Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Can Beijing count on KMT to advance its Taiwan reunification plans?

The party’s new chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has adopted a mainland-friendly tone but it remains to be seen if she can live up to Beijing’s hopes.

3 hours agovideocam

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

US-China relations

China

US labels Chinese chips an economic threat, but delays tariff impact until 2027

Timeline reflects effort to preserve trade truce with Beijing rather than build leverage through faster import duty escalation, analysts say.

4 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

China, Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure

Venezuela turns to UN as Trump’s oil crackdown intensifies and Caracas advances a law targeting those in support of naval blockades.

1 hour agovideocam

Society

Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business

Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business.

25 minutes ago

Explainer

Representatives of the “Pax Silica” signatories hold signed documents at a summit held in Washington on December 12. The initiative is America’s new vision for the international AI supply chain. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

United States & Canada

Trump flew on Epstein jet ‘many more times than reported’, new file shows

On one flight, the only three passengers were the disgraced financier, Trump and a 20-year-old woman whose name was redacted.

6 hours ago

Ghislaine Maxwell and Donald Trump are shown in this image released on Tuesday. Photo: US Justice Department via Reuters

Property

Hong Kong property prices stabilise as mainland China slump drags on

Hong Kong is drawing cautious interest from buyers, while markets such as Shenzhen remain weighed down by persistent price declines.

1 hour ago

Politics

Yoon’s ex-aides express ‘disbelief’ over South Korean martial law plan

The two aides’ testimonies give a rare insight into the thinking of the former president, who is charged with leading the ‘insurrection’.

55 minutes agovideocam

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.

Politics

China probes museum art theft claims that ‘make the Louvre thieves look dumb’

Case triggers questions over handling of cultural treasures as former Nanjing Museum director is accused of masterminding large-scale scam.

23 Dec 2025 - 9:23PM

Nanjing Musuem played a key role in preserving national treasures during World War II. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

China Business

Chinese ETFs investing in US stocks cap subscriptions as they run out of quotas

GF Fund and E Fund have capped daily subscriptions at 10 yuan, while China Asset Management has stopped accepting new subscriptions.

25 minutes ago

Europe

2 men found guilty of UK plot to kill hundreds in Jewish community

Had the plan come off, it would have resulted in ‘one of, if not the, deadliest terrorist attack in UK history’, say counterterrorism police.

23 Dec 2025 - 11:05PMvideocam

Africa

Libya army chief and 7 others killed in Turkey plane crash

The wreckage of the private jet has been found, after it sent an emergency signal then lost radio contact following take-off from Ankara.

2 hours ago

Turkish soldiers stand guard near the wreckage a Libya-bound business jet near Ankara as search and rescue operations continue on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

China Economy

China vows city-specific fixes to clear housing glut, stabilise property sector

Housing minister pledges to empower local governments to buy unsold inventory and shift towards selling only finished homes with a ‘what you see is what you get’ model.

23 Dec 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

Residential buildings are seen under construction in Fuyang, Anhui province, on December 15. Photo: Getty Images

Global Economy

‘Bad policy’: China’s drone makers to shrug off US ban, analysts say

The addition of foreign drone makers, including those from China, to a US trade blacklist is unlikely to heat up relations, observers said.

4 hours agovideocam

Politics

Taiwan ramps up security measures for coming holidays after mass stabbing

Tighter police deployments at transport hubs and major events ordered after deadly violence in central Taipei stokes public anxiety.

23 Dec 2025 - 8:03PMvideocam

Big Tech

China’s Xiaomi rejects claims of military ties after appeal by US lawmakers

Smartphone-to-vehicle giant says it ‘has always been and continues to be a consumer product company’.

23 Dec 2025 - 7:29PM

Xiaomi says it is not a Chinese military company nor affiliated with any Chinese military entities. Photo: Shutterstock

Travel & Leisure

Best things to do in Nara, Japanese city that’s more than an Osaka side trip

Widely regarded as the birthplace of Japanese culture, Nara offers everything from Unesco World Heritage sites to ryokans and bars.

