Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

US President Donald Trump said his upcoming visit to China will be great. Photo: AP

China trip will go ahead as planned – and it will be amazing, Trump insists

US President said the visit would go ahead as planned later this month despite the ongoing stalemate in peace talks with Iran.

16 minutes agovideocam

Iran ‘dying to make a deal’, US war costs soar: here’s what happened overnight

2026 Trump-Xi summit

China Economy

From Beijing to backwaters? Why China’s live music boom is spreading

Local authorities are using big concerts to attract tourists and revenue, part of broader efforts to boost consumption under new five-year plan.

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Politics

Why are modern Chinese audiences shying away from dubbed films?

Greater subtitle literacy among streaming viewers is among factors chipping away at enthusiasm for dubbed movies in China.

38 minutes agovideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong records 13% rise in mainland Chinese visitors on day 1 of ‘golden week’

Over 300,000 inbound trips made throughout day, while outbound journeys by residents hit more than 430,000.

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Focus

Shifting gears: how foreign giants aim to catch up in China’s EV era

Politics

Counting gains from Beijing, Taiwan’s opposition leader eyes US trip in June

KMT chairwoman will test her cross-strait message when she meets think tanks, overseas Taiwanese and potentially policymakers in America.

5 hours agovideocam

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the main opposition Kuomintang, is expected to visit the United States next month. Photo: EPA

Diplomacy

China’s UN envoy blasts US ‘bullying’ as sanctions widen before Trump-Xi talks

Curbs tied to Iran and a fragile ceasefire cast a shadow over the leaders’ planned Beijing summit as tensions between the powers mount.

2 May 2026 - 6:36AMvideocam

Politics

UAE’s Opec exit signals aim to accelerate foreign policy diversification

Iran’s attacks on Gulf states have forced Abu Dhabi to rethink its place within the Saudi Arabia-led diplomatic architecture, analysts say.

1 hour agovideocam

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.

Europe

Trump-EU rift spurs Germany to boost military, add 75,000 soldiers

The German defence minister said the US withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany was expected, spurring Europe to improve its defences against Russia.

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An AH-64 Apache attack helicopter stands in front of a Galaxy C-5 transport plane at the US Air Base in Ramstein, western Germany, in 2017. Photo: AFP

Society

Tai Po fire: over 800 Wang Fuk Court families ask to make second trip to estate

Government to review first round of returns to ensure process can run as smoothly as possible, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk says.

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Diplomacy

US sanctions China-based operator, others over alleged Iran oil trade links

State Department targets Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal for allegedly importing ‘tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil’.

2 May 2026 - 7:38AMvideocam

US

Trump says hostilities in Iran ‘terminated’ ahead of war powers deadline

Trump administration argues war in Iran has ended due to ceasefire, allowing White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.

2 May 2026 - 5:00AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters before boarding Marine One on Friday. Photo: pool via EPA

Food & Drink

Spam musubi? How American flavours were absorbed and adapted in Okinawa

Okinawa’s post-war food story is a delicious blend of American ingredients given a Japanese spin – think taco rice and Spam musubi.

6 hours agovideocam

People in Okinawa transformed US dishes and ingredients such as Spam into beloved local food items, like Spam musubi (pictured). Photo: Getty Images

Tech

ByteDance’s drug unit presents AI-designed therapies at global conferences

Chinese tech giant fields teams in Boston, Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona as its unit unveils frameworks and therapies powered by AI.

3 hours ago

East Asia

Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical minerals

Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as energy and artificial intelligence.

2 hours agovideocam

Europe

UK PM says some pro-Palestinian marches could be banned, cites intifada chants

His comments come after two Jewish men were stabbed in the north London suburb of Golders Green by a Somalia-born British man.

3 hours ago

People attend a rally organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism in London on Thursday, following the stabbing of two Jewish men a day earlier in Golders Green, north London. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Durian Express? China brings in cheaper fruit with new Southeast Asia train

A new cold-storage rail service is whisking mountains of durians from Thailand to China, reducing prices for the prized fruit.

