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RFI Chinese: China’s Exports to the U.S. Fell 17.6 Percent in April

Radio France Internationale (RFI) Chinese Edition recently reported that China’s exports to the United States dropped by 17.6 percent in April compared to March, according to newly released data from China’s General Administration of Customs. Exports to the U.S. totaled US$33 billion last month, down from US$40.1 billion in March, as trade tensions between Beijing and Washington persist.

Some economists noted that the full impact of U.S. tariffs may not yet be reflected in April’s figures, partly due to transshipments through third countries and trade contracts signed prior to the implementation of the tariffs. However, analysts widely expect trade performance to deteriorate further in the coming months.

On the import side, China’s purchases declined by just 0.2 percent in April—less than the six percent drop forecast by analysts. Given that imports are seen as a key indicator of domestic consumer demand, this smaller-than-expected decrease has drawn close attention.

To counter the economic headwinds stemming from sluggish consumption and ongoing trade friction with the U.S., China’s central bank has recently introduced measures to stimulate the economy. These include a cut to the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) to encourage bank lending and a reduction in mortgage rates aimed at easing pressure on the housing market.

Source: RFI Chinese, May 9, 2025
https://tinyurl.com/uy6c4xbe

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources US-China Relations

People’s Daily: China Does not Expect Immediate Result in Tariff Talk with the U.S.

People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published a commentary under its official pen name Zhong Sheng– a homophone for “China’s Voice” – regarding the upcoming tariff negotiations between China and the United States. The article emphasized that China is “in no rush” and does not expect an immediate result. Below are key excerpts:

“No country will forfeit its legitimate development rights simply to appease another nation’s unreasonable demands.

“Dialogue is essential for resolving differences, but it is unrealistic to expect all problems to be solved in just one or two rounds of talks. China fully understands the complexity of such negotiations. As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘Listen to what they say and watch what they do’ – true sincerity is demonstrated through action.

“If the U.S. truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue, it must face up to the serious negative impact that unilateral tariffs have on itself and the world. It should respect international trade rules, fairness and justice, as well as rational voices from all sectors. It needs to show genuine sincerity in talks and correct its mistakes, rather than saying one thing and doing another, or changing its stance unpredictably.

“China has always remained open to dialogue and had the patience, composure, and confidence to pursue it. Whether facing confrontation or negotiation, China’s determination to safeguard its development interests, uphold fairness and justice, and protect the global trade order will not waver.”

Source: People’s Daily, May 10, 2025
http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0510/c1002-40476882.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China Condemns CIA Recruitment Videos as “Blatant Political Provocation”

China has sharply condemned the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for releasing two Chinese-language videos aimed at recruiting Chinese officials as spies. The videos, circulated on social media platforms, were denounced by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian as a “blatant political provocation.”

At a regular press briefing on May 6, Lin accused the United States of long engaging in “despicable tactics” to steal state secrets, meddle in other nations’ internal affairs, and undermine foreign governments. He called the CIA’s latest outreach campaign “yet another piece of self-incriminating evidence” of these efforts.

“The U.S. not only maliciously slanders and attacks China, but also openly lures Chinese citizens into betrayal—directly targeting government personnel,” Lin said. “This constitutes a serious violation of China’s national interests.”

He emphasized that China would take all necessary steps to “resolutely combat infiltration and sabotage activities by anti-China forces abroad” and “firmly defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”

The two three-minute videos released by the CIA are titled “Reasons to Cooperate: Become the Master of Your Fate” and “Reasons to Cooperate: Create a Better Vision.” The first depicts a high-ranking Chinese official suffering from anxiety during a banquet amid perceived internal crises within the Communist Party. The second attempts to appeal to lower-level bureaucrats with limited career prospects.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe expressed confidence that the videos would break through China’s digital censorship infrastructure — often referred to as the “Great Firewall” — and reach their intended audience. The CIA has also established anonymous hotlines to encourage Chinese nationals to share intelligence.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 6, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202505060292.aspx

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

American Chamber of Commerce in China: One Fifth of U.S. Firms No Longer Consider China a “Priority Investment Destination”

On April 25, the American Chamber of Commerce in China released its “2025 White Paper on American Companies in China,” jointly authored by representatives from over 100 member companies.

