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China

48 questions answered in 9 published briefs · Updated 1 Oct 2026

Questions answered

The questions our published briefs answer that touch China.

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About China (primary)

Country Outlook · C 003 · 19 questionsIs exposure to China three risks or one?

GeoeconomicGeopoliticalAt a glance (the answer)30 Sep 2026
Is exposure to China three risks or one?

“One in practice: revenue, supply and compliance exposure answer to the same dated decisions; their shared hinge, as announced on 24 September, moved to 10 January 2027.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of America
GeoeconomicGeopolitical01. Revenue, supply and compliance exposure answer to the same decisions30 Sep 2026
Do revenue, supply and compliance exposure to China answer to the same decisions?

“They answer to the same small set of decisions in Beijing and Washington, and when one of those decisions is taken all three can move together.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of America
GeopoliticalGeoeconomic02. The shared hinge, as announced, moves from 10 November 2026 to 10 January 202730 Sep 2026
When is the shared hinge of exposure to China now dated?

“On 24 September 2026 the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said on Fox News that the truce would be extended to 10 January 2027, as CNBC reported the same day.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of America
Geoeconomic03. The IMF's growth figure and the independent reconstruction differ by about half30 Sep 2026
How fast did China's economy grow in 2025?

“Rhodium Group, rebuilding the year from activity and investment data, estimated real growth of 2.5% to 3.0% in 2025, about half the official pace (Rhodium Group, 22 Dec 2025).”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

GeoeconomicExecutive summary · Findings30 Sep 2026
How large is China's government deficit on the IMF's widest measure?

“The IMF put the 2025 augmented deficit at 14.3% of GDP, against a 4% official headline, as the IMF reports it (IMF, Feb 2026).”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

GeoeconomicGeotechnologyGeopolitical06. Seven domains are assessed, and the Taiwan chip base rates high for the most reader types30 Sep 2026
Which domains carry exposure to China, and for which readers?

“Only the Taiwan chip base is high for five reader types; supply and compliance are high for exporters and operators.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected Taiwan, Province of China

Countries in this questionChinaTaiwan, Province of China
GeoeconomicGeotechnology07. Refining, not mining, is where the mineral exposure sits30 Sep 2026
Where does the mineral exposure to China sit?

“On the IEA's 2026 outlook it held 85% of rare-earth refining in 2025, down from over 90% in 2023, as new projects in the United States and higher output in Malaysia came on stream.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America, Malaysia

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of AmericaMalaysia
Geotechnology08. The export-control channel now runs both ways, and one US step is dated June 202730 Sep 2026
What has become of the controlled-chip channel into China?

“Nvidia's latest filing makes the point again: Hopper shipments to China were under 1% of its data-centre revenue in the quarter to 26 July 2026”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of America
GeopoliticalGeotechnology09. A Taiwan crisis would be a supply-chain event before it is a security event30 Sep 2026
How did the source's analysts read the likely form of a Taiwan crisis?

“The source's analysts read any near-term move as likelier to begin as a quarantine or blockade than as an assault (AEI and ISW, The Diplomat, as cited by the source; as researched 19 Jul 2026).”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected Taiwan, Province of China, United States of America

GeotechnologyGeopolitical10. Cyber pre-positioning is a resident exposure, not a closed incident30 Sep 2026
Is Chinese cyber pre-positioning in US infrastructure a closed incident?

“The US Department of Defense's December 2025 report says China's cyber actors continued in 2024 to pre-position attack capabilities against the United States and its allies (as reported by Breaking Defense).”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of America
GeopoliticalGeoeconomic11. Russia and Iran make compliance the China exposure most firms underrate30 Sep 2026
How do Russia and Iran reach Western firms with Chinese counterparties?

“A bank, logistics firm or component maker with Chinese counterparties inherits whatever those counterparties do with Russia and Iran.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected Russian Federation, Islamic Republic of Iran

GeopoliticalGeoeconomic12. Beijing's 2026 counter-measure regulations make de-risking itself a legal exposure30 Sep 2026
What do China's 2026 counter-measure regulations reach?

“As Linklaters and others describe it, the first, on the security of industrial and supply chains, provides for investigations of foreign firms that interrupt normal transactions with Chinese counterparties or adopt discriminatory measures against them.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

Geoeconomic13. The two largest foreign-business surveys read the same market differently30 Sep 2026
How do foreign businesses in China read the market in 2026?

“The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China's 2026 survey found 68% of 549 respondents saying business had become more difficult over the past year”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

Geopolitical14. The first hinge is a leaders' calendar, re-dated on 24 September30 Sep 2026
When do the two leaders decide the truce?