2 May 2026 - 10:02AM

A shopper browses a mound of durians at a market in Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Lee

Politics

Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition

The pact allows up to ‘five warships, 10 aircraft and 3,000 troops’ to be stationed in each other’s territory for five years.

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Middle East

Hezbollah’s cheap drones pose challenge for Israel – like ‘children’s toys’

The militant group is using devices linked to their launch site by a thin fibre-optic cable that can stretch for dozens of kilometres.

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OPINION

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China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

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Anthropic’s strong anti-China stance has increased the possibility that the US could use Mythos-type models to conduct cyberattacks against China, according to a cybersecurity expert. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

SCMP Series China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

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Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

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Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

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Open Questions series

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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Tech

ByteDance’s drug unit presents AI-designed therapies at global conferences

Chinese tech giant fields teams in Boston, Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona as its unit unveils frameworks and therapies powered by AI.

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China Business

Lights, camera, traction: China’s EV race rolls out film-projecting headlights

Ultra-fast charging technology and a wave of smart features are helping Chinese EVs win over overseas buyers.

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Big Tech

Chinese firms face pressure on AI investments as US peers’ spending soars

Largest US companies on track for US$700 billion in AI capital expenditures this year, versus about US$105 billion in China.

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Google and Microsoft both expect 2026 capex to reach about US$190 billion. Photo: AP Photo

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Why Beijing now wants its spies executed in Taiwan back in the spotlight

Mainland China is seeing a surge in interest over ‘invisible martyrs’ such as Wu Shi, a KMT defector who was executed in Taipei in 1950.

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The big shift in Xi Jinping’s travel plans and what it means for China

Data analysis by the SCMP reveals a changing dynamic in Beijing towards high-level diplomatic meetings.

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The UAE’s exit from Opec could bring ‘even bigger trouble’: Chinese expert

While the UAE’s departure from oil cartel is disruptive, it could also further drive apart Gulf Cooperation Council members, observer says.

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How China’s reported sulphuric acid export ban could have global buyers reeling

Foreign firms fear more halts following reports of a ban on the export of the chemical, crucial for fertiliser and battery production.

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China trip will go ahead as planned – and it will be amazing, Trump insists

US President said the visit would go ahead as planned later this month despite the ongoing stalemate in peace talks with Iran.

Iran ‘dying to make a deal’, US war costs soar: here’s what happened overnight

From Beijing to backwaters? Why China’s live music boom is spreading

Local authorities are using big concerts to attract tourists and revenue, part of broader efforts to boost consumption under new five-year plan.

Why are modern Chinese audiences shying away from dubbed films?

Greater subtitle literacy among streaming viewers is among factors chipping away at enthusiasm for dubbed movies in China.

Hong Kong records 13% rise in mainland Chinese visitors on day 1 of ‘golden week’

Over 300,000 inbound trips made throughout day, while outbound journeys by residents hit more than 430,000.

Shifting gears: how foreign giants aim to catch up in China’s EV era

Counting gains from Beijing, Taiwan’s opposition leader eyes US trip in June

KMT chairwoman will test her cross-strait message when she meets think tanks, overseas Taiwanese and potentially policymakers in America.

China’s UN envoy blasts US ‘bullying’ as sanctions widen before Trump-Xi talks

Curbs tied to Iran and a fragile ceasefire cast a shadow over the leaders’ planned Beijing summit as tensions between the powers mount.

UAE’s Opec exit signals aim to accelerate foreign policy diversification

Iran’s attacks on Gulf states have forced Abu Dhabi to rethink its place within the Saudi Arabia-led diplomatic architecture, analysts 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.

Trump-EU rift spurs Germany to boost military, add 75,000 soldiers

The German defence minister said the US withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany was expected, spurring Europe to improve its defences against Russia.

