Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Why the feud between Tokyo and Beijing could rage on for a while yet

Dispute over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan could ultimately hinge on the US-China-Japan triangle, analysts say.

2 hours agovideocam

China’s military build-up could ‘seriously’ affect Japan’s security, Tokyo warns

China-Japan relations

Military

Breaking | PLA begins second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan

Troops will simulate attacks on maritime targets and conduct anti-air and anti-submarine operations to the north and south of island.

1 minute agovideocam

Diplomacy

‘No worries’: Trump plays down Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan

Trump dismisses ‘routine’ drills in Taiwan Strait even as US arms sales hit record high and Pentagon repeats 2027 timeline.

1 hour agovideocam

Hong Kong Economy

New approach to fast-track Hong Kong industrial park gets thumbs up from firms

New company to speed up work on 23-hectare park under Northern Metropolis project wins praise as ‘one-stop service centre’.

30 minutes ago

Economy

China has logged a US$1 trillion trade surplus. Where is all that money going?

China

Venezuela condemns US arms sale to Taiwan, echoing Beijing’s position

Caracas says Washington’s move violates one-China principle and threatens regional stability as tensions over the island intensify.

3 hours agovideocam

The US arms package includes US$4 billion for 82 High Mobility Rocket Systems, or Himars, such as this. Photo: Handout

China Business

Chinese firms flock to Dubai free zones to navigate trade barriers, expand reach

JD.com, CNBM, carmakers and hundreds of other Chinese companies use the hub to reach consumers across Asia, Africa and Europe.

31 minutes ago

Politics

Probe into South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ends with ‘unresolved issues’

Analysts say the findings have raised questions about whether South Korea’s laws can deal with alleged abuses of power by a president’s spouse.

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.

Science

China builds world-first crab-walking electric ICBM mobile launcher prototype

In less than two years, scientists have developed a technology that ‘fundamentally overturns’ conventional heavy-vehicle design.

29 Dec 2025 - 10:38PMvideocam

The prototype modular electric-drive heavy-duty truck. Photo: Tsinghua University

Europe

Zelensky asked Trump for ‘historic’ 50-year guarantee against Russia

The Ukrainian president is seeking extended US security guarantees, exceeding the 15-year plan under discussion as part of peace talks.

29 Dec 2025 - 9:17PM

Diplomacy

Cambodia and Thailand agree to resume exchanges after meeting with China

Ceasefire deal was ‘hard won and must not be allowed to stall’, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi says.

29 Dec 2025 - 8:21PMvideocam

Diplomacy

China protests to Panama over destruction of memorial to Chinese labourers

The monument was removed on the weekend without notice or consultation, Beijing’s envoy says.

29 Dec 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

Police tape surrounds the area where a monument to the Chinese community once stood in Panama City, Panama. Photo: EPA

Americas

Trump hints at land strike against drug cartels as Venezuela pressure mounts

If Trump’s remark about knocking out a ‘big facility’ is true, it would mark the first known land attack by the US against Venezuela.

4 hours ago

Travel & Leisure

Expedition to Chile’s Cape Horn reveals awesome nature at the world’s end

A 5-day cruise to South America’s southern tip stuns with fiords, penguins and wind-blasted cliffs reached via the world’s deadliest waters.

1 hour ago

United States & Canada

US approves sale of patrol planes to Denmark despite Greenland rift

Trump has called for seizing Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, insisting the US needs the resource-rich island for security.

1 hour ago

China Future Tech

Trip.com tests stablecoin, offering USDT and USDC for prepaid bookings

The travel platform switched on stablecoin checkout in select markets, a cautious offshore pilot as Beijing keeps crypto crackdown in place.

2 hours ago

Trip.com’s stablecoin move comes despite Beijing’s hard line on crypto-related activity. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech Trends

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame gives staff gifts of gold, trip to Antarctica

Dreame’s surprise largesse reflects its robust business growth in 2025, as it remains one of the world’s top robot vacuum cleaner brands.

29 Dec 2025 - 7:32PM

A Dreame 10s Ultra robot vacuum cleaner. Photo: Dreame

Football

Fifa boss Infantino hails World Cup demand after 150 million tickets requested

Gianni Infantino says there would be ‘no football in 150 countries in the world’ without Fifa, defends cost of attending matches.

