Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

The technology demonstration satellite known as Hukeda-2 has carried out refuelling and compliance control tests with its flexible arm. Photo: Handout

Chinese satellite performs landmark refuelling test in low Earth orbit

‘Octopus tentacle’ robotic arm is a commercial project designed to extend the lifespan of spacecraft.

32 minutes agovideocam

Can China commercial satellite’s ‘octopus tentacle’ pass low-orbit refuel test?

Science

Diplomacy

Trump-Xi summit: US announces new dates in May, Beijing silent

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump will also host Chinese leader in Washington later this year.

4 hours agovideocam

Global Economy

The Iran war and China’s ‘petroyuan’: a new era for global oil markets?

Disruptions from the war could accelerate a shift in the oil trade, threatening the US dollar’s long-held dominance, analysts say.

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Society

Warning over mould and infections as Hong Kong set for more damp days

Elderly and chronically ill especially at risk, doctor and community activist say, after relative humidity hits 100 per cent in parts of city.

1 hour ago

Focus

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China Economy

China still on track to supplant US as world’s No 1 economy in 10 years: academic

China is better equipped to navigate its current challenges than the US, which will remain mired in ‘self-defeating’ conflicts, scholar says.

2 hours agovideocam

China is still on course to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy in 10 years, according to Li Cheng, a professor of political science at the University of Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

Military

Should China be worried about Japan’s maritime force overhaul?

Reform reflects shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for potential conflict with Beijing, Chinese analysts say.

25 Mar 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

Politics

Japan plans to deploy missiles to a faraway island in the Pacific. Here’s why

The deployment is a response to China’s military activity near Minamitorishima, a defence ministry researcher says.

22 minutes ago

Business

Global Talent Summit Week highlights why Hong Kong attracts high-calibre professionals

Officials and industry experts share insights into worldwide talent trends at Hong Kong Talent Engage’s International Talent Forum.

In partnership with:

Hong Kong Talent Engage

Tech

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Limited training data and unresolved hardware challenges continue to hold back humanoid robots from mass adoption, say experts.

47 minutes ago

A humanoid robot serves candied hawthorn on sticks at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing, March 25, 2026. Unlike ChatGPT, the robotics industry has yet to find its sweet spot. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

Airbus wins Chinese airline’s 101-plane order in victory over Boeing

China Eastern Airlines said it would take delivery of the A320neo aircraft, worth US$15.8 billion, between 2028 and 2032.

25 Mar 2026 - 11:07PM

US

Chinese nationals, firms charged in US with smuggling AI chips, drug trafficking

Two different cases refer to smuggling of American-made advanced AI chips to China through Thailand and an alleged fentanyl supply chain.

2 hours agovideocam

Middle East

Update | Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, has own demands to end fighting

Trump claimed Iranian leaders are ‘afraid’ to admit they want a deal after Tehran’s foreign minister said ‘we do not plan on any negotiations’.

21 minutes ago

Smoke plumes billowing in the vicinity of Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday after drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire. Photo: European Space Agency via AFP

Society & Culture

Asian-Americans say they are still seen as foreign, study finds

Survey shows more than half face ‘perpetual foreigner’ bias, with higher stress levels and exclusion across daily life.

4 hours ago

More than half of Asian-Americans in the US face monthly “assumed foreignness”, even if born in the country. Photo: Shutterstock

United States & Canada

Trump names CEOs of Meta, Nvidia to 13-member science and tech council

The council, which also includes Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, will weigh in on AI policy and other issues.

25 Mar 2026 - 11:32PM

Global Economy

China says Mexico’s tariff hikes constitute ‘trade barriers’ after probe

The tariff increases – made in part to appease demands from Washington – have been designated a breach of trade rules by Beijing.

25 Mar 2026 - 9:00PM

United States & Canada

Justice Department settles lawsuit from Trump ally Flynn for US$1.2 million

The ex-national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with a Russian diplomat but was later pardoned.

3 hours ago

Former US national security adviser Michael Flynn. Photo: AP

East Asia

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

Both nations have helped Russia in the Ukraine war, with Pyongyang providing troops and Minsk serving as a launch pad for the 2022 invasion.

