Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Li Yihu, an NPC delegate and head of Peking University’s Institute of Taiwan Studies, says Beijing is making rapid progress in its area-denial capabilities through drills surrounding Taiwan. Photo: Simon Song

China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war: cross-strait adviser

‘Any weakening of its presence in the Asia-Pacific will inevitably work to someone’s advantage – and you can imagine who that is’.

52 minutes agovideocam

Taiwan scrambles to sign US arms deals before deadline amid budget gridlock

Two Sessions 2026 (Lianghui)

China Economy

India opens door to more Chinese investment after 6-year freeze

New Delhi’s easing of foreign investment rules comes amid a cautious push by India and China to repair ties after years of tense relations.

3 hours ago

Science

Award-winning memory chip expert leaves US for job at Chinese semiconductor firm

Scientist will lead planning and development in emerging industries at DK Electronic Materials, focusing on the semiconductor memory business.

2 hours ago

Banking & Finance

Hong Kong property could gain as Middle East turmoil reshapes global wealth

Prolonged conflict in the Gulf could shift investor sentiment, though clear evidence of new capital inflows has yet to emerge.

2 hours ago

Military

The CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missile system, which the Iranians were said to be interested in, was launched to the international market in 2016. Photo: Dickson Lee

What if Iran really did buy export variant of China’s YJ-12 supersonic missile?

Politics

As US missiles leave South Korea, the Philippines asks: are we next?

South Korea couldn’t stop the pull-out. Now, Manila must figure out if it is indeed a strategic partner or just another supply depot.

52 minutes agovideocam

Patriot missile launchers are seen deployed at a US military base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Sunday. Photo: Yonhap/AFP

Tech

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

AI-related positions accounted for more than a quarter of new-economy job listings in the first two months of the year, report says.

23 minutes ago

Politics

Why US policy on India aims to avoid repeat of China ‘mistake’

Despite official saying the US wants to work with India, it is likely to maintain a ‘transactional approach’ towards New Delhi, analysts say.

47 minutes ago

Business

How Schneider Electric powers Hong Kong’s ecosystem innovation

InvestHK backs firm’s efforts to optimise energy use in city’s buildings, infrastructure and transport as part of its low-carbon transition.

In partnership with:

InvestHK

A charging station designed for both private and commercial use was one of Schneider Electric’s eMobility solutions showcased at last October’s Innovation Summit Hong Kong 2025. Photo: Schneider Electric

China

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2026: everything you need to know

From US ties post-Iran to new tech innovation strategies, here is everything you need to know about China’s ongoing ‘two sessions’.

4 hours ago

Delegates exit the venue after the second plenary meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) of China in Beijing. Photo: EPA

Diplomacy

Rules-based order on trial in Europe as Iran war deepens divide

EU leaders have clashed over whether the bloc should still be bound by global norms as Mideast conflict reshapes the geopolitical landscape.

6 hours agovideocam

Southeast Asia

Thai navy says cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz

The Thai navy said 20 crew members have been rescued so far.

44 minutes agovideocam

China EVs

Geely beats BYD sales in first 2 months of 2026 to become China’s top carmaker

Geely’s sales rise 1 per cent to 476,327 units in January and February, while BYD’s sales slump 38.5 per cent to 400,241 units.

4 hours ago

Geely Auto’s sales of EVs jumped 10.1 per cent to 241,740 units in the first two months of the year from a year earlier. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

Sowing the seeds of hunger: war on Iran puts Asia’s next harvest at risk

As Gulf gas plants go offline, missing fertiliser shipments today could mean empty shelves and record food prices by autumn.

2 hours agovideocam

Farmers sow paddy saplings in a field on the outskirts of Guwahati, India, last month. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

Trump threatens ‘death, fire, and fury’ as US destroys 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels

After reports of mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz, the US unleashes its ‘most intense’ day of strikes on Iran since the war began.

2 hours ago

Middle East

Mystery surrounds health and whereabouts of Iran’s new supreme leader

Speculation over the health of Mojtaba Khamenei grows amid reports he was wounded in US-Israeli attacks.

2 hours agovideocam

Politics

Nepal just elected a rapper for PM. His foreign policy has a new beat

Newly elected Balendra Shah’s public messaging suggests a balanced approach rather than a tilt to either side, analysts say.

2 hours agovideocam

Balendra Shah greets supporters in Damak, Jhapa district, on March 7 after winning the election. Photo: Reuters

Science

Iran war shows US defence gaps; professor returns to China: 7 science highlights

From creating a bamboo-winged drone to efforts in “taming” typhoons, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

4 hours ago

Missile debris falls after Israeli air defence systems launched interceptor missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

How is China insulating its energy security amid geopolitical shocks?

