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
- Opinion: China and Russia Bolster Their ‘No Limits’ Alliance — Xi and Putin have their differences, but they are united in their desire to weaken America. By SETH G. JONES.
- U.S. Clamps Down on Investment in Chinese Tech Companies — Trump signs annual National Defense Authorization Act into law with provisions meant to cut off capital for military and surveillance projects.
The Financial Times
- China boosts AI chip output by upgrading older ASML machines — Restricted chipmaking tools are being retrofitted to make advanced AI chips, exposing cracks in U.S.-led export controls.
- China blamed for UK government cyber attack — Foreign Office was hacked in October, ministers have revealed.
- TikTok says Chinese owner will retain core U.S. business — Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to invest in new data security joint venture as part of Trump-brokered deal.
The New York Times
- TikTok Signs Agreements With Investors in Step Toward Avoiding a U.S. Ban — The Chinese-owned video app formalized commitments from the software giant Oracle and two investment firms as part of a deal to keep operating in the United States.
Caixin
- CATL Tests Humanoid Robots on Battery Production Lines — Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology signaled a cautious push into industrial robotics.
- Analysis: China’s Billion-Dollar Bet on a New Breed of Elite University — A new crop of elite, lavishly funded universities is sprouting across China, part of a high-stakes campaign to cultivate homegrown innovation.
South China Morning Post
- How China cracked the U.S. ‘super code’ that controls most power grids in the world — Breakthrough could shake-up global tech markets with nations able to run their own grids and break away from U.S. dominance.
- China cuts US Treasury holdings to lowest level since 2008 amid debt ceiling fears — The stockpile has now fallen to nearly half its November 2013 peak, financial data shows, as long-term sell-off continues.
- China to remain world’s biggest buyer of chipmaking equipment through 2027: SEMI — China chipmakers are projected to continue outspending the world on wafer fab equipment through 2027, report says.
Nikkei Asia
- U.S. battery imports slump as pessimism on Chinese products spread — China dominance expected to continue in 2026 despite regulatory headwinds.
- Europe edges away from China as Beijing’s campaign against Japan backfires — Bloc mostly silent on Asia diplomatic spat as it looks to avoid costly fights.
Bloomberg
- Nike’s Weakness in China, Converse Spur Growing Concern — Converse sales plunged 30% in the latest quarter, while Greater China was down 17%.
- China A500 ETFs Inflows Surge to Record High Toward Year End — Total turnover for the CSI A500 ETFs remained elevated on Thursday, accounting for around 2.7% of the value of onshore stocks that changed hands.
Reuters
- As global scrutiny grows, Chinese firms look to call Singapore home — Firms are betting a move to the trade-focused city-state would reduce risks their operations get disrupted by Sino-U.S. geopolitical tensions.
- U.S. launches review of advanced Nvidia AI chip sales to China, sources say — The review could result in the first shipments to China of Nvidia’s second-most powerful AI chips.
- China threatens ‘forceful measures’ over U.S. arms sales package to Taiwan — China has been stepping up its military and political pressure on Taiwan.
Other Publications
- NPR: In the shadow of U.S. export controls, China rallies its own chip industry — The Chinese government has been doubling down on its pursuit of tech self-sufficiency, pouring upward of $200 billion into efforts to create a modern and self-reliant chip industry.
- The Guardian: Dashed dreams and land grabs: The rise of rural protests in China — Clashes over rural plots are increasing, as people whose big-city plans have evaporated return home to face local governments groaning under huge debt.
- The New Yorker: How America Gave China an Edge in Nuclear Power — Though the two countries are now in a race to develop atomic technology, China’s most advanced reactor was the result of collaboration with American scientists.
- The Economist: How Chinese cars are beating European tariffs — Carmakers are adapting to Europe’s EV barriers.
