Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Selcuk Unal, Turkey’s ambassador to China, says his country has been working as a connecting power between East and West for decades. Photo: Karma Lo

Exclusive | Why has a Nato member reaffirmed its Brics ambitions? Its envoy elaborates

New Turkish ambassador Selcuk Unal says the country is seeking deeper ties with China while bridging Asia and Europe.

2 hours ago

Israel’s China envoy calls to deepen historical ties in rare media outreach

China-Middle East relations

Diplomacy

Xi speaks with Trump hours after video chat with Putin, talks Taiwan, Ukraine

Chinese readout says Xi urged caution on US arms sales to Taiwan as Trump pledged dialogue to keep bilateral relations positive and stable.

2 hours agovideocam

China Economy

‘Discriminatory’: China slams EU probe into wind turbine maker Goldwind

Brussels’ ‘abuse of investigations’ is harming China-EU cooperation and slowing Europe’s green transition, Beijing warns.

30 minutes ago

Society

Senior civil servants to face scrutiny in Hong Kong blaze inquiry

Senior civil servants and department heads among witnesses to be cross-examined by an independent committee as victims demand accountability.

2 hours agovideocam

Economy

An oil tanker is anchored in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. China’s reliance on low-price crude from Venezuela is under strain as the United States tightens control over the country’s oil industry. Photo: Xinhua

China’s cheap oil flows under strain as US ramps up Iran, Venezuela pressure

Science

Chinese semiconductor engineer Xu Zhenpeng says he left US to find freedom

China’s advanced manufacturing research ecosystem and more independent research environment were key drivers, he said.

4 hours agovideocam

Xu said his decision to work at Shanghai Jiaotong University was motivated by long-term academic goals and a desire for a more independent research environment. Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

US pitches critical minerals plan to allies to halt Beijing’s dominance

More than 50 countries encouraged to back US-led framework using price floors and financing to blunt Beijing’s control of hi-tech materials.

4 hours agovideocam

Politics

Canada wants a middle-power alliance. Will Asia-Pacific sign up?

While Canadian PM Mark Carney’s vision appeals to many, analysts say a lack of detail and divergent interests make a unified front unlikely.

1 hour agovideocam

Education

Academic innovation can help budding entrepreneurs overcome future challenges

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s 20-year evolution ensures it meets world’s fast-changing technological, industrial and societal needs.

In partnership with:

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Diplomacy

Epstein files reveal proposal for Tsinghua University campus in Boston

Prominent figures affiliated with the top Chinese university and Harvard discuss the plans in newly released emails.

5 Feb 2026 - 12:19AM

Emails from 2016 suggest China’s Tsinghua University had agreed to build a branch campus in Boston, but the plans later fell through.
Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Could a ‘shock’ Pyongyang visit cement Japan PM Takaichi’s snap election bid?

Despite scepticism, a leading campaigner claims Pyongyang is ready to return surviving abductees for ‘immediate, large-scale’ aid.

34 minutes agovideocam

Diplomacy

Canada’s former deputy PM hopes for less economic dependency on China in future

Canada’s former deputy prime minister supports economic system ‘in which China works’ but other countries’ vulnerabilities are limited.

2 hours agovideocam

Military

China expels defence officials from legislature amid corruption crackdown

Three senior executives removed from National People’s Congress without explanation could face disciplinary action or criminal charges.

5 Feb 2026 - 2:10AMvideocam

(From left) Zhou Xinmin, former chairman of AVIC, Luo Qi, chief engineer of the China National Nuclear Corporation, and Liu Cangli, former president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics. Photos: Handout

SERIES: Year of the Horse 2026

Oxen clash with the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026. How to avoid bad luck

A fortune-teller shares how Oxen can mitigate the negative effects of clashing with the tai sui deity in the coming Year of the Fire Horse.

