China’s record-breaking trade surplus, better tasting rice: SCMP daily highlights
From China’s record-breaking trade surplus to Beijing and Tokyo’s bid to mend ties, here’s a round-up from today’s China and economy coverage
1. China posts record trade surplus as export wave finds shores outside US
Buttressed by a massive spike in exports, all-time highs in car and computer chip shipments and its largest-ever share of trade with countries in the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s record-breaking trade surplus in 2024 underscored the resilience of its supply chain – though higher tariffs on the horizon will make similar levels of trade growth a challenge in 2025.
2. US diplomat and economist Robert Hormats on ‘embedded competition’ with China
The veteran diplomat and economist untangles twists and turns of a full China-US decoupling, says differences should be managed carefully.
3. Chinese rice tastes better than it did 16 years ago, research team finds
The taste of rice in China has improved over the past decade or so, Chinese researchers have discovered.
