Nationalist “Main Melody” Films Lose Blockbuster Momentum
The Economist: “‘Main melody’ films, as big-budget productions carrying nationalist propaganda are known, are in a rut. Such titles were once blockbusters, topping the box office every year between 2017 and 2023, except 2019. Those days are now gone.” https://t.co/kCR1KEu0O6
Taiwan's Chinese‑free Drones Soar Onto Ukraine Battlefield
The Economist: Taiwan’s bid to export drones free of Chinese parts is taking off—The island’s unmanned aerial vehicles are already in use on Ukraine’s front line https://t.co/0WgU5M7FCu
Trump's Actions Push Russia and China Closer Together
.@AlexGabuev in FT op-ed: “‘The one thing you never want to happen is you never want Russia and China uniting. I’m going to have to un-unite them’…Fourteen months into his second presidency, Trump’s actions are having precisely the opposite...
U.S. Better Equipped for Prolonged Oil Price Surge
Washington Post: Years spent preparing for a global energy crisis have left the country and its economy better positioned than most to endure a long-term hike in the cost of oil and gas. https://t.co/Z93avoq3HM
Beijing‑Pyongyang 24‑Hour Train Resumes, Easing Ties
The 24-Hour Train Between Beijing and Pyongyang Is Back on Track—The resumption of railway travel restores some normalcy to a rocky relationship between North Korea and China @timothywmartin @chuqin_jiang https://t.co/A8nPnkjONl https://t.co/A8nPnkjONl
ByteDance Secures Nvidia's Blackwell AI Chips Despite Ban
China’s ByteDance Gets Access to Top Nvidia AI Chips—TikTok parent, pushing global expansion, plans to tap Blackwell processors that are barred for export to China @JonathanEmont @lizalinwsj https://t.co/cTBSVMnK4r https://t.co/cTBSVMnK4r
China's February Passenger Car Sales Plunge 25%
China’s Auto Sales Drop as Demand Cools—Retail sales of passenger cars fell 25% in February @ivy_jiahuihuang https://t.co/Frh2Ytf9an https://t.co/Frh2Ytf9an
Ships Claim China Ties to Dodge Iran War Attacks
AP: Some commercial ships near or in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf have declared themselves as China-linked since the Iran war began, marine traffic data show, as their operators apparently try to reduce risks of being targeted in...
Luxury Fleet and Helicopter Reveal Opulent Cambodian Travel
“He also had fleets of black Mercedes-Maybachs and Toyota Alphards, some with ‘5555’ on their license plates. Within Cambodia, he traveled with two bodyguards and on a private helicopter, according to a person familiar with the matter.” https://t.co/51xEsr12US
Chinese Flight Lull Fuels Taiwan's Uncertainty Amid Middle East Focus
Mysterious Lull in Chinese Military Flights Leaves Taiwan Guessing—Pause stokes uncertainty about Beijing’s intentions as world focuses on Middle East @joyuwang https://t.co/f0x5nq3FHt https://t.co/f0x5nq3FHt
Ukraine Achieves China-Free Drone Production Milestone
NYT: Ukraine Reaches a Milestone: Making ‘China-Free’ Drones—The country has prioritized self-sufficiency in producing a crucial battlefield weapon, though weaning itself fully off cheaper Chinese components is difficult. https://t.co/1VEbDkSJyw
WeChat Cracks Down on Feminist, LGBTQ, Mental Health Accounts
“In what is becoming an annual event, a spate of bans on the eve of March 8 International Women’s Day has struck numerous WeChat public accounts focused on feminism, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights…and promoting mental health.” @CDT https://t.co/PUc2VIdUO1
Xi Pushes Forced Ethnic Unity, Criminalizing Cultural Dissent
Xi Enforces His Demand for Ethnic Unity Across China—After crackdowns on Uyghurs, Tibetans, law threatens punishment for anyone who doesn’t embrace common language and culture @ByChunHan https://t.co/SSqyEwn7sh https://t.co/SSqyEwn7sh
Americans See China as Alien, Fueling Chinamaxxing Meme
Washington Post op-ed: “Chinamaxxing is an effective meme precisely because Americans still see China, the world’s second-largest country by population and only other superpower, as incredibly alien.” https://t.co/xuaBorhEus
CRINK's Demise Highlights Fragmented Anti‑US Alliance
“One casualty of the strikes on Iran should be the ugly acronym ‘CRINK’…Although the four countries share an opposition to the United States…there is little that unites…beyond the Chinese Communist Party’s solipsistic pursuit of its own interests.” https://t.co/p4n7y6ZuGu
Latin America Appeases US, Banks on Chinese Cash
NYT op-ed: “For years, Washington’s Latin America policy has oscillated between neglect and alarmism…The result is a region that has learned to nod to U.S. concerns while quietly cashing Chinese checks.” https://t.co/fuVrwW6AHG
U.S. War Undermines Global Standing, Boosts China’s Influence
“This war hugely damages U.S. standing in the world, which means that China has much more scope to establish its own standing in the Middle East and the Global South generally,” said Steve Tsang, director of the @SOAS_CI in London. @yarotrof...
