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.
***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
www.npr.org
November 28, 2025 at 1:29 PM
***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.
*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.
November 28, 2025 at 1:05 AM
*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.
www.marketplace.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
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
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...
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.
www.marketplace.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:29 AM
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...
www.marketplace.org/episode/2025...
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
October 17, 2025 at 6:20 AM
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.
www.marketplace.org
October 15, 2025 at 11:34 AM
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...
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.
October 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
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.”
www.marketplace.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
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]
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.
www.marketplace.org
August 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
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...
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.
www.marketplace.org
August 20, 2025 at 11:41 AM
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...
Nice to have a longer chat about why people think China's data isn't trustworthy on the Make Me Smart podcast. I wish I had added that it is common for people to disagree on how stats are calculated. The issue in China is people think the stats are politicized. www.marketplace.org/episode/2025...
China has an economic data problem. Is the U.S. next?
Marketplace’s China correspondent Jennifer Pak shares her experience with unreliable government statistics.
www.marketplace.org
August 14, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Nice to have a longer chat about why people think China's data isn't trustworthy on the Make Me Smart podcast. I wish I had added that it is common for people to disagree on how stats are calculated. The issue in China is people think the stats are politicized. www.marketplace.org/episode/2025...
His made-in-America products rely on raw materials from China, like titanium. Here's how U.S. manufacturer is doing now: Listen 👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
How a Texas-based manufacturer is dealing with tariff back-and-forth
The extended tariff deadline doesn’t help with planning certainty.
www.marketplace.org
August 14, 2025 at 12:59 AM
His made-in-America products rely on raw materials from China, like titanium. Here's how U.S. manufacturer is doing now: Listen 👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
We check in with Chinese consumers, this time more affluent ones, on what is weighing on their minds this summer. Listen to the audio story and read the extended web version👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
With thanks to Charles, Caitlin, Gary, voiceover artists and digital team.
With thanks to Charles, Caitlin, Gary, voiceover artists and digital team.
Chinese consumers cut back their spending, but find small joys at Legoland
We spoke to families at Shanghai’s new Legoland theme park about what they’re willing and not willing to spend on.
www.marketplace.org
August 4, 2025 at 8:12 AM
We check in with Chinese consumers, this time more affluent ones, on what is weighing on their minds this summer. Listen to the audio story and read the extended web version👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
With thanks to Charles, Caitlin, Gary, voiceover artists and digital team.
With thanks to Charles, Caitlin, Gary, voiceover artists and digital team.
Looked up from the bus and saw big crowds near Shanghai’s Nanjing West street…
July 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Looked up from the bus and saw big crowds near Shanghai’s Nanjing West street…
Some 12 million students in China will graduate this year and their job prospects are shaky. ICYMI check out our report speaking to Shanghai grads on their job hunt. With thanks to Charles, Amanda, Bekah, voiceover artists & the digital team. Listen and/or read our audio and web stories 👇
12 million students in China will graduate this year into a shaky job market
Job seekers at one of China’s top universities say the hunt is hard this year.
www.marketplace.org
July 16, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Some 12 million students in China will graduate this year and their job prospects are shaky. ICYMI check out our report speaking to Shanghai grads on their job hunt. With thanks to Charles, Amanda, Bekah, voiceover artists & the digital team. Listen and/or read our audio and web stories 👇
For the past 3 months we've been checking in with 2 Chinese e-commerce sellers at every twist and turn of Trump's tariffs. 🎧to out audio story of their 'roller coaster' ride 👉https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/06/06/ecommerce-sellers-in-china-ride-rollercoaster-of-tariffs
China's e-commerce sellers say Trump's tariffs have been a 'rollercoaster' ride
China’s e-commerce sellers are just trying to hang on.
www.marketplace.org
June 9, 2025 at 4:54 AM
For the past 3 months we've been checking in with 2 Chinese e-commerce sellers at every twist and turn of Trump's tariffs. 🎧to out audio story of their 'roller coaster' ride 👉https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/06/06/ecommerce-sellers-in-china-ride-rollercoaster-of-tariffs
Throughout this trade war, Chinese exporters are being encouraged to sell to other countries if they can't sell to the U.S. But how easy is that? We spoke to Chinese exporters. Listen & read👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
W/tks to Amanda, Charles, Bekah, voiceover artists & the digital team.
W/tks to Amanda, Charles, Bekah, voiceover artists & the digital team.
China to exporters: Can’t sell to the U.S.? Pivot to other markets. But how easy is that?
