Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

US drugmakers are increasingly looking to Chinese biotechs as an answer to the revenue gaps left by the looming ‘patent cliff’. Illustration by Henry Wong

Will China biotech be a hard pill to swallow for US Big Pharma?

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

32 minutes ago

China’s 3SBio seeks US$400 million in Hong Kong to boost drug pipeline

United States

Diplomacy

Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

Top US envoy eschews ‘pacing threat’ label, stressing cooperation and Western hemisphere priorities for 2026.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

Compliance questions remain and Beijing’s approval for the spin-off is not guaranteed, observers say.

19 Dec 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

Society

Hong Kong fire: authorities seek to dissolve Wang Fuk Court owners’ committee

Home affairs minister Alice Mak says government intervening for first time on record in residential estate’s affairs.

19 Dec 2025 - 11:32PMvideocam

Focus

From taboo to trendy: China’s second-hand luxury market cashes in on resale boom

United States & Canada

Epstein files release highlights Clinton, makes scant reference to Trump

Few photos of the US president or documents mentioning him appear, a notable difference from previous batches of files made public.

32 minutes ago

Former US President Bill Clinton stands with Jeffrey Epstein in this image released on Friday. Photo: US Department of Justice via Reuters

Big Tech

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

2 hours ago

Economics

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

As a border war with Cambodia flares and Malaysian tourism surges ahead, Thailand battles to save its holiday image.

43 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.

Middle East

US strikes at Isis fighters in Syria after 3 Americans killed

The attack was reportedly conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters.

2 hours ago

US President Donald Trump salutes as a US Army carry team moves a flagged-draped transfer case containing the remains of Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a US civilian working as an interpreter, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Europe

Rubio says won’t force deal on Ukraine as Europeans join Miami talks

Trump envoys are meeting officials from Kyiv and Moscow, but the question of ceding territory remains a stumbling block in negotiations.

2 hours ago

China

3 killed in Taiwan knife and smoke grenade attack

The suspected stabber was also declared dead after jumping from the sixth floor of a department store building.

4 hours ago

Diplomacy

US lawmakers want DeepSeek, Xiaomi added to list of China military-linked firms

Republicans want to add 19 more entities to the document that already includes tech giant Tencent Holdings and major ‍battery maker CATL.

4 hours agovideocam

A letter, from US lawmakers asks for AI firm DeepSeek and other Chinese companies to be put on what is known as the Section 1260H list. Photo: Reuters

Health & Wellness

How to avoid gaining weight this Christmas while still enjoying great food

Diet experts weigh in on healthy festive eating to avoid weight gain, from foods with nutritional ‘superpowers’ to alternatives to sugar.

1 hour ago

Experts suggest plant-forward dishes, lighter desserts and savouring meals for a healthier way to enjoy the festive period. Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

China’s rebuilding of Micronesian airport runway raises alarm in US

At least two Chinese companies appear to be involved in the Woleai project in the strategically important region.

19 Dec 2025 - 11:00PM

Diplomacy

China says US defence policy act hypes up threat, urges ‘rational’ view on ties

Foreign ministry says NDAA undermines sovereignty, development interests, as Taiwan Affairs Office slams ‘misguided signals’ to separatists.

19 Dec 2025 - 9:29PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Foreign ship gets penalty for using Starlink within Chinese waters, report says

Unidentified vessel was found using ‘satellite communication device manufactured by a foreign company’ during inspection at Ningbo port.

19 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service Starlink is seen as a national security threat by Beijing and does not have a licence to operate in China. Photo: SpaceX

Politics

Trump Justice Department releases partial set of Epstein files for now

US official says more of the long-awaited documents will follow in coming months, citing legal limits to protect victims and investigations.

2 hours ago

A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol last month. Photo: AFP

Politics

Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers vow to impeach leader William Lai

Proposal is likely to be a symbolic gesture as impeachment would require 76 legislators to agree, while opposition camp holds only 62 seats.

19 Dec 2025 - 7:29PM

United States & Canada

How right-wing misinformation hurt the Brown University shooting investigation

Unfounded claims that the gunman was a Palestinian student flooded social media, complicating the probe.

