Advertisement
Semiconductor chips being produced for export at a factory in eastern China’s Shandong province. Photo: AFP

China charts path to global competitiveness in chips and AI over next five years

While the nation is a world leader in space exploration, 5G and green energy, key battlegrounds remain in AI and semiconductors.

videocam
21

World’s most powerful flying wind turbine launched in western China

Science
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Global Economy

‘Mixed bag’: how Japan’s PM-in-waiting may fuel growth, defence – and debt

After the ruling Liberal Democratic Party elects new leader, economists assess what lies ahead.

videocam
4

Politics

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

Buenos Aires updates grain standards to meet Chinese demand, shifting exports from once-dominant US suppliers.

videocam
8

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong crowds out in force for Mid-Autumn Festival as restaurants get boost

This year’s festival also overlaps with mainland China’s extended National Day ‘golden week’ break, which runs from October 1 to Wednesday.

Open Questions
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Martin Powers on how imperial China’s politics inform Western societies

People

Alice Guo: how 1 case unmasked weaknesses in Philippine institutions

As Guo faces 70 new charges, analysts warn there may be more cases like hers, pointing to entrenched corruption in the country.

videocam
Alice Leal Guo, former mayor of Bamban in Tarlac province, attends a hearing at the Philippine Senate in Manila over accusations of human trafficking and links to Chinese organised crime, on September 9, 2024. Photo: AFP
Advertisement

Diplomacy

China says top US envoy to Panama ‘spreading lies’ after ‘malign’ presence jibe

Exchange of sharp accusations is latest instance of US-China tensions flaring over strategically important Central American country.

videocam
18

Military

Taiwan-built submarine delays raise new doubts over project’s future

Missed sea trial deadline and extended vessel dry-dock repairs for ‘United Nations of systems’ throw programme into uncertainty.

videocam

Lifestyle

Innovators upcycle plastic waste and add nutrients to malnourished Africans’ diets

Vital work of Miranda Wang and Felix Brooks-church tackles global challenges supported by Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative.

In partnership with
Rolex
Miranda Wang (centre), co-founder of Novoloop, celebrates a success with members of her team at its demonstration pilot plant in Surat, India, which began continuous operations in April last year. Photo: Rolex/Greg White

Politics

1 dead in Qinghai, hundreds evacuated as China’s rescue in Everest area continues

200 people still stranded as of Monday morning after unseasonal weather blasts hikers at start of ‘golden week’ holiday.

videocam
6
A rescue effort is underway on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest after an unseasonal blizzard struck on the weekend, stranding hundreds of hikers. Photo: Handout

Society

Hong Kong police arrest driver after 2 pedestrians killed in crash

Accident on Po Heung Lane in Tai Po involved private car and stationary van, with one woman killed at the scene and another dying in hospital.

Hong Kong Economy

Borrowing boost for Hong Kong urban renewal body as another deficit recorded

Urban Renewal Authority’s borrowing limit has been increased to HK$35 billion.

China

China’s factory robot army; a ‘new global energy system’: SCMP daily highlights

From Chinese mining firms sued in Zambia to China’s 300,000-strong industrial robot army, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Rescuers guide hikers through heavy snow down the eastern slopes of Mount Everest while hundreds remain stranded. Photo: Handout

United States & Canada

Supreme Court declines to hear Maxwell appeal in Epstein sex trafficking case

Court upholds Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction in Epstein sex trafficking case, igniting political controversy over cover-up claims.

An undated trial evidence image obtained in December 2021 shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and US financier Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP

China Economy

China’s cleantech creating ‘new global energy system’ as exports soar: report

Demand for clean technology is ‘skyrocketing’, especially in Global South, as China drives creation of cheaper solutions, report says.

14

Middle East

Thunberg deported from Israel, as Gaza activists allege mistreatment

Some activists from the flotilla alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, an allegation Israel denied.

Europe

Man on trial in Albania shoots judge dead in court, injures 2 others

Local media reported that the case was over a property dispute and the suspect fired at the judge because he knew he was going to lose.

Police secure the perimeter outside the court where a judge was shot dead in Tirana, Albania on Monday. Photo: AFP

Science

China hastens to break down Babel barrier with LLMs and wearable tech

No longer the domain of sci-fi or tech pranksters, translation glasses and earbuds are reality as Chinese firms fuse AI and AR hardware.

videocam
5
The rise of wearable tech is accelerating the push for instantaneous translation hardware, according to a Chinese tech expert. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

China’s Kuaishou lures overseas users with ‘NSFW’ AI companions

The FantaSay service promises an ‘ultimate immersive chat experience’ with a variety of AI avatars.

videocam

Europe

British author Jilly Cooper, famous for novels of sex and snobbery, dies at 88

Cooper’s raunchy bestsellers include Riders and Rivals, which was adapted into a Disney+ series last year.

