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
- Diageo Lowers Guidance on Weakness in U.S. and China — Organic net sales growth for the 2026 fiscal year is seen flat to slightly down, while organic operating profit growth is expected in the low to mid-single digit range.
- France to Suspend Shein Sales After Finding Childlike Sex Dolls, Weapons — The order came as the Chinese-founded platform opened its first permanent store, which is in Paris.
The Financial Times
- China borrows as cheaply as US in dollar bond market — Beijing raises $4bn as debt costs relative to Treasuries fall to historically low levels.
- Singapore bank sets aside record $470mn provision for Hong Kong property loans — United Overseas Bank’s move follows HSBC warning of ‘challenging’ conditions for city’s real estate.
- Diageo cuts sales and profit forecast on lower US and China demand — Guinness maker’s struggles come as company continues search for new chief executive.
- Rival robotaxi start-ups’ shares tank after Hong Kong listing — Uber-backed groups Pony.ai and WeRide fall as much as 15% as analysts raise concerns about profitability.
- US adds ‘poison pills’ to Asia trade pacts to counter China — Conditions inserted by Washington into tariff deals with Cambodia and Malaysia seen as ‘loyalty test’.
- China’s flying taxi leader aims to launch airport services within 3 years — EHang says its uncrewed electric aircraft could carry passengers into major Chinese cities for as little as $30.
- Nvidia’s Huang says China ‘will win’ AI race with US — CEO criticises western ‘cynicism’ while Beijing loosens regulations and cuts energy costs for data centres.
- Opinion: The US can’t force Asian countries into its trade camp — Trump’s deals with Malaysia and Cambodia will not turn them into economic satellites in a cold war of commerce. By Alan Beattie.
The New York Times
- In China, Victims of Abuse Are Told to ‘Keep It in the Family’ — Cases of domestic violence in China point to a legal system that looks good on paper but is failing victims because of a lack of resources and political will.
Caixin
- To Counter Quantum Threat, Hong Kong Plans Overhaul of Financial Encryption — The city’s de facto central bank will work with industry to create a transition plan to new encryption standards, safeguarding data as it pushes for wider asset tokenization.
- U.S. Buyers Return as Canton Fair Hits Record Attendance — China’s flagship trade show drew over 310,000 overseas visitors, with American participation up 14%, signaling a rebound in demand despite ongoing tariffs.
- In Saudi Arabia’s Trillion-Dollar Building Boom, Chinese Contractors Are in Demand — Chinese firms are ‘very much sought after’ for their experience as the kingdom rushes to diversify its economy away from oil, says an executive at state-backed Diriyah Company.
South China Morning Post
- US-China trade tensions may have eased, but Southeast Asia still under pressure: analysts — Strategically vital region described as remaining on front lines of great-power competition with no easy path forward.
- China records 8.5% uptick in marriages as new policies kick in — Incentives for Chinese couples to wed appear to be bearing fruit, a piece of positive news as the country’s population shrinks and ages.
- PLA urged to ‘live a tight life’ as top officials elaborate on China’s 5-year plan — Senior Chinese general calls for cutting training, management and equipment support costs while improving procurement.
Nikkei Asia
- Xi Jinping eschews ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy amid economic woes — Face-off with Trump in South Korea ends in a draw at best, not a Xi victory.
- Rising Chinese brands to fuel exports past $4tn in 2026 — Shift in perception helps drive global expansion despite tariff woes.
- South Korea draws closer to Japan as protests mount against China and US — Pragmatism in Tokyo and Seoul could lead to diplomatic progress.
Bloomberg
- EU Warns It Lacks Near-Term Power to Sway China on Rare Earths — Senior EU officials have told member states that efforts to diversify away from China are difficult and the bloc’s economic security plans have so far fallen short.
- Nexperia Says Payment Dispute Led to Supply Break With China — Nexperia suspended supplies to its China factory because the local unit refused to make payments, laying bare the internal discord at the heart of a global chip crisis.
- Opinion: China’s Railway Diplomacy Is Losing Steam in Asia — China’s plan to connect Asia with high-speed rail is running into trouble due to delays and debts, giving rival Japan an opening to expand its influence. By Karishma Vaswani.
Reuters
- Trump to meet Central Asian presidents as US seeks to counter China, Russia influence — The U.S. is pursuing new partnerships to secure critical minerals, energy supplies, and overland trade routes that circumvent its geopolitical rivals.
- Trump pressed China’s Xi to release jailed Hong Kong media tycoon, sources say — Trump’s intervention comes as Lai awaits a verdict after a trial seen as a symbol of China’s crackdown on rights and freedoms in Hong Kong under the national security law.
- China pushes equity fund launches to support stock market — The “window guidance”, or unofficial, verbal advice from regulators, was given by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to some of the country’s biggest mutual fund managers in recent weeks.
Other Publications
- Foreign Affairs: How War in Taiwan Ends — If Deterrence Fails, Could America Thwart China?
- The Washington Post: Why Trump’s cuts to scientific research are a big win for China — China is attracting American scientific talent, especially in STEM fields, partly due to funding cuts and immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump.
- AP: Norway transport firm steps up controls after tests show Chinese-made buses can be halted remotely — According to Yutong’s website, the company has sold tens of thousands of vehicles across Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
- The Economist: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics — The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising.
- Brookings: What happened when Trump met Xi? — Brookings experts weigh in.
- Rest of World: How TikTok cozied up to wealthy investors in Saudi Arabia and the UAE — The company’s courtship of the Gulf nations ahead of a deal on its U.S. operations.
- The Guardian: China-critical UK academics describe ‘extremely heavy’ pressure from Beijing — Reliance on overseas students’ tuition fees under scrutiny as scholars describe chilling effect of being targeted.
