Chinese President Xi Jinping told Pedro Sánchez this Tuesday that both China and Spain "are on the right side of history". He stated this at the beginning of the meeting the two held in Beijing as part of the Spanish president's official visit. Alluding to conflicts such as the one in Iran, Xi argued that the two countries agree on the defense of international law, which he said has been "gravely undermined", and urged the socialist leader to join efforts against the "law of the jungle" and in favor of peace and multilateralism.

In the regal auditorium of Tsinghua University, one of China's most prestigious, the Spanish Prime Minister has initiated the official visit to the Asian giant with a clear statement of intent in the form of a speech. Pedro Sánchez has advocated for strengthening multilateralism and, at the same time, reforming it to have a more representative and democratic UN Security Council that gives more power to southern countries. Although he has acknowledged China's efforts in defending international law, he has assigned it homework, for example, to get involved in ceasing conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, and also in Ukraine. He has not forgotten about the economy and has demanded more balanced relations, recalling the large trade deficit with the Asian giant: "We need China to open up so that Europe does not have to close itself off".

The war against Iran is impacting the global fertilizer trade: its scarcity will drive up prices and lead to less abundant harvests. Most fertilizers are produced in the Middle East and also transit through the Strait of Hormuz, just like oil and gas. In fact, one-third of the world's fertilizer trade passes through this strait, and its main destination is Southeast Asia. Asia already fears not having enough food due to the conflict.

China is a stabilizing and peaceful force against the United States, which sows chaos throughout the world… Or at least this is the message Beijing is conveying in response to the attack on Iran. The Asian giant is walking a tightrope in criticizing the US and Israeli military operation. But it offers nothing more than statements of support for its ally, the regime of the ayatollahs.

China has passed a law that will curtail the rights of minorities, under the pretext of defending social cohesion and national unity. From now on, minority languages ​​will disappear from education, religious practices will be monitored, and intermarriage will be encouraged. The so-called law to promote ethnic unity and progress, passed by the National People's Congress (NPC), is justified as supporting the development of ethnic minority communities. However, human rights groups consider it a tool of repression.

China has set a growth target of between 4.5% and 5% for 2026. This is the first time since 1991 that the Asian giant has considered GDP growth below 5%.

Beijing's response to the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran has been restrained, appealing to diplomacy to resolve the conflict. This is typical of Chinese foreign policy, even though this time the attacked country is one of its allies and major trading partners. Iran is a key piece in China's international expansion. Sanctions against the ayatollahs' regime have made the Asian giant its main trading partner. Around 80% of Iranian oil shipped to China is destined for the US. The Chinese government obtains high-quality crude at a low price and, moreover, buys it with yuan, without using the US dollar. Aside from Iran's large oil and gas reserves, the country is geostrategically important to China because of its control of the Strait of Hormuz and, therefore, its oil trade. Iran has also become a key player in the Belt and Road Initiative trade corridor and a hub Logistics route for shipping goods to Europe.

Beijing has taken giant strides in accelerating the transition to renewable energy with record investments in solar and wind power plants, but it hasn't abandoned coal. The Asian giant continues to build a record number of new coal-fired power plants to meet its energy needs. In 2024, 93% of all new coal-fired power plant projects worldwide were initiated in China, contributing 94.5 gigawatts. This trend continued in 2025, with new coal plants adding 161 GW. Currently, there are projects under construction and others that have been approved, with the capacity to produce 291 GW of coal-fired power, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Net Air. If this forecast is ultimately realized, it will represent approximately 23% of the current coal-fired power plant fleet, a significant increase. Some experts warn that Beijing's persistent push to build new coal-fired power plants could lead to overcapacity and underutilization of existing plants, in addition to failing to reduce CO₂ emissions. Last year, nearly half of China's electricity generation still came from coal.

The image of a sad toy horse has gone viral as a metaphor, especially among young people, for the mood with which many Chinese citizens are facing the arrival of the Lunar New Year. The Year of the Fire Horse will begin on February 17th. The economic slowdownThe real estate crisis and rising unemployment are impacting public sentiment, and the government remains focused on stimulating domestic consumption. The Chinese New Year festivities, also known as the Spring Festival, are the main holiday period of the year and a time when consumption traditionally skyrockets, driven by family gatherings, travel, entertainment, and gift-giving. This year, the government has adopted a whole host of measures to ensure that these holidays, very similar to our Christmas, further boost spending and reinforce consumer confidence.

Hong Kong's High Court has sentenced Jimmy Lai, a leading figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, to 20 years in prison for national security offenses. It is the harshest sentence handed down in Hong Kong under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The sentence sends a clear message that Beijing will not be lenient and will treat Hong Kongers as strictly as those in mainland China. That is to say, it will be ruthless with those who dare to challenge the state and will sentence them to long prison terms.

The announcement that General Zhang, along with General Liu Zhenli, has been removed from their posts and is being investigated for "serious violations of discipline and the law"—a euphemism that translates into accusations of corruption—has unleashed all sorts of rumors in China.

The one-child policy, the social engineering carried out by the Chinese government to contain the birth rate, is taking its toll. China's population is declining and aging while the number of people living alone is increasing. and socially isolated. In 2025, China lost approximately 3.39 million inhabitants, and the birth rate fell by 17%, to its lowest level since records began. Efforts to stimulate birth rates and marriage are proving ineffective, and it is estimated that by 2030 there will be more than 200 million single-person households.