Increasing oil and gas exploration, pushing ahead with green transition among contingency plans in place, geologist NPC deputy says.

11 Mar 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

Politics

What happens to the Iranian sailors stranded in Sri Lanka?

The sinking of an Iranian frigate and a leaked US cable have dragged the debt-burdened South Asian nation into a Middle Eastern conflict.

11 Mar 2026 - 12:33PM

LATEST

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Tech

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

27 minutes ago

Economics

Malaysia tightens borders to fight fuel smuggling amid global energy crisis

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Entertainment

Review | Gamer Girls: Angela Yuen leads beguiling Hong Kong esports drama

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Southeast Asia

Thai navy says cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz

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People

‘He’s so handsome’: Japan’s youngest governor, 36, sets social media abuzz again

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Military

China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war: cross-strait adviser

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Staff members dispense medicines at a pharmacy in Wuhan, in central China’s Hubei province, on February 27, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

SCMP Series ‘Two sessions’: China’s economic agenda

Healthcare investors keeping an eye on ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

4 Mar 2026 - 9:05AM

Can China’s ‘two sessions’ find a strategy to fix the property rot?

4 Mar 2026 - 9:18AM

Investors lock onto NPC as markets seek policy lift amid AI jitters

3 Mar 2026 - 7:30AM

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

9 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:24PM

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

23 Feb 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:25PMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

OpenClaw fever: why is China rushing to ‘raise a lobster’?

Chinese consumers are using OpenClaw for everything from stock picking and report writing to slide decks, emails and coding.

8 Mar 2026 - 10:33PMvideocam

OpenClaw has been dubbed “raise the lobster” by Chinese consumers. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

AI-related positions accounted for more than a quarter of new-economy job listings in the first two months of the year, report says.

23 minutes ago

China EVs

Geely beats BYD sales in first 2 months of 2026 to become China’s top carmaker

Geely’s sales rise 1 per cent to 476,327 units in January and February, while BYD’s sales slump 38.5 per cent to 400,241 units.

4 hours ago

China Economy

Why China’s red-hot tech push is leaving some sectors out in the cold

Beijing’s preferences for innovation and emerging industries are affecting businesses’ development paths and reshaping the corporate landscape.

11 Mar 2026 - 6:16AMvideocam

China Economy

Why China’s red-hot tech push is leaving some sectors out in the cold

Beijing’s preferences for innovation and emerging industries are affecting businesses’ development paths and reshaping the corporate landscape.

11 Mar 2026 - 6:16AMvideocam

Politics

Why China’s cadres must master rare earths as economic security becomes a KPI

Beijing’s decision to instruct promising cadres on logistics and resources reflects a sober outlook on trade relations, observers say.

10 Mar 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

Diplomacy

As US universities retreat from China, who is filling the academic void?

Many elite Sino-American ventures have ended under the strain of geopolitics but other, more diverse, programmes are emerging.

8 Mar 2026 - 6:04AMvideocam

China Economy

China works to build slow, steady stock markets, rejecting norm of boom and bust

Beijing is emphasising gradual growth in its policies for capital markets, encouraging dividend payouts and drawing a contrast with the West.

7 Mar 2026 - 8:16AMvideocam

China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war: cross-strait adviser

‘Any weakening of its presence in the Asia-Pacific will inevitably work to someone’s advantage – and you can imagine who that is’.

Taiwan scrambles to sign US arms deals before deadline amid budget gridlock

India opens door to more Chinese investment after 6-year freeze

New Delhi’s easing of foreign investment rules comes amid a cautious push by India and China to repair ties after years of tense relations.

Award-winning memory chip expert leaves US for job at Chinese semiconductor firm

Scientist will lead planning and development in emerging industries at DK Electronic Materials, focusing on the semiconductor memory business.

Hong Kong property could gain as Middle East turmoil reshapes global wealth

Prolonged conflict in the Gulf could shift investor sentiment, though clear evidence of new capital inflows has yet to emerge.

What if Iran really did buy export variant of China’s YJ-12 supersonic missile?

As US missiles leave South Korea, the Philippines asks: are we next?

South Korea couldn’t stop the pull-out. Now, Manila must figure out if it is indeed a strategic partner or just another supply depot.

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

AI-related positions accounted for more than a quarter of new-economy job listings in the first two months of the year, report says.

