TOPIC

Politburo

The Politburo, officially the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is a high-level governmental body and the central decision-making authority within China’s Communist Party. Based in Beijing, China, it comprises 24 top officials who oversee the party and central government. Its primary mission involves reviewing new regulations, standardising policy coordination, and improving efficiency across various sectors, including economic stability, technological advancement, and social welfare. The Politburo, particularly its smaller Standing Committee, is instrumental in shaping national policy and personnel selection, making it a pivotal institution in China’s political system.

Researchers found that official media consistently linked women to domestic roles, but the use of phrases connecting them to the professional sphere had dwindled. Photo: Getty Images

China’s Communist Party

Is China’s Communist Party newspaper highlighting women’s role as mothers?

Analysis of 125,000 articles from People’s Daily suggests it is increasingly framing women in a domestic rather than public context.

9 Aug 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

China economy

Opinion | China’s economic shift may hinge on what migrant workers do next

5 Aug 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

Editorial | Politburo meeting signals cautious confidence in China’s economy

3 Aug 2026 - 7:15AM

China’s Communist Party

China factories cool, CXMT surges, PLA marks anniversary

This week: China manufacturing surprisingly contracts, the Politburo dampens stimulus expectations, memory maker CXMT surges after IPO, and the US bans imports of Chinese robots. Next week: The PLA celebrates its 99th anniversary, July exports may cool, HSBC posts earnings, soccer giants play in Hong Kong, and more.

31 Jul 2026 - 5:00PM

China’s Communist Party

July Politburo meeting read-out

SCMP Plus annotates the read-out of the July meeting of China’s top-level Politburo, where it was agreed that the Communist Party’s fifth plenum will be held in October and which signalled stronger support for the economy.

31 Jul 2026 - 2:55PM

China stock market

China’s Politburo meeting bolsters hope state will support troubled stock markets

In rare reference to the nation’s capital markets, Beijing policymakers underscore their role in maintaining resilient capital markets.

31 Jul 2026 - 4:08PM

China's economic recovery

China’s Politburo pledges policy support, spending to counteract sluggish growth

The high-level decision-making body also set October for the fifth Central Committee plenum, which will set the stage for next year’s party congress.

30 Jul 2026 - 6:31PMvideocam

President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 8. Photo: Xinhua

China food security

China food-security risks worsen as extreme weather becomes more common

Heavy rains and growing drought risks may make it harder to feed China’s 1 billion-plus population.

2 Jul 2026 - 5:11PM

Accidents and disasters in China

China’s Politburo orders rapid-response overhaul in the face of extreme weather

Meeting urges steps to prevent disaster and ‘always put the safety of people’s lives first’.

30 Jun 2026 - 8:28PMvideocam

China GDP

Unpacking China’s April Politburo statement

SCMP Plus annotates the readout from the April meeting of China’s top decision-making Politburo, which resolved to accelerate measures to limit the economic fallout from the Iran war.

28 Apr 2026 - 4:13PM

Unpacking China’s April Politburo statement

China GDP

China’s Politburo steps up policy response as Iran war shakes global economy

China’s leadership vows to push forward with infrastructure projects, boost tech self-reliance and safeguard energy security.

28 Apr 2026 - 3:59PMvideocam

President Xi Jinping at a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 15. Photo: Reuters

China's economic recovery

Editorial | Hong Kong has a role to play in building a strong, unified national market

Innovative growth areas such as the Greater Bay Area can help lead China’s economic transformation in the coming year.

15 Dec 2025 - 6:45AM

China economy

Opinion | China’s Politburo swaps emergency economic surgery for preventive care

Last year’s meeting focused on survival, but now the emphasis is on unlocking factors to let the domestic economy thrive.

15 Dec 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

China economy

China’s economy can probably ride out storms in 2026

Policymakers meeting in Beijing this week will probably see few reasons for new stimulus measures after China’s economy largely weathered the US trade war.

10 Dec 2025 - 5:09PM

China economy

Explaining the key points from China’s Politburo December meeting

SCMP Plus annotates an official report of the monthly meeting of China’s Politburo, which focused on the economic work needed in 2026, including stepped up efforts to boost domestic demand and cope with trade ‘turbulence’.

