The secret to BYD’s success is simple: The company makes high-tech electric and hybrid cars and sells them at incredible prices. The tiny BYD Seagull costs as little as $8,000 in China, and it’s a megahit in several countries. The Chinese car industry—not just BYD but also its many competitors that also make affordable cars—is quickly taking over the world. In Europe, Chinese models make up nearly 10 percent of new-car sales, in large part because they’re typically thousands of dollars cheaper than options from homegrown Volkswagen and Renault. And in Mexico, about 20 percent of new cars are made in China.
lørdag 24. januar 2026
The Firewall Against Chinese Cars Is Cracking
Two decades ago, a California company called Tesla Motors almost single-handedly created the electric vehicle as we now know it. Elon Musk’s company has dominated the industry across the globe ever since. But last year, for the first time in a long time, the world’s biggest seller of EVs wasn’t Tesla. It was the Chinese auto giant BYD.
The secret to BYD’s success is simple: The company makes high-tech electric and hybrid cars and sells them at incredible prices. The tiny BYD Seagull costs as little as $8,000 in China, and it’s a megahit in several countries. The Chinese car industry—not just BYD but also its many competitors that also make affordable cars—is quickly taking over the world. In Europe, Chinese models make up nearly 10 percent of new-car sales, in large part because they’re typically thousands of dollars cheaper than options from homegrown Volkswagen and Renault. And in Mexico, about 20 percent of new cars are made in China.
The secret to BYD’s success is simple: The company makes high-tech electric and hybrid cars and sells them at incredible prices. The tiny BYD Seagull costs as little as $8,000 in China, and it’s a megahit in several countries. The Chinese car industry—not just BYD but also its many competitors that also make affordable cars—is quickly taking over the world. In Europe, Chinese models make up nearly 10 percent of new-car sales, in large part because they’re typically thousands of dollars cheaper than options from homegrown Volkswagen and Renault. And in Mexico, about 20 percent of new cars are made in China.
How Mark Carney left Donald Trump in the dust in Davos
The meeting and venue were the same, but the style and tone of the two most anticipated keynote speeches at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos could not have been more different.
On Tuesday, January 20, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney addressed the assembled political and business leaders as one of them: a national leader with deep expertise in finance.
He spoke about a “rupture” in the world order and the duty of nations to come together through appropriate coalitions for the benefit of all. It was a paean to multilateralism, but one that recognized that the US would no longer provide the glue to hold alliances together. Carney never mentioned the US by name in his speech, instead talking of “great powers” and “hegemons.”
On Tuesday, January 20, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney addressed the assembled political and business leaders as one of them: a national leader with deep expertise in finance.
He spoke about a “rupture” in the world order and the duty of nations to come together through appropriate coalitions for the benefit of all. It was a paean to multilateralism, but one that recognized that the US would no longer provide the glue to hold alliances together. Carney never mentioned the US by name in his speech, instead talking of “great powers” and “hegemons.”
Trump at Davos marked start of a new world era
Donald Trump’s concern about the strategic positioning of Greenland is rational. But the way the US president has approached the issue is not – and could still rupture NATO and cause enduring harm to North Atlantic political and economic relations.
The question for those attending the World Economic Forum in Davos all week has been how to respond to Trump’s ambition for the US to own Greenland by hook or by crook.His speech on January 21 – which appeared to concede that the US will not take Greenland by force – and his subsequent claim of having negotiated what he referred to as a “framework agreement” with the Nato secretary-general, Mark Rutte, have at least given the assembled heads of state something to work with.
But America’s allies are faced with a series of options. They could try to wait out the 1,093 days left in Trump’s term in the hope that nothing drastic happens. They could appease Trump by conceding to some of his demands.