The white paper notes that rising tensions between China and the United States have, for the fifth consecutive year, remained the top business challenge facing U.S. companies operating in China – surpassing compliance risks and competitive pressure from Chinese firms.

Under the influence of geopolitical risks, 49 percent of surveyed companies still include China among their top three global investment destinations. However, the share of companies that consider China their number one investment destination has dropped by 6 percentage points from the previous year.

Furthermore, 21 percent of companies no longer consider China a priority investment destination – double the pre-COVID level. The white paper describes this trend as “alarming.”

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, April 25, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20250425-6245113

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources US-China Relations

Xinhua: US Soft Power Is Evaporating

Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Communist Party’s official state news agency published an article, titled “U.S. Soft Power Is Evaporating – The Decline of U.S. Soft Power and the Fall of Hegemony.” Below are some key excerpts from the article.

Recently, the decline of United States’ soft power has become a frequently mentioned topic among Western scholars and media outlets, with much of the criticism directed at the Trump administration.

In fact, the U.S. has long pursued hegemonic interests through the abuse of military intervention and economic coercion in international affairs. Meanwhile, domestic political polarization, social division, and widespread dysfunction have increasingly revealed the true nature of the U.S. to the world. According to international public opinion and experts, the decline of American soft power is now widely acknowledged and seen as irreversible – Trump’s return to power has only accelerated the downfall of U.S. hegemony.

Joseph Nye, the former dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School and the scholar who coined the term “soft power,” believes that a nation’s soft power depends on the attractiveness of its culture and values, as well as the perceived legitimacy of its policies. In a recent commentary for the Financial Times, Nye criticized President Trump for expressing interest in “buying” Greenland, coveting the Panama Canal, and bullying allies and developing nations. However, these policies are driven by “coercion and transaction,” that are neither legitimate nor reasonable and have seriously damaged U.S. soft power.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has wielded tariffs like a weapon, creating chaos and uncertainty worldwide.

The disorder and inconsistency of Trump’s governance have further disillusioned the public. His large-scale dismissal of federal employees and proposals to dismantle departments like the Department of Education have been labeled by U.S. media as “purges.” The “Signal Gate” scandal exposed top U.S. officials using group chats on messaging apps to discuss and plan military operations. His administration’s immigration deportation efforts led to legal battles, with the Justice Department even invoking a wartime law over 200 years old to justify its actions.

Yet the Trump administration shows little concern over the erosion of U.S. soft power.

As the U.S. increasingly relies on coercion and even force in its foreign policy, its national strength will be further drained. Its increasingly aggressive and domineering image will continue to undermine its soft power – ultimately hastening the end of American hegemony.

Source: Xinhua, April 29, 2025
http://www.xinhuanet.com/fortune/20250429/9b72ee417e60472cad54f8829213786c/c.html

Hot Topics | | |   @CS Government/Politics US-China Relations

Chinese Tech Executive’s Controversial Stance on Overseas Graduates Sparks Debate

Gree Electric Appliances chairwoman Dong Mingzhu has ignited controversy with her recent statement that her company “will never hire overseas returnees because there are spies among them.” This comment comes amid escalating US-China trade tensions and has drawn significant criticism from Chinese media outlets, with some calling her views “contrary to common sense.”

During a temporary shareholders’ meeting on the 22nd, Dong addressed talent selection by stating that Gree Electric “will absolutely not use ‘overseas returnees’ because there are spies among them, and it’s impossible to distinguish who is who.” She added that under these circumstances, the company would take a conservative approach by cultivating talent from domestic universities.

The New Beijing News, managed by state media outlet Guangming Daily, published an editorial criticizing Dong’s statement as revealing “backward talent selection views” stemming from “deep-rooted prejudice.”

