Latest Posts
How the tariff war kills Target’s business model – Ashley Dudarenok
US retailer Target ended its promise to its consumers to get the lowest price. But under pressure of the inflation, triggered off by the trade war with China, and other challenges, Target has changed its long-standing business model. It is the end of a safety net for consumers, says retail analyst Ashley Dudarenok in Time.Read More →
Why Legoland is winning the China consumer over, and Starbucks is losing it – Shaun Rein
China’s consumers are dramatically changing their spending habits, says business analyst Shaun Rein at CNBC. They might not spend on EVs and real estate, but they are sitting on massive savings and will spend when they see the value. Why is Legoland winning the fight for the Chinese consumer, while Starbucks is losing it? Why do they enjoy holidays in mainland China, rather than Thailand or Europe?Read More →
Why China and the USA are not heading for a Cold War 2.0 – Arthur Kroeber
Many observers wrongly see the current trade war between China and the US as a Cold War 2.0, says political analyst Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know® in an interview with Dwarkesh Patel. If American politicians started this war without seeing the difference from a cold war, it might be tough to bring it to an end, he adds.Read More →
Get ready for two Dalai Lamas – Ian Johnson
China’s government and Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, are at loggerheads on what will happen when the latter dies, and a such for a new Dalai Lama will start. Get ready for two Dalai Lamas, predicts Ian Johnson, fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, and author of The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao, at the ChinaFile.Read More →
Made in China 2.0 – Kaiser Kuo
A decade ago, China launched its ambitious “Made in China 2025”. And while the phrase has disappeared, the industrial ambitious have no, writes China veteran Kaiser Kuo at the World Economic Forum. Today, that strategy appears to be entering a new phase — one we might call “Made in China 2.0,” he says. Read More →
China’s corporate forces underlining its economic strength – Kaiser Kuo
China veteran Kaiser Kuo examines the ten Chinese companies, which are booming in China’s economy, despite the pressure it is under. Most names might be new to the non-Chinese, but these ten are worth putting on your China watch list, if they are not yet, he writes at the World Economic Forum: CATL (宁德时代), Envision Energy (远景能源), Haier (海尔集团), Huawei (华为), JinkoSolar (晶科能源), LONGi Green Energy Technology (隆基绿能科技股份有限公司), Meituan (美团), Pop Mart (泡泡玛特), Seres Group (赛力斯), Xiaohongshu (小红书 / RedNote),Read More →
Why trade negotiations between China and the US will lead nowhere soon – Arthur Kroeber
Both China and the USA claim to want to negotiate a trade deal, but, according to economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know®, since there is no common agenda, only common mistrust, it appears very unlikely that these talks will progress. He says this in an interview at Dwarkesh Clips.Read More →
How the state, market and academia move AI in the same direction – Kaiser Kuo
Technology veteran Kaiser Kuo explains how AI developments with DeepSeek, MiniMax, Moonshot AI, and iFlyTek emerged as winners in China’s technology scene. Especially, the coordination between the state, the market, and academia helps technology to move in the same direction, he adds at the World Economic Forum.Read More →
Why America fails to understand China – Arthur Kroeber
China now understands the US better than America understands China, argues economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know®, in an interview at the Dwarkesh Clips. Both on a personal and a governmental level, America has stopped investing in good relations with China, he says.Read More →
How China became rich in a 40-year transformation – Kaiser Kuo
How did China change from an economic laggard into a booming country? China veteran Kaiser Kuo dives into the country’s 40-year transformation for the World Economic Forum. For example, how it succeeded in becoming a digital giant.Read More →
How BYD crushed Tesla – Arthur Kroeber
BYD surprised everyone by successfully taking on Tesla. Economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know®, explains how China’s approach allowed to take on Tesla and came out as a winner, he tells Dwarkesh Patel.Read More →
The fragile relationship between China and Russia – Zhang Lijia
The rest of the world looks with interest at the assumed friendship between China and Russia. Still, that relation is not as close as many believe, says author Zhang Lijia in an analysis in the South China Morning Post. The powerplay is way more important than the assumed friendship, she writes.Read More →