30 Dec 2025 - 12:45AMvideocam

Russia & Central Asia

Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Putin’s residence; Kyiv says Moscow is lying

Russia claims Ukraine attacked the house in the Novgorod region overnight with 91 long-range drones, which were all destroyed by Russia.

41 minutes ago

LATEST

13 minutes ago

Military

Breaking | PLA begins second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan

30 minutes ago

Hong Kong Economy

New approach to fast-track Hong Kong industrial park gets thumbs up from firms

31 minutes ago

Politics

Probe into South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ends with ‘unresolved issues’

31 minutes ago

China Business

Chinese firms flock to Dubai free zones to navigate trade barriers, expand reach

52 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Trump says he still might fire Powell as Fed chief, teasing a preferred pick

1 hour ago

Diplomacy

‘No worries’: Trump plays down Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan

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Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

24 Dec 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

23 Dec 2025 - 3:43PMvideocam

Open Questions series

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

Diplomacy

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:02AMvideocam

Science

Open Questions | Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

Acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his ‘dark forest’ theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.

15 Dec 2025 - 10:05AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Economist Huang Yiping on why China’s AI push must be ‘job-oriented’

Dean of Peking University’s National School of Development says ‘balance’ needed in AI development to protect employment, ‘human well-being’.

8 Dec 2025 - 10:07AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

17 Dec 2025 - 7:00AM

The questions in FAI-C were reviewed by a panel of Biblical experts, including theologians, pastors, psychologists and scholars of ethics. Photo: SCMP

China Future Tech

Trip.com tests stablecoin, offering USDT and USDC for prepaid bookings

The travel platform switched on stablecoin checkout in select markets, a cautious offshore pilot as Beijing keeps crypto crackdown in place.

2 hours ago

AI

ByteDance’s Volcano Engine lands exclusive AI cloud slot at Spring Festival Gala

The Spring Festival Gala’s sponsorship race is intensifying, as tech groups and consumer electronics brands chase exposure and reach.

29 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

Tech Trends

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame gives staff gifts of gold, trip to Antarctica

Dreame’s surprise largesse reflects its robust business growth in 2025, as it remains one of the world’s top robot vacuum cleaner brands.

29 Dec 2025 - 7:32PM

Military

A look at China’s ‘Flying Shark’ J-15 jet that made waves near Japan

Fighter in service for more than a decade often patrols potential conflict hotspots including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

28 Dec 2025 - 11:00PMvideocam

Known as the “Flying Shark”, the J-15 is China’s first domestically developed twin-engined heavy carrier-based fighter jet. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Science

Chinese 6G smart surface could allow stealth jets to use radar as a power source

The technology could help power future communications systems and shift the dynamics of electronic warfare, team says.

28 Dec 2025 - 6:00AMvideocam

China Economy

Wild goose chase? France works to rouse China’s appetite for foie gras imports

French producers hope their famed pate can win a slice of China’s market, but price sensitivities and domestic competition could mean their goose is cooked.

27 Dec 2025 - 6:09AMvideocam

Military

How Beijing’s strategy shift explains decreased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

Why the feud between Tokyo and Beijing could rage on for a while yet

Dispute over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan could ultimately hinge on the US-China-Japan triangle, analysts say.

China’s military build-up could ‘seriously’ affect Japan’s security, Tokyo warns

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Breaking | PLA begins second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan

Troops will simulate attacks on maritime targets and conduct anti-air and anti-submarine operations to the north and south of island.

‘No worries’: Trump plays down Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan

Trump dismisses ‘routine’ drills in Taiwan Strait even as US arms sales hit record high and Pentagon repeats 2027 timeline.

New approach to fast-track Hong Kong industrial park gets thumbs up from firms

New company to speed up work on 23-hectare park under Northern Metropolis project wins praise as ‘one-stop service centre’.

China has logged a US$1 trillion trade surplus. Where is all that money going?

Venezuela condemns US arms sale to Taiwan, echoing Beijing’s position

Caracas says Washington’s move violates one-China principle and threatens regional stability as tensions over the island intensify.

Chinese firms flock to Dubai free zones to navigate trade barriers, expand reach

JD.com, CNBM, carmakers and hundreds of other Chinese companies use the hub to reach consumers across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Probe into South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ends with ‘unresolved issues’

Analysts say the findings have raised questions about whether South Korea’s laws can deal with alleged abuses of power by a president’s spouse.

