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An employee works at a factory producing chips for export in China’s eastern Shandong province. China’s local governments are pouring investment into the semiconductor sector as they compete to emerge as chip powerhouses. Photo: AFP

China’s secret weapon in chip battle with US: intense city rivalry

China’s megacities are racing to draw capital to the semiconductor sector as they compete to become chip powerhouses.

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The squeeze is on: Beijing and Washington flex muscles as narrative war heats up

US-China trade war
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Military

China begins drills near Scarborough Shoal as US-Philippine naval exercises end

Combat rehearsals follow recent confrontations between Beijing and Manila over disputed territories in resource-rich South China Sea.

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Diplomacy

Turbulent Japanese politics could slow progress with China, South Korea: analysts

Tokyo’s ability to be effective in major diplomatic events is said to suffer as no single political party can maintain a stable government.

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Business

Alibaba, Ant buy Hong Kong offices, in city’s biggest deal since 2021

Alibaba and Ant bought 301,555 square feet of space in the top 13 floors of the 24-storey building, with parking space for 50 vehicles and signage rights.

Science
Shanghai first discovered land subsidence in 1921 and in the 1960s, as groundwater extraction peaked at 200 million tonnes a year, the annual land subsidence reached 105mm. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Double whammy: Shanghai is sinking while sea level rises fast

Big Tech

Apple’s iPhone Air sells out in China after CEO Tim Cook’s visit

Pre-sales for the model, which only received Chinese regulatory approval recently, began on Friday morning.

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An Apple store in Nanjing, eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
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China

Indonesia’s bid to ship durians straight to China rides on refrigeration, sanitation

Jakarta seeks to weigh into the lucrative industry but must refine its cold-chain storage to ensure fruits arrive in perfect condition.

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Economics

Indonesia’s Bali subway plan stalls over investor concerns and feasibility

The island should explore other solutions to ease its traffic congestion, such as limiting car and tourist numbers, analysts say.

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Travel & Leisure

The spirit of Shanghai gets distilled into a pair of cocktails

Tony Chen of The St Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, and Bob Xu of W Shanghai – The Bund create drinks inspired by their experiences in the city.

In partnership with:
Luxury Group by Marriott International
Tony Chen of The St Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, and Bob Xu of W Shanghai – The Bund create drinks inspired by their experiences in the city.

Middle East

As fragile Gaza ceasefire holds, world powers plan stabilisation force

Future stabilisation force is unlikely to be a formal UN peacekeeping mission, but could be modelled on action for Haiti, diplomats say.

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Buildings in Gaza City destroyed during two years of Israeli army bombardments. Photo: AP

China Economy

Ships divert, directors resign as US-China port fees rock shipping industry

Global carriers scramble to adapt as new US and Chinese duties take effect – and first vessel reportedly hit with 4.5 million yuan charge.

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People

Malaysia’s rape and murder cases in schools spur calls to end cover-up culture

The education ministry has also come under criticism for wasteful spending instead of increasing funding to boost student safety.

China Business

Morgan Stanley issues dip-buying call on Chinese stocks

Correction in MSCI China Index presents buying opportunity despite the moderating migration of household savings to stocks, bank says.

Tensions between China and the US are threatening to derail a strong run in Chinese stocks. Photo: Reuters

Society

Missing Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong found, refuse to say where they hid

Sources say Aleli Perez Tibay, 33, and Imee Mahilum Pabuaya, 24, were spotted in a restaurant in Sha Tin by a passer-by who called police.

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Imee Mahilum Pabuaya (left) and Aleli Perez Tibay, were found in Sha Tin, 12 days after going missing. Photo: Handout

Science

Top scientist Hu Ye quits US for China after cuts to US$8 million in grants

Hu has been appointed founding dean at the new school of biomedical engineering at his alma mater, Tsinghua University.

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East Asia

Mongolia’s prime minister ousted in ruling party power struggle

His dramatic removal after only four months came amid a national budget crisis, widespread strikes and counteraccusations of corruption.

People

Australians charged with murder over Bali shooting, could face death penalty

The ‘Bali Three’ are accused of planning and carrying out the fatal shooting of a Melbourne man on the Indonesian island in June.

