This Month
China’s consumer price growth weakens ahead of key summit
Factory deflation eases but Beijing’s reliance on exports and industrial output is stoking trade tensions.
- Ryan McMorrow
June
China charges defence ministers in military anti-graft purge
The two generals were accused of taking huge bribes and of corruption that reached into the armaments sector, as China hinted that more heads could roll.
- Chris Buckley
Australia criticises China for sea skirmish in sign tensions remain
Improved communications between the Australian and Chinese militaries will not reduce the likelihood of potentially dangerous confrontations, experts warn.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- China’s Great Slowdown
Why won’t Xi Jinping fix China’s dreadful economy?
Explanations for Beijing’s refusal to work on deep-seated problems include denial, ignorance and ideology.
- Scott Kennedy
May
China’s curse is to raise hopes and dash them
In her book “Wild Ride”, an American journalist details her life in China as it opened to the world, then regressed back to an oppressive, inward-looking regime.
- Anne Stevenson-Yang
‘We don’t know the truth’, says senior CIA officer
Beth Sanner was Donald Trump’s daily intelligence briefer for two years. Few people know the boundaries between secrecy and democracy so well.
- Kevin Chinnery
April
Tesla clears key regulatory hurdles for self-driving in China
CEO Elon Musk’s surprise visit to the US vehicle maker’s second-largest market appears to have paid off.
- Daniel Leussink and Liam Mo
Why China’s spies are being caught all over Europe
A flurry of arrests this week reflect the continent’s newly toughened response to Beijing’s espionage activities and political meddling.
- Andrew Higgins and Christopher F. Schuetze
- Opinion
- Trade wars
Biden’s trade action against China is just polite Trumpism
Improved relations between the two powers can’t mask age-old trade tensions. Better communication is important because the structural problem between them is insoluble.
- Edward Luce
- Exclusive
- Social media
TikTok referred to anti-money laundering authorities
The app’s gifting function, usually used to reward engaging streamers, had directed cash to terror-linked accounts.
- Nick Bonyhady
March
- Opinion
- Social media
It’s time to stop the smartphone experiment on our children
China has been way ahead of the west in seeing the dangers of raising a generation of zombies.
- Camilla Cavendish
- Exclusive
- Cyber warfare
Leaked documents reveal Australia targeted by Chinese hackers
The revelations come as the UK sanctions a Chinese state-affiliated group that hacked into its Electoral Commission systems.
- Max Mason and Andrew Tillett
US passes long-delayed deal to fund crucial Pacific Island agreements
Although the three island nations involved are tiny, they span 4000 km across the Pacific, providing critical access for the US to operate in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Demetri Sevastopulo and Kathrin Hille
China drops ‘peaceful reunification’ reference to Taiwan
China officially adopted tougher language against Taiwan as it released the budget figures as it stepped up defence spending.
- Yew Lun Tian and Laurie Chen
- Opinion
- Global economy
What Beijing does next could hasten a global recession
China has encouraged what it terms the “new three” growth areas of electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy. But this strategy poses two huge risks for global markets.
- Karen Maley
February
McKinsey ‘advised Chinese agencies’ in row over Beijing work
The consultancy giant, facing calls to be barred from winning US contracts, said claims it had advised the central Chinese government were “inaccurate”.
- Stephen Foley, Ryan McMorrow and Demetri Sevastopulo
Call to ban McKinsey from US government contracts for China work
Top Republicans have called for McKinsey to be banned from securing US federal contracts after a think tank led by the firm gave policy recommendations to Beijing.
- Demetri Sevastopulo and Stephen Foley
Messi apologises again after China’s wrath over no show
The Inter Miami star said his decision to sit on the sidelines rather than play in a match in Hong Kong this month was not political.
- Richard Frost
‘Social stability’: Chinese firms form Mao Zedong-era militias
The People’s Liberation Army mobilisation units reflect Xi Jinping’s focus on security as the economy slows.
- Edward White
January
US urges China to help curb Red Sea attacks by Iran-backed Houthis
The diplomatic push on Beijing comes as the US and allies continue to bomb Houthi positions in Yemen in response to at least 33 attacks on commercial vessels.
- Demetri Sevastopulo, Felicia Schwartz and Wenjie Ding