Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

David Perdue is said to be visiting Hong Kong to speak at a Goldman Sachs conference on January 27. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Exclusive | US envoy David Perdue to visit Hong Kong at the end of January, sources say

Envoy is expected to address a business conference and will spend several days in the city, according to people familiar with the matter.

57 minutes agovideocam

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

US-China relations

Science

Could China’s Yaogan-47 satellite have a lens as wide as the Hubble Telescope?

Chinese satellite will be used for national land surveys, urban planning, environmental management and comprehensive disaster prevention.

3 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda driving countries closer to China: survey

Nearly 26,000 people from 21 countries overwhelmingly agreed that Chinese global influence will grow over the next decade.

1 hour agovideocam

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.

1 hour agovideocam

Economy

China is world’s largest chip manufacturer, demonstrating the country’s superiority in global supply chain. Photo: Shutterstock

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

Politics

Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

Trade official says island must stay in Trump’s favour for protection, but says he still plans an April China visit amid good ties with Xi.

4 hours agovideocam

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (right) and US President Donald Trump are seen last year in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AP

China Economy

China’s slowing growth, bilateral tensions top US business concerns

Survey by American Chamber of Commerce in China finds that expectations for Sino-US ties have ‘improved significantly’.

2 hours ago

Health & Environment

Philippines’ Cebu residents cry foul over mounting garbage, health risks

The fatal collapse of a garbage landfill in Cebu has also exposed lax enforcement and poor waste management.

31 minutes ago

Business

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

In partnership with:

MPOC

Palm oil is a versatile ingredient found in a wide range of everyday items, from ice cream and cake to lipstick and biofuel.

Americas

Venezuela’s Machado says she ‘presented’ her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

US president praises Machado for her ‘wonderful’ Nobel Prize gesture as he warms to Venezuela’s new leaders.

1 hour ago

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado greets supporters on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

The US has sent a ‘dangerous’ message and China must act, legal expert warns

Beijing think tank expert calls for legislation to protect against ‘external suppression’ and to safeguard technology and supply chains.

15 Jan 2026 - 11:53PMvideocam

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police shoot and kill man wielding 30cm knife in Tuen Mun

Police say officers on scene at Tuen Mun Town Plaza shopping centre had no choice but to shoot man to save passer-by.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

China and Canada at ‘new starting point’ as Mark Carney makes state visit

Chinese Premier Li Qiang says the two countries have worked together to achieve a turnaround in relations.

15 Jan 2026 - 9:35PMvideocam

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney review an honour guard at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Economics

Japan’s next-generation fighter jet project gets boost as European rival stalls

Germany, France and Spain have put their project on hold, prompting speculation that some may turn to the Japan-UK-Italy programme.

2 hours ago

Delegates look at the GCAP sixth-generation fighter jet concept design at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. Photo: AFP

Business

Hong Kong’s finance sector a ray of sunshine for city’s retail property segment

Financial services providers are emerging as a new force in the city’s retail property leasing space, analysts say.

5 hours ago

Other Sport

Quest for greatness in the pool driving Olympic swimming champion Zhang Yufei

The 27-year-old is the most decorated Olympian in Chinese history, with 10 medals across the past two Olympic Games.

2 hours ago

China Business

China’s Kuaishou to raise US$2 billion in dual-currency bond sale

Short-video platform to issue US dollar and yuan tranches with coupon rates of up to 4.75 per cent.

1 hour ago

People visit a Kuaishou stand at an expo in Shanghai, China. Photo: Getty Images

Trending in China

Japan ramen eatery bans ‘troublesome’ China diners, charges more for English menu

Restaurant says it was forced to call police over unruly Chinese diners; social media sleuths claim real reason for ‘trouble’ is pricing policy.

3 hours ago

A Japanese ramen restaurant has faced backlash on social media after announcing a ban on Chinese customers, claiming that 90 per cent of issues with foreign diners involves people from China. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Google Map

China Economy

China targets wealthy influencers with audits, fines as fiscal pressures rise

Big data is used to flag income gaps for top online stars and overseas earners, as regulators recover billions in unpaid levies amid slumping land sales and value-added tax revenue decline.

15 Jan 2026 - 8:00PM

China Business

China pushes slow bull run with tightened margin financing rules

‘Investors should reduce their leverage levels to guard against the risk of volatility,’ BOC International’s Wang Jun says.

3 hours ago

OPINION

Jun Yu Chan

Opinion | From tea to TikTok: the middleman’s return is reshaping China trade

2 hours ago

Anthony W.D. Anastasi

Opinion | Too few Chinese finish secondary school to sustain growth

6 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Resettling Hong Kong fire victims calls for compassion and fiscal prudence

4 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Study shows Hong Kong must do better to end illegal shark fin trade

5 hours ago

Li Xing

Opinion | An internally split Europe can never fully engage China and Asia

15 Jan 2026 - 8:30PM

Harry’s View | 16 Jan 2026

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong temperatures to fall to 12 degrees next week as winter monsoon arrives

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Basketball

‘Death, taxes, Chinese basketball’ certainties in life, match fixer told friend

31 minutes ago

Health & Environment

Philippines’ Cebu residents cry foul over mounting garbage, health risks

36 minutes ago

Food & Drink

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 16-18

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Asia

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Politics

Exclusive | US envoy David Perdue to visit Hong Kong at the end of January, sources say

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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

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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.

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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 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?

17 minutes agovideocam

Tech War

Chinese firms to incur higher costs for deploying AI chips from US: analysts

‘Beijing has made it politically unpalatable for private firms to rely too much on imported AI chips,’ EIU senior analyst Chim Lee says.

