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
- Can Old Lime Bikes and Hard Disks Counter China’s Rare-Earth Chokehold? — Cyclic Materials, which just raised $75 million from investors, plans to open an Arizona recycling facility to mine expired electronic equipment for valuable commodities.
- China Signals Tolerance for Stronger Yuan — The People’s Bank of China set the strongest reference rate for the currency in almost three years.
- Trump Administration Pushes Out Key Officials Focused on China Tech Threat — The departing staffers worked for a Commerce Department office charged with protecting the U.S. from Chinese technological advances.
- China Sees a Chance to Lure Jaded U.S. Allies — Beijing has seized upon the disarray within the trans-Atlantic alliance and is trying to entice U.S. allies with the promise of reliable trade partnerships.
The Financial Times
- China’s fear of ‘selling young crops’ spurred review of Meta’s Manus deal — Senior leadership ordered assessment of whether purchase risks losing cutting-edge technology.
- Why China’s women are having fewer babies — The economy is weak, divorces are rising and fewer young people are getting married.
- TikTok finalises Trump deal to stay online in U.S. — Video app sets up American unit to handle data and algorithm security.
- Opinion: Trump’s TikTok deal is a gift to China — Washington’s compromise has stabilised one of Beijing’s most important technology companies. By Jim Secreto.
The New York Times
- After TikTok Deal, Chinese Firms Search for a New Global Path — Chinese firms must contend with geopolitical tensions and mistrust to do business in the United States. Some are choosing to avoid the U.S. altogether.
- TikTok Strikes Deal to Create New U.S. Entity and Loosen App’s Ties to China — The Chinese parent company of the popular video app said a group of non-Chinese investors would create an American TikTok to avoid a federal ban.
- Peru’s President May Be Ousted Over Secret Meetings With Chinese Businessmen — Leaked videos have prompted a scandal involving President José Jerí and two Chinese men under investigation.
Caixin
- Regulator Blocks AVIC Finance Stake Transfer Amid Legal Disputes — Rare veto highlights growing financial strain on state-owned AVIC affiliate entangled in lawsuits and liquidity crisis.
- Chinese Startup Manus Swept Up in Global M&A Frenzy for AI — Meta’s year-end acquisition of AI agent specialist shows Chinese firms can ‘dream bigger’ of being bought by Silicon Valley giants at higher valuations.
- China’s Car Sales Hit the Brakes Amid Tax Hikes and Waning Stimulus — Passenger vehicle sales plummet 28% in early 2026 as NEV subsidies fade and consumer demand weakens.
- Sinovac Wins Nasdaq Reprieve as Governance Fight Drags On — Chinese vaccine-maker has until May 11 to file delayed financial reports after a long-running control battle led to its auditor’s resignation.
- China’s Energy Storage Boom Cools as Policy Support Fades — This signalled a transition from a policy-fueled boom to a more mature phase driven by market dynamics and operational efficiency.
South China Morning Post
- China’s seed push plants agricultural ‘chips’, grows self-reliance — Domestic varieties claiming bigger market shares for key crops and livestock, curbing reliance on foreign sources for vital food production.
- 1 soldier, 200 drones: China showcases rapid launch and agility in swarm warfare tactics — State broadcaster details how intelligent tech is used in the PLA’s ability to control masses of autonomous aircraft.
- China to set GDP growth range, providing policy flexibility in 2026 — Establishing a range for the official growth target, to be revealed in March, would suggest tolerance for some deceleration amid challenges.
Nikkei Asia
- China rare-earth stocks soar as market bets dominance will continue — Supply concerns resulting from tensions with US have helped push up prices.
- China’s TCL sees Sony deal as way to topple global TV leader Samsung — Electronics giant will use venerable Japanese brand to boost profitability.
- Nissan to sell plants in South Africa to China’s Chery Automobile — Final stage of reducing seven of 17 car plants according to restructuring plan.
- Japan diplomatic post in Chongqing sits unfilled as China feud drags on — Beijing has held off on approving the next consul general for over a month.
- Opinion: Mixue’s $1 cone meets America’s higher cost base — The hype is real for the Chinese brand, but US wages, real estate and tariffs threaten its ultrathin margins. By Adrian Farina and Lizzi C. Lee.
Bloomberg
- China Tells Alibaba, Tech Firms to Prep Nvidia H200 Orders — The move suggests Beijing is close to formally approving imports of components essential to running AI.
- Brazil Is Set for a Battery Boom. China Is Poised to Benefit — Multiple Chinese firms, including Huawei, are expected to bid in an upcoming Brazilian energy-storage auction.
- Chinese Banks Top Global Peers as Main Lenders to The Gulf — The Gulf is fast emerging as part of China’s next big financial play, with years of diplomatic overtures now translating into hard cash.
Reuters
- U.S. control of Venezuela oil risks debt restructuring showdown with China — Around a tenth of Venezuela’s $150 billion foreign debt pile is estimated to be loans from China that the OPEC member was paying in oil cargoes.
Other Publications
- Foreign Affairs: A Perfect Storm for Taiwan in 2026? — How a Convergence of Factors Could Tempt Beijing to Act.
- The Washington Post: Trump says China is a threat to Greenland. What’s Beijing doing in the Arctic? — China has no plans or ability to conquer Greenland, analysts say. But it does have wide-ranging ambitions to expand its presence across the Arctic region.
- The Economist: Which Chinese provinces splash their cash? — The misers and spendthrifts are surprising.
