China news roundup / Nachrichten 2025-09-11/12

‘I’m so in debt’: China’s personal loan subsidy draws scepticism as financial strain grows among youth

"Dubbed the first of its kind in China at the central government level, according to Vice Finance Minister Liao Min, the government’s loan interest subsidy is meant to lift household spending and revive domestic consumption. It applies to purchases under 50,000 yuan, and to bigger-ticket items in priority sectors like automobiles, elderly care, childbirth support, education, healthcare, electronics and home renovation. Borrowers get a one-percentage-point cut in loan interest for a year, capped at half the original rate - but it only applies to the first 50,000 yuan of any transaction, even for big-ticket items."

--- So, only 500 RMB per transaction. I doubt that will do much for China's economy, although 1 % is more than you might think:

"A CNA check found interest rates at participating banks for consumer loans hovering above 3 per cent."

--- & yet, it will most likely be useless, because there is a reason for the low rates. Slightly lower rates won't create more demand.

Super Apps: A Path To Surveillance in China and Russia

"Over the past decade, WeChat has transformed from a messaging platform into a ubiquitous surveillance tool, integrating policing, citizen verification, and location tracking in seamless, everyday use. Public acceptance of this trade-off is widespread: many citizens willingly surrender certain freedoms for convenience, efficiency, and economic growth. Mechanisms such as mandatory real-name registration entrench this model, and the narrative of prosperity helps reinforce the government’s legitimacy."

--- Well, the narrative of prosperity doesn't have much to do with it. It's more convenience. Most Chinese simply don't care about privacy and what the state does with it.

If We Fear China Militarily, Then Open The U.S. To Chinese Exports

"Openness to foreign production is the single greatest national security strategy the world has ever known. And nothing else comes close. That’s because foreign countries are loathe to aim their guns and missiles at their best customers. To say the latter is costly, impoverishing, and by extension a threat to national security insults obvious."

--- It is only obvious to naive morons who think that making money is the most important thing in the world. The CCP is not only about making money, it's about having power. Emperor Xi is not only concerned about power, although mainly he is, but also about legacy. His legacy is conquering Taiwan. He has already shown that he is willing to sacrifice economical growth for consolidating power. Economical concerns will not stop him from realizing what he sees as his legacy.

"If the Chinese really wanted to hurt us, they’d cease exporting to us. Get it?"

--- Nope, moron. China wants to create dependencies, and then use them when it needs to.

Mexico acting ‘under coercion to constrain’ China with 50% tariff on cars, says Beijing

"China’s ministry of foreign affairs said Beijing “firmly rejects moves that are taken under coercion to constrain China or undermine China’s legitimate rights and interests under any pretext”. “China attaches great importance to its relations with Mexico and hopes that Mexico will work with China to jointly advance world economic recovery and the development of global trade.” Separately, China’s commerce ministry warned of countermeasures, saying it hoped Mexico “will be extremely cautious, and think twice before acting”."

--- So, China sees Mexico as the victim of American bullying, but instead of helping the victim, China intends to bully it, too.

Targeted abroad and shunned at home: Chinese overseas students caught in limbo

" None of his 70-something applications to state-backed banks and financial firms landed him a role, with most not even passing the initial CV screenings, Lian noted. “There are likely political sensitivities at play,” he said, asking CNN not to disclose which Chinese university he studied at because of the sensitivities of the subject. Lian thinks his experience in the US hindered his entry into the public sector – and made applying for a role in a private company unexpectedly challenging. [...] not all Chinese companies gave them a rousing reception at a time of intense nationalism and national security suspicions under Xi. In late April, Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of China’s home appliances giant Gree Electric told a shareholder meeting that the company “will never use any returnees because there could be spies among them” [...] Since 2023, multiple provinces, including arguably the most liberal-minded Guangdong in southeastern China and major cities like Beijing, have barred foreign degree holders from signing up to the “Xuandiaosheng” program, a government recruitment initiative that selects elite graduates to groom as future senior cadres for the government and the ruling Communist Party.“"

--- Emperor Xi's a nationalist paranoia penetrating all of society.

"“The emphasis on internal stability and control has, in many ways, taken precedence over previous commitments to reform and openness,” said Wu, noting that overseas students are a key embodiment of China’s “opening door” policy."

--- But hey, China says it is still opening up even wider. The CCP is not lying to us now, is it?

China pilots village surveillance in Solomon Islands, seeks stability

"China's "Fengqiao" monitoring model - started under Mao Zedong in the 1960s to help communities mobilise against reactionary "class enemies" - has been reinvigorated by Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure stability in local communities. In the Solomon Islands, a security partner of Beijing, Chinese police have visited several villages this year promoting the Fengqiao concept, familiarising children with surveillance drones by playing games, pictures posted to social media by Solomon Islands police show."

--- Which shows nicely what the CCP and the Solomon government have in mind for the Solomon islands.

Philippines protests China's plan for a nature reserve at a hotly disputed shoal

US stands with Philippines against China's plan in South China Sea atoll, Rubio says

China ratifies extradition treaty with Serbia

--- China Uncensored featured the usual weekend news variety:

--- China's new weapons:

China könnte die US-Armee in Drohnenschwärmen versinken lassen

"Eine Simulation der Denkfabrik zeigt nun, dass China unterschiedliche Drohnentypen innerhalb der strategischen Inselkette von Japan über Taiwan bis zu den Philippinen einsetzen könnte. Das Szenario macht deutlich: Ohne größere Vorräte und besser integrierte Abwehrsysteme sind die USA nicht ausreichend gewappnet. [...] Die bisherigen Investitionen der USA reichen dem Bericht zufolge nicht aus. Ein Großteil des Budgets gehe zudem in zu teure Abwehrsysteme"

--- Stimmt. Ist aber auch keine Neuigkeit.

"Admiral Samuel Paparo vom US-Indopazifik-Kommando brachte laut „Business Insider“ eine heikle Gegenstrategie ins Spiel. Demnach könnten die USA die Taiwanstraße selbst durch Drohnenschwärme in eine unpassierbare Zone für China verwandeln."

--- & was ist daran heikel? Genau das ist ein Teil der Strategie, die Taiwan braucht, um einen chinesischen Angriff abzuwehren.

Wer soll das bezahlen?

"so sind die Leistungen verhältnismäßig niedrig und reichen häufig nicht aus, gerade in den teuren Städten werden oft Erspartes und die Unterstützung der Familie benötigt. Wer schwer krank wird, wird trotz Krankenversicherung durch die hohen Zuzahlungen nicht selten in den Ruin getrieben. Deswegen sparen die Menschen in China, um für Notsituationen abgesichert zu sein - gerade in Krisenzeiten. Das wiederum bremst den Binnenkonsum, den Chinas kommunistische Führung gerne zum Laufen bringen möchte."

--- Die neuen Regeln werden daran auch nicht viel ändern, da sich viele kleinere Arbeitgeber das nicht leisten können und deswegen vielleicht sogar schließen müssen.