John Liu
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Business, political economy, and Myanmar-China relation.
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Sports, entertainment and tech.
CNN business reporter covering China, Asia & beyond | Previously @nytimes | John.Liu at cnn.com / DM for Signal
Articles by John Liu
Why isn’t China’s AI and tech boom saving its stock markets? Original
A view of the Oriental Pearl Tower seen from a high-rise building at the financial district in Shanghai in Shanghai on September 17, 2026. Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — The global artificial intelligence boom that has helped sustain Chinese economic momentum this year still can’t offset its domestic woes, particularly in its stock market. Since peaking in June, key Chinese indexes have fallen more than 20%, crossing the threshold for a bear market.
China GDP growth picks up thanks to export boom
A man leans against a railing along a waterfront promenade, with a Maersk container ship berthed beneath gantry cranes at Yantian Port in the background, in Shenzhen, China, on October 18, 2026. Cheng Xin/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! China reported better-than-expected Q3 growth on Monday as robust exports of chips and electronics components on the back of a global artificial intelligence boom buoy the world’s second-largest economy, despite sluggish demand at home.
China invites Katie Zacharia to visit again after she claims nation lacks ‘proper toilets’
By John Liu, CNN (CNN) — Beijing has invited now-ousted White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to visit China more often after she claimed the country lacks “proper toilets” in a recent interview. Zacharia, who was sacked by President Donald Trump less than a week into her job following an onslaught of scrutiny, came under fire for her lavatory remarks while speaking with far-right podcaster Jack Posobiec on Thursday.
China invites Katie Zacharia to visit again after she claims nation lacks ‘proper toilets’
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia joins US President Donald Trump as he departs on the South Lawn of the White House on October 13 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Beijing has invited now-ousted White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to visit China more often after she claimed the country lacks “proper toilets” in a recent interview.
ECB President Christine Lagarde signals no intervention in France’s fiscal crisis
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ECB President Christine Lagarde signals no intervention in France’s fiscal crisis Original
Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), during an Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting in Luxembourg, on October 9. Wiktor Dabkowski/Bloomberg/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! The president of the European Central Bank played down speculation about intervention in France’s ballooning budget crisis on Wednesday.
Grab announces new Thailand initiative with OpenAI Original
A Grab motorcycle delivery driver in central Bangkok, Thailand, on August 18, 2026. John Wreford/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AP See all topics Email Link Copied! Bangkok/Hong Kong — Southeast Asia’s multi-purpose app Grab will work with OpenAI to boost the AI skills of its drivers, sellers and other providers in Thailand, the Singapore-based company announced on Wednesday.
The US wants the world to pick a side on AI. But for many countries, China’s pitch may be more compelling Original
People visit the Moonshot AI stand, featuring the Kimi K3 model, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on July 18, 2026. Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — The rapid advances of Chinese artificial intelligence over the past year seem to have alerted Washington to the real possibility that the world’s second-largest economy could pull ahead of the United States in an increasingly tight technology race.
The US wants the world to pick a side on AI. But for many countries, China’s pitch may be more compelling
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Why is China less worried about an AI dystopia than the US? Original
Students try out the Galbot's robot convenience store during its launch in Hong Kong on August 31, 2026. Leung Man Hei/AFP/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong/Beijing — Unlike in the United States, no one seems to be openly fretting over the prospect of humanity being destroyed by artificial intelligence soon.
Trump won’t put the brakes on AI because he wants to beat China. How big a threat is Beijing? Original
See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — Last weekend, as the world worried about the possibility of unconstrained artificial intelligence wiping out humanity, the leaders of the United States and China articulated their visions for the era-defining technology. They came from almost opposite sides of the spectrum.
The world’s best-paid politician is getting a $1 million pay rise Original
See all topics Email Link Copied! Singapore’s ministers are already among the world’s highest-paid politicians, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong earning more than four times US President Donald Trump’s annual government salary. Now, Wong has been given a $1 million pay bump, with the wealthy city-state giving a big boost to ministers’ salaries for the first time in 15 years.
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs take effect as Trump threatens to ban Bombardier jet sales in US
A Bombardier Global 8000 jet during an entry-into-service celebration event at the Bombardier Aircraft Assembly Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on December 8, 2025.
Shein’s long-awaited market debut in Hong Kong disappoints as headwinds mount Original
Shoppers visit Shein's first physical store in the BHV Marais Department Store on its opening day last winter in Paris, France. The partnership between the brand and the Paris Department store has provoked criticisms by politicians, unions and top fashion brands. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — Shein was the ultimate disruptor in fashion.
US set to unveil ‘economic D-Day’ sanctions on Iran
• Economic pressure: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to provide details at a news conference Monday after warning in a Financial Times op-ed that an “economic D-Day is coming for Iran,” echoing President Donald Trump’s earlier threats. • Differing views: There appears to be growing differences within Iran’s leadership on how to handle the conflict with the US. While President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran “cannot continue with war forever,” others have continued to reject dialogue.
