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China

News and analysis about China, a country with the world’s second-largest economy, a terrible record on human rights, and global ambitions.

Politics
Why China just got around to congratulating Biden on his 2020 winWhy China just got around to congratulating Biden on his 2020 win
Politics

“We respect the choice of the American people,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.

By Alex Ward
Explainers
China’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2060, explainedChina’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2060, explained
Explainers

China just stepped up its climate goals. Is it enough to avert climate chaos?

By Lili Pike
Explainers
The bogus Steve Bannon-backed study claiming China created the coronavirus, explainedThe bogus Steve Bannon-backed study claiming China created the coronavirus, explained
Explainers

The study and the Chinese virologist behind it are quite popular in conservative media.

By Alex Ward
Science
China has quietly vaccinated more than 100,000 people for Covid-19 before completing safety trialsChina has quietly vaccinated more than 100,000 people for Covid-19 before completing safety trials
Science

Public health experts warn that the wide-reaching emergency use program poses risks.

By Lili Pike
China
China may double its nuclear arsenal in just 10 years. Don’t panic.China may double its nuclear arsenal in just 10 years. Don’t panic.
China

The Pentagon’s new report on China’s military features a scary-sounding prediction, but it’s not as scary as it seems.

By Alex Ward
Money
Your face mask — and your T-shirt — might have been made with Uighur forced laborYour face mask — and your T-shirt — might have been made with Uighur forced labor
Money

Human rights groups are urging major clothing brands to cut ties with suppliers in the Xinjiang region of China.

By Terry Nguyen
China
A top Hong Kong pro-democracy figure was arrested. Beijing isn’t playing around.A top Hong Kong pro-democracy figure was arrested. Beijing isn’t playing around.
China

Jimmy Lai, a media executive, was arrested along with others in a blow to Hong Kong’s freedoms.

By Jen Kirby
Explainers
5 real steps the US could take to help Uighurs in China5 real steps the US could take to help Uighurs in China
Explainers

China has imprisoned millions of Uighur Muslims in concentration camps. Here’s what the Trump administration could do right now to help stop it.

By Alex Ward
China
The US-China “cold war” reaches HoustonThe US-China “cold war” reaches Houston
China

The Trump administration abruptly told China it had to close its Houston, Texas, consulate by Friday.

By Alex Ward
Explainers
Hong Kong’s future under China’s new security law, explainedHong Kong’s future under China’s new security law, explained
Explainers

“It’s really the first time that I had a genuine feeling that I would be arrested just because of speaking aloud a slogan or holding a poster on the street.”

By Jen Kirby
Technology
TikTok pulls out of Hong Kong as tech companies push back against new security lawTikTok pulls out of Hong Kong as tech companies push back against new security law
Technology

Recent moves represent a rare moment when American tech companies question China’s tight grip on information.

By Rebecca Heilweil
Explainers
Donald Trump is vulnerable on China. So is Joe Biden.Donald Trump is vulnerable on China. So is Joe Biden.
Explainers

The growing Trump-Biden war over China, explained.

By Alex Ward
China
How Trump’s China obsession could derail nuclear arms control, in one tweetHow Trump’s China obsession could derail nuclear arms control, in one tweet
China

The US and Russia are in the middle of nuclear talks. But Trump’s top nuclear envoy is very focused on China.

By Alex Ward
Explainers
Trump and Steve Bannon want to turn a US-funded global media network into Breitbart 2.0Trump and Steve Bannon want to turn a US-funded global media network into Breitbart 2.0
Explainers

Michael Pack’s purge of the US Agency for Global Media, and his effort to produce tough-on-China journalism, explained.

By Alex Ward
China
Hong Kong defies ban to honor Tiananmen Square massacre victimsHong Kong defies ban to honor Tiananmen Square massacre victims
China

Coronavirus restrictions and China’s encroachment on the territory changed the annual vigil.

By Jen Kirby
Explainers
China and India are in a dangerous standoff over a hotly contested borderChina and India are in a dangerous standoff over a hotly contested border
Explainers

It’s about much more than a border. It’s about power in Asia.

By Alex Ward
Politics
Pressure mounts on Trump to “drop the hammer” on ChinaPressure mounts on Trump to “drop the hammer” on China
Politics

Trump wants to retaliate against China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Exactly how is anyone’s guess.

By Alex Ward
Why these scientists still doubt the coronavirus leaked from a Chinese lab
Explainers

A Wuhan lab studied SARS-related viruses. But there’s no evidence it discovered or was working on the new virus.

By Eliza Barclay
Explainers
How China is ruthlessly exploiting the coronavirus pandemic it helped causeHow China is ruthlessly exploiting the coronavirus pandemic it helped cause
Explainers

“Everything they’re doing is a full-court press,” one expert told Vox.

By Alex Ward
China
The successful Asian coronavirus-fighting strategy America refuses to embraceThe successful Asian coronavirus-fighting strategy America refuses to embrace
China

Other countries have had better results putting sick people into isolation instead of sending them home to potentially infect their family.

