China

In Shanghai’s dimly lit pubs and Beijing’s buzzing bars, a new intellectual movement is brewing. Dubbed “academic pubs,” these informal gatherings are drawing China’s urban youth eager for open discussions on topics ranging from state-building to feminism and ancient Chinese art in a country where censorship has tightened the public sphere. At one such event […]

The world’s two most-populous nations, China and India, started opening to the global economy around the same time in the early 1990s. Both achieved rapid economic growth and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, yet today, China’s per capita income, adjusted for purchasing power, is more than double India’s. What factors explain this divergence? […]

Major Chinese-owned solar factories in Vietnam are scaling back operations and laying off workers. This shift comes in response to the expansion of U.S. trade tariffs targeting Vietnam and three other Southeast Asian nations. According to a Reuters report, as these factories cut production, new Chinese-owned solar plants are rapidly emerging in neighboring Indonesia and […]

Chinese armed forces launched a new round of war games, completely surrounding Taiwan island,  on Monday (October 14). The military exercise was intended to “send a stern warning to Taiwan independence separatists”, said China’s Global Times, quoting a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) spokesman. PLA ground forces, as well as naval, air force and rocket force […]

Former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani says the United States has made a big mistake by launching a contest with China without a long-term, comprehensive strategy. Instead of obsessing over how to stop China from becoming the world’s leading power, Washington should consider how to adjust to such a scenario, he says in an interview with […]

Chinese authorities are reportedly requiring a growing number of teachers and public sector employees to hand in their passports and giving local officials the power to decide who can travel abroad. The move coincides with President Xi Jinping’s bid to increase state control, combat official corruption and bolster national security, reports the Financial Times. Facing […]

In a bid to revitalize its flagging property sector, China announced a series of measures on Monday (September 30) aimed at easing home-buying restrictions in three of its largest cities, reports Japan Today. The move comes as Beijing’s central bank signalled its intention to request financial institutions to lower mortgage rates, part of a broader […]

China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year in a potential setback for Beijing’s military ambitions, a senior U.S. defence official revealed on Thursday (September 26). This incident raises concerns about the safety and quality of China’s rapidly expanding naval force. China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, […]

The term “three-generations-in-tobacco” has become synonymous in China with a privileged elite who monopolize coveted jobs, such as within the state-owned tobacco monopoly, passing them down through their families. According to The Economist, this phenomenon has sparked widespread anger and accusations of a closed circle of power that stifles opportunities for social advancement. The optimism […]

In a significant move to bolster its struggling economy, China’s central bank has unveiled a sweeping set of policy measures aimed at achieving the country’s annual growth target of about 5 per cent. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) governor Pan Gongsheng announced a series of cuts, including lowering the amount of money banks must […]

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that the challenges China poses to the US surpass those of the Cold War. He highlighted China’s support for Russia’s defence industry as a key concern, stating that it comes directly from China’s top leadership. “Frankly, the Cold War pales in comparison to the multifaceted challenges that […]

Malaysia’s king, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, is planning to seek Chinese investment for a high-speed rail project linking Malaysia and Singapore, reports Bloomberg. He is currently on a four-day state visit to China, invited by President Xi Jinping. The project has been revived by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, with the condition that it won’t be […]

China’s security chief Chen Wenqing has called for a “resolute crackdown” on separatists in Tibetan areas, reports the South China Morning Post. He issued this call during a recent visit to the region amidst heightened security measures there ahead of China’s National Day on October 1. Maintaining stability and countering independence movements are the top […]

Millions of ambitious Chinese professionals have had their lives upended by President Xi Jinping’s decision to reshape the world’s second-largest economy, reports Bloomberg. Industries such as finance, consumer tech and property — key drivers of China’s growth for much of this century — are now out of favour. Instead, the most powerful Communist Party leader […]

In an escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, Beijing has issued a stern demand for Malaysia to immediately halt all activities in the oil-rich waters off Sarawak. This bold move comes despite the softer diplomatic overtures from Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has been attempting to placate China amidst overlapping territorial claims. […]