28 minutes agovideocam

Oxen face a minor tai sui clash in 2026, but auspicious stars offer career and financial luck. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Alibaba, Kuaishou, SMIC drop in Hong Kong tech sell-off on AI fears

Hang Seng Index follows Wall Street drop caused by ‘the market staring into an AI mirror and recoiling at its reflection’, analyst says.

45 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Nasa’s Juno finds Jupiter is a tiny bit smaller than previously thought

The robotic spacecraft was launched in 2011 and has been orbiting ‍the gas giant since 2016, transmitting raw data back to Earth.

5 Feb 2026 - 4:02AMvideocam

Banking & Finance

Morgan Stanley sees another record year for Hong Kong IPOs as pipeline hits 450

Mainland China’s issuers will still dominate city’s IPO market, executive says, but US and Southeast Asian companies are also joining in.

3 hours ago

Mainland China’s issuers will still dominate city’s IPO market, Morgan Stanley executive says. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Washington Post cutting hundreds of jobs, as US media faces Trump pressure

The newspaper, now owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, once helped bring down US President Richard Nixon in the Watergate scandal.

5 hours ago

The Washington Post office building is seen in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

US ‘Today’ show host appeals to mother’s kidnapper for proof of life

Savannah Guthrie’s emotional appeal came three days after her 84-year-old mother was reported ‍missing from her home.

23 minutes ago

China

Olympic champion Lin Xiaojun ‘grateful’ to China for chance to keep skating

Former South Korean tells state media TV programme that being part of the Chinese team has been a turning point in his career.

4 hours ago

OPINION

Grenville Cross

Opinion | Those betting on Hong Kong’s bright future have backed a winner

1 hour ago

Charmaine Mok

On the Menu | How to become a real ‘Chinese baddie’? It’s more than just drinking hot water

49 minutes ago

Quentin Parker

Opinion | The world must act on space debris. Hong Kong can play a leading role

5 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Keep Hong Kong safe, but limit impact on drivers’ livelihoods

4 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Operation Santa Claus success shows Hong Kong’s robust charity spirit

4 hours ago

Harry’s View | 5 Feb 2026

MORE COMMENT

LATEST

3 minutes ago

Society

Fairness pledged as Hong Kong residents seek answers in Tai Po fire inquiry

25 minutes ago

United States & Canada

US ‘Today’ show host appeals to mother’s kidnapper for proof of life

34 minutes ago

China Economy

‘Discriminatory’: China slams EU probe into wind turbine maker Goldwind

45 minutes ago

East Asia

Exams or election? Japan’s young voters face ‘extremely unreasonable’ choice

45 minutes ago

China Business

Alibaba, Kuaishou, SMIC drop in Hong Kong tech sell-off on AI fears

58 minutes ago

Society

Temperatures to drop to 13 degrees on Sunday as cold front sweeps Hong Kong

MORE LATEST NEWS

SCMP Series

Year of the Horse 2026

China Inc. goes global

Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy

SCMP Series Year of the Horse 2026

How Oxen can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026 as they clash with the tai sui

A fortune-teller shares how Oxen can mitigate the negative effects of clashing with the tai sui deity in the coming Year of the Fire Horse.

28 minutes agovideocam

The unicorn has been revered for 4,000 years. It still has us under its spell

4 Feb 2026 - 7:16AM

How Rats can appease the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026

36 minutes agovideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

2 Feb 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

China

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

29 Jan 2026 - 11:50AMvideocam

Tech Trends

Open Questions | Jeffrey Ding on why diffusion, not innovation, is the secret to AI success

Professor says a ‘diffusion marathon’, where AI is gradually embedded in an economy over decades, will determine the winner of US-China tech war.

4 Feb 2026 - 3:48PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

19 Jan 2026 - 6:57PMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot plans

Tesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers.

1 Feb 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is seen on display at a company showroom in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Shutterstock

Banking & Finance

Morgan Stanley sees another record year for Hong Kong IPOs as pipeline hits 450

Mainland China’s issuers will still dominate city’s IPO market, executive says, but US and Southeast Asian companies are also joining in.

