6 h. ago China’s viral Labubu toy has an unlikely fan – the ruling Communist Party

As Chinese companies ponder how best to market their products internationally, the example set by Pop Mart – the Beijing-based brand behind the viral Labubu toy – has been praised by the country’s state media for the creativity that underlies its success. The wide-mouthed, bug-eyed toy’s global fan base is evidence of a shift in priorities for China as it transforms from a producer of low-value goods to a hub of innovation, Qiushi, the Communist Party’s top theoretical journal, said in a...

Politics

29 h. ago Debt crunch at NWD stokes downside risk in Hong Kong home prices, S&P says

The liquidity crunch at New World Development (NWD), one of Hong Kong’s biggest developers, is a blemish on the resurgent housing market, threatening to shake confidence among homebuyers and trigger a “downside scenario” in home prices, according to S&P Global Ratings. The developer deferred coupon payments on four series of perpetual bonds after months of speculation about its finances, sending a poor signal to creditors about its default risk. It surprised investors last month by not redeeming...

Economics

52 h. ago Apple’s most sweeping software redesign disappoints mainland Chinese consumers

Mainland Chinese consumers were left unimpressed by Apple’s most sweeping software redesign in its history, according to domestic social media posts on Tuesday, at a time when the US technology giant faces growing headwinds in the world’s largest smartphone market. Apple on Monday previewed a new software interface design, called Liquid Glass, during the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference held at its US headquarters in Cupertino, California. For the very first time, the new design...

Events

56 h. ago Chinese premier urges faster tech applications amid US export controls

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for a push to speed up the application of new advances in science and technology, as the country accelerates efforts to break its dependence on US tech and develop a world-leading industrial base. In a State Council meeting on Monday, Li called the application of new technologies the “last mile” of innovation, as it links innovation and industry and is important in driving new products and services, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The premier’s comments...

Politics

6 d. ago No polled US firms in China shifting production back to US, AmCham survey finds

No polled US firms in China shifting production back to US, AmCham survey finds  South China Morning Post

Politics

7 d. ago China shifts focus to Europe, orders Airbus aircraft amid U.S. tensions

China shifts focus to Europe, orders Airbus aircraft amid U.S. tensions  Chosunbiz

Events

1 week ago Retailers shift supply chains to reduce risks from Trump’s tariffs on China

Retailers shift supply chains to reduce risks from Trump’s tariffs on China  Fox Business

Politics

1 week ago China is gaining ground in the global race to develop AI agents

China is gaining ground in the global race to develop AI agents  Rest of World

Politics

1 week ago More attention coming to China advancements in AI, humanoid tech: Morgan Stanley

China’s advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and humanoid technology will continue to capture the imaginations of investors as the world turns its focus to the region, according to Morgan Stanley’s director of pan-Asia research. “The DeepSeek announcement has shifted the fundamental discussion about China to technological innovation,” said Magdalena Stoklosa in an interview last month. “This theme is multi-year and incredibly important.” Her team identified technological diffusion and...

Politics

1 week ago US visa crackdown echoes Trump’s first term, but China’s reply marks tone shift

Washington’s visa crackdown on Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party closely mirrors restrictions imposed during US President Donald Trump’s first administration, which at the time prompted Beijing to accuse the US of “regime change”. However, this time, Beijing’s response has been notably restrained, with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday denouncing the move as “discriminatory” and lodging diplomatic protests. Despite Beijing’s unease over discussions about party...

Politics

1 week ago Is Asia ditching the dollar? China’s yuan, gold, and bitcoin drive trade shifts

A growing number of Asian economies are cautiously moving away from the US dollar by creating alternative trade agreements and increasing their investments in assets such as gold and digital currencies – a trend that analysts say signals a longer-term shift toward a more multipolar monetary system. A recent study by foreign exchange platform Forex Complex pointed to three primary indicators of de-dollarisation: a reduced share of US dollars in national reserves, a rise in gold’s share, and...

Politics

2 w. ago China has developed the largest drone carrier in the world — and it's getting ready for takeoff

China has developed the largest drone carrier in the world — and it's getting ready for takeoff  Live Science

Events

2 w. ago Ant International: numerical AI is the GPT of financial services

Ant International predicts that its artificial intelligence (AI) model for foreign exchange (FX) could have as large an impact on financial services as OpenAI’s large language model (LLM) GPT has had in the broader business world. The Time-Series Transformer (TST) AI FX Model developed by the Singapore-based fintech company focuses on numerical data prediction rather than content generation. Kelvin Li, general manager of the company’s platform tech business unit, called it “another track to AI”,...

Politics

2 w. ago More than a show: China’s robot fights offer ringside view of tech advancements

They dance, they run, they punch – but they never break a sweat or flinch in pain. China’s humanoid robots are increasingly entering human arenas, participating in real-world sports competitions that expose them to unpredictable, complex environments – and, as analysts note, generate valuable data to advance their development. On Sunday, the world’s first kickboxing contest featuring humanoid robots kicked off in the eastern city of Hangzhou. Four Unitree G1 robots – donning helmets and boxing...

Sport

2 w. ago Tax Bill to End US Reliance on China Solar Will Slow Green Shift

Tax Bill to End US Reliance on China Solar Will Slow Green Shift  Bloomberg.com

Economics

2 w. ago China pivots to Africa as it shifts EV gears in face of EU, US tariffs

China pivots to Africa as it shifts EV gears in face of EU, US tariffs  South China Morning Post

Politics

2 w. ago A plane that travels around the world in 2 hours: China is developing an engine that reaches the extreme speed of 12,427 mph.

A plane that travels around the world in 2 hours: China is developing an engine that reaches the extreme speed of 12,427 mph.  Farmingdale Observer

Politics

2 w. ago China shifts from developing world’s banker to debt collector, says Lowy Institute

China shifts from developing world’s banker to debt collector, says Lowy Institute  whbl.com

Economics

2 w. ago China shifts from developing world’s banker to debt collector, says Lowy Institute By Reuters

China shifts from developing world’s banker to debt collector, says Lowy Institute By Reuters  Investing.com

Economics

3 w. ago Canada's crude oil shift to China schools Trump in unintended consequences

Canada's crude oil shift to China schools Trump in unintended consequences  Reuters

Politics