# China
Latest news and articles about China
Total: 498 articles found
China’s 24th UNIFIL Contingent Runs ‘Tiger’ Evacuation Drill to Test Mass-Protection Capacity in Lebanon
China’s 24th UN peacekeeping contingent conducted a three‑hour ‘Tiger’ evacuation drill in Lebanon to test its capacity to receive and protect UN staff and local civilians during sudden outbreaks of violence. The exercise combined command‑and‑control, liaison with the embassy and local authorities, medical screening and protective sheltering, signalling Beijing’s growing operational role in UN peace operations.
Savers Shift: Chinese Bank Wealth Management Shrinks as Retail Money Floods High‑Performing Mutual Funds
In January 2026 Chinese bank wealth‑management balances unexpectedly contracted by about 114.2 billion yuan as retail investors, lured by strong equity market returns and standout public‑fund performance, moved money into mutual funds. The rout was concentrated at major state bank wealth arms while public fund issuance and new account openings surged, highlighting a rapid retail shift toward higher‑volatility, higher‑return instruments.
Japan’s Seabed Rare‑Earth Claim Bumps Into Technical and Strategic Realities
Japan has announced a large rare‑earth deposit beneath the seabed near Minami‑Tori‑shima, but deep water, engineering complexity, high extraction costs and environmental and regulatory hurdles make commercial exploitation unlikely in the near term. China’s existing lead in purification technology and cost structure means Tokyo’s claim is more of a political signal than an immediate challenge to Beijing’s dominance in rare‑earth supply chains.
China’s Credit Surge and Low Borrowing Costs Propel a Steady Start to 2026
China opened 2026 with a notable expansion of credit and money supply: January M2 grew 9.0% year‑on‑year while social financing rose 8.2%. Government bond issuance and a significant rise in bank lending—particularly medium‑ and long‑term corporate loans—underpinned the pickup, while financing costs remained low, supporting firms and infrastructure projects.
China’s Outlet Mall Boom: How suburban ‘discount havens’ are rewiring post‑pandemic retail
Outlet malls are enjoying a post‑pandemic renaissance across China, drawing a diverse mix of middle‑aged men, suburban families and disenchanted online shoppers with open‑air design, clustered brand offerings and visible discounts. Rapid expansion by established chains and new entrants is reshaping retail geography, but the model faces risks from discount dilution, overcapacity and rising consumer scepticism about promotional authenticity.
China Forces the End of Fully Hidden Door Handles — Safety Trumps Style in EV Design
China’s GB 48001—2026 mandates mechanical redundancy for vehicle door handles and effectively bans fully power‑dependent hidden exterior handles, with staggered compliance from 2027 to 2029. The rule responds to a cluster of rescue failures and consumer complaints and will force costly redesigns across automakers and suppliers, with likely global ripple effects given China’s market size.
China’s Fujian Carrier Delivers “80,000 Tons” of Good Fortune in Spring Festival PR Push
Sailors aboard China’s Fujian aircraft carrier published festive New Year greetings, joking that “80,000 tonnes of good fortune” have arrived—a symbolic use of the ship’s displacement to project national pride. The episode is a domestic PR effort to humanize the navy and normalize China’s expanding carrier force, with signal value for regional observers.
China’s Armed Police Send Lunar New Year Greetings — A Reminder of Duty Behind the Festivities
Xinhua published a short piece showing the People’s Armed Police offering Lunar New Year greetings, a mix of public-relations and reassurance during the high-travel chunyun period. The dispatch underscores the dual role of China’s paramilitary forces as both community-facing and continuously on duty.
Lunar‑New Year 'Lucky Bags': China’s Foreign Ministry Courts Foreign Press with a Gesture of Warmth
China’s foreign ministry presented Lunar‑New Year “lucky bags” to foreign journalists at a Beijing press briefing, a small act praised as warm by those present. The gesture illustrates how cultural rituals serve as low‑cost public diplomacy aimed at softening interactions with the foreign press amid broader diplomatic tensions.
Mercedes‑Benz China Shuffles Senior Team as Sales Chief Steps Down, Smart Brand Marketing Gets a New Lead
Mercedes‑Benz China has announced a managed leadership reshuffle: Duan Jianjun will step down as president and CEO of the Beijing sales company and remain as an advisor until 30 April, Li Desi will take over on 1 March, Zhang Mingxia will move from smart’s global marketing role back into sales on 1 April, and Kang Yi will become smart’s global CMO. The moves prioritise continuity and closer alignment between sales, marketing and finance as Mercedes navigates intense competition and rapid change in China’s automotive market.
PICC Faces Wave of Regional Fines as Regulators Flag Widespread Compliance Failures
PICC Property and Casualty has received at least 15 regulatory penalties since the start of 2026, with regional branches fined for falsified data, misuse of policy terms, fabricated intermediary fees and refusal to accept cash. Regulators have issued fines, warnings and long-term industry bans, exposing systemic weaknesses in internal controls across the insurer’s local operations.
Deep‑Sea Sword: Inside China’s Northern Theater Submarine Force
A Xinhua profile of a Northern Theater Command submarine unit highlights crew professionalism, endurance and technological progress, reflecting Beijing’s emphasis on undersea capabilities as part of broader naval modernization. The article serves both domestic narrative and international signaling purposes, underscoring how improved submarine operations complicate regional anti‑submarine efforts and shape strategic competition beneath the waves.