Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

The Fujian, China’s first domestically designed aircraft carrier, is the world’s largest conventionally powered warship. Photo: Xinhua

Why China may need to take the nuclear option for its next carrier

Military magazine pinpoints design flaws in the Fujian carrier that significantly reduce its launch efficiency.

18 Jan 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

PLA’s Fujian aircraft carrier transits Taiwan Strait as Taipei watches closely

China's military weapons

Europe

EU considers US$108 billion US retaliatory tariffs over Trump’s Greenland threat

‘Tariff threats ⁠undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,’ the countries said in a joint statement.

29 minutes ago

Diplomacy

How China is ramping up Africa charm offensive to boost cultural ties, influence

Beijing dedicates 2026 to ‘cultural and social diplomacy’ across the continent, with 600 activities aimed at fostering strong friendships.

18 Jan 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Science

Could China’s ion implanter ‘scalpel’ carve out secure chip supply chains?

The technology is central to some forms of semiconductor manufacturing and dominated by overseas players.

18 Jan 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Focus

Can China’s cosmetics brands rival K-beauty and refashion global markets?

Society

Hong Kong blogger’s Iran trip sparks debate about solo travel safety

Online community split over whether women travelling alone to ‘dangerous’ nations is reckless or eye-opening.

5 hours ago

Protesters gather in solidarity with Iran’s government. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

World leaders show caution on Trump’s broader ‘Board of Peace’ amid fears for UN

Only ‍Hungary, whose leader Viktor Orban is a close Trump ally, has given a firm acceptance in response to the invitations to join the board.

3 hours agovideocam

Military

Are Western defence firms aiming at the Chinese navy in their promo videos?

Vessels that look a lot like PLA warships appear in animation of BAE and Lockheed weapons systems.

18 Jan 2026 - 7:30PM

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.

Science

How can China help Uruguay battle beetles threatening to invade South America?

A small reddish insect is on the march and Chinese space technology could halt the pest’s path of destruction.

18 Jan 2026 - 4:08PMvideocam

Authorities in Uruguay are battling the red palm weevil, an insect that devours native palm trees. Photo: AP

Economics

Can US-led bloc ease China’s ‘vice-like grip’ on rare earths?

Washington is working with its allies to accelerate projects in rare earths and diversify their supply in response to China’s export curbs.

18 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Big Tech

Tencent seeks cooperation with other AI firms to better serve vulnerable users

Tencent Research Institute looks to build expert data sets for AI models that could broadly benefit the world’s second most populous nation.

18 Jan 2026 - 2:00PM

China Business

Chinese electric vehicle makers eye Western markets as trade barriers fall

Canada will drop the 100 per cent punitive tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric cars while setting an annual import quota of 49,000 units.

18 Jan 2026 - 3:00PM

Ora cars from Great Wall Motor are parked in a parking lot at JadeWeserPort in Germany. Photo: dpa

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police arrest 2, record 220 offences in illegal road racing crackdown

Officers intercepted 50 vehicles on suspicion of illegal modification during two-day operation ‘Fossington’.

18 Jan 2026 - 6:40PM

Operation ‘Fossington’ targeted traffic violations across New Territories locations. Photo: Handout

Middle East

Yemen’s leaders meet in Saudi Arabia after defeat of UAE-backed group

Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of smuggling an opposing leader to Abu Dhabi through Somalia, after the Saudi-backed government charged him with treason.

5 hours ago

Military

PLA sends drone into airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island in South China Sea

Southern Theatre Command cites ‘completely legitimate’ routine flight training, while Taipei calls it ‘provocative and irresponsible’ act.

18 Jan 2026 - 8:18PMvideocam

Europe

Bodies of skiers killed in avalanches in Austria to be recovered

Mountain rescue teams emphasised the high risk of avalanches after 3 separate incidents took place during off-piste ski tours at the weekend.

2 hours ago

Rescuers search for people after an avalanche in the Salzburg Pongau region of western Austria on Saturday. Photo: Bergrettung Pongau via AP

Middle East

Iran warns against any US strike as judiciary hints at unrest-linked executions

‘We will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished,’ said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

3 hours ago

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addresses a meeting with the people in Tehran on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Science

Could flying wind farms be the future of energy generation in China?

The test of an ‘alien-looking’ giant airship in the skies above Sichuan created a buzz on social media.

18 Jan 2026 - 12:00PM

Military

Did China, Russia, Iran joint naval drills in South Africa signal a Brics shift?

Observers describe high-profile exercise involving economic grouping as largely symbolic rather than step towards military alliance.