9 Dec 2025 - 10:34AM

Explaining the key points from China’s Politburo December meeting

China's economic recovery

China’s Politburo pledges action to tackle trade ‘struggles’ in 2026

Analysts said the decision-making body’s phrasing on the international trade environment suggests a cautious stance next year despite US truce.

8 Dec 2025 - 5:36PM

China’s Communist Party

China looks to AI and big data to guard against Western values

President tells Politburo that new technology should be applied to promote socialist ideology.

2 Dec 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

Chen Weijun joins list of senior Xinjiang officials investigated for corruption

Party journal Qiushi republishes speech by President Xi Jinping in which he urged greater effort in the push for ‘self-revolution’.

1 Dec 2025 - 9:09PMvideocam

Chen Weijun, once regarded as a promising political star, is under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline and law”. Photo: Handout

China’s fourth plenum

China unveils 5-year plan’s support for private sector, financial strength

Revelations had not been mentioned in the communique issued last week following the fourth plenum.

29 Oct 2025 - 12:11AMvideocam

Vietnam

Opinion | Vietnam’s defence pact with North Korea a step back into the shadows

Vietnam’s future depends not on nostalgia or political theatre but on its capacity to engage openly with the modern world.

19 Oct 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

China economy

Editorial | As China drafts another five-year plan, it must brace for challenges

Amid domestic and global headwinds, national development won’t be easy. Hong Kong can help serve Beijing’s development goals.

1 Oct 2025 - 6:45AM

Commuters wait at a bus stop during evening rush hour at the central business district in Beijing on March 2. The Politburo has set a date for the party’s fourth plenum, during which its leaders will introduce the 15th five-year plan. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks snap 4-day decline on Fed rate-cut bets

Some analysts anticipate the Federal Reserve may cut rates by half a point in September.

4 Aug 2025 - 4:36PM

A view of Exchange Square in Central, home of the Hong Kong’s bourse operator, on January 9, 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse

Banking & finance

China’s central bank vows to boost liquidity, cut borrowing costs in growth push

Idle capital circulation and ‘involution style’ rivalry will also be targeted, People’s Bank of China says at key mid-year meeting.

2 Aug 2025 - 9:00PMvideocam

China economy

China’s leaders breathe easier on economy despite risks

Politburo’s steady-as-she-goes approach contrasts with a year earlier and comes despite slowdown in manufacturing and trade war with US.

31 Jul 2025 - 5:00PM

SCMP Highlights

China’s most dynamic cities, Japan’s space defence strategy: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s Politburo calling economic policy support to be stepped up to the Panama ports investigation, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

30 Jul 2025 - 9:15PM

Citizens watch a robot performing in Hangzhou on June 27. The city is not the biggest in China, and yet a new report says it is one of the most dynamic. Photo: Xinhua

China’s economic stimulus

China’s Politburo calls for ‘stepped up’ economic policy support

The decision-making body said the country must ‘exert strength’ to maintain growth and avoid risks after meeting.

30 Jul 2025 - 5:49PMvideocam

China’s Politburo, a major political decision-making body headed by President Xi Jinping, has concluded a meeting centred around the country’s economy. Photo: dpa

Hong Kong stock market

Rally in solar and EV stocks lifts Hong Kong benchmark to 3½-year high

Expectations are high that the July Politburo meeting will introduce more measures to eliminate excess capacity in some emerging industries.

28 Jul 2025 - 3:30PM

China stock market

Investors look to Politburo meeting for signs of fighting overcapacity

All eyes will be on how gathered leaders address hyper-competition in industries including solar and lithium batteries, EVs and e-commerce.

18 Jul 2025 - 5:30PM

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Politburo

Is China’s Communist Party newspaper highlighting women’s role as mothers?

Analysis of 125,000 articles from People’s Daily suggests it is increasingly framing women in a domestic rather than public context.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | China’s economic shift may hinge on what migrant workers do next

Editorial | Politburo meeting signals cautious confidence in China’s economy

China factories cool, CXMT surges, PLA marks anniversary

July Politburo meeting read-out

SCMP Plus annotates the read-out of the July meeting of China’s top-level Politburo, where it was agreed that the Communist Party’s fifth plenum will be held in October and which signalled stronger support for the economy.