By Matthew Yglesias
China
12 experts on how the US should hold China accountable for the coronavirus12 experts on how the US should hold China accountable for the coronavirus
China

“Nobody wins a pandemic,” said one expert.

By Alex Ward
The coronavirus likely came from China’s wet markets. They’re reopening anyway.
Future Perfect

Should wet markets be banned? It’s more complicated than it seems.

By Sigal Samuel
Explainers
The conspiracy theories about the origins of the coronavirus, debunkedThe conspiracy theories about the origins of the coronavirus, debunked
Explainers

There’s a rumor the coronavirus started in a Chinese lab. And evidence from scientists to the contrary.

By Eliza Barclay
Explainers
Did the coronavirus get more deadly? The death rate, explained.Did the coronavirus get more deadly? The death rate, explained.
Explainers

Trump says Covid-19 isn’t that deadly. Here’s what we know.

By Julia Belluz
Technology
Facebook doubles down on removing coronavirus conspiracy theoriesFacebook doubles down on removing coronavirus conspiracy theories
Technology

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok are all battling misinformation related to the novel coronavirus.

By Shirin Ghaffary and Rebecca Heilweil
Culture
China has censored the Archive of Our Own, one of the internet’s largest fanfiction websitesChina has censored the Archive of Our Own, one of the internet’s largest fanfiction websites
Culture

China has taken the beloved Hugo-winning site offline amid stringent new internet laws.

By Aja Romano
Technology
Coronavirus is the first big test for futuristic tech that can prevent pandemicsCoronavirus is the first big test for futuristic tech that can prevent pandemics
Technology

The coronavirus is putting a lot of new tech, including robots and artificial intelligence, on display.

By Rebecca Heilweil
Technology
Apple, Facebook, and Google stocks are falling after surge in coronavirus casesApple, Facebook, and Google stocks are falling after surge in coronavirus cases
Technology

The world’s biggest tech companies are coming to terms with how their businesses are being impacted by the global outbreak.

By Shirin Ghaffary and Rani Molla
Business & Finance
Coronavirus fears have spurred a stock market sell-offCoronavirus fears have spurred a stock market sell-off
Business & Finance

Wall Street is waking up to the threat of coronavirus as fears about the disease and its potential global economic impact spread.

By Emily Stewart and Rani Molla
Politics
Why we still don’t know how deadly this new coronavirus isWhy we still don’t know how deadly this new coronavirus is
Politics

Without the mortality rate, it’s hard to decide how to respond and prepare for a worsening outbreak.

By Caitlin Rivers and Crystal Watson
China
How Hong Kong’s protests are shaping the response to the coronavirusHow Hong Kong’s protests are shaping the response to the coronavirus
China

Coronavirus fears are transcending politics in Hong Kong and transforming the protest movement.

By Jen Kirby
What China’s quarantine to stop the Wuhan coronavirus looks like
Politics

More than 50 million people have been affected by China’s travel restrictions.

By Julia Belluz
Science
Did China downplay the coronavirus outbreak early on?Did China downplay the coronavirus outbreak early on?
Science

A new study shows the virus took off weeks earlier than Chinese officials have suggested.

By Julia Belluz
Thailand’s playboy king isn’t playing around
Politics

Thailand’s king has terrible fashion sense and likes wearing fake tattoos. He’s also disturbingly authoritarian.

By Richard Bernstein
Explainers
The evidence on travel bans for diseases like coronavirus is clear: They don’t workThe evidence on travel bans for diseases like coronavirus is clear: They don’t work
Explainers

They’re political theater, not good public health policy.

By Julia Belluz and Steven Hoffman
Technology
TikTok is accused of censoring anti-Chinese government content, againTikTok is accused of censoring anti-Chinese government content, again
Technology

A US teen says the video-sharing platform suspended her account for criticizing China’s treatment of Muslims.

By Sara Morrison
Culture
China reportedly censored PewDiePie for supporting the Hong Kong protests. He’s not the only one.China reportedly censored PewDiePie for supporting the Hong Kong protests. He’s not the only one.
Culture

Chinese censors seemingly cracked down on references to PewDiePie following the creator’s discussion of ongoing protests in Hong Kong.

By Aja Romano
Politics
A top Trump adviser was asked if the Bidens came up in China talks. He wouldn’t answer.A top Trump adviser was asked if the Bidens came up in China talks. He wouldn’t answer.
Politics

It should’ve been quite easy for Peter Navarro to answer “no” — unless the answer really is “yes.”

By Alex Ward
Technology
Google employees are fighting over their company’s decision to ban a Hong Kong protest video game appGoogle employees are fighting over their company’s decision to ban a Hong Kong protest video game app
Technology

The move has helped spark a fiery debate playing out on the search giant’s internal mailing lists.

By Shirin Ghaffary
Politics
US and China reach a “phase one” trade dealUS and China reach a “phase one” trade deal
Politics

President Donald Trump announced an agreement to delay tariffs and for China to buy agricultural products.

By Jen Kirby