China Briefing

China's Special Economic Zones Explained: Which One is Right for Your Business? 

Economy & Trade

China's seven special economic zones each offer distinct industrial profiles, incentive policies, and strategic advantages. Here's what foreign investors need to know to find the right fit.

China's Special Economic Zones Explained: Which One is Right for Your Business? 
How China’s Foreign Investment Negative List Works – A Guide for Investors
Economy & Trade

How China’s Foreign Investment Negative List Works – A Guide for Investors

Understanding which sectors are open, restricted, or entirely off-limits to foreign investors in China requires consulting several different lists depending on where and how you plan to invest.

China’s Free Trade Zone Expands to 23 with Inner Mongolia Addition
Economy & Trade

China’s Free Trade Zone Expands to 23 with Inner Mongolia Addition

China’s approval of the Inner Mongolia Pilot Free Trade Zone brings the country’s total FTZ count to 23, completing the national FTZ map and opening new channels in rare earths, AI computing, and cross‑border logistics. The key question for investors is how these policy ambitions translate into actionable opportunities.

Hiring in Hong Kong: Compliance Tips for Foreign Companies
Human Resources & Payroll

Hiring in Hong Kong: Compliance Tips for Foreign Companies

Hong Kong offers foreign companies access to a highly skilled, multilingual workforce and a business-friendly regulatory environment, making it a key gateway for regional expansion in Asia.

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China Briefing

Economy & Trade

China's Special Economic Zones Explained: Which One is Right for Your Business? 
Economy & Trade

China's Special Economic Zones Explained: Which One is Right for Your Business? 

Apr 27

China's seven special economic zones each offer distinct industrial profiles, incentive policies, and strategic advantages. Here's what foreign investors need to know to find the right fit.

Publications

 

Tax & Accounting

Hong Kong’s Evolving Double Tax Agreement (DTA) Network 2026
Tax & Accounting

Hong Kong’s Evolving Double Tax Agreement (DTA) Network 2026

Apr 24

Hong Kong’s double tax agreement network has reached a new milestone, with fresh treaties and active negotiations shaping the 2026 outlook. Understanding how Hong Kong’s DTAs work is essential for investors and multinationals planning cross-border operations.

  • China Manufacturing Tracker 2026

    Tax & Accounting Apr 17

    Our tracker provides continuous updates on key economic and growth indicators in China’s manufacturing industry. The data for March 2026 has now been updated.

  • Beyond Compliance: How to Approach Hong Kong’s 2026 Profits Tax Return

    Tax & Accounting Apr 16

    The IRD issued 270,000 Profits Tax Returns April 1, 2026, marking a landmark shift to mandatory digital filing. This guide covers who must e-file, key deadlines, iXBRL requirements, and practical steps to ensure compliance.

  • Hong Kong Strengthens AEOI Framework with 2026 Amendment Bill

    Tax & Accounting Apr 08

    Hong Kong has gazetted the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Automatic Exchange of Information) Bill 2026 to enhance its AEOI framework. The proposed changes further align the city with global tax transparency standards under the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard.

  • China Monthly Tax Brief: March 2026

    Tax & Accounting Apr 03

    March 2026 saw intensive regulatory activity across China’s tax and customs regime, with new national and local policies reshaping incentive access and compliance expectations. FIEs should closely assess both emerging risks and streamlined opportunities arising from these reforms.

Publications

 

Legal & Regulatory

Ascentium Acquires Dezan Shira & Associates, Expanding its Footprint to 27 Markets and Strengthening Corporate Services Capabilities
Legal & Regulatory

Ascentium Acquires Dezan Shira & Associates, Expanding its Footprint to 27 Markets and Strengthening Corporate Services Capabilities

Apr 21

Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore, has completed its acquisition of Dezan Shira & Associates (“Dezan Shira”), a multi-disciplinary professional services firm with more than three decades of experience advising foreign investors across Asia.

Publications

Industries

China Manufacturing Tracker 2026
Industries

China Manufacturing Tracker 2026

Apr 17

Our tracker provides continuous updates on key economic and growth indicators in China’s manufacturing industry. The data for March 2026 has now been updated.

Publications

 

HR & Payroll

Facing New Salary Benchmarks for Foreigner's Work Permits in China? Here’s How Employers Can Respond
HR & Payroll

Facing New Salary Benchmarks for Foreigner's Work Permits in China? Here’s How Employers Can Respond

Apr 24

China’s tightening enforcement of foreigner's work permit salary benchmarks is reshaping how employers hire and retain foreign talent. As salary thresholds increasingly determine eligibility, companies must rethink budgeting, permit strategies, and long‑term workforce planning.

  • Hiring in Hong Kong: Compliance Tips for Foreign Companies

    HR & Payroll Apr 21

    Hong Kong offers foreign companies access to a highly skilled, multilingual workforce and a business-friendly regulatory environment, making it a key gateway for regional expansion in Asia.

  • China Minimum Wage Standards 2026

    HR & Payroll Apr 15

    This article offers a guide to minimum wages in the Chinese Mainland and discuss how labor costs are affected by changes to the minimum wage levels. The data is current as of January 22, 2026.

  • Cost of Living in China 2026: A City-by-City Breakdown for Expats

    HR & Payroll Apr 10

    This city‑by‑city guide analyzes expat living costs in China in 2026 using a Shanghai Index benchmark. It explains how inflation trends, exchange rates, and regional development policies shape real purchasing power across different cities and lifestyles.

  • Labor Compliance in China 2026: Enforcement Trends and Documentation Risks

    HR & Payroll Apr 08

    China’s labor compliance landscape in 2026 is defined by tighter judicial interpretation rather than new laws. Employers must align HR, payroll, and documentation practices with evolving court standards to manage dispute risk effectively.

Publications

 

Technology

Do I Need a License to Operate Online in China? A Guide for Foreign Companies
Technology

Do I Need a License to Operate Online in China? A Guide for Foreign Companies

Apr 22

Before launching a website, mobile app, or digital platform in China, foreign companies face one fundamental question: do they need a license? In most cases, the answer is yes—and often more than one.

Publications

 

Expert Guidance about Business in Asia

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing market entry, legal, accounting, tax, HR, technology and operational advisory to international investors.

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Asia Briefing publishes articles, magazines, and guides on doing business in Asia. Dezan Shira & Associates has produced the publication since 1999.

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