3 hours ago

Big Tech

From chatbots to replays: Alibaba rolls out AI suite for 2026 Winter Olympics

Alibaba Cloud has unveiled AI assistants for the 2026 Winter Olympics, integrating its Qwen model into Games operations.

5 Feb 2026 - 2:06AM

China Business

China’s turbocharged EV market hits a speed bump amid falling sales

After years at full throttle, China’s EV sector is slowing sharply, with sales sliding in January as tax breaks fade and costs rise.

4 Feb 2026 - 9:47PM

China’s roughly 50 electric carmakers sold about 900,000 vehicles last month, down 42.3 per cent from 1.56 million units in December. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

US and China defence sectors emerge as key battlegrounds in the race for AI

As both military powers vie to integrate innovative technology first, the race is on to develop and fast-track the latest advancements.

5 Feb 2026 - 1:41AMvideocam

Military

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Investigations into China’s top military commanders have raised questions about the PLA’s battle readiness.

4 Feb 2026 - 6:14AMvideocam

China Economy

China’s expat pilots arrived on a red carpet – now, they’re taking a red-eye out

Well-paid foreign pilots once flocked to Chinese airlines – but winds have shifted as domestic talent steps up and airlines limit fleet expansions.

3 Feb 2026 - 7:38AMvideocam

China Economy

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

2 Feb 2026 - 6:46PMvideocam

Models of C19 and C929 aircraft are displayed during the eighth China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Why has a Nato member reaffirmed its Brics ambitions? Its envoy elaborates

New Turkish ambassador Selcuk Unal says the country is seeking deeper ties with China while bridging Asia and Europe.

Israel’s China envoy calls to deepen historical ties in rare media outreach

Xi speaks with Trump hours after video chat with Putin, talks Taiwan, Ukraine

Chinese readout says Xi urged caution on US arms sales to Taiwan as Trump pledged dialogue to keep bilateral relations positive and stable.

‘Discriminatory’: China slams EU probe into wind turbine maker Goldwind

Brussels’ ‘abuse of investigations’ is harming China-EU cooperation and slowing Europe’s green transition, Beijing warns.

Senior civil servants to face scrutiny in Hong Kong blaze inquiry

Senior civil servants and department heads among witnesses to be cross-examined by an independent committee as victims demand accountability.

China’s cheap oil flows under strain as US ramps up Iran, Venezuela pressure

Chinese semiconductor engineer Xu Zhenpeng says he left US to find freedom

China’s advanced manufacturing research ecosystem and more independent research environment were key drivers, he said.

US pitches critical minerals plan to allies to halt Beijing’s dominance

More than 50 countries encouraged to back US-led framework using price floors and financing to blunt Beijing’s control of hi-tech materials.

Canada wants a middle-power alliance. Will Asia-Pacific sign up?

While Canadian PM Mark Carney’s vision appeals to many, analysts say a lack of detail and divergent interests make a unified front unlikely.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}Academic innovation can help budding entrepreneurs overcome future challenges

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s 20-year evolution ensures it meets world’s fast-changing technological, industrial and societal needs.

Epstein files reveal proposal for Tsinghua University campus in Boston

Prominent figures affiliated with the top Chinese university and Harvard discuss the plans in newly released emails.

Could a ‘shock’ Pyongyang visit cement Japan PM Takaichi’s snap election bid?

Despite scepticism, a leading campaigner claims Pyongyang is ready to return surviving abductees for ‘immediate, large-scale’ aid.

Canada’s former deputy PM hopes for less economic dependency on China in future

Canada’s former deputy prime minister supports economic system ‘in which China works’ but other countries’ vulnerabilities are limited.

China expels defence officials from legislature amid corruption crackdown

Three senior executives removed from National People’s Congress without explanation could face disciplinary action or criminal charges.

Oxen clash with the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026. How to avoid bad luck

A fortune-teller shares how Oxen can mitigate the negative effects of clashing with the tai sui deity in the coming Year of the Fire Horse.

