Jennifer Pak
@jpak25.bsky.social
China correspondent for @npr.org. Ex-APM Marketplace & BBC via Shanghai, Shenzhen, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Calgary, Grande Prairie. Views are my own. https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-110428/jennifer-pak
This summer NPR Weekend Edition is doing a global tour of breakfasts. We sampled quite a few baozi - steamed, fluffy buns w/ fillings, for this assignment. We've hit our baozi quota for a while. 🎧👉: www.npr.org/2026/08/01/n... W/tks to Jasmine, Miguel, and the team back at HQ.
The common bread: How the humble bun unites China's diverse cuisines
We go to China for our series about breakfasts around the world. The bun is one item common to almost every Chinese region.
npr.org
Why China and India, two of the largest countries, don't have men's teams competing in this World Cup. A fun collab with our Mumbai corro @diaahadid.bsky.social. 🎧 👉: www.npr.org/2026/07/10/n... W/tks to Jasmine, Shweta, @nivincent.bsky.social and the rest of the team who helped get this to air.
Why India and China, two of the largest countries, didn't have World Cup teams
The world's two most populous countries — India and China — are missing from the expanded 48-team men's World Cup, highlighting corruption, bureaucratic rot and youth sports culture.
npr.org
ICYMI Lingering questions in the aftermath of the Beijing plane crash www.npr.org/2026/07/04/n... With thanks to Jasmine, Miguel, all the editors and audio producers who got this to air.
Beijing authorities determine a pilot deliberately crashed a small plane
Authorities in Beijing broke their silence about a small plane that crashed into the skyscraper headquarters of one of China's largest state-owned financial conglomerates.
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Police barriers around the tallest building in Beijing last night and today though this afternoon there were fewer police officers and more security guards. Only pedestrians allowed on the main road leading to the entrance. Damage on the east side of the building still visible.
What I’ve been up to besides work the last couple of months in Shanghai, a city I’ve called home for nearly nine years. Thanks for the memories! Beijing here I come!
Happy international workers’ day! In the lead up the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court said it ruled in favor of a senior tech worker whose company replaced him with artificial intelligence (AI). Read about the case here: www.npr.org/2026/05/01/n... With thanks to Jasmine and Kate
A tech worker in China is laid off and replaced by AI. Is it legal?
A tech worker in eastern China's Hangzhou city was dismissed after his job was replaced by AI. An appeals court in the city has ruled the dismissal unlawful.
npr.org
China has been somewhat insulated from the immediate energy shock following the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, but Beijing hasn't been able to shield its supply chains. And those costs will trickle down to consumers. Listen: www.npr.org/2026/04/28/n...
China's supply chains hit by Iran war
China has been somewhat insulated from the immediate energy shock following the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, but Beijing hasn't been able to shield its supply chains.
npr.org
China's Xi Jinping held a rare meeting with Cheng Li-wun, the leader of Taiwan's opposition KMT party. It comes ahead of a summit with President Trump, where Xi is likely to bring up his opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan ... w/ @ashishval.bsky.social www.npr.org/2026/04/10/n...
China's Xi meets Taiwan opposition leader ahead of key summit with Trump
Xi Jinping and the KMT's Cheng Li-wun agreed to pursue peace, but Taiwan's ruling party worries it will enable Beijing to undermine its democracy.
npr.org
My latest for @npr.org alongside @jpak25.bsky.social : Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun may meet Xi Jinping later this week. She says the safety of Taiwan is her priority, though Taiwan's government doubts her visit will lower tensions. www.npr.org/2026/04/07/n...
Taiwan's opposition leader arrives in China for a 'Journey of Peace'
The visit takes place ahead of President Trump's own summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month, where Taiwan is expected to be a top agenda item.
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China is extending a warm welcome this week to the leader of Taiwan's opposition party, Cheng Li-wun of the KMT. It's a rare outreach from Beijing, even as it continues military pressure on the self-ruled island. Listen here: www.npr.org/2026/04/06/n...
Amid tensions, Beijing extends rare welcome to Taiwan's opposition leader
China is extending a warm welcome this week to the leader of Taiwan's opposition party — a rare outreach from Beijing, even as it continues military pressure on the self-ruled island.
npr.org
Me and THE Tiny Desk. First rule of Tiny Desk: only post pictures AFTER the performance has been published. Check out Caamp’s performance youtu.be/J1vTi9ycpiA?... You still get the best audio on YouTube but nothing beats a live performance.
China has called a U.S. investigation into the trade practices of dozens of countries a "pretext for political manipulation." It comes as Beijing lawmakers approved a roadmap that continues the types of practices that have irked some of its partners. Read: www.npr.org/2026/03/12/n...
