Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Security guards patrol a lithium project in Zimbabwe. China’s engagement in metals and mining projects surged last year, according to a report by the Griffith Asia Institute. Photo: EPA-EFE

US trade war? China had bigger plans in 2025 as ‘belt and road’ deals surged

China’s global infrastructure strategy logged a record US$213 billion of new deals in 2025, as metals projects in Central Asia soared, report finds.

19 Jan 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

China’s Davos sales pitch: stability, reliability and not being Trump

Belt and Road Initiative

Diplomacy

How narrowing China-US gap could reshape global power play by 2035

Political scientist Yan Xuetong predicts Beijing will be on ‘equal footing’ in strategic rivalry with Washington in the post-Trump era.

6 hours ago

Science

China suffers unprecedented double rocket launch failures in a single day

Saturday’s twin failures involved a state-owned rocket and a private one, but observers attribute them to industry’s growing pains.

19 Jan 2026 - 10:43PMvideocam

Society

Hong Kong authorities ‘concerned’ as dozens face eviction from subdivided flats

Housing Bureau says it is in contact with 109 households in the Yee Wa Building in Cheung Sha Wan.

3 hours agovideocam

Open Questions

Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

Military

Type 075, the PLA amphibious ‘light aircraft carrier’ key to Taiwan strategy

The Hainan and its three sister ships are expected to form the backbone of the PLA Navy’s large-scale landing capability.

19 Jan 2026 - 6:35PMvideocam

With a displacement of between 35,000 and 40,000 tonnes, the Type 075 Hainan is one of the largest amphibious assault ships in the world. Photo: Eugene Lee

Europe

Spain seeks answers as death toll from high-speed train crash rises to 40

Investigators find broken joint on the track at rail crash site, source says, as government vows full investigation into cause of collision.

58 minutes agovideocam

Law and Crime

Hong Kong justice minister slams sanctions threat, accusations against judges

Justice minister Paul Lam reviews judges’ performance in national security cases over past year and stresses they treated defendants fairly.

6 hours ago

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.

Science

China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft returns to Earth broken and unbroken

‘Exceptionally precious’ data gained during unforeseen nine months in orbit to be used for ‘future design improvements’.

19 Jan 2026 - 8:22PMvideocam

The uncrewed Shenzhou-20 spacecraft after touchdown at the Dongfeng landing site on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Tech War

DeepSeek a year on: how a Chinese start-up sparked a global AI arms race

DeepSeek’s meteoric rise propelled the growth of the open-source AI ecosystem by spurring its competitors to join the movement.

19 Jan 2026 - 10:24PMvideocam

Americas

Brazilian beef exports seen as stable in 2026 ‘despite Chinese safeguards’

Beef lobby Apiec said volumes not sold to China, which last year bought roughly ‍half of Brazil’s total beef shipments, could be redirected.

2 hours ago

China

Explosion at Chinese restaurant in Kabul kills 7, injures a dozen more

Police said 1 Chinese national and 6 Afghans were killed in the blast at the restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw district of the Afghan capital.

3 hours agovideocam

Security forces stand at the site of an explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday. Photo: EPA

Russia & Central Asia

Putin invited to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza conflict: Kremlin

Moscow is seeking clarity on the offer as Putin navigates strained Israel ties and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

19 Jan 2026 - 8:31PM

US President Donald Trump (right) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military base in Alaska in August 2025. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Tech Trends

Explainer | Global memory chip crunch set to intensify amid Trump’s new industrial policy

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says major memory chipmakers could either pay 100 per cent tariff or build their products in America.

19 Jan 2026 - 7:00PM

United States & Canada

Canada could send small contingent of troops to Greenland for Nato exercises

CBC News reported that officials have presented plans for the operation to the government and are awaiting a decision from ‍PM Mark Carney.

4 hours ago

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong to develop low-altitude sector blueprint as firms eye overseas expansion

Logistics chief Mable Chan says city well positioned for growth given established legal regime and status as financial hub.

19 Jan 2026 - 10:01PM

Hong Kong industry players are set to go for their first overseas trip to explore belt and road markets alongside mainland Chinese firms. Photo: Sam Tsang

Europe

Valentino, fashion designer to the stars, dies aged 93 in Rome

The couturier was adored by royals, first ladies and film stars including Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Sarah Jessica Parker.

