Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

People stand beneath a large screen showing the latest stock prices in Shanghai. Photo: EPA

China’s Nasdaq nears record high as strong tech momentum buoys Asian stocks

Asia’s stock markets received a boost as US tech giants reported strong results and President Donald Trump signalled more Iran peace talks.

2 minutes agovideocam

Chinese AI stocks are surging. So why is Hong Kong’s tech index still falling?

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Big Tech

China’s chipmakers pour revenue into R&D, outpacing US ratios

Earnings show Chinese chip designers devote up to half of revenue to research, far above US peers, as Beijing pushes tech self-reliance.

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China Economy

China’s Labour Day box office disappoints despite strong line-up – what happened?

Cold War 1994 and The Devil Wears Prada 2 were tipped to shine in a crowded release window – but many consumers chose to stay away.

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LIVE

Tai Po probe: Housing Bureau’s checking unit failed to monitor safety issues

Committee’s lead counsel presses Independent Checking Unit officer on its responsibilities and whether it had properly overseen key safety issues.

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Business

A display promotes China’s artificial intelligence industry at an expo in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese AI stocks are surging. So why is Hong Kong’s tech index still falling?

Society

Will Hong Kong’s lending clampdown wean helpers off debt – and save their dreams?

NGOs say regulations should not be so strict that they deny domestic helpers access to loans since they may have legitimate needs such as family emergencies.

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Diplomacy

An Asian alternative to Nato? How Cica is rethinking Middle East security

Chief of lesser-known security forum says it provides ‘architecture for de-escalation’ and allows members to project soft power.

3 hours ago

Politics

Bound by anxiety: Japan and Australia deepen ties for an uneasy age

Shared concerns about trade coercion and energy shocks are driving the two middle powers to ‘institutionalise’ their partnership.

6 minutes ago

Tech

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

In partnership with:

Huawei

China EVs

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

52 minutes ago

A humanoid robot poses at a BYD booth beside an electric vehicle at the Beijing auto show. Photo: Kyodo

Society

‘May can give a false sense of safety,’ expert warns after hiker dies in Japan

Veteran mountaineer Chung Kin-man says May is not a stable period for climbing – not completely warm, with cold spells still possible.

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China

Trump dismisses China friction over Iran war, touts Xi ties before summit

US halts Hormuz escort mission, says Beijing is not pushing back as Xi talks loom.

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Hong Kong

Residents passed from pillar to post as warnings before fatal Hong Kong fire went unheeded

The third round of Wang Fuk Court fire hearings, held from April 20 to 30, exposed a “regulatory vacuum” in key areas that contributed to the high death toll, as departments said oversight lay elsewhere.

4 hours ago

Residents passed from pillar to post as warnings before fatal Hong Kong fire went unheeded

Health & Wellness

From wine critic to representing Hong Kong in the world’s fastest-growing sport

Now one of Asia’s fastest Hyrox athletes, former wine critic Claire Nesbitt helps others achieve their Hyrox and other fitness goals.

2 minutes ago

Claire Nesbitt pushes a sled in the Hyrox Pro Women race in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2025. She is one of Asia’s fastest Hyrox athletes and a full-time coach. Photo: Claire Nesbitt

Politics

Hiding from the ICC? Philippine senator’s 6-month paid absence draws fire

Ronald Dela Rosa has not appeared for work since reports of him being targeted by the ICC as a co-perpetrator in Duterte’s deadly drug war.

1 hour agovideocam

US

China urges US to drop trade probe as key Trump-Xi summit approaches

The White House’s Section 301 investigations were launched to identify structural excess capacity among 16 trading partners, including China.

6 hours agovideocam

Economics

Lawrence Wong warned of ‘storm clouds’ for Singapore. Was it an understatement?

Wong and his team have to prove they are ‘more than equal’ to the task of helping Singapore navigate coming headwinds, analysts say.

41 minutes agovideocam

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the general election in May last year. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Why Japanese politician’s goal to reset ties with Russia is ‘a long shot’

A proposed meeting of foreign ministers from Tokyo and Moscow is unlikely for now due to objections from the Japanese public and allies.

