Day: January 17, 2024

China’s population fell for a second consecutive year in 2023, as a record low birth rate and a wave of COVID deaths when strict lockdowns ended accelerated a downturn that will have profound long-term effects on the economy’s growth potential.

China has been the world’s most populous country for as long as anyone can remember – but that is about to change.

Shares of Baidu Inc. are plunging even after the Chinese search engine firm denied a report that linked its Ernie AI platform to key military research. Sarah Zheng reports on Bloomberg Television.

China’s Missile Malfunction: US Intel Reveals Rockets Filled with Water | Vantage with Palki Sharma A US intelligence report has unveiled startling deficiencies in China’s missile systems. The report says some of these missiles were found to be filled with water instead of fuel. It also claims that large missile silo fields in western China are equipped with malfunctioning lids. Apparently – the situation is so severe that it forced President Xi Jinping to initiate a purge within the army. Palki Sharma tel

Mexico is seeing a manufacturing boom amid US-China trade tensions. More American companies are outsourcing factory operations to Mexico – with, among other reasons, the need to de-risk supply chains. But more Chinese corporations are also investing billions in Mexico as a production base to get closer to regional consumers – a practice called nearshoring – and to get around US tariffs imposed on Chinese exports since the 2018 Trump era. Since 2023, China has overtaken the US as Latin America’s top tradin

China’s Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian has delivered a rare public address setting the scene for relations between the two countries in the new year. The address comes just days after the Taiwan election. Mr Xiao made strong references to a new chapter in Australia–China relations during his speech. There was also confirmation that there was not yet any further progress on tariffs. Mr Xiao commented on the Chinese naval ship incident in November, saying the ship in question “did not use” sonar pulse.

China has accused the US of sending “a gravely wrong signal” to those pushing for Taiwan’s independence after Saturday’s election result. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent Taiwanese president-elect William Lai a message of congratulations following the result. Beijing called the message a violation of Washington’s commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan. Mr Lai has vowed to protect Taiwan from an increasingly aggressive China. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news,

Republican candidate Nikki Haley issues a warning over the “unholy alliance” between China, Russia and Iran, claiming they are bound together in their hatred for “freedom, democracy and the United States of America”. The former UN ambassador finished third in the Iowa caucuses behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former president Donald Trump. Ms Haley reinforced that America must appear strong on the international stage. “There is a reason the Taiwanese want the US and the West to support Ukraine

China’s economy grew around 5.2% in 2023, surpassing the government’s official growth target for the year without relying on “massive stimulus,” Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Davos. This was his first appearance as China’s No. 2 official at the annual World Economic Forum.