“The two leaders met again in Beijing in May 2026 and in Washington in September 2026, when the extension to 10 January 2027 was announced (CNBC, 24 Sep 2026).”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America

Countries in this questionChinaUnited States of America
Geopolitical15. The second hinge is the military purge, which reached the top uniformed officer in 202630 Sep 2026
How far has the military purge in China reached?

“From the expulsion of a vice chairman in October 2025 to the expulsion of the first-ranked vice chairman in September 2026, four dated steps reached the most senior officers.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

Geopolitical16. The third hinge is the succession void, which removes an early-warning signal30 Sep 2026
Is there an heir whose rise could give early warning?

“For the call this matters as a missing signal, not a forecast: a firm cannot watch an heir's rise as an early warning when there is no heir.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

Geopolitical17. The source's ten tail scenarios are kept, without their odds30 Sep 2026
What could break the picture of exposure to China?

“The ten tails are kept as named ways the picture could break, each with its early sign; the structure of the axes is in the annex.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected Taiwan, Province of China, Japan, Philippines

GeopoliticalGeoeconomicPart VII · What would prove this wrong30 Sep 2026
What would show the call wrong?

“The call would be wrong if the three faces moved apart at the next dated decision”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China

GeoeconomicAnnex 3 · The present-state tables as researched30 Sep 2026
Where did China's lost share of US imports go?

“Vietnam +2.1 points and Mexico +2.0 points of US import share since 2018”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary China Affected United States of America, Viet Nam, Mexico

Where China is affected

Decision Brief · Q 023 · 2 questionsIf the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, how much Saudi crude can reach buyers, and for how long?

GeopoliticalGeoeconomicAnswer30 Sep 2026
If the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, how much Saudi crude can reach buyers, and for how long?

“74–196 million barrels could leave Saudi Arabia in six weeks with the shuttle running, but none bought on 25 September was on file to land that soon.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Saudi Arabia Affected Japan, Republic of Korea, China, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen, United States of America

Geoeconomic11. A new buyer's first shuttle cargo could not land in East Asia inside six weeks30 Sep 2026
When could a new buyer's first shuttle cargo reach Asian ports?

“Adding the shortest timed voyage (Ulsan 21 days, Zhanjiang 18, Sikka 3), the first cargo reaches Korea after 58 days, China after 55 and India after 40 at the earliest.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Saudi Arabia Affected Republic of Korea, China, India

Countries in this questionSaudi ArabiaRepublic of KoreaChinaIndia

Scenario Brief · S 001 · 1 questionIran, the Strait of Hormuz, and a renewed strike

GeoeconomicAnnex 3 · The war-risk record and other deeper figures, as researched30 Sep 2026
Who owns the traffic that still crossed the strait?

“Iran 26%, Greece 17%, China 9% of 111 counted transits; the rest unattributed”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Islamic Republic of Iran Affected Greece, China

Countries in this questionIslamic Republic of IranGreeceChina

Theme Brief · T 001 · 4 questionsCan Canada become a material energy supplier beyond the United States?

GeoeconomicAnswer (cover, at a glance, executive summary)30 Sep 2026
Can Canada become a material energy supplier beyond the United States?

“It has started, but small: in 12 months to July 2026, 11.3 of 96.8 bcm of gas exports and 32.6 of 256.0 million m³ of crude went beyond the US.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Canada Affected United States of America, Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Province of China, Viet Nam, Thailand, Philippines

Geoeconomic03. The gas cargo went to seven Asian destinations, all under long-term licences30 Sep 2026
Where did Canada's LNG export cargoes go?

“122 export cargo records, June 2025 to July 2026: Korea 46, China 36, Japan 25, Taiwan 10, three others 5.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Canada Affected Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Province of China, Viet Nam, Thailand, Philippines

Geoeconomic19. For Asian gas buyers, the supply is demonstrated, small and single-sourced30 Sep 2026
What does Canadian LNG supply offer Asian gas buyers?

“For this class the question is reliability, and the measured answer is: demonstrated, small and single-sourced.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Canada Affected Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Province of China, Viet Nam, Thailand, Philippines

Geoeconomic23. For industrial users and logistics firms, route exposure and shared destinations are what this brief measures30 Sep 2026
What else does Canada ship to the same Asian destinations?

“UN Comtrade records China, Japan and Korea as the largest 2025 destinations of Canadian coal and of ores, slag and ash; they are also the three largest destinations of the gas cargoes”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Canada Affected China, Japan, Republic of Korea

Countries in this questionCanadaChinaJapanRepublic of Korea

Country Outlook · C 001 · 6 questionsIs exposure to Vietnam a demand exposure?

