Hainan Free-Trade Gambit: China’s Tropical Opening to the World
China turned the tropical island of Hainan into the world's largest free-trade port in December, framing it as a major step in opening its markets to foreigners amid rising global protectionism. While officials tout the move as a significant reform, analysts caution that past boosterism around Hainan has struggled to translate into lasting change, and it remains uncertain whether the experiment will spur broader reforms elsewhere in China.