China news roundup / Nachrichten 2026-03-03/04
China’s factory activity slumps more than expected in February as holiday disrupts production
"The official manufacturing purchasing managers index fell to 49 in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, missing economists’ forecast for 49.1. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while levels above that threshold signal expansion.
That marks a second straight month of contraction, with PMI reading matching October and April 2025 levels. The official PMI had come in at 49.3 in January following a brief rebound in December.
The composite PMI, a broader measure that tracks activity across manufacturing and services, dropped to 49.5 from 49.8 in January
[...] The non-manufacturing PMI, which covers services and construction, edged 0.1 percentage point to 49.5."
--- All of this, of course, only because of a totally unexpected holiday. And absolutely unrelated to a long ongoing recession.
"A private survey, however, pointed to a sharp rebound in manufacturing activity last month. The RatingDog China General Manufacturing PMI, conducted by S&P Global, surged to 52.1 in February"
--- Nothing in China is really private. What's more, they concentrate on export business. Exports is the only part of the Chinese economy which is still somewhat working.
China removes three retired generals from national advisory body
"China has removed three retired military generals, including a former commander of the People's Liberation Army ground force, from a top political advisory body just days before its largest annual political gathering.
[...] Some 3,000 delegates from the CPPCC, an advisory body with no legislative power – and China's rubber-stamp legislature the National People's Congress – will gather in Beijing this week for the annual Two Sessions. The meetings begin tomorrow and will run for about a week.
Delegates of the CPPCC and NPC typically serve out their five-year terms, and their current terms are set to end in March 2028, which makes these mid-term removals unusual.
[...] In addition to the three generals, several other CPPCC members were officially sacked, including Zhang Kejian, a senior official in the defence industry who is under investigation for corruption."
--- If Emperor Xi doesn't get his paranoia under control soon, he will end up a very lonely dictator indeed.
s.a.: What to know about the 'two sessions', China's biggest political meeting
What China’s response to the US attack on Iran says about its foreign policy
"The loss of Iranian oil appears marginal, not material, at least in the short-term,"
--- Exactly. There is enough oil on the world markets to make up for the losses of China in Venezuela and Iran.
Men on trial accused of 'shadow policing' for China on British soil
"Wai was working for the UK Border Force, was a volunteer Special Constable with the City of London Police and used to work for the Metropolitan Police"
--- Being a commie, he must have felt right at home there.
MP not seen anything to suspect husband has 'broken any law', after China spy arrests
"Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament if Chinese interference in UK sovereign affairs were proven, "severe consequences" would be imposed.
"This government stands resolute in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity targeting the UK from any state actor,""
Philippines apprehends Filipino nationals suspected of spying for China
European Commission proposes ‘Buy EU’ plan to compete against China
--- China Uncensored: "It Feels So Good To Be Ahead of the Curve"
--- China Uncensored: "Germany's China Death Wish"
China schmiedet Anti-USA-Allianz nach Angriffen auf Iran
"Deswegen will China im Gegensatz zu den USA die Vereinten Nationen stärken. Washington schuldet den UN circa vier Milliarden US-Dollar Mitgliedsbeiträge. Gleichzeitig sucht China Schulterschluss mit Europa. In der gemeinsamen Erklärung nach dem Besuch von Merz in China hieß es noch: "Beide Seiten bekräftigten ihre Auffassung, dass die Grundsätze der Charta der Vereinten Nationen und das Völkerrecht die Grundlage für die internationale Zusammenarbeit bilden. Deutschland und China werden sich für diese weiterhin einsetzen und auf dieser Basis zu internationalen Fragen weiter im Dialog bleiben.""
--- Es gibt unter deutschen Journalisten tatsächlich naive Volltrottel, die solchen chinesischen Beteuerungen Glauben schenken.
Offenbar tut der Angriff Regierenden in Peking nicht besonders weh
