not rock solid”, the Washington-based think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies said in a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3363621/us-tariffs-forced-labour-face-legal-risk-chinese-firms-see-impact-easing-reports https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3363621/us-tariffs-forced-labour-face-legal-risk-chinese-firms-see-impact-easing-reports Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings With its first scheduled international route launching this month, the maiden flight of a high-altitude variant newly completed and a thumbs-up from European test pilots, China’s flagship C919 airliner is hitting new heights. China’s dream of a home-grown civil aviation fleet to rival Boeing and Airbus is coming closer with a national push to speed up certification of a domestically designed jet engine and smooth the development of a widebody C929 airliner, and combined orders of more than 1,200... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3363473/chinas-civil-aviation-ambitions-gain-some-lift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3363473/chinas-civil-aviation-ambitions-gain-some-lift Mon, 10 Aug 2026 03:14:20 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The Cry Me an Ocean plush toys sat as forlornly as their name implied inside the Stoneridge Shopping Centre in the San Francisco suburb of Pleasanton. The Chinese brand Pop Mart had placed a “Robo Shop” vending machine stuffed with the small dolls on a walkway inside the mall, but passers-by barely gave them a second glance. A few shoppers said they vaguely recalled hearing the brand’s name somewhere, and one even name-checked Pop Mart’s viral Labubu figurines. But not a single person scanned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363328/how-chinas-brands-are-thriving-us-despite-rising-geopolitical-tensions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363328/how-chinas-brands-are-thriving-us-despite-rising-geopolitical-tensions Sun, 09 Aug 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings With some US universities kicking off their academic year this month and Chinese students subject to increased scrutiny from Washington amid heated geopolitical rivalry, many institutions were concerned they would receive fewer applications from China, a prized source of tuition fee revenue amid cuts to state and federal education budgets. But a report issued by the Institute of International Education – a Washington-based non-profit organisation – last month said 65 per cent of American... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363327/us-universities-report-more-chinese-applicants-despite-visa-crackdown https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363327/us-universities-report-more-chinese-applicants-despite-visa-crackdown Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China should let its currency appreciate gradually to safeguard against foreign protectionist moves and boost spending to support domestic demand to meet its economic growth targets, according to Goldman Sachs economists. Data in the first half of 2026 continued to paint a picture of a bifurcated Chinese economy – with weak domestic demand and strong exports – which has led to a renewed debate over whether policies to support demand or nominal currency appreciation are the right response,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363139/china-needs-stronger-yuan-and-fiscal-boost-boost-near-term-growth-goldman-sachs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363139/china-needs-stronger-yuan-and-fiscal-boost-boost-near-term-growth-goldman-sachs Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Pacific Steel Group is building California’s first new steel mill in 50 years to satisfy a backlog of orders in a hungry construction industry that has relied on imports and out-of-state shipments. The 400-employee mill in the desert town of Mojave about 547km (340 miles) southeast of San Francisco is just one beam in a nationwide trend. US steel production has risen about 7 per cent year to date compared with the same period of 2025, according to a BNP Paribas calculation in late July. Crude... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362934/us-steel-production-rises-trump-tariffs-erode-reliance-imports https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362934/us-steel-production-rises-trump-tariffs-erode-reliance-imports Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:30:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings It’s a midsummer day and the sun is high in the sky, but the cavernous bar on the green, hilly 68-acre Rios-Lovell Winery & Event Venue stands empty. Although Rios-Lovell and around 50 neighbouring wineries in the San Francisco suburb of Livermore typically do not expect many clients on weekdays, they also know that Generation Z and Millennials are not drinking as much as their elders. However, the 35-year-old Rios-Lovell winery ships a couple of containers per year to China, said event manager... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362549/grape-expectations-california-winemakers-optimistic-china-export-resurgence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362549/grape-expectations-california-winemakers-optimistic-china-export-resurgence Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Employers in China anticipate a slightly higher median salary increase next year as they push to retain top-tier talent despite financial pressures following a soft 2026, according to data published by a global advisory. Companies were budgeting for a median increase of 4.5 per cent in 2027, following 4.3 per cent growth in 2026 and 4.5 per cent in 2025, the advisory and broking firm WTW said in a new report. Even so, the three-year figure would still lag Asia-Pacific regional averages over the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362254/chinas-hi-tech-boom-pushes-firms-boost-pay-2027-keeping-talent-priority https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3362254/chinas-hi-tech-boom-pushes-firms-boost-pay-2027-keeping-talent-priority Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:41:17 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has offered to assist Indonesia in improving its manufacturing sector and increasing the added value of its commodities, likely in a move to position Chinese companies for unique access to Indonesia’s unprocessed minerals, which Jakarta bans from export. Beijing’s ambassador to Jakarta, Wang Lutong, said “supply chain and industrial integration”, among other closer economic ties, would support development targets in both countries, Jakarta’s state-owned national news agency Antara reported... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3361695/china-makes-offer-indonesia-positioning-itself-unique-access-minerals-analyst https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3361695/china-makes-offer-indonesia-positioning-itself-unique-access-minerals-analyst Sat, 25 Jul 2026 01:16:20 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s durian imports rose 47 per cent, year on year, in the first half of 2026, with Thailand and Malaysia posting particularly strong gains, according to customs data, as Southeast Asian exporters offloaded a glut of the fruit that had sparked a price drop. Thailand exported nearly US$3.79 billion worth of the pungent spiky fruit shipped to China in the first half of 2026, the Chinese customs data showed, taking an 81 per cent share of the market. Thai shipments reached US$2.56 billion in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3361299/chinas-durian-imports-thailand-and-malaysia-soar-glut-pressures-growers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3361299/chinas-durian-imports-thailand-and-malaysia-soar-glut-pressures-growers Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings As Norwegian World Cup footballer Erling Haaland’s herbal drink advertising blitz captivates millions, his home country has emerged as a popular destination for Chinese travellers. An increasing number of Chinese citizens have visited Norway over the past two years, with interest surging during this summer’s international football competition. The draw was largely Norway’s scenic allure, but in recent weeks Haaland’s social-media stagecraft had amplified the appeal, tourism professionals... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360936/how-world-cup-star-haaland-helped-put-norway-map-chinas-tourists https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360936/how-world-cup-star-haaland-helped-put-norway-map-chinas-tourists Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China and Kazakhstan have agreed to add 28 weekly round-trip flights between the two countries, the latest sign of growing Chinese commercial interest in Central Asia. Civil Aviation Administration of China deputy director general Bai Wenli and Saltanat Tompieva, the chairwoman of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s civil aviation committee, decided to increase scheduled passenger flights – by airlines from both countries – to 152 from 124 per week, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360910/china-and-kazakhstan-agree-increase-number-weekly-round-trip-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360910/china-and-kazakhstan-agree-increase-number-weekly-round-trip-flights Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:18:28 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A Japanese business organisation with 1,300 members is planning to send a delegation to China for meetings that could bolster economic relations between the Asian economic powerhouses following a diplomatic dispute in November. The Osaka-based Kansai Economic Federation intends to send its delegation to Beijing and Xian, Shaanxi province, from October 18-23, the group said in a statement to the South China Morning Post on Wednesday. It said the delegation expected to meet with Chinese government... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3360656/osaka-led-industry-group-eyes-china-mission-corporate-japan-navigates-trade-tensions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3360656/osaka-led-industry-group-eyes-china-mission-corporate-japan-navigates-trade-tensions Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has proposed to manage natural resources – including minerals – more comprehensively, focusing on its uninhabited islands and reclaimed land in an apparent effort to benefit local economies through commercialisation. A document issued by the general offices of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee as well as the State Council, China’s cabinet, called for establishing an uninhabited-island “rights system” and promoting a “unified registration of land rights for natural resources”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3360483/china-issues-plan-revitalise-and-potentially-commercialise-uninhabited-islands https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3360483/china-issues-plan-revitalise-and-potentially-commercialise-uninhabited-islands Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China could accelerate the deployment of an 800 billion yuan (US$117.94 billion) new financial instrument to support hi-tech development and help mitigate the forecast slowdown in quarterly economic growth, investment bank Goldman Sachs says. Officials would use the quasi-fiscal New Policy-Based Financial Instrument, which was rolled out to fund strategic investments through policy banks outside traditional commercial bank lending channels, Goldman Sachs said. “China’s slowing second-quarter... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360346/china-seen-using-new-tool-finance-hi-tech-advances-amid-slower-economic-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360346/china-seen-using-new-tool-finance-hi-tech-advances-amid-slower-economic-growth Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:30:06 +0000