2 hours ago

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/Belarusian presidential press service

Food & Drink

Hong Kong’s The Chairman, Wing take top spots in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026

The 2026 edition saw a strong showing from Chinese restaurants in the top 10, with representatives from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:56PM

Europe

French court finds Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape

Ramadan, a former Oxford University professor, was sentenced by a Paris court to 18 years in prison for the rape of 3 women.

2 hours ago

OPINION

Peiman Salehi

Opinion | Life in Iran illustrates shifting realities amid US-Israel war

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Felix Tang

Legal Tales | Innuendo and implication: just a joke or risk of defamation in Hong Kong?

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Dong Ting

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Andrew Sun

Mouthing Off | Why Noma chef Rene Redzepi’s downfall won’t spark a restaurant revolution

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SCMP Editorial

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Harry’s View | 26 Mar 2026

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Design

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Science

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Law and Crime

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Hong Kong’s bid to win in AI: where are the road map and the guardrails?

Hong Kong’s AI revolution accelerates as policy funds skills training while industries and educators rush to integrate the shift.

16 Mar 2026 - 11:48AM

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Open Questions series

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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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

23 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Military

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

16 Mar 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

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Key Industries:

Big Tech

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

21 Mar 2026 - 6:18PM

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during the company’s global AI conference in San Jose, California, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Tech

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Limited training data and unresolved hardware challenges continue to hold back humanoid robots from mass adoption, say experts.

47 minutes ago

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Semicon China: AI, packaging set to drive country’s chip industry growth

China on track to account for nearly half of world wafer capacity in two years, organiser of world’s largest chip industry trade show says.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:13PM

Companies

China Mobile bets on Hong Kong as gateway for global computing flows

China Mobile opens new data centre and expands cables as Hong Kong is drawn deeper into China’s national computing network.

25 Mar 2026 - 7:30PM

The push to link Hong Kong more closely with mainland computing resources reflects China’s broader ambitions in artificial intelligence. Photo: Handout

China Economy

Chinese island province wants more than beachgoers as it chases economic growth

After three speculative booms – and busts – the island province is seeking sustainable growth based on new status as a free-trade port.

24 Mar 2026 - 9:38AMvideocam

China Economy

AI, flying cars drive economic transition in China’s Kunshan

City at heart of Yangtze River Delta region sees new tech dreams emerge as old ones based on mass production of electronics fade.

22 Mar 2026 - 6:51AM

Military

How long will US-Israel war on Iran last? Chinese analysts offer clues

Iran’s drones gaining edge as opponents burn through costly missiles, analysts note, as one labels the war a ‘serious mistake’ by US.

20 Mar 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Why Beijing has struggled to rally Asia against Japan over PM’s Taiwan remarks

Many in the region harbour security concerns similar to Tokyo’s and prefer to stay neutral between the Asian heavyweights, analysts say.

19 Mar 2026 - 8:16AMvideocam

Chinese satellite performs landmark refuelling test in low Earth orbit

‘Octopus tentacle’ robotic arm is a commercial project designed to extend the lifespan of spacecraft.

Can China commercial satellite’s ‘octopus tentacle’ pass low-orbit refuel test?

Trump-Xi summit: US announces new dates in May, Beijing silent

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump will also host Chinese leader in Washington later this year.

The Iran war and China’s ‘petroyuan’: a new era for global oil markets?

Disruptions from the war could accelerate a shift in the oil trade, threatening the US dollar’s long-held dominance, analysts say.

Warning over mould and infections as Hong Kong set for more damp days

Elderly and chronically ill especially at risk, doctor and community activist say, after relative humidity hits 100 per cent in parts of city.

Why China’s Iran war strategy is working – and may even be an opportunity

China still on track to supplant US as world’s No 1 economy in 10 years: academic

China is better equipped to navigate its current challenges than the US, which will remain mired in ‘self-defeating’ conflicts, scholar says.

Should China be worried about Japan’s maritime force overhaul?

Reform reflects shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for potential conflict with Beijing, Chinese analysts say.

Japan plans to deploy missiles to a faraway island in the Pacific. Here’s why

The deployment is a response to China’s military activity near Minamitorishima, a defence ministry researcher says.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Global Talent Summit Week highlights why Hong Kong attracts high-calibre professionals

Officials and industry experts share insights into worldwide talent trends at Hong Kong Talent Engage’s International Talent Forum.