From heated rivalry to frenemies: Inside the cutthroat business of ruling tech in Asia Original
See all topics Email Link Copied! Doomscrolling on an iPhone, firing endless questions at ChatGPT, or streaming a 4K film on Netflix on your laptop – behind these modern life conveniences lies a high-stakes contest between two Asian technology powers. For decades, South Korea and Taiwan have been locked in a cut-throat battle for supremacy in the technologies that underpin the digital age, from televisions and smartphones to memory chips.
From heated rivalry to frenemies: Inside the cutthroat business of ruling tech in Asia
Doomscrolling on an iPhone, firing endless questions at ChatGPT, or streaming a 4K film on Netflix on your laptop – behind these modern life conveniences lies a high-stakes contest between two Asian technology powers. For decades, South Korea and Taiwan have been locked in a cut-throat battle for supremacy in the technologies that underpin the digital age, from televisions and smartphones to memory chips.
World’s top humanoid maker and its dancing robots waltz towards record IPO listing in China
By John Liu, CNN (CNN) — The world’s largest humanoid robot maker by sales is set to list in Shanghai on Wednesday, with the initial public offering already having raised 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million) and more than 8,000 times oversubscribed, a record for the city’s tech-focused STAR market, which is seen as China’s version of the Nasdaq.
AI agents fake identities, target real people in new security incident
By John Liu, Hadas Gold, CNN (CNN) — Anthropic’s most advanced artificial intelligence model used fake identities to try and deceive real people and plant malicious code during testing by Britain’s AI Security Institute (AISI) –– the latest example of an AI model going rogue.
US buys Japanese yen as it drops to a 40-year low Original
A notepad in front of US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent reads "To Do Buy Japanese Yen $5-10 bil" as he participates in a cabinet meeting at Camp David, Maryland, on July 31, 2026. Daniel Heuer/Reuters See all topics Email Link Copied! The United States is buying Japanese yen as the currency dropped to a 40-year low against the dollar, a measure representing “a signal of friendship,” President Donald Trump said on Sunday. “They have a weakening yen, and they wanted a little bit of help.
China’s humanoid robots have been taking over the global market. Now the US is banning them Original
EngineAI T800 humanoid robots are on display after rolling off the production line at a production facility in Zhengzhou, China, on July 24, 2026. VCG/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! China, which supplies the vast majority of the world’s humanoid robots, has suddenly been cut off from its largest export market as the US government moves to curb its reliance on foreign technology.
What is China’s Kimi K3 and why is the US so rattled by it? Original
People walk past the Moonshot booth promoting its Kimi K3 AI model, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China, July 17, 2026. Go Nakamura/Reuters Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — Remember DeepSeek? The Chinese artificial intelligence startup that rattled the US tech industry with its model that nearly matched leading rivals, trained at a fraction of the cost. China may have done it again.
AI glasses are creating a cheating problem
Video Ad Feedback AI glasses are creating a cheating problem With the rapid development in AI-powered wearables, educators in East Asia are scrambling to deal with cheating students who wear smart glasses to exams. CNN’s John Liu reports. 1:08 • Source: CNN Latest from CNN Business 15 videos Video Ad Feedback AI glasses are creating a cheating problem 01:08 Now playing • Source: CNN Video Ad Feedback Make It Make Sense: Why are houses so expensive?
Deadly twin quakes are a gut punch to a Venezuelan economy already on its knees Original
See all topics Email Link Copied! The strongest quake to hit Venezuela in more than a century could not have come at a worse time for the country. The Latin American nation’s once-booming economy had already been crippled by years of US-led sanctions, hyperinflation, government corruption and mismanagement of the oil sector, despite sitting on the world’s largest oil reserves. Its GDP has shrunk by roughly 80% since 2013. Then came the US capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January.
Chinese supercomputer powered by homegrown chips tops US models in global ranking Original
LineShine supercomputer. National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — China has clinched the top spot on a list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, overtaking the United States for the first time since 2017 with a model powered by homegrown chips amid an intense race for tech supremacy between the two superpowers.
NBA superstar Steph Curry signs Li-Ning deal in a major win for Chinese shoe giant
Hong Kong/Hangzhou (CNN) — Stephen Curry announced a partnership for his signature brand with Li-Ning on Monday, ending his sneaker free agency in a major win for the Chinese sportswear giant. The four-time NBA champion had partnered with Under Armour for 13 years before splitting in November last year. “This is bigger than a shoe deal, bigger than a signature series.
