Hypersonic air traffic + Change in 996 culture

Working from 9 in the morning until 9 in the evening, six days a week. What may seem like a true white-collar horror to many is the daily routine of China’s tech workers. But the work culture also known as “996” has come under heavy criticism. Our team of writers in Beijing shows how the pressure on tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent continues to mount – and how corporate executives are now responding.

Fast, faster, hyper-fast – this is the development goal of Chinese scientists. As early as 2030, hypersonic aircraft with a speed of more than 7,000 kilometers per hour are to transport passengers to any place in the world – in less than two hours. But hypersonic technology is also of military significance: It could shift the balance of power to the disadvantage of the US, since Washington seems to be lagging behind the People’s Republic in this field.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere among China’s economic leaders has turned sour. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies as well as for large and state-dominated industrial corporations has dropped to its lowest level since May 2020, citing increased raw material and logistics costs as well as supply shortages in global trade as reasons. But the impact of extreme weather is also preventing economic recovery. Meanwhile, according to official figures, the number of flood victims in the central Chinese province of Henan has risen from 99 to more than 300.

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Michael Radunski