China’s Billion-Dollar Bubble Tea War: Tech Giants Bleed Wallets

In 2025, China's top e-commerce titans—Alibaba, JD.com, and Meituan—turned food delivery into the Hunger Games of subsidies, with bubble teas and lattes going for a jaw-dropping 1 yuan ($0.14). JD.com kicked off this price war in February, prompting a spillover of deep discounts so steep they sent Meituan's shares plunging 13% in one day and tanking 33% year-to-date. JD's net profit halved by June, and Alibaba’s stock dropped 20% since March despite being up 41% overall this year. Beijing stepped in, calling the trio in for a stern team huddle in May and June to say 'enough' to this pricey madness. Regulators want an end to 'irrational competition' before these tech giants burn so much cash that even their scooters start begging for rides.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Nothing screams 'winner' like a food delivery price war where bubble tea costs less than a pack of gum but sends Alibaba, JD.com, and Meituan stocks into something resembling a financial slap fight officiated by the Chinese government.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Chinese tech giants are playing the world’s most expensive game of uno: 'I’ll pay you to eat my tea!' Meanwhile, Beijing’s just trying to stop this trillion-yuan food fight before it becomes a full buffet meltdown.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

When your burger costs less than air and your delivery app’s stock tanks faster than your appetite, maybe it’s time to realize you can’t eat subsidies forever—even if that 1 yuan latte tastes like victory.

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