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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.
last updated:
15 October, 2024
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China technology

From ‘robot school’ to DeepSeek, how China leads the charge for tech supremacy

DeepSeek, a half-marathon of running robots, and ‘sexbot’ advancements are just the tip of the iceberg as China goes all-in on innovation that will reshape local economies.

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US-China relations

Will Donald Trump’s new US sovereign wealth fund take aim at Chinese assets?

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US-China relations

Explainer | How is China retaliating against US tariffs, and what impact will it have?

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China debt

Opinion | China’s local government financing vehicles are a ticking debt bomb

Amid infrastructure drive, shadowy LGFVs, which let local governments circumvent borrowing limits, risk triggering a debt-fuelled bust.

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Construction of the Huajiang grand canyon bridge on November 30, 2024 in Guizhou, China. In 2023, the province’s Zunyi Road and Bridge Construction Group became China’s first LGFV to be forced to restructure its bank loans. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Electric & new energy vehicles

EV price war: Tesla offers Model 3 subsidies, Xpeng dangles zero-interest loans

Tesla and Xpeng are offering rebates on car insurance and loans in February in response to BYD’s price cut in December.

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US-China relations

China keeps yuan stable against US dollar: what it means for the trade war

China could allow its currency to weaken to offset the impact of US tariffs on the country’s exports, but has so far declined to do so.

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China stock market

DeepSeek and Trump tariffs will guide winners and losers in China’s markets

Investors are likely to tread lightly as trading commences in the Year of the Snake, as they await the outcome of Trump-Xi talks.

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China’s onshore markets will resume trading on Wednesday after an eight-day break. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

How China’s humanoid robot innovations fuel cutthroat competition with US

China, fuelled by recent successes from DeepSeek and Unitree, is making a play for pole position in humanoid robots. Can the US hold its ground?

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US-China relations

‘De minimis’ exemption: why US tariff move will hurt consumers more than China

The US’ elimination of a small-package tax exemption ‘will not kill’ the business models of China’s cross-border e-commerce giants, but will hurt American consumers, analysts say.

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Banking & finance

Trump tariffs push gold prices to record high as investors seek safe haven

Investor concerns about a potential global trade war have caused gold prices to soar to unprecedented levels.

Gold prices have soared amid uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s trade policies. Photo: Edmond So
US-China tech war

China launches antitrust probe into Google after Trump tariffs

The State Administration for Market Regulation initiated the investigation into the internet search giant after the US imposed 10 per cent tariffs.

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Google faces antitrust scrutiny in China after US President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs on the country. Photo: Reuters
China manufacturing

‘Buy a robot for retirement’? China’s androids are set to change everyday life

While they are not yet capable of performing a wide range of everyday tasks, rapid development promises a bright future for humanoid robots, including in elder care.

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US-China relations

Facing Trump tariffs, China exporters brace for long, winding Year of the Snake

Analysts assess impact of new American action targeting imports, as uncertainty looms and next week could bring ‘a completely different world’.

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Banking & finance

Dollar strength more worrying to Asian stocks than China tariffs: Hang Seng Bank

Prospects for Asian equities remain positive due to China’s stimulus measures and strong Asean trade links, Hang Seng Bank official says.

Hong Kong banks left their prime lending rates unchanged on Monday. Photo: Shutterstock
China’s economic stimulus

Lunar New Year travel to China surges 200% as visa-free policies pay off

China logged a steep increase in inbound travel bookings for this year’s holiday, while the country’s outbound travel sector also showed signs of recovery.

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Tourists from Belarus and Russia pose for a photo in Shanghai’s Yu Garden. China has seen an upsurge in tourism during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Xinhua
China’s economic stimulus

China’s Henan urges local entrepreneurs to ‘dare to invest’ amid slowdown

The central province has vowed to ‘protect’ and ‘listen to’ the private sector, as China’s leaders strive to restore confidence and shore up economic growth.

Lunar New Year

China’s box office riding Lunar New Year wave to record Spring Festival haul

Ne Zha 2 and Detective Chinatown 1900 lead the way as billions of yuan in cinema receipts bode well for an industry still looking to bounce back to pre-pandemic numbers.

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China’s economic stimulus

China’s factory activity growth slows again as Trump tariffs loom

A key gauge of China’s manufacturing activity unexpectedly fell in January, underlining the economic challenges Beijing faces.

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A worker checks rolls of glass fibre at a factory in Chongqing. Growth in China’s manufacturing sector unexpectedly declined sharply in January, according to a new report. Photo: AFP
Lunar New Year

China boosts train and bus services as workers cut Lunar New Year travels short

Chinese provinces launch extra transport services as migrant workers return to coastal cities to get a leg up in sluggish job market.

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China trade

Opinion | Why Beijing must move on from ‘Made in China 2025’ success

Innovation is a better economic strategy than relying on exports for growth, which is unsustainable and can have unintended consequences.

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Lunar New Year

‘Little luxuries’: China’s crystal industry shimmers amid economic unease

Crystals with perceived properties to heal and enhance career prospects are increasingly becoming a source of hope and comfort in tough times.

More Chinese people are turning to crystals for psychological comfort as they cope with anxiety and attempt to navigate uncertainties amid economic challenges and a difficult job market. Photo: Shutterstock
Business of climate change

JD.com-backed gadget platform banks on China’s trade-in subsidy to spur volume

ATRenew, China’s largest platform for pre-owned electronics, is offering trade-in incentives to coincide with the Lunar New Year holiday.

JD.com-backed ATRenew had about 1,800 stores in more than 260 cities across China at the end of last year. Photo: Handout

Opinion | Why China’s ‘economic miracle’ has hit a wall: 3 theories

Despite their opposing ideologies, they may well offer valuable insights into the future of country.

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US-China relations

Opinion | DeepSeek’s US tech rout kicks off 2025’s game of snakes and ladders

With China underrated and global footloose capital getting jitters about the United States, investors can expect volatility.

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US-China relations

Will ‘unpredictable’ Trump bring chaos or calm to US-China relations?

Voices from Washington reveal deep divisions on how to deal with Beijing, with Trump 2.0 adding another layer of uncertainty, analysts warn.

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Illustration: Davies Christian Surya
Retailing

China’s retail subsidy fuels Lunar New Year shopping spree

Sales of consumer goods such as smartphones and tablets soar, but long-term retail momentum remains uncertain.

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Customers browse at an electronics store in Beijing. The Chinese government is betting on subsidies to boost consumer spending on rice cookers, microwave ovens and smartphones. Photo: AFP
China's economic recovery

How a bumper fruit harvest helped China gain ‘cherry freedom’

Cherries were once considered a luxury item in China, but a flood of cheap Chilean imports has tanked prices ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

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China food security

High-steaks challenge: how China feeds its huge, meat-hungry population

China’s 1.4 billion consumers have developed Western-style appetites for high-protein foods such as pork and beef, prompting far-reaching changes in the global economy.

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