Trump’s Asia trip, South China Sea air crashes: SCMP daily highlights

From Trump shoring up shipbuilding deals in Asia to twin air crashes in the South China Sea, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage

Reading Time:2 minutes

US President Donald Trump has committed to reviving America’s nearly defunct shipbuilding industry, including through strategic partnerships with allies such as South Korea and Japan. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:15pm, 27 Oct 2025

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. To counter China, Trump’s Asia trip seen shoring up shipbuilding with key allies

With US President Donald Trump having kicked off his visit to Asia, new collaborations in shipbuilding with Japan and South Korea are set to advance amid ongoing port-fee disputes with China, as Washington seeks to counter Beijing’s dominance in the maritime sector.

2. Beijing accuses US of undermining South China Sea peace after twin air crashes

Both the helicopter and fighter jet had been operating from the USS Nimitz. Photo: US Pacific Fleet

China said frequent US military deployments in the South China Sea were the “root cause” of maritime security problems after a US Navy fighter and a helicopter crashed into the South China Sea in separate incidents while operating from the same aircraft carrier.

3. John J. Mearsheimer on unavoidable anarchy and what Trump gets right on China, Russia

International relations expert discusses looming flashpoints in the US-China rivalry and the “colossal mistake’” if Ukraine joined Nato.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00