Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, the US and Australia pose for a photo after taking part in counter-landing live-fire drills during the Balikatan exercises on April 27. Photo: Reuters

Why the largest-ever US-Philippine drill, and Japan’s role, makes China uneasy

The scale of this year’s Balikatan exercise has been described as part of a trend that will ‘exacerbate regional instability’.

27 minutes agovideocam

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines spike again

South China Sea

China

Developing | 90 killed in China’s worst coal mine accident for more than a decade

More than 100 survivors were treated in hospital after the explosion in Shanxi and executives from the mining firm have been detained.

17 minutes agovideocam

Politics

Will China’s residency changes to social insurance unlock economic growth?

The State Council’s decision to decouple household registration from welfare services could have benefits for society as a whole, analysts say.

1 hour ago

Education

New pay model for native English-speaking teachers risks lowering standards: group

Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation.

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Focus

A cloud above the clouds: US, China jockey for position in computing space race

Transport

Screams amid ‘drop tower’ turbulence on Cathay flight from Brisbane, 10 injured

Passenger describes experience as similar to ‘free-falling from a drop tower’, with altitude dropping severely just before meals served.

2 hours ago

Ambulances on stand-by at Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday morning after authorities received news of serious turbulence on Cathay flight 156. Photo: Handout

China Economy

China told the solar industry to cut capacity. Firms built new factories anyway

Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says.

2 hours agovideocam

Politics

Why Sara Duterte is altering tone on South China Sea dispute

The vice-president’s calls to ‘defend sovereignty’ are an attempt to please voters at home while not alienating Beijing, experts say.

3 hours agovideocam

International

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

In partnership with:

Cityscape Global

Science

Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

The former police officer will become China’s fourth woman in space, taking part in the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist.

6 hours ago

Lai Ka-ying (left) will join the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist, alongside astronauts Zhu Yangzhu (centre) and Zhang Zhiyuan (right). Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

Taiwan whiplash? How Trump’s blunt warning collides with a historic call offer

Plan to discuss US$14 billion arms package with island’s leader would anger Beijing and raise questions about US policy, analysts say.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

As France tries to reset relations with Africa, China’s influence looms large

Paris pitches a €23 billion investment ‘jolt’ to win over countries like Kenya after losing ground in the Sahel.

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Society

‘Chase your dreams’, Hong Kong’s first astronaut tells city’s young people

City leader congratulates Lai Ka-ying as I&T chief prepares to lead delegation to join send-off ceremony for Sunday’s Shenzhou-23 mission launch.

3 hours ago

Lai Ka-ying at the press conference held at Wentian Pavilion in China’s Dongfeng Aerospace City in Gansu province on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Science

Chinese scientists grow heart’s ‘master conductor’ that could replace pacemaker

Shanghai researchers engineer biological pacemaker that could offer a new way to control abnormal heart rhythms.

23 May 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

The findings of Chinese scientists may offer possibilities for future biological pacemaker strategies, according to their paper. Image: Shutterstock

Society

Dignity for the dead: 6 Hongkongers form city’s first corpse restoration team

Team under funeral information platform RIPHK has handled more than 10 cases since December, including victims of Tai Po fire.

53 minutes ago

Tech War

Wingtech sues Dutch unit Nexperia for US$1.17b amid delisting risk

Nexperia and its executives carried out ‘discriminatory restrictive measures’ under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, Wingtech says.

2 hours ago

Politics

Israel thrusts a reluctant UAE into the open over defence ties

Disclosures about Iron Dome batteries and secret meetings have exposed ties analysts say the UAE would rather handle ‘more discreetly’.

5 hours agovideocam

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets in October 2023 during the opening days of the Gaza war. Photo: Reuters

SERIES: Female icons in Chinese history

The dark story of Consort Wan, 17 years older than the emperor who loved her

Wan Zhen’er became a beloved consort of Emperor Chenghua against all conventions, but records indicate a pernicious side to her tale.

6 hours ago

One of the most powerful female figures in Chinese history, Wan Zhen’er rose from child servant to Emperor Chenghua’s beloved consort. Photo: Baidu

Europe

‘The blind few’: Pope urges end to pollution, decries profits earned

The world should ‘reject temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the land, water, air, and social coexistence’.

18 minutes ago

Society

Lai Ka-ying is Hong Kong’s first astronaut. Her mentor saw her talent years ago

Lai is meticulous and skilled in explaining complex ideas to others, says academic who guided her through her postgraduate studies.

3 hours ago

OPINION

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Can Europe and Asia break the grip of US bond markets?

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Alex Lo

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

23 May 2026 - 9:30AM

Hoang Thi Ha

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23 May 2026 - 11:00AM

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | The earliest Chinese irons date back over 2,000 years. Here’s how they evolved

23 May 2026 - 11:15AM

Letters

Letters | The Xi-Trump summit stabilised ties, but the rivalry persists

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US President Donald Trump listening to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last week. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

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How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

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How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

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Open Questions series

Politics

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

12-MIN READ

Politics

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

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China Economy

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’.

13-MIN READvideocam

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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Key Industries:

Big Tech

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

3-MIN READ

Chinese trade received a significant boost from the technology sector in April. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Banking & Finance

China’s property developers seek semiconductor salvation with chip side-hustles

Unprofitable real estate firms see shares soar after buying into silicon assets, and analysts weigh whether it is a safe bet or banking on a big bailout.

2-MIN READvideocam

China Business

China AI firms Zhipu, MiniMax to join Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index

Additions to the benchmark Hang Seng Index, meanwhile, increase the number of constituents to 93 as the bourse operator presses ahead with expansion to 100.

2-MIN READvideocam

Policy

China rejects claims of curbing US tech funding as Beijing pursues self-reliance

While reaffirming Beijing’s openness, the NDRC also stressed its support for home-grown AI and semiconductor industries.

2-MIN READ

Global Economy

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.

5-MIN READvideocam

Science

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

7-MIN READvideocam

Science

How a remote patch of Gobi Desert became central to China’s national security

A national energy and chemical hub being built on a 15,500 sq m site in the Gobi Desert is set to modernise coal mining.

6-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Putin is pushing for a ‘serious’ new energy deal in China. Will he get it?

The Russian leader arrives in China days after Trump in search of an energy deal, with yuan settlements, pricing potentially on the table.

6-MIN READvideocam

Why the largest-ever US-Philippine drill, and Japan’s role, makes China uneasy

The scale of this year’s Balikatan exercise has been described as part of a trend that will ‘exacerbate regional instability’.

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines spike again

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Developing | 90 killed in China’s worst coal mine accident for more than a decade

More than 100 survivors were treated in hospital after the explosion in Shanxi and executives from the mining firm have been detained.

Will China’s residency changes to social insurance unlock economic growth?

The State Council’s decision to decouple household registration from welfare services could have benefits for society as a whole, analysts say.

New pay model for native English-speaking teachers risks lowering standards: group

Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation.

A cloud above the clouds: US, China jockey for position in computing space race

Screams amid ‘drop tower’ turbulence on Cathay flight from Brisbane, 10 injured

Passenger describes experience as similar to ‘free-falling from a drop tower’, with altitude dropping severely just before meals served.

China told the solar industry to cut capacity. Firms built new factories anyway

Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says.

Why Sara Duterte is altering tone on South China Sea dispute

The vice-president’s calls to ‘defend sovereignty’ are an attempt to please voters at home while not alienating Beijing, experts say.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

The former police officer will become China’s fourth woman in space, taking part in the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist.

Taiwan whiplash? How Trump’s blunt warning collides with a historic call offer

Plan to discuss US$14 billion arms package with island’s leader would anger Beijing and raise questions about US policy, analysts say.

As France tries to reset relations with Africa, China’s influence looms large

Paris pitches a €23 billion investment ‘jolt’ to win over countries like Kenya after losing ground in the Sahel.

‘Chase your dreams’, Hong Kong’s first astronaut tells city’s young people

City leader congratulates Lai Ka-ying as I&T chief prepares to lead delegation to join send-off ceremony for Sunday’s Shenzhou-23 mission launch.

Chinese scientists grow heart’s ‘master conductor’ that could replace pacemaker

Shanghai researchers engineer biological pacemaker that could offer a new way to control abnormal heart rhythms.

Dignity for the dead: 6 Hongkongers form city’s first corpse restoration team

Team under funeral information platform RIPHK has handled more than 10 cases since December, including victims of Tai Po fire.

Wingtech sues Dutch unit Nexperia for US$1.17b amid delisting risk

Nexperia and its executives carried out ‘discriminatory restrictive measures’ under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, Wingtech says.

Israel thrusts a reluctant UAE into the open over defence ties

Disclosures about Iron Dome batteries and secret meetings have exposed ties analysts say the UAE would rather handle ‘more discreetly’.

The dark story of Consort Wan, 17 years older than the emperor who loved her

Wan Zhen’er became a beloved consort of Emperor Chenghua against all conventions, but records indicate a pernicious side to her tale.

‘The blind few’: Pope urges end to pollution, decries profits earned

The world should ‘reject temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the land, water, air, and social coexistence’.

Lai Ka-ying is Hong Kong’s first astronaut. Her mentor saw her talent years ago

Lai is meticulous and skilled in explaining complex ideas to others, says academic who guided her through her postgraduate studies.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | Can Europe and Asia break the grip of US bond markets?

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Asian Angle | What the China-US stability pact means for Southeast Asia

Reflections | The earliest Chinese irons date back over 2,000 years. Here’s how they evolved

Letters | The Xi-Trump summit stabilised ties, but the rivalry persists

Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong secures lucky loser spot in French Open

‘The blind few’: Pope urges end to pollution, decries profits earned

New pay model for native English-speaking teachers risks lowering standards: group

Why the largest-ever US-Philippine drill, and Japan’s role, makes China uneasy

Meet J.R. Villarreal, who plays Azul in Yellowstone spin-off, Dutton Ranch

Meet Mika Abdalla, who plays Hannah’s bestie Allie Hayes in Off Campus

SHKP sells out latest flats in Tsuen Wan as Hong Kong market continues recovery

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | China’s deadliest mine accident in over a decade

Will China’s residency changes to social insurance unlock economic growth?

Dignity for the dead: 6 Hongkongers form city’s first corpse restoration team

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

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.

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

China’s property developers seek semiconductor salvation with chip side-hustles

Unprofitable real estate firms see shares soar after buying into silicon assets, and analysts weigh whether it is a safe bet or banking on a big bailout.

China AI firms Zhipu, MiniMax to join Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index

Additions to the benchmark Hang Seng Index, meanwhile, increase the number of constituents to 93 as the bourse operator presses ahead with expansion to 100.

China rejects claims of curbing US tech funding as Beijing pursues self-reliance

While reaffirming Beijing’s openness, the NDRC also stressed its support for home-grown AI and semiconductor industries.

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

How a remote patch of Gobi Desert became central to China’s national security

Developing | 90 killed in China’s worst coal mine accident for more than a decade

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Macroscope | Can Europe and Asia break the grip of US bond markets?

Video | China’s deadliest mine accident in over a decade