The China-led Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) caused much controversy, even before it took off. Such a bank can improve the governance of projects, writes financial analyst Sara Hsu in the Diplomat, although there is no guarantee that will happen.Read More →

Chinese are becoming more adventurous in bed, told author Zhang Lijia Sunday at the Beijing Bookworm, with 71% having premarital sex (compared to 15% in 1989). Zhang Lijia prepares a novel “Lotus”, on prostitution in China, writes the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal: Only several decades ago, “Chinese womenRead More →

The consumption of the French Bordeaux might be dropping, the appetite for a Bordeaux chateau is still very much alive among China´s wealthy, says China Rich List founder Rupert Hoogewerf in the Wine Spectator. “It is seen as a safe investment.”Read More →

China´s lack of direction or ideology, makes it very hard to make sense out of its future, writes author Howard French in ChinaFile, in a contribution to the David Shambaugh debate on the demise of the communist part. “Such is the degree of uncertainty we must all live with.”Read More →

The environmental documentary “Under the Dome” by Chai Jing has become more influential, even after Chna´s censors banned it from the internet. Not only because between 100 and 200 million already watched the documentary, says author Zhang Lijia to Bloomberg. The government can no longer brainwash the people.Read More →

An opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal by David Shambaugh on March 7 claims the Communist Party is falling apart. Economist Arthur Kroeber explains in ChinaFile why he is wrong. The next episode in a longstanding “China-is-collapsing” tradition.Read More →