Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

The Philippine coastguard said it had spotted a reseach vessel accompanied by two coastguard ships. Photo: X/ jaytaryela

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines escalate again

Manila says it sent a plane over the South China Sea reef in an effort to ‘drive away’ those carrying out ‘unauthorised’ research activity.

12 minutes agovideocam

Why is a Chinese research ship a flashpoint with Philippines in South China Sea?

South China Sea

Science

China’s rare earth-poor northeast scores big find

A new type of deposit in Heilongjiang and Jilin promises easier, cheaper mining than in southern clay-rich areas, say scientists.

35 minutes agovideocam

Big Tech

Chinese tech giants race to dominate AI-powered digital gateways

The integration of agentic AI with sites like Taobao and JD.com is reshaping shopping, but the bigger promise is an agent within WeChat.

3 hours ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial

High Court declared money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance.

57 minutes ago

Economy

Workers at a Sany new energy heavy truck factory in Changsha, Hunan province, on May 12. A new truck rolls off the production line every six minutes. Photo: Xinhua

China’s economy ‘weaker than expected’ in April as Iran war headwinds bite

China Economy

Locked out of Russia, could Japan’s airlines face new risk in Chinese skies?

Pilots say such a move would mark a major escalation of retribution for Japanese PM’s remarks on Taiwan.

4 hours ago

People depart Japan from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on April 18. Photo: Kyodo

Business

Rising used home prices in China’s major cities in April stoke stability hopes

With first-tier cities seeing price upticks, analysts are optimistic that the struggling property sector is showing signs of bottoming out.

17 minutes ago

Health & Environment

‘Lives are cheap here’: Thailand reels from deadly Bangkok train crash

A drug-positive train driver with no licence. A barrier raised too late. Thailand’s capital asks: when will the city finally fix itself?

2 hours agovideocam

International

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

In partnership with:

Cityscape Global

World

Trump’s China trip assessed, South Korea’s AI problem: 5 weekend reads

From how Trump’s trip to Beijing measured up to South Korea’s deepfake epidemic, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

3 hours ago

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Beijing on Friday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Diplomacy

How does the Strait of Hormuz stand-off look in the wake of Trump-Xi summit?

The US and Iran are both considering their next moves as the deadlock over the key shipping route continues.

18 May 2026 - 8:30AMvideocam

Society

Hong Kong should issue travel alert to Congo, Uganda amid Ebola outbreak: expert

Infectious disease expert says more preventive measures necessary, noting frequent exchanges between mainland Chinese and central African cities.

1 hour ago

Tech Trends

China’s Amec setting industry standard for chipmaking tech, founder says

The head of one of China’s leading semiconductor makers said its technology has been adopted by overseas competitors.

16 minutes agovideocam

The founder of chipmaker AMEC says its technology has become a standard in the semiconductor industry. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

UAE ditches oil for AI to build Global South hi-tech ‘bridge’

With its Opec era over, the Gulf state has big post-war ambitions for Africa and beyond, bolstered by elite Nvidia chip deliveries.

6 hours agovideocam

The Dubai skyline featuring the Burj Khalifa. The UAE’s AI strategy is structured around deep, capital-intensive investments and the development and export of large language models to underserved markets. Photo: EPA-EFE

Europe

Revolt against UK’s Starmer revives bitter debate over undoing Brexit

With the prime minister’s leadership in crisis, the spectre of rejoining the EU is creeping back into the debate.

23 minutes ago

China Business

Chinese tech stocks buck regional trend, regain momentum after Xi-Trump meeting

Despite sell-offs in the Asia-Pacific region, investors continue to bet that China’s technology stocks will extend their blistering run.

3 hours ago

SERIES: Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China to purchase at least US$17 billion of US agricultural goods, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

18 May 2026 - 6:39AM

US President Donald Trump listening to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last week. Photo: Reuters

Health & Wellness

Being optimistic can lower dementia risk by 15%, Harvard study finds

Experts explain why optimism is beneficial for brain health and how to cultivate a more positive mindset.