Australian suspect Darcy Francesco Jenson (centre), one of three men accused of murder over the shooting of Australian citizens, is escorted back to a prison after being questioned by prosecutors in Badung, Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

Trump unveils plans for a monument some have dubbed ‘Arc de Trump’

US president showcases proposal for a Paris-like arch to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

US President Donald Trump holds a model of the arch monument. Photo: Reuters

Tech War

Micron to cease server memory chips business in China after ban, sources say

US memory chipmaker is expected to continue selling products to China’s automotive and smartphone sectors.

Transport

US, Hong Kong ‘both lose’ if Cathay added to planned Russian airspace ban

Warning from experts follows calls for Cathay to be included in proposed ban on mainland airlines from using Russian airspace to fly to US.

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OPINION
David Dodwell

Outside In | Trump may be realising he has less leverage over China than he thought

David Dodwell
Bernard Chan

Opinion | Hong Kong can showcase true sportsmanship at National Games

Bernard Chan
Abishur Prakash

Opinion | 3 signs China’s patience with Trump is at an end

Abishur Prakash
7
Letters

Letters | A quick fix to traffic congestion for Hong Kong? Smarter tolls

Letters
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Editorial | Unvaccinated girl’s flu death a reminder of need for community protection

SCMP Editorial
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SCMP Series
How China’s dynasties shaped the nation
Chinese scientists return home
China’s 15th 5-year plan
China’s front line
Terracotta statues from the Western Han dynasty (206BC-AD9) that were unearthed in China’s Shaanxi province in 1965 are displayed in an exhibition in 2022, part of a series of special exhibitions launched by the National Museum of China to celebrate its 110th anniversary. Photo: Photo: Robert Ng
SCMP SeriesHow China’s dynasties shaped the nation

How China’s Han dynasty forged a unified cultural and national identity

Knowledge spread and the arts flourished during this golden age of Chinese history, as the country opened up to international trade.

How the Qin dynasty forever changed the Chinese nation in just 15 years

How China’s earliest 3 dynasties shaped its society and culture

Open Questions series

Science

Open Questions | Shing-Tung Yau on why China needs to ‘chart its own path’ for tech independence

Influential maths expert calls to nurture domestic talent, notes ‘profound symbolic weight’ of Hong Kong’s bid to host top 2030 conference.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Politics

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

American art historian sets the record straight on Western misinterpretations of China and its culture.

8

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.

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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.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
China Future Tech
China Future Tech
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Live Q&A webinars

Tech War

China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race

The AI war is increasingly waged among ‘hyperscalers’ – companies with full-stack capabilities across software, hardware and applications.

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The US and China are intensifying investments into AI. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China Economy

China’s secret weapon in chip battle with US: intense city rivalry

China’s megacities are racing to draw capital to the semiconductor sector as they compete to become chip powerhouses.

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Tech War

Micron to cease server memory chips business in China after ban, sources say

US memory chipmaker is expected to continue selling products to China’s automotive and smartphone sectors.

China Business

Chinese EV makers from Leapmotor to Zeekr challenge Tesla in premium segment

Leapmotor’s D19 luxury SUV, unveiled on Thursday, is likely to be priced below Tesla’s new Model Y L, which starts at US$47,580.

Leapmotor’s D19 SUV is displayed during its launch ceremony in Shanghai on Thursday. Photo: Daniel Ren

Science

Race for the stars: will China be first to deliver fusion energy by 2035?

Coordinated strategy of aggressive funding, talent repatriation and rapid prototyping is a bid to challenge Western dominance in the field.

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Illustration: Davies Christian Surya

Society

Explore China’s Palace Museum in infographics and the forbidden world of emperors

Which consort was thrown down a well? And how did the Forbidden City survive fire and major earthquakes? Revisit our award-winning infographics as the Palace Museum marks its 100th year.

China Economy

‘Extremely dangerous’: why China’s 5-year plan will double down on food security

Beijing has made huge strides in its self-sufficiency push – but trade tensions, climate risks and supply-chain shocks keep fears alive.

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Global Economy

As China’s EV boom makes the EU anxious, is it too late to work together?

Decades after their first joint venture, EU carmakers fear losing their markets to China’s upstarts. Is it too late for them to work together?

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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