3 hours ago

Honour guards hold the national flags of Japan and Russia before a welcome ceremony for then Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in Tokyo in 2019. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

US Army fires Typhon for first time during Balikatan drills in Philippines

Beijing has opposed the deployment of the Typhon, which is able to strike targets in Chinese territory from the Philippines.

3 hours ago

People

South Korean judge in Kim Keon-hee’s appeals trial found dead days after verdict

Shin Jong-oh, who was found with severe injuries on the ground near the Seoul High Court, had a suicide note in his pocket, police say.

51 minutes agovideocam

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Politics

Bound by anxiety: Japan and Australia deepen ties for an uneasy age

19 minutes ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong Legco issues warning to lawmaker Judy Chan over traffic offence

28 minutes ago

Society

Tai Po probe: Housing Bureau’s checking unit failed to monitor safety issues

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People

South Korean judge in Kim Keon-hee’s appeals trial found dead days after verdict

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China EVs

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

1 hour ago

Society

‘May can give a false sense of safety,’ expert warns after hiker dies in Japan

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Hiding from the ICC? Philippine senator’s 6-month paid absence draws fire

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Health & Wellness

From wine critic to representing Hong Kong in the world’s fastest-growing sport

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Europe

Russian attacks kill 27 in Ukraine before proposed rival ceasefires

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Big Tech

China’s chipmakers pour revenue into R&D, outpacing US ratios

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Anthropic’s strong anti-China stance has increased the possibility that the US could use Mythos-type models to conduct cyberattacks against China, according to a cybersecurity expert. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

SCMP Series China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

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Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

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Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

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Open Questions series

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Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

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China Economy

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

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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.

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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.

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As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

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China EVs

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

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Big Tech

China’s chipmakers pour revenue into R&D, outpacing US ratios

Earnings show Chinese chip designers devote up to half of revenue to research, far above US peers, as Beijing pushes tech self-reliance.

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EVs

WeRide CEO sees ‘ChatGPT moment’ in driverless cars within 10 years

The global commercial robotaxi fleet was estimated to be 7,000 vehicles in 2025, and is expected to surge to about 6 million by 2035.

3-MIN READ

As of late March, WeRide had a global fleet of 1,125 L4-level robotaxis. Photo: Handout

Military

Will new Saudi-Pakistan defence pact give Chinese arms risk-free exposure?

Islamabad’s elevated stature in Middle East security could make it ‘the operational face of Chinese defence systems’ via regional deployment.

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China Economy

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

China accounts for about a third of global fertiliser production, and 70 per cent of the raw materials for chemical pesticides.

7-MIN READ

Politics

Faith, hope and ancestry: how Beijing is trying to win over Taiwan’s next generation

Xintian village is symbolic of efforts to reinforce Taiwanese people’s historical and religious links to the mainland.

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China EVs

Shifting gears: how foreign giants aim to catch up in China’s EV era

International carmakers launch tailored models and accelerate R&D as they scramble to match the speed and sophistication of domestic rivals.

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China’s Nasdaq nears record high as strong tech momentum buoys Asian stocks

Asia’s stock markets received a boost as US tech giants reported strong results and President Donald Trump signalled more Iran peace talks.

Chinese AI stocks are surging. So why is Hong Kong’s tech index still falling?

China’s chipmakers pour revenue into R&D, outpacing US ratios

Earnings show Chinese chip designers devote up to half of revenue to research, far above US peers, as Beijing pushes tech self-reliance.

China’s Labour Day box office disappoints despite strong line-up – what happened?

Cold War 1994 and The Devil Wears Prada 2 were tipped to shine in a crowded release window – but many consumers chose to stay away.

Tai Po probe: Housing Bureau’s checking unit failed to monitor safety issues

Committee’s lead counsel presses Independent Checking Unit officer on its responsibilities and whether it had properly overseen key safety issues.

Chinese AI stocks are surging. So why is Hong Kong’s tech index still falling?

Will Hong Kong’s lending clampdown wean helpers off debt – and save their dreams?

NGOs say regulations should not be so strict that they deny domestic helpers access to loans since they may have legitimate needs such as family emergencies.

An Asian alternative to Nato? How Cica is rethinking Middle East security

Chief of lesser-known security forum says it provides ‘architecture for de-escalation’ and allows members to project soft power.

Bound by anxiety: Japan and Australia deepen ties for an uneasy age

Shared concerns about trade coercion and energy shocks are driving the two middle powers to ‘institutionalise’ their partnership.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

‘May can give a false sense of safety,’ expert warns after hiker dies in Japan

Veteran mountaineer Chung Kin-man says May is not a stable period for climbing – not completely warm, with cold spells still possible.

Trump dismisses China friction over Iran war, touts Xi ties before summit

US halts Hormuz escort mission, says Beijing is not pushing back as Xi talks loom.

Residents passed from pillar to post as warnings before fatal Hong Kong fire went unheeded

The third round of Wang Fuk Court fire hearings, held from April 20 to 30, exposed a “regulatory vacuum” in key areas that contributed to the high death toll, as departments said oversight lay elsewhere.

From wine critic to representing Hong Kong in the world’s fastest-growing sport

Now one of Asia’s fastest Hyrox athletes, former wine critic Claire Nesbitt helps others achieve their Hyrox and other fitness goals.

Hiding from the ICC? Philippine senator’s 6-month paid absence draws fire

Ronald Dela Rosa has not appeared for work since reports of him being targeted by the ICC as a co-perpetrator in Duterte’s deadly drug war.

China urges US to drop trade probe as key Trump-Xi summit approaches

The White House’s Section 301 investigations were launched to identify structural excess capacity among 16 trading partners, including China.

Lawrence Wong warned of ‘storm clouds’ for Singapore. Was it an understatement?

Wong and his team have to prove they are ‘more than equal’ to the task of helping Singapore navigate coming headwinds, analysts say.

Why Japanese politician’s goal to reset ties with Russia is ‘a long shot’

A proposed meeting of foreign ministers from Tokyo and Moscow is unlikely for now due to objections from the Japanese public and allies.

US Army fires Typhon for first time during Balikatan drills in Philippines

Beijing has opposed the deployment of the Typhon, which is able to strike targets in Chinese territory from the Philippines.

South Korean judge in Kim Keon-hee’s appeals trial found dead days after verdict

Shin Jong-oh, who was found with severe injuries on the ground near the Seoul High Court, had a suicide note in his pocket, police say.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | The domestic dynamics driving Japan’s remilitarisation

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Support for Hong Kong business should not stop at fuel subsidies

Editorial | With Beijing’s backing, Hong Kong can plan for future energy crises

Opinion | How China-Gulf ties can turn energy vulnerability into sustainability

As I see it | Thanks to Trump and Netanyahu, everyone now wants to go nuclear

Bound by anxiety: Japan and Australia deepen ties for an uneasy age

Hong Kong Legco issues warning to lawmaker Judy Chan over traffic offence

Tai Po probe: Housing Bureau’s checking unit failed to monitor safety issues

South Korean judge in Kim Keon-hee’s appeals trial found dead days after verdict

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

‘May can give a false sense of safety,’ expert warns after hiker dies in Japan

Hiding from the ICC? Philippine senator’s 6-month paid absence draws fire

From wine critic to representing Hong Kong in the world’s fastest-growing sport

Russian attacks kill 27 in Ukraine before proposed rival ceasefires

China’s chipmakers pour revenue into R&D, outpacing US ratios

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

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.

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

China’s chipmakers pour revenue into R&D, outpacing US ratios

Earnings show Chinese chip designers devote up to half of revenue to research, far above US peers, as Beijing pushes tech self-reliance.

WeRide CEO sees ‘ChatGPT moment’ in driverless cars within 10 years

The global commercial robotaxi fleet was estimated to be 7,000 vehicles in 2025, and is expected to surge to about 6 million by 2035.

Will new Saudi-Pakistan defence pact give Chinese arms risk-free exposure?

Islamabad’s elevated stature in Middle East security could make it ‘the operational face of Chinese defence systems’ via regional deployment.

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

China accounts for about a third of global fertiliser production, and 70 per cent of the raw materials for chemical pesticides.

Faith, hope and ancestry: how Beijing is trying to win over Taiwan’s next generation

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Opinion | The domestic dynamics driving Japan’s remilitarisation

Letters | Support for Hong Kong business should not stop at fuel subsidies