18 May 2026 - 7:15AM

A Harvard University study found that people with higher optimism scores were less likely to develop dementia. One way to become more optimistic is to surround yourself with like-minded people. Photo: Shutterstock

Society

What’s behind the rise in firings linked to disability discrimination?

Complaints to Hong Kong’s equality watchdog about dismissals linked to suspected disability discrimination have doubled over past five years.

18 May 2026 - 8:34AM

Science

China unveils world’s first germ resistant titanium-copper medical implant

Scientists around the world have been trying to master the techniques needed to produce the innovative material.

4 hours agovideocam

LATEST

16 minutes ago

Diplomacy

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines escalate again

23 minutes ago

Europe

Revolt against UK’s Starmer revives bitter debate over undoing Brexit

31 minutes ago

Business

Rising used home prices in China’s major cities in April stoke stability hopes

54 minutes ago

China

Feeling the love: Fan gets outpouring of support despite mixed finals display

57 minutes ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial

1 hour ago

South Asia

India has 1.42 billion people – but some Modi allies want bigger families

1 hour ago

Tech Trends

China’s Amec setting industry standard for chipmaking tech, founder says

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Racing

Lor mulling change of tactics with Numbers for Champions and Chater test

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Society

Hong Kong should issue travel alert to Congo, Uganda amid Ebola outbreak: expert

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Hong Kong

Gallery | In pictures: puppets, guqin and bamboo sculptures at ‘Hong Kong ICH Month’

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SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

3-MIN READ

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

3-MIN READvideocam

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

2-MIN READvideocam

Open Questions series

Politics

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

12-MIN READ

Politics

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

17-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

13-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

10-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

3-MIN READ

Chinese trade received a significant boost from the technology sector in April. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Big Tech

China ramps up building national computing power network as AI token use surges

Beijing casts computing power as a national infrastructure, likening tokens to mobile data as telecoms firms roll out mass-market packages.

2-MIN READ

Tech Trends

AI agents face trust issues in ‘high-risk’ industrial sectors: experts

Expert says large language models struggle in professional domains due to lack of industrial data and knowledge during training.

2-MIN READ

China Business

Peugeot, Jeep take on Chinese rivals with new models using local EV tech

Peugeot and Jeep are following in the footsteps of Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq to regain lost ground in mainland China.

3-MIN READ

A Peugeot concept car on display at the Auto China show in Beijing, April 24, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Science

Is China becoming Europe’s top science partner amid an American brain drain?

‘Massive changes in the global flow of talent’ are creating opportunities, according to the head of Germany’s Max Planck Society.

6-MIN READvideocam

Economy

Trump and his CEOs want China’s business – but has Asia moved on?

The US delegation went to Beijing looking for deals, but a ‘super cycle’ of capital expenditures across Asia is already fuelling enormous growth.

6-MIN READvideocam

Diplomacy

Why tougher US visa rules for skilled foreign workers may end in ‘brain drain’

Trump administration is targeting several visa categories, including popular H-1B pathway, with bias towards fewer numbers and more revenue.

7-MIN READvideocam

China

Handshakes of history: when Chinese and US leaders meet - an infographic

US President Donald Trump visited Beijing on May 13-15, 2026. Explore the meetings that have helped shape one of the world's most consequential bilateral relationships.

1-MIN READ

Handshakes of history: when Chinese and US leaders meet - an infographic

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines escalate again

Manila says it sent a plane over the South China Sea reef in an effort to ‘drive away’ those carrying out ‘unauthorised’ research activity.

Why is a Chinese research ship a flashpoint with Philippines in South China Sea?

China’s rare earth-poor northeast scores big find

A new type of deposit in Heilongjiang and Jilin promises easier, cheaper mining than in southern clay-rich areas, say scientists.

Chinese tech giants race to dominate AI-powered digital gateways

The integration of agentic AI with sites like Taobao and JD.com is reshaping shopping, but the bigger promise is an agent within WeChat.

Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial

High Court declared money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance.

China’s economy ‘weaker than expected’ in April as Iran war headwinds bite

Locked out of Russia, could Japan’s airlines face new risk in Chinese skies?

Pilots say such a move would mark a major escalation of retribution for Japanese PM’s remarks on Taiwan.

