Moving production of crucial silicon components to other parts of China – away from its autonomous region embroiled in labour-abuse allegations – will be a lengthy and challenging process, analysts say.

Despite China’s climate ambitions, energy security and economic stability will drive the use of coal in the world’s second largest economy for decades to come, experts say.

China’s expansion of its oil and gas pipeline network is ‘incompatible’ with its undertaking to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 and could lead to stranded assets, a new report by the Global Energy Monitor warns.

Xi Jinping’s pledge at the United Nations General Assembly this week for China to be carbon neutral by 2060 offers few details on how it will be achieved.

As the primary global backer of coal power, China is likely to come under increasing pressure to scale back overseas coal investment following recent steps by South Korea and Japan to reduce state support.

Environmentalists say China is in the midst of a new coal boom, as provincial governments fall back on the old playbook of investing in fossil-fuel heavy energy projects in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

China has stepped up criticism of the US dollar hegemony in the face of floods of coronavirus stimulus and potential sanctions, but analysts warn there is no alternative.

The Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 51.2 from 50.8 in May, the strongest rate of expansion recorded since December 2019.

China’s producer price index (PPI) fell 3.7 per cent year-on-year in May, highlighting the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Four Indonesian fishermen died while working on Chinese fishing boats, with crew members saying they faced abuse, 21-hour days and were given meagre meals.

Despite tentative signs of economic recovery at home, projects under the Belt and Road Initiative remain cut off from vital Chinese materials and specialist labour.

China’s factory gate prices fell further into deflation at minus 1.5 per cent in March from a year earlier, reflecting the ongoing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

With increasing economic headwinds, fears grow that China’s transition to a greener economy will be hit by the coronavirus.

China’s consumer price index rose by 5.4 per cent in January, partly driven by soaring pork prices, while the producer price index rose marginally by 0.1 per cent.

Malaysia’s electronic industry has seen a surge in investment over the past 18 months as US and Chinese companies look to escape tariffs placed on each other’s products.

Pew survey finds most people view China’s strong economy as positive, but Beijing’s growing economic and military might is seen as threatening in the Asia-Pacific.

Global sales growth by volume will decelerate to 2.2 per cent next year with the US-China trade war and increased online competition heaping pressure on the sector.