5 hours ago

OPINION

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

27 minutes ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong well set to raise the global bar for Chinese medicine

1 hour ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Kam Tin Jiao Festival proves heritage and development can coexist in harmony

2 hours ago

Brian Y. S. Wong

Opinion | Protection of vulnerable workers must be part of China’s AI strategy

3 hours ago

Andrew Sheng

Opinion | Why China is cracking down on ‘involution’

19 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

Harry’s View | 20 Dec 2025

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Chinese culture

Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

43 minutes ago

Economics

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China Business

Will China biotech be a hard pill to swallow for US Big Pharma?

55 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Epstein files release highlights Clinton, makes scant reference to Trump

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Opinion

Editorial | Hong Kong well set to raise the global bar for Chinese medicine

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How to avoid gaining weight this Christmas while still enjoying great food

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SCMP Series

WWII: 80 years on

China Inc. goes global

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How China is telling its own story

Simon Li, executive director of the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre, with students (from second left) Kavira S. Kazimoto, Gem Peduche and Josue Camarena, at Andrews University’s Hong Kong campus. Photo: Handout

SCMP Series WWII: 80 years on

After The War | Virtual reality and the Nanking massacre: where does historical immersion become trauma?

Amid push in China for museum digitalisation, one educator seeks to help students ‘feel history without being flooded by it’.

14 Dec 2025 - 4:20PM

After The War | How the post-WWII order was formed and why China wants to reshape it

8 Sep 2025 - 4:11PMvideocam

After The War | Chinese scholars slam Western ‘historical nihilism’ on World War II

2 Sep 2025 - 5:16PM

Open Questions series

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

Diplomacy

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.

1 Dec 2025 - 3:57PMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | ‘A mistaken view’: US economist Nicholas Lardy on the ‘peak China’ hypothesis

The veteran China watcher talks Beijing’s need for financial reform and how US-China economic convergence could still be on the horizon.

24 Nov 2025 - 10:09AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

China’s open-source AI models rival US giants, making engagement urgent: report

The report calls on US actors to engage with Chinese firms as the AI landscape continues to evolve.

17 Dec 2025 - 9:16PM

Chinese AI developers are largely pursuing an open-source approach, releasing the weights of their models for end-users to freely deploy and modify. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Will China biotech be a hard pill to swallow for US Big Pharma?

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

32 minutes ago

Big Tech

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

2 hours ago

Tech Trends

China’s Sugon launches AI infrastructure to rival platforms from Nvidia, Huawei

The Beijing-based supercomputer maker says its scaleX platform represents China’s first 10,000-card AI supercluster.

19 Dec 2025 - 10:00PM

Supercomputer maker Sugon launches scaleX platform at an event in Kunshan, a city in eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout

Military

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

18 Dec 2025 - 6:03AM

China Economy

Surviving the shocks: what China and the US learned from 2025’s trade war

Businesses and officials faced a year of disruption – and in some cases, resilience – as tariffs and export controls roiled global markets.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:07AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Why ‘relative stability’ in US-China ties is unlikely to last

The temperature has lowered after a downward spiral since Trump’s return to the White House, but relations may face ‘strong headwinds’ again.

16 Dec 2025 - 6:18AMvideocam

Military

Why has reference to Taiwan attending Rimpac been removed from US defence bill?

Senators’ bid to ‘strongly encourage’ invitation is removed from compromise bill, raising questions in Taipei.

14 Dec 2025 - 8:40PMvideocam

Some of the naval ships taking part in the 2024 Rimpac exercises, as seen from the Japanese JS Kunisaki. Photo: Reuters

Will China biotech be a hard pill to swallow for US Big Pharma?

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

China’s 3SBio seeks US$400 million in Hong Kong to boost drug pipeline

Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

Top US envoy eschews ‘pacing threat’ label, stressing cooperation and Western hemisphere priorities for 2026.

TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

Compliance questions remain and Beijing’s approval for the spin-off is not guaranteed, observers say.

Hong Kong fire: authorities seek to dissolve Wang Fuk Court owners’ committee

Home affairs minister Alice Mak says government intervening for first time on record in residential estate’s affairs.

From taboo to trendy: China’s second-hand luxury market cashes in on resale boom

Epstein files release highlights Clinton, makes scant reference to Trump

Few photos of the US president or documents mentioning him appear, a notable difference from previous batches of files made public.