China confirms Boeing purchase and other trade terms from Trump’s visit Original
CNN See all topics Email Link Copied! China said Wednesday it will buy 200 Boeing aircraft and work with the US to reduce tariffs, confirming some details from the outcome of President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing last week. The deal, which would end a virtual sales freeze on Boeing aircraft to China of nearly a decade, was announced by the Chinese Commerce Ministry on Wednesday.
America’s angry voters are the X factor in Trump’s high-stakes meeting with Xi Original
President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! President Donald Trump would seem to have a distinct advantage going into his upcoming negotiations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Economy: America’s economy is growing strong, boosted by AI and consumer spending. China’s overall growth remains robust, but its economy is struggling with challenges stemming from its housing collapse five years ago.
Trump pauses US effort to guide ships through Strait of Hormuz but maintains blockade
• “Project Freedom” paused: The US will pause its effort to guide stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said, citing progress in diplomatic talks as the reason. Iranian state media celebrated what one outlet described as a “US failure.” • China’s role: Iran’s top diplomat is in Beijing for talks for the first face-to-face meeting of foreign ministers since the war began.
Los precios del petróleo se disparan a su nivel más alto desde 2022 mientras Trump sopesa extender el bloqueo a Irán Original
CNN — Los precios del crudo Brent, la referencia mundial, superaron los US$ 125 por barril este jueves por la mañana, mientras el presidente de EE.UU., Donald Trump, sopesa la posibilidad de prolongar el bloqueo de los puertos iraníes. Los contratos de junio para el crudo Brent ya habían alcanzado un máximo histórico en tiempos de guerra, pero superaron los US$ 125 por barril, con un alza de más del 12 %, a las 00:39 (hora de Miami) del jueves.
Oil prices surge to highest level since 2022 as Trump mulls Iran blockade extension Original
CNN Email Link Copied! Brent crude oil prices, the global benchmark, surged above $125 per barrel on Thursday morning, as US President Donald Trump mulls an extended blockade of Iranian ports. June contracts for Brent crude had already hit a wartime high, but jumped above $125 per barrel, up more than 12%, as of 12:39 a.m. ET Thursday. WTI crude, the US benchmark, was up more than 3%, sitting above $110 per barrel.
China’s AI upstart DeepSeek drops new model. Will it make waves like last year? Original
A citizen is watching a display board about DepSeek AI big model in a shopping mall in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on April 23, 2026. CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — China’s DeepSeek unveiled a preview version of its much-anticipated new model on Friday, promising to rival models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google a year after the then little-known start up took the global AI industry by storm.
Un pedido decepcionante destapa un escándalo de "pasteles fantasma" en empresas de envíos en China Original
Hong KongCNN — La queja de un cliente sobre un pastel decepcionante desencadenó una investigación gigantesca que sacó a la luz a miles de vendedores de comida “fantasma” en China, lo que resultó en multas exorbitantes para algunas de las empresas más grandes del país y puso de manifiesto los peligros de la feroz competencia de precios.
Medical scans and chips: the hidden fallout of the Iran war for China Original
See all topics Email Link Copied! Four months ago, a dozen academics and researchers from China’s top oil and gas producers issued a warning buried in an academic journal: the nation’s quest for self-sufficiency had a critical weak spot.
Iran defiant as Trump warns ‘entire country’ could be taken out if no deal reached by Tuesday Original
• Trump’s deadline looms: US President Donald Trump said Iran could be “taken out in one night,” which “might” be Tuesday — a deadline he set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He wouldn’t say whether the war is winding down, calling it a “critical period” that depends on Iran’s actions. • Attacks on infrastructure: Trump reiterated threats to hit Iran’s bridges and power plants, claiming the Iranian people would be “willing to suffer” if it eventually secured their freedom.
¿Impactado por la gasolina a US$ 4 en Estados Unidos? Imagina pagar US$ 15 como en esta ciudad Original
Hong KongCNN — Si pensabas que pagar US$ 4 por la gasolina era algo grave, piensa en este centro financiero internacional que actualmente registra los precios de combustible más altos del mundo. Mientras que los precios promedio de la gasolina en todo Estados Unidos alcanzan un récord desde 2022, los residentes de Hong Kong se enfrentan al petróleo más costoso del planeta: alrededor de US$ 15,6 por galón (3,78 litros).
Asian stocks slide as oil prices surge on Trump’s vow to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’
• Trump’s address: President Donald Trump used familiar talking points in his first address to the nation on the Iran war, telling Americans the conflict is “nearing completion” and projecting another two or three weeks of involvement.
Trump helped build the Middle East’s AI ambitions. Could his war break them? Original
US President Donald Trump, front row left, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, front row, right, pose for a group picture during the Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images/File See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong/New York — President Donald Trump arrived in the Middle East last spring, making deals that would vault the Gulf into the global race for artificial intelligence.
