China.Table

Feature

Consumption: Why Beijing's strategy is not sustainable

China’s domestic consumption has recently seen a surprisingly strong upswing. Amid escalating tariff tensions with the United States, this surge is a welcome boost for the Chinese economy. But without structural reforms, the current buying spree may fizzle out just as quickly as it began.

By Jörn Petring

No room for Beijing: NATO declaration without China reference

One name was conspicuously absent at the NATO summit in The Hague: China. Three years after its historic inclusion in the strategic concept, the People's Republic is no longer mentioned in the final document. And yet, recent surveys show that the European population indeed sees the relevance of security policy in the Indo-Pacific.

By Amelie Richter

Five-year plan: What companies can expect in the 'birdcage'

More control by the party, fewer free market forces: In the preparations for the new five-year plan, China's President Xi Jinping sends clear signals about the country's future economic course, likely causing great concern among proponents of liberalization.

By Andreas Landwehr

Hong Kong: Science and business lose vital data source

China Labour Bulletin, based in Hong Kong, provided academia and business with large volumes of data that offered clearer insights into internal developments in China. Now, this window is closing, as political pressure forces the NGO to shut down. The consequences are worrying. Can Europe create new alternatives?

By Fabian Peltsch

Social divide: Why the luxury boom fuels discontent

While the Chinese luxury sector is booming, the mass market is stagnating. A shrinking proportion of the population is accumulating social wealth. The frustration of ordinary earners is growing, and it is changing their consumer behavior – to the detriment of the economy.

By Fabian Peltsch