Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

The Hai Yang Shi You 285, a Chinese oil service support vessel, has been in a holding pattern near Qatar. Photo: CNOOC Engineering

Trapped in the Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves

As US and Iranian representatives descend on Islamabad for possible talks, time is taking its toll on seafarers.

32 minutes agovideocam

US sanctions China-based oil refinery and 40 shippers over Iran oil

China-Middle East relations

Military

Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered?

A video released to mark the PLA Navy’s anniversary uses wordplay to suggest that a new warship is under construction.

45 minutes agovideocam

Diplomacy

Macron touches Beijing’s nerves on Taiwan and Tibet as he heads for the exit

French president is trying to shore up his legacy of strategic autonomy before leaving office next year, analysts say.

3 hours agovideocam

Society

Wang Fuk Court resident cherishes chance to capture final photo of sea from flat

Tearful reunions as residents return to fire-ravaged flats to salvage belongings before leaving for final time.

1 hour ago

Focus

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

China Economy

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Belgium’s top customs official says main problem is that many products do not meet EU standards.

6 hours ago

Parcels at the Cainiao Liege eHub in the city’s airport zone, which handles products from China sold on Alibaba’s AliExpress platform. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Tech Trends

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

4 hours ago

Politics

India-Germany defence road map ‘good template’ for wider EU cooperation

Deeper defence ties are expected to boost India’s maritime modernisation efforts and Europe’s security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say.

6 hours ago

Business

Lingxi Games’ Three Kingdoms Tactics hits target with global audience

Chinese game company’s flagship title among raft of nation’s simulation games to resonate with players at home and abroad.

In partnership with:

Lingxi Games

(From left) Hong Kong marketing professional Edmond Woo, mainland Chinese short‑track speed skater Han Tianyu and Beijing-based Italian language teacher and sinologist Cristiano Mazzucco discuss the impact on them of games like Three Kingdoms Tactics.

Politics

Could hair or cosmetics be make-or-break for China’s would-be civil servants?

Competition for ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs has intensified, prompting official media to publish advice for jobseekers.

3 hours agovideocam

Civil service exams attract intense competition. Photo: Getty Images

Diplomacy

US says direct talks are on, Iran says no: confusion over Pakistan meeting

Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner; meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry denies US discussions even as Araghchi arrives in Islamabad.

2 hours agovideocam

Society

Hong Kong to step up crackdown on tourist scams during Labour Day ‘golden week’

Tourism minister says authorities will boost enforcement to protect visitors’ rights, calls on public to ‘cherish our travel reputation’.

4 hours ago

China Economy

Default in our stars: China banks use satellites to track assets, cut loan risks

Analysts say orbital monitoring of sites, property and other assets provides vital data on borrowers.

6 hours agovideocam

Chinese banks are increasingly using satellites to evaluate their clients’ terrestrial assets. Photo: Shutterstock

Europe

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

1 hour ago

US President Donald Trump greets Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House in October. Photo: AP

Hong Kong Economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong Aberdeen marina project attracting local and overseas interest

Experts call for infrastructure upgrades and clearer premium tourism positioning as Singaporean operator and leading local yacht club declare interest.

25 Apr 2026 - 12:00PM

Diplomacy

China and resource-rich Mozambique sign minerals and security agreement

The two countries are set to survey rare earth elements while strengthening security ties in Mozambique’s conflict-ridden north.

25 Apr 2026 - 12:41PM

United States & Canada

US uses unusual routes to send jet fuel to Asia bases as Hormuz stays shut

The shipments to Subic Bay and Yokose add to a growing trend of US military fuel heading to regions that typically rely on Mideast supplies.

5 hours agovideocam

A Philippine Navy frigate is docked at Subic Bay in Zambales province. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

Russia & Central Asia

At least 6 die in Ukraine, over 30 wounded, in massive Russian attack

Moscow launched 619 drones and 47 missiles overnight, said Kyiv, with explosions in several cities.

8 minutes agovideocam

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a fatal Russian strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: AP

Military

Why China won’t like India’s latest defence deal with South Korea

After Lee Jae Myung’s recent visit to New Delhi touting expanded bilateral cooperation, Beijing is likely to be uneasy, analysts say.

25 Apr 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Politics

Malaysia gets new anti-corruption chief as protests mount against outgoing head

Former High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman takes the reins of MACC from Azam Baki amid scandals.

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OPINION

Anthony Rowley

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Michael Vatikiotis

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25 Apr 2026 - 11:00AM

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25 Apr 2026 - 10:23AM

Letters

Letters | Pathway of Hong Kong pupils’ well-being runs through relationships

25 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

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Reflections | The history of China’s hospitality industry and how its inns evolved over time

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Hong Kong police arrest 2 men over thefts targeting homeless people

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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

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

7 Apr 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

20 Apr 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

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.

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Key Industries:

Tech

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

22 Apr 2026 - 11:20PM

Starting this year, models from Chinese companies have intermittently ranked among the global top tier in token usage. Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Tech Trends

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

4 hours ago

China EVs

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

25 Apr 2026 - 12:47PM

Tech

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

25 Apr 2026 - 11:06AMvideocam

Hong Kong

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

The second round of hearings from April 8 to April 17 exposed a series of failures that allowed the fire equipment and alarm system in Wang Fuk Court to be deactivated for months, and eventually contributed to the heavy death toll.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:04PM

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

Hong Kong Economy

Hongkongers find value, space and style in Shenzhen’s new cultural hotspots

Short cross‑border getaways emerging as the ‘quick escape’ of choice, with the newly opened Shenzhen Bay Culture Square adding to appeal.

