On 19 August this year, China's State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council released results of a performance appraisal of the nation's state-owned enterprises. This performance assessment used annual profit and return on equity as primary standards, with allowances made for cost differences between sectors. Out of 179 companies, thirteen were below standard, including four that failed completely. As a result of this survey, media attention was turned toward the question of the SASAC's purpose and function.

Over the past few years, efforts of foreign brands to expand in China have encountered a few notable failures. Nike's "Chamber of Fear" campaign starring LeBron James was pulled for insulting the dignity of the nation, and a McDonald's spot that showed a customer kneeling to beg a store-owner to extend a sales promotion was deemed offensive to Chinese moral values.

As fuel prices rise, and as Chinese consumers become more environmentally conscious, there has been a growing call for smaller, more efficient cars. At the national level this has been encouraged, but The Beijing News and National Business Daily report that local governments have been slow to lift rules restricting operation of small vehicles.