Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

China’s war on corruption – is this just the end of the beginning?

More ‘tigers’ are being culled than ever before in a campaign that could be becoming the new normal.

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How China is using its economic clout to give the US dollar a run for its money

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Diplomacy

China urges Israel to end war in Iran as regional tensions escalate

Beijing says US-Israeli strikes were in bad faith and calls for an immediate halt, a return to talks and opposition to unilateral action.

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Investors watch China’s ‘two sessions’ for clues on property overhaul

China signals shift from debt-driven housing growth, but sweeping stimulus seen as unlikely.

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Hong Kong inflation risks grow as war in Middle East escalates, experts warn

Residents may face higher energy and dining costs as analysts stress the city cannot remain immune to surging oil prices.

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US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping shake hands at an October meeting in South Korea. The two are expected to meet again in four weeks. Photo: Reuters

US, China discuss investment revival ahead of Trump’s trip: sources

Diplomacy

Trump slams European allies, praises China and continues to justify Iran attack

US president blasted Spain for denying access to its military bases for his bombing campaign, but boasts of ‘good relationship with China’.

2 hours agovideocam

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

China Business

Healthcare investors looking to ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

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Lifestyle & Culture

‘Social morals are dying’: Japan’s under-20s are getting high like never before

The relaxed attitude towards ‘fashionable’ drugs has been cited as one reason for more young Japanese arrested for cannabis offences.

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Travel & Leisure

How use of AI will help travel operators transform behaviour of holidaymakers

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Dida

Markets

US investors raise outlay in Taiwan’s equities market on the back of AI boom

US investors currently hold about 23 per cent of the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation.

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US ownership of equities listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange has steadily grown over the past 10 years. Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

Will Iran feature in foreign policy talks at China’s ‘two sessions’?

The focus is on economics and the five-year plan but the turmoil could prompt a rethink in some areas, analysts say.

3 Mar 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

China Economy

Not just oil: Iran war disrupts China’s imports of key industrial material

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking off China’s imports of methanol – a vital input for the country’s industrial sector.

3 Mar 2026 - 11:36PMvideocam

China Economy

China should up education spending to help population adapt to AI era: economist

Prominent Chinese economist says it is imperative to ensure the next generation can withstand the changes being driven by AI.

2 hours agovideocam

A humanoid robot waves to children at a kindergarten in China’s eastern Shandong province. Photo: Getty Images

Middle East

Iran will not ‘automatically’ fall after Khamenei’s death, shah’s widow says

Farah Pahlavi, Iran’s last empress, has lived in exile in Paris since being driven from the country with her husband in the 1979 revolution.

4 Mar 2026 - 2:07AMvideocam

Women protest and chant anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in Magam town in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Duterte allies use Iran war threat to attack Philippines’ US ties

Social media posts claim US bases in the Philippines are like ‘bullseyes on Filipino soil’, prompting the military to debunk the disinformation.

13 minutes agovideocam

Military

US patrol flights over South China Sea drop 30% as focus shifts to Middle East

Decline in reconnaissance aircraft sorties comes during critical time in China-US ties ahead of planned Donald Trump visit.

3 Mar 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

Global Economy

As US-Iran war threatens oil supplies, will China speed up its green transition?

Beijing is still dependent on fossil fuels but Washington’s recent interventions may prompt officials to fast-track shift, analysts say.

3 Mar 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Iran announced on Monday announced it had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while Qatar halted liquefied natural gas production and Saudi Arabia shut down its largest oil refinery. The turmoil has hit global energy markets, as oil and gas prices soar. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

How will China adjust Israel ties as US-led strikes on Iran reshape Middle East?

Beijing is unlikely to abandon ‘balanced diplomacy’ in the region despite killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, analysts say.

4 Mar 2026 - 12:12AMvideocam

Men inspect the ruins of a police station on Tuesday in Tehran, Iran. Photo: AP

Middle East

Iran war: France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier heads to the Mediterranean

Rafale fighter jets, air-defence systems and airborne radar systems have also been deployed in the Middle East.

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Travel & Leisure

Paying for a ‘head orgasm’: ASMR spas are taking off in the United States

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Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

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American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

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Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

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Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

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Chinese chip firms Cambricon, Moore Threads post sales jump on domestic demand

Cambricon reports first full-year profit since listing in 2020, while Moore Threads’ revenue jumps 243 per cent.

27 Feb 2026 - 10:26PM

Chinese AI chip designer Cambricon posted its first annual profit since listing in 2020. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

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Healthcare investors looking to ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

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US investors raise outlay in Taiwan’s equities market on the back of AI boom

US investors currently hold about 23 per cent of the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation.

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Will users stick around after China’s US$1 billion AI marketing battle?

Vouchers, red packets and sponsorships drove a surge in AI users over Chinese New Year, but now the tech giants face a retention test.

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Red-packet battle: AI tech giants spent a collective US$1 billion on marketing this Chinese New Year. Photo: Getty Images

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Xi-Trump talk plans rattled by chaotic US team: ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’

Analysts warn thin US coordination and rushed timelines risk weak deliverables and surprises ahead of high-stakes Beijing meeting.

27 Feb 2026 - 1:57AMvideocam

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A deep dive into the data from Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan’s latest budget announcement, looking at the government’s growing revenue and increasing investment in infrastructure.

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5 top takeaways from Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address

In a speech that runs nearly two hours, Trump casts himself as a global peacemaker and touts his economic credentials.

25 Feb 2026 - 12:50PMvideocam

Science

Smaller, faster, smarter: Chinese transistor ready for future AI chips

Breakthrough said to overcome long-standing limitations of traditional ferroelectric transistors, ‘paving way for large-scale application’.

