China’s Robot Fever
Chinese humanoid robots are working better and getting cheaper. But what are they good for?
Articles
Andreas Fulda on Germany’s Failure to Tackle the China Challenge
The German political scientist talks about the need for a paradigm shift in Germany’s foreign policy and the difficulty of countering hybrid threats.
Chinese Battery Makers Get Solid Support
Braving the frigid cold of the Chinese winter last December, William Li, chief executive of Chinese automaker NIO, drove for 14 hours from Shanghai to the southern eastern city of Xiamen, allowing viewers to watch him via a livestream on the company’s app. His aim?...
The Clash of Constellations
In 2021, Beijing announced Guowang, its answer to SpaceX’s Starlink. But with very few updates about the project — apart from disciplinary inspections — it seems Guowang could be stalling. China’s space industry, however, is still racing ahead thanks to the surprising flood of private...
Chinese Private Equity Looks for A New Playbook
Both raising money and investing it is getting harder for firms who grew used to China being a one-way bet.
Micron Plays the Long Game in China
While the U.S. memory chipmaker builds a new assembly plant in Xi’an, it is shifting its focus elsewhere.
Status Symbol
For much of the past two decades, Europe's luxury market has counted on the ferocious appetite of Chinese consumers to bolster its bottom line. But foreign luxury brands are facing a reckoning in China. Not only is China’s economy entering a more uncertain phase, giving consumers pause,...
Ant Group Renews International Push
A decade on, China’s mobile payment giant ventures out again, targeting merchants and tourists across Asia.
The Chinese EV Price War Goes Global
The fierce competition between Chinese automakers has the potential to reshape EV markets around the world — and stoke resistance.
Minxin Pei on China’s Surveillance State
The political scientist talks about the capabilities and limitations of China’s coercive apparatus.
Tone Deaf
Sixth Tone, a state-owned media outlet, has long been celebrated for carving out a unique space in China to tell stories about ordinary people. But over the past year, Beijing has tightened Sixth Tone's leash, illustrating how fearful censors have grown and marking the end...
Chinese Consumer Tech Brands Are Going Global
As domestic consumption slows, Chinese businesses are trying to gain a foothold elsewhere.