Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Iran has been gripped by waves of anti-government protests. Photo: Reuters

Why China may not act in Iran even if it has ‘more to lose’ than in Venezuela

Beijing is likely to see the current anti-government protests as an ‘urgent’ situation, but analysts do not expect it to intervene directly.

4 hours agovideocam

China’s US embassy decries ‘coercion’ after Trump’s Iran tariff move

China-Middle East relations

Global Economy

Trade reset? China, Canada look to revive ties after US tariffs force rethink

Crude, copper and iron top Canada’s exports to China, as prime minister seeks to mend relationship with Beijing.

5 hours agovideocam

Middle East

Trump tells Iranians ‘help is on its way’ as protest death toll hits 2,000

Trump also claimed he cancelled talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown activists say killed 2,000, including children.

3 hours ago

Health & Environment

Most Hong Kong residents support more smoking control measures, study finds

Raising tobacco tax progressively could cut the city’s smoking rate significantly within a decade, separate study estimates.

3 hours ago

Focus

‘Expansion to defence’: China firms strategise in Latin America after Venezuela

East Asia

South Korean prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-leader Yoon

Prosecutors seek death for Yoon Suk-yeol over martial law decree that plunged the country into chaos. Experts expect a life term as executions are rare.

5 hours agovideocam

South Korea’s ousted former president Yoon Suk-yeol arrives to attend his trial at Seoul Central District Court in May 2025. Photo: AP

China Economy

Fears over China’s trade surplus misplaced as West also driving trend: analysts

China’s global manufacturing dominance is a tale of two halves; reliant on home-grown industrial growth and Western consumption, experts say.

4 hours agovideocam

Big Tech

Alibaba reaffirms open-source AI commitment as it hails successes

‘Building with the community’ is crucial to the success of the Qwen family of large language models, company says.

6 hours ago

People & Culture

How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates reshape modern literacy and skills worldwide

Mamadou Amadou Ly and Uri Wilensky help transform teaching and learning through multilingual education and computational thinking.

In partnership with:

Yidan Prize Foundation

The 2025 Yidan Prize laureates Professor Uri Wilensky (left) and Mamadou Amadou Ly help remove barriers to education by transforming how learners access and engage with knowledge.

Europe

Greenland says ‘we choose Denmark’, as talks with Trump officials loom

The island would rather remain Danish than be taken over by the US, its leader says, despite ongoing discussions about independence.

8 minutes agovideocam

A “Nu det NUUK!” cap with a “Make America Go Away” slogan is displayed in a clothing store in Copenhagen on Monday. Photo: AFP

Military

Taiwan, US launch joint production of 155mm artillery shells amid blockade fears

Island’s defence ministry says Ukraine war underscores urgency of securing sustained ammunition supply in event of armed conflict.

6 hours ago

Science

Chinese firm Sinovac to supply vaccine to Chile ahead of flu season

Chilean government procures doses of the jab from China for a second year in a row, with nationwide immunisation campaign to begin in March.

13 Jan 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

United States & Canada

Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein probe, defying Republican threats

Lawmakers from Trump’s party have zeroed in on Bill Clinton’s ties to the financier, as they wrestle with the Epstein files fallout.

1 hour ago

Former US president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton attend an event in Houston, Texas, in August 2024. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

How a snap election in Japan could put Takaichi in a stronger position with China

A decisive win could give Tokyo ‘limited room for concessions in its negotiations with Beijing’ and more room to manoeuvre with Washington.

13 Jan 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

Media reports have suggested Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call a snap general election to capitalise on her high approval ratings. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

Claims of lies, coercion in Beijing-Manila war of words over South China Sea

On Monday, a Manila maritime council accused China of aggressive tactics; the next day Beijing said the Philippines was ‘provoking trouble’.

6 hours agovideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong corporate governance activist David Webb dies at 60

A champion of transparency and investor rights, whose investigations and sharp commentaries unsettled the financial elite.

4 hours ago

United States & Canada

Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist and Trump fan, dead at 68

His ex-wife shared a final message from the artist, whose comic strip lampooned office life, and whose career flagged after a racist rant.

1 hour ago

Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, talks about his work at his studio in Dublin, California, in October 2006. Photo: AP

China Economy

Will Trump’s Iran tariffs send China searching for new oil sources?

Analysts urge China to protect strategic interests abroad after unexpected announcement, which is likely to push up oil import costs.

13 Jan 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

China, Iran’s largest trading partner, would be among the countries most affected by new US tariffs targeting Tehran’s commercial ties. Photo: Reuters

Tech Trends

DeepSeek founder’s latest paper proposes new model training to bypass GPU limits

The development underscores the start-up’s focus on maximising cost efficiency amid a deficit in computational power relative to the US.

13 Jan 2026 - 6:00PM

Middle East

Iranians use Musk’s Starlink to pierce internet blackout during protests

Smuggled satellite terminals offer a high-risk lifeline as Iran’s protest death toll climbs.