After nearly a decade of strained relations due to trade disputes and diplomatic clashes, China and Canada have announced a "new strategic partnership" driven by Donald Trump's major tariff pressuresDuring his state visit to Beijing, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney advocated for a new relationship "adapted to the new global realities." This is a way of acknowledging that Donald Trump's trade war is forcing Canada to seek new markets, including in China. Chinese President Xi Jinping supported the "healthy and stable development" of China-Canada relations, which will benefit both countries and also "global stability and prosperity." The two leaders championed multilateralism. From the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing Square, they declared a new stage of collaboration and a commitment to overcome their past conflicts. These positive words have a direct commercial impact. For its part, China will reduce tariffs on Canadian canola seeds. For now, this is the most visible aspect of the agreement, which aims to increase trade and reduce, or in some cases eliminate, bureaucratic barriers. Previous tensions.

Mark Carney's visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since Justin Trudeau's in December 2017. At that time, relations between the two countries were good, but they deteriorated rapidly when Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a Huawei executive and daughter of the company's founder. The arrest was made on a US warrant when Meng stopped over in Canada, where she held several residences. China responded by arresting two Canadians in the People's Republic—Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—accusing them of espionage. Tensions escalated with reciprocal sanctions until 2021, when diplomatic mediation secured the simultaneous release of all three. However, in 2023, Canadian intelligence expelled a Chinese diplomat and accused Beijing of attempting to interfere in the general elections. Canada has a large Chinese immigrant community and has also been the destination for many dissidents and residents of Hong Kong who sought refuge after the curtailment of freedoms in the former British colony. In 2024, the disagreement became commercial, resulting in a tariff dispute: Canada penalized Chinese electric vehicles and steel, and Beijing responded with increased tariffs on Canadian canola, pork, and seafood.

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“The old world is dying, the new one is slow to appear. And in this chiaroscuro, monsters emerge,” wrote Antonio Gramsci from the prison where Italian fascism had confined him. The communist thus encapsulated the upheavals of the early 20th century. Almost a hundred years later, the old multilateralism of the post-World War II era is unraveling under the same sense of disorientation and helplessness. After Russia opened the floodgates with Ukraine and China made its aspirations regarding Taiwan clear, Donald Trump—returned to power by the far right—has illegally intervened in Venezuela and is preparing to plunder its oil while threatening Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico. A fatal blow to the United Nations system, after the contempt he showed from the heart of the UN.

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China has unequivocally condemned the United States' intervention in Venezuela and called for the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro. Unlike the European Union, it has been direct in accusing Donald Trump of violating international law and the principles of the UN Charter. It remains to be seen whether, beyond the statements of its president, Xi Jinping, it will take any further steps in a conflict where it has little room to maneuver.

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Xi Jinping has dismissed nearly a fifth of the generals he appointed since coming to power in 2012. The ongoing purges in the Chinese military demonstrate the president's iron grip on the armed forces, but also raise questions about the strength of loyalty to Xi, and whether it exists at all. Last October, the latest purge was officially announced with the dismissal of nine high-ranking generals, including He Weidong, the number two in the command structure and a close associate of Xi. He Weidong was also a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist Party and the country. But despite the high rank of those ousted, mostly three-star generals, this is only the latest chapter in a long process. Previously, even two defense ministers—Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu—had already been dismissed and detained.

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China has imposed definitive tariffs of between 4.9% and 19.8% on pork imports from the European Union. The measure is a response to European tariffs on Chinese electric cars. Beijing has shown restraint and left the door open to future agreements with the EU, as in September it threatened provisional tariffs of up to 62.4% on European pork imports. The decision will particularly affect Spain, which is the main European exporter of pork to the Asian giant. The new tariffs take effect immediately this Wednesday, December 17, with the intention that they remain in force for a period of five years. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the new tariffs through a brief statement on its website. With this, Beijing has concluded its investigation. antidumping which began in 2024 accusing the European pork sector of unfair competition.

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The Chinese government continues to approve measures to try to stimulate the birth rateAmong these measures are some highly controversial ones, such as increasing the price of condoms, which are accompanied by financial aid for expectant parents. For the first time since 1993, the government has decided to tax contraceptives with a 13% levy. The measure includes devices, pills, and condoms. This decision consolidates the shift in trends and the abolition of the last remaining birth control strategies implemented under the one-child policy.

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The development of humanoid robots has become a hallmark of the Asian giant. We've seen robots performing complex choreographies on Chinese television galas, playing soccer matches, and participating in marathons where humans and robots "competed" through the streets of Beijing. A training center for robots, the Humanoid Robot Kylin Training Ground, has even been established in Shanghai. The goal is to create a collaborative environment for companies to refine the mobility and intelligence of robots, and it is expected that by 2027 it will have the capacity to train a thousand robots simultaneously. In China, it's already common to see robots in restaurants or hotel receptions, but for now, these products primarily serve a decorative function rather than providing real-world employment solutions.

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Outside a Beijing supermarket, an elderly woman begs for money from customers leaving with shopping bags. She wears a laminated card with a QR code around her neck, which she shows as she asks for money for food. If you scan the code with your phone, you can give her any amount you want, and it will go directly to her mobile wallet account. Eight years ago, the same woman, who is especially visible after summer, did the same thing, but she collected money in cash.

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