The question for those attending the World Economic Forum in Davos all week has been how to respond to Trump’s ambition for the US to own Greenland by hook or by crook.His speech on January 21 – which appeared to concede that the US will not take Greenland by force – and his subsequent claim of having negotiated what he referred to as a “framework agreement” with the Nato secretary-general, Mark Rutte, have at least given the assembled heads of state something to work with.
But America’s allies are faced with a series of options. They could try to wait out the 1,093 days left in Trump’s term in the hope that nothing drastic happens. They could appease Trump by conceding to some of his demands.
China’s top general under investigation in latest military purge
The Chinese military’s top general is being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law the Defense Ministry said Saturday. Zhang Youxia, the senior of the two vice chairs of the powerful Central Military Commission, is the latest figure to fall in a long-running purge of military officials.
Analysts believe the purges are designed both to reform the military and to ensure loyalty to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who also chairs the military commission. They are part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has punished more than 200,000 officials since Xi came to power in 2012.
Analysts believe the purges are designed both to reform the military and to ensure loyalty to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who also chairs the military commission. They are part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has punished more than 200,000 officials since Xi came to power in 2012.
Trump threatens new 100% tariffs on Canada over possible trade deal with China
President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to slap 100% tariffs on Canadian imports if America’s second-biggest trading partner makes a trade deal with China. The comments threaten to deepen the divide between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, after back-and-forth threats to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, including 10% duties, after Ontario’s ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan’s speech about tariffs.
Trump mockingly referred to Carney as “governor,” a term he has also used for former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, playing off his call for Canada to become the 51st US state.
Trump mockingly referred to Carney as “governor,” a term he has also used for former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, playing off his call for Canada to become the 51st US state.
Meta lends a censoring hand to Vietnam’s Party congress
As the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) convenes its 14th National Congress, the country’s most critical transfer of power, the regime has launched a comprehensive campaign to “sanitize” the information environment.
But unlike the crude censorship of the past, Hanoi has found a sophisticated partner in its transnational repression: Meta (Facebook).In recent months, the world has witnessed “noisy” legal battles targeting activists in Europe. Figures like journalist Le Trung Khoa, lawyer Nguyen Van Dai, or activist Dang Hue Nhu face a dual-pronged attack: First, civil lawsuits from VinFast in German courts. Then, criminal prosecution orders from Hanoi under Article 117 for “propaganda against the state.”
But unlike the crude censorship of the past, Hanoi has found a sophisticated partner in its transnational repression: Meta (Facebook).In recent months, the world has witnessed “noisy” legal battles targeting activists in Europe. Figures like journalist Le Trung Khoa, lawyer Nguyen Van Dai, or activist Dang Hue Nhu face a dual-pronged attack: First, civil lawsuits from VinFast in German courts. Then, criminal prosecution orders from Hanoi under Article 117 for “propaganda against the state.”
Vietnam now a party of one under To Lam
As the curtain fell on the Vietnamese Communist Party’s five-yearly 14th National Congress, international observers focused on the headlines: General To Lam’s unanimous re-election as general secretary and his ambitious 10% GDP growth target. The surface narrative was of continuity and stability.
However, a closer examination reveals a structural anomaly. In an unprecedented move, the Congress Resolution included a directive to propose amendments to the Party Charter “immediately after” the five-yearly event.This directly contradicted pre-Congress statements by senior officials who assured the public and Party base that the Charter wouldn’t be changed.
In the opaque world of Vietnamese politics, where procedure is often as important as personnel, this flip-flop is significant. It signals that the existing political framework, the “four pillars” system carefully maintained by the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is no longer compatible with Lam’s new emerging power structure.
However, a closer examination reveals a structural anomaly. In an unprecedented move, the Congress Resolution included a directive to propose amendments to the Party Charter “immediately after” the five-yearly event.This directly contradicted pre-Congress statements by senior officials who assured the public and Party base that the Charter wouldn’t be changed.
In the opaque world of Vietnamese politics, where procedure is often as important as personnel, this flip-flop is significant. It signals that the existing political framework, the “four pillars” system carefully maintained by the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is no longer compatible with Lam’s new emerging power structure.
fredag 23. januar 2026
Torbjørn Færøvik: The Chinese Wind Turbines Trump Couldn't Find
In the White House, there are no fact-checkers. That is why things were bound to go wrong when Donald Trump took the podium in Davos yesterday.
“China makes almost all the wind turbines in the world, and yet I haven’t been able to find a single wind farm in China,” he said, tossing his head confidently.
“The Chinese are very smart. They make them and sell them for a fortune. They sell them to the stupid people who buy them, but they don’t use them themselves … They just put them up to show people what they could look like, but they don’t spin, they don’t do anything.”
What nonsense.
China is not only the world’s largest producer of wind turbines; it is also the world’s largest consumer of wind power. The biggest manufacturer, Goldwind, employs more than 11,000 people in China and abroad. Around 3,000 of them work in research and development. Several other producers are close behind, and competition is fierce.
“China makes almost all the wind turbines in the world, and yet I haven’t been able to find a single wind farm in China,” he said, tossing his head confidently.
“The Chinese are very smart. They make them and sell them for a fortune. They sell them to the stupid people who buy them, but they don’t use them themselves … They just put them up to show people what they could look like, but they don’t spin, they don’t do anything.”
What nonsense.
China is not only the world’s largest producer of wind turbines; it is also the world’s largest consumer of wind power. The biggest manufacturer, Goldwind, employs more than 11,000 people in China and abroad. Around 3,000 of them work in research and development. Several other producers are close behind, and competition is fierce.
US hoping sea drones can narrow China’s naval edge
As the US Navy races to field a hybrid manned–unmanned fleet built around swarms of robotic surface vessels, the effort underscores both an ambitious attempt to reshape naval warfare and a sobering response to China’s growing numerical and industrial advantage at sea.
This month, Defense Scoop reported that the US Navy is rapidly expanding its use of unmanned surface vessels (USV) as part of a long-term effort to transform nearly half of its surface fleet into robotic platforms by 2045, senior officials said. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium, US Navy leaders detailed how the service is accelerating investment, experimentation and operational integration of sea drones to support a hybrid manned-unmanned force under its Surface Force Vision 2045 strategy.
This month, Defense Scoop reported that the US Navy is rapidly expanding its use of unmanned surface vessels (USV) as part of a long-term effort to transform nearly half of its surface fleet into robotic platforms by 2045, senior officials said. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium, US Navy leaders detailed how the service is accelerating investment, experimentation and operational integration of sea drones to support a hybrid manned-unmanned force under its Surface Force Vision 2045 strategy.
Accelerationist State: China’s biopharma revolution
The continuous stream of drug approvals by Chinese pharmaceutical companies should be a source of awe to any global innovation investor. There are multiple reasons that have led to the current point. However, one key contributor is China’s drug approval policy transformation, which is one of the most under-discussed and massively impactful policy narratives of our era.
The history of the global pharmaceutical industry has largely been a monologue, spoken by the West and listened to by the East. For the better part of the post-war era, the United States, through the engines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), served as the world’s laboratory.
The history of the global pharmaceutical industry has largely been a monologue, spoken by the West and listened to by the East. For the better part of the post-war era, the United States, through the engines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), served as the world’s laboratory.
TikTok was thriving in the U.S., even before a joint venture saved it from a potential ban
TikTok has just announced a new U.S. venture that will keep it operating there after years of concerns about its links to China. But even as it was nearly banned and faced scrutiny from officials, the short-video platform still dominated in 2025.
The app, owned by Beijing-headquartered ByteDance, was the second-most-downloaded app across Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store in the U.S. in 2025, according to Sensor Tower data, defying a near-ban in the market. Another ByteDance app, CapCut, ranked fourth, with the video editing tool climbing three places from a year ago.