Why US policy on India aims to avoid repeat of China ‘mistake’

Despite official saying the US wants to work with India, it is likely to maintain a ‘transactional approach’ towards New Delhi, analysts say.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How Schneider Electric powers Hong Kong’s ecosystem innovation

InvestHK backs firm’s efforts to optimise energy use in city’s buildings, infrastructure and transport as part of its low-carbon transition.

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2026: everything you need to know

From US ties post-Iran to new tech innovation strategies, here is everything you need to know about China’s ongoing ‘two sessions’.

Rules-based order on trial in Europe as Iran war deepens divide

EU leaders have clashed over whether the bloc should still be bound by global norms as Mideast conflict reshapes the geopolitical landscape.

Thai navy says cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz

The Thai navy said 20 crew members have been rescued so far.

Geely beats BYD sales in first 2 months of 2026 to become China’s top carmaker

Geely’s sales rise 1 per cent to 476,327 units in January and February, while BYD’s sales slump 38.5 per cent to 400,241 units.

Sowing the seeds of hunger: war on Iran puts Asia’s next harvest at risk

As Gulf gas plants go offline, missing fertiliser shipments today could mean empty shelves and record food prices by autumn.

Trump threatens ‘death, fire, and fury’ as US destroys 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels

After reports of mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz, the US unleashes its ‘most intense’ day of strikes on Iran since the war began.

Mystery surrounds health and whereabouts of Iran’s new supreme leader

Speculation over the health of Mojtaba Khamenei grows amid reports he was wounded in US-Israeli attacks.

Nepal just elected a rapper for PM. His foreign policy has a new beat

Newly elected Balendra Shah’s public messaging suggests a balanced approach rather than a tilt to either side, analysts say.

Iran war shows US defence gaps; professor returns to China: 7 science highlights

From creating a bamboo-winged drone to efforts in “taming” typhoons, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

How is China insulating its energy security amid geopolitical shocks?

Increasing oil and gas exploration, pushing ahead with green transition among contingency plans in place, geologist NPC deputy says.

What happens to the Iranian sailors stranded in Sri Lanka?

The sinking of an Iranian frigate and a leaked US cable have dragged the debt-burdened South Asian nation into a Middle Eastern conflict.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Why state capacity matters in an era of AI-driven inequality

Opinion | How America’s Iran miscalculation hands China a strategic advantage

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | In confronting child abuse, Hong Kong must reckon with the problem’s origins

As I see it | Iran war exposes the risks of being a US ally

Editorial | Hong Kong has much to gain from aligning with China’s national plan

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

Malaysia tightens borders to fight fuel smuggling amid global energy crisis

Review | Gamer Girls: Angela Yuen leads beguiling Hong Kong esports drama

Thai navy says cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz

‘He’s so handsome’: Japan’s youngest governor, 36, sets social media abuzz again

China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war: cross-strait adviser

Healthcare investors keeping an eye on ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

Can China’s ‘two sessions’ find a strategy to fix the property rot?

Investors lock onto NPC as markets seek policy lift amid AI jitters

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

OpenClaw fever: why is China rushing to ‘raise a lobster’?

Chinese consumers are using OpenClaw for everything from stock picking and report writing to slide decks, emails and coding.

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

AI-related positions accounted for more than a quarter of new-economy job listings in the first two months of the year, report says.

Geely beats BYD sales in first 2 months of 2026 to become China’s top carmaker

Geely’s sales rise 1 per cent to 476,327 units in January and February, while BYD’s sales slump 38.5 per cent to 400,241 units.

Why China’s red-hot tech push is leaving some sectors out in the cold

Beijing’s preferences for innovation and emerging industries are affecting businesses’ development paths and reshaping the corporate landscape.

Why China’s red-hot tech push is leaving some sectors out in the cold

Beijing’s preferences for innovation and emerging industries are affecting businesses’ development paths and reshaping the corporate landscape.

Why China’s cadres must master rare earths as economic security becomes a KPI

Beijing’s decision to instruct promising cadres on logistics and resources reflects a sober outlook on trade relations, observers say.

As US universities retreat from China, who is filling the academic void?

Many elite Sino-American ventures have ended under the strain of geopolitics but other, more diverse, programmes are emerging.

China works to build slow, steady stock markets, rejecting norm of boom and bust

Beijing is emphasising gradual growth in its policies for capital markets, encouraging dividend payouts and drawing a contrast with the West.

How Schneider Electric powers Hong Kong’s ecosystem innovation

Opinion | Why state capacity matters in an era of AI-driven inequality

Letters | In confronting child abuse, Hong Kong must reckon with the problem’s origins