Day: May 6, 2025

Why China’s ‘iron rice bowl’ looks more appealing for the children of senior officials

Media Library

At the height of China’s rapid economic growth and embrace of globalisation it was unusual for the children of senior officials to follow their parents into the public sector. Advertisement While government jobs are seen as decent and secure, they are low-paid and demanding, and there are more constraints on personal choices compared to those in the private sector. Instead, the sons and daughters of senior officials have often made headlines in the last two decades as the leaders of lucrative businesses, both in China and overseas. But the trend…

China won’t be a big winner from Trump’s policies in Latin America

Media Library

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. China has planted its red flag across Latin America this century, displacing the US as the main trading partner in South America and investing more than $130bn in everything from ports to copper mines. Now the Trump administration is pursuing America First policies such as tariffs and undermining the economic logic of locating factories in nearby countries. Surely Beijing will clean up in what America used to consider its backyard? …

SCMP Plus wins top award at Digital Media Awards Worldwide

Media Library

SCMP Plus, the South China Morning Post’s premium service, collected a top global accolade for innovation, marking its work in providing curated news, context and analysis on China to busy readers. Advertisement The award in the best digital subscription/reader revenue project category came after SCMP Plus beat out three competitors at Wan-IFRA’s Digital Media Awards Worldwide. Wan-IFRA is the World Association of News Publishers. “SCMP Plus exemplifies our enduring and critical role as an innovative news organisation that prioritises subscribers’ needs,” said Post CEO Catherine So, who collected the award…

India’s Gandhis called to appear in court on money laundering charges

Media Library

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. A New Delhi court will this week hear a long-running case over alleged financial improprieties by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi that has potentially far-reaching implications for the opposition Indian National Congress. The case against two of India’s most prominent and polarising opposition politicians — and the possibility of a rare court appearance — has stoked feverish discussion and allegations of political interference by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.…

China’s biggest trade fair breaks overseas attendance record despite US tariff war threat

Media Library

Despite the absence of most American buyers, China’s largest trade fair achieved surprise growth in deals signed during its three-week spring edition – driven by a record high in overseas attendance. Advertisement Exhibiting Chinese exporters and analysts said the Canton Fair’s impressive performance was unexpected and has boosted export sector confidence while strengthening the public’s belief in China’s ability to cope with a prolonged trade war with the US. Overall transaction volume at the spring edition of the biannual Canton Fair, held between April 15 and Monday, rose by 3…

‘Made in China’ airliner faces trade turbulence

Media Library

For years, Beijing has had high hopes that Comac’s C919, China’s first domestically made airliner, could challenge the aircraft market dominance of Boeing and Airbus, showing China’s technological self-reliance and the advances made by its state-run plane maker. But as the US-China trade war escalates, analysts are warning that the C919’s heavy reliance on US suppliers for critical components could threaten plans to increase production and even hit the maintenance of passenger jets already in operation. With China’s three big state-owned airlines already flying 17 C919s and Comac expecting to…

European and Asian carmakers face steep shipping costs to US on top of tariffs

Media Library

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. European and Asian carmakers, already reeling from Donald Trump’s tariffs, face being saddled with steeper costs when shipping vehicles to the US, as Washington’s new port fee policy threatens to wreak havoc on the $150bn American seaborne car import market. Having been ensnared in the shipping war between Washington and Beijing, car carrier operators will have to pay $150 for every vehicle they have capacity to carry into the US…