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Limited training data and unresolved hardware challenges continue to hold back humanoid robots from mass adoption, say experts.

Airbus wins Chinese airline’s 101-plane order in victory over Boeing

China Eastern Airlines said it would take delivery of the A320neo aircraft, worth US$15.8 billion, between 2028 and 2032.

Chinese nationals, firms charged in US with smuggling AI chips, drug trafficking

Two different cases refer to smuggling of American-made advanced AI chips to China through Thailand and an alleged fentanyl supply chain.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Update | Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, has own demands to end fighting

Trump claimed Iranian leaders are ‘afraid’ to admit they want a deal after Tehran’s foreign minister said ‘we do not plan on any negotiations’.

Asian-Americans say they are still seen as foreign, study finds

Survey shows more than half face ‘perpetual foreigner’ bias, with higher stress levels and exclusion across daily life.

Trump names CEOs of Meta, Nvidia to 13-member science and tech council

The council, which also includes Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, will weigh in on AI policy and other issues.

China says Mexico’s tariff hikes constitute ‘trade barriers’ after probe

The tariff increases – made in part to appease demands from Washington – have been designated a breach of trade rules by Beijing.

Justice Department settles lawsuit from Trump ally Flynn for US$1.2 million

The ex-national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with a Russian diplomat but was later pardoned.

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

Both nations have helped Russia in the Ukraine war, with Pyongyang providing troops and Minsk serving as a launch pad for the 2022 invasion.

Hong Kong’s The Chairman, Wing take top spots in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026

The 2026 edition saw a strong showing from Chinese restaurants in the top 10, with representatives from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau.

French court finds Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape

Ramadan, a former Oxford University professor, was sentenced by a Paris court to 18 years in prison for the rape of 3 women.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Life in Iran illustrates shifting realities amid US-Israel war

Legal Tales | Innuendo and implication: just a joke or risk of defamation in Hong Kong?

Opinion | Why Bangladesh could be last hurrah for Asia’s development model

Mouthing Off | Why Noma chef Rene Redzepi’s downfall won’t spark a restaurant revolution

Editorial | Community preparation is key as Hong Kong braces for extreme weather

Swimmer McEvoy says ‘zero dollars’ for new world record at China Open ‘ludicrous’

Style Edit: Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents a history of abstract art

Chinese satellite performs landmark refuelling test in low Earth orbit

Legal Tales | Innuendo and implication: just a joke or risk of defamation in Hong Kong?

Opinion | Life in Iran illustrates shifting realities amid US-Israel war

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Hong Kong’s bid to win in AI: where are the road map and the guardrails?

Hong Kong’s AI revolution accelerates as policy funds skills training while industries and educators rush to integrate the shift.

Exclusive | Hong Kong job openings hit 6-year low in 69% of sectors amid AI’s ascent

Is AI displacing young people for entry-level jobs?

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.

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Limited training data and unresolved hardware challenges continue to hold back humanoid robots from mass adoption, say experts.

Semicon China: AI, packaging set to drive country’s chip industry growth

China on track to account for nearly half of world wafer capacity in two years, organiser of world’s largest chip industry trade show says.

China Mobile bets on Hong Kong as gateway for global computing flows

China Mobile opens new data centre and expands cables as Hong Kong is drawn deeper into China’s national computing network.

Chinese island province wants more than beachgoers as it chases economic growth

After three speculative booms – and busts – the island province is seeking sustainable growth based on new status as a free-trade port.

AI, flying cars drive economic transition in China’s Kunshan

City at heart of Yangtze River Delta region sees new tech dreams emerge as old ones based on mass production of electronics fade.

How long will US-Israel war on Iran last? Chinese analysts offer clues

Iran’s drones gaining edge as opponents burn through costly missiles, analysts note, as one labels the war a ‘serious mistake’ by US.

Why Beijing has struggled to rally Asia against Japan over PM’s Taiwan remarks

Many in the region harbour security concerns similar to Tokyo’s and prefer to stay neutral between the Asian heavyweights, analysts say.

Global Talent Summit Week highlights why Hong Kong attracts high-calibre professionals

Update | Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, has own demands to end fighting

Opinion | Life in Iran illustrates shifting realities amid US-Israel war