Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

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

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.

3 hours ago

Conflict catalyst: China’s yuan settlements hit record amid Middle East tensions

China exports

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.

25 Apr 2026 - 6:17AMvideocam

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.

5 hours ago

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’.

1 hour ago

Focus

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

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.

1 hour ago

While V4 Pro marks a clear improvement on its predecessor, V3.2, it still lags top competitors. Photo: Handout

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.

2 hours agovideocam

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.

3 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.

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.

4 hours agovideocam

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

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.

6 hours ago

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

Big Tech

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.

25 Apr 2026 - 6:40AMvideocam

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.

2 hours agovideocam

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

South Asia

Iran war is tearing polyester fabric of fast fashion – and shoes could be next

Conflict-driven oil price spikes are straining Asia’s polyester supply chain, threatening higher costs for firms like Zara and H&M.

3 hours agovideocam

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.

27 minutes ago

Food & Drink

Not just home to Lao Gan Ma, Guizhou is where China’s chilli culture was born

Guizhou people were the first in Chinese history recorded as eating chillies. Now the spice-loving province is China’s top chilli producer.

5 hours agovideocam

Dried chillies are used to make chilli crisp. Photo: Lisa Cam

China

China’s badminton chief fails to attend finals as whereabouts remain a mystery

Zhang Jun has reportedly been missing for more than 10 days amid an investigation by disciplinary authorities into his conduct at association.

25 minutes ago

Chinese Badminton Association President Zhang Jun (left) was a two-time Olympic mixed doubles champion. Photo: Getty Images

Society

Wang Fuk Court residents make long climb to retrieve family treasures

Jewellery, cash, photo albums and keepsakes linked to dead loved ones among items reclaimed by residents.

16 minutes agovideocam

Politics

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

4 hours ago

OPINION

Anthony Rowley

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

1 hour ago

Michael Vatikiotis

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

25 Apr 2026 - 11:00AM

Lizzi C. Lee

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

25 Apr 2026 - 10:23AM

Letters

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

6 hours ago

Wee Kek Koon

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

25 Apr 2026 - 8:15AM

Harry’s View | 25 Apr 2026

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LATEST

15 minutes ago

Business

Hong Kong developers clear stock amid strong demand and shrinking supply

25 minutes ago

China

China’s badminton chief fails to attend finals as whereabouts remain a mystery

40 minutes ago

Entertainment

Review | In Netflix drama Straight to Hell, Erika Toda dazzles as Japan’s celebrity fortune-teller

1 hour ago

Tech Trends

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

1 hour ago

World Opinion

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

2 hours ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police bust motorcycle theft syndicate, arrest 5 over 14 cases

2 hours ago

Society

SCMP scoops 74 awards, led by Hong Kong fencing infographic in design competition

2 hours ago

Racing

Leung feeling lucky as he prepares to ride Lucky Sweynesse and Numbers

2 hours ago

United States & Canada

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

2 hours ago

Politics

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

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SCMP Series

US-Israel war on Iran

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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.

30 Mar 2026 - 10:03AMvideocam

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.

1 hour 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.

5 hours ago

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

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.

Conflict catalyst: China’s yuan settlements hit record amid Middle East tensions

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.

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.

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’.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

.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.

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.

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.

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.

Iran war is tearing polyester fabric of fast fashion – and shoes could be next

Conflict-driven oil price spikes are straining Asia’s polyester supply chain, threatening higher costs for firms like Zara and H&M.

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.

Not just home to Lao Gan Ma, Guizhou is where China’s chilli culture was born

Guizhou people were the first in Chinese history recorded as eating chillies. Now the spice-loving province is China’s top chilli producer.

China’s badminton chief fails to attend finals as whereabouts remain a mystery

Zhang Jun has reportedly been missing for more than 10 days amid an investigation by disciplinary authorities into his conduct at association.

Wang Fuk Court residents make long climb to retrieve family treasures

Jewellery, cash, photo albums and keepsakes linked to dead loved ones among items reclaimed by residents.

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

.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

Hong Kong developers clear stock amid strong demand and shrinking supply

China’s badminton chief fails to attend finals as whereabouts remain a mystery

Review | In Netflix drama Straight to Hell, Erika Toda dazzles as Japan’s celebrity fortune-teller

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

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

Hong Kong police bust motorcycle theft syndicate, arrest 5 over 14 cases

SCMP scoops 74 awards, led by Hong Kong fencing infographic in design competition

Leung feeling lucky as he prepares to ride Lucky Sweynesse and Numbers

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

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

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