18 Jan 2026 - 3:51PMvideocam

OPINION

Alex Lo

Taiwan has just sold out TSMC and half its chips industry to the US

18 Jan 2026 - 9:30PM

Nong Hong

Opinion | Greenland’s stress test of Nato will ripple beyond the Arctic

18 Jan 2026 - 8:30PM

Albert Bakhtizin

Opinion | Why the US really wants Venezuela’s oil

18 Jan 2026 - 4:30PM

Lisa Lim

Language Matters | Senpai, bingsu, ramyeon: new Korean and Japanese words in the OED

18 Jan 2026 - 4:15PM

Chandran Nair

Asian Angle | China has a worthy blueprint to improve the UN. Why is the West ignoring it?

18 Jan 2026 - 10:30AM

Harry’s View | 19 Jan 2026

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Europe

Kyiv says held ‘substantive’ talks with US; discussions to continue in Davos

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Europe

EU considers US$108 billion US retaliatory tariffs over Trump’s Greenland threat

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Europe

Bodies of skiers killed in avalanches in Austria to be recovered

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United States & Canada

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The US has played its hand in Latin America. Will China’s firms there cash out?

After the abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, many Chinese entrepreneurs in the region say they are staying put – for now.

13 Jan 2026 - 9:55AMvideocam

Why overseas residency is a ‘practical advantage’ for Chinese firms going global

12 Jan 2026 - 11:19AMvideocam

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12 Dec 2025 - 12:42PM

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

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

29 Dec 2025 - 9:04AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech War

Zhipu AI breaks US chip reliance with first major model trained on Huawei stack

Zhipu claims GLM-Image achieved industry-leading scores among open-source models for text rendering and Chinese character generation.

14 Jan 2026 - 8:00PM

Zhipu said the achievement proved the feasibility of developing powerful multimodal models without US chips. Photo: Shutterstock Images

China Business

Chinese electric vehicle makers eye Western markets as trade barriers fall

Canada will drop the 100 per cent punitive tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric cars while setting an annual import quota of 49,000 units.

18 Jan 2026 - 3:00PM

Big Tech

Tencent seeks cooperation with other AI firms to better serve vulnerable users

Tencent Research Institute looks to build expert data sets for AI models that could broadly benefit the world’s second most populous nation.

18 Jan 2026 - 2:00PM

Policy

Hong Kong bolsters tech hub ambitions as city hosts global AI summit

Hong Kong’s turn to host a summit under WAIC reflects Beijing’s confidence in the city’s strategic development goals.

16 Jan 2026 - 9:15PM

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong (fourth from left), joins other dignitaries on Friday, during the city’s inaugural turn as host of a summit under the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Hong Kong Science Park. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

China curbs US AI chips, shuns foreign capital in pursuit of tech self-reliance

These restrictions signify a new phase in the US-China tech war where ‘offensive and defensive roles have shifted’, says an analyst.

17 Jan 2026 - 10:46AM

Diplomacy

Counting China’s ‘swing nation’ wins and losses in new era of power rivalry

As US-China race for hi-tech resources heats up across Global South, countries caught in the middle are under pressure to strike a balance.

17 Jan 2026 - 7:43AMvideocam

China Economy

A Chinese tech hub eyes 3- to 7-nanometre chip breakthroughs to beat US curbs

Province’s five-year plan backs national push for tech independence – but can it succeed?

16 Jan 2026 - 11:14AMvideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Can new tricks save Hong Kong’s restaurants from ‘irreversible’ Shenzhen trend?

Business models are being overhauled as food and drink sector tackles ‘irreversible’ trend of Hongkongers spending their money elsewhere.

16 Jan 2026 - 10:06AMvideocam

Why China may need to take the nuclear option for its next carrier

Military magazine pinpoints design flaws in the Fujian carrier that significantly reduce its launch efficiency.

PLA’s Fujian aircraft carrier transits Taiwan Strait as Taipei watches closely

EU considers US$108 billion US retaliatory tariffs over Trump’s Greenland threat

‘Tariff threats ⁠undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,’ the countries said in a joint statement.

How China is ramping up Africa charm offensive to boost cultural ties, influence

Beijing dedicates 2026 to ‘cultural and social diplomacy’ across the continent, with 600 activities aimed at fostering strong friendships.

Could China’s ion implanter ‘scalpel’ carve out secure chip supply chains?

The technology is central to some forms of semiconductor manufacturing and dominated by overseas players.

Can China’s cosmetics brands rival K-beauty and refashion global markets?

Hong Kong blogger’s Iran trip sparks debate about solo travel safety

Online community split over whether women travelling alone to ‘dangerous’ nations is reckless or eye-opening.

World leaders show caution on Trump’s broader ‘Board of Peace’ amid fears for UN

Only ‍Hungary, whose leader Viktor Orban is a close Trump ally, has given a firm acceptance in response to the invitations to join the board.