Alibaba, Kuaishou, SMIC drop in Hong Kong tech sell-off on AI fears

Hang Seng Index follows Wall Street drop caused by ‘the market staring into an AI mirror and recoiling at its reflection’, analyst says.

Nasa’s Juno finds Jupiter is a tiny bit smaller than previously thought

The robotic spacecraft was launched in 2011 and has been orbiting ‍the gas giant since 2016, transmitting raw data back to Earth.

Morgan Stanley sees another record year for Hong Kong IPOs as pipeline hits 450

Mainland China’s issuers will still dominate city’s IPO market, executive says, but US and Southeast Asian companies are also joining in.

Washington Post cutting hundreds of jobs, as US media faces Trump pressure

The newspaper, now owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, once helped bring down US President Richard Nixon in the Watergate scandal.

US ‘Today’ show host appeals to mother’s kidnapper for proof of life

Savannah Guthrie’s emotional appeal came three days after her 84-year-old mother was reported ‍missing from her home.

Olympic champion Lin Xiaojun ‘grateful’ to China for chance to keep skating

Former South Korean tells state media TV programme that being part of the Chinese team has been a turning point in his career.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Those betting on Hong Kong’s bright future have backed a winner

On the Menu | How to become a real ‘Chinese baddie’? It’s more than just drinking hot water

Opinion | The world must act on space debris. Hong Kong can play a leading role

Editorial | Keep Hong Kong safe, but limit impact on drivers’ livelihoods

Editorial | Operation Santa Claus success shows Hong Kong’s robust charity spirit

Fairness pledged as Hong Kong residents seek answers in Tai Po fire inquiry

US ‘Today’ show host appeals to mother’s kidnapper for proof of life

‘Discriminatory’: China slams EU probe into wind turbine maker Goldwind

Exams or election? Japan’s young voters face ‘extremely unreasonable’ choice

Alibaba, Kuaishou, SMIC drop in Hong Kong tech sell-off on AI fears

Temperatures to drop to 13 degrees on Sunday as cold front sweeps Hong Kong

How Oxen can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026 as they clash with the tai sui

A fortune-teller shares how Oxen can mitigate the negative effects of clashing with the tai sui deity in the coming Year of the Fire Horse.

The unicorn has been revered for 4,000 years. It still has us under its spell

How Rats can appease the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

Open Questions | Jeffrey Ding on why diffusion, not innovation, is the secret to AI success

Professor says a ‘diffusion marathon’, where AI is gradually embedded in an economy over decades, will determine the winner of US-China tech war.

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot plans

Tesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers.

Morgan Stanley sees another record year for Hong Kong IPOs as pipeline hits 450

Mainland China’s issuers will still dominate city’s IPO market, executive says, but US and Southeast Asian companies are also joining in.

From chatbots to replays: Alibaba rolls out AI suite for 2026 Winter Olympics

Alibaba Cloud has unveiled AI assistants for the 2026 Winter Olympics, integrating its Qwen model into Games operations.

China’s turbocharged EV market hits a speed bump amid falling sales

After years at full throttle, China’s EV sector is slowing sharply, with sales sliding in January as tax breaks fade and costs rise.

US and China defence sectors emerge as key battlegrounds in the race for AI

As both military powers vie to integrate innovative technology first, the race is on to develop and fast-track the latest advancements.

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Investigations into China’s top military commanders have raised questions about the PLA’s battle readiness.

China’s expat pilots arrived on a red carpet – now, they’re taking a red-eye out

Well-paid foreign pilots once flocked to Chinese airlines – but winds have shifted as domestic talent steps up and airlines limit fleet expansions.

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

Exclusive | Why has a Nato member reaffirmed its Brics ambitions? Its envoy elaborates

Academic innovation can help budding entrepreneurs overcome future challenges

Opinion | Those betting on Hong Kong’s bright future have backed a winner