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China economy

China economy
Breaking news and analysis on China’s economy, including its opening up, the US-China trade war, the impact of tariffs and trade talks, growth rates and other key economic data, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Greater Bay Area plan.
China controls most of the world’s rare earth mining and nearly 90 per cent of all processing and refining capacity. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Could the US unlock China’s rare earths grip with AI and quantum computing?

Technologies for synthesising substitutes or alloys could cut time required to secure critical materials to just a few years.

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Banking & finance

China puts another big bank under stricter watch – why now?

Mainland China

Fading US dollar trust threatens world economy, ex-IMF official Zhu Min warns

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Lunar New Year

Video | Chinese tourists have a new favourite country this Lunar New Year

Arrivals by Chinese tourists to South Korea are expected to rise by 52% in February 2026.

South Korea now tops the list of Lunar New Year destinations for Chinese travellers amid heightened tensions between China and the former top destination, Japan.
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China consumption

China’s Spring Festival box office faces plot twist after 2025 smashed records

Home-grown films lead the charge but fail to meet the phenomenal success of last year’s Ne Zha 2, which attracted record-breaking crowds.

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China property

Green shoots for China property? Maybe – but the turnaround’s still shaky

Home-price declines eased in January and policy support is building, but analysts warn oversupply continues to cloud the outlook.

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China consumption

China’s gold rush: why families are doubling down on precious metals

Gold is becoming more popular in China ahead of the Lunar New Year, with households viewing the asset as a safety net amid an uncertain economy.

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Decorative items made of gold are displayed at a jewellery store in Beijing on January 28. Photo: EPA-EFE
China travel

Japan out, Australia in? China’s tourists heading down under for Lunar New Year

Bookings projected to surge on new flights, flexible itineraries and ease of payment.

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Pop Mart

Pop Mart balances boom and bust: can Labubu’s leap match Molly’s momentum?

As Labubu’s meteoric rise cools, Molly’s longevity highlights the challenge Pop Mart faces in turning hype into stable intellectual property.

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China's economic recovery

As Chinese provinces slash revenue outlook, analysts warn of debt control

Local governments seen curbing infrastructure spending as Beijing’s fiscal discipline pushes regions to prioritise social services and tech over large projects.

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An unfinished construction project is seen in China’s Anhui province. A number of local-level governments that lent to certain real estate and infrastructure projects have had trouble getting paid back amid a property slowdown. Photo: Getty Images
Meituan

Meituan warns of US$3.5 billion loss amid intense food delivery price war

Food delivery giant expects losses to continue into at least the first quarter of 2026 ‘due to ongoing competition’.

A Meituan drone for food delivery takes off from a drone delivery camp near Shenzhen Bay Park. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images
China energy security

Chinese power line projects seek private capital in sign of infrastructure shift

Beijing is encouraging more private investment in a range of critical infrastructure projects, from railways to nuclear power plants.

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China’s crackdowns

China charges former AstraZeneca executive – a sign of the times?

Foreign drug makers face pressure in the Chinese market, from tighter regulatory oversight to growing local competition.

China’s crackdowns

Gold rush backlash: why China is clamping down on ‘get rich’ promises

Regulators intervene to contain fallout after volatility in global prices sparks market turmoil at home.

Decorative items made of gold are displayed at a jewellery store in Beijing on January 28. Photo: EPA-EFE
China consumption

China overhauls CPI basket, with never-before-seen unveiling of its composition

Beijing’s five-year recalibration aims to better reflect consumption, as policymakers shift weight away from food and housing.

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For China’s consumer price index (CPI) basket, Beijing has increased the weight of transport and communications to 14.3 per cent in its latest five-year adjustment. Photo: Getty Images
China property

No floor yet: China home prices keep falling despite policy support

Monthly declines narrowed in January, yet worsening year-on-year prices suggest housing pressures persist.

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China's population

Glimmer of hope? Why China’s marriage uptick could spark 2026 birth rebound

Double-digit jump in registration rate, boosted by policy and cultural tradition, offers modest upturn, but demographers are wary of weak fertility intentions.

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China Conference: Southeast Asia

Editorial | As China and Indonesia strengthen ties, Hong Kong has a role to play

The SCMP’s China Conference: Southeast Asia highlighted the synergies between the world’s second-largest and Asean’s biggest economies.

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, speaks at SCMP’s China Conference: Southeast Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 10. Photo: SCMP
US-China relations

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

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European Union

China cuts EU dairy tariffs, easing trade tensions after EV dispute

EU called Beijing’s tariffs ‘unwarranted’, and mulls WTO action, but China cutting some duties signals possible improvement in ties.

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China energy security

China to dismantle local power protectionism in push to electrify national grid

State Council directive eyes unified power market, curbing provincial fragmentation to boost green energy expansion and optimise resource flow.

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Workers are seen at a power substation in China’s Hebei province. Photo: Xinhua
US-China trade war

Chinese premier tours rare earths production hub amid rising US tech rivalry

Premier Li Qiang called for China to consolidate its lead in industries like rare earths, where Beijing has a strategic edge over Washington.

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Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s efforts to control EV price war sees carmakers paying vendors quicker

Only a handful of the nearly 50 mainland China-based EV builders have been able to turn a profit amid the price wars.

China-EU relations

Nexperia faces 6-month inquiry as CEO Zhang’s suspension upheld by Dutch court

Investigation into firm’s governance could last six months, with one analyst warning of damage to bilateral ties.

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US-China trade war

China vies with US in Latin America

China is investing billions of dollars in Latin America, seeking access to raw materials and huge markets in an area traditionally seen in the US as “America’s backyard”.

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Yuan

‘The Trump factor’ could be luring more foreign investors to China. Here’s why

Global volatility is forcing a rethink of traditional safe havens, creating opportunities for Beijing, prominent investor says.

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US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on February 2, 2026. Photo: EPA-EFE
China stock market

Index compiler MSCI tilts towards Chinese tech stocks in latest revamp

A net 21 stocks were added to the MSCI China Index, including SenseTime, Pony.ai and Hesai Technology.

Infrastructure

How AI, delivery drones helped China cut logistics costs to a new low

Beijing brings per unit costs to lowest level on record – though outlays still remain well above levels in most developed economies.

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