Breaking news and analysis on China, covering politics, economy, technology, trade relations, and social developments in the world's second-largest economy.
China implemented new exit-and-entry rules barring citizens deemed a threat to national technology security from leaving the country. Analysts warn vague definitions give Beijing wide discretion to restrict travel arbitrarily, citing the case of US citizen Min Zin held in Yunnan province.
China's industrial output accelerated to 5.2 percent growth in August, beating forecasts, while retail sales slowed to just 0.4 percent. Fixed-asset investment declined 7.2 percent in the first eight months, with property investment diving 19.9 percent year-on-year, highlighting weak consumer demand.
China's fixed asset investment fell 7.2% year-on-year from January to August, widening from a 6.7% decline in the first seven months. Retail sales growth slowed sharply to 0.4% in August, missing expectations, with auto sales plummeting 18.5% and dragging down overall consumer demand despite resilient industrial production.
China's new home prices fell 0.1% in August across 70 major cities, continuing a monthly decline that signals persistent weakness in the real estate sector. Annual declines narrowed to 3.0%, while tier-one cities saw their first price rise in months despite broader regulatory easing measures.
China's August credit expansion significantly missed forecasts as loan demand remained weak. New bank loans totaled just 60 billion yuan against 400 billion expected. Household loans contracted for a sixth month, while corporate loans rebounded. Outstanding yuan loan growth slowed to a record-low 4.9% year-on-year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Beijing and New Delhi have reached an important consensus to maintain their partnership and prevent diplomatic backsliding. Xi and Modi agreed to jointly maintain peace in border areas and support each other as rotating BRICS chairs, while China Southern Airlines resumed services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route.
An eight-member Japanese parliamentary delegation led by former Justice Minister Masahiro Komura arrived in Beijing on Sunday to seek renewed diplomatic engagement. This visit marks the first such high-level contact since tensions escalated over Taiwan, aiming to stabilize bilateral relations through meetings with Chinese officials.
Chinese military researchers published a peer-reviewed paper outlining a plan to develop a nuclear-powered main battle tank armed with a 450km-range electromagnetic railgun. The concept envisions a 60-tonne vehicle powered by a small modular reactor, though authors note further testing is needed before potential deployment after 2045.
Chinese-made vehicle sales fell 5.1% in August, driven by a 24% plunge in domestic demand offset by a 65% export surge. Total production also declined 4.7%, reflecting weak local consumption despite government trade-in subsidies.
The article argues that China's recent $54 billion bank rescue, which favors strong institutions over weak ones, signals a deeper financial instability rather than stability. Citing Michael Pettis, it contends that this approach unsettles investors and suggests the Chinese financial system is more fragile than Western metrics typically indicate.