Other China-linked apps also had strong showings across U.S. app stores in 2025, with major e-commerce players like Temu and Shein thriving even as they were targeted by policy changes, Sensor Tower data showed.
The app, owned by Beijing-headquartered ByteDance, was the second-most-downloaded app across Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store in the U.S. in 2025, according to Sensor Tower data, defying a near-ban in the market. Another ByteDance app, CapCut, ranked fourth, with the video editing tool climbing three places from a year ago.
Other China-linked apps also had strong showings across U.S. app stores in 2025, with major e-commerce players like Temu and Shein thriving even as they were targeted by policy changes, Sensor Tower data showed.
Why experts question whether China’s one-child policy was necessary in the first place
China’s one-child policy, one of the harshest attempts at population control the world has seen, forced abortions on women, made sterilization widespread and led to baby daughters being sold or even killed, because parents wanted their only child to be a male.
Now, experts say, the question is whether it was all necessary. China’s birth rate fell to record lows last year and its population has fallen for four years in a row, official statistics showed this week. Authorities, alarmed by the prospect of a shrinking workforce and an aging population, scrapped the policy in 2015.
“It’s hard to escape the fact that China demographically shot itself in the foot,” said Mei Fong, the author of the 2016 book, “One Child: The Story of China’s Most Radical Experiment.”
Now, experts say, the question is whether it was all necessary. China’s birth rate fell to record lows last year and its population has fallen for four years in a row, official statistics showed this week. Authorities, alarmed by the prospect of a shrinking workforce and an aging population, scrapped the policy in 2015.
“It’s hard to escape the fact that China demographically shot itself in the foot,” said Mei Fong, the author of the 2016 book, “One Child: The Story of China’s Most Radical Experiment.”
Japan will hold an early election next month as Takaichi aims to capitalize on her popularity
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday, paving the way for an early election on Feb. 8. The move is an attempt to capitalize on her popularity to help the governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years, but it will delay parliamentary approval for a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices.
Takaichi, elected in October as Japan’s first female leader, has been in office only three months, but she has seen strong approval ratings of about 70%.
Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party could still face some challenges as it reels from a series of scandals about corruption and the party’s past ties to the Unification Church. But it’s not clear if the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance can attract moderate voters, while opposition parties are still too splintered to a pose a serious threat to the LDP.
Takaichi, elected in October as Japan’s first female leader, has been in office only three months, but she has seen strong approval ratings of about 70%.
Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party could still face some challenges as it reels from a series of scandals about corruption and the party’s past ties to the Unification Church. But it’s not clear if the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance can attract moderate voters, while opposition parties are still too splintered to a pose a serious threat to the LDP.
2 Tiananmen vigil organizers plead not guilty in Hong Kong national security trial
Two organizers of Hong Kong’s long-running vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown pleaded not guilty Thursday, while a third pleaded guilty before the trial brought under a national security law that has largely erased dissent in the city.
Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged with inciting subversion in September 2021 under the China-imposed national security law. Prosecutors allege “ending one-party rule,” what the group had long called for, was against China’s constitution.
Lee and Chow pleaded not guilty and a hearing for arguments over defense witnesses was scheduled to resume Friday. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Ho entered a guilty plea and was convicted by Judge Alex Lee, who said the court will handle his plea for a lighter sentence after the trial, which is expected to last 75 days.
Lee and Chow pleaded not guilty and a hearing for arguments over defense witnesses was scheduled to resume Friday. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Ho entered a guilty plea and was convicted by Judge Alex Lee, who said the court will handle his plea for a lighter sentence after the trial, which is expected to last 75 days.
Hong Kong vigil organizer says she was seeking democracy, not end to Communist Party rule
A prominent activist who organized Hong Kong’s decades-old vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square military crackdown on democracy protesters said Friday that her group’s demand for “ending one-party rule” was a call for democratization, not for an end to the Communist Party’s leadership in China.