El petróleo baja, pero se mantiene elevado, mientras Goldman Sachs advierte que podría superar los US$ 100 hasta 2027 Original
Hong Kong CNN — Los precios del petróleo bajaron ligeramente este viernes tras una jornada agitada en la que la cotización de referencia internacional superó los US$ 119 por barril, a medida que el conflicto en Medio Oriente intensifica los temores sobre el suministro energético.
Oil dips but stays elevated as Goldman Sachs warns prices may top $100 through 2027 Original
A flare stack burns at the PCK Schwedt oil refinery beyond a sign for fuel prices at a gas station in Schwedt, Germany, on Wednesday, on March 18, 2026. Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Hong Kong — Oil prices edged lower on Friday after a tumultuous day that saw the international benchmark surge above $119 a barrel as the Middle East conflict deepened energy supply fears.
¿Qué es la instalación de Ras Laffan en Qatar y por qué los ataques de Irán podrían prolongar la crisis energética? Original
CNN — En menos de 12 horas, misiles iraníes impactaron dos veces la Ciudad Industrial de Ras Laffan en Qatar, causando daños considerables a este importante centro energético del estado del Golfo. Se prevé que las repercusiones se extiendan mucho más allá de Medio Oriente. Gestionado por la empresa estatal QatarEnergy, Ras Laffan es, sin duda, el centro de gas natural licuado (GNL) más importante del mundo, ya que integra transporte, procesamiento e instalaciones portuarias.
China no quiere ponerse al nivel de EE.UU. en tecnología. Quiere superarlo Original
Hong Kong CNN — En una era marcada por las acciones militares de Estados Unidos en el extranjero y las turbulencias comerciales, el líder chino Xi Jinping apuesta por un plan para proteger a su país de la tormenta: impulsar la innovación para transformar a China en la principal superpotencia tecnológica del mundo.
El petróleo vuelve a superar los US$ 100 pese a la histórica liberación de reservas de crudo por la continua guerra con Irán Original
CNN — El precio del barril de petróleo volvió a superar los US$ 100 durante la madrugada de este jueves, tres días después de haber alcanzado un máximo de cuatro años, mientras que la guerra de Estados Unidos e Israel con Irán sigue teniendo un impacto histórico en los suministros mundiales de combustible. El salto se produjo a pesar de que 32 países, incluidos Estados Unidos y otras economías desarrolladas, acordaron el miércoles una liberación récord de petróleo en el mercado mundial.
Oil tops $100 again despite historic release of reserves as war with Iran rages Original
A fuel pump at a gas station, operated by Exxon Mobil Corp., in Cairo, Egypt, on March 11, 2026. Islam Safwat/Bloomberg/Getty Images See all topics Email Link Copied! Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel again overnight, three days after it hit a four-year high, as the US and Israel’s war with Iran continues to have a historic impact on global fuel supplies.
Day 12 of Middle East conflict - ships hit by attacks in Strait of Hormuz Original
• Tankers ablaze: Iran has ramped up retaliatory attacks on energy supplies with strikes on two foreign oil tankers in Iraqi waters. Separately, a video geolocated by CNN appeared to show an Iranian drone hitting a fuel tank in an Omani port. • Oil tops $100 (again): Oil climbed above $100 overnight. The jump came despite the International Energy Agency agreeing to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from reserves into the global market.
Trump gives mixed messages on war timeline as oil crisis deepens
• Mixed messages: President Trump gave conflicting replies on when the war will end. He said Amercian goals may be “pretty well complete” after telling House Republicans that “we haven’t won enough.” He added that the US has struck over 5,000 targets but leaving some “for later.” • Oil crisis: The war has caused the biggest oil disruption in history. Threats to transit through the Strait of Hormuz persist.
China advierte que las “llamas de la guerra” se extienden antes de reunión Xi-Trump Original
CNN — El principal diplomático de China presentó a su país como defensor de la paz y la estabilidad mientras la guerra en Irán continúa, al tiempo que adoptó un tono conciliador hacia Estados Unidos antes de una esperada cumbre entre los líderes de ambas naciones.
Live updates: Trump says ‘no time limits’ on Iran war, Israel strikes Tehran and Beirut suburb
• New strikes in Iran: Israel said it had begun a “broad-scale wave of strikes” against Tehran. State media reported that Jomhuri Avenue, a major street in the capital, was hit. • Panic in Beirut: Israel also announced it was targeting Hezbollah. Israel’s prior evacuation order for nearly all of southern Beirut, believed to house more than half a million people, raised fears to a new level.
De los precios de la energía a las amenazas al transporte por mar. Así golpea a la economía global la guerra en Medio Oriente Original
Londres / Hong Kong CNN — El conflicto que se extiende en Medio Oriente pondrá a prueba la resiliencia de una economía global sacudida por aranceles y otras disrupciones comerciales durante el último año.
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