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

As a border war with Cambodia flares and Malaysian tourism surges ahead, Thailand battles to save its holiday image.

.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.

US strikes at Isis fighters in Syria after 3 Americans killed

The attack was reportedly conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters.

Rubio says won’t force deal on Ukraine as Europeans join Miami talks

Trump envoys are meeting officials from Kyiv and Moscow, but the question of ceding territory remains a stumbling block in negotiations.

3 killed in Taiwan knife and smoke grenade attack

The suspected stabber was also declared dead after jumping from the sixth floor of a department store building.

US lawmakers want DeepSeek, Xiaomi added to list of China military-linked firms

Republicans want to add 19 more entities to the document that already includes tech giant Tencent Holdings and major ‍battery maker CATL.

How to avoid gaining weight this Christmas while still enjoying great food

Diet experts weigh in on healthy festive eating to avoid weight gain, from foods with nutritional ‘superpowers’ to alternatives to sugar.

China’s rebuilding of Micronesian airport runway raises alarm in US

At least two Chinese companies appear to be involved in the Woleai project in the strategically important region.

China says US defence policy act hypes up threat, urges ‘rational’ view on ties

Foreign ministry says NDAA undermines sovereignty, development interests, as Taiwan Affairs Office slams ‘misguided signals’ to separatists.

Foreign ship gets penalty for using Starlink within Chinese waters, report says

Unidentified vessel was found using ‘satellite communication device manufactured by a foreign company’ during inspection at Ningbo port.

Trump Justice Department releases partial set of Epstein files for now

US official says more of the long-awaited documents will follow in coming months, citing legal limits to protect victims and investigations.

Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers vow to impeach leader William Lai

Proposal is likely to be a symbolic gesture as impeachment would require 76 legislators to agree, while opposition camp holds only 62 seats.

How right-wing misinformation hurt the Brown University shooting investigation

Unfounded claims that the gunman was a Palestinian student flooded social media, complicating the probe.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

Editorial | Hong Kong well set to raise the global bar for Chinese medicine

Editorial | Kam Tin Jiao Festival proves heritage and development can coexist in harmony

Opinion | Protection of vulnerable workers must be part of China’s AI strategy

Opinion | Why China is cracking down on ‘involution’

Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

Will China biotech be a hard pill to swallow for US Big Pharma?

Epstein files release highlights Clinton, makes scant reference to Trump

Editorial | Hong Kong well set to raise the global bar for Chinese medicine

How to avoid gaining weight this Christmas while still enjoying great food

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}After The War | Virtual reality and the Nanking massacre: where does historical immersion become trauma?

Amid push in China for museum digitalisation, one educator seeks to help students ‘feel history without being flooded by it’.

After The War | How the post-WWII order was formed and why China wants to reshape it

After The War | Chinese scholars slam Western ‘historical nihilism’ on World War II

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.

Open Questions | ‘A mistaken view’: US economist Nicholas Lardy on the ‘peak China’ hypothesis

The veteran China watcher talks Beijing’s need for financial reform and how US-China economic convergence could still be on the horizon.

China’s open-source AI models rival US giants, making engagement urgent: report

The report calls on US actors to engage with Chinese firms as the AI landscape continues to evolve.

Will China biotech be a hard pill to swallow for US Big Pharma?

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

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

China’s Sugon launches AI infrastructure to rival platforms from Nvidia, Huawei

The Beijing-based supercomputer maker says its scaleX platform represents China’s first 10,000-card AI supercluster.

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

Surviving the shocks: what China and the US learned from 2025’s trade war

Businesses and officials faced a year of disruption – and in some cases, resilience – as tariffs and export controls roiled global markets.

Why ‘relative stability’ in US-China ties is unlikely to last

The temperature has lowered after a downward spiral since Trump’s return to the White House, but relations may face ‘strong headwinds’ again.

Why has reference to Taiwan attending Rimpac been removed from US defence bill?

Senators’ bid to ‘strongly encourage’ invitation is removed from compromise bill, raising questions in Taipei.

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

Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

After The War | Virtual reality and the Nanking massacre: where does historical immersion become trauma?