GeoeconomicGeopoliticalAt a glance (the answer)30 Sep 2026
Is exposure to Vietnam a demand exposure?

“No. The more concentrated side is supply: China supplied 40.9 per cent of Vietnam's 2025 imports, against a 32.2 per cent US share of exports, for as long as assembly runs on imported components.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Viet Nam Affected China, United States of America

Countries in this questionViet NamChinaUnited States of America
GeoeconomicGeopolitical01. The largest customer and the largest supplier are different great powers30 Sep 2026
Are Vietnam's largest customer and largest supplier the same power?

“The United States took 32.2% of what Vietnam sold and supplied 4.2% of what it bought. China supplied 40.9% of what it bought and took 14.8% of what it sold.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Viet Nam Affected United States of America, China

Countries in this questionViet NamUnited States of AmericaChina
Geoeconomic03. The supply side is the more concentrated side on every measure taken30 Sep 2026
Which side of Vietnam's trade is more concentrated?

“Counterparty concentration, measured as a Herfindahl index over countries, was higher on imports than on exports in 2023, and highest of all inside chapter 85's imports.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Viet Nam Affected China, Republic of Korea

Countries in this questionViet NamChinaRepublic of Korea
GeoeconomicGeotechnology06. Domain: component supply at the inbound end30 Sep 2026
Does Vietnam's inbound supply of components stay concentrated?

“An interruption in supply acts on the ability to produce, not only on revenue: where the outbound leg consists of assembling the inbound one, a supply shock stops output rather than scaling it.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Viet Nam Affected China, Republic of Korea

Countries in this questionViet NamChinaRepublic of Korea
GeoeconomicGeopolitical10. The first hinge, the inbound share, moved further toward one supplier30 Sep 2026
Has Vietnam's reliance on one supplier grown?

“China supplied 40.9% of Vietnam's imports in the NSO's 2025 tables and 41.0% in January to August 2026.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Viet Nam Affected China

Countries in this questionViet NamChina
GeoeconomicGeopolitical18. Five tests, each checkable against a free public source, would show the call wrong30 Sep 2026
What would show the call on Vietnam wrong?

“The call would be wrong if, in Vietnam's own partner tables, the import side became the less concentrated side of the account, or if China's share of imports fell below the United States' share of exports.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Viet Nam Affected China, United States of America

Countries in this questionViet NamChinaUnited States of America

Exposure Brief · X 001 · 6 questionsTSMC's geopolitical exposure sits on one island, not in its China sales

GeopoliticalGeotechnologyCover and at a glance30 Sep 2026
Where does TSMC's geopolitical exposure sit: in its China sales or on one island?

“Mainly a Taiwan continuity exposure, not a China-demand one: Taiwan-only nodes earned 33 per cent of second-quarter 2026 wafer revenue, China-based customers 6 per cent, until leading-edge volume starts elsewhere.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Taiwan, Province of China Affected China

Countries in this questionTaiwan, Province of ChinaChina
GeoeconomicGeopolitical05. China-based customers are a small and falling share of revenue30 Sep 2026
Is TSMC's geopolitical exposure mainly its China sales?

“No. China-based customers were 6% of 2Q26 revenue, down from 12% in 2023.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Taiwan, Province of China Affected China

Countries in this questionTaiwan, Province of ChinaChina
Geotechnology02. Every fab producing 3nm or 2nm in volume is in Taiwan30 Sep 2026
Where are TSMC's newest nodes made?

“In Taiwan: Fab 18 (3nm) and Fabs 20 and 22 (2nm), on TSMC's table of 28 Feb 2026.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Taiwan, Province of China Affected United States of America, Japan, China, Germany

GeopoliticalGeotechnology12. Eight signposts, each read from a public source30 Sep 2026
What would change this reading?

“3nm or 2nm volume production reported outside Taiwan, or China-based revenue back above a tenth.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Taiwan, Province of China Affected China

Countries in this questionTaiwan, Province of ChinaChina
Geopolitical08. The pathways differ mainly in what they do to the Taiwan concentration30 Sep 2026
How do the pathways differ for TSMC?

“The source edition translated a US–China outlook into three pathways for TSMC. None of them is scored here, and this edition does not rank them.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Taiwan, Province of China Affected United States of America, China

GeotechnologyGeopolitical05. China-based customers are a small and falling share of revenue30 Sep 2026
What does the export-control record show for TSMC's China operations?

