About China Compass
Free daily updates on the Canada-China relationship. A Know What Matters project.
What is China Compass?
China Compass is a free daily briefing on everything happening between Canada and China. Every morning, we gather updates from government sources, news outlets, think tanks, financial markets, and parliamentary records — then organize and explain them in a bilingual format anyone can understand.
Our goal is simple: help you stay informed about one of Canada's most important relationships, whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to know what's going on.
A Know What Matters Project
China Compass is built by Know What Matters, a not-for-profit that believes good information should be free and accessible to everyone — not just those who can afford expensive subscriptions or have special access.
We create tools that make complex topics easier to follow. The Canada-China relationship affects trade, jobs, technology, universities, and the daily lives of millions of people in both countries. You deserve better than scattered headlines and political spin. You deserve clear, organized, daily updates — and that's what we provide.
Who This is For
China Compass is for anyone curious about Canada-China relations:
- Students and researchers who want reliable daily updates with source links.
- Business professionals tracking trade, markets, and regulatory changes.
- Journalists who need a structured feed of developments to follow.
- Policy professionals looking for a non-partisan daily overview.
- Chinese-speaking readers who prefer following in their own language.
- Anyone who wants to understand the relationship better — no expertise required.
How It Works
China Compass is fully automated — no human editor picks which stories appear. Every morning, our system:
- Collects — gathers updates from government websites, news feeds, Chinese media, trade statistics, and financial markets.
- Organizes — sorts each item by topic (diplomacy, trade, politics, etc.) and flags important developments.
- Calculates — generates a "Tension Index" score showing the overall state of the relationship.
- Publishes — creates the briefing in both English and Chinese, and sends it to newsletter subscribers.
Where We Get Information
Every day, we pull from:
- Government: Global Affairs Canada, parliamentary debates and committee meetings
- Chinese media: Xinhua, official government channels, and business news
- News outlets: Canadian, international, and Asia-focused publications
- Trade data: Statistics Canada's official figures
- Markets: Chinese and Hong Kong stock indices, currency rates
- Parliament: Bills being debated, mentions of China in speeches
The Tension Index
Our Tension Index is a simple score from 0 (calm) to 10 (crisis) that tracks six areas:
| Area | What we watch |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic | Ambassador statements, embassy activity, official meetings |
| Trade | Tariffs, import/export restrictions, business disputes |
| Military | Defence news, security announcements, regional activity |
| Political | New laws, parliamentary debates, election impacts |
| Technology | Tech bans, research partnerships, data security rules |
| Social | Student exchanges, diaspora news, public opinion |
Think of it as a thermometer for the relationship — useful for seeing trends, but not a crystal ball.
Our Principles
- Free forever: China Compass is free to use and always will be. Good information shouldn't cost money.
- Non-partisan: We don't take sides. We present what's happening and let you form your own views.
- Show your sources: Every signal links to its original source. You can always verify what we report.
- Plain language: We avoid jargon and explain context. You don't need a political science degree to follow along.
- Truly bilingual: English and Chinese versions get equal attention. Chinese-language sources are analyzed in the original language.
What We Can't Do
We're transparent about our limits:
- We only use publicly available information — we don't have access to government secrets.
- Information from China can be limited. Sometimes we have to make educated guesses based on what's available.
- The Tension Index is a simplification. It shows general trends, not precise measurements.
- Our automated system occasionally miscategorizes signals. We're always improving it.
- Market data has delays — don't use it for investment decisions.
Get in Touch
Questions, corrections, or just want to say hi? Email us at info@chinacompass.ca
We'd love to hear from you — whether you're a student with questions, an expert with corrections, or anyone interested in what we're building.
China Compass is a project of Know What Matters.