The Wall Street Journal
- Leaked Hacking Documents Show China’s Focus on Tracking Ethnic Minorities — Files from a cybersecurity firm opens a window into how Beijing uses surveillance to impose political controls inside and outside its borders.
- ZTE, China Network Maker Shares Rise After U.S. Allies Unveil 6G Principles — ZTE’s Shenzhen-listed shares rose 10%, their daily limit.
- Refire, a Chinese Hydrogen Fuel Cell Maker, Plans Hong Kong IPO — Company could raise more than $100 million, source says.
- China’s EV Champion Is Coming for Your Gas Powered Cars, Too — China’s BYD has announced discounts that put prices below that of gas-powered equivalents built by some foreign competitors.
The Financial Times
- China’s Shenzhen rolls out plan to boost car exports — Technology hub’s strategy to fuel western fears over rising competition for domestic manufacturers.
- China props up renminbi ahead of leadership summit in March — Strategists warn of sharp falls against dollar longer term if Donald Trump wins presidency in November and carries out tariffs threat.
- Chinese research ships increase activity near Taiwan — Beijing’s incursions demonstrate capabilities for surveillance and collecting data crucial in warfare.
- BYD rejects EU claims subsidies help reduce price of China-made cars — Executive says success is because of company’s unique technology and management efficiency.
The New York Times
- Opinion: China’s Electric Vehicles Are Going to Hit Detroit Like a Wrecking Ball — The biggest threat to the Big Three comes from a new crop of Chinese automakers, especially BYD, which specialize in producing plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles. By Robinson Meyer
Caixin
- In Depth: China Intensifies Efforts to Curb Risk in Troubled Trust Sector — The measures are the latest attempt by policymakers to rein in risks and bring about more effective oversight of the trust sector after a string of scandals over the past few years.
- Four Charged in China’s First Case of Livestreaming Money Laundering — Shanghai prosecutors have charged four livestreaming hosts for money laundering in the country’s first such case, highlighting a new method whereby criminals use the tipping mechanism on the popular internet platform to transfer illicit funds.
- Charts of the Day: China’s Lithium Miners Cut Output as Demand Falls — China’s lithium carbonate miners have been cutting production, as prices of the key electric vehicle (EV) battery material continue to drop amid weaker demand.
South China Morning Post
- US, allies set out 6G principles as tech rivalry with China heats up — Joint statement backs principles that include next-generation wireless networks being developed with ‘trusted technology that is protective of national security’.
- China’s former foreign minister Qin Gang resigns from legislature after long absence from public view — Statement from NPC Standing Committee meeting says Qin was not dismissed or expelled and his resignation had been accepted by the Tianjin People’s Congress.
- ‘Shining on international stage’: Chinese developers of OpenAI’s text-to-video generator Sora receive acclaim at home — The praise heaped on developers Jing Li and Ricky Wang Yu reflects mainland China’s excitement over how Sora further advances artificial intelligence applications.
- Chinese investment bank joins chorus of experts as calls for fiscal stimulus intensify — In a recent research report, China International Capital Corporation determined a direct fiscal stimulus is the best course of action for economic growth this year, after several rounds of credit support to businesses have not had the desired effect.
Nikkei Asia
- China widens scope of state secrets law — ‘Work secrets’ rule adds new wrinkle for business; Qin Gang loses parliament spot.
- In China’s shadow, Hong Kong escapees urge Australia to raise visa game — Amid Canberra-Beijing thaw, asylum seekers left in limbo as program for workers, graduates grows.
- Asia private equity firms use controversial route to exit investments — ‘Continuation funds’ gain popularity amid subdued market for initial public offerings.
Bloomberg
- China’s State-Backed Funds Have Bought $57 Billion of Stocks, UBS Says — China’s state-backed funds have poured more than 410 billion yuan ($57 billion) into onshore shares this year in a bid to prop up the market, according to estimates by UBS Group AG, which expects further purchases.
- Shein Considers London IPO After US Resistance to Listing — Fast-fashion company Shein is considering the possibility of switching its initial public offering to London from New York because of hurdles to the listing in the US, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
- Alibaba Leads Record Deal to Mint $2.5 Billion China AI Firm — Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. led the largest single financing round for a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, the latest in a string of sizable investments that suggest the e-commerce firm is again deploying capital in the hunt for growth.
- Hong Kong’s Hottest New Store Is the Costco in Shenzhen — In China, there’s a newfound love for American big-box stores: When a Costco Wholesale Corp. outlet opened in January in Shenzhen, tens of thousands of people lined up for more than three hours to enter.
Reuters
- Exclusive: StanChart suspends new offshore channel investments by China clients — Standard Chartered has suspended new investments by its clients in China into offshore products via a quota-based channel, the bank said, amid a surge in demand for overseas investments due to weakness in the local market and currency.
- Chinese airlines can boost US flights to 50 per week, US says — Chinese passenger airlines will be allowed to boost their weekly round-trip U.S. flights to 50 starting on March 31, up from the current 35, the U.S. Transportation Department said on Monday, returning the market to nearly one-third of pre-pandemic levels.
- US Senate committee sets hearing on China’s WuXi AppTec, BGI bill — A U.S. Senate committee said on Monday it will hold a hearing on March 6 on a bill that would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with China’s BGI, WuXi AppTec and other biotechnology companies of concern.
Other Publications
- The Economist: Living outside China has become more like living inside China — The Communist Party is trying to tighten its grip on the Chinese diaspora.
- Foreign Policy: China Starts the Lunar New Year With an Economic Hangover — Can Xi Jinping pull the country out of a downturn?
- Center for Strategic and International Studies: Skirting the Shores — China’s new high-tech research ship probes the waters around Taiwan.
- MIT Technology Review: China’s next cultural export could be TikTok-style short soap operas — These apps are betting on low-budget productions, two-minute episodes, scripts adapted from Chinese web novels, and an aggressive marketing strategy.
- The Guardian: Rare copy of Mao’s Little Red Book expected to fetch more than £30,000 — Early editions of the book of quotations will be sold at an auction of Cultural Revolution artefacts.