China’s Record 2025 Trade Surplus Fuels Ongoing Tensions
China’s Export Machine Keeps Pumping Ahead of Trump Visit—After record trade surplus in 2025, new figures suggest tensions will persist @LandersWSJ @TByGraceZhu https://t.co/siI2mnk49t https://t.co/siI2mnk49t
China Buffers Iran Oil Shock with Stockpiles, EV Shift
China Has Spent Years Preparing for the Iran Oil Crisis—Massive oil stockpiles and a shift to electric vehicles help insulate the economy from supply disruptions in the Mideast @BrianSpegele https://t.co/xq1mMRdTGu https://t.co/xq1mMRdTGu
China's Early‑year Exports Boom, $213bn Trade Surplus
China’s Exports Surge in First Two Months of Year—Trade surplus stood at $213.62 billion for the period https://t.co/siI2mnkBZ1 https://t.co/siI2mnkBZ1
Archer Sues Joby for Hiding Chinese Supplier Links
Archer Aviation, a company that designs electric flying taxis, sued Joby Aviation, alleging that its rival spent years deceiving federal regulators and investors by concealing extensive ties to Chinese suppliers. @chriskuo17 https://t.co/0LdjLi42Wz https://t.co/0LdjLi42Wz
China’s Politically‑driven Growth Target Fuels Overinvestment and Waste
FT op-ed: “China’s growth target is a global problem…The target is not based in economics. It’s a political goal…Pursuing that aim, Beijing has been overinvesting for years, but lately it has been dumping the excess output it can’t sell at...
Xi's Poverty Victory May Be Unsustainable, Underestimated
FT: “The question is whether the victory that Xi boasted of is sustainable, or even borne out by reality, and whether China, the country that has lifted more people out of indigence than any other…is now underestimating the poverty.” @WillLangley96 https://t.co/G1ef9EpU5D
Iranian Envoy Urges US, Israel to Leave Hormuz
U.S., Israel Should Withdraw From Strait of Hormuz Area, Says Iranian Envoy—Iran’s ambassador to China denounced the U.S. and Israel as sources of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and called on the two governments to withdraw from the area. @ByChunHan...
China Refuses U.S.-style Role in Iran Partnership
.@ZichenWanghere: “China is not willing to play the same role for Iran that the United States has long assumed for its own partners. But that does not mean that China is feckless…Too many observers still measure every rising power against...
China Acknowledges Deflation Risk, Vows Positive Cost Growth
“Encouragingly, China now seems very alert to the threat of deflation…Li Qiang said the government will steer the cost of living ‘back into positive territory.’ That’s tougher language than last year…a welcome recognition that Beijing has a problem.” https://t.co/V270GGGAJB
One Analyst’s Forecast Sets 2027 Taiwan Invasion Deadline
How One Man’s Prediction Fueled Fears of a 2027 Taiwan Invasion—A U.S. conclusion about China’s military plans quickly became a deadline for battle preparations @austinramzy @ByChunHan @joyuwang https://t.co/uKw3G9WeVV https://t.co/uKw3G9WeVV
China's CPI Jumps 1.3% in February, Outpacing Forecasts
China Consumer Inflation Beats Expectations on Holiday Boost—The consumer-price index rose 1.3% from a year earlier in February https://t.co/U4ziLySrnu https://t.co/U4ziLySrnu
US Investors Push Asian Funds to Create Restricted‑tech Vehicles
FT: US investors are increasingly asking Asian fund managers to carve out special vehicles so they can invest in the region without falling foul of American investment restrictions on Chinese technology. https://t.co/BxNIMQgnjK
China’s Modest Target Risks Stalling Demand Revival
The Economist: “China’s new target is too low. Judging by the country’s recent record, it will set a ceiling on the government’s efforts to revive demand, perpetuating the economy’s biggest problems.” https://t.co/r2SPU7niNb
China Plans Coordinated Push for Lithography by 2030
Reuters: Top Chinese semiconductor executives have called for a coordinated national effort to develop operational lithography systems during the 2026-2030 period, underlining Beijing's push for greater technological self-reliance. @lauriechenwords https://t.co/uab1DaTkwQ
Nvidia Halts China Chip Production Amid Ongoing Trade Restrictions
FT, citing sources: Nvidia has stopped production of chips intended for the Chinese market, betting that regulatory barriers in Washington and Beijing will continue to limit sales to China. @zijing_wu https://t.co/WzcEVP1osx
Chinese Legacy Firms Bet on Chips to Survive AI Boom
China’s Traditional Businesses Try to Buy Into AI Boom—For many Chinese companies, investing in chip makers is a survival strategy @QinSherry https://t.co/4pke6IQIur https://t.co/4pke6IQIur
China Sets Historic Low Growth Target, Signaling Slower Era
China Signals New Era of Slower Economic Growth—Beijing sets historically low growth target of 4.5% to 5% @hannahmiao_ @TByGraceZhu @ByXiaoXiao https://t.co/o4Z2iYoVdw https://t.co/o4Z2iYoVdw
China's Mixed PMIs Hint at Possible Stimulus
China PMIs Send Mixed Signals as Markets Watch for Stimulus—Nonmanufacturing PMI, which covers both service and construction activity, edged up to 49.5 in February https://t.co/7qblrUNU7k https://t.co/7qblrUNU7k
Chinese EV Giant Eyes US, Offers Auto Industry Lifeline
.@abrownepek: “After rolling across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America, the Chinese electric vehicle juggernaut is targeting the US. Its arrival could be a salvation for America and its auto industry.” https://t.co/0pm9u3FDcB
China's Oil Stockpiles Offer Buffer Against Price Spikes
“Can China act as a buffer? China has been loading up on cheap, sanctioned oil, putting some of it away in storage. In a report, analysts at Morgan Stanley said China could slow down on its purchases if oil prices...