Are Western defence firms aiming at the Chinese navy in their promo videos?

Vessels that look a lot like PLA warships appear in animation of BAE and Lockheed weapons systems.

.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.

How can China help Uruguay battle beetles threatening to invade South America?

A small reddish insect is on the march and Chinese space technology could halt the pest’s path of destruction.

Can US-led bloc ease China’s ‘vice-like grip’ on rare earths?

Washington is working with its allies to accelerate projects in rare earths and diversify their supply in response to China’s export curbs.

Tencent seeks cooperation with other AI firms to better serve vulnerable users

Tencent Research Institute looks to build expert data sets for AI models that could broadly benefit the world’s second most populous nation.

Chinese electric vehicle makers eye Western markets as trade barriers fall

Canada will drop the 100 per cent punitive tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric cars while setting an annual import quota of 49,000 units.

Hong Kong police arrest 2, record 220 offences in illegal road racing crackdown

Officers intercepted 50 vehicles on suspicion of illegal modification during two-day operation ‘Fossington’.

Yemen’s leaders meet in Saudi Arabia after defeat of UAE-backed group

Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of smuggling an opposing leader to Abu Dhabi through Somalia, after the Saudi-backed government charged him with treason.

PLA sends drone into airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island in South China Sea

Southern Theatre Command cites ‘completely legitimate’ routine flight training, while Taipei calls it ‘provocative and irresponsible’ act.

Bodies of skiers killed in avalanches in Austria to be recovered

Mountain rescue teams emphasised the high risk of avalanches after 3 separate incidents took place during off-piste ski tours at the weekend.

Iran warns against any US strike as judiciary hints at unrest-linked executions

‘We will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished,’ said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Could flying wind farms be the future of energy generation in China?

The test of an ‘alien-looking’ giant airship in the skies above Sichuan created a buzz on social media.

Did China, Russia, Iran joint naval drills in South Africa signal a Brics shift?

Observers describe high-profile exercise involving economic grouping as largely symbolic rather than step towards military alliance.

Taiwan has just sold out TSMC and half its chips industry to the US

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Greenland’s stress test of Nato will ripple beyond the Arctic

Opinion | Why the US really wants Venezuela’s oil

Language Matters | Senpai, bingsu, ramyeon: new Korean and Japanese words in the OED

Asian Angle | China has a worthy blueprint to improve the UN. Why is the West ignoring it?

Kyiv says held ‘substantive’ talks with US; discussions to continue in Davos

EU considers US$108 billion US retaliatory tariffs over Trump’s Greenland threat

Bodies of skiers killed in avalanches in Austria to be recovered

World leaders show caution on Trump’s broader ‘Board of Peace’ amid fears for UN

Yemen’s leaders meet in Saudi Arabia after defeat of UAE-backed group

Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi wins India Open badminton event marred by ‘dirty’ conditions

The US has played its hand in Latin America. Will China’s firms there cash out?

After the abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, many Chinese entrepreneurs in the region say they are staying put – for now.

Why overseas residency is a ‘practical advantage’ for Chinese firms going global

Chinese companies expand globally

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}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.

Zhipu AI breaks US chip reliance with first major model trained on Huawei stack

Zhipu claims GLM-Image achieved industry-leading scores among open-source models for text rendering and Chinese character generation.

Chinese electric vehicle makers eye Western markets as trade barriers fall

Canada will drop the 100 per cent punitive tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric cars while setting an annual import quota of 49,000 units.

Tencent seeks cooperation with other AI firms to better serve vulnerable users

Tencent Research Institute looks to build expert data sets for AI models that could broadly benefit the world’s second most populous nation.

Hong Kong bolsters tech hub ambitions as city hosts global AI summit

Hong Kong’s turn to host a summit under WAIC reflects Beijing’s confidence in the city’s strategic development goals.

China curbs US AI chips, shuns foreign capital in pursuit of tech self-reliance

These restrictions signify a new phase in the US-China tech war where ‘offensive and defensive roles have shifted’, says an analyst.

Counting China’s ‘swing nation’ wins and losses in new era of power rivalry

As US-China race for hi-tech resources heats up across Global South, countries caught in the middle are under pressure to strike a balance.

A Chinese tech hub eyes 3- to 7-nanometre chip breakthroughs to beat US curbs

Province’s five-year plan backs national push for tech independence – but can it succeed?

Can new tricks save Hong Kong’s restaurants from ‘irreversible’ Shenzhen trend?

Business models are being overhauled as food and drink sector tackles ‘irreversible’ trend of Hongkongers spending their money elsewhere.

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

Opinion | Greenland’s stress test of Nato will ripple beyond the Arctic

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