Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Heavy machinery handling bauxite and iron ore is seen in China’s eastern Shandong province. Photo: AFP

Geopolitics to drive Hong Kong mining fundraising amid ‘supercycle’, experts say

Hong Kong could see more mining IPOs as global demand for resources accelerates, though national security issues may slow deals: experts.

14 minutes ago

China’s Zijin Mining clinches US$2.6b Chifeng Gold takeover in expansion drive

Commodities

China Economy

China fast-tracks hydrogen strategy to ‘scale-up’ phase to boost energy security

China targets ‘bold innovation’ as falling renewable-energy costs allow it to leverage 50 per cent share of global green hydrogen production capacity.

1 hour agovideocam

Diplomacy

China warns travellers to avoid Seattle airport after academics denied entry to US

About 20 Chinese scholars going to conference harassed and interrogated at border, Beijing says.

42 minutes agovideocam

Markets

Hong Kong, mainland China equities see largest US investor inflows in 3 years

Asia now accounts for 24 per cent of all US investors’ foreign holdings – the highest share in over a decade.

19 minutes ago

Economy

A coil of copper is moved at an electrical materials factory in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

China beats expectations with 5% growth in first GDP release since Iran war

Diplomacy

China says embassy intrusion, bomb threat are among ‘grave violations’ in Japan

Acting head of embassy lists incidents he describes as ‘a threat to the safety of Chinese diplomatic personnel and premises’.

12 minutes agovideocam

A police officer stands guard at an entrance to the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on March 25, 2026, a day after a man was apprehended for allegedly trespassing onto the grounds of the embassy. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

TSMC targets over 30% revenue surge in 2026, ramps up capex amid AI boom

AI dominates TSMC revenues as foundry giant pivots from smartphones to high-performance computing.

7 minutes ago

Lifestyle & Culture

Bali wants illegal rentals to be legitimate as operators flag red tape

Authorities want to help unregistered accommodation providers secure permits to plug the tax collection gap.

1 hour agovideocam

Business

How Hong Kong’s role as innovation hub helps healthcare and biotech firms

Government initiative OASES supports GSK and Tigermed as they expand clinical trials and collaboration in mainland China and beyond.

In partnership with:

OASES

Hong Kong has introduced a range of measures to nurture biotechnology start-ups and attract more clinical research projects as part of its plan to become a global health and medical innovation hub. Photo: Shutterstock

Society

We failed to check if workers smoked at Wang Fuk Court, firms tell fire hearing

Engineering firms also say replacing fireproof windows with movable boards was unnecessary.

1 hour agovideocam

The blaze devastated several high-rise blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse

Politics

Xi stresses ‘patience’ on Taiwan reunification in talks with opposition leader

In rare meeting, Communist Party chief said resolving cross-strait issues would take time, according to Cheng Li-wun and delegation member.

3 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

Why China’s trade with Africa benefits from Trump’s policy volatility

Continent is China’s fastest growing export market in first quarter of 2026, with machinery and hi-tech shipments leading US$60 billion surge.

2 hours agovideocam

Middle East

Fact-Check | This video of ‘Iran capturing US pilot’ was filmed in Pakistan

The conflict in the Middle East has led to videos being shared out of context by social media users.

4 hours ago

A screenshot showing scenes from a video falsely claiming to show a US pilot captured by Iran, with lines drawn through by the SCMP. Photo: Handout/SCMP

Global Economy

China trims US Treasury holdings as global ownership hits record

Beijing slightly pares its sovereign US debt position as private investors and certain financial hubs drive demand up.

4 hours ago

China has been gradually diversifying its foreign exchange reserves away from holdings of sovereign American debt. Photo: dpa

Food & Drink

Family of 7 ‘hot’ dentists; Hainan chicken rice roots: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Joey Yung’s journey to Cantopop stardom to a mother’s inspiring weight loss story, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

3 hours ago

Business

New home prices in China’s biggest cities record first rise in 10 months

Shanghai leads, and also records strong second-hand sales, but analysts hesitate to declare overall market stabilisation.

4 hours ago

Americas

Lula blasts Trump’s fear-based rule, calls for ‘great maturity’

‘Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country,’ Brazil’s president says.

36 minutes agovideocam

A woman walks next to an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday. Photo: WANA via Reuters

Science

Beijing tried to reduce desertification. Now it battles ‘snowstorm’ of allergens

City officials and university scientists are teaming up to tackle the annual spring arrival of allergy-inducing catkins.

