Travel

China sanctions US firms; ‘super golden week’ spending: SCMP daily highlights

AnyFans 2025-10-09

By Scmp

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. China sanctions US defence firms, chip data provider in latest curbs
Beijing has announced sanctions on a slew of Western companies and institutions in the defence sector and a leading semiconductor data analysis provider, marking its latest salvo amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
2. China says foreigners are using its rare earth exports for military purposes
China has accused unnamed foreign organisations and individuals of processing its rare earths for military purposes as it announced further export controls on Thursday.
3. US embassy’s Chinese social media accounts fall silent amid government shutdown

The US embassy in China has stopped posting regular updates to its official social media accounts as a result of the government shutdown.
4. How thousands of relics travelled 10,000 miles to ‘protect Chinese identity’
The story is little known in the West, but is a foundation for modern Chinese museology and a symbol of the nation’s resilience.
5. China flicks the switch on world-first thermal power station in Gobi Desert

China has switched on a world-first solar thermal power station in the Gobi Desert that is said to be a cheaper and more efficient use of the technology with potential to be scaled up.
6. US adds Chinese companies to blacklist over drone parts tied to Hamas, Houthis
The US Department of Commerce said it would add a dozen companies based in China to a restricted trade list for their alleged roles in facilitating the purchase and use of American components and tech found in the weaponised drones said to be operated by Hamas and Houthi militants in Yemen.
7. China sees uptick in ‘super golden week’ spending amid record travel surge

China logged a welcome uptick in spending on services during the just-concluded eight-day “super golden week” public holiday, as the country’s transport hubs handled record numbers of passengers.