15 Jan 2026 - 9:00PM

China Business

China’s subsidy change adds to EV makers’ stress, while petrol cars gain

Typical subsidy on an EV drops by around US$1,150, changing buyer calculations and exacerbating the sector’s profitability woes.

15 Jan 2026 - 8:30PM

Customers check out an EV at a shopping center in Wuhan, in central China’s Hubei province, on January 14, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

Why China fears Trump’s Nvidia H200 deal is a sophisticated Trojan horse

Can Washington bind Chinese rivals to American technologies or will access to the AI chips hasten Beijing’s challenge to US dominance?

15 Jan 2026 - 9:05AMvideocam

China Economy

Can China’s cheap, renewable energy help it outrun the US in the AI race?

China’s energy buildout means cheap, green and reliable electricity fuels its manufacturing and tech industries, giving it an edge over rivals.

14 Jan 2026 - 9:14AMvideocam

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

Global Economy

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

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

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | US envoy David Perdue to visit Hong Kong at the end of January, sources say

Envoy is expected to address a business conference and will spend several days in the city, according to people familiar with the matter.

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

Could China’s Yaogan-47 satellite have a lens as wide as the Hubble Telescope?

Chinese satellite will be used for national land surveys, urban planning, environmental management and comprehensive disaster prevention.

Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda driving countries closer to China: survey

Nearly 26,000 people from 21 countries overwhelmingly agreed that Chinese global influence will grow over the next decade.

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.

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

Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

Trade official says island must stay in Trump’s favour for protection, but says he still plans an April China visit amid good ties with Xi.

China’s slowing growth, bilateral tensions top US business concerns

Survey by American Chamber of Commerce in China finds that expectations for Sino-US ties have ‘improved significantly’.

Philippines’ Cebu residents cry foul over mounting garbage, health risks

The fatal collapse of a garbage landfill in Cebu has also exposed lax enforcement and poor waste management.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

Venezuela’s Machado says she ‘presented’ her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

US president praises Machado for her ‘wonderful’ Nobel Prize gesture as he warms to Venezuela’s new leaders.

The US has sent a ‘dangerous’ message and China must act, legal expert warns

Beijing think tank expert calls for legislation to protect against ‘external suppression’ and to safeguard technology and supply chains.

Hong Kong police shoot and kill man wielding 30cm knife in Tuen Mun

Police say officers on scene at Tuen Mun Town Plaza shopping centre had no choice but to shoot man to save passer-by.

China and Canada at ‘new starting point’ as Mark Carney makes state visit

Chinese Premier Li Qiang says the two countries have worked together to achieve a turnaround in relations.

Japan’s next-generation fighter jet project gets boost as European rival stalls

Germany, France and Spain have put their project on hold, prompting speculation that some may turn to the Japan-UK-Italy programme.

Hong Kong’s finance sector a ray of sunshine for city’s retail property segment

Financial services providers are emerging as a new force in the city’s retail property leasing space, analysts say.

Quest for greatness in the pool driving Olympic swimming champion Zhang Yufei

The 27-year-old is the most decorated Olympian in Chinese history, with 10 medals across the past two Olympic Games.

China’s Kuaishou to raise US$2 billion in dual-currency bond sale

Short-video platform to issue US dollar and yuan tranches with coupon rates of up to 4.75 per cent.

Japan ramen eatery bans ‘troublesome’ China diners, charges more for English menu

Restaurant says it was forced to call police over unruly Chinese diners; social media sleuths claim real reason for ‘trouble’ is pricing policy.

China targets wealthy influencers with audits, fines as fiscal pressures rise

Big data is used to flag income gaps for top online stars and overseas earners, as regulators recover billions in unpaid levies amid slumping land sales and value-added tax revenue decline.

China pushes slow bull run with tightened margin financing rules

‘Investors should reduce their leverage levels to guard against the risk of volatility,’ BOC International’s Wang Jun says.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | From tea to TikTok: the middleman’s return is reshaping China trade

Opinion | Too few Chinese finish secondary school to sustain growth

Editorial | Resettling Hong Kong fire victims calls for compassion and fiscal prudence

Editorial | Study shows Hong Kong must do better to end illegal shark fin trade

Opinion | An internally split Europe can never fully engage China and Asia

Hong Kong temperatures to fall to 12 degrees next week as winter monsoon arrives

‘Death, taxes, Chinese basketball’ certainties in life, match fixer told friend

Philippines’ Cebu residents cry foul over mounting garbage, health risks

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 16-18

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Mass Hindu wedding in Pakistan’s Karachi

Exclusive | US envoy David Perdue to visit Hong Kong at the end of January, sources say

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

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.

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?

Chinese firms to incur higher costs for deploying AI chips from US: analysts

‘Beijing has made it politically unpalatable for private firms to rely too much on imported AI chips,’ EIU senior analyst Chim Lee says.

China’s subsidy change adds to EV makers’ stress, while petrol cars gain

Typical subsidy on an EV drops by around US$1,150, changing buyer calculations and exacerbating the sector’s profitability woes.

Why China fears Trump’s Nvidia H200 deal is a sophisticated Trojan horse

Can Washington bind Chinese rivals to American technologies or will access to the AI chips hasten Beijing’s challenge to US dominance?

Can China’s cheap, renewable energy help it outrun the US in the AI race?

China’s energy buildout means cheap, green and reliable electricity fuels its manufacturing and tech industries, giving it an edge over rivals.

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.

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

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

Exclusive | US envoy David Perdue to visit Hong Kong at the end of January, sources say

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Opinion | From tea to TikTok: the middleman’s return is reshaping China trade

Video | Mass Hindu wedding in Pakistan’s Karachi