Xi Jinping Wants China to Read More—As Long as It’s the Right Books
Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched a nationwide campaign urging citizens, especially young people, to read more, but only books that align with party ideology. The initiative, announced alongside a high‑profile visit to the BinHai library in Tianjin, calls for reduced smartphone use and a focus on classic Chinese and Marxist literature. Government directives will cascade to schools, libraries, and publishing houses, shaping reading lists and content approvals. The campaign reflects a broader effort to reinforce cultural control while countering digital distraction.
Why China’s Exports Will Keep on Rising
China’s export momentum is accelerating, with semiconductor shipments leading the surge. In the first quarter of 2026, Chinese firms shipped transistors—particularly IGBTs—up 26% in dollar terms versus the same period a year earlier. The growth spans diverse markets, from motorbike...
The World Wants Chinese Tech. China Is Determined to Keep It
Global companies are increasingly alarmed that China is tightening control over its most advanced technologies, shifting the narrative from fears of technology transfer to concerns about technology denial. A former Chinese trade official acknowledged the paradox, noting that while China...
How Chinese Satellites Have Boosted Iran’s War Effort
Since the launch of Iran’s Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, U.S. satellite coverage over the conflict zone has been intermittently denied, creating an intelligence gap. Beijing stepped in by providing Chinese satellite imagery, allowing Tehran to monitor battlefields and coordinate...
Training for Beijing’s Humanoid Half-Marathon Is Gruelling
On April 19, Beijing’s Yizhuang industrial‑technology park will host a half‑marathon featuring more than 300 humanoid robots running alongside thousands of human participants. The event marks a dramatic rise from last year’s inaugural race, which saw only 21 robots enter...
Why China’s Government Worries About AI
China’s leadership is growing uneasy about artificial‑intelligence’s ripple effects on employment, national security, and its rivalry with the United States. The article spotlights Tencent’s new AI assistant OpenClaw, which has drawn long queues of pensioners and students in Shenzhen, illustrating...
AI-Generated Micro-Dramas Are Shaking up Entertainment in China
AI‑generated micro‑dramas are reshaping China’s entertainment scene by delivering two‑minute, animated episodes that blend traditional TV storytelling with scrollable social‑media formats. The series “Orange Cat Taoist Priest: Fighting the Zombie King” has already drawn half a million views, illustrating rapid...
The Iran War Hurts China Less than Its Rivals but More than It Admits
The article argues that the war in Iran harms China’s economy, but not as severely as its regional rivals, while China publicly understates the impact. It notes that Chinese officials continue to portray Beijing as a stabilizing force despite disruptions...
China’s Government Both Drives and Constrains the Rise of AI
Artificial intelligence is now ubiquitous across Chinese consumer and financial apps, from AI‑powered chatbots in banking to facial‑recognition‑driven product personalization. The Chinese government is simultaneously accelerating this diffusion through massive state‑backed funding, national AI strategies, and university programmes, while imposing...
Public Opinion in China Is Hardening on America and Taiwan
A new poll reveals Chinese public opinion is hardening toward the United States and Taiwan, with growing anti‑American sentiment and declining support for Taiwan’s independence. The survey, covering over a thousand respondents in major cities, shows a 12% drop in...
Is Cheap Energy the Key to China Gaining AI Supremacy?
China's AI sector is leveraging abundant cheap electricity to accelerate development across the AI stack. Companies like ByteDance, DeepSeek, and Huawei are rolling out new video‑generation tools, large‑language models, and AI chips, respectively. The low‑cost power reduces training expenses, giving...
A Maoist Survival Guide to the Iranian Energy Crisis
China is reinforcing energy self‑sufficiency as the Iran‑Ukraine war disrupts oil supplies. Xi Jinping’s 2021 oilfield visit underscored a Maoist‑style “rice bowl” doctrine, urging domestic production and strategic reserves. Beijing has accelerated renewable investments, expanded state‑owned oil drilling, and built...
Why the IMF’s Newest Report Finds that the Yuan Is Undervalued
The International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook finds the Chinese yuan about 16 % below its equilibrium level. The IMF’s valuation combines a trade‑weighted basket of currencies with purchasing‑power‑parity calculations, reflecting China’s sizable trade surplus and capital‑control regime. It warns...