Jun Mai

Jun Mai is an award-winning journalist covering China's political and social news. He writes about China's elite politics, general policies and social activism. He is currently based in Beijing.

Hua Chunying told reporters: “I am not aware of any changes”. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

China insists trade war talks with US are continuing

23 Jan 2019 - 8:50pm 4

President Xi Jinping told the session China is “confronted with unpredictable international developments and a complicated and sensitive external environment”. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

Beware ‘black swan’ and ‘grey rhino’ threats to stability, Xi warns cadres

22 Jan 2019 - 10:40am 35

Zhao Yong was removed from his senior position in Hebei province last year. Photo: Weibo

Politics

Court verdict may shed light on why rising political star was sidelined

20 Jan 2019 - 10:33pm

China’s leaders must learn from Soviet Union’s fatal mistakes, says heavyweight communist liberal Hu Deping

Politics

China’s leaders ‘must learn from Soviet Union’s fatal errors’

17 Jan 2019 - 3:51pm 74

Beijing mayor Chen Jining delivers his government work report on Monday. Photo: Simon Song

Politics

Beijing mayor calls for belt-tightening amid ‘external uncertainties’

15 Jan 2019 - 6:04am

The new investigation will supersede that of the People's Supreme Court. Photo: Handout

Politics

Chinese leaders step into case of missing supreme court documents

10 Jan 2019 - 10:42am 2

Former vice-mayor of Beijing detained on corruption charges, ‘links to Guo Wengui’

Politics

Ex-vice-mayor of Beijing held on graft charges, ‘links to Guo Wengui’

7 Jan 2019 - 11:01pm 1

Investigators from the Communist Party’s anti-corruption watchdog interview villagers in Beiping, Mianchi county. Photo: Handout

Politics

2 people showed up to a county poll in China. So officials voted instead

4 Jan 2019 - 10:39pm 1

The missing papers detailed a dispute between Kechley Energy Investment, headed by Zhao Faqi (pictured), and the Xian Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration. Photo: CCTV

Politics

China’s top prosecutor ‘confident’ of conclusion to missing papers case

4 Jan 2019 - 4:26am

Taipei has come under increasing pressure from Beijing since Tsai Ing-wen took office. Photo: EPA-EFE

Politics

Beijing’s ever-changing approach to ‘renegade province’ Taiwan

3 Jan 2019 - 12:31am 49

Top Chinese court’s archive failure ‘dents private-sector confidence’ in Beijing’s promises

Politics

Fallout hits China’s business sector after top court loses legal documents

1 Jan 2019 - 3:04pm 11

Former US trade representative Charlene Barshefsky blames Beijing’s deviation from market principles and inaction by previous US administrations for helping to lead to the current impasse. Photo: Xinyan Yu

Diplomacy

Ex-US top trade negotiator says China has deviated from its commitments

1 Jan 2019 - 8:57pm 113

China and Russia projects in Africa are US security issues, top adviser to Donald Trump says

United States & Canada

China, Russia projects in Africa are US security issues: Trump adviser

14 Dec 2018 - 11:23pm 26

A Chinese newspaper’s front page after Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Buenos Aires. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

China’s dilemma in trade war talks: making concessions without looking weak

14 Dec 2018 - 1:50am 123

The constitutional amendment on presidential term limits was one of a number of moves by Beijing that has worried some US observers. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

Why the US’ moderate China watchers are growing sceptical of Beijing

13 Dec 2018 - 4:21am 78

China summons US envoy to protest ‘unreasonable’ arrest of Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou, threatens to retaliate

United States & Canada

China summons US ambassador and threatens further steps in Huawei case

12 Dec 2018 - 8:48pm 176

A report published by the Hoover Institution says China’s Communist Party is commandeering a widening influence campaign targeting US think tanks, governmental bodies, the media and educational institutions. Photo: AP

Politics

Tit-for-tat ‘may be only way to stop Beijing’s US influence drive’

30 Nov 2018 - 8:36pm 28

Some analysts predicted an interim deal after the meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, rather than an end to the trade dispute. Photo: AP

China Economy

China in ‘weaker’ economic position than US as Trump-Xi set for G20 talks

29 Nov 2018 - 11:26pm 94

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon (left) greets fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui before introducing him at a news conference on Tuesday in New York. Photo: AFP

Politics

Fugitive tycoon and Bannon imply Beijing involvement in HNA leader’s death

22 Nov 2018 - 12:47am 48

Taiwan’s lack of a voice in Trump’s tariff war stands out amid the significance the US administration has increasingly attached to the island. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Taiwan – US security partner but silent victim in Trump’s trade war

16 Nov 2018 - 11:08pm 26

‘Stand down,’ China hawk Peter Navarro tells Wall Street’s would-be brokers of trade war truce

Politics

China hawk Navarro tells would-be brokers of trade war truce to ‘stand down’

10 Nov 2018 - 10:18pm 70

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires later this month. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Top Beijing adviser says don’t expect Trump-Xi trade war closure at G20

8 Nov 2018 - 10:29pm 4

The midterm elections Tuesday may bring House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer new power in Washington. Regardless, though, they are likely to remain in step with US President Donald Trump’s hawkish China policies. Photo: Bloomberg

United States & Canada

Beyond the midterms, China hawks will remain the rule in Washington

6 Nov 2018 - 8:32am 15

Deng Pufang, the oldest son of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, pictured in 2012. Photo: AFP

Politics

China should ‘know its place’, Deng Xiaoping’s son says

1 Nov 2018 - 2:50pm 236

Xi Jinping’s policy priorities have remained essentially the same since the president first took power, according to a program’s analysis of the front pages of People’s Daily. Photo: Reuters.

