Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

What’s in That Mooncake? China Says “Zero” Labels Must Mean Something

Regulators are banning vague “clean label” claims and requiring companies to disclose exactly how much of each ingredient is in the food.

He Qitong

In Climate Push, China Expands Carbon Market to Big Polluters

Steel, cement, and aluminum sectors added to emissions trading system, raising coverage from 40% to over 60% of China’s emissions.

Jiang Xinyi

China Probes Online Side Job Scam That Cost Teachers Millions

A growing number of teachers say they lost money to a platform that faked students and delayed payments before disappearing entirely.

Li Xin

China’s CEOs Become Online Influencers to Gain Edge

Chinese entrepreneurs are taking a more personal, down-to-earth approach toward the public to gain an advantage in fiercely competitive markets.

She Posted Her Father’s Death. Now China Probes a Murder at Sea.

The suspect, a crew member her father had helped hire, is in custody as the vessel returns to China for investigation.

Ding Rui

Consumption Coupons Fuel a Rise in Consumer Spending 

Retail sales grew in the first two months of 2025, due in part to big government-sponsored discounts on furniture and home appliances.

Fan Yiying

Chinese Tech Firms Want LLM Experts. AI Majors Need Not Apply.

A recent survey found postings for AI-related technical positions increased by more than a fifth in the first two months of 2025, but nearly half the positions require a postgraduate degree. 

China’s Latest Marketing Craze? Rent-a-Robot

After a hit Spring Festival Gala show, Chinese merchants are renting out robots for thousands of yuan a day.

Chinese Home Repair Giant Promises Fix for Business Practices

Woodpecker, the country’s biggest home repairs platform, was dinged for price gouging during the consumer rights-focused “315 Gala.”

Baidu Exec Tries to Diffuse Doxxing Controversy

Baidu vice president Xie Guangjun issued an apology after his daughter was accused of publishing social media users’ private data.