Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

An Australian tour revealed the nation’s growing sentiment of warming to China, while Trump’s tariffs and foreign policy have increasingly seen the US viewed with suspicion or as ‘unsafe’. Photo: AP

Australia’s 180-degree shift from 5 years ago: China in favour; US out

Aussie comedian exposes the truth about nation’s feelings towards US president, democracy and public safety.

1 hour agovideocam

‘Demand shock’: why China cannot escape the impact of a prolonged Iran war

China-Australia relations

Diplomacy

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Cambodia has vowed to stamp out the scam compounds on its soil by month’s end – but perpetrators remain drawn to the potential for huge profits.

3 hours agovideocam

US

Second US jet said down over Iran, pilot rescued; search on for other lost crew

US launches rescue mission after F-15E downing; one crew member found, another missing in first such combat loss since war began.

9 minutes agovideocam

Health & Environment

Hong Kong airport opens sensory space for passengers with invisible disabilities

Room near Gate 10 in Terminal One designed for passengers with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, claustrophobia and dementia.

52 minutes ago

Lifestyle

Unconventional fitness trainer Bill Maeda prefers letting his body and mood guide how he trains each day rather than following rigid programmes. Photo: Bill Maeda

‘A shell of myself’: colon cancer survivor who became viral fitness influencer

Science

China’s gravity-detecting SQUID gets closer to spotting US nuclear submarines

Device can spot objects by measuring tiny shifts in gravity, and its compact design means it can be used outside a lab.

3 Apr 2026 - 10:00PM

Caption: The superconducting weak force measurement system (left) and a test device built with two 10 kg spheres. Photo: CAS

Politics

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:44PM

Politics

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say.

22 minutes agovideocam

Business

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

In partnership with:

Standard Chartered

Politics

Trump seeks US$1.5 trillion for defence in new budget request amid Iran war

If enacted, it would set military spending at its highest level in modern history, underscoring the US’ ongoing focus on defence investment.

6 hours agovideocam

US President Donald Trump announces the US Navy’s “Golden Fleet” battleship programme at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, in December 2025. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Lifestyle & Culture

Cultural capitals: Southeast Asia seeks soft power to outlast the buzz

The region’s creators are going global, but the structures to sustain them are still catching up.

1 hour agovideocam

Diplomacy

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Middle East

Iran war: French and Japanese-owned ships make first Hormuz crossings

France and Japan have called for a ceasefire in the conflict, with Macron saying the waterway can only be reopened when the bombing stops.

4 Apr 2026 - 12:32AMvideocam

A container ship operated by the French CMA CGM shipping company runs into the port of Marseille in June 2018. Photo: AFP

Politics

Ma Xingrui becomes China’s third Politburo member investigated for corruption

Former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang is under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’, according to state news agency Xinhua.

3 Apr 2026 - 7:53PMvideocam

Ma Xingrui abruptly stepped down as party boss of Xinjiang in July and has missed several key events since November. Photo: AP

Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine asks for Easter truce, 8 die in Russian strikes

President Zelensky has signalled his openness for a potential Easter ceasefire; his nation and Russia both mark the holiday on April 12.

3 Apr 2026 - 11:57PMvideocam

Military

With an eye on China, Japan looks to kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles

Tokyo plans to introduce loitering munitions with a range of more than 1,000km, according to Japanese media reports citing official sources.

3 Apr 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Law and Crime

Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kong

Baby was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious on a bed by her family.

4 Apr 2026 - 1:13AM

The baby was found unconscious at home in Fairview Park, Yuen Long. Photo: Martin Chan

Europe

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

‘I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,’ the pontiff said before he set out for the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross.

5 hours ago

Pope Leo holds a wooden cross as he leads the Via Crucis procession at the Coliseum in Rome on Good Friday. Photo: dpa

United States & Canada

US girl dies after being hit on head by metal water bottle, classmate arrested

Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, 12, was allegedly attacked at school while trying to protect her older sister from a group of bullies.

4 hours ago

United States & Canada

Artemis II’s moon-bound astronauts share first images of Earth’s blue beauty

The three Americans and one Canadian are on course for a lunar fly-by in their Orion capsule before heading home.

4 Apr 2026 - 1:33AM

OPINION

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | History of Chinese flatbreads reflects how food has echoes of faraway places

1 hour ago

Alex Lo

As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

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Wenran Jiang

Opinion | How America’s stumble in Iran upends East Asia’s security calculus

3 Apr 2026 - 9:21PM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong’s world-first Alzheimer’s blood test will strengthen city’s healthcare

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SCMP Editorial

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Politics

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

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Chinese woman spits blood on train, receives US$58,000 in donations after viral video

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Health & Environment

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Traditional Russian wooden dolls depict Chinese President Xi Jinping, then US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a souvenir shop in St Petersburg, Russia, on November 21, 2024. Photo: AP

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

27 Mar 2026 - 11:40PMvideocam

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

21 Mar 2026 - 2:39PMvideocam

Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

20 Mar 2026 - 6:28PMvideocam

Open Questions series

China Economy

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

30 Mar 2026 - 10:03AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

23 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Military

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

16 Mar 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

21 Mar 2026 - 6:18PM

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during the company’s global AI conference in San Jose, California, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Policy

Beijing mandates internal ethics committees for all Chinese AI companies

Since 2022, big tech firms including Alibaba and Baidu have established internal science and technology ethics review committees.

