John Ruwitch
John Ruwitch is a correspondent with NPR's international desk. He covers Chinese affairs.
Ruwitch joined NPR in early 2020, and has since chronicled the tectonic shift in America's relations with China, from hopeful engagement to suspicion-fueled competition. He's also reported on a range of other issues, including Beijing's pressure campaign on Taiwan, Hong Kong's National Security Law, Asian-Americans considering guns for self-defense in the face of rising violence and a herd of elephants roaming in the Chinese countryside in search of a home.
Ruwitch joined NPR after more than 19 years with Reuters in Asia, the last eight of which were in Shanghai. There, he first covered a broad beat that took him as far afield as the China-North Korea border and the edge of the South China Sea. Later, he led a team that covered business and financial markets in the world's second biggest economy. Ruwitch has also had postings in Hanoi, Hong Kong and Beijing, reporting on anti-corruption campaigns, elite Communist politics, labor disputes, human rights, currency devaluations, earthquakes, snowstorms, Olympic badminton and everything in between.
Ruwitch studied history at U.C. Santa Cruz and got a master's in Regional Studies East Asia from Harvard. He speaks Mandarin and Vietnamese.
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There's a police check to exit the subway, another to get in line, a third while standing in line, and metal detectors and X-ray machines before you finally reach the Beijing landmark. -
Chinese business people may be able to find creative ways to avoid U.S. tariffs, but for Beijing, its concerns for the incoming Trump presidency go beyond trade. -
The world is reacting to former President Trump's election victory. In Russia, analysts are thinking about how it might affect U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
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According to official statistics, the average price of fresh vegetables in China rose nearly 20% in August. A visit to the crops in China’s northeast helps explain the price spike.
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China is to "gradually raise" the retirement age for its workforce next year. The news is met with mixed reaction in the Chinese capital.
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In Beijing, Chinese president Xi Jinping promised African leaders money and jobs as China continues to expand its influence in Africa
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National security adviser Jake Sullivan wrapped up a trip to Beijing by meeting with China's leader, Xi Jinping.
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Vice President Harris’ running mate has lived in China and traveled there many times. His relationship with the country has been under scrutiny, especially from Republicans. -
Former President Donald Trump thumps Vice President Harris in name recognition, but analysts say Beijing sees both as bad news. -
In Hong Kong, long after the protest movement that kicked off five years ago fizzled out, a quiet tussle is playing out over the fate of businesses that once supported the ideals of the demonstrators.