Advertisement
Advertisement
OPINION
Thomas O. Falk

Opinion | With Russian air provocations, Nato’s credibility is on the line

Thomas O. Falk
Nicholas Spiro

The View | Critics of Singapore’s property cooling measures miss bigger picture

Nicholas Spiro
Alex Lo

My Take | Singapore did right by throwing out Hong Kong fugitive Nathan Law

Alex Lo
7
Wang Xiangwei

Opinion | China needs to chart a new course to become world’s largest importer

Wang Xiangwei
4
Alice Wu

Opinion | Hong Kong must look beyond age in selecting ‘capable’ lawmakers

Alice Wu
Harry’s View | 7 Oct 2025
October 6, 2025
MORE COMMENT
LATEST

Europe

Man on trial in Albania shoots judge dead in court, injures 2 others

Europe

British author Jilly Cooper, famous for novels of sex and snobbery, dies at 88

Politics

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

United States & Canada

Supreme Court declines to hear Maxwell appeal in Epstein sex trafficking case

Science

China charts path to global competitiveness in chips and AI over next five years

Middle East

Thunberg deported from Israel, as Gaza activists allege mistreatment

MORE LATEST NEWS
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
SCMP Series
Chinese scientists return home
China’s 15th 5-year plan
China-EU relations at 50
China’s front line
Tsinghua University in Beijing, where Su Fei earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees before completing his PhD in the United States. Photo: Reuters
SCMP SeriesChinese scientists return home

Intel chip architect Su Fei returns to China after 20 years in the US

The award-winning engineer with a reputation for mentorship has taken up an endowed chair professorship at Tsinghua University.

Exclusive | Why did Harvard top mathematician Liu Jun leave the US for China?

videocam

After 40 years in US, pioneering mathematician Zhongwei Shen returns to China

videocam
Open Questions series

Politics

Open Questions | Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

The influential writer and chef’s first book is credited with bringing Sichuan’s fiery and aromatic dishes to world attention.

videocam
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Politics

Open Questions | ‘Literary anarchist’ Yan Lianke on Chinese writers, the Nobel prize and censorship

Former soldier and award-winning author discusses the ‘tolerance and protection’ he has received and the state of Asian literature.

videocam
5

Policy

Open Questions | Dong Yu on why ‘every chapter’ of China’s 5-year plans boils down to income

Drafter of earlier plans speaks on why China continues the tradition - and why other countries are now trying to emulate it.

videocam
18

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on why China must look beyond the West to build a better AI

Political analyst says strong narrative based on factual Chinese framework must be included in artificial intelligence knowledge feed.

videocam
8
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
China Future Tech
China Future Tech
Key Industries:
EVs
AI
Semiconductors
Aerospace
Robotics
Biomedicine
Live Q&A webinars

Tech War

How Huawei and DeepSeek are tending the garden of China’s AI aspirations

Amid growing AI rivalry with the US, the two companies are leading China’s drive to shake off the nation’s dependence on Nvidia processors.

10
Huawei and DeepSeek have become champions of China’s AI ambitions. Illustration: Brian Wang

China Economy

China’s cleantech creating ‘new global energy system’ as exports soar: report

Demand for clean technology is ‘skyrocketing’, especially in Global South, as China drives creation of cheaper solutions, report says.

14

China Economy

As China’s population falls, 300,000-strong robot army keeps factories humming

The country leads the world in newly installed industrial robots, far ahead of Japan and the US.

videocam
23

China Business

Xiaomi takes on Porsche with customised luxury EVs in China

The Chinese EV maker has started a bespoke service that adds at least US$14,000 to the sticker price of an SU7 Ultra EV.

Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra EV is unveiled during in Beijing on October 29, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong

Nets v Suns in Macau: tracing the NBA’s rise, fall and return to China

Clash marks first NBA game in China since Daryl Morey’s 2019 tweet that prompted blackout of the league in country.

Illustration: Brian Wang

Diplomacy

US retreat from UN may create ‘tremendous opportunity’ for nations like China

Global body is at a crossroads, and observers say a ‘leaderless’ era could emerge during second Trump administration.

videocam
38

Military

For migrant workers in Taiwan, Beijing attack threat poses daunting challenges

Nearly 1 million foreign residents risk being stranded in any cross-Strait conflict, with few rescue plans in place.

videocam
15

Diplomacy

Race to the bottom? China thwarted as US moves on deep-sea mining

No reward yet for Beijing’s multilateral approach at UN body tasked with regulating law of the sea.

videocam
9
Illustration: Henry Wong
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement