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 Trade Surplus Tops $1 Trillion, Underscoring Its Export Dominance — Milestone boosts Chinese economy even as it fuels global trade tensions.
- Trump’s National-Security Strategy Softens Language on China — White House document maintains some tough talk on Taiwan but drops references to Beijing as America’s main challenger.
- China’s Growth Is Coming at the Rest of the World’s Expense — In the past five years, China’s export volumes have soared while imports have flatlined.
The Financial Times
- Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China — Tokyo asks U.S. to be more vocal in its support after Beijing reacted furiously to prime minister’s comments about Taiwan.
- U.S. tariffs prompt surge in Chinese exports to south-east Asia — Washington’s greater protectionism spurs closer ties between Beijing and the region.
- Chinese phonemakers seize on Apple’s AI struggles — Chinese phonemakers are promoting apps that help users switch from the iPhone as Apple struggles to roll out artificial intelligence features.
The New York Times
- China’s Weak Currency Is Powering Its Exports and Drawing Criticism — China’s renminbi is lagging the currencies of key trading partners, making Chinese goods and services cheap and helping to drive exports.
- Japan Says China Aimed Military Radar at Its Fighter Jets — Beijing disputed the accusation, the latest flare-up in a festering dispute between the two countries.
- China’s Trade Surplus Climbs Past $1 Trillion for First Time — President Trump’s tariffs weren’t enough to hold back the global export flood by China, which pushed past last year’s record in just 11 months.
Caixin
- Vanke Seeks Onshore Bond Extensions Amid Liquidity Crunch — China Vanke Co. Ltd. is unlikely to repay three domestic bonds on time by the first quarter of 2026, signaling mounting financial strain on the embattled property developer.
- China Shadow-Banking Platform Freezes $2.8 Billion, Leaving Thousands Locked Out — Nearly 10,000 investors are unable to access their holdings prompting investors to gather and seek a repayment plan.
South China Morning Post
- China’s Politburo pledges action to tackle trade ‘struggles’ in 2026 — Analysts said the decision-making body’s phrasing on the international trade environment suggests a cautious stance next year despite U.S. truce.
Nikkei Asia
- China’s humanoid robot makers ramp up production despite tech hurdles — Charge led by Agibot, Galbot, Ubtech and Dobot, with all-purpose models to lag.
- ByteDance AI phone sparks security fears from Tencent and Alibaba — Experts say bigger concern is TikTok parent trying to rewrite Big Tech market rules.
Bloomberg
- U.S. Trade Chief Says China Has Complied With Terms of Trade Deals — Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the U.S. is constantly monitoring commitments made by China in a bid to maintain a stable trade relationship.
- China Politburo Makes Boosting Domestic Demand Top Goal in 2026 — Authorities vowed to grow “new productive forces” and strengthen “cross-cyclical” policy adjustments.
Reuters
- China’s exports top expectations on strong sales to non-U.S. markets — Imports underperform, pointing to still-subdued domestic demand.
- China’s car sales extend decline in November in biggest drop in 10 months — China’s annual car sales dropped 8.5% in November in a second straight monthly decline.
- China vows to defend sovereignty over Taiwan as Trump unveils security strategy — The document came as Beijing last week deployed a large number of naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters in its largest show of maritime force to date.
Other Publications
- The Guardian: Japan PM vows ‘resolute’ response after Chinese aircraft accused of locking radar on to Japanese fighter jets — China’s ambassador summoned over alleged weekend incident that saw Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft twice train their radar on Japanese F-15s.
