Latest Posts
Why China consumers go for cheap during Single’s Day – Shaun Rein
Single’s Day (11/11) used to be the heyday for China’s consumerism, but this year the consumers went for the cheap stuff, says business analyst Shaun Rein at CNBC. Low consumer confidence forced the e-commerce platforms for the whole year to discount products, but Single’s Day was the cheapest event ever for consumers. Alibaba is losing its shine to newer platforms, he adds.Read More →
How the 3D metaverse will change the internet – Alvin Wang Graylin/Ashley Dudarenok
Metaverse expert Alvin Wang Graylin of HTC explains to marketing guru Ashley Dudarenok how the 3D metaverse will change the internet, with China in a leading role, at Ashley’s weblog. Expect major unsettling developments in the upcoming 5-10 years.Read More →
How the Communist Party stifled China’s history – Ian Johnson
In an in-depth account of his book Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future, author Ian Johnson explains how China’s rulers have been changing the country’s history to solidify their position. He quotes extensively the current generation of so-called underground historians, who use new technologies to reinstate their views on their history, for a talk at USC China Institute.Read More →
China needs US firms to invest but those fear more Biden restrictions – Shaun Rein
President Xi Jinping has touched down in the US for talks with US President Joe Biden in an effort to get the relations on track between both countries. China’s economy needs US investments, says Shanghai-based business analyst Shaun Rein at CNBC, but US firms fear Biden might announce more restrictions on trade with China. While the economy is doing bad, China is still the world’s largest retail market and the US cannot afford to stay away, he adds.Read More →
How does the Communist Party justifies its rule by controlling history – Ian Johnson
History called the communist party to save China, that is the way history is used by the party, says author Ian Johnson in a speech about his newly published book Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future in WorldOregon. But the official history doesn’t remain unchallenged. “Ian Johnson explores how some of China’s best-known writers, filmmakers, and artists have overcome crackdowns and censorship to forge a nationwide movement that challenges the Communist Party on its most hallowed ground: its control of history,” says the website.Read More →
What to watch at the Biden-Xi Summit? – Ian Johnson
While the expectations for next week’s meeting between the presidents Biden and Xi are not high, there are four points to watch, writes China analyst Ian Johnson at the website of the Council on Foreign Relations. Those are Taiwan, fentanyl, the Israel-Hamas war, and Climate actions.Read More →
Philanthropy keeps on going strong despite financial trouble – Rupert Hoogewerf
The number of philanthropists on the annual Hurun Philanthropy List keeps on growing, despite the financial problems many have. The Country Garden founder and his daughter top in 2023, says Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman and chief researcher of Hurun Report with 34 tycoons making the 100 million yuan threshold, according to the South China Morning Post.Read More →
My career as a marketing expert – Ashley Dudarenok
Hong Kong-based marketing expert Ashley Dudarenok explains how she became what she is today at the Hong Kong women’s magazine Jessica: A Leading Voice in selling in China—a snippet of her insights: the blueprint for success.Read More →
Cautious optimism about China’s economy in 2024 – Shaun Rein
China’s economy looks better for 2024, says business analyst Shaun Rein, as multinationals are moving back their investments to China away from other destinations. Both consumer confidence and real estate are still in bad shape, but sentiments are moving in the right direction, he says at CNBC, despite the geopolitical tensions with the US.Read More →
Why women dominate China’s underground history telling – Ian Johnson
Author Ian Johnson recently published Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future, and discusses the dominance of women as underground historians with Jeffrey Wasserstrom at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. Women are relative outsiders in China’s power structures which puts them in a good position to document the country’s history, he says.Read More →
Foreigners left China, but not because of COVID-19 – Gabor Holch
Foreigners have left China in large numbers, but the most important reasons were other than COVID-19, argues intercultural coach and consultant Gabor Holch in his video. Already before the coronacrisis, the exodus was taking place because economic growth was dropping, career opportunities for expats were diminishing and the expat community was already severely hit before the lockdowns, he argues.Read More →
Why the passing of a colorless premier might matter to Xi Jinping – Ian Johnson
During his life, former Prime Minister Li Keqiang was mainly remembered for being side-lined by Xi Jinping. But after his sudden death he might become a problem for his former boss, writes author Ian Johnson at the Council on Foreign Relations, as it might be used as a way for the hidden criticizing of Xi.Read More →