Trade war, higher tariffs and weak demand have tested the PRC export engine. The ‘war’ impact seems milder than first thought—shipments have, so far, largely held up. But tension is high, not least as tariffs erode profits and producers slash prices to stay in the game.
Health spending is surging in China, with ambitious campaigns ensuring it ticks many of Beijing’s 'consumption' boxes. It boosts tech innovation, propelling the PRC up the global tech value chain to capture more export markets. It positively impacts the national budget by cutting health costs. It improves well-being, above all for older people.
Education must rapidly adapt to AI. The ‘half-life’ of knowledge has crashed from two or three decades in the industrial era to just five or six years today. Some fields, points out Xu Fei 徐飞 Fuyao University of Science and Technology, see cycles of a year or less.
Beijing's anti-corruption strategy has shifted in three ways. Case-based reform now targets entire corruption networks, not just individuals. Local banks have become the main focus because they control provincial lending. The campaign now goes after both top executives and their regulators, recognising they often work together through revolving doors.