Chinese exports in February fell much steeper than analysts had expected. The drop of 25.7 percent compared with a year ago continues the trend of falling export rates of the last four months, but is significantly steeper than the previous declines. Imports also fell sharply by 24.1 percent in February. China’s trade surplus shrank sharply from a record high of $39.1 billion to $4.84 billion. At the same time, fixed asset investment in roads, railways and power grids increased significantly, sparking hopes that the economic stimulus package shows first positive effects. The struggling export sector will increase the domestic pressure on China’s government to weaken the yuan, while partner countries demand an appreciation of China’s currency.
Ahead of the release of official industry statistics for February initial signs point to only weak growth. With the exception of a few sectors in areas such as oil exploration and non-metal mining, most industries are expected to report lower growth rates for February. China’s heavy industry sector has been particularly hit by the slowdown, with its overcapacity posing major problems for policymakers.
A government official emphasized that China’s economic stimulus plan will not put economic growth over the environment. The Environment Ministry so far has rejected projects worth RMB 104 billion due to environmental considerations. The government is particularly concerned about risks to the country’s drinking water sources, energy consumption, and natural reserves.
A few months ago, I wrote about the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While it appears likely that the war will carry on into the foreseeable future, enough time has passed for us to make an honest assessment of each side’s relative […]
The Ukrainian Army has made dramatic strides in the last few weeks. Ukraine’s tactical commanders have outfoxed their Russian counterparts, and by issuing a feint towards the south the UA has been able to earn substantial gains in the north of their country. The impact of these efforts have been compounded by the steady stream […]
In mid-May the Irish political party, Sinn Féin, won the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Many American readers might not fully understand the significance of Sinn Féin’s political victory- but rest assured that subjects of the United Kingdom and a wide range of political movements the world over have heard the message […]
The first wave of the Russian offensive in Ukraine has fallen short of Russian autocrat Vladmir Putin’s ambitions. Most analysts deduced that Putin had hoped to achieve a decapitation strike of the Ukrainian government- taking Kiev and replacing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zolinski with a pro-Kremlin voice. Kiev has been threatened repeatedly through the course of […]
On the weekend of March 26th, the notorious MS-13 gang went on a massive killing spree in El Salvador which left more than 70 people dead by Sunday. Even for a country where powerful gangs hold massive sway, this recent tragedy stands out considering that it was the bloodiest day on record since the civil […]
