When It Comes to Luxury, China Still Leads

Christopher Horton
New York Times
A younger and more sophisticated generation of shoppers is emerging, who are educated, well-traveled and tech-savvy.

The Rise of Entrepreneurship in China

Edward Tse
Forbes
The entrepreneurial spirit runs deeper than just in business. It manifests itself in the government and in the desires of ordinary people.

Media

04.05.16

Chinese Censors Rush to Make ‘Panama Papers’ Disappear

David Wertime
On April 3, the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit International Committee of Investigative Journalists dropped what struck many as a bombshell: news that a leaked trove of 11.5 million previously secret files from Panama-based law firm Mossack...

China’s Most Aggressive Dealmaker Started at Home, Now Reaches Overseas

Joe McDonald
Associated Press
Ren Jianxin recently offered a $43 billion bid for Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta.

Depth of Field

04.03.16

Meet ‘Depth of Field’: The Month’s Best Chinese Photojournalism

Yan Cong, Ye Ming & more from Yuanjin Photo
Welcome to ChinaFile’s inaugural “Depth of Field” column. In collaboration with Yuanjin Photo, an independent photo blog published by photographers Yan Cong and Ye Ming on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, we will highlight new and...

A Dull Roar from a Hungry Chinese Lion

Brooke Sutherland
Bloomberg
Chinese construction companies loaded up on machinery as part of a massive stimulus package. With a slowing economy, developers face mountains of debt.

Great Leap Upward: Behind China's $100 Billion Shopping Spree

Matthew Campbell and Jonathan Browning
Bloomberg
It reflects an effort by the government to encourage Chinese companies to gain know-how and market share through foreign transactions.

When China Sneezes, Does Africa Catch a Cold?

Eric Olander, Cobus van Staden & more
Chinese government officials have been on an all-out public relations offensive across Africa lately to reassure increasingly nervous political and business leaders that even though China’s economy may be slowing it will not affect the P.R.C.’s...

Environment

03.29.16

Xinjiang Ban on Glacier Tourism Ignores the Bigger Problem

from chinadialogue
The Xinjiang government has banned tourists from glaciers under the 13th Five-Year Plan in order to try and save the far northwestern province’s fast-disappearing ice caps. Home to China’s largest glaciers, the Xinjiang province has seen its...

China Banks Face Credit Risks from Ties to Wealth Management Products

Leslie Shaffer
CNBC
While WMPs offer high interest rates, it isn't always clear what assets the funds are buying to finance those payouts.

Media

03.15.16

Taiwan’s New Direction

Eric Fish from Asia Blog
In January, Taiwan’s voters handed the traditionally pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) a landslide victory, giving it control of both the parliament and presidency for the first time ever. The victory came at the expense of the...

Caixin Media

03.11.16

With GE Deal, Haier Fulfills an American Dream

A U.S.$5.4 billion deal for General Electric’s home appliance division is about to propel China’s largest appliance maker, Haier Group, into the long-dreamed-for high-end market in America.The sale, announced in mid-January but now awaiting...

U.S. Curbs China's ZTE Exports Over Iran Business Allegations

Joel Schectman and Susan Heavey
Reuters
A new U.S. export restriction against ZTE is likely to disrupt its sprawling global supply chain.

China Could Beat Hollywood by 2017

Bloomberg
The country’s box-office sales are growing an average of 34 percent a year.

China’s Richest Man Wang Jianlin Urges Beijing to Motivate Officials for Economic Growth

Mandy Zuo
South China Morning Post
Wang told an audience at Oxford University that inaction by some officials stemmed from “flaws in systematic design.”

Michelle Yeoh on 'Crouching Tiger 2,' Girl Power, and Anti-China Trump

Jan Yamato
Daily Beast
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2 still tells a very Chinese tale.

Conversation

02.23.16

How Long Can China’s Internet Thrive if the Rest of the World Gets Shut Out?

David Schlesinger, Jeff South & more
Last week, Chinese authorities announced that as of March 10, foreign-invested companies would not be allowed to publish anything on the Chinese Internet unless they have obtained government permission to publish with a Chinese partner. What does...

Top Tips from China's Richest Man, Wang Jianlin

Sophia Yan
CNN
His recent book claims to give an inside look into his managerial philosophy and the values that turned his company into a giant conglomerate.

Features

02.18.16

The Bamboo Bicycles of Chengdu

Sascha Matuszak
The shift in how Chinese prefer to get around means salespeople in China have to market bicycles as fashion accessories, rather than as reliable modes of transportation. This is where colorful custom-made fixed gear bicycles come in. Hipsters from...

China’s Risky Gamble to Become a Major Player in the Middle East and North Africa

Eric Olander, Cobus van Staden & more
Chinese president Xi Jinping’s three-country tour of the Middle East and North Africa offers yet another example of Beijing’s expanding drive for increased global influence. During his first visit to the region, Xi traveled to Saudi Arabia, Egypt,...