13 Jan 2026 - 8:16PM

OPINION

Andrew Leung

Opinion | Trump’s audacious imperialism will only propel China’s rise

13 Jan 2026 - 8:30PM

Hao Nan

Opinion | EU-China ties are stuck between interdependence and rivalry

13 Jan 2026 - 5:57PM

Fu Fengshan

Opinion | The US wants to block China’s peaceful reunification. It won’t work

13 Jan 2026 - 9:56AM

Chow Chung-yan

Opinion | Forget Venezuela and Greenland – here is the real trillion-dollar question

12 Jan 2026 - 9:02AM

Letters

Letters | Hong Kong airport has recovered well from the pandemic

13 Jan 2026 - 11:30AM

Harry’s View | 14 Jan 2026

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Europe

Greenland says ‘we choose Denmark’, as talks with Trump officials loom

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United States & Canada

Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein probe, defying Republican threats

2 hours ago

United States & Canada

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4 hours ago

Health & Environment

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SCMP Series Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

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‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

23 Dec 2025 - 3:43PMvideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

Political scientist says the Western-led global order remains useful, and the Belt and Road Initiative isn’t a geopolitical project.

12 Jan 2026 - 10:06AMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Questions | ‘Embrace the moment’: on China, Daniel Kritenbrink puts pragmatism first

Former US ambassador to Vietnam says a return to the past for US-China relations is unrealistic, but both economic powers benefit from ties.

5 Jan 2026 - 9:11AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | How new C100 chief plans to foster ties between Chinese-Americans and China

The Committee of 100’s president Paul Cheung has high hopes for Chinese-Americans’ relationship with China in these uncertain times.

9 Jan 2026 - 12:37PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on European vertigo in a post-American world

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29 Dec 2025 - 9:04AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

17 Dec 2025 - 7:00AM

The questions in FAI-C were reviewed by a panel of Biblical experts, including theologians, pastors, psychologists and scholars of ethics. Photo: SCMP

Big Tech

Alibaba reaffirms open-source AI commitment as it hails successes

‘Building with the community’ is crucial to the success of the Qwen family of large language models, company says.

6 hours ago

Markets

Chinese rocket shares slump after warnings on ‘irrational’ rally

Long-term prospects for sector are ‘very promising’, but market in the short term is ‘mainly driven by speculative sentiment’, analyst says.

13 Jan 2026 - 5:51PM

China Business

UBS projects rosy view of Chinese stocks in 2026 as investors diversify holdings

‘Chinese assets’ appeal will further increase this year because of a sharpened focus on diversified investments,’ UBS’ Thomas Fang says.

13 Jan 2026 - 3:56PM

A Chinese trader looks at an electronic trading board at the Shanghai stock exchange. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

How the US raid in Venezuela has triggered Brazilian fury and a Chinese opening

Latin America’s largest economy seeks ‘delicate balance’ between Trump’s ambitions and boosting ties with Beijing, its top trading partner.

11 Jan 2026 - 6:04AMvideocam

Banking & Finance

What does HSBC’s buyout of Hang Seng Bank mean for its future and investors?

HSBC’s historic US$13.6 billion buyout of Hang Seng Bank aims to cut costs, tackle bad debts and fuel growth, but challenges abound.

10 Jan 2026 - 10:00AM

Military

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

Seoul’s calls for Chinese mediation seen to underscore Beijing’s central role in preserving stability between two Koreas.

8 Jan 2026 - 11:04AMvideocam

China Economy

Shanghai unveils US$10 billion investment spree as US-China tech race heats up

Shanghai announces 50 new projects across an array of hi-tech industries as China’s cities heed Beijing’s call to double down on innovation.

7 Jan 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Shanghai has unveiled a slew of new investments in hi-tech industries worth more than US$10 billion. Photo: AFP

Why China may not act in Iran even if it has ‘more to lose’ than in Venezuela

Beijing is likely to see the current anti-government protests as an ‘urgent’ situation, but analysts do not expect it to intervene directly.

China’s US embassy decries ‘coercion’ after Trump’s Iran tariff move

Trade reset? China, Canada look to revive ties after US tariffs force rethink

Crude, copper and iron top Canada’s exports to China, as prime minister seeks to mend relationship with Beijing.

Trump tells Iranians ‘help is on its way’ as protest death toll hits 2,000

Trump also claimed he cancelled talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown activists say killed 2,000, including children.

Most Hong Kong residents support more smoking control measures, study finds

Raising tobacco tax progressively could cut the city’s smoking rate significantly within a decade, separate study estimates.

‘Expansion to defence’: China firms strategise in Latin America after Venezuela

South Korean prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-leader Yoon

Prosecutors seek death for Yoon Suk-yeol over martial law decree that plunged the country into chaos. Experts expect a life term as executions are rare.

Fears over China’s trade surplus misplaced as West also driving trend: analysts

China’s global manufacturing dominance is a tale of two halves; reliant on home-grown industrial growth and Western consumption, experts say.