3 hours ago

Valentino at the end of his spring/summer 2006 Haute Couture show in Paris. The Italian designer died on Monday at the age of 93. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Punch back or punching bag? EU weighs response to Trump Greenland tariff threat

Bloc has been reluctant to act on his various punitive moves, but many now believe that a threshold has been crossed, analysts say.

6 hours agovideocam

China Economy

Baby bust: China births plunge 17% in 2025 to historic low as population shrinks

With Beijing having accelerated family-support policies and childcare subsidies, analysts warn that structural reforms are vital to arrest the deepening slide.

19 Jan 2026 - 3:09PM

OPINION

Massoud Amin

Opinion | Can everyone reach Swiss living standards by 2100?

9 minutes ago

Wang Huiyao

Opinion | As China and Canada reset ties, they must strike while the iron is hot

19 Jan 2026 - 8:30PM

Roberto Bocca

Opinion | Clean energy works at scale. Now it must be coordinated

19 Jan 2026 - 4:30PM

Alice Wu

Opinion | Government knows best? Hong Kong policymakers need to listen more

19 Jan 2026 - 9:30AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | China-Canada turnaround in ties marks new spirit of global cooperation

19 Jan 2026 - 7:15AM

Harry’s View | 20 Jan 2026

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9 minutes ago

World Opinion

Opinion | Can everyone reach Swiss living standards by 2100?

1 hour ago

Europe

Spain seeks answers as death toll from high-speed train crash rises to 40

3 hours ago

Americas

Brazilian beef exports seen as stable in 2026 ‘despite Chinese safeguards’

3 hours ago

Europe

Valentino, fashion designer to the stars, dies aged 93 in Rome

4 hours ago

United States & Canada

Canada could send small contingent of troops to Greenland for Nato exercises

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Society

Hong Kong authorities ‘concerned’ as dozens face eviction from subdivided flats

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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.

13 Jan 2026 - 9:55AMvideocam

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

12 Jan 2026 - 11:19AMvideocam

Chinese companies expand globally

12 Dec 2025 - 12:42PM

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.

12 Jan 2026 - 10:06AMvideocam

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.

5 Jan 2026 - 9:11AMvideocam

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.

9 Jan 2026 - 12:37PMvideocam

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.

29 Dec 2025 - 9:04AMvideocam

Key Industries:

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.

17 Jan 2026 - 10:46AM

Tech War

DeepSeek a year on: how a Chinese start-up sparked a global AI arms race

DeepSeek’s meteoric rise propelled the growth of the open-source AI ecosystem by spurring its competitors to join the movement.

19 Jan 2026 - 10:24PMvideocam

Tech Trends

China’s Unitree ships over 5,500 humanoid robots in 2025, surpassing US peers

The Hangzhou-based firm’s output far outstripped the roughly 150 units each shipped by Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics last year.

19 Jan 2026 - 8:15PMvideocam

Tech Trends

Explainer | Global memory chip crunch set to intensify amid Trump’s new industrial policy

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says major memory chipmakers could either pay 100 per cent tariff or build their products in America.

19 Jan 2026 - 7:00PM

The current shortage and rising prices of regular dynamic random access memory chips have severely affected the consumer electronics market. Photo: Shutterstock

Global Economy

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

Once the top export market for South Korean cosmetics, Chinese firms lead at home and have made headway overseas – but gaps remain.

18 Jan 2026 - 6:06AMvideocam

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.

17 Jan 2026 - 10:46AM

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.

17 Jan 2026 - 7:43AMvideocam

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?

16 Jan 2026 - 11:14AMvideocam

China is world’s largest chip manufacturer, demonstrating the country’s superiority in global supply chain. Photo: Shutterstock

US trade war? China had bigger plans in 2025 as ‘belt and road’ deals surged

China’s global infrastructure strategy logged a record US$213 billion of new deals in 2025, as metals projects in Central Asia soared, report finds.

China’s Davos sales pitch: stability, reliability and not being Trump

How narrowing China-US gap could reshape global power play by 2035

Political scientist Yan Xuetong predicts Beijing will be on ‘equal footing’ in strategic rivalry with Washington in the post-Trump era.

China suffers unprecedented double rocket launch failures in a single day

Saturday’s twin failures involved a state-owned rocket and a private one, but observers attribute them to industry’s growing pains.

