Our Founder: Tony Fiddis
Tony Fiddis is the founder and lead analyst of China Update and Market Update, two of the most widely followed independent platforms dedicated to the geopolitical, economic, and strategic analysis of the People’s Republic of China. Distributed on YouTube and in podcast form, China Update has built an international audience by doing something deceptively rare in the China-commentary space: grounding every briefing in primary sources, official Chinese-language statements, and verifiable data rather than speculation.
He is also the founder and head analyst of China Update Consulting, a practice established to help businesses, investors, and institutions better understand the political and economic forces shaping the world’s second-largest economy.
A foundation of genuine, on-the-ground expertise
Tony’s authority on China is not theoretical; it is earned. A New Zealander, he spent over a decade living, studying, and working on the ground in China and is a fluent Mandarin speaker. This direct, first-hand experience is the backbone of his analysis: he reads, watches, and interprets Chinese policy in the original language, drawing on hundreds of articles, think-tank reports, and government statements in both English and Chinese each week.
His academic credentials reflect a distinctive blend of Western legal training and deep Chinese institutional knowledge:
- Master of International Relations, Peking University (PKU), Beijing — one of China’s most prestigious universities. Tony studied there as a recipient of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia, was awarded the Lingyun Award for Academic Excellence, and focused his research on Chinese foreign policy as well as trade law and regulation.
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts (BA), Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand — where he subsequently qualified and was admitted to the bar.
While at Peking University, Tony also served as a liaison officer at the New Zealand Centre at PKU, the formal hub for New Zealand–China academic and cultural exchange – a role that placed him directly within the institutional relationship between the two countries.
A lawyer’s discipline applied to China analysis
This combination, a qualified lawyer who then trained inside one of China’s leading academic institutions, defines Tony’s method. He approaches his audience with the rigorous objectivity of trusted counsel, treating subscribers as clients entitled to high-quality, unbiased, evidence-driven insight rather than as an audience to be alarmed or entertained. Arguments are built from primary sources; conclusions are framed to let the reader weigh the evidence and reach their own informed view.
Tony is explicit that China Update is not a financial advisory service, and he produces, researches, and presents the analysis himself. The views are his own, and the sourcing is transparent.
Contact Tony Fiddis: info@chinanewsupdate.com
Why Read China News Update
Concise analysis. The core facts of our daily briefings, presented in a structured, readable format.
Expert insight. A direct extension of the research and reporting seen on our established China Update channel, informed by a decade on the ground in China and by formal training in law and Chinese foreign policy.
Objectivity first. We prioritise data, primary sources, and neutral reporting, so you can form your own informed conclusions.
Connected for Credibility
As a dedicated offshoot of the China Update channel, China News Update maintains the same standards of journalistic integrity and rigorous, source-driven research that our viewers and listeners have come to trust.
Stay informed. Stay objective.
