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China economy

China economy
Breaking news and analysis on China’s economy, including its opening up, the US-China trade war, the impact of tariffs and trade talks, growth rates and other key economic data, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Greater Bay Area plan.
An employee of China Southern Power Grid demonstrates controlling a humanoid robot at the company’s robotics laboratory in Guangzhou. Photo: Reuters
China energy security

Why China is spending billions on a robot army to run its power grid

China’s grid operators plan to purchase thousands of robots in 2026 alone, including devices to inspect and maintain vital infrastructure.

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China-EU relations

‘It’s a tightrope’: why Europe’s wind industry faces a growing China dilemma

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China energy security

Explaining China’s new carbon emissions reduction plan

China trade

China places EU defence, aerospace firms on export control list

Seven listed entities are barred from receiving ‘dual-use’ items originating in China, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce.

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The flags of China and the European Union. Photo: Reuters
China’s C919 passenger plane

Opinion | Engine dilemma lies at heart of successful take-off for China’s C919

Launching the aircraft with the imported LEAP-1C engine has led to bottlenecks and dependence but developing a convincing home-made engine will take time.

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Stock Connect

Brazil beckoned: China now has stock and bond ‘connect’ schemes in 5 regions

Strategic financial corridors now bridge mainland bourses with global hubs, enabling more seamless investment through specialised fund vehicles and receipts.

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US-China relations

Beijing’s emphasis on security weighing on US firms’ optimism: AmCham China

White paper recognises improvements and incremental advances, but says data security rules a concern.

US and Chinese flags. Illustration: Reuters
China energy security

China targets greener AI data centres, heavy industry to meet 2030 climate goals

New emission rules for strategic sectors come as the Iran war reinforces the need for energy security.

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China energy security

Nuclear power revival gets boost from Iran war

China is set to open seven nuclear reactors this year, and other countries are reconsidering atomic energy as the Strait of Hormuz shutdown disrupts oil and gas supplies.

China travel

More bookings, shorter trips: Chinese adjust to pricier fuel for May holiday

Domestic flight bookings up about 8 per cent and domestic package-tour reservations up about 10 per cent, survey finds.

Chinese tourists wearing traditional Thai costumes shield themselves from the sun at Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, in Bangkok on April 14. Photo: EPA
China trade

Canton Fair defies global trends as overseas buyers flock to buy robots, drones

Foreign buyers queue up to test the latest technological hardware at China’s largest trade show despite softening international demand.

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The 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, brought together 46 enterprises to showcase technological innovations and application capabilities in China’s service robot sector. Photo: Xinhua
China exports

How a Chinese plastics hub shapes Tesla’s supply chain – and moulds the modern world

From car components to keyboards, this little-known industrial district in eastern China is crafting the small parts the world relies on.

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China exports

‘Bigger winners’: why China’s battery firms stand to gain from the Iran war

Manufacturers are expected to see stronger overseas orders even as price wars hurt profits at home.

China's economic recovery

China to fuse software and steel with US$14tr sector to enhance manufacturing

Beijing is overhauling ‘producer services’ with upgrades and more specialisation to avert deindustrialisation and anchor advanced manufacturing.

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Robotic arms handle materials on a production line in China’s Zhejiang province. Beijing has plans to develop a service sector that shores up the world’s factory. Photo: Getty Images
China travel

2,700 China-Japan flights axed in March as rift between Asian powers deepens

Nearly half of the planned flights between China and Japan were cancelled last month, as Beijing and Tokyo remain locked in a diplomatic feud.

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Air China planes are seen parked on the tarmac at an airport in Beijing in 2020. Photo: AFP
China trade

Learn from the East, says economist Justin Lin, refuting ‘overcapacity’ rhetoric

Former World Bank economist defends Beijing’s industrial strategy amid ‘overcapacity’ allegations, points to Germany and a ‘double standard’.

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China-EU relations

China’s CRRC drops bid for Lisbon metro deal as EU finds ‘billions’ in subsidies

Polish firm to replace state-backed Chinese giant as Brussels uses regulatory powers to curb what it says is market-distorting foreign aid.

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China energy security

China confronts Middle East supply shock, as State Council mulls energy strategy

Premier Li Qiang urges ‘bottom-line mentality’ to secure power as Beijing sees coal and Russian gas among options to offset reliance on imported crude.

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Premier Li Qiang presides over a State Council group study session on energy development on Monday. Photo Xinhua
Artificial intelligence

Crypto industry sees AI-driven agent economy as next growth driver

Experts gather in Hong Kong for Web3 Festival as firm predicts AI agents could facilitate up to US$5 trillion in global crypto sales by 2030.

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China energy security

China’s vast nuclear power sector now able to build 50 reactors at a time

China has more reactors under construction than the rest of the world combined, as it aims to become a global leader in nuclear power.

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China stock market

Outlook for China stocks brightens on capital flows, rebounding home prices

Resilience shown since start of Middle East war likely to continue amid haven demand, according to fund managers and investment banks.

People walk near a screen showing stock exchange and economic data in Shanghai on April 20, 2026. Photo: EPA
China jobs

China’s youth unemployment crunch deepens as record graduation season looms

China’s official youth jobless rate climbed to 16.9 per cent in March, with another 12.7 million graduates set to enter the job market this summer.

A jobseeker meets with a recruiter at a job fair in Shanghai on April 9. The job fair was for aged-care services. Nearly 50 organisations and enterprises offered more than 100 opportunities. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

Jump in EU EV sales amid Iran war boosts Chinese brands’ fortunes

Chinese-made EVs accounted for 16 per cent of the EU market in the year’s first two months, up from 12.2 per cent in 2025, CPCA data shows.

China energy security

Turning point? Clean energy met 100% of world’s new power needs in 2025: report

World has ‘firmly entered’ the clean growth era, with renewables overtaking coal as a power source for the first time last year, report finds.

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US-China trade war

US firms dash to recover tariffs paid on Chinese imports as refund system starts

Companies scramble on Monday to recover illegally collected tariffs from US government as thousands rush to file claims.

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Companies scramble on to recover illegally collected tariffs from US government. Photo: AFP
China energy security

‘Hormuz moment’ could herald decline of US dominance: analysts

Drawing comparisons with UK’s watershed ‘Suez moment’ in 1950s, report says US now ‘wedged’ in strait and searching for a way out.

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Tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on Saturday. Photo: AP
China energy security

As the Hormuz crisis exposes ‘fragile’ supply chains, how will China respond?

Beijing has so far managed to contain fallout from the Iran war – but policymakers are still moving to reinforce resilience.

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China trade

China presses IMF for quota reform, better surveillance of advanced economies

PBOC head urges IMF to ‘stand against protectionism’ amid effects from tariffs, Iran war.

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