Hong Kong authorities ‘concerned’ as dozens face eviction from subdivided flats

Housing Bureau says it is in contact with 109 households in the Yee Wa Building in Cheung Sha Wan.

Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

Type 075, the PLA amphibious ‘light aircraft carrier’ key to Taiwan strategy

The Hainan and its three sister ships are expected to form the backbone of the PLA Navy’s large-scale landing capability.

Spain seeks answers as death toll from high-speed train crash rises to 40

Investigators find broken joint on the track at rail crash site, source says, as government vows full investigation into cause of collision.

Hong Kong justice minister slams sanctions threat, accusations against judges

Justice minister Paul Lam reviews judges’ performance in national security cases over past year and stresses they treated defendants fairly.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}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.

China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft returns to Earth broken and unbroken

‘Exceptionally precious’ data gained during unforeseen nine months in orbit to be used for ‘future design improvements’.

DeepSeek a year on: how a Chinese start-up sparked a global AI arms race

DeepSeek’s meteoric rise propelled the growth of the open-source AI ecosystem by spurring its competitors to join the movement.

Brazilian beef exports seen as stable in 2026 ‘despite Chinese safeguards’

Beef lobby Apiec said volumes not sold to China, which last year bought roughly ‍half of Brazil’s total beef shipments, could be redirected.

Explosion at Chinese restaurant in Kabul kills 7, injures a dozen more

Police said 1 Chinese national and 6 Afghans were killed in the blast at the restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw district of the Afghan capital.

Putin invited to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza conflict: Kremlin

Moscow is seeking clarity on the offer as Putin navigates strained Israel ties and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | Global memory chip crunch set to intensify amid Trump’s new industrial policy

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says major memory chipmakers could either pay 100 per cent tariff or build their products in America.

Canada could send small contingent of troops to Greenland for Nato exercises

CBC News reported that officials have presented plans for the operation to the government and are awaiting a decision from ‍PM Mark Carney.

Hong Kong to develop low-altitude sector blueprint as firms eye overseas expansion

Logistics chief Mable Chan says city well positioned for growth given established legal regime and status as financial hub.

Valentino, fashion designer to the stars, dies aged 93 in Rome

The couturier was adored by royals, first ladies and film stars including Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Punch back or punching bag? EU weighs response to Trump Greenland tariff threat

Bloc has been reluctant to act on his various punitive moves, but many now believe that a threshold has been crossed, analysts say.

Baby bust: China births plunge 17% in 2025 to historic low as population shrinks

With Beijing having accelerated family-support policies and childcare subsidies, analysts warn that structural reforms are vital to arrest the deepening slide.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Can everyone reach Swiss living standards by 2100?

Opinion | As China and Canada reset ties, they must strike while the iron is hot

Opinion | Clean energy works at scale. Now it must be coordinated

Opinion | Government knows best? Hong Kong policymakers need to listen more

Editorial | China-Canada turnaround in ties marks new spirit of global cooperation

Opinion | Can everyone reach Swiss living standards by 2100?

Spain seeks answers as death toll from high-speed train crash rises to 40

Brazilian beef exports seen as stable in 2026 ‘despite Chinese safeguards’

Valentino, fashion designer to the stars, dies aged 93 in Rome

Canada could send small contingent of troops to Greenland for Nato exercises

Hong Kong authorities ‘concerned’ as dozens face eviction from subdivided flats

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.

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

Chinese companies expand globally

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DeepSeek a year on: how a Chinese start-up sparked a global AI arms race

DeepSeek’s meteoric rise propelled the growth of the open-source AI ecosystem by spurring its competitors to join the movement.

China’s Unitree ships over 5,500 humanoid robots in 2025, surpassing US peers

The Hangzhou-based firm’s output far outstripped the roughly 150 units each shipped by Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics last year.

Explainer | Global memory chip crunch set to intensify amid Trump’s new industrial policy

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says major memory chipmakers could either pay 100 per cent tariff or build their products in America.

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

Once the top export market for South Korean cosmetics, Chinese firms lead at home and have made headway overseas – but gaps remain.

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.

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.

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?

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Explainer | Global memory chip crunch set to intensify amid Trump’s new industrial policy

Opinion | Can everyone reach Swiss living standards by 2100?