China Brief
A weekly digest of the stories you should be following in China, plus exclusive analysis. Delivered Wednesday.
China’s Premier Steps Up to Issue Economic Warning
Recent appearances may fuel speculation that Li Keqiang’s star is rising, but it’s not that simple.
Expanding State Power Still Tops Xi’s Agenda
A recently publicized speech reflects how the Chinese leader sees the country’s economic challenges.
China’s COVID-19 Data Doesn’t Match Its Harsh Restrictions
Officials say case numbers in Shanghai are falling, but millions of residents are still locked down.
Can China Manage the Economic Side Effects of Lockdowns?
As the threat of further closures looms, economists are downgrading the country’s growth projections.
Who Profits From China’s Zero-COVID Strategy?
As Beijing braces for possible lockdown, the leadership shows no sign of changing course.
Lockdowns Expose China’s Dysfunctional Trucking Industry
COVID-19 outbreaks are hitting domestic supply chains at their weakest point.
China’s Lockdowns Take Economic Toll
An omicron surge will likely have long-lasting consequences for GDP growth.
Shanghai Households Are Running Out of Food
Lockdown and logistical disaster have left people hungry.
Shanghai Enters Full Lockdown
The announcement has sparked panic-buying and confusion throughout the city, where centralized quarantine facilities are already overloaded.
Plane Crash in China Raises Puzzling Questions
The country has not had a serious flight accident since 2010, but officials aren’t sharing many details.
China Confronts Looming COVID-19 Crisis
The biggest pandemic surge since the initial outbreak in 2020 is already straining the country’s restrictive system.
Russia’s Isolation Spurs Rethink in China
As Moscow grapples with the swift effects of economic sanctions, Beijing looks toward self-sufficiency.
Did Russia Catch China Off Guard in Ukraine?
Beijing may have at least bought Moscow’s narrative of a quick invasion.
China’s Murky Position on Ukraine
Beijing has indicated tacit support of Moscow, but there is some uncertainty behind the scenes.
Eileen Gu and the Chimerican Dream
The Olympic freestyle skier has stirred controversy for representing China. She is the product of a vanishing shared space between the Chinese and American elite.
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