Tai Po fire: over 800 Wang Fuk Court families ask to make second trip to estate

Government to review first round of returns to ensure process can run as smoothly as possible, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk says.

US sanctions China-based operator, others over alleged Iran oil trade links

State Department targets Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal for allegedly importing ‘tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil’.

Trump says hostilities in Iran ‘terminated’ ahead of war powers deadline

Trump administration argues war in Iran has ended due to ceasefire, allowing White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.

Spam musubi? How American flavours were absorbed and adapted in Okinawa

Okinawa’s post-war food story is a delicious blend of American ingredients given a Japanese spin – think taco rice and Spam musubi.

ByteDance’s drug unit presents AI-designed therapies at global conferences

Chinese tech giant fields teams in Boston, Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona as its unit unveils frameworks and therapies powered by AI.

Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical minerals

Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as energy and artificial intelligence.

UK PM says some pro-Palestinian marches could be banned, cites intifada chants

His comments come after two Jewish men were stabbed in the north London suburb of Golders Green by a Somalia-born British man.

Durian Express? China brings in cheaper fruit with new Southeast Asia train

A new cold-storage rail service is whisking mountains of durians from Thailand to China, reducing prices for the prized fruit.

Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition

The pact allows up to ‘five warships, 10 aircraft and 3,000 troops’ to be stationed in each other’s territory for five years.

Hezbollah’s cheap drones pose challenge for Israel – like ‘children’s toys’

The militant group is using devices linked to their launch site by a thin fibre-optic cable that can stretch for dozens of kilometres.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | Mini-crises sparked by the Iran war may add up to a big collapse

Being Chinese | 3 months in China became 10 years. Here’s why I stayed

Asian Angle | A year after corporal punishment ban, Thailand needs to curb resurgence

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Hong Kong must prioritise well-being of flag bearers of tomorrow

Opinion | Hong Kong is getting its population policy assumptions all wrong

Gallery | Rallies in Turkey, new Banksy statue in London: pictures of the week

China trip will go ahead as planned – and it will be amazing, Trump insists

Atzeni looks forward to fresh faces as he picks up trio of new rides at Sha Tin

New Fanling Bypass section to prevent congestion ahead of public housing push

Shouson Hill house burgled, HK$1.1 million in watches, foreign currency stolen

Trump-EU rift spurs Germany to boost military, add 75,000 soldiers

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong ‘on journey to reach potential’ in China title hunt

UAE’s Opec exit signals aim to accelerate foreign policy diversification

From Beijing to backwaters? Why China’s live music boom is spreading

Hong Kong records 13% rise in mainland Chinese visitors on day 1 of ‘golden week’

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

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.

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.

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.

ByteDance’s drug unit presents AI-designed therapies at global conferences

Chinese tech giant fields teams in Boston, Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona as its unit unveils frameworks and therapies powered by AI.

Lights, camera, traction: China’s EV race rolls out film-projecting headlights

Ultra-fast charging technology and a wave of smart features are helping Chinese EVs win over overseas buyers.

Chinese firms face pressure on AI investments as US peers’ spending soars

Largest US companies on track for US$700 billion in AI capital expenditures this year, versus about US$105 billion in China.

Why Beijing now wants its spies executed in Taiwan back in the spotlight

Mainland China is seeing a surge in interest over ‘invisible martyrs’ such as Wu Shi, a KMT defector who was executed in Taipei in 1950.

The big shift in Xi Jinping’s travel plans and what it means for China

Data analysis by the SCMP reveals a changing dynamic in Beijing towards high-level diplomatic meetings.

The UAE’s exit from Opec could bring ‘even bigger trouble’: Chinese expert

Lingxi Games’ Three Kingdoms Tactics hits target with global audience

Macroscope | Mini-crises sparked by the Iran war may add up to a big collapse

Letters | Hong Kong must prioritise well-being of flag bearers of tomorrow