China's manufacturing index falls to 50 in May.
Today's events
Factory activity stalls.
China's manufacturing index fell to 50.0 in May, the no-growth line — ending two months of expansion as small and mid-sized firms contracted.1May 31 · Stats BureauFuture industries.
Xi's article in Qiushi urged forward-looking planning in quantum technology and biomanufacturing to develop new quality productive forces — Beijing's core growth doctrine.2May 31 · QiushiContent-distribution rules.
The internet regulator and four ministries published China's first national rulebook for online content-distribution agencies — the firms that push creators' posts across platforms.3May 29 · Cyberspace AdminUrban-renewal plan.
The State Council published the country's first five-year plan devoted to urban renewal, targeting major progress in redeveloping aging cities by 2030.4May 22 · State CouncilChina–Russia ties.
China's top legislator wrapped a four-day visit to Russia, co-chairing the two parliaments' cooperation committee weeks after Putin's Beijing state visit.5May 27–30 · NPCOffshore wind.
The world's largest offshore converter station shipped from Jiangsu, built to send 6 billion kilowatt-hours of deep-sea wind power ashore each year.6May 29 · Energy AdminComputing power.
China's computing centers drew 170 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 — 1.6% of national power — with the energy agency counting 42 mega-scale AI clusters.7May 26 · Energy AdminDouble expulsion.
A former Chongqing government counselor, Cao Qingyao, was expelled from the Party and public office for serious violations and suspected bribery.8May 29 · Discipline InspectionFirst Hong Kong astronaut.
Shenzhou-23 docked with the Tiangong station carrying Li Jiaying, Hong Kong's first astronaut and China's first woman payload specialist from the territory.9May 24 · SASAC
Voices
“Cultivating future industries carries major significance — for seizing the commanding heights of science and industry, and for developing new quality productive forces and a modern industrial system.”
Xi Jinping, in a Qiushi article on future industries · May 312
“Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era is maintaining high-level development.”
NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji · May 305
“Rather than what Japan says, what truly deserves attention is what Japan does.”
MFA Spokesperson Mao Ning · May 2810
“Those who fabricate lies, intimidate the public, and incite confrontation are the real threat to the Philippines' national interests and its people's well-being.”
Defense Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Bin · May 2811
“[The official] lost his ideals and convictions, betrayed his founding mission, was disloyal to the Party, consorted with political swindlers, and resisted investigation.”
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection · May 298
“From ping-pong to pickleball, what has changed is the paddle; what has not changed is the two peoples' original aspiration for friendship.”
Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng · May 3012
Sources
- National Bureau of Statistics, “Purchasing Managers Index for May 2026,” May 31, 2026. stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/…/may-2026-pmi
- Qiushi, Xi Jinping, “Forward-Looking Planning and Development of Future Industries,” May 31, 2026. qstheory.cn/…/future-industries
- Cyberspace Administration of China, “Five Departments Jointly Issue Provisions on Multi-Channel Distribution Services for Internet Information Content,” May 29, 2026. cac.gov.cn/…/content-distribution-rules
- State Council, “Notice on Issuing the Urban Renewal Plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan Period” (Guofa [2026] No. 12), May 22, 2026. gov.cn/zhengce/…/urban-renewal-plan
- National People's Congress, “Zhao Leji Pays Official Friendly Visit to Russia and Attends the 11th Meeting of the China-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee,” May 30, 2026. npc.gov.cn/…/zhao-leji-russia
- National Energy Administration, “World's Largest Offshore Converter Station ‘Heart of the Sea Wind’ Officially Ships Out,” May 29, 2026. nea.gov.cn/…/offshore-converter-station
- National Energy Administration, “National Computing Centers Consumed 170 Billion kWh Last Year,” May 29, 2026. nea.gov.cn/…/computing-center-electricity
- Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, “Former Chongqing Government Counselor Cao Qingyao Expelled from the Party and Public Office,” May 29, 2026. ccdi.gov.cn/yaowenn/…/cao-qingyao
- SASAC, “Long March 2F Successfully Launches Shenzhou-23 Crewed Spacecraft,” May 26, 2026. sasac.gov.cn/…/shenzhou-23
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference,” May 28, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/…/press-conference-may-28
- Ministry of National Defense, “Defense Ministry Regular Press Conference (Spokesperson Jiang Bin),” May 28, 2026. mod.gov.cn/…/press-conference-may-28
- Xinhua, “Chinese Ambassador to the U.S.: The Original Aspiration of the Two Peoples for Friendship Has Not Changed,” May 31, 2026. news.cn/world/…/xie-feng-remarks