Politics

Predicting Beijing’s thinking via AI and People’s Daily

30 Oct 2018 - 9:14pm 3

Michael Pillsbury, author the The Hundred-Year Marathon, has emerged as one of the most influential voices on China policy in the US. Photo: Alamy

Diplomacy

US law enforcers should stop China’s influence campaign, says strategist

25 Oct 2018 - 11:23pm 25

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are set to meet on November 29 in Buenos Aires, according to sources. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Xi Jinping, Donald Trump ‘agree to talk’ at G20 summit next month

26 Oct 2018 - 3:53pm 62

Illustration by Lau Ka-kuen

Diplomacy

Is Trump’s hawkish behaviour towards China the start of a new cold war?

18 Oct 2018 - 11:57pm 68

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Politics

FBI chief tells Congress that China is bigger security threat than Russia

11 Oct 2018 - 11:30pm 70

Illustration: SCMP

Society

Chinese who used US ‘asylum mill’ lawyers face deportation threat

10 Oct 2018 - 11:09pm 38

Star says she has ‘experienced unprecedented pain and agony’ in first social media post since disappearing three months ago

Politics

‘I was in pain and agony’: Fan Bingbing speaks out after secret detention

4 Oct 2018 - 5:55am 215

Beijing cannot avoid dealing with the developed world if it wants to build a technologically advanced country

Diplomacy

China’s new world order ‘unrealistic’ if built on belt and road alone

28 Sep 2018 - 10:47pm 27

Former internet tsar Lu Wei is awaiting trial on corruption charges. Photo: AFP

Politics

China sends ex-colleagues of former internet tsar to ‘education sessions’

8 Oct 2018 - 2:40pm 2

The United States must treat China as an equal if the trade war is to end, a senior Chinese official says. Photo: Reuters

News

China willing to talk trade but not with American ‘knife at its throat’

25 Sep 2018 - 11:35pm 76

Pope Francis ‘hopes the wounds of the past can be overcome’, the Vatican said in a statement on its new deal with China on the appointment of bishops. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Vatican signs historic deal with China on bishop appointments

22 Sep 2018 - 11:24pm 66

Chinese foreign ministry says United States will have to bear the consequences of violating basic norms of international relations

Diplomacy

China hits back at US sanctions over Russian fighter jet purchases

21 Sep 2018 - 4:19pm 110

Energy chief – one of few high-ranking Uygur officials and once seen as a rising star – was in the Chinese delegation at meeting with Vladimir Putin this week

Politics

China’s former Xinjiang governor Nur Bekri facing corruption probe

21 Sep 2018 - 10:14pm 2

Yang Weimin, former deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs, says the public want more than economic development. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

Former top Chinese officials call for better protection of human rights

19 Sep 2018 - 4:45am 16

China has released draft rules to tighten up on online religious activities in China. Photo: AFP

Politics

China to ban foreigners from preaching religion online

13 Sep 2018 - 2:41am 29

Surplus that drove US president to wage trade war rises in China’s favour as he repeats threat of tariffs on further US$200 billion of goods

Diplomacy

China’s trade surplus with US grows 10 per cent to US$31 billion

15 Oct 2018 - 12:02pm 64

China’s ability to innovate in science and technology will be key in determining its global competitiveness, government steering group said. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

China to 'seriously evaluate' old ways of science and tech development

25 Sep 2018 - 2:10pm 13

One in 10 of the respondents to an international survey had been “invited to have tea” with Chinese police or security personnel to discuss or for warning about their area of study in the last 10 years. Photo: Reuters/AFP/AP/Shutterstock

Politics

Overseas social scientists ‘face real repression’ in China research

5 Sep 2018 - 11:34pm 18

At least four children died and more than 10,000 sickened in the 2008 melamine milk powder scandal. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Chinese officials who rise from the ashes of public crises

26 Jul 2018 - 12:48am 4

China’s anti-corruption campaign has had problems of legitimacy, as a number of investigations are widely seen as tools to punish political opponents and the legal system used to authorise a flawed process. Illustration: Perry Tse

Politics

Caught in China’s anti-corruption web, and forsaken by a suspect legal system

25 Jul 2018 - 8:53am 5

Chinese students work on the Ares, a humanoid bipedal robot designed during the 2016 World Robot Conference in Beijing. Beijing continued to play down its industrial and technological upgrading plan known as Made in China 2025 at a briefing on Tuesday. Photo: Thomas Yau

China

Beijing says world should be objective about ‘Made in China 2025’

5 Sep 2018 - 3:58pm 7

Peng Zhuying, 90, was taken to a military brothel in 1944, six years after being blinded. Photo: Handout

Society

Chinese former ‘comfort women’ tell of brutal treatment by Japanese

23 Jul 2018 - 6:52pm 46

The motorcyclist was unconvinced that a man wearing swimming trunks was a police officer. Photo: News.163.com

Society

Chinese motorcyclist refuses to believe man in trunks is an officer

22 Jul 2018 - 7:48pm 4