Price Wars Hurt Productivity, Threaten Chinese Economy
.@Aligarciaherrer: “They cut prices aggressively, not because they’re getting leaner…but because everyone else is doing it and they fear losing customers…Unproductive companies are hurting the productive ones, which is…not good for the Chinese economy.” https://t.co/ZakESJy4Fc
China’s Two Sessions Reveal Economic Outlook Amid High Stakes
China’s ‘Two Sessions’ to Shed Light on What Lies Ahead for Economy—Beijing’s target-setting takes place against a high-stakes backdrop https://t.co/sxAHsLFpcV https://t.co/sxAHsLFpcV
Japanese Investment in China Jumps 55% Amid Tensions
“At a time when Tokyo and Beijing appear to be drifting further apart politically, Japanese capital is moving in the opposite direction…Japanese foreign direct investment into China surged by 55.5% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025.” https://t.co/osyTCAOqOp
China's 2025 Economy: Hot Sectors Stuck Amid Cooling
“The Chinese economy in 2025…is like a giant machine where large parts are beginning to cool down, while a considerable part remains at high temperature. But the temperature of this part is difficult to conduct to the cooling parts.” @ChinaFile https://t.co/oC1Pwzm8je
China Aims 5% Growth; Consumption, Innovation to Drive 2026
China Daily: “Around 5% seen as likely GDP target—Consumption, innovation expected to emerge as key economic engines in 2026” https://t.co/mvmKY53AFy
Tencent Embeds AI in Group Chats for Real-Time Fact‑checking
“Tencent is betting that AI spreads best when it rides on social habits, rather than treated as yet another ‘productivity’ app…Yuanbao is less a chatbot tab than an extra voice in the group chat: the friend you can @ to...
China's Central Bank Eases Dollar Purchases to Curb Yuan Rally
China Central Bank Moves to Tame Yuan Rally—China’s central bank on Friday moved to combat a rally in the yuan by making it cheaper for importers to buy dollars and sell the Chinese currency. @RebeccaYFeng https://t.co/uVx5NuUmDE
US ITC to Study Impact of Stripping China’s Trade Status
Reuters: The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Thursday it would investigate the economic impact of revoking China’s permanent normal trade status over a six-year period, a move that would likely increase tariffs on Chinese imports. https://t.co/T0xSqrLDgN
China Cuts Shorting Costs, Drops 20% Reserve on Yuan Forwards
China Moves to Tame Yuan Rally by Slashing Shorting Costs—Chinese banks won’t be required to set aside a 20% risk reserve on forward currency trades https://t.co/myGXkMjp6X https://t.co/myGXkMjp6X
IMF: China Too Big to Export Out Its Malaise
“I recently spoke with experts at the International Monetary Fund, who put the problem bluntly: China is simply too big to keep exporting its way out of its own internal malaise.” @Lingling_Wei https://t.co/nsBIj0UbEq
China Bans Japanese Firms, Escalating Trade War over Taiwan Comment
China Hits Japanese Firms With Export Bans—Move marks another escalation in economic campaign against Japan over prime minister’s Taiwan comment @wsj_douglasj https://t.co/KP8DkI7RD5 https://t.co/KP8DkI7RD5
US Needs Domestic EV Demand to Counter China’s Rare‑earth Dominance
.@dunne_insights: “China controls roughly 70 percent of rare earth mining and over 90 percent of processing capacity. Without a thriving domestic EV industry creating sustained demand, America lacks the economic incentive to build the…supply chains.” https://t.co/hU5loovdzh
China’s Growth Needs Domestic Consumption, Not Exports
China’s economy has held up remarkably well against shocks like U.S. tariffs but continued resilience will need consumption to drive growth, rather than external demand, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund. @Tracyyyqu https://t.co/7pUUCZaEr2