Not every product intended for the U.S. can be sold to different markets.
www.marketplace.org
May 19, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Throughout this trade war, Chinese exporters are being encouraged to sell to other countries if they can't sell to the U.S. But how easy is that? We spoke to Chinese exporters. Listen & read👉 www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
W/tks to Amanda, Charles, Bekah, voiceover artists & the digital team.
W/tks to Amanda, Charles, Bekah, voiceover artists & the digital team.
I’m pretty sure this wonton noodle used to be bigger. #shrinkflation
May 15, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I’m pretty sure this wonton noodle used to be bigger. #shrinkflation
One thing the U.S. and China have in common? Slowing birth rates. We spoke to three moms, an ex-factory worker, an ex-civil servant and an HR executive on why they're not willing to have more children. www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Why moms in China are not willing to have more children
Lack of affordable child care, discrimination against women in the workforce and the sheer cost of raising children all make it less appealing for some mothers to have more children.
www.marketplace.org
May 7, 2025 at 6:43 AM
One thing the U.S. and China have in common? Slowing birth rates. We spoke to three moms, an ex-factory worker, an ex-civil servant and an HR executive on why they're not willing to have more children. www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
How I Accidentally Became Part of China’s PR Campaign indyweek.com/news/durham/... Had the students explored Jiangsu on their own they would have come away with an even better impression. But Chinese officials are always about control
How I Accidentally Became Part of China’s PR Campaign
Dozens of Duke University students signed up for a free trip to China. Even the university was surprised by what happened when we got there.
indyweek.com
May 7, 2025 at 6:31 AM
How I Accidentally Became Part of China’s PR Campaign indyweek.com/news/durham/... Had the students explored Jiangsu on their own they would have come away with an even better impression. But Chinese officials are always about control
Of the nearly 100 EV brands, 5 firms dominate the market in China. This is why Chinese EV brands are expanding overseas. We checked out some of the EV features offered at the recent Shanghai auto show. 🎧👉https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/05/05/the-ev-features-you-wont-see-in-the-us
The EV features you won't see in the U.S.
The U.S. has punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which effectively blocks imports. Still, many Chinese EV brands are expanding their markets and going abroad with models that are both packe...
www.marketplace.org
May 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Of the nearly 100 EV brands, 5 firms dominate the market in China. This is why Chinese EV brands are expanding overseas. We checked out some of the EV features offered at the recent Shanghai auto show. 🎧👉https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/05/05/the-ev-features-you-wont-see-in-the-us
Whoa. H/T @lisamovius.bsky.social
Tokyo Weekender on X: "US visa applicants from Japan are now required to disclose 5 years of social media history for their applications. Failure to comply may result in entry denial.https://t.co/yXtYKfTztt" / X
US visa applicants from Japan are now required to disclose 5 years of social media history for their applications. Failure to comply may result in entry denial.https://t.co/yXtYKfTztt
x.com
April 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Whoa. H/T @lisamovius.bsky.social
Shanghai 🌅 after a tough week. current.org/2025/04/mark...
April 25, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Shanghai 🌅 after a tough week. current.org/2025/04/mark...
Why some U.S. brands find it tough to shift manufacturing out of China. And yes they did try … listen to the audio (green button) and read the extended web piece here: www.marketplace.org/2025/04/07/s... w/tks to Charles, John, Bekah and the digital team
Why so much shoe manufacturing is still concentrated in China - Marketplace
“There isn't an opportunity to move footwear manufacturing back to the United States,” said Xero cofounder Lena Phoenix.
www.marketplace.org
April 8, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Why some U.S. brands find it tough to shift manufacturing out of China. And yes they did try … listen to the audio (green button) and read the extended web piece here: www.marketplace.org/2025/04/07/s... w/tks to Charles, John, Bekah and the digital team
Reposted by Jennifer Pak
Past efforts to move shoe manufacturing to Vietnam or Cambodia didn't go so great. Plus, cheaper solar panels and falling copper prices.
Today on Marketplace 👇
Today on Marketplace 👇
Footwear will likely still be "Made in China" - Marketplace
Past efforts to move shoe manufacturing to Vietnam or Cambodia didn't go so great. Plus, cheaper solar panels and falling copper prices.
mktplc.org
April 8, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Past efforts to move shoe manufacturing to Vietnam or Cambodia didn't go so great. Plus, cheaper solar panels and falling copper prices.
Today on Marketplace 👇
Today on Marketplace 👇