Alibaba reaffirms open-source AI commitment as it hails successes

‘Building with the community’ is crucial to the success of the Qwen family of large language models, company says.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates reshape modern literacy and skills worldwide

Mamadou Amadou Ly and Uri Wilensky help transform teaching and learning through multilingual education and computational thinking.

Greenland says ‘we choose Denmark’, as talks with Trump officials loom

The island would rather remain Danish than be taken over by the US, its leader says, despite ongoing discussions about independence.

Taiwan, US launch joint production of 155mm artillery shells amid blockade fears

Island’s defence ministry says Ukraine war underscores urgency of securing sustained ammunition supply in event of armed conflict.

Chinese firm Sinovac to supply vaccine to Chile ahead of flu season

Chilean government procures doses of the jab from China for a second year in a row, with nationwide immunisation campaign to begin in March.

Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein probe, defying Republican threats

Lawmakers from Trump’s party have zeroed in on Bill Clinton’s ties to the financier, as they wrestle with the Epstein files fallout.

How a snap election in Japan could put Takaichi in a stronger position with China

A decisive win could give Tokyo ‘limited room for concessions in its negotiations with Beijing’ and more room to manoeuvre with Washington.

Claims of lies, coercion in Beijing-Manila war of words over South China Sea

On Monday, a Manila maritime council accused China of aggressive tactics; the next day Beijing said the Philippines was ‘provoking trouble’.

Hong Kong corporate governance activist David Webb dies at 60

A champion of transparency and investor rights, whose investigations and sharp commentaries unsettled the financial elite.

Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist and Trump fan, dead at 68

His ex-wife shared a final message from the artist, whose comic strip lampooned office life, and whose career flagged after a racist rant.

Will Trump’s Iran tariffs send China searching for new oil sources?

Analysts urge China to protect strategic interests abroad after unexpected announcement, which is likely to push up oil import costs.

DeepSeek founder’s latest paper proposes new model training to bypass GPU limits

The development underscores the start-up’s focus on maximising cost efficiency amid a deficit in computational power relative to the US.

Iranians use Musk’s Starlink to pierce internet blackout during protests

Smuggled satellite terminals offer a high-risk lifeline as Iran’s protest death toll climbs.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Trump’s audacious imperialism will only propel China’s rise

Opinion | EU-China ties are stuck between interdependence and rivalry

Opinion | The US wants to block China’s peaceful reunification. It won’t work

Opinion | Forget Venezuela and Greenland – here is the real trillion-dollar question

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Hong Kong airport has recovered well from the pandemic

Greenland says ‘we choose Denmark’, as talks with Trump officials loom

Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein probe, defying Republican threats

Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist and Trump fan, dead at 68

Most Hong Kong residents support more smoking control measures, study finds

Trump tells Iranians ‘help is on its way’ as protest death toll hits 2,000

Why China may not act in Iran even if it has ‘more to lose’ than in Venezuela

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

Political scientist says the Western-led global order remains useful, and the Belt and Road Initiative isn’t a geopolitical project.

Open Questions | ‘Embrace the moment’: on China, Daniel Kritenbrink puts pragmatism first

Former US ambassador to Vietnam says a return to the past for US-China relations is unrealistic, but both economic powers benefit from ties.

Open Questions | How new C100 chief plans to foster ties between Chinese-Americans and China

The Committee of 100’s president Paul Cheung has high hopes for Chinese-Americans’ relationship with China in these uncertain times.

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on European vertigo in a post-American world

While melancholy Europe frets that the US and China will shape the future, middle powers are jostling for a place at the big table.

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

Alibaba reaffirms open-source AI commitment as it hails successes

‘Building with the community’ is crucial to the success of the Qwen family of large language models, company says.

Chinese rocket shares slump after warnings on ‘irrational’ rally

Long-term prospects for sector are ‘very promising’, but market in the short term is ‘mainly driven by speculative sentiment’, analyst says.

UBS projects rosy view of Chinese stocks in 2026 as investors diversify holdings

‘Chinese assets’ appeal will further increase this year because of a sharpened focus on diversified investments,’ UBS’ Thomas Fang says.

How the US raid in Venezuela has triggered Brazilian fury and a Chinese opening

Latin America’s largest economy seeks ‘delicate balance’ between Trump’s ambitions and boosting ties with Beijing, its top trading partner.

What does HSBC’s buyout of Hang Seng Bank mean for its future and investors?

HSBC’s historic US$13.6 billion buyout of Hang Seng Bank aims to cut costs, tackle bad debts and fuel growth, but challenges abound.

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

Seoul’s calls for Chinese mediation seen to underscore Beijing’s central role in preserving stability between two Koreas.

Shanghai unveils US$10 billion investment spree as US-China tech race heats up

Shanghai announces 50 new projects across an array of hi-tech industries as China’s cities heed Beijing’s call to double down on innovation.

How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates reshape modern literacy and skills worldwide

Opinion | Trump’s audacious imperialism will only propel China’s rise

Letters | Hong Kong airport has recovered well from the pandemic