Wang Guochen, research assistant at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, noted that China’s political leadership has shown a preference for officials with domestic educational backgrounds. He observed that officials with international experience, particularly those educated in the United States, have diminishing influence in policymaking circles.

Meanwhile, Chinese media have defended the value of overseas returnees, pointing out that many scientific achievements, including China’s nuclear and satellite programs, were made possible by returnees like Qian Xuesen. They also highlighted that globally competitive Chinese tech companies like Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei count overseas returnees among their core competitive advantages.

The controversy has sparked intense online debate, with supporters of Dong arguing that her caution is justified for security reasons, while critics counter that her views are overly simplistic and ignore the contributions of returnees to China’s development.

According to a 2024 report by employment platform Zhaopin, the number of graduating overseas students returning to China for employment increased by 19% year-over-year, reaching twice the level seen in 2018, driven by domestic policy support and job market expansion.

Source: Radio Free Asia, April 25, 2025https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shangye/jingji/2025/04/25/china-gree-returnees-spy/

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

CNA: Temu’s Direct Shipments from China Have Largely Disappeared

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, starting May 2, the United States imposes a tariff of 120 percent of the declared value or US$100 per piece on small packages from China under US$800. Chinese e-commerce giants SHEIN and Temu originally benefited from the U.S. tariff exemption for small parcels. Now the prices on these two sites have increased by 40 percent to 100 percent.

Currently on the Temu website, the products shipped directly from China have basically disappeared. Temu initially listed tariff duties separately at checkout, showing that the cost of imports often exceeded the price of the goods themselves. Now Temu seems to have switched to only displaying products markers of “Local” and “No import charges.” SHEIN still displays goods shipped from China, however, the website does not list the tariffs separately.

Both SHEIN and Temu have slashed advertising in the United States. Earlier, one out of every five Google Ads was an ad from these two companies. Now the ads of these two companies have disappeared from Google Ads.

Source: CNA, May 2, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202505020304.aspx

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources US-China Relations

Beijing’s “Local-Level Diplomacy” Persists Despite Federal-Level Tensions: Iowa Friendship Committee Hosts Celebration of 40th Anniversary of Xi Jinping’s First Visit to Iowa

Sputnik News, a Russian state-owned news agency and radio broadcast service, recently reported that the U.S. State of Iowa’s Friendship Committee hosted a commemorative event on April 24th marking the 40th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s first visit to Iowa. The event, held in Des Moines amid escalating China-US trade tensions, highlights the persistence of Beijing’s “local diplomacy” efforts. According to Liu Yanjun, a researcher at Peking University’s National Governance Research Institute, “cooperation between local governments and civil organizations in both countries remains strong and authentic despite federal-level frictions.” The event brought together approximately 150 attendees, including representatives from Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang City, Zhengding County, and Xi’s old friends from Iowa.

Concurrently, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, led a delegation to visit Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Iowa between April 20-25, engaging with state and city governments, business communities, foundations, cultural institutions, and universities. Participants emphasized that trade wars are unsustainable and that China and the US should be partners rather than competitors. They advocated maintaining people-to-people exchanges, strengthening local cooperation, and promoting youth exchanges to enhance mutual understanding.

Liu noted that local-level exchanges “demonstrate remarkable resilience and play a positive role in alleviating trade tensions and reducing misunderstandings.” Iowa, as a major agricultural state, has deep trade connections with China, and its farmers and business community felt the negative impact of tariffs during the 2018 trade disputes.

Sputnik wrote that “these grassroots relationships help strengthen public opinion foundations for bilateral relations, break down prejudices, and stabilize trade connections. Many US supply chains depend heavily on the Chinese market, creating tight economic bonds that add stability to the relationship.”

Xi’s connection with Iowa dates back to 1985 when, as a county official from Hebei Province, he visited to study agricultural technology. He returned in 2012 as Vice President and reunited with his Iowa friends in San Francisco in 2023.

Source: Sputnik News, April 29, 2025
https://sputniknews.cn/20250429/1065231740.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations