They are arch-rivals and seal off their platforms from each other: China's tech giants Alibaba and Tencent. But now Beijing is getting serious about the fight against digital monopolies. For better or worse, the two will have to cooperate. Alibaba made the first step and now applied for a mini-program on Tencent's mega app WeChat for its online store Taobao Deals. What does Beijing's action mean for the private platform economy in the People's Republic?
Von Christiane Kuehl
The latest update of the Asian financial safety net, CMIM, is another step toward greater Asian financial independence – away from the US dollar and the US-dominated IMF. The CMIM, in which China, Japan, and South Korea play a central role, is being strengthened just as the new US administration under President Joe Biden seeks to revive its influence in Asia. This also plays into China's long-term plans for the yuan.
Von Frank Sieren
Taiwan tensions between China and the US are rising rapidly. Both sides are increasing their military presence in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing is pushing into Taiwan's airspace with an ever-increasing military force. But Taipei is also arming itself. Next week Democrats and Republicans in the US Senate will debate a bill that could further strengthen the United States' ties with Taiwan.
Von Felix Lee
The world's largest sportswear manufacturers Nike and Adidas are plagued by boycott concerns in their China business. Their Chinese competitor Anta Sports, meanwhile, is actively sourcing cotton from Xinjiang. A strategy that could become a problem internationally for the main supplier of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
Von Redaktion Table
The introduction of emissions trading in China opens up the opportunity for joint certificate trading with the EU. The gains from such a link would be enormous, and border adjustment would be superfluous. Sonja Peterson and Malte Winkler, researchers at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, write about the political conditions that need to be created and the regulations that need to be put in place for the project to succeed.
Von Antje Sirleschtov