Invisible Bridges

Peter Hessler, photo by Davide...
New Yorker
Over the past two centuries, there have been periodic tensions between Russia and China, including some serious border conflicts, and historically Russia has usually held the upper hand. But nowadays, at the personal level, Monteleone notices a...

Infographics

02.08.16

Box Office Success: Money Rules

from Sohu
In 2014, Chinese annual box office earnings exceeded 29 billion RMB. As of July of this year, box office sales had reached 25.9 billion. Chinese films keep smashing box office records, and surpassing 100 million in sales has become a bare minimum.{...

Caixin Media

02.01.16

Tough Times call for Tougher Reform Push

Beijing has has done a good job in terms of industrializing the country but will face unprecedented challenges when dealing with a service-driven economy.

Media

01.29.16

‘The New Yorker’ on China

Jiayang Fan, Peter Hessler & more
Following is an edited transcript of a live event hosted at Asia Society New York on December 17, 2015, “ChinaFile Presents: The New Yorker On China.” (The full video appears above.) The evening, introduced by Asia Society President Josette Sheeran...

Conversation

01.27.16

Is George Soros Right that China’s Headed for a Hard Landing?

Arthur R. Kroeber, Stephen S. Roach & more
On Tuesday in an article headlined, “Declaring War on China’s Currency? Ha ha,” the People’s Daily attacked billionaire investor George Soros for suggesting he might short the renminbi. The Chinese currency has dropped 5.7 percent since August when...

Frenzy for Foreign Condoms in China

Monami Yui
Bloomberg
Chinese consumers are attracted to the “high quality” of Japanese condoms.

Viewpoint

01.21.16

After a Landslide Election, Now Comes the Hard Part for Taiwan's President

William Kazer
Taiwan elected its first woman president on Saturday in a landslide victory that brought a nominally pro-independence party back to power after eight years in opposition.Tsai Ing-wen led her Democratic Progressive Party to a thumping victory,...

Viewpoint

01.15.16

China’s New Development Bank Needs Better Human Rights Protections

Nicholas Bequelin
On January 16, the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will meet in Beijing to formally launch its operations.A symbol of China’s growing clout on the international scene, the AIIB attracted 57 founding members,...

Conversation

01.13.16

Does Chinese Investment Pose a Threat to Hollywood?

Jonathan Landreth, Stanley Rosen & more
The Wanda Group, China’s leading real estate developer, on Monday paid $3.5 billion for a controlling stake in Hollywood studio Legendary Entertainment, maker of Jurassic World, among other global blockbusters. At a time when Hollywood is...

Wang Jianlin's Wanda Group Buys Legendary Entertainment

Los Angeles Times
Chinese Conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group has acquired Ledendary Entertainment the Hollywood Company behind 'The Dark Knight'

China’s Obsolete Economic Strategy

The Editorial Board
New York Times
China has changed dramatically over 30 years, and command-and-control economic management will not produce the results of the past.

Why It’s Getting Harder to Understand China

Ben Eisen
Wall Street Journal
The depreciating yuan is exposing the increasing difficulty in getting a firm reading on economy.

Chinese Stock Plunge Forces a Trading Halt, and Global Markets Shudder

Keith Bradsher and Amie Tsang
New York Times
The aftershocks carried over to Europe and the United States, where markets fell sharply once again.

Media

01.07.16

Assessing China’s Plan to Build Internet Power

Scott D. Livingston
When the Chinese Communist Party targeted clean energy in its 11th Five Year Plan (2006-2010), the resulting investment spree upended the global clean energy market almost overnight. Now, as China approaches its 13th Five Year Plan, a new policy...

China's Wanda Acquiring Controlling Stake in Legendary Entertainment

Patrick Brzesk and Borys Kit
Hollywood Reporter
Wanda aims to be a global entertainment giant, buying the No. 2 U.S. cinema chain AMC for $2.6B in 2012.

China's Markets—A Sharp Reminder on Reform

Australian Financial Review
The old command model has reached its limits: if China wants things to stay the same, it will have to change. 

S. China Sea Tensions Surge as China Lands Plane on Artificial Island

Greg Torode and Michael Martina
Reuters
China's increasing military presence in the disputed sea could effectively lead to a Beijing-controlled air defence zone.

Dow Plunges After Rout in Chinese Market

Dan Strumpf and Christopher Whittall
Wall Street Journal
Weak economic data in China spurs global selloff, while Shanghai Composite declines nearly 7%.

After Mysterious Disappearance, Hong Kong Publisher Claims He Is In China ‘Cooperating with Authorities’

Simon Denyer
Washington Post
Lee Bo specializes in books critical of the Communist Party.

China Selloff Sparks Gloomy 2016 Start for Stocks

Herbert Lash
Reuters
A 7 percent slide in Chinese shares, sparked by weak economic data, rekindled worries over global growth on day one of 2016 trading.

Greece-Sized China Outflows Highlight Policy Maker Challenge

Enda Curran
Bloomberg
Investors are rushing money out of China as yuan weakens to lowest point since August.

