China's President Xi Jinping spoke to 17 Central and Eastern European states at the virtual summit. The main results for observers: The format is not dead, but no great leaps were made. Six of 12 EU states sent lower-ranking representatives to the meeting. Xi made promises of billions in imports.
By Amelie Richter
Tencent's WeChat Pay and Alibaba's subsidiary Alipay dominate the market for digital payment systems in China. Now Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, tries to shake up the market with its own e-wallet. The payment service will be launched at the Chinese television's New Year's Gala, the gala with the most worldwide viewers. This is in the interest of the Chinese government, which wants to prevent too much power concentration of individual providers in financial services.
By Frank Sieren
The chat app Clubhouse has worked uncensored in China for a surprisingly long time. Now the government blocked the app – it can only be accessed with VPN. The domestic social audio apps can now quietly divide the market among themselves.
By Finn Mayer-Kuckuk
Tomorrow, the Chinese Mars probe is scheduled to enter orbit around Mars. It is an undertaking that combines three missions in one with an orbiter, lander and rover. For China, the space program is about prestige, technology, economic goals and geopolitical influence.
By Redaktion Table
A report on rape and torture in re-education camps in Xinjiang has caused a great uproar in Europe and the US. Dozens of international parliamentarians, including three Germans, call on their governments to act. China's government calls the reporting a lie.
By Redaktion Table
Boys become increasingly "effeminate" under the influence of coddling mothers and groomed boy band stars, fears a politically influential industry boss and MP – sparking a surprisingly large response in Chinese society.
By Finn Mayer-Kuckuk
Immediately after taking office US President Joe Biden has sent military ships to the South China Sea. However, this is not a fundamental question about the "One China" policy. Washington still has no interest in a military confrontation but is clearly signaling that Beijing must be prepared for the new US administration not to underestimate its rival.
By Frank Sieren
The turmoil surrounding Gamestop has helped a Chinese trading app to a breakthrough in the US. The competition had blocked critical orders, leaving a gap for Webull. The up-and-coming app uses smartphones to find its way into stock market trading.
By Finn Mayer-Kuckuk
The recycling of spent EV batteries is still in its infancy worldwide. China will soon be the first country to be confronted with a gigantic amount of used batteries. The first recycling factories have been set up. Rules and standards for recycling have already been set. For example, by law, EV companies must collect their used batteries everywhere they sell cars. One of the pioneers in recycling is electric car pioneer BYD.
By Christiane Kuehl
International fashion companies are facing accusations that their processed cotton comes from Uyghur forced labor. The Chinese government speaks of a labor transfer program. But some companies are dissolving their cooperation with producers from China.
By Felix Lee
