Some Tuesday China links:
China buys nearly half of the 1.5 million barrels of oil Iraq produces each day, according to the New York Times.
As WeChat expands into social networking and media, the Economic Observer wonders if it will replace Weibo. Among the insights from the article: “One major advantage WeChat has over Weibo is the fact that it’s rooted in mobile communication. Since all accounts need to be bound to a cellphone number, it makes it very difficult to create zombie accounts on the platform.”
Ahead of the Xi-Obama summit this week, the President of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, and former U.S. Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman have an op-ed on how to “play well” with China. One recommendation: “The first step will be for Mr. Obama and his representatives to stop trying to negotiate with the China they want to see and engage China as it is…. China is every bit as exceptionalist as America, and has been for centuries.”
With Xi Jinping visiting Latin America and Mexico, China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, is once again in the spotlight and making a splash. The Financial Times puts Peng’s soft power into the larger context of the rising stature of Chinese fashion brands. Still, there’s room for foreign fashion companies to make a buck in China and the Jing Daily provides a checklist on factors to consider before making the leap. Meanwhile, manufacturers of baijiu, the world’s most consumed liquor almost entirely because of its popularity in China, are hoping to get into the export business.
Today marks the 24th anniversary of the crackdown on protestors in Tiananmen Square. According to the Wall Street Journal’s Real Time China, last Friday Weibo users were suddenly able to search for usually censored terms about the June 4th incident. China Digitial Times reports that censorship has returned in full force this week. In related news, South China Morning Post interviews Bao Tong, the highest level official jailed over the protests. The New York Times explains how China's current leaders were impacted by Tinanamen.
SCMP also entered the mobile world this week with a new app for iOS and Android Devices.
What did we miss? Want to share an important article with other readers? Please submit your links in the comment box below!