“TSMC's Nanjing fab (16nm) received US-origin items under a Validated End-User authorization until December 2025. TSMC reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce then granted TSMC Nanjing an annual export licence”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Taiwan, Province of China Affected United States of America, China

Country Outlook · C 002 · 1 questionIs any single future for Iran likely?

Geopolitical04 · The great powers gave Iran money and cover in 2026, but no protection30 Sep 2026
Will any great power protect Iran?

“The source's central judgement on Iran's external position was that the leading powers now manage Iran rather than balance it.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Islamic Republic of Iran Affected United States of America, China, Russian Federation

Country Outlook · C 004 · 6 questionsIs the main US risk for business now US policy itself?

GeopoliticalGeoeconomicAt a glance (the answer)30 Sep 2026
Is the main US risk for business now US policy itself?

“Yes. In 2026 US exposure was rule-set exposure, written in Washington; the next dated tests are the 3 November midterm and a China truce end announced for 10 January 2027.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary United States of America Affected China

Countries in this questionUnited States of AmericaChina
GeoeconomicGeopolitical03. The calendar the source tied together came apart in September30 Sep 2026
When does the US-China truce now end?

“On 24 September 2026 the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said on Fox News that the truce would be extended to 10 January 2027, as CNBC reported the same day.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary United States of America Affected China

Countries in this questionUnited States of AmericaChina
GeoeconomicGeotechnology06. The structural floor is split30 Sep 2026
Where is the US structural floor strong and where is it exposed?

“The source's reading was that three of the five forces were partly self-authored: the build-out, the redesign of credit and the coercive use of the dollar.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary United States of America Affected China

Countries in this questionUnited States of AmericaChina
Geotechnology13. Cyber pre-positioning in US infrastructure is a resident exposure, not a closed incident30 Sep 2026
Is cyber pre-positioning in US infrastructure a closed incident?

“The source carried these as facts side by side, not as a proven causal chain: whether the staffing cuts weakened the wartime response is contested and was not adopted.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary United States of America Affected China, Islamic Republic of Iran

GeoeconomicGeopolitical21. The China truce is a scheduled renegotiation, now dated 10 January 202730 Sep 2026
Is the US-China truce a settlement?

“The two-month extension moves the decision past the midterm and past the end of the stopgap funding measure.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary United States of America Affected China

Countries in this questionUnited States of AmericaChina
GeoeconomicSince publication30 Sep 2026
What has moved since the research date?

“The US Treasury Secretary said the US-China truce would be extended to 10 January 2027, two months beyond its November expiry.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary United States of America Affected China

Countries in this questionUnited States of AmericaChina

Theme Brief · T 003 · 3 questionsWas the Strait of Hormuz closed, or repriced cargo by cargo?

GeoeconomicGeopoliticalAnswer (cover, at a glance, executive summary)30 Sep 2026
Was the Strait of Hormuz closed, or repriced cargo by cargo?

“Repriced cargo by cargo: by mid-2026 LNG kept under a tenth and crude under a quarter of their late-2025 flow through the Strait, and by 28 September crude, on Kpler's pre-war baseline, was back; products were not.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Islamic Republic of Iran, Oman Affected Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea

Geoeconomic05. The aggregate cost is small and the distributed cost is not30 Sep 2026
Who bears the economic cost of a Hormuz closure?

“On the Kiel Institute's model of a full closure, US welfare falls by 0.07 per cent while losses in South Asia and Africa are 10 to 20 times larger in percentage terms.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Islamic Republic of Iran, Oman Affected United States of America, India, Republic of Korea, Japan, China

GeoeconomicGeopolitical06. The largest strategic stock behind the Strait sits outside the IEA's release mechanism30 Sep 2026
Could the largest strategic oil stocks behind the Strait be released?

“The two largest strategic holders behind the Strait were not part of it. EIA estimates China's strategic stock at 1,492 million barrels in the second quarter of 2026 and India's at 21 million; neither country is an IEA member.”

The brief’s reading of the evidence; not a registered forecast.

Primary Islamic Republic of Iran, Oman Affected China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea

Each answer is quoted verbatim from the brief. Answers with a register ID are our estimates, scored when they resolve; the others are the brief’s reading of the evidence, not forecasts.

Regions in these questions Asia · East Asia · Europe · Indo-Pacific · Middle East · North America · South Asia · Southeast Asia

Published briefs

Briefs with China as their subject.

Forecast register

Forecasts on the register attached to the questions above.

Each is our estimate, scored when it resolves. Published briefs only; the full register lists every one.

No registered forecast is attached to these questions yet.

The forecast register

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General research for general circulation; not investment, legal or tax advice and not tailored to any reader. Every probability is our estimate, scored when it resolves.

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