6 hours agovideocam

Catkins absorb bacteria, pollen and dust from the air, triggering respiratory and skin allergies in many people. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Diplomacy

China’s Wang Yi calls on Iran to ensure freedom and safe passage through strait

In phone call with Iran’s top envoy, China’s foreign minister says situation is at ‘critical stage of transition between conflict and peace’.

4 hours agovideocam

Transport

Greater Bay Airlines suspends Bangkok flights amid fuel price surge

Flights unavailable from May to September on both directions of Hong Kong-Bangkok route.

2 hours agovideocam

OPINION

Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | How the rupee’s fall shows India’s struggle to overcome vulnerabilities

2 hours ago

Phoebe Zhang

Opinion | By voicing their needs, Chinese women are normalising them

16 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Letters

Letters | Iran war is not just a short-term energy disruption

16 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

Eugene Yim

Legal Tales | How the law protects when a parent abducts their child across borders

16 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Gabriela Bernal

Opinion | After years of neglect, China emerges as North Korea’s ‘top priority’

16 Apr 2026 - 7:33AM

Harry’s View | 16 Apr 2026

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Big Tech

TSMC targets over 30% revenue surge in 2026, ramps up capex amid AI boom

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China says embassy intrusion, bomb threat are among ‘grave violations’ in Japan

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Commodities

Geopolitics to drive Hong Kong mining fundraising amid ‘supercycle’, experts say

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Americas

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China warns travellers to avoid Seattle airport after academics denied entry to US

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SCMP Series US-Israel war on Iran

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:26AMvideocam

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

8 Apr 2026 - 11:10AMvideocam

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7 Apr 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

Open Questions series

Science

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

6 Apr 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

30 Mar 2026 - 10:03AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

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China Business

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

14 Apr 2026 - 9:02PM

A Tesla robot on display at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Tesla has said it is transforming itself into a physical AI firm. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

TSMC targets over 30% revenue surge in 2026, ramps up capex amid AI boom

AI dominates TSMC revenues as foundry giant pivots from smartphones to high-performance computing.

7 minutes ago

China Economy

China fast-tracks hydrogen strategy to ‘scale-up’ phase to boost energy security

China targets ‘bold innovation’ as falling renewable-energy costs allow it to leverage 50 per cent share of global green hydrogen production capacity.

1 hour agovideocam

Tech

Chinese investors cheer Tesla’s AI chip progress, boosting shares of suppliers

Shanghai Beite Technology saw the largest share spike among suppliers, up as much as 4.6 per cent on Thursday morning.

8 minutes ago

Employees work inside the Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai during a government-organised media tour on April 14. Photo: Reuters

China

Exclusive | Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.

15 Apr 2026 - 9:06AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Why the US may need more than just fixing gaps to rival China on rare earths

Washington’s mining ambitions may be complicated by the erosion of industrial know-how and a weak education pipeline, experts say.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:55AMvideocam

China Economy

Vocational schools a new front as China backs businesses’ global expansion

Earlier programmes focused on infrastructure, but new wave is shaped by demand in e-commerce, digital services and advanced manufacturing.

11 Apr 2026 - 6:06AM

Military

The US could be moving away from precision strikes in the Iran war. Here’s why

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:26AMvideocam

Geopolitics to drive Hong Kong mining fundraising amid ‘supercycle’, experts say

Hong Kong could see more mining IPOs as global demand for resources accelerates, though national security issues may slow deals: experts.

China’s Zijin Mining clinches US$2.6b Chifeng Gold takeover in expansion drive

China fast-tracks hydrogen strategy to ‘scale-up’ phase to boost energy security

China targets ‘bold innovation’ as falling renewable-energy costs allow it to leverage 50 per cent share of global green hydrogen production capacity.

China warns travellers to avoid Seattle airport after academics denied entry to US

About 20 Chinese scholars going to conference harassed and interrogated at border, Beijing says.

Hong Kong, mainland China equities see largest US investor inflows in 3 years

Asia now accounts for 24 per cent of all US investors’ foreign holdings – the highest share in over a decade.

China beats expectations with 5% growth in first GDP release since Iran war

China says embassy intrusion, bomb threat are among ‘grave violations’ in Japan

Acting head of embassy lists incidents he describes as ‘a threat to the safety of Chinese diplomatic personnel and premises’.

TSMC targets over 30% revenue surge in 2026, ramps up capex amid AI boom

AI dominates TSMC revenues as foundry giant pivots from smartphones to high-performance computing.