China's Alibaba Pictures Ousts Senior Board Member After Graft Allegations

Patrick Brzeski
Hollywood Reporter
The company hasn't been able to contact the former Tencent executive since he was detained by authorities in July.

China Manufacturing Picks Up

Mark Magnier
Wall Street Journal
China’s PMI rose slightly in December, but economists don’t expect significant rebound in economy.

Schoolgirl's Death Sparks Riots, Clashes in China's Gansu

Lin Jing
Radio Free Asia
The 13-year-old is believed to have jumped from the top of a tall building after being accused of shoplifting, drawing around 1,000 locals.

China Plans a New Silk Road, but Trading Partners Are Wary

Keith Bradsher
New York Times
Kazakhstan has limited Chinese investment and immigration for fear of being overwhelmed.

China: Scaling The World’s Highest Innovation Peaks

Vikram Jandhyala
TechCrunch
The word “innovation” was mentioned 71 times in a communiqué after the Chinese Communist Party’s recent plenary meeting. 

Japan Protests Intrusion of Armed Chinese Vessel Into its Waters

James Mayger and Yuji Nakamura
Bloomberg
The vessel was formerly a People’s Liberation Army Navy ship and is now operated by another department.

Chinese Official Vows Punishment Over Shenzhen Landslide

Chris Buckley
New York Times
Ma Xingrui expressed remorse during a televised news conference five days after dirt and waste smothered buildings and buried 75 people.

China and Russia’s Orwellian attacks on Internet freedom

The Editorial Board
Washington Post
Xi Jinping’s recent speech suggests that China won’t give up nudging global Internet governance toward the “sovereignty” model.

Boeing Lands $10 Billion Order From China Southern Airlines

Bloomberg
Boeing Co. landed a $10 billion order from China Southern Airlines Co.

After ‘Star Wars,’ Studios Ready to Battle for 2016 Chinese Film Slots

Patrick Frater
Variety
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will be the first Hollywood film to play in China in 2016.

Conversation

12.15.15

Can an Alibaba ‘Morning Post’ Aid China’s Image Overseas?

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, David Wertime & more
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is buying the Hong Kong media group of the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the leading independent English-language newspaper in the former British colony where freedom of the press has resisted control by the...

Media

12.14.15

R.I.P. SCMP?

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian & David Wertime
On December 11, Chinese Internet behemoth Alibaba announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Hong Kong’s flagship English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The announcement came as no surprise, as the ailing paper...

China, U.A.E. Set Up $10 Billion Joint Investment Fund

JEREMY PAGE
Wall Street Journal
Deal to strengthen link between China and Middle East will focus on direct equity investments in both regions.

Abe and Modi Strengthen Ties to Counter China's Rise

Natalie Obiko Pearson
Bloomberg
India and Japan took their biggest steps yet to deepen strategic ties, and it’s mostly thanks to China.

Reports: China Tycoon Appears at Event After Disappearance

Associated Press
The chairman of the Chinese conglomerate said he was assisting an official investigation after he disappeared for a day last week.

Alibaba Film Chief Grants First Interview: What China Can Do for Hollywood

Patrick Brzeski
Hollywood Reporter
In her first sit-down since becoming Jack Ma's top global film exec, Zhang Wei reveals what China's web giant can offer Tinseltown.

Amid China’s Smog Worries, One More: Counterfeit Masks

VANESSA PIAO
New York Times
The customs authorities in Shanghai have seized nearly 120,000 counterfeit surgical masks.

Books

12.10.15

Pacific

Simon Winchester
Following his acclaimed Atlantic and The Men Who United the States, New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester offers an enthralling biography of the Pacific Ocean and its role in the modern world, exploring our relationship with this imposing force of nature.As the Mediterranean shaped the classical world, and the Atlantic connected Europe to the New World, the Pacific Ocean defines our tomorrow. With China on the rise, so, too, are the American cities of the West coast, including Seattle, San Francisco, and the long cluster of towns down the Silicon Valley.Today, the Pacific is ascendant. Its geological history has long transformed us—tremendous earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis—but its human history, from a Western perspective, is quite young, beginning with Magellan’s sixteenth-century circumnavigation. It is a natural wonder whose most fascinating history is currently being made.In telling the story of the Pacific, Simon Winchester takes us from the Bering Strait to Cape Horn, the Yangtze River to the Panama Canal, and to the many small islands and archipelagos that lie in between. He observes the fall of a dictator in Manila, visits aboriginals in northern Queensland, and is jailed in Tierra del Fuego, the land at the end of the world. His journey encompasses a trip down the Alaska Highway, a stop at the isolated Pitcairn Islands, and a trek across South Korea and a glimpse of its mysterious northern neighbor.Winchester’s personal experience is vast and his storytelling second to none. And his historical understanding of the region is formidable, making Pacific a paean to this magnificent sea of beauty, myth, and imagination that is transforming our lives. —HarperCollins{chop}