2 hours ago

Free-roaming deer mingle with visitors at a temple in Nara. As Japan’s first permanent capital, Nara is home to an array of ancient religious sites. But there is also a modern side to this city on the doorstep of Osaka and Kyoto. Photo: Shutterstock

United States & Canada

US Supreme Court blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Chicago

It is a rare setback for the US president at the high court, which has sided with his administration in almost every case.

2 hours agovideocam

Society

Committee probing Hong Kong fire visits Wang Fuk Court to inspect conditions

Panel chairman Justice David Lok visits scene of blaze with committee members to understand ‘actual environment’ at estate.

24 Dec 2025 - 12:55AM

OPINION

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Jake Sullivan

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Nikola Mikovic

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

23 Dec 2025 - 9:34PM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Christmas spirit of compassion can help a Hong Kong that is still healing

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Hao Nan

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Society

Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business

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China Business

Chinese ETFs investing in US stocks cap subscriptions as they run out of quotas

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ISU bosses leave speed skater Lam’s Winter Olympics dream hanging by a thread

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Politics

Yoon’s ex-aides express ‘disbelief’ over South Korean martial law plan

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Diplomacy

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Why China studies scholars in the West have been left in ‘crisis’ mode

US-China tensions, restricted access and Western-centric thinking seen as key obstacles to gaining ‘full picture of modern China’.

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Open Questions series

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.

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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’.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

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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.

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Big Tech

China’s AgiBot aims for US$142 million revenue as humanoid robots gain momentum

Fast-growing robotics start-up expects to ship out 5,000 units in 2025 amid Beijing backing of the embodied intelligence industry.

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Global Economy

‘Bad policy’: China’s drone makers to shrug off US ban, analysts say

The addition of foreign drone makers, including those from China, to a US trade blacklist is unlikely to heat up relations, observers said.

4 hours agovideocam

Tech

Jack Ma-backed YF Capital takes stake in Shanghai memory chipmaker InnoStar

A YF Capital affiliate has taken a 2.1 per cent stake in InnoStar Semiconductor, making it the chipmaker’s 14th largest shareholder.

23 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

InnoStar headquarters in Shanghai. Photo: InnoStar

Politics

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

Analysts examine Taiwan-related policy announcements, a new commemoration day and military posturing for clues to Beijing’s intent.

23 Dec 2025 - 3:43PMvideocam

Politics

Are Trump loyalists struggling in US rural heartland ready to say ‘enough’?

Hammered by crippling costs and precious revenue lost to China, Midwest farmers’ loyalty to the US president will be tested in 2026 midterms.

21 Dec 2025 - 7:35AMvideocam

China Business

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

20 Dec 2025 - 8:57AM

Diplomacy

China urged to win ‘hearts and minds’ to fill leadership void as US retreats

Experts pushing Beijing’s vision for a new world order say nation can offer an ‘important alternative’ but it needs to improve its messaging.

19 Dec 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Beijing wants to fill the void as Washington steps back from its leadership role on the world stage under US President Donald Trump and his “America first” policy. Photo: Reuters

Can Beijing count on KMT to advance its Taiwan reunification plans?

The party’s new chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has adopted a mainland-friendly tone but it remains to be seen if she can live up to Beijing’s hopes.

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

US labels Chinese chips an economic threat, but delays tariff impact until 2027

Timeline reflects effort to preserve trade truce with Beijing rather than build leverage through faster import duty escalation, analysts say.

China, Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure

Venezuela turns to UN as Trump’s oil crackdown intensifies and Caracas advances a law targeting those in support of naval blockades.

Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business

Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business.

Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

Trump flew on Epstein jet ‘many more times than reported’, new file shows

On one flight, the only three passengers were the disgraced financier, Trump and a 20-year-old woman whose name was redacted.

Hong Kong property prices stabilise as mainland China slump drags on

Hong Kong is drawing cautious interest from buyers, while markets such as Shenzhen remain weighed down by persistent price declines.

Yoon’s ex-aides express ‘disbelief’ over South Korean martial law plan

The two aides’ testimonies give a rare insight into the thinking of the former president, who is charged with leading the ‘insurrection’.

.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 probes museum art theft claims that ‘make the Louvre thieves look dumb’

Case triggers questions over handling of cultural treasures as former Nanjing Museum director is accused of masterminding large-scale scam.