24 Apr 2026 - 8:35AM

China Economy

How a Chinese plastics hub shapes Tesla’s supply chain – and moulds the modern world

From car components to keyboards, this little-known industrial district in eastern China is crafting the small parts the world relies on.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:54AMvideocam

Politics

Trump’s military push confronts US lawmakers and China’s shipbuilding edge

Congressional resistance, war costs and industrial limits could constrain ambitions, even as Beijing expands its naval capacity.

22 Apr 2026 - 12:55AMvideocam

Trapped in the Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves

As US and Iranian representatives descend on Islamabad for possible talks, time is taking its toll on seafarers.

US sanctions China-based oil refinery and 40 shippers over Iran oil

Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered?

A video released to mark the PLA Navy’s anniversary uses wordplay to suggest that a new warship is under construction.

Macron touches Beijing’s nerves on Taiwan and Tibet as he heads for the exit

French president is trying to shore up his legacy of strategic autonomy before leaving office next year, analysts say.

Wang Fuk Court resident cherishes chance to capture final photo of sea from flat

Tearful reunions as residents return to fire-ravaged flats to salvage belongings before leaving for final time.

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Belgium’s top customs official says main problem is that many products do not meet EU standards.

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

India-Germany defence road map ‘good template’ for wider EU cooperation

Deeper defence ties are expected to boost India’s maritime modernisation efforts and Europe’s security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Lingxi Games’ Three Kingdoms Tactics hits target with global audience

Chinese game company’s flagship title among raft of nation’s simulation games to resonate with players at home and abroad.

Could hair or cosmetics be make-or-break for China’s would-be civil servants?

Competition for ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs has intensified, prompting official media to publish advice for jobseekers.

US says direct talks are on, Iran says no: confusion over Pakistan meeting

Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner; meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry denies US discussions even as Araghchi arrives in Islamabad.

Hong Kong to step up crackdown on tourist scams during Labour Day ‘golden week’

Tourism minister says authorities will boost enforcement to protect visitors’ rights, calls on public to ‘cherish our travel reputation’.

Default in our stars: China banks use satellites to track assets, cut loan risks

Analysts say orbital monitoring of sites, property and other assets provides vital data on borrowers.

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Hong Kong Aberdeen marina project attracting local and overseas interest

Experts call for infrastructure upgrades and clearer premium tourism positioning as Singaporean operator and leading local yacht club declare interest.

China and resource-rich Mozambique sign minerals and security agreement

The two countries are set to survey rare earth elements while strengthening security ties in Mozambique’s conflict-ridden north.

US uses unusual routes to send jet fuel to Asia bases as Hormuz stays shut

The shipments to Subic Bay and Yokose add to a growing trend of US military fuel heading to regions that typically rely on Mideast supplies.

At least 6 die in Ukraine, over 30 wounded, in massive Russian attack

Moscow launched 619 drones and 47 missiles overnight, said Kyiv, with explosions in several cities.

Why China won’t like India’s latest defence deal with South Korea

After Lee Jae Myung’s recent visit to New Delhi touting expanded bilateral cooperation, Beijing is likely to be uneasy, analysts say.

Malaysia gets new anti-corruption chief as protests mount against outgoing head

Former High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman takes the reins of MACC from Azam Baki amid scandals.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | The real reason stock markets are still flying high despite grave risks

Opinion | Blinding the world with lies makes peacemaking an impossible task

Opinion | Why Beijing is going all in on tokens – and what it really wants

Letters | Pathway of Hong Kong pupils’ well-being runs through relationships

Reflections | The history of China’s hospitality industry and how its inns evolved over time

Opinion | Why Spain’s ‘fruit bowl’ diplomacy with China comes up rather empty

‘I hope it rains’: Japan battles wildfires, thousands evacuate

Trapped in the Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves

Hong Kong police arrest 2 men over thefts targeting homeless people

Hong Kong’s Denise Yeung to become first Chinese woman to race in Road to Le Mans

Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered?

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

What smokers need to know about Hong Kong’s new e-cigarette ban

Star gallopers Ka Ying, Warrior headline exciting Champions Day at Sha Tin

Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong Kong Mirror dancer Mo Li, dies

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 | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

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.

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

The second round of hearings from April 8 to April 17 exposed a series of failures that allowed the fire equipment and alarm system in Wang Fuk Court to be deactivated for months, and eventually contributed to the heavy death toll.

Hongkongers find value, space and style in Shenzhen’s new cultural hotspots

Short cross‑border getaways emerging as the ‘quick escape’ of choice, with the newly opened Shenzhen Bay Culture Square adding to appeal.

How a Chinese plastics hub shapes Tesla’s supply chain – and moulds the modern world

Lingxi Games’ Three Kingdoms Tactics hits target with global audience

Exclusive | Hong Kong Aberdeen marina project attracting local and overseas interest

Macroscope | The real reason stock markets are still flying high despite grave risks