Rising used home prices in China’s major cities in April stoke stability hopes

With first-tier cities seeing price upticks, analysts are optimistic that the struggling property sector is showing signs of bottoming out.

‘Lives are cheap here’: Thailand reels from deadly Bangkok train crash

A drug-positive train driver with no licence. A barrier raised too late. Thailand’s capital asks: when will the city finally fix itself?

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

Trump’s China trip assessed, South Korea’s AI problem: 5 weekend reads

From how Trump’s trip to Beijing measured up to South Korea’s deepfake epidemic, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

How does the Strait of Hormuz stand-off look in the wake of Trump-Xi summit?

The US and Iran are both considering their next moves as the deadlock over the key shipping route continues.

Hong Kong should issue travel alert to Congo, Uganda amid Ebola outbreak: expert

Infectious disease expert says more preventive measures necessary, noting frequent exchanges between mainland Chinese and central African cities.

China’s Amec setting industry standard for chipmaking tech, founder says

The head of one of China’s leading semiconductor makers said its technology has been adopted by overseas competitors.

UAE ditches oil for AI to build Global South hi-tech ‘bridge’

With its Opec era over, the Gulf state has big post-war ambitions for Africa and beyond, bolstered by elite Nvidia chip deliveries.

Revolt against UK’s Starmer revives bitter debate over undoing Brexit

With the prime minister’s leadership in crisis, the spectre of rejoining the EU is creeping back into the debate.

Chinese tech stocks buck regional trend, regain momentum after Xi-Trump meeting

Despite sell-offs in the Asia-Pacific region, investors continue to bet that China’s technology stocks will extend their blistering run.

China to purchase at least US$17 billion of US agricultural goods, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

Being optimistic can lower dementia risk by 15%, Harvard study finds

Experts explain why optimism is beneficial for brain health and how to cultivate a more positive mindset.

What’s behind the rise in firings linked to disability discrimination?

Complaints to Hong Kong’s equality watchdog about dismissals linked to suspected disability discrimination have doubled over past five years.

China unveils world’s first germ resistant titanium-copper medical implant

Scientists around the world have been trying to master the techniques needed to produce the innovative material.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Hong Kong officials should rethink their response to feedback

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Hong Kong must strengthen its banking system against scams

Editorial | US must ensure equal legal protection for all scholars, including Chinese

Opinion | Why set a limit for Hong Kong’s ride-hailing services?

Editorial | Hong Kong mediation body’s successful case resolution will be first of many

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines escalate again

Revolt against UK’s Starmer revives bitter debate over undoing Brexit

Rising used home prices in China’s major cities in April stoke stability hopes

Feeling the love: Fan gets outpouring of support despite mixed finals display

Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial

India has 1.42 billion people – but some Modi allies want bigger families

China’s Amec setting industry standard for chipmaking tech, founder says

Lor mulling change of tactics with Numbers for Champions and Chater test

Hong Kong should issue travel alert to Congo, Uganda amid Ebola outbreak: expert

Gallery | In pictures: puppets, guqin and bamboo sculptures at ‘Hong Kong ICH Month’

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

China ramps up building national computing power network as AI token use surges

Beijing casts computing power as a national infrastructure, likening tokens to mobile data as telecoms firms roll out mass-market packages.

AI agents face trust issues in ‘high-risk’ industrial sectors: experts

Expert says large language models struggle in professional domains due to lack of industrial data and knowledge during training.

Peugeot, Jeep take on Chinese rivals with new models using local EV tech

Peugeot and Jeep are following in the footsteps of Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq to regain lost ground in mainland China.

Is China becoming Europe’s top science partner amid an American brain drain?

‘Massive changes in the global flow of talent’ are creating opportunities, according to the head of Germany’s Max Planck Society.

Trump and his CEOs want China’s business – but has Asia moved on?

The US delegation went to Beijing looking for deals, but a ‘super cycle’ of capital expenditures across Asia is already fuelling enormous growth.

Why tougher US visa rules for skilled foreign workers may end in ‘brain drain’

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Opinion | Hong Kong officials should rethink their response to feedback

Letters | Hong Kong must strengthen its banking system against scams