# China
Latest news and articles about China
Total: 498 articles found
Volkswagen Cuts One-Third of Executives and Reorganises Factories as China EV Shock Hurts Profits
Volkswagen is cutting a third of executives in its core brand cluster and consolidating factories into five production regions as part of a drive to save €1 billion by 2030. The measures respond to a sharp sales slowdown in China, steep declines in local EV volumes and tariff pressures in North America that have eroded profits and forced tougher restructuring.
Japan's Deep‑Sea Gamble: Mining the Pacific to Escape China’s Rare‑Earth Grip
Japan has begun sea trials to harvest rare‑earth‑rich mud off Minami‑Tori‑shima, seeking to reduce reliance on China’s dominant refining industry. The tests face steep technical, economic and environmental hurdles, and even successful extraction would not immediately displace China’s lead in processing and supply chains.
After 15 Years, the Kennedy’s Sea Trials Highlight a Growing U.S.–China Carrier Gap
The John F. Kennedy began sea trials in January 2026 after a 15‑year build that highlights persistent technical and industrial challenges in the U.S. Ford‑class programme, notably the unreliable EMALS catapult. China’s carrier programme, which reportedly started construction of a Type 004 nuclear carrier in 2026, is advancing more rapidly, raising questions about future balance of naval power in the Indo‑Pacific.
Close Encounters Over the South China Sea: US MQ‑4C Patrols and Beijing’s Firm Response
US MQ‑4C Triton drones flew repeated reconnaissance missions near Taiwan, Guangdong and Hainan between Jan 25–28, prompting Chinese military aircraft to intercept and drive them off. The encounters underscore the information‑war advantages of persistent ISR and the rising risk of miscalculation in the crowded airspaces of the western Pacific.
A Young Veteran on Thin Ice: Fatal Rescue in Shenyang and the Quiet Courage Behind It
Jin Chenglong, a 26-year-old former naval serviceman and medical student, died on 23 January after running across thin ice to save a father and son on Shenyang's Hun River. His quiet record of 13 blood donations, organ-donor registration and a well-used first-aid kit have become touchstones for public admiration and a prompt for policy and safety discussions.
A Costly Gamble: Japan’s Takaichi Retreats After US Demand for Bigger Defence Bill
Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, quietly scaled back hawkish rhetoric after a visit from a senior US defence official who urged Tokyo to boost defence spending toward 5% of GDP. The encounter exposed the strain between Washington’s demand for greater burden‑sharing and Japan’s domestic politics, while Beijing’s export controls and military pressure limit Tokyo’s room for manoeuvre.
China Invites Pensions, Insurers and Public Funds to Become ‘Strategic’ Shareholders — with a 5% Floor
The CSRC has proposed amendments to permit major long-term institutional investors — including the national social security fund, pension schemes, insurers, mutual funds and bank wealth products — to qualify as strategic investors in targeted equity issuances. The draft sets a default minimum stake of 5%, requires active governance participation and strengthens disclosure and anti-evasion rules to ensure these investors act as genuine sources of patient capital.
Iran’s Live‑Fire Drill at the Strait of Hormuz Raises Stakes for Global Energy and US–China–Russia Calculus
Iran has announced live‑fire naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz on 1–2 February, warning it could impose temporary closures and showcasing new capabilities including large numbers of drones. The move raises the risk of disruptions to global oil supplies and tests the responses of the United States, regional actors and potential backers such as China and Russia.
China’s 2025 Smartphone Market Seen at 307 Million Units, Lifting Momentum for Apple and Xiaomi
CAICT forecasts China’s domestic smartphone shipments at 307 million units in 2025, reflecting a large but mature market driven by replacement demand and premium upgrades. Apple and Xiaomi stand to benefit from premium positioning and broad model portfolios, while suppliers and policymakers navigate margin pressure and localisation trends.
China’s Cambricon Forecasts Strong 2025 Profit as AI Compute Demand Rises
Cambricon expects 2025 net profit of ¥1.85–2.15 billion, a year‑on‑year turnaround driven by stronger AI compute demand and successful product deployments. The result signals that Chinese AI chipmakers are beginning to convert rising demand and policy support into commercial profit, though challenges around scaling, margins and competition remain.
China’s Fourier Says Brain‑Controlled Exoskeletons for Stroke Rehab Could Reach Clinics in 1–2 Years
Fourier, a Chinese robotics firm, says it will integrate brain‑computer interfaces with exoskeletons to enable robots to detect patients’ movement intentions and provide timed physical assistance, aiming for clinical rollout within one to two years. The move rests on more portable BCI hardware, AI advances in signal interpretation, and a staged market strategy that targets hospitals first, then care homes and households.
China Tightens Capacity‑Payment Regime to Shore Up Power Security and Smooth the Renewable Transition
China’s NDRC and NEA have instructed provinces to strengthen capacity‑price mechanisms for coal, gas, pumped storage and new grid storage, mandating that capacity payments recover at least 50% of coal units’ fixed costs and establishing rules for reliable capacity compensation tied to spot market development. The package aims to stabilise dispatchable revenues, encourage storage participation in markets and support reliability as renewables expand, while requiring provincial assessments of consumer affordability and stricter performance oversight.