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A volunteer grinds coffee beans with children at a China-Africa economic and trade cooperation promotion park, in China’s Hunan province last August. Photo: Xinhua

How China is ramping up Africa charm offensive to boost cultural ties, influence

Beijing dedicates 2026 to ‘cultural and social diplomacy’ across the continent, with 600 activities aimed at fostering strong friendships.

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China FM Wang Yi opens Africa tour with united call for rules-based order

China-Africa relations
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Science

Could China’s ion implanter ‘scalpel’ carve out secure chip supply chains?

The technology is central to some forms of semiconductor manufacturing and dominated by overseas players.

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Military

Are Western defence firms aiming at the Chinese navy in their promo videos?

Vessels that look a lot like PLA warships appear in animation of BAE and Lockheed weapons systems.

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Society

Hong Kong blogger’s Iran trip sparks debate about solo travel safety

Online community split over whether women travelling alone to ‘dangerous’ nations is reckless or eye-opening.

Focus
Illustration: Brian Wang

Can China’s cosmetics brands rival K-beauty and refashion global markets?

Science

How can China help Uruguay battle beetles threatening to invade South America?

A small reddish insect is on the march and Chinese space technology could halt the pest’s path of destruction.

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Authorities in Uruguay are battling the red palm weevil, an insect that devours native palm trees. Photo: AP
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Economics

Can US-led bloc ease China’s ‘vice-like grip’ on rare earths?

Washington is working with its allies to accelerate projects in rare earths and diversify their supply in response to China’s export curbs.

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Big Tech

Tencent seeks cooperation with other AI firms to better serve vulnerable users

Tencent Research Institute looks to build expert data sets for AI models that could broadly benefit the world’s second most populous nation.

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.

China Business

Chinese electric vehicle makers eye Western markets as trade barriers fall

Canada will drop the 100 per cent punitive tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric cars while setting an annual import quota of 49,000 units.

Ora cars from Great Wall Motor are parked in a parking lot at JadeWeserPort in Germany. Photo: dpa

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police arrest 2, record 220 offences in illegal road racing crackdown

Officers intercepted 50 vehicles on suspicion of illegal modification during two-day operation ‘Fossington’.

Military

PLA sends drone into airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island in South China Sea

Southern Theatre Command cites ‘completely legitimate’ routine flight training, while Taipei calls it ‘provocative and irresponsible’ act.

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Science

Could flying wind farms be the future of energy generation in China?

The test of an ‘alien-looking’ giant airship in the skies above Sichuan created a buzz on social media.

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The airship was tested in the skies above Sichuan. Photo: Weibo/ 爱信阳

Military

Did China, Russia, Iran joint naval drills in South Africa signal a Brics shift?

Observers describe high-profile exercise involving economic grouping as largely symbolic rather than step towards military alliance.

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South African and Chinese flags fly aboard the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Tangshan, moored at port in Cape Town for joint naval drills involving Brics members, on January 10. Photo: AFP

Europe

Europe’s far-right eyes run-off in Portugal’s presidential election

A record 11 candidates are standing in the election, while a housing crisis and cost of living fears overtake anti-immigrant sentiment.

Australasia

Australia faces record guns as Bondi massacre prompts reform

There were more than 4 million guns in Australia in 2025, more than at the time of a 1996 shooting that killed 35 and prompted a gun buy-back scheme.

Society

Hong Kong hiker, 63, dies after collapsing on Robin’s Nest trail

Hiker was with four others at Robin’s Nest Country Park in Sha Tau Kok, near the border.

The man was hiking with four others at Robin’s Nest Country Park in Sha Tau Kok. Photo: ISD

Politics

Singapore’s opposition chief debate draws comparisons with Westminster system

The post is vacant after Pritam Singh’s removal, sparking discussions on its non-statutory nature and executive control.

Singapore’s prime minister removed Pritam Singh from the post of opposition chief. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Trump hits 8 Nato allies with tariffs to force Greenland sale

The duties will start at 10 per cent in February and go up to 25 per cent in June if no deal is reached for the US to buy the island.

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Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong crime film exhibition at old Yau Ma Tei police station a hot ticket

More than 80 per cent of tickets for January sold, says Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Drew Lai.

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Letters

Letters | As robots do more work, here is why humans need to play

Letters
Harry’s View | 18 Jan 2026
January 18, 2026
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World Opinion

Opinion | Greenland’s stress test of Nato will ripple beyond the Arctic

Society

Hong Kong blogger’s Iran trip sparks debate about solo travel safety

Australasia

Australia faces record guns as Bondi massacre prompts reform

Diplomacy

How China is ramping up Africa charm offensive to boost cultural ties, influence

Racing

Lui bags brilliant hat-trick as Browne McMonagle breaks through at Sha Tin

Military

Are Western defence firms aiming at the Chinese navy in their promo videos?

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SCMP Series
China Inc. goes global
Year of the Horse 2026
Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy
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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
SCMP SeriesChina Inc. goes global

The US has played its hand in Latin America. Will China’s firms there cash out?

After the abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, many Chinese entrepreneurs in the region say they are staying put – for now.

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Why overseas residency is a ‘practical advantage’ for Chinese firms going global

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Chinese companies expand globally

Open Questions series

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.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Global Economy

Open Questions | ‘Embrace the moment’: on China, Daniel Kritenbrink puts pragmatism first

Former US ambassador to Vietnam says a return to the past for US-China relations is unrealistic, but both economic powers benefit from ties.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | How new C100 chief plans to foster ties between Chinese-Americans and China

The Committee of 100’s president Paul Cheung has high hopes for Chinese-Americans’ relationship with China in these uncertain times.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on European vertigo in a post-American world

While melancholy Europe frets that the US and China will shape the future, middle powers are jostling for a place at the big table.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
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Tech War

Zhipu AI breaks US chip reliance with first major model trained on Huawei stack

Zhipu claims GLM-Image achieved industry-leading scores among open-source models for text rendering and Chinese character generation.

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Zhipu said the achievement proved the feasibility of developing powerful multimodal models without US chips. Photo: Shutterstock Images

China Business

Chinese electric vehicle makers eye Western markets as trade barriers fall

Canada will drop the 100 per cent punitive tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric cars while setting an annual import quota of 49,000 units.

Big Tech

Tencent seeks cooperation with other AI firms to better serve vulnerable users

Tencent Research Institute looks to build expert data sets for AI models that could broadly benefit the world’s second most populous nation.

Policy

Hong Kong bolsters tech hub ambitions as city hosts global AI summit

Hong Kong’s turn to host a summit under WAIC reflects Beijing’s confidence in the city’s strategic development goals.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong (fourth from left), joins other dignitaries on Friday, during the city’s inaugural turn as host of a summit under the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Hong Kong Science Park. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

China curbs US AI chips, shuns foreign capital in pursuit of tech self-reliance

These restrictions signify a new phase in the US-China tech war where ‘offensive and defensive roles have shifted’, says an analyst.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Diplomacy

Counting China’s ‘swing nation’ wins and losses in new era of power rivalry

As US-China race for hi-tech resources heats up across Global South, countries caught in the middle are under pressure to strike a balance.

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China Economy

A Chinese tech hub eyes 3- to 7-nanometre chip breakthroughs to beat US curbs

Province’s five-year plan backs national push for tech independence – but can it succeed?

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Hong Kong Economy

Can new tricks save Hong Kong’s restaurants from ‘irreversible’ Shenzhen trend?

Business models are being overhauled as food and drink sector tackles ‘irreversible’ trend of Hongkongers spending their money elsewhere.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
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