China confirms exit ban; high-speed rail to get upgrade: SCMP daily highlights

SCMP | July 21, 2025, 9:15 a.m. | Original

Chenyue Mao, an Atlanta-based executive at the Wells Fargo and a US citizen, has been banned from leaving China. In response, Wells Fargo has suspended all business travel to China. Photo: Handout

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 .

China has confirmed that it barred a senior Wells Fargo executive from leaving the country, saying it banned her exit because of a “criminal case” investigation.

2. Sean Stein on why US businesses are walking a tightrope to stay in China

The US-China Business Council president says even in a fraught trade environment, companies cannot ignore the value of the Chinese market.

3. China vows high-speed rail upgrade after years of record-breaking expansion

A volunteer holds leaflets as he stands near a 600km High Speed Maglev model showcasing at the National Railway Test Center during a tour by delegates to the World Congress on High-Speed Rail held in Beijing on July 9, 2025. Photo: AP
A volunteer holds leaflets as he stands near a 600km High Speed Maglev model showcasing at the National Railway Test Center during a tour by delegates to the World Congress on High-Speed Rail held in Beijing on July 9, 2025. Photo: AP

After record levels of expansion over the past few years, China’s high-speed rail network – already the world’s largest – is set for further upgrades as Beijing pledges to improve services and lower logistics costs.

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