A look at ZPMC: how it came to dominate ports around the world; its role in Chinese foreign policy; and the consequences of its links to the Chinese state.
On March 29, 2013, in the middle of a large loading dock at the port of Miami, former U.S. President Barack Obama was set to deliver a key speech on promoting U.S. infrastructure development. But minutes before his speech started, a big gust of wind blew off an American flag that had been strapped to one of the container cranes.
An event staffer quickly tried to fix it, but gave up and took the flag away. Now, observers could see the label behind it: “ZPMC” and the Chinese characters “
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from David Barboza, Pulitzer Prize-winning former Shanghai correspondent for The New York Times.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
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The new U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made EVs are both unprecedented and largely performative since Chinese EVs haven't yet penetrated the U.S. market. The European Union, by contrast, is facing a more critical and nuanced challenge from the influx of Chinese-made EVS and is currently debating what to do about it. Can the E.U. save its auto industry and still keep its green transition going?
A podcast about how the two nations, once friends, are now foes.
Hear why things are so complicated now. Host Jane Perlez, former New York Times Beijing bureau chief, talks with diplomats, spies, cultural superstars like Yo Yo Ma, and more to understand why the dangers are so high, and why relations went awry.