China: Guangzhou R&F-Hebei China Fortune, first game of the 2016 Super League season, on 04/03/2016

Guangzhou R&F - Hebei China Fortune (1-2), on 04/03/2016 was the first game of the 2016 Chinese Super League season. The other seven games of Matchday 1 are scheduled on 05 and 06/03/2016, except for Tianjin Teda - Beijing Guoan, shifted to 16/03/2016.

During the offseason, the 16 CSL clubs have spent more than €325m in the transfer market, almost three times the spending in 2015 (€116m), and notably more than the English Premier League (€253m) spent in the 2016 winter transfer window (from 01/01 to 01/02/2016).

"China uses sport as an instrument of soft power, to shine internationally and improve its image. China wants to be number one in all fields, particularly in sport, which for some twenty years now has been a part of China's economic policy," stated Pascal Boniface, founder and director of IRIS (Institute of International and Strategic Relations) to News Tank Football on 03/02/2016.

With the 2016 season of the Chinese Super League kicking off this weekend, please find below some articles recently published News Tank Football related to China.