Chinese ETFs investing in US stocks cap subscriptions as they run out of quotas

GF Fund and E Fund have capped daily subscriptions at 10 yuan, while China Asset Management has stopped accepting new subscriptions.

2 men found guilty of UK plot to kill hundreds in Jewish community

Had the plan come off, it would have resulted in ‘one of, if not the, deadliest terrorist attack in UK history’, say counterterrorism police.

Libya army chief and 7 others killed in Turkey plane crash

The wreckage of the private jet has been found, after it sent an emergency signal then lost radio contact following take-off from Ankara.

China vows city-specific fixes to clear housing glut, stabilise property sector

Housing minister pledges to empower local governments to buy unsold inventory and shift towards selling only finished homes with a ‘what you see is what you get’ model.

‘Bad policy’: China’s drone makers to shrug off US ban, analysts say

The addition of foreign drone makers, including those from China, to a US trade blacklist is unlikely to heat up relations, observers said.

Taiwan ramps up security measures for coming holidays after mass stabbing

Tighter police deployments at transport hubs and major events ordered after deadly violence in central Taipei stokes public anxiety.

China’s Xiaomi rejects claims of military ties after appeal by US lawmakers

Smartphone-to-vehicle giant says it ‘has always been and continues to be a consumer product company’.

Best things to do in Nara, Japanese city that’s more than an Osaka side trip

Widely regarded as the birthplace of Japanese culture, Nara offers everything from Unesco World Heritage sites to ryokans and bars.

US Supreme Court blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Chicago

It is a rare setback for the US president at the high court, which has sided with his administration in almost every case.

Committee probing Hong Kong fire visits Wang Fuk Court to inspect conditions

Panel chairman Justice David Lok visits scene of blaze with committee members to understand ‘actual environment’ at estate.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Editorial | China’s resolve to invest in people is economic good sense

Opinion | US and China must get serious about AI risk

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Editorial | Christmas spirit of compassion can help a Hong Kong that is still healing

Opinion | How the West’s sanctions against Russia are fuelling a protracted war

Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business

Chinese ETFs investing in US stocks cap subscriptions as they run out of quotas

ISU bosses leave speed skater Lam’s Winter Olympics dream hanging by a thread

Yoon’s ex-aides express ‘disbelief’ over South Korean martial law plan

China, Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure

Hong Kong property prices stabilise as mainland China slump drags on

Why China studies scholars in the West have been left in ‘crisis’ mode

US-China tensions, restricted access and Western-centric thinking seen as key obstacles to gaining ‘full picture of modern China’.

‘Hawkish’ interpretations rise as US, China discourse gets lost in translation

Avoid West’s ‘discourse trap’ when defending China: ex-government adviser

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}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’.

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

Commentator and former senior colonel on Beijing’s row with Japan, lessons from the Ukraine war and why playing global policeman is a trap.

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.

China’s AgiBot aims for US$142 million revenue as humanoid robots gain momentum

Fast-growing robotics start-up expects to ship out 5,000 units in 2025 amid Beijing backing of the embodied intelligence industry.

‘Bad policy’: China’s drone makers to shrug off US ban, analysts say

The addition of foreign drone makers, including those from China, to a US trade blacklist is unlikely to heat up relations, observers said.

Jack Ma-backed YF Capital takes stake in Shanghai memory chipmaker InnoStar

A YF Capital affiliate has taken a 2.1 per cent stake in InnoStar Semiconductor, making it the chipmaker’s 14th largest shareholder.

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

Analysts examine Taiwan-related policy announcements, a new commemoration day and military posturing for clues to Beijing’s intent.

Are Trump loyalists struggling in US rural heartland ready to say ‘enough’?

Hammered by crippling costs and precious revenue lost to China, Midwest farmers’ loyalty to the US president will be tested in 2026 midterms.

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

China urged to win ‘hearts and minds’ to fill leadership void as US retreats

Experts pushing Beijing’s vision for a new world order say nation can offer an ‘important alternative’ but it needs to improve its messaging.

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

Editorial | China’s resolve to invest in people is economic good sense

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