25 Feb 2026 - 6:19AMvideocam

Ferroelectric transistors function similarly to neurons in the human brain, as they integrate memory and processing in a single unit. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s war on corruption – is this just the end of the beginning?

More ‘tigers’ are being culled than ever before in a campaign that could be becoming the new normal.

How China is using its economic clout to give the US dollar a run for its money

China urges Israel to end war in Iran as regional tensions escalate

Beijing says US-Israeli strikes were in bad faith and calls for an immediate halt, a return to talks and opposition to unilateral action.

Investors watch China’s ‘two sessions’ for clues on property overhaul

China signals shift from debt-driven housing growth, but sweeping stimulus seen as unlikely.

Hong Kong inflation risks grow as war in Middle East escalates, experts warn

Residents may face higher energy and dining costs as analysts stress the city cannot remain immune to surging oil prices.

US, China discuss investment revival ahead of Trump’s trip: sources

Trump slams European allies, praises China and continues to justify Iran attack

US president blasted Spain for denying access to its military bases for his bombing campaign, but boasts of ‘good relationship with China’.

Healthcare investors looking to ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

‘Social morals are dying’: Japan’s under-20s are getting high like never before

The relaxed attitude towards ‘fashionable’ drugs has been cited as one reason for more young Japanese arrested for cannabis offences.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How use of AI will help travel operators transform behaviour of holidaymakers

Experts explore innovative technology’s role in industry’s evolution at ‘Limitless: Dida Engage 2026’ in Shenzhen.

US investors raise outlay in Taiwan’s equities market on the back of AI boom

US investors currently hold about 23 per cent of the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation.

Will Iran feature in foreign policy talks at China’s ‘two sessions’?

The focus is on economics and the five-year plan but the turmoil could prompt a rethink in some areas, analysts say.

Not just oil: Iran war disrupts China’s imports of key industrial material

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking off China’s imports of methanol – a vital input for the country’s industrial sector.

China should up education spending to help population adapt to AI era: economist

Prominent Chinese economist says it is imperative to ensure the next generation can withstand the changes being driven by AI.

Iran will not ‘automatically’ fall after Khamenei’s death, shah’s widow says

Farah Pahlavi, Iran’s last empress, has lived in exile in Paris since being driven from the country with her husband in the 1979 revolution.

Duterte allies use Iran war threat to attack Philippines’ US ties

Social media posts claim US bases in the Philippines are like ‘bullseyes on Filipino soil’, prompting the military to debunk the disinformation.

US patrol flights over South China Sea drop 30% as focus shifts to Middle East

Decline in reconnaissance aircraft sorties comes during critical time in China-US ties ahead of planned Donald Trump visit.

As US-Iran war threatens oil supplies, will China speed up its green transition?

Beijing is still dependent on fossil fuels but Washington’s recent interventions may prompt officials to fast-track shift, analysts say.

How will China adjust Israel ties as US-led strikes on Iran reshape Middle East?

Beijing is unlikely to abandon ‘balanced diplomacy’ in the region despite killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, analysts say.

Iran war: France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier heads to the Mediterranean

Rafale fighter jets, air-defence systems and airborne radar systems have also been deployed in the Middle East.

Paying for a ‘head orgasm’: ASMR spas are taking off in the United States

Scratchy, raspy, feathery and tingly: more people than ever are paying for spa-like sensory experiences to induce ‘the tingles’ in the brain.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Under Trump, the US has unleashed its own wolf warriors

Editorial | Hong Kong is a beacon of stability for global talent and capital

Editorial | Hong Kong must ensure law on basic housing serves its intended purpose

Opinion | US war on Iran isn’t likely to go as planned

Opinion | How the US ceded the robotics economy to China

Thousands of passengers ‘stuck’ in Indonesia’s Bali after war grounds planes

China ‘storm hot springs’ offer unique experience with thunder, rain, electric shocks

Duterte allies use Iran war threat to attack Philippines’ US ties

Healthcare investors looking to ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Hong Kong inflation risks grow as war in Middle East escalates, experts warn

Hong Kong players ‘sad but not surprised’ after learning about Games axe

Bully vs sovereignty: how Manila and Beijing are sharpening their South China Sea messaging

Analysts say the Philippines’ approach of ‘assertive transparency’ may be wearing thin at home and in the region.

The Philippines wants to seal South China Sea code of conduct. Can it deliver?

Why High Seas Treaty could change ‘rules of the game’ in South China Sea row

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

Chinese chip firms Cambricon, Moore Threads post sales jump on domestic demand

Cambricon reports first full-year profit since listing in 2020, while Moore Threads’ revenue jumps 243 per cent.

Healthcare investors looking to ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

US investors raise outlay in Taiwan’s equities market on the back of AI boom

US investors currently hold about 23 per cent of the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation.

Will users stick around after China’s US$1 billion AI marketing battle?

Vouchers, red packets and sponsorships drove a surge in AI users over Chinese New Year, but now the tech giants face a retention test.

Xi-Trump talk plans rattled by chaotic US team: ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’

Analysts warn thin US coordination and rushed timelines risk weak deliverables and surprises ahead of high-stakes Beijing meeting.

Breaking down the key figures in Hong Kong 2026-27 budget

A deep dive into the data from Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan’s latest budget announcement, looking at the government’s growing revenue and increasing investment in infrastructure.

5 top takeaways from Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address

In a speech that runs nearly two hours, Trump casts himself as a global peacemaker and touts his economic credentials.

Smaller, faster, smarter: Chinese transistor ready for future AI chips

Breakthrough said to overcome long-standing limitations of traditional ferroelectric transistors, ‘paving way for large-scale application’.

How use of AI will help travel operators transform behaviour of holidaymakers

As I see it | Under Trump, the US has unleashed its own wolf warriors

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative