Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

The future of AI in music? US and China strike different chords

As generative music tools surge, China turns to state oversight while the US relies on courts, copyright suits and settlements.

2 hours agovideocam

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

US-China relations

Military

China’s military redoubles corruption fight in wake of Zhang Youxia’s downfall

PLA mouthpiece warns troops not to be blindly optimistic or totally pessimistic about winning the war against graft.

4 hours agovideocam

Military

China’s PLA tightens fuel rules as US investigates cause of twin air crashes

New regulations aim to improve oversight and transparency to ensure its supplies are properly accounted for and improve combat readiness.

4 hours agovideocam

Politics

Failures on 2 fronts led to Hong Kong’s seat belt U-turn, experts say

Officials and lawmakers have to put themselves in the public’s shoes when formulating policies, political observers say.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, a non-EU state, pictured in Shanghai on Friday, becoming the latest European leader to make a beeline for China. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

Hong Kong Economy

CK Hutchison tipped to sell remaining ports despite Panama court ruling: experts

But effort by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate will still face scrutiny from Beijing and deal may be re-evaluated, analysts tell SCMP.

1 hour ago

A container ship is guided by tugboats at a port in Panama. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

China is on a ‘strong currency’ mission to make the yuan a global reserve: Xi

Xi Jinping says the goal of becoming an international powerhouse is a long-term one and will rest on core foundations.

3 hours agovideocam

Politics

US defence strategy omission raises alarm in Taiwan over Trump’s intentions

Document splits opinion, with some experts fearing that the island could become a bargaining chip between Washington and Beijing.

31 Jan 2026 - 3:16PMvideocam

Business

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

In partnership with:

MPOC

Palm oil is a versatile ingredient found in a wide range of everyday items, from ice cream and cake to lipstick and biofuel.

Military

China patrols around Scarborough Shoal, days after US-Philippine drills

‘Combat readiness patrols’ meant to counter ‘infringement and provocative actions’, PLA Southern Theatre Command says.

3 hours agovideocam

H-6K bombers armed with anti-ship missiles took part in the patrols, according to Chinese state media. Photo: CCTV

China Economy

China’s rich cut high-end spending by 5% as economic confidence hits 14-year low

Economic confidence among high-net-worth individuals has declined for fourth year in a row to lowest level since 2012, Hurun report shows.

2 hours agovideocam

East Asia

Japan, UK agree outer space, critical mineral supply chains collaboration

PMs Sanae Takaichi and Keir Starmer also said they’d work together in other areas, including cybersecurity, trade and defence.

1 hour agovideocam

Diplomacy

As Canada and UK hit refresh on China ties, is this the end of Five Eyes?

The White House’s ‘America first’ strategy is prompting alliance members to take another look at their relationship with Beijing.

31 Jan 2026 - 3:31PMvideocam

Mark Carney is the first Canadian prime minister to visit China since 2017. Photo: Reuters

South Asia

Pakistan insurgents kill 21, including children, in multiple attacks

The Baloch Liberation Army, banned in Pakistan, claimed responsibility and released videos showing women taking part in the attacks.

3 hours agovideocam

Relatives of police officers killed in an attack by militants mourn outside a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, on Saturday. Photo: AP

China Business

Labubu toymaker Pop Mart picks London as European headquarters in overseas push

CEO Wang Ning reveals firm’s latest expansion plan at Friday’s closed-door meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

5 hours ago

Health & Environment

Hongkongers should brace for chilly Sunday as temperatures dip to 13 degrees

Forecaster says Guangdong coast to become ‘appreciably cooler’ in next couple of days under influence of northeast monsoon.

2 hours ago

Entertainment

2016 trends from Pokemon Go to poke bowls amid viral internet nostalgia

Looking back at 2016 is viral online, but what was hot back then? We look at food, travel, health and pop culture trends from a decade ago.

31 Jan 2026 - 3:15PM

People play Pokemon Go in Hong Kong on July 25, 2016, the day it was released in the city. The online game was one of the hottest trends in the city 10 years ago. Photo: Nora Tam

Politics

Will India warm to Russia’s bid to revive troika with China?

Analysts say New Delhi may see a ‘limited role’ for the Russia-India-China trialogue amid global tensions and competing priorities.

31 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tianjin, China, in September 2025. Photo: Kyodo

Russia & Central Asia

Electricity lines between Ukraine, Moldova, Romania fail, with mass outages

The incident, in sub-zero temperatures, prompted a complete shutdown of Kyiv’s metro network and knocked out its water supplies.

48 minutes agovideocam

Politics

‘Outcomes, not output’: Exco held 25% fewer meetings over John Lee’s tenure so far

Figures show advisory body convened 119 meetings and discussed 602 items over first 3½ years of Chief Executive John Lee’s tenure.

3 hours ago

OPINION

Cliff Buddle

My Take | Tai Po fire victims are not being served well by the inaction on class actions

1 hour ago

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Could Japan stop being the ballast of the bond market?

31 Jan 2026 - 5:41PM

Andrew Sheng

Opinion | Central banks are propelling a 21st century global gold rush

31 Jan 2026 - 11:37AM

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | How Chinese new year cards went from elites’ greetings to bribery instruments

31 Jan 2026 - 8:15AM

Sophie Wushuang Yi

Asian Angle | ‘Old order is not coming back’: Trump’s US, not China, threatens status quo

31 Jan 2026 - 11:00AM

Harry’s View | 1 Feb 2026

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LATEST

1 hour ago

Harry’s View

Gallery | Harry's View: February 2026

1 hour ago

Opinion

My Take | Tai Po fire victims are not being served well by the inaction on class actions

2 hours ago

Politics

Failures on 2 fronts led to Hong Kong’s seat belt U-turn, experts say

2 hours ago

Rugby

HSBC SVNS Singapore: Fiji men on track; Australian, Kiwi women set to meet again

2 hours ago

Health & Environment

Hongkongers should brace for chilly Sunday as temperatures dip to 13 degrees

2 hours ago

China

The future of AI in music? US and China strike different chords

MORE LATEST NEWS

SCMP Series

Year of the Horse 2026

China Inc. goes global

Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy

Children learn about how to care for horses as part of a Hong Kong Pony Club activity. The club helps nurture equine respect and skills, and fosters community through events and global connections. Photo: Instagram/HKPC

SCMP Series Year of the Horse 2026

How the Hong Kong Pony Club fosters young riders’ respect and nurtures relationships

Hong Kong Pony Club members learn horsemanship, build lasting friendships, and develop a lasting respect for horses and ponies.

29 Jan 2026 - 12:15PM

Reservations now open for new banknotes for Year of the Horse red packets

28 Jan 2026 - 6:15PM

What does AI predict will happen in the fiery Year of the Horse 2026?

24 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM

Open Questions series

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.

26 Jan 2026 - 9:31AMvideocam

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

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

Political scientist says the Western-led global order remains useful, and the Belt and Road Initiative isn’t a geopolitical project.

12 Jan 2026 - 10:06AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

China’s Alibaba, Moonshot claim latest AI models challenge OpenAI, Google

Alibaba says Qwen3-Max-Thinking is its ‘best model so far’, while Moonshot calls Kimi K2.5 the world’s most powerful open-source model.

27 Jan 2026 - 5:30PM

The new models mark the first major Chinese releases this year. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

China’s Wingtech, owner of Nexperia, expects wider loss amid row over chipmaker

Wingtech projects a loss of up to US$1.9 billion in 2025, owing to the Dutch government’s takeover of Nexperia.

6 hours ago

Tech Trends

Profits rise for China’s semiconductor firms on AI boom, tech self-reliance push

Domestic A-share companies in the sector are forecast to achieve substantial growth in their 2025 results, according to Donghai Securities.

31 Jan 2026 - 2:00PM

Tech Trends

Chinese firms set for market growth as the global memory super cycle heats up

Eye-watering DRAM prices are bad news for consumers and smartphone brands, but present an opportunity for Chinese firms led by CXMT and YMTC.

31 Jan 2026 - 11:47AM

Diplomacy

How will China respond as US expands foreign ship seizures?

The question is whether high-seas US actions will alarm Beijing into deploying naval safeguards or prompt similar moves in Taiwan Strait.

31 Jan 2026 - 8:02AMvideocam

China Economy

Can China’s AI strategy challenge India’s reign as ‘office of the world’?

Beijing’s ambition to move up the value chain could see it becoming a major exporter of digital services, AI to global high-end providers.

30 Jan 2026 - 8:03AMvideocam

Global Economy

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

With the US president levelling threats at enemies, allies and his own central bank, alternatives like gold and Chinese assets are gaining appeal.

28 Jan 2026 - 11:18AMvideocam

Diplomacy

European leaders say the quiet part out loud: order no longer constrains power

EU leaders appear to have finally accepted they are facing a new era of great power competition – the question now is how they respond.

27 Jan 2026 - 9:40AMvideocam

The future of AI in music? US and China strike different chords

As generative music tools surge, China turns to state oversight while the US relies on courts, copyright suits and settlements.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Jeffrey Ding on why diffusion, not innovation, is the secret to AI success

China’s military redoubles corruption fight in wake of Zhang Youxia’s downfall

PLA mouthpiece warns troops not to be blindly optimistic or totally pessimistic about winning the war against graft.

China’s PLA tightens fuel rules as US investigates cause of twin air crashes

New regulations aim to improve oversight and transparency to ensure its supplies are properly accounted for and improve combat readiness.

Failures on 2 fronts led to Hong Kong’s seat belt U-turn, experts say

Officials and lawmakers have to put themselves in the public’s shoes when formulating policies, political observers say.

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

CK Hutchison tipped to sell remaining ports despite Panama court ruling: experts

But effort by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate will still face scrutiny from Beijing and deal may be re-evaluated, analysts tell SCMP.

China is on a ‘strong currency’ mission to make the yuan a global reserve: Xi

Xi Jinping says the goal of becoming an international powerhouse is a long-term one and will rest on core foundations.

US defence strategy omission raises alarm in Taiwan over Trump’s intentions

Document splits opinion, with some experts fearing that the island could become a bargaining chip between Washington and Beijing.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

China patrols around Scarborough Shoal, days after US-Philippine drills

‘Combat readiness patrols’ meant to counter ‘infringement and provocative actions’, PLA Southern Theatre Command says.

China’s rich cut high-end spending by 5% as economic confidence hits 14-year low

Economic confidence among high-net-worth individuals has declined for fourth year in a row to lowest level since 2012, Hurun report shows.

Japan, UK agree outer space, critical mineral supply chains collaboration

PMs Sanae Takaichi and Keir Starmer also said they’d work together in other areas, including cybersecurity, trade and defence.

As Canada and UK hit refresh on China ties, is this the end of Five Eyes?

The White House’s ‘America first’ strategy is prompting alliance members to take another look at their relationship with Beijing.

Pakistan insurgents kill 21, including children, in multiple attacks

The Baloch Liberation Army, banned in Pakistan, claimed responsibility and released videos showing women taking part in the attacks.

Labubu toymaker Pop Mart picks London as European headquarters in overseas push

CEO Wang Ning reveals firm’s latest expansion plan at Friday’s closed-door meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Hongkongers should brace for chilly Sunday as temperatures dip to 13 degrees

Forecaster says Guangdong coast to become ‘appreciably cooler’ in next couple of days under influence of northeast monsoon.

2016 trends from Pokemon Go to poke bowls amid viral internet nostalgia

Looking back at 2016 is viral online, but what was hot back then? We look at food, travel, health and pop culture trends from a decade ago.

Will India warm to Russia’s bid to revive troika with China?

Analysts say New Delhi may see a ‘limited role’ for the Russia-India-China trialogue amid global tensions and competing priorities.

Electricity lines between Ukraine, Moldova, Romania fail, with mass outages

The incident, in sub-zero temperatures, prompted a complete shutdown of Kyiv’s metro network and knocked out its water supplies.

‘Outcomes, not output’: Exco held 25% fewer meetings over John Lee’s tenure so far

Figures show advisory body convened 119 meetings and discussed 602 items over first 3½ years of Chief Executive John Lee’s tenure.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | Tai Po fire victims are not being served well by the inaction on class actions

Macroscope | Could Japan stop being the ballast of the bond market?

Opinion | Central banks are propelling a 21st century global gold rush

Reflections | How Chinese new year cards went from elites’ greetings to bribery instruments

Asian Angle | ‘Old order is not coming back’: Trump’s US, not China, threatens status quo

Gallery | Harry's View: February 2026

My Take | Tai Po fire victims are not being served well by the inaction on class actions

Failures on 2 fronts led to Hong Kong’s seat belt U-turn, experts say

HSBC SVNS Singapore: Fiji men on track; Australian, Kiwi women set to meet again

Hongkongers should brace for chilly Sunday as temperatures dip to 13 degrees

The future of AI in music? US and China strike different chords

How the Hong Kong Pony Club fosters young riders’ respect and nurtures relationships

Hong Kong Pony Club members learn horsemanship, build lasting friendships, and develop a lasting respect for horses and ponies.

Reservations now open for new banknotes for Year of the Horse red packets

What does AI predict will happen in the fiery Year of the Horse 2026?

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.

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

Political scientist says the Western-led global order remains useful, and the Belt and Road Initiative isn’t a geopolitical project.

China’s Alibaba, Moonshot claim latest AI models challenge OpenAI, Google

Alibaba says Qwen3-Max-Thinking is its ‘best model so far’, while Moonshot calls Kimi K2.5 the world’s most powerful open-source model.

China’s Wingtech, owner of Nexperia, expects wider loss amid row over chipmaker

Wingtech projects a loss of up to US$1.9 billion in 2025, owing to the Dutch government’s takeover of Nexperia.

Profits rise for China’s semiconductor firms on AI boom, tech self-reliance push

Domestic A-share companies in the sector are forecast to achieve substantial growth in their 2025 results, according to Donghai Securities.

Chinese firms set for market growth as the global memory super cycle heats up

Eye-watering DRAM prices are bad news for consumers and smartphone brands, but present an opportunity for Chinese firms led by CXMT and YMTC.

How will China respond as US expands foreign ship seizures?

The question is whether high-seas US actions will alarm Beijing into deploying naval safeguards or prompt similar moves in Taiwan Strait.

Can China’s AI strategy challenge India’s reign as ‘office of the world’?

Beijing’s ambition to move up the value chain could see it becoming a major exporter of digital services, AI to global high-end providers.

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

With the US president levelling threats at enemies, allies and his own central bank, alternatives like gold and Chinese assets are gaining appeal.

European leaders say the quiet part out loud: order no longer constrains power

EU leaders appear to have finally accepted they are facing a new era of great power competition – the question now is how they respond.

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

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

My Take | Tai Po fire victims are not being served well by the inaction on class actions