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The Economic Times

National / The Economic Times

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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.

14 Jan 2026 11:32 am