China’s Politburo meeting bolsters hope state will support troubled stock markets

In rare reference to the nation’s capital markets, Beijing policymakers underscore their role in maintaining resilient capital markets.

China’s Politburo pledges policy support, spending to counteract sluggish growth

The high-level decision-making body also set October for the fifth Central Committee plenum, which will set the stage for next year’s party congress.

China food-security risks worsen as extreme weather becomes more common

Heavy rains and growing drought risks may make it harder to feed China’s 1 billion-plus population.

China’s Politburo orders rapid-response overhaul in the face of extreme weather

Meeting urges steps to prevent disaster and ‘always put the safety of people’s lives first’.

Unpacking China’s April Politburo statement

SCMP Plus annotates the readout from the April meeting of China’s top decision-making Politburo, which resolved to accelerate measures to limit the economic fallout from the Iran war.

China’s Politburo steps up policy response as Iran war shakes global economy

China’s leadership vows to push forward with infrastructure projects, boost tech self-reliance and safeguard energy security.

Editorial | Hong Kong has a role to play in building a strong, unified national market

Innovative growth areas such as the Greater Bay Area can help lead China’s economic transformation in the coming year.

Opinion | China’s Politburo swaps emergency economic surgery for preventive care

Last year’s meeting focused on survival, but now the emphasis is on unlocking factors to let the domestic economy thrive.

China’s economy can probably ride out storms in 2026

Policymakers meeting in Beijing this week will probably see few reasons for new stimulus measures after China’s economy largely weathered the US trade war.

Explaining the key points from China’s Politburo December meeting

SCMP Plus annotates an official report of the monthly meeting of China’s Politburo, which focused on the economic work needed in 2026, including stepped up efforts to boost domestic demand and cope with trade ‘turbulence’.

China’s Politburo pledges action to tackle trade ‘struggles’ in 2026

Analysts said the decision-making body’s phrasing on the international trade environment suggests a cautious stance next year despite US truce.

China looks to AI and big data to guard against Western values

President tells Politburo that new technology should be applied to promote socialist ideology.

Chen Weijun joins list of senior Xinjiang officials investigated for corruption

Party journal Qiushi republishes speech by President Xi Jinping in which he urged greater effort in the push for ‘self-revolution’.

China unveils 5-year plan’s support for private sector, financial strength

Revelations had not been mentioned in the communique issued last week following the fourth plenum.

Opinion | Vietnam’s defence pact with North Korea a step back into the shadows

Vietnam’s future depends not on nostalgia or political theatre but on its capacity to engage openly with the modern world.

Editorial | As China drafts another five-year plan, it must brace for challenges

Amid domestic and global headwinds, national development won’t be easy. Hong Kong can help serve Beijing’s development goals.

Hong Kong stocks snap 4-day decline on Fed rate-cut bets

Some analysts anticipate the Federal Reserve may cut rates by half a point in September.

China’s central bank vows to boost liquidity, cut borrowing costs in growth push

Idle capital circulation and ‘involution style’ rivalry will also be targeted, People’s Bank of China says at key mid-year meeting.

China’s leaders breathe easier on economy despite risks

Politburo’s steady-as-she-goes approach contrasts with a year earlier and comes despite slowdown in manufacturing and trade war with US.

China’s most dynamic cities, Japan’s space defence strategy: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s Politburo calling economic policy support to be stepped up to the Panama ports investigation, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China’s Politburo calls for ‘stepped up’ economic policy support

The decision-making body said the country must ‘exert strength’ to maintain growth and avoid risks after meeting.

Rally in solar and EV stocks lifts Hong Kong benchmark to 3½-year high

Expectations are high that the July Politburo meeting will introduce more measures to eliminate excess capacity in some emerging industries.

Investors look to Politburo meeting for signs of fighting overcapacity

All eyes will be on how gathered leaders address hyper-competition in industries including solar and lithium batteries, EVs and e-commerce.

Opinion | China’s economic shift may hinge on what migrant workers do next