Stories from Beijing · China

China has strongly criticized a European Union plan aimed at bolstering its industries against competition from China. Beijing has vowed to deploy countermeasures if the scheme is enacted. The EU unveiled the new plan this month.

Chinese domestic car brands can now produce vehicles with large displacement, offering better quality and lower prices than imported cars. This trend is expected to continue, with the nation's integrated national transportation network expanding. Foreign tourism to China is also surging. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in conjunction with public security and market regulation departments, has launched a campaign to address illegal activities such as forced shopping. Chinese authorities are cracking down on fraudulent practices within the tourist market. This includes exposing fraudulent sales tactics and addressing illegal practices. The efforts aim to protect consumers and maintain market integrity.

China's aviation industry is considering new payment models for air rights products, moving away from annual subscriptions to weekly or monthly plans. Over 60 exhibitors from Hong Kong, mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and Australia are participating.

A trending discussion on Zhihu questions the manual numbering and citation of documents, as well as manual indentation, highlighting the inefficiency of these practices. A trending discussion on Zhihu questions the prevalent manual methods used for numbering documents, adding captions, and indenting text in China. Participants question the difficulty of adopting automated features. Many documents originating from schools are manually numbered, and footnotes are always cited manually. Participants express frustration with this inefficient method, questioning why automated features are not more widely adopted.

CRI Huayu Global reports that the harms of tobacco are gradually becoming apparent.

The Chinese HH200 cargo drone system can fly at an economical cruising speed. The HH200 cargo drone has achieved a maximum flight speed exceeding 300 kilometers per hour. This speed places it in a leading position among aircraft of its class.

China will be forced to retaliate if the United States imposes penalties, firmly protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. A report on the handling and accountability of state asset management for 2024 was heard. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress heard a report on the handling of research and rectification of opinions regarding the 2024 state asset management situation. China has received over 5,000 yuan in three to four months from the sale of approximately 20,000 pairs of shoes, with a deduction of 10-20% for defective items. Beijing has promised to take retaliatory measures after several Chinese organizations were included in a new round of US sanctions. The announcement follows the inclusion of these entities in a twentieth sanctions package. The move comes as China seeks to counter Western restrictions on its organizations.

Moody's anticipates that Chinese policymakers will manage the debt resolution process for regional and local governments in a controlled manner. This assessment was reported by Reuters. The agency also upgraded the outlook for the country's credit rating to stable. China's economic growth reached 2 percent during the first quarter.

Several Taiwanese executives in the artificial intelligence sector have been prevented from leaving China. The specific reasons for this restriction have not been disclosed. This action follows a period of heightened geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and mainland China. This action follows recent tensions and policy shifts regarding technology and international business. The specific number of executives affected and the reasons for the travel ban were not disclosed. Multiple sources confirm that Taiwanese AI executives are currently prevented from departing China. The executives were reportedly barred from departure in Beijing. China has implemented stricter regulations concerning officials who have family members residing overseas.

A Chinese company is using traditional methods passed down for nine generations to prepare liquor-soaked Rehmannia. In Hushan Town, a 300-square-meter yard is used to dry liquor-soaked Rehmannia, with small bamboo whips supporting the plants. A company in Hushan Town, China, is producing liquor-soaked Rehmannia using traditional ancient methods. The process involves prolonged simmering and nine cycles of sun-drying and dew-exposure over three to four months. This meticulous process aims to maximize the efficacy of the Rehmannia, resulting in a dark, soft, and sticky texture that signifies a high-quality product. People in Hushan Town are skilled at making prepared rehmannia, a process that involves brewing, washing, steaming, pruning, soaking, simmering, and drying.