China’s economy loses steam in April as retail sales hit 40-month low
"Retail sales grew 0.2% last month from a year ago, sharply missing economists’ forecast for a 2% rise and slowing from 1.7% in March, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. That marked the weakest growth since December 2022, according to Wind data, as China started to loosen its Covid curbs.
China’s industrial output jumped 4.1% in April from a year earlier, decelerating from 5.7% growth in March, and undershooting expectations for a 5.9% rise in a Reuters poll.
Urban fixed asset investment, including real estate and infrastructure, contracted 1.6% in the first four months this year from a year earlier"
--- Great recovery with Chinese characteristics. At best it was stagnation again. If there were any rises in value at all, then they were entirely induced by rising oil prices.
"A war-driven surge in commodity costs also pushed producer and consumer prices higher in April, with factory-gate prices snapping a years-long deflationary streak to hit a 3-year high"
--- External inflation, largely unrelated to the real Chinese economy.
s.a.: China's property investment extends decline in January-April
China has agreed to address US concerns over rare earth shortages, says White House
"China's rare earth export controls - introduced in April 2025 in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs - continue to tightly restrict exports of some rare earths despite a deal last October in which the White House says China agreed to allow shipments to freely flow."
--- Why might anyone think that China would act differently now?
Russian drone hits Chinese ship off Ukraine before Putin meets Xi Jinping
"The Ukrainian navy reported a strike on the KSL Deyang, the Chinese-owned cargo ship with a Chinese crew under the Marshall Islands flag. It posted a photograph of the ship showing its name with one of its sides partially charred."
--- This will of course cause huge outrage in China. And here is what the Chinese criticism of Russia looks like: "..."
Secret police and propaganda: The Chinese agents spying on expats in US
"China views espionage as a "volume enterprise", London said."
--- Chinese spies and influence operations are everywhere. They are not only going after high value targets. You wouldn't believe how petty the CCP is.
s.a.: Canadian officer accused of spying for China acquitted of charges
Taiwan insists it is independent after Trump warning
"Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously stated that Taiwan does not need to declare formal independence because it already sees itself as a sovereign nation.
On Saturday, presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said it was "self-evident" that Taiwan was "a sovereign, independent democratic country"."
--- Yep, it is.
Earthquake hits southwest China; thousands evacuate, buildings collapse
How China became the new master of Russia's economy
As trade war with China looms, how can the EU defend itself?
--- China Uncensored: "Xi Jinping Is Out For Blood"
--- China Uncensored: "China’s Military Got Even More Dangerous"
--- BBC News: The American mayor accused of secretly working for China
--- Pattaya News: Chinese man found with military grade weapons cache near Pattaya
Chinas Wirtschaft schwächelt überraschend
"Die Einzelhandelsumsätze, ein wichtiger Indikator für den Konsum, legten lediglich um 0,2 Prozent zu und verzeichneten damit den geringsten Anstieg seit Dezember 2022. Im März hatte das Plus noch bei 1,7 Prozent gelegen.
Die Industrieproduktion legte im Jahresvergleich um 4,1 Prozent zu. Dies ist das schwächste Wachstum seit Juli 2023. Analysten hatten mit einem Plus von 5,9 Prozent gerechnet. Auch die Investitionen enttäuschten: Die Anlageinvestitionen sanken in den ersten vier Monaten des Jahres um 1,6 Prozent im Vergleich zum Vorjahreszeitraum."
--- Überraschend ist daran nur, dass westliche Medien diese positiven Zahlen anscheinend immer noch für real halten.
China und die EU: EU plant Vorgaben für geringere wirtschaftliche Abhängigkeit von China
China - mittelstarkes Erdbeben am 18.05.2026: Alles über das Beben der Stufe 5,1