Chow Hang-tung, a former leader of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, stated in court Friday during a trialbrought under a national security law that virtually silenced dissent in the city. She was charged with inciting subversion in September 2021 under the law Beijing imposed following massive anti-government protests in 2019. She was accused of inciting others to organize, plan or act through unlawful means with a view to subvert the state power.
Chow Hang-tung, a former leader of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, stated in court Friday during a trialbrought under a national security law that virtually silenced dissent in the city. She was charged with inciting subversion in September 2021 under the law Beijing imposed following massive anti-government protests in 2019. She was accused of inciting others to organize, plan or act through unlawful means with a view to subvert the state power.
torsdag 22. januar 2026
What to know about Greenland’s role in nuclear defense and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’
In a hypothetical nuclear war involving Russia, China and the United States, the island of Greenland would be in the middle of Armageddon.
The strategic importance of the Arctic territory — under the flight paths that nuclear-armed missiles from China and Russia could take on their way to incinerating targets in the United States, and vice versa — is one of the reasons U.S. President Donald Trump has cited in his disruptive campaign to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark, alarming Greenlanders and longtime allies in Europe alike.
Trump has argued that U.S. ownership of Greenland is vital for his “Golden Dome” — a multibillion dollar missile defense system that he says will be operational before his term ends in 2029.
The strategic importance of the Arctic territory — under the flight paths that nuclear-armed missiles from China and Russia could take on their way to incinerating targets in the United States, and vice versa — is one of the reasons U.S. President Donald Trump has cited in his disruptive campaign to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark, alarming Greenlanders and longtime allies in Europe alike.
Trump has argued that U.S. ownership of Greenland is vital for his “Golden Dome” — a multibillion dollar missile defense system that he says will be operational before his term ends in 2029.
Man who assassinated former Japan leader Abe with homemade gun sentenced to life in prison
The man who killed Japan’s ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a homemade gun was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, public broadcaster NHK reported. The ruling concludes a trial over an assassination that shocked Japan – where gun violence is rare – and put the spotlight on an influential religious sect.
Tetsuya Yamagami shot Abe in broad daylight with a gun he fashioned at home, while the former leader was giving a campaign speech on a street in the western city of Nara in 2022. Abe had stepped down as prime minister in 2020 over health reasons. But he was still politically active and wielded enormous influence as Japan’s longest-serving premier.
Tetsuya Yamagami shot Abe in broad daylight with a gun he fashioned at home, while the former leader was giving a campaign speech on a street in the western city of Nara in 2022. Abe had stepped down as prime minister in 2020 over health reasons. But he was still politically active and wielded enormous influence as Japan’s longest-serving premier.
China meets initial soybean purchase goal, but Trump’s shifting trade policy could disrupt deal
China has fulfilled its initial commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans from the U.S., but it’s not clear if the trade agreement announced in October can withstand President Donald Trump’s ever-shifting trade policy as American farmers are still dealing with high production costs.
Earlier this month, Trump said he would impose 25% tariffs on any country that buys from Iran, which would include China. Then last weekend he threatened to impose 10% tariffs on eight of America’s closest allies in Europe if they continue to oppose his efforts to acquire Greenland.
So the administration’s trade policy continues to change quickly, and Iowa State University agricultural economist Chad Hart said that could undermine the trade agreement with China and jeopardize the commitment by the world’s largest soybean buyer to purchase 25 million metric tons of American soybeans in each of the next three years.
Earlier this month, Trump said he would impose 25% tariffs on any country that buys from Iran, which would include China. Then last weekend he threatened to impose 10% tariffs on eight of America’s closest allies in Europe if they continue to oppose his efforts to acquire Greenland.
So the administration’s trade policy continues to change quickly, and Iowa State University agricultural economist Chad Hart said that could undermine the trade agreement with China and jeopardize the commitment by the world’s largest soybean buyer to purchase 25 million metric tons of American soybeans in each of the next three years.
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