3 Apr 2026 - 9:54PM

Tech

Tencent expands OpenClaw suite with enterprise tool amid China’s ‘lobster’ craze

ClawPro tool promises quick AI agent deployment, giving enterprises control over models, tokens and security.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

China Economy

Washington launches export initiative to ensure ‘future of AI’ is led by US

Chinese competitors targeted as US companies invited to form consortiums to offer full-stack AI solutions around the world.

3 Apr 2026 - 7:07PM

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office of the White House during an executive order signing event on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Society

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

2 Apr 2026 - 8:30AM

Science

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

1 Apr 2026 - 9:50AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

31 Mar 2026 - 6:03AMvideocam

Diplomacy

China’s looted heritage campaign: assertive, ambitious – and complicated

As the United States steps back from cultural governance, China aims to reshape how the world reclaims looted heritage – with Japan its biggest test.

29 Mar 2026 - 6:17AM

Australia’s 180-degree shift from 5 years ago: China in favour; US out

Aussie comedian exposes the truth about nation’s feelings towards US president, democracy and public safety.

‘Demand shock’: why China cannot escape the impact of a prolonged Iran war

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Cambodia has vowed to stamp out the scam compounds on its soil by month’s end – but perpetrators remain drawn to the potential for huge profits.

Second US jet said down over Iran, pilot rescued; search on for other lost crew

US launches rescue mission after F-15E downing; one crew member found, another missing in first such combat loss since war began.

Hong Kong airport opens sensory space for passengers with invisible disabilities

Room near Gate 10 in Terminal One designed for passengers with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, claustrophobia and dementia.

‘A shell of myself’: colon cancer survivor who became viral fitness influencer

China’s gravity-detecting SQUID gets closer to spotting US nuclear submarines

Device can spot objects by measuring tiny shifts in gravity, and its compact design means it can be used outside a lab.

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

Trump seeks US$1.5 trillion for defence in new budget request amid Iran war

If enacted, it would set military spending at its highest level in modern history, underscoring the US’ ongoing focus on defence investment.

Cultural capitals: Southeast Asia seeks soft power to outlast the buzz

The region’s creators are going global, but the structures to sustain them are still catching up.

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes.

Iran war: French and Japanese-owned ships make first Hormuz crossings

France and Japan have called for a ceasefire in the conflict, with Macron saying the waterway can only be reopened when the bombing stops.

Ma Xingrui becomes China’s third Politburo member investigated for corruption

Former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang is under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Ukraine asks for Easter truce, 8 die in Russian strikes

President Zelensky has signalled his openness for a potential Easter ceasefire; his nation and Russia both mark the holiday on April 12.

With an eye on China, Japan looks to kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles

Tokyo plans to introduce loitering munitions with a range of more than 1,000km, according to Japanese media reports citing official sources.

Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kong

Baby was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious on a bed by her family.

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

‘I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,’ the pontiff said before he set out for the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross.

US girl dies after being hit on head by metal water bottle, classmate arrested

Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, 12, was allegedly attacked at school while trying to protect her older sister from a group of bullies.

Artemis II’s moon-bound astronauts share first images of Earth’s blue beauty

The three Americans and one Canadian are on course for a lunar fly-by in their Orion capsule before heading home.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Reflections | History of Chinese flatbreads reflects how food has echoes of faraway places

As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

Opinion | How America’s stumble in Iran upends East Asia’s security calculus

Editorial | Hong Kong’s world-first Alzheimer’s blood test will strengthen city’s healthcare

Editorial | Moves to clean up Hong Kong building renovation sector can’t come too soon

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Iran conflict shatters India’s centuries-old glass industry

Chinese woman spits blood on train, receives US$58,000 in donations after viral video

Hong Kong airport opens sensory space for passengers with invisible disabilities

Reflections | History of Chinese flatbreads reflects how food has echoes of faraway places

Hong Kong ice hockey boss eyes next step as players take on region’s best

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

Beijing mandates internal ethics committees for all Chinese AI companies

Since 2022, big tech firms including Alibaba and Baidu have established internal science and technology ethics review committees.

Tencent expands OpenClaw suite with enterprise tool amid China’s ‘lobster’ craze

ClawPro tool promises quick AI agent deployment, giving enterprises control over models, tokens and security.

Washington launches export initiative to ensure ‘future of AI’ is led by US

Chinese competitors targeted as US companies invited to form consortiums to offer full-stack AI solutions around the world.

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

China’s looted heritage campaign: assertive, ambitious – and complicated

As the United States steps back from cultural governance, China aims to reshape how the world reclaims looted heritage – with Japan its biggest test.

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Reflections | History of Chinese flatbreads reflects how food has echoes of faraway places

Video | Iran conflict shatters India’s centuries-old glass industry

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?