Xiao Yi

Xiao Yi is a China affairs commentator and finance expert with three decades of experience, having worked in China, South Korea, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian nations. He is currently based in London.

China Exported Its Battery Factories to Europe—and Its Contempt for Environmental Rules

Chinese battery factories in Hungary have been hit by a series of environmental and regulatory problems.

Viewpoints October 4, 2026
China’s Sluggish Consumer Economy: Can the New Economic Plan Fix It?

Beijing’s policy logic places too much emphasis on managing supply but falls short in improving consumer spending power ...

Thinking About China August 14, 2026
Pandora’s Retreat From China: The Collapse of a Middle-Class Dream

As Chinese consumers become more cautious with their spending and the middle-class dream fades, Pandora’s empty stores signal ...

Thinking About China November 3, 2025
The Rise and Demise of Carrefour China

Commentary This year marked a symbolic end to Carrefour’s three-decade presence in China. In September, Suning International, a ...

Thinking About China October 30, 2025
The Collapse of China’s Luxury Watch Market Points to Shrinking Middle Class

China's luxury consumers have largely pulled back from flashy, status-driven spending as economic pressures persist.

Thinking About China October 1, 2025
From Promise to Collapse: How China’s Community Canteens Exposed the Flaws of the State-Led Model

The Chinese Communist Party's social and economic campaigns often violate fundamental market principles, which inevitably lead to failure.

Thinking About China September 29, 2025
Road Tests Uncover the Reality of China’s Smart Driving Hype

A recent real-world test of autonomous driving systems in China showed that domestic brands are prone to failure ...

Thinking About China August 13, 2025
Shupai Yigou Collapse: A Ponzi Scam That Exposed China’s Deeper Fault Lines

Shupai Yigou was not just a Ponzi scheme—it was a system-wide failure, where greed, blind trust, and lax ...

Thinking About China August 11, 2025