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.
Paid subscribers automatically have this list emailed directly to their inboxes every day by 10 a.m. EST. Subscribe here.
The Wall Street Journal
- Before They Can Rule the World, Chinese Robots Need to Master Basic Chores — Competition to test humanoid robots’ sporting and real-world skills features stop-start hotel bellhops and a maid that missed the trash bin.
- How Crocs Conquered China — Fans flock to U.S. brand after it discovers the secrets of Chinese tastes.
- China Stock Rally Sends Shanghai Benchmark to Decade High — Chinese shares hit multiyear highs on stimulus hopes and easing trade tensions.
- Opinion: Trump Takes a Wrong Turn on Nvidia’s Chips — To win our broader rivalry with China, we must treat advanced chips as sensitive assets, not ordinary trade goods. By John Moolenaar.
The Financial Times
- China’s corporate bonds win record share of top credit ratings — Beijing seeks to minimise domestic defaults but fears over credit quality persist.
- China steps up tax crackdown on overseas investments — Wealthy individuals are rethinking trading strategy as Beijing tries to fill its coffers to counter economic pressure.
- From basketball to history, Chinese podcasts boom in censors’ shadow — There has been a surge in grassroots broadcasts of personal stories and discussion of societal issues.
- Opinion: What can really cure deflation in China? — Cutting excess capacity is not enough — Beijing must rebalance towards consumption. By Chetan Ahya.
- Opinion: China’s entrepreneurial spirit is under immense strain — The private sector needs enforceable protections, predictable regulation, and personal bankruptcy laws. By Lizzi Lee.
The New York Times
- At China’s Humanoid Robot Games, Athletes Fell Down a Lot — The Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing — featuring running, kickboxing and soccer — highlighted advancements in robotics. Limitations, too.
- Trump Is Pushing India Back Toward China — Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been moving to align India with the United States and freeze out China. Now, efforts to rebuild ties between the Asian giants are gaining momentum.
- Opinion: China’s Biotech Is Cheaper and Faster Than America’s — China’s biotechnology sector has established a bright future by focusing not on breakthrough cures and treatments but on speed and efficiency. By Jacob Dreyer.
Caixin
- China’s Top Court Reaffirms Worker Rights in Social Insurance Disputes — Judges declare invalid agreements that let companies skip employee payments for benefits.
- XPeng’s EV Tech to Power Volkswagen’s Gas and Hybrid Lineup in China — Tie-up is another example of global auto giants leaning on Chinese startups to stay competitive.
- JD.com Goes Supermarket Shopping in Hong Kong with Kai Bo Deal — Acquisition gives JD.com a foothold in the Greater Bay Area’s fresh food supply chain.
South China Morning Post
- The big shift in ethnic affairs exposed by China’s corruption crackdown — Several former regional chairmen and women have come under investigation this year, pointing to a major change in elite politics.
- Will retirees be job market winners as China targets social insurance dodgers? — As a flood of graduates looks for work, employing retirees offers Chinese businesses a way to avoid social insurance costs.
- Hard to switch: why U.S. farmers are embracing Chinese drones despite concerns — U.S. farmers are increasingly relying on drones and other systems made by Chinese companies, despite Washington’s security fears.
Nikkei Asia
- Temu seals delivery deal with Austrian Post in strategy to ‘go local’ — Chinese e-tailers find ways to meet standards and blend in after EU regulatory scrutiny.
- U.S.-China trade truce fuels bets on mainland’s high-tech supply chain — Nvidia, Google suppliers lead fresh AI rally as tariff worries among investors ease.
- After Trump quotes Xi on Taiwan, China calls for ‘peaceful reunification’ — U.S. president said Chinese counterpart vowed no invasion while he is in White House.
Bloomberg
- China’s $11 Trillion Stock Market Is a Headache for Both Xi and Trump — The poor long-term performance of the nation’s equities has hampered consumer spending.
- China’s Top Rival to Tesla Bot Headlines Robot Games in Beijing — Unitree machines raced and boxed in latest showcase of Chinese robotics.
- China’s Cement Slump Signals End of 21st-Century Building Boom — Few commodities tell the story of China’s 21st-century economy better than humble cement, which posted its weakest July for any year since 2009.
- China’s Tech Prowess Attracts Indian Tycoons as Ties Improve — Covert agreements could soon make way for overt dealmaking, as India and China find their interests aligning amid Trump’s tariff-induced trade uncertainty.
- Intel CEO’s ‘Amazing Story’ Has Helped Make Him a Billionaire — The 65-year-old technology and venture capital industry veteran has amassed a fortune worth at least $1.1 billion.
Reuters
- Exclusive: Second senior Chinese diplomat detained for questioning, sources say — Sun Haiyan, a senior diplomat and former ambassador to Singapore, was detained in early August around the time Liu Jianchao, widely seen as a potential foreign minister candidate, was taken in for questioning, sources said.
- Fewer fake firs, higher prices: China tariff delay does little to save the holidays — The reduced demand for fake trees from China, a key Christmas purchase, signals a muted shopping season.
Other Publications
- The Information: Tech Needs AI Talent From China and Other Countries. But Researchers Are Caught In a Bind — America’s standoff with China and anti-immigrant sentiment has unnerved some of tech’s most valuable minds.
- The Washington Post: In China’s tough economy, secondhand luxury is very much in fashion — As China’s economy slumps, huge warehouse stores full of used luxury bags and shoes are enabling 20-somethings to keep up appearances without breaking the bank.
- The Atlantic: While China Builds, America Litigates — As the Chinese economy surges forward, the U.S. has lost its capacity for physical improvement.
- Foreign Affairs: Why Xi Still Doesn’t Have the Military He Wants — China’s force has been remade — but can it be trusted?
