Beijing won its war for blue skies, but villagers are paying the price
- Posted on January 14, 2026
- By Business News Today
- 3 Views
Beijing won its war for blue skies, but villagers are paying the price
China air quality: Reports of villagers huddling under multiple blankets or secretly burning firewood for warmth -- firewood is banned, too -- had circulated widely on Chinese social media. They spurred calls, including in major state-run news outlets, to relax the coal ban or restore subsidies. But China's gains in air quality have been a political priority for the government, and many of the reports were quickly censored.