A tough stance against China – that's what the new US President Joe Biden wants to stick to. He has now presented his first plans: rearmament, maintaining punitive tariffs, massive investments in own technologies, but also joint action by allies.
By Felix Lee
The demand for aircraft is enormous in China. So far, Airbus and Boeing dominated the market. Now, the state-owned manufacturer Comac wants to enter the business strategically. Comac plans to deliver its first medium-haul C919 aircraft this year. China also wants to produce long-haul aircraft in cooperation with Russia.
By Redaktion Table
Shortly before the New Year's celebrations, US President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping picked up the phone. It became evident that the tone has become civil once again. However, both sides appear to remain firm on the issues. Biden's concept of "extreme competition" may indeed prove to be accurate.
By Christiane Kuehl
Hardly any other internet platform has grown as fast in China as the online retailer Pinduoduo. But the rapid growth also has its price. The death of two employees within a few weeks has reignited the debate in China about long working hours and overwork at tech companies.
By Redaktion Table
Beijing wants to regulate the import and export of rare earths even more strictly. This is bad news for the EU, which imports almost 98 percent of its requirements of these metals from China. For years, China has systematically bought the market dry and hoarded the raw materials. The EU should have acted long ago but underestimated the issue. Now Brussels is frantically looking for alternatives.
By Frank Sieren
The Chinese state broadcaster CGTN is under pressure in Germany following its license revocation in the UK. The local state media authorities have initiated a review of the broadcasting license. Cable operator Vodafone is suspending CGTN's transmission as a precaution.
By Marcel Grzanna
The strict travel restrictions are currently one of the biggest problems for German companies in China. It is difficult for new employees and their families to obtain visas. Expats are de facto unable to leave the country. There is little prospect of the situation changing any time soon – not least because the National People's Congress will meet in Beijing in March.
By Christiane Kuehl
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