Bali wants illegal rentals to be legitimate as operators flag red tape

Authorities want to help unregistered accommodation providers secure permits to plug the tax collection gap.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How Hong Kong’s role as innovation hub helps healthcare and biotech firms

Government initiative OASES supports GSK and Tigermed as they expand clinical trials and collaboration in mainland China and beyond.

We failed to check if workers smoked at Wang Fuk Court, firms tell fire hearing

Engineering firms also say replacing fireproof windows with movable boards was unnecessary.

Xi stresses ‘patience’ on Taiwan reunification in talks with opposition leader

In rare meeting, Communist Party chief said resolving cross-strait issues would take time, according to Cheng Li-wun and delegation member.

Why China’s trade with Africa benefits from Trump’s policy volatility

Continent is China’s fastest growing export market in first quarter of 2026, with machinery and hi-tech shipments leading US$60 billion surge.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Fact-Check | This video of ‘Iran capturing US pilot’ was filmed in Pakistan

The conflict in the Middle East has led to videos being shared out of context by social media users.

China trims US Treasury holdings as global ownership hits record

Beijing slightly pares its sovereign US debt position as private investors and certain financial hubs drive demand up.

Family of 7 ‘hot’ dentists; Hainan chicken rice roots: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Joey Yung’s journey to Cantopop stardom to a mother’s inspiring weight loss story, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

New home prices in China’s biggest cities record first rise in 10 months

Shanghai leads, and also records strong second-hand sales, but analysts hesitate to declare overall market stabilisation.

Lula blasts Trump’s fear-based rule, calls for ‘great maturity’

‘Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country,’ Brazil’s president says.

Beijing tried to reduce desertification. Now it battles ‘snowstorm’ of allergens

City officials and university scientists are teaming up to tackle the annual spring arrival of allergy-inducing catkins.

China’s Wang Yi calls on Iran to ensure freedom and safe passage through strait

In phone call with Iran’s top envoy, China’s foreign minister says situation is at ‘critical stage of transition between conflict and peace’.

Greater Bay Airlines suspends Bangkok flights amid fuel price surge

Flights unavailable from May to September on both directions of Hong Kong-Bangkok route.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | How the rupee’s fall shows India’s struggle to overcome vulnerabilities

Opinion | By voicing their needs, Chinese women are normalising them

Letters | Iran war is not just a short-term energy disruption

Legal Tales | How the law protects when a parent abducts their child across borders

Opinion | After years of neglect, China emerges as North Korea’s ‘top priority’

TSMC targets over 30% revenue surge in 2026, ramps up capex amid AI boom

China says embassy intrusion, bomb threat are among ‘grave violations’ in Japan

Geopolitics to drive Hong Kong mining fundraising amid ‘supercycle’, experts say

Lula blasts Trump’s fear-based rule, calls for ‘great maturity’

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | The Iran war is going to hurt your skincare routine

China warns travellers to avoid Seattle airport after academics denied entry to US

Gallery | In pictures: Beijing’s new museum showcases largest collection of insects

Video | Hundreds missing after Rohingya boat sinks

Hong Kong, mainland China equities see largest US investor inflows in 3 years

China fast-tracks hydrogen strategy to ‘scale-up’ phase to boost energy security

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

TSMC targets over 30% revenue surge in 2026, ramps up capex amid AI boom

AI dominates TSMC revenues as foundry giant pivots from smartphones to high-performance computing.

China fast-tracks hydrogen strategy to ‘scale-up’ phase to boost energy security

China targets ‘bold innovation’ as falling renewable-energy costs allow it to leverage 50 per cent share of global green hydrogen production capacity.

Chinese investors cheer Tesla’s AI chip progress, boosting shares of suppliers

Shanghai Beite Technology saw the largest share spike among suppliers, up as much as 4.6 per cent on Thursday morning.

Exclusive | Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.

Why the US may need more than just fixing gaps to rival China on rare earths

Washington’s mining ambitions may be complicated by the erosion of industrial know-how and a weak education pipeline, experts say.

Vocational schools a new front as China backs businesses’ global expansion

How Hong Kong’s role as innovation hub helps healthcare and biotech firms

Fact-Check | This video of ‘Iran capturing US pilot’ was filmed in Pakistan

Macroscope | How the rupee’s fall shows India’s struggle to overcome vulnerabilities

Video | The Iran war is going to hurt your skincare routine