China’s exports rebound, military mouthpiece’s PLA vow: SCMP daily highlights

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1. China’s exports defy expectations in September under weight of trade war uncertainty

China’s exports rebounded in September after hitting a six-month low in August, supported by recovering overseas demand and front-loading ahead of the “super golden week” holiday – though the latest flare-up with the United States over the weekend has renewed uncertainty over the economic outlook.

2. US Senate pushes for Taiwan to attend Rimpac drill in latest defence bill

The US Senate has approved its defence policy bill for the 2026 financial year, which for the first time “strongly encourages” inviting Taiwan’s navy to take part in the Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) military exercise.

3. Sending a message: Beijing issues documents without Word format amid US tensions

China has launched a drive to reduce its reliance on foreign technology, including software systems like Microsoft Office, amid rising geopolitical tensions. Photo: AP

China’s expansion of its rare earth export controls appeared to mark another escalation in the US-China trade war last week. But the announcements were also significant in another way: unusually, the documents could not be opened using American word processing software.

South China Morning Post