Good Morning. Welcome to The Wire’s daily news roundup. Each day, our staff gathers the top China business, finance, and economics headlines from a selection of the world’s leading news organizations.
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The Wall Street Journal
- China’s Sales of EVs, Hybrids Surpass Conventional Cars in July — Sales of electric vehicles and hybrids in China surpassed that of internal-combustion-engine cars for the first time ever in July, despite weak overall demand.
- She Lost a Fight to Freeze Her Eggs in China—Because She’s Not Married — Despite rising concerns about plunging births, a court in Beijing turned down Teresa Xu’s request in a landmark ruling.
- Why First Responders Don’t Want the U.S. to Ban Chinese Drones — Users of drones by DJI press their cases as Congress weighs legislation targeting a company it labels a national-security risk.
The Financial Times
- Chile’s only steel mill shuts amid surge in Chinese imports — The South American country had slapped tariffs on its largest trading partner in order to save the plant run by CAP.
- Opinion: Serbia’s strongman ruler leans west with a lithium deal — Russia is displeased with the latest sign that President Aleksandar Vučić is integrating his economy with Europe and the US. By Misha Glenny.
The New York Times
- U.S. ‘Dissatisfied’ With China’s Disclosures About Stabbings — The U.S. ambassador has criticized the handling of an attack on four instructors from an American college, but China’s foreign ministry called it an “isolated incident.”
- Chinese Woman Loses Legal Challenge for Right to Freeze Her Eggs — Despite a declining birthrate that has alarmed the nation’s leaders, regulations in China prevent unmarried women from freezing their eggs.
- How China’s Quest for Olympic Gold Has Evolved — A young skater’s emergence signals a pivot in the way an Olympic power defines success. But its handling of the table tennis competition suggests old expectations may persist, too.
- As Biden’s Presidency Wanes, U.S. and Asian Nations Do a Delicate Dance — On an epic trip, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken tried to reassure Asian leaders about American commitments. But China remains the enduring backyard behemoth.
- What Works in Taiwan Doesn’t Always in Arizona, a Chipmaking Giant Learns — TSMC modeled its facility in Phoenix on one at home. But bringing the company’s complex manufacturing process to America has been a bigger challenge than it expected.
Caixin
- Guangzhou District Uses Quasi-Hukou to Lure New Homebuyers — Huadu tries to boost property market by letting children of non-local homebuyers access public schools.
- China Announces Action Plan to Speed Up Power System Reform — The central government has said that it will launch campaigns to accelerate building a new type of power system that can better absorb, allocate and regulate clean energy.
- New Rules Set to Give State-Owned Carmakers an EV Boost — Some have fallen behind in EVs, but changes to encourage their development risk squeezing out private firms.
South China Morning Post
- China mutes law professor on social media after cybersecurity ID plan criticism — Before the switch-off, Lao Dongyan compared online attacks of her views to the Cultural Revolution’s big character posters.
- Shenzhen launches ‘one-stop shop’ to help foreign talent work at Hetao cooperation zone — The new facility on Hetao zone’s Shenzhen side will help foreigners expedite the process of obtaining their work and residence permits on the mainland.
- UAE business hub eyes Chinese businesses amid ‘very, very strong’ China ties — Expo City Dubai is eyeing Chinese firms to take up residency at the one of the newest business hubs in the UAE amid China’s growing ties with the Middle East.
- How China’s Communist Party is building political schools, and influence, in Africa — Beijing’s ruling party is also said to have stepped up training of officials on the continent in soft power push to promote its development model and ideology.
- Eyeing US Midwest, Chinese state-owned firms seek new business amid tense ties — From agriculture to high-speed trains, stakeholders in a better US-China relationship are being their own “ambassadors” rather than just sitting on the sidelines.
Nikkei Asia
- Trade with Asia ‘lifeline’ for sanction-hit Russia, says Oleg Deripaska — Oligarch says exchange with India and China vital as Ukraine war takes toll.
- For China, Bangladesh crisis spells opportunity and awkward social echoes — Beijing treads cautiously after student-led protests oust India-friendly Hasina.
- Xi Jinping’s draft internet ID law sparks ‘1984’ fears — With recently announced draft regulations calling for national internet IDs, Xi Jinping is seen maneuvering to further control online speech.
- Where will U.S.-China tech decoupling go under Harris or Trump? — Silicon Valley split on different futures for AI, crypto and China investment.
- Amazon develops China seller network to take on Temu, Shein — Chinese upstarts are cutting into U.S. e-commerce giant’s share with cheap goods.
Bloomberg
- China’s ‘Nuclear Tourism’ Opens Atom-Splitting Energy Plants to Public — China is giving people a peek behind the curtain of its atomic energy program, hoping that “nuclear tourism” can help shore up support for a sector key to its clean energy ambitions.
- Jet Fuel Demand Spike in China Rare Bright Spot for Refiners — Jet fuel demand in China is on the mend as flights return to the skies, offering some support to domestic refiners grappling with muted diesel and gasoline consumption that’s weighed on the industry.
- Saudi Aramco Seeks More China Deals in Oil-to-Chemicals Push — Saudi Aramco is looking to invest in more chemical plants in China this year and next, adding to deals it’s already clinched in the country to secure long-term buyers for its crude.
- British Airways Suspends Beijing Service Amid Airspace Curbs — British Airways will suspend flights between London and Beijing starting October 26, the latest airline to pull services to China amid continued Russian airspace closure and weaker demand.
- Opinion: The Olympic Games Are Always Political for China — At a time of economic malaise, citizens are questioning why the government is spending so much in the quest for gold. By Karishma Vaswani.
Reuters
- China auto market hits milestone as EVs, hybrids make up half of July sales — NEV sales accounted for just 7% of total vehicle sales in China three years ago, but its heavy investments in EV supply chains have propelled the growth of domestic EV industry.
- First Russia-China barter trade may come this autumn, sources say — Barter trading would allow Moscow and Beijing to circumvent payment issues, reduce the visibility Western regulators have over their bilateral transactions, and limit currency risk.
- China’s drivers fret as robotaxis pick up pace – and passengers — Ride-hailing and taxi drivers are among the first workers globally to face the threat of job loss from artificial intelligence as thousands of robotaxis hit Chinese streets, economists and industry experts said.
Other Publications
- The Economist: How Chinese shoppers downgraded their ambition — The trend will dismay the country’s policymakers.
- Foreign Policy: China Is Neither Collapsing Nor Booming — On a return to Shanghai, our columnist detects worries about the future—but also a steely determination that the country’s sheer size will see it advance in key areas.
- The Information: Outcompeted by China, Battery Makers Seek More U.S. Largesse — U.S. battery component and metals suppliers—increasingly doubtful about their ability to compete with low-cost Chinese rivals—want greater federal subsidies and tighter restrictions on U.S. support to Chinese companies.
- BBC: Walz has history with China – it’s more hawkish than critics claim — Within hours of Tim Walz being declared winner of the Democratic “veepstakes”, Republican accusations that he is pro-China came thick and fast.
- The Washington Post: Opinion: Walz’s decades of China experience are an asset, not a liability — The vice-presidential candidate has stood up for the Chinese people against Beijing’s abuses. By Josh Rogin.
