Wenchuan earthquake devastates Sichuan

The 1958 Agricultural Tax Regulations were annulled effective January 1, ending the agricultural tax nationwide after phased reductions. The measure shifted the state’s fiscal relationship with...

The railway linking Xining and Lhasa began operation, connecting Tibet more directly to the Chinese national transport network. The line enabled mobility and commerce but also raised concerns about...

The summit brought leaders from China and African states together and adopted a cooperation plan expanding trade, investment, debt relief, and aid. It reflected South-South diplomacy and offered...

China launched its first lunar probe, beginning a sustained program of robotic and crewed space exploration. The mission marked technological capability and national ambition, while expanding...

China and New Zealand signed a bilateral free-trade agreement after three years of negotiations. New Zealand became the first developed country to conclude such an agreement with China. The deal...

The Olympic Games opened in Beijing, projecting China’s economic modernization and international stature. The spectacle also drew attention to human rights, censorship, labor, and environmental...

China’s State Council announced a large stimulus package in response to the global financial crisis, emphasizing infrastructure, housing, and domestic demand. The response supported global recovery...

Chinese naval vessels departed to protect commercial shipping from piracy off Somalia. The deployment extended China’s military presence beyond East Asia and was presented as an international...

Violence broke out in Urumqi after a protest by Uyghurs over an earlier factory incident. The unrest and state response exposed ethnic tensions, grievances over security and development, and the...

The free trade area entered into force for China and six founding ASEAN members, lowering tariffs across much of their trade. It deepened regional supply chains and South-South economic links, while...