New Delhi, Dec. 1 -- China's manufacturing sector remained entrenched in contraction territory for an unprecedented eighth consecutive month in November 2025, casting a shadow over the world's second-largest economy as it grapples with persistent structural challenges. The official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics edged up to 49.2, a marginal improvement from October's 49.0, yet still firmly below the critical 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction.

The prolonged manufacturing sector downturn represents the longest streak of factory decline on record, underscoring the depth of China's economic malaise despite Beijing's repeated pledges to stabilize growth and shore up co...