.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.

China builds world-first crab-walking electric ICBM mobile launcher prototype

In less than two years, scientists have developed a technology that ‘fundamentally overturns’ conventional heavy-vehicle design.

Zelensky asked Trump for ‘historic’ 50-year guarantee against Russia

The Ukrainian president is seeking extended US security guarantees, exceeding the 15-year plan under discussion as part of peace talks.

Cambodia and Thailand agree to resume exchanges after meeting with China

Ceasefire deal was ‘hard won and must not be allowed to stall’, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi says.

China protests to Panama over destruction of memorial to Chinese labourers

The monument was removed on the weekend without notice or consultation, Beijing’s envoy says.

Trump hints at land strike against drug cartels as Venezuela pressure mounts

If Trump’s remark about knocking out a ‘big facility’ is true, it would mark the first known land attack by the US against Venezuela.

Expedition to Chile’s Cape Horn reveals awesome nature at the world’s end

A 5-day cruise to South America’s southern tip stuns with fiords, penguins and wind-blasted cliffs reached via the world’s deadliest waters.

US approves sale of patrol planes to Denmark despite Greenland rift

Trump has called for seizing Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, insisting the US needs the resource-rich island for security.

Trip.com tests stablecoin, offering USDT and USDC for prepaid bookings

The travel platform switched on stablecoin checkout in select markets, a cautious offshore pilot as Beijing keeps crypto crackdown in place.

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame gives staff gifts of gold, trip to Antarctica

Dreame’s surprise largesse reflects its robust business growth in 2025, as it remains one of the world’s top robot vacuum cleaner brands.

Fifa boss Infantino hails World Cup demand after 150 million tickets requested

Gianni Infantino says there would be ‘no football in 150 countries in the world’ without Fifa, defends cost of attending matches.

Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Putin’s residence; Kyiv says Moscow is lying

Russia claims Ukraine attacked the house in the Novgorod region overnight with 91 long-range drones, which were all destroyed by Russia.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Forest conservation must be long-term priority for Southeast Asia

Editorial | Hong Kong still needs a waste-charging scheme

Editorial | Hong Kong working to stay in the fast lane to better connectivity

Opinion | Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy of war with Russia

The View | How AI helped Asia’s real estate sector pass the tariff stress test

Breaking | PLA begins second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan

New approach to fast-track Hong Kong industrial park gets thumbs up from firms

Probe into South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ends with ‘unresolved issues’

Chinese firms flock to Dubai free zones to navigate trade barriers, expand reach

Trump says he still might fire Powell as Fed chief, teasing a preferred pick

‘No worries’: Trump plays down Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

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.

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

Open Questions | Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

Acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his ‘dark forest’ theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.

Open Questions | Economist Huang Yiping on why China’s AI push must be ‘job-oriented’

Dean of Peking University’s National School of Development says ‘balance’ needed in AI development to protect employment, ‘human well-being’.

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

Trip.com tests stablecoin, offering USDT and USDC for prepaid bookings

The travel platform switched on stablecoin checkout in select markets, a cautious offshore pilot as Beijing keeps crypto crackdown in place.

ByteDance’s Volcano Engine lands exclusive AI cloud slot at Spring Festival Gala

The Spring Festival Gala’s sponsorship race is intensifying, as tech groups and consumer electronics brands chase exposure and reach.

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame gives staff gifts of gold, trip to Antarctica

Dreame’s surprise largesse reflects its robust business growth in 2025, as it remains one of the world’s top robot vacuum cleaner brands.

A look at China’s ‘Flying Shark’ J-15 jet that made waves near Japan

Fighter in service for more than a decade often patrols potential conflict hotspots including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese 6G smart surface could allow stealth jets to use radar as a power source

The technology could help power future communications systems and shift the dynamics of electronic warfare, team says.

Wild goose chase? France works to rouse China’s appetite for foie gras imports

French producers hope their famed pate can win a slice of China’s market, but price sensitivities and domestic competition could mean their goose is cooked.

How Beijing’s strategy shift explains decreased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

Breaking | PLA begins second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan

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

Opinion | Forest conservation must be long-term priority for Southeast Asia