Breaking news and analysis on China, covering politics, economy, technology, trade relations, and social developments in the world's second-largest economy.
China proposed export bans on 14 technologies and restrictions on 26 others, citing national security. Simultaneously, Beijing implemented interim pre-export registration management for ownership transfers and licensing agreements. Export curbs would apply to models ranking in the world's top 10 on performance, usage, and safety measures, affecting models like Kimi K3 and Qwen 3.8-Max.
China is transforming vacant primary schools into elderly care facilities as the birth rate hits a historic low and the population declines. With 7.92 million births in 2025 and a growing senior demographic, local authorities are repurposing idle educational infrastructure to meet rising care demands.
China's research and experimental development investment reached 3.9 trillion yuan in 2025, marking an 8.2% increase driven by gains in fundamental science and university funding. This steady growth contrasts with concurrent efforts by the US administration to reduce research budgets.
A Chinese court sentenced kindergarten operator Li Huifang to life in prison and a 500,000 yuan fine for serving lead-tainted food that sickened over 200 children. Her personal assets were confiscated as part of the sentence. Executive principal Zhu Jinglin received a 15-year sentence, while five other staff members were sentenced to six to 15 years.
The commentary highlights Roger Federer's efforts to expand tennis popularity in China through promotional events in Shenzhen and Shanghai. It emphasizes his partnership with On and grassroots initiatives like the Wild Elephant Tennis Club, arguing that these activities inspire youth participation and strengthen the sport's cultural footprint in the region.
China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 50.1 in September, ending two months of contraction as government stimulus measures took effect. The non-manufacturing PMI also climbed above the threshold to 50.2, with construction activity expanding for the first time this year after jumping 3.4 points.
Journalist Yi-Ling Liu contends that the dichotomy between a free US internet and an authoritarian Chinese internet is eroding, as both systems converge toward state and oligarchic control. She argues that Chinese users navigate shifting censorship boundaries creatively while the Communist Party increasingly shapes digital social values.
Foreign banks including Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Standard Chartered are closing branches in China as weak returns pressure operations. These institutions are pivoting strategies toward wealth management and digital services to compete within a market dominated by state-owned lenders, following Citi's earlier exit from retail banking.
Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan stated in Manila that Beijing could 'easily win' a military conflict with the Philippines but would not choose to use force. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the comments as sounding "very much like a threat." Tensions over the disputed Scarborough Shoal have risen with Beijing repeatedly driving away Philippine aircraft in recent months.
Chinese memory-chip leader CXMT Corp. reported a preliminary profit of 131 billion to 132.5 billion yuan for the first nine months of 2026, a sharp turnaround from last year's loss. Soaring global demand for memory components drove revenue expectations up to 265-270 billion yuan, significantly higher than previous figures.