China consumer prices decline for a second straight month; producer deflation deepens
"Consumer price index slid 0.1% year on year in March, remaining in deflationary territory after having contracted 0.7% in February, according to data released by the National Statistics Bureau Thursday.
[...] Producer prices fell for the 29th straight month, dropping 2.5% in March from a year earlier and marking the largest contraction since November 2024."
--- Official data, so it looks very much like the recession continues.
"core consumer prices have shown signs of picking up while producer prices are set to deteriorate given trade disruption.
“Chinese exporters are essentially competing for a smaller global market,”"
--- Phhh... Even officially, producer prices have been in the negative for quite a while, long before the 'tariff war'.
US pauses higher tariffs for most countries after market havoc, but hits China harder
"he increased tariffs on goods from China to 125%, accusing Beijing of a "lack of respect" after it retaliated by saying it would impose tariffs of 84% on US imports
[...] "I did a 90-day pause for the people that didn't retaliate because I told them 'if you retaliate, we're going to double it' - and that's what I did with China," he said, adding that he thought, "It's all going to work out amazing."
He also said he thought Chinese President Xi Jinping was "going to want to get to a deal"."
--- We'll see. Could be over just as quickly as it escalated, but could also last for some time. Either way, it's not worth all the upheaval at international stock markets.
The United States and China are locked in a faceoff over tariffs. No one wants to blink first
"The tariff fight between the world’s two largest economies spiraled into greater peril Wednesday as President Donald Trump tried to narrow his global trade war into a direct — and risky — faceoff with Beijing."
--- Yeah, peril ... phhh ...
"Melanie Hart, senior director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council, said Beijing is now “throwing the entire toolkit against” the United States, blacklisting companies, hitting American farmers and cutting the nation off from critical minerals.
“They have a bunker that they’ve been building for this moment,” Hart said. “They’re in the bunker. And if I’m Xi Jinping, I’m feeling a lot more comfortable than Donald Trump today.”"
--- Dubious. Because emperor Xi is already facing a recession.
China Raises Costs for US Tourists After Trump Tariffs: '104%
"Videos uploaded to Chinese social media show businesses advertising a service charge for American customers—at the same rate as Trump's earlier tariff before it was raised again.
A post, shared on social media platform Weibo, showed a jewelry store in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, announcing the surcharge.
Another image circulated from a hotel in Wuhan, Hubei Province.
A pool hall in an unidentified city displayed a similar notice, accompanied by the English translation: "Starting from today, our store will charge a 104-percent service fee to American customers. If you have any questions, please consult the U.S. Embassy."
Many of the reactions online were skeptical of the effects. "Is there even any American consumption?""
--- Not much. Stupid symbolism.
s.a.: China to restrict US film releases after Trump’s tariff hike (Yawn.)
Australia declines China's offer to 'join hands' on Trump tariffs
"China's ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian argued joint resistance is "the only way" to stop the "hegemonic and bullying behaviour of the US", appealing for Canberra's cooperation in an opinion piece on Thursday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, said Australians would "speak for ourselves", while the country's defence minister said the nation would not be "holding China's hand"."
--- Ouch!
Zelensky claims 155 Chinese fighting for Russia in Ukraine
""There are 155 people with surnames, with passport data - 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine," he said, according to remarks reported by Interfax.
He added that Russia was recruiting Chinese citizens on social media, and that "official Beijing knows about this"."
--- Well, it's pretty certain that the CCP knows very well, what Chinese are doing in Russia. Doesn't mean these people are sent by China, though.
China warns against 'irresponsible' remarks after Kyiv claim on Chinese fighters
"foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said
"We urge the relevant parties concerned to correctly and soberly understand the role of China and to not release irresponsible remarks,""
--- Translation: 'Don't you dare say anything critical of China!'
‘Do you want to show strength here?’: Russia’s ads recruiting Chinese mercenaries
UK trade minister visits China at same time as head of British military
Nursing home fire in China kills 20 people
--- China Uncensored: "Trump’s Tariffs Ruined China’s Master Plan"
--- BBC News: "US hitting China with 145% tariffs, White House confirms"
--- DW News: US-China: Who has the better prospects of withstanding a prolonged trade dispute?
--- C.W. Lemoine: China's Newest Fighter and Bomber - The J-XDS (J-50?) and J-36
China: Wirtschaft kämpft gegen drohende Deflation
"Preistreibend könnten sich in den kommenden Wochen allerdings die Zölle auswirken, die Peking als Antwort auf die von den USA aufgerichteten Handelsschranken verhängt hat."
--- Gähn. Das wäre nur der Fall, wenn China deutlich mehr aus den USA importieren würde, als es tatsächlich tut.
China lässt Trumps Frist verstreichen
"China hat seine Gegenzölle auf US-Waren nicht zurückgenommen. Damit geht der Handelsstreit in die nächste Runde: In den USA gelten für chinesische Importe ab sofort Zusatzzölle von 104 Prozent."
--- Inzwischen sind es dann insgesamt 145%. & trotzdem werden sich die Auswirkungen in Grenzen halten.
s.a.: Flutet China jetzt den europäischen Markt?
„Das chinesische Problem ist ernst“ – Mindestens 155 chinesische Söldner kämpfen für Russland
"„Das ‚chinesische‘ Problem ist ernst. Es gibt 155 Personen mit Namen und Passangaben, die auf ukrainischem Gebiet gegen die Ukrainer kämpfen“, sagte Selenskyj. Russland werbe diese Männer über soziale Netzwerke, beispielsweise Tiktok an und fügte hinzu: „Peking ist sich dessen bewusst.“"
--- Daß Peking Bescheid weiß dürfte klar sein. Bis jetzt gibt es aber keine Hinweise darauf, daß irgendwelche Spezialeinheit o.ä. geschickt wurden.
