Stay up to date with the latest China news today, ranging from Typhoon Wipha disruptions to China's $167B mega dam over the Brahmaputra, rare-earth smuggling crackdowns, Xi Jinping's warning against AI investment, and censorship of danmei fiction authors.
As the world is all eyes on China's political and economic actions, there have been some recent developments taking center stage in news today. From weather alerts and hydropower schemes to greater censorship and rare-earth mineral drives, China news today is filled with top stories dictating the nation's domestic and international landscape. Here is an in-depth and SEO-optimized discussion of China's top news today (July 20, 2025).
Typhoon Wipha Brings Disruptions in Southern China and Hong Kong
Typhoon Wipha has battered the South China Sea and caused widespread disruption across southern China and Hong Kong. The Hurricane Signal No. 10, the highest warning, was hoisted in Hong Kong, halting flights and closing rail and ferry services. Popular holiday destinations like Hong Kong Disneyland were forced to close, while public shelters were opened prior to evacuations.
The typhoon, which earlier hit the Philippines and Taiwan hard, is now bringing heavy rainfall, gale-force winds, and landslides risk in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.
China Begins Construction of \$167 Billion Mega Dam in Tibet
China officially began work on a $167 billion mega hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region. The one of China's grand clean energy projects has already caused global concern, spearheaded by India, which is worried about downstream water shortages and environmental impacts.
The project has been likened as a potential "water bomb," though Chinese authorities staunchly believe the dam will usher in clean energy and water management for millions.
⛏️ China Enhances Crackdown on Smuggling of Rare-Earth and Strategic Minerals
The Chinese Commerce Ministry has vowed to intensify crackdowns on black market smuggling of rare-earth minerals like gallium, germanium, and tungsten. This comes after heightened geopolitical tensions over resource security and attempts by foreign spies to mine key Chinese resources.
The action is intended to cement China's control of its strategic mineral supply chain, important for semiconductor, defense, and clean energy sectors.
China Economic Strategy Shifts Toward Domestic Consumption
China's National Bureau of Statistics reports 5.3% H1 2025 GDP growth, exceeding the government's 5.0% annual target. While Chinese policymakers are being challenged on the external front with trade actions and uncertainty in the international arena, they are now pushing for a consumption-led model of growth to offset overdependence on exports and infrastructure.
China Vice Finance Minister Liao Min reaffirmed China's trade is demand-driven rather than about dominating markets, contrary to Western charges of excessive overproduction.
Xi Jinping Warns Against Overinvestment in AI, EV
President Xi Jinping warned regional governments and companies against overinvestment in AI and electric vehicle (EV) sectors. Speaking at the Central Urban Work Conference, Xi denounced excessive industrial capacity in underdeveloped regions like Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, terming the trend financially unsustainable and inefficient.
This development may be a reflection of tougher regulatory control on China's tech boom to avoid systemic overproduction and regional debt issues.
☢️ World's Deepest Sandstone Uranium Deposit Found in Tarim Basin
Chinese geologists have discovered the record-deepest sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Tarim Basin, a northwestern Chinese desert. This is a further push to China's strategic energy reserves and supports its nuclear energy ambitions in response to fossil fuel reduction ambitions.
Censorship Intensifies: Over 300 Danmei Writers Arrested
In a shocking cultural crackdown, Chinese authorities in Gansu Province have reportedly jailed over 300 female writers, most of whom are young, for publishing danmei (boys' love) novels. The government is prosecuting such content as being under obscenity and pornography laws, although not much money is earned by the authors.
This incident is the extension of the overall attempt to govern feminist and LGBTQ+ fiction on the web as Beijing clamps down on ideological conformity.
NVIDIA Struggles with Supply Shortages: China AI GPUs
During high demand, NVIDIA's H20 AI GPUs are facing shortages in China. Export bans and regulatory challenges still limit supply, despite rocketing demand among Chinese tech firms and research centers seeking the best in computing.
Analysts forecast continued growth in China's market for AI chips despite US sanctions constricting channels.
Final Thoughts
China's news today is a prime example of the country's elegant balancing act between development, innovation, and repression. From huge infrastructure projects like the Brahmaputra dam to heavy control over AI investment and growing book censorship, China's development path continues to evolve at a critical moment in global geopolitics.
China news today- Typhoon Wipha Hong Kong
- China mega dam Brahmaputra
- China rare earth mineral crackdown
- Xi Jinping warning against AI investment
- China GDP 2025 growth
- China danmei authors in jail
- NVIDIA GPU shortage China
- China 2025 economic plan