Latest news on China, covering Xi Jinping, the economy, US-China trade war and tariffs, Taiwan, AI and technology, human rights, Hong Kong, and foreign policy.

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is the world's second-largest economy and second-most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people. Under President Xi Jinping, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) steers policy through institutions such as the National People's Congress (NPC) and the annual Two Sessions meetings, which set economic targets and legislative priorities. China's GDP growth target for 2026 was set at 4.5 to 5 percent, accompanied by the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which outlines ambitions in frontier technologies, green energy, and high-quality development.

The US-China trade war remains a defining global economic story. Following years of escalating tariffs under the Trump administration, the US Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in February 2026, though significant duties under Section 301 and Section 232 remain in place. The effective tariff rate on Chinese goods shipped to the US remains close to 30 percent, while China's exports surged 21.8 percent in the first two months of 2026 — the biggest gain in four years. Beijing and Washington continue to navigate a fraught relationship, with trade summits and diplomatic engagements punctuated by disputes over semiconductors, critical minerals, and market access.

China's rapid emergence as an AI and technology powerhouse has reshaped the global landscape. The release of DeepSeek's R1 model in January 2025 stunned markets with its low training costs and open-source approach, while a wave of Chinese AI companies — including Alibaba, ByteDance, Moonshot, Zhipu, and MiniMax — have since released competitive models. China's 15th Five-Year Plan prioritises quantum technology, 6G, embodied AI, and biomanufacturing, with AI-related industries projected to be valued at over 10 trillion yuan by 2030. The country's defence budget, meanwhile, rose 7 percent in 2026 to approximately 1.91 trillion yuan, even as a sweeping anti-corruption purge has removed over 100 senior PLA officers since 2022.

Human rights concerns continue to draw international scrutiny. The treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region — described by the UN as potentially amounting to crimes against humanity — remains a focal point, with thousands still unjustly imprisoned and evidence of forced labour persisting across global supply chains. Authorities also face criticism over repression in Tibet, the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong under national security legislation, and the broader suppression of freedom of expression, assembly, and religion. China denies these allegations, framing its policies as counter-terrorism and development measures.

Cross-strait tensions between China and Taiwan remain among the most volatile flashpoints in international politics. Beijing views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has intensified military activity around the island, with PLA air incursions rising sharply in recent years. Taiwan, under President Lai Ching-te, has sought to bolster its defences while maintaining the status quo. Analysts widely assess that outright military action is unlikely in the near term, though the margin for miscalculation has narrowed, with Japan, the Philippines, and the broader Indo-Pacific drawn into the strategic equation. China's assertive posture in the South China Sea, including land reclamation in the Paracel Islands, further underlines the regional stakes.

Domestically, China faces significant structural challenges. Its population has entered a period of decline, with the birthrate at its lowest since the founding of the PRC in 1949 and a fertility rate well below replacement level. Pro-natalist policies — from childcare subsidies to censorship of content discouraging parenthood — reflect the scale of the demographic concern. The property sector remains fragile, youth unemployment has been stubbornly high, and local government debt continues to weigh on the economy, even as Beijing pushes record fiscal spending and infrastructure investment to sustain growth.

From US-China relations and the Belt and Road Initiative to China-Russia ties and the global AI race, developments in China reverberate far beyond its borders. Our NewsNow feed on China brings together the most important headlines from a wide range of reliable sources, keeping you informed about the latest economic data, diplomatic moves, military developments, and human interest stories. Whether you follow trade policy, Taiwan Strait tensions, technology breakthroughs, or human rights, this feed is your comprehensive, up-to-date resource on one of the most consequential countries in the world.

China - Explosion

Showing articles that match Explosion in the headline