A weekly roundup of news and analysis to help you follow key developments in China and the Chinese church.
Flowing without Roots: The Identity Crisis of Foreigners’ Descendants in Mainland China (September 9, 2025, Made In China Journal) In 2009, a woman named Lou Jing, born to a Chinese mother and an African American father, went on a TV show in China and declared herself a proud and patriotic Chinese person (Leung 2015).
Inside China–Vatican Diplomacy: From Pope Francis to the Future (September 2, 2025, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations) In a conversation recorded on August 17, Ian Johnson, Francesco Sisci, and Karrie Koessel discuss the key issues currently shaping China–Vatican relations and how they may evolve under the new pope.
Towering History: A Photographer’s Fresh Take on China’s Pagodas (August 21, 2025, Sixth Tone) Since 2017, after an almost-spiritual encounter with a Beijing pagoda from atop an overpass, Lin has roamed the country to document these stoic structures.
Where Wisdom Meets Faith (August 18, 2025, ChinaSource Journal) This new ChinaSource Journal (CSJ) issue focusing on AI comes at an important time, where the practical benefits of AI are being weighed against important ethical and theological issues that come with every new technology.
Tracing the Hidden History of Four Beijing Churches (August 13, 2025, The Beijinger) These centuries-old structures, rebuilt after years of turbulence, tell a layered story of imperial diplomacy, missionary persistence, and urban survival.
On Sinopessimism, or Junkies of Futility (August 5, 2025, Made In China Journal) A society once buoyed by dreams of personal flourishing and upward mobility now finds itself increasingly disenchanted with those unfulfilled promises.
China Pulls Out All the Stops to Get People Hitched and Having Babies (July 29, 2025, Chinaskinny) China is going to unprecedented lengths to spark romance, marriage, and ultimately, childbirth, as it grapples with a shrinking population, aging society, and a generation increasingly reluctant to have children.
Liuzi Vibes: How Chinese Students Survive Studying Abroad (July 18, 2025, The World of Chinese) On May 27, the US halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students seeking to study in the country, reportedly to expand screenings of their social media activity.
China is no longer a copycat nation: From WeChat to TikTok, from the country’s astonishingly hi-tech electric cars to DeepSeek—the Chinese AI bot that shocked Wall Street—companies and engineers in the People’s Republic of China are innovating.
Remembering Martha - ChinaSource (July 9, 20025, ChinaSource) The China ministry community has lost a dear friend and colleague with the passing of Martha Chan on June 29th.
The Gaokao Challenge: Can You Pass China’s Toughest Exam? (June 30, 2025, The World of Chinese) Ever wondered how you’d fare on this grueling exam—or, if you’ve taken it before, whether you’ve still got it?
Mandarin Monday: Exploring Chinese Festival Handicrafts (June 22, 2025, The Beijinger Blog) These intricate creations are more than just art; they are vessels of memory, symbols of cultural identity and bridges between generations.