China January official manufacturing PMI drops to 49.3
"The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped to 49.3 in January, from 50.1 in December
[...] Sub-indexes of new orders and new export orders also saw declines, respectively down to 49.2 from 50.8 in December and 47.8 from 49.0 in December.
The non-manufacturing PMI, which includes services and construction, dropped to 49.4 from 50.2 in December, falling to its lowest since December 2022."
--- All the signals are going down. But there are still "analysts" who think that the official GDP numbers can be trusted.
As US influence wanes, the Chinese trade surplus strangles manufacturing across the globe
"This gargantuan imbalance is strangling manufacturers from rich countries in Europe to poorer nations in Asia and Latin America. As Eswar Prassad, a former head of the China division at the International Monetary Fund, now at Cornell University, pointed out: “Forget Trump’s Tariffs. The Real Danger Lies in China’s Trade Surplus."
--- Yep.
"”China’s overbearing exports are changing minds about the benefits of open trade well beyond the United States. The World Trade Organization (WTO) reports more than 300 antidumping investigations since 2020 by low- and middle-income countries against Chinese exports, from steel and cutlery to footwear and washing machines."
--- At least some countries are waking up, but there are still too many corrupt politicians who China can bribe.
"Trump is offering Beijing an unparalleled opportunity, opening space for China to become a global leader as the US retreats into itself, the steward of an alternative trading system. But by sticking to its guns China will, instead, validate the US turn against the global economy, and continue to erode faith in a trading system by which it has done remarkably well."
--- There is lots of truth in this article, but I get the feeling the author is secretly yearning for China to take over the US role.
Healthcare, visas and whisky: What did UK and China get from Starmer's visit?
"Agreements on visas, services, healthcare, green technology and finance, combined with revived dialogue, might lead to better access for British firms to Chinese markets and greater Chinese investment in the UK."
--- It might. As we all know, agreements with China are very, very big on the "might".
"The biggest commercial announcement came from AstraZeneca, which promised to invest $15bn (£11bn) in China over the next four years, to expand research and the manufacturing of medicines – the company's biggest investment in China to date.
In the energy sector, British firm Octopus Energy is entering the Chinese market for the first time through a partnership with local company PCG Power to develop a digital platform for trading electricity.
The project aims to improve efficiency in the power system and support China's efforts to increase the use of renewable energy."
--- Looks like a win-win for China again. First it gets foreign investment and second it gets help by developing technology. Same old, same old.
Labour peer who had sanctions lifted by China says it's 'meagre return' for UK
"They have criticised the "selective lifting of sanctions", saying they would "take no comfort" in China's decision while Lai remains imprisoned and Uyghurs continue to suffer."
--- Starmer doesn't care.
"Former security minister Tugendhat accused the prime minister of securing too little, despite sanctions on him lifted.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that the China deal was "frankly extraordinary and unbelievably bad, not just for this particular round of diplomatic activity but for Britain's standing in the world".
He also criticised the "abasement before going, so allowing the mega embassy and not demanding the release of Jimmy Lai, who as we know is a British citizen in prison in Hong Kong for now more than 1,000 days for the crime of journalism"."
--- Starmer doesn't care.
"Hobhouse, a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, has not officially been sanctioned. She was held at the airport, questioned and sent back to Britain - a decision she believes was taken to silence her.
"We need assurance from the prime minister that all parliamentarians can criticise the actions of the Chinese Communist Party without fear of retribution,""
--- Starmer doesn't care.
s.a.: Trump says 'very dangerous' for UK to do business with China as Starmer lands in Shanghai
Alarm raised over Chinese CCTV cameras guarding ‘symbol of democracy’ Magna Carta
"Security cameras guarding Magna Carta are provided by a Chinese CCTV company whose technology has allegedly aided the persecution of Uyghurs and been exploited by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, it has emerged.
In letters seen by the Guardian, campaigners called on Salisbury Cathedral, which houses one of four surviving copies of the “powerful symbol of social justice”, to rip out cameras made by Dahua Technology, based in the Chinese city of Hangzhou."
--- Chinese surveillance technology should not be used anywhere. Period.
"A spokesperson for Dahua said: “Dahua never has, and never will, develop a product or solution designed to identify or otherwise target any specific ethnic, racial or national group, including the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. The company has investigated these allegations and found no evidence that our products have been used to this end.
“All Dahua products and solutions adhere to the highest international standards of cybersecurity, and are certified by globally recognised standards organisations. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dahua immediately suspended shipments to Russia and does not supply any surveillance equipment to the country.”"
Panama voids Hong Kong-based firm's canal port contracts
"Panama's Supreme Court said in a statement published on its website that, after "extensive deliberation", it had found that laws that underpin a concession contract between the state and PPC at the ports of Balbao and Cristóbal were unconstitutional.
In response, PPC said the new ruling lacks legal basis"
--- Of course a Hong Kongese company knows more about Panamian laws than the Panamian Supreme Court.
Pokémon cancels event at controversial Japan shrine following backlash
--- China Uncensored featured the usual weekend news variety again:
Schwache Nachfrage belastet Stimmung in Chinas Industrie
"Der dafür erhobene Einkaufsmanagerindex (PMI) für das produzierende Gewerbe erreichte im Januar 49,3 Punkte.
[...] Im nicht-produzierenden Gewerbe, worunter auch der Bausektor und die Dienstleistungsbranche fallen, fiel der Index ebenfalls unter die 50er-Marke auf 49,4 Punkte."
--- Sieht so aus, als geht es im neuen Jahr genauso beschissen weiter, wie das alte aufgehört hat.
Aber natürlich glauben die diversen Analysten trotzdem an die offiziell verkündeten Wirtschaftswachstumswerte.
