China factory activity tops expectations in April — but growth slows as new orders soften
"The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index reading of 50.3 was higher than the 50.1 expected by Reuters-polled economists.
Non-manufacturing PMI fell into contraction territory at 49.4, compared to the 50.1 seen in March, with activity in the services and construction sectors both shrinking. A figure above 50 indicates expansion, while below shows a contraction in activity.
China’s composite PMI dipped to 50.1 from March’s 50.5."
--- So what this actually means is that China is obviously still in recession. Although it seems that it is getting closer to stagnation now.
China to ban drone sales in Beijing citing security concerns
"Drones and key components will be prohibited from being sold, rented or brought into the Chinese capital. Drone owners will also be required to register their devices with the police.
[...] Drones must be registered before they can be brought in and out of Beijing. And if users send their drones out of the city for repair, they need to pick up the device in person rather than have it delivered.
All outdoor drone flights in Beijing will also require prior approval, and drone users must complete an online training session and pass a test on drone regulations."
--- Because Emperor Xi is afraid that drones could be used to spy on him or even attack him.
China, US Economic Chiefs Raise Complaints in 'Candid' Call Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
""Our meeting was both candid and comprehensive, and I stressed that China's recent provocative extraterritorial regulations have a chilling effect on global supply chains," Bessent said.
[...] Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said Vice Premier He Lifeng had "candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges" with Bessent and Greer over a video call."
--- Translation: We disagreed on pretty much everything.
China says hostile foreign forces are driving its youth to slack off
"On Tuesday, the country’s intelligence agency blamed anti-China influences from abroad for stoking youth disillusionment.
“The youth represent the future of the nation and are the primary targets for ideological infiltration by foreign anti-China hostile forces,” the Ministry of State Security said in a post published on WeChat, a multipurpose Chinese social-media platform.
The MSS said certain overseas organizations—which it didn’t name—have funded anti-China media outlets, think tanks and influencers, and have carried out a systemic “lying-flat brainwashing” campaign."
--- Strangely, these anti-China media outlets, think tanks and influencers are completely blocked in China. Must be evil Western magic then.
Japan Airlines trials humanoid robots as ground handlers
"Japan Airlines (JAL) will start using humanoid robots in ground handling tasks at Tokyo's Haneda airport from May, in a two-year trial it said is aimed at easing employees' workload.
For a start, the Chinese-made robots will be deployed to load and unload cargo containers"
--- And just when you think Japan has woken up to a China threat, some idiot decides it is a good idea to have Chinese robots on an airport.
China expels former securities regulator chief Yi Huiman from Communist Party, public office
China’s “Fake” De-Dollarization
--- China Uncensored: "The US And China May Have Started Something They Can’t Back Down From"
--- China Uncensored: "China Really Thinks It Can Cover THIS Up?"
--- CSIS: China and the Iran War: Beijing's Ambitions in the Middle East
Verfassungsschutz gegen Übernahme von Logistiker
"Es ist genau diese Sorge vor Chinas zunehmenden Einfluss auf Häfen und Hinterland-Logistik, vor dem der Verfassungsschutz nun im Zuge der geplanten Übernahme von Zippel nochmals verstärkt warnt. Mit den "kumulativen Erwerbsvorhaben", vor denen die Behörde jetzt warnt, sind einzelne Übernahmen gemeint, die in ihrer Gesamtheit Chinas Langzeit-Strategie dienen.
Chinesische Konzerne sind in Europa mittlerweile an mehr als zwanzig Containerterminals oder Betreibergesellschaften beteiligt. Der griechische Hafen Piräus wurde von Cosco sogar übernommen."
--- Wollen mal hoffen, dass die Merz-Regierung nicht so dämlich naiv ist wie die unter Scholz.
--- tagesschau24: Folgen des Iran-Kriegs für die Wirtschaftsmacht China