China slams Trump's trade investigation, as it approves a 5-year economic plan
China's Foreign Ministry criticized the Trump administration's trade investigation as a "pretext" for tariffs. Meanwhile, China is moving ahead with a five-year plan that may rankle trade partners.
npr.org
It's the Year of the Horse, and for people born that year (along with those born in the years of the Rat, Ox and Rabbit) - watch out. Read how to ward off the bad luck. www.npr.org/2026/03/11/g... With thanks to the team: Jasmine, @hannahbloch.bsky.social and Virginia
Greetings from a Shanghai temple where you can ward off bad luck in the Year of the Horse
According to Chinese mythology, those born in the Year of the Horse will clash with Tai Sui, a heavenly general. Luckily, there are ways to appease Tai Sui, including amulets at Shanghai's Jade Buddha...
npr.org
China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, on key issues like the Iran war (shouldn't have happened), U.S. (open to dialogue to avoid miscalculation and conflict), Gaza (two-state solution all the way) and more: www.npr.org/2026/03/08/n... With thanks to the team: Jasmine, Robbie, @nivincent.bsky.social
npr.org
Sluggish demand is part of the reason China set its lowest growth target in decades. We spoke to some consumers in Shanghai on what they will and won’t spend on. www.npr.org/2026/03/06/n... With thanks to the team: @nivincent.bsky.social Jasmine, and all the other producers and editors who helped
Sluggish demand prompts China to set lowest growth target in decades
China has set a more modest growth target for its economy. That reflects the drag from sluggish domestic demand.
npr.org
China set its lowest growth target in decades at 4.5%-5%. Ahead of the big political meetings to announce this I joined The Indicator from Planet Money to talk about the anxiety that’s rattling young people. 🎧 👉 www.npr.org/2026/03/04/n...
The anxiety rattling China’s youth : The Indicator from Planet Money
China will soon unveil its economic blueprint for the next five years, including a target for economic growth. This comes as consumption is down, wages aren’t rising, and property prices continue to d...
npr.org
China offers to mediate in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Zhai Jun has been named as the envoy for the task. What’s behind this and how is China making sense of this? 🎧 👉 www.npr.org/2026/03/05/n...
China offers to mediate in US-Israel-Iran war
China says it will send a special envoy to the Middle East to help mediate the US-Israel-Iran war, as Chinese political elites gather in Beijing for the annual "Two Sessions."
npr.org
***MORE NEWS*** Here's what I'm up to next ... heading to Beijing (visa pending). Excited to join the talented NPR lot! I'll still continue to post my tasty finds on IG at jpakradio. And thanks to @memostothefuture.bsky.social I finally got the Shanghai skyline in the backdrop of my profile pic.
Jennifer Pak joins NPR as China Correspondent
In a note to newsroom staff, Chief International Editor, Didi Schanche, announced Jennifer Park as NPR's new China Correspondent
npr.org
*SOME NEWS 1/4* I’ve been covering China on-and-off since 2006. A foreign correspondent/mentor once told me that every country he’s been posted in, he would try to go to every province/state at least once. I’ve hit only 3/4 of China’s provinces/autonomous regions/megacities for travel and work.
China has high youth unemployment. Same time, there are tens of millions of skilled jobs going unfilled. We visited one robotics training center trying to bridge that gap. 🎧👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1... With thanks to Charles, Stephanie, Gary, voiceover artists and the digital team
Inside a training center that's trying to bridge China's robotic skills gap
The school trains automation engineers for automated factories. China’s manufacturing sector is desperate for skilled workers.
marketplace.org
It's been almost a month since China launched its K visa for science and tech talent, but no detailed requirements have been forthcoming. The announcement was made back in August to little public reaction. So, why the backlash now? Listen to the audio story👇 www.marketplace.org/episode/2025...
“China’s H-1B” talent visa gets praise abroad and backlash at home
China’s new K visa for foreign talent largely went unnoticed by the Chinese public back in August, until Indian media compared it to the U.S.’ H-1B visa. Then, people in China became furious.
marketplace.org
A plea to podcast makers: monitor your audio levels. It’s jarring to pump the episode volume to max, then blow my eardrums over a notification ping. Typically I keep background noise peaking -18db to -12db and voice -9db to -6db, but get decent headsets to ensure everything is balanced. DM for help
Nearly 250,000 Chinese students are studying in the U.S. this fall, most of them are in post-secondary institutions. That is a 36% drop from the peak in 2017. Find out why and where students are going. Hit the 'Listen Now' button for the audio story 👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Fewer Chinese students are going to the U.S.
There are almost 250,000 Chinese students in the U.S. this fall — a 36% drop from the 2017 peak.
marketplace.org
Happy mid-autumn festival! 中秋节快乐. My camera won’t do justice to the beautiful full moon. So please enjoy the little light show along the Bund instead.
You've heard of people falling in love with AI, but I'm going to tell you a story about an AI heartbreak. A few months ago, a friend forwarded me a rather haunting video about a so-called 'cyber widow.' You can listen to her story: www.marketplace.org/episode/2025... [hit the 'Listen now' button]
She fell in love with an AI chatbot. Now, she’s a ‘cyberspace widow.’
A woman in China says she suffered real heartbreak when the AI boyfriend chatbot “died.”
marketplace.org
About 4 years ago, global investors worried about a 'Lehman moment' when China's Evergrande defaulted on its debt, with liabilities worth over $300 billion. No such collapse happened. Here's a slightly deeper dive on why. Listen to the audio story here: www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
China's Evergrande had a spectacular rise. Its collapse is just as stunning.
Evergrande was the symbol of the excess of China’s property market. On Monday, its shares were delisted from Hong Kong’s stock exchange, leaving creditors in limbo.
marketplace.org
Unlike in the U.S., there has not been as much public discourse in China about what happens to the humans replaced by AI. So I asked some Chinese firms about it at the recent World AI Conference in Shanghai. Listen (hit the 'listen now' button) 👉 www.marketplace.org/episode/2025...
China tells businesses to embrace AI. Where does that leave humans?
Marketplace’s Jennifer Pak asks Chinese AI companies what they think about the humans who will lose jobs to their AI products.
marketplace.org
