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SCMP

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Chinese and Philippine ships collide, first under Beijing’s new coastguard law
A Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel collided after the former “illegally entered” waters near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal and “dangerously approached” the latter, China’s coastguard said. The incident took place early on Monday morning.
2. China’s next-gen sexbots powered by AI about to hit the shelves

Chinese scientists and engineers are applying ChatGPT-like technology to sex robots, aiming to create interactive, AI-powered companions in the face of technical and ethical challenges. In Shenzhen, Starpery Technology, a major producer of sex dolls, is now training its own large language model to enhance its product with artificial intelligence.
3. 450 flights delayed after Hong Kong airport runway closed for 8 hours

One of two operating runways at Hong Kong airport was closed for more than eight hours on Monday after a cargo plane burst a tyre during an emergency landing, resulting in delays to about 450 flights and sparking questions over clearance procedures.
4. What happens if the US cuts China out of its military supplies?

China’s central role in the global supply chain has prompted the United States to initiate a series of measures to de-risk its relationship with the world’s second largest economy as relations worsen. For the US defence industry, it seems inevitable that Washington will want to go further and seek to cut out China completely. Whether it will work is another question, though.
5. Hong Kong club for Americans angers non-US members with HK$1.5 million ultimatum

An exclusive Hong Kong club founded for Americans has angered non-US members after it said it wanted to redeem millions of dollars worth of membership fees at a fraction of the market value with the option to top up by as much as HK$1.5 million (US$192,139) or leave.
6. China ‘could match’ US in military conflict thanks to shipbuilding strength
China’s naval expansion and bolstering of its shipbuilding capabilities may give the PLA a strategic edge in a potential conflict, including the “hellscape strategy” floated recently by the US, military analysts said.
7. Families plan ‘ghost marriage’ after Malaysian couple die in pre-wedding crash

The families of a Chinese couple who died in a car accident decided to find closure on their deaths by holding a “ghost marriage” in their honour. The couple were together for three years and about to marry when they died.


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China doubts Musk’s Starship future; ex-TSMC chip prodigy returns: SCMP’s 7 highlights

SCMP Highlights

South China Sea collision, AI-powered sexbots, Malaysian ‘ghost marriage’: 7 highlights

China says a Philippine ship on a supply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre (pictured) “ignored multiple stern warnings from the Chinese side” and caused a collision with its vessel on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Sex doll producers in China are enhancing products with AI for an advanced user experience. Photo: Instagram/starperydollofficial

A cargo plane was forced to make an emergency return on Monday morning. Photo: Jelly Tse

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

The main entrance to the exclusive American Club’s country retreat in Tai Tam. Photo: Handout

The grieving families of an about-to-be-married Chinese couple killed in a car accident are to hold a “ghost marriage” for the pair. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/chinapress.com

Taiwan Strait ‘hellscape’, Louis Koo sued, Shanghai’s foreigners: 7 highlights of the week

Chinese-made drones on display at an airshow on the mainland. Photo: Xinhua

The USS Connecticut submarine was involved in an underwater accident in 2021, which has now helped Chinese researchers looking into submarine detection. Photo: US Navy

Actor Louis Koo in a still from Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, a 2024 film he stars in. Photo: Handout

Illustration: Brian Wang

Lots of water, protein, exercise, a positive attitude and a little sunshine are the secrets to looking young, according to 58-year-old Chuando Tan. Photo: instagram.com/chuando_chuandoandfrey

Chelsea Manalo, 24, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines on May 22, making history as the first Philippine winner of African-American descent. Photo: Facebook/Miss Universe Philippines

China’s Chang’e-6 lift-off, Cathay’s cadet troubles: 7 highlights of the week

An image of the lander and ascender on the moon’s surface taken by a mobile camera carried by Chang’e 6. Photo: CNSA

Prospective migrants and their families gather outside Dhaka airport last Friday, awaiting updates about their tickets. Photo: Redwan Ahmed

A view of a sleeper carriage for the new China Railway overnight service between Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. Photo: MTR

Crystal Jade in Singapore has been feeling the heat for a promotional campaign for char siu that employs a Cantonese insult often directed at children by frustrated parents. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong 47 case, traveller’s banned meat fine, Keanu Reeves’ lookalike in Thailand: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week

Bai Tianhui (centre), former general manager of China Huarong International Holdings, was sentenced to death by a Chinese court on Tuesday for corruption. Photo: Weibo

The food included rice with roast pork and soy sauce chicken, both typical Cantonese dishes. Photo: Handout

Regardless of the type of diabetes, failure to maintain normal blood glucose levels over time can lead to serious side effects, including heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease. Photo: Shutterstock

A German man has become a global online hit and sparked a media frenzy in Thailand because of his staggering resemblance to Hollywood superstar, Keanu Reeves. Photo: SCMP composite/TikTok/Lionsgate

Ming dynasty shipwreck, Malaysia’s Anwar: 5 weekend reads you may have missed

Robotic arms from a research submersible are shown retrieving porcelain relics in the South China Sea. Photo: NCHA

The shipwreck has yielded hundreds of artefacts ranging from coins to wooden logs, revealing valuable insights about trade during the Ming dynasty. Photo: CCTV

A Chinese store in Hermosillo, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, in 1900. Photo: Historical Society, from The Chinese in Northern Mexico/HKU

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is interviewed at his office in Putrajaya by the South China Morning Post. Photo: Hadi Azmi

A road in northern Laos adjacent to the Laos-China Railway built under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: Kristian Odebjer

China’s coastguard has sweeping new powers, which the Philippines has described as particularly worrisome. Photo: AP

Philippine province caught in US-China rivalry, Dragon Boat secrets: 5 weekend reads

Tourists ride on elephants, at Mason’s Elephant Park and Lodge, Bali, Indonesia, 2024. Photo: Dave Smith

A man exits a Chinese restaurant in Santa Ana, near the Philippines’ northernmost EDCA site used by US forces. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

A worker at the port of Santa Ana, Cagayan Valley in the Philippines. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem

The Malaysian city of Johor Bahru, with heavy traffic seen on the Johor-Singapore Causeway at dusk. Photo: Getty Images

The Post delves into some of the lesser-known traditions and customs involved with China’s famous Dragon Boat Festival. Photo: SCMP Graphic Image

Animal welfare groups slam Bali’s elephant parks for cruelly exploiting their captive animals for tourism, while park owners say the elephants enjoy human interaction and exercise. Photo: Dave Smith

A view from the deck of a Hong Kong ferry. Boats big and small ply a surprisingly large number of routes, serving remote islands and stretches of coast. Photo: Bettina Wassener

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From a collision in the South China Sea to a ‘ghost wedding’ in Malaysia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting


From a collision in the South China Sea to a ‘ghost wedding’ in Malaysia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.


South China Sea collision, AI-powered sexbots, Malaysian ‘ghost marriage’: 7 highlights

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}From a collision in the South China Sea to a ‘ghost wedding’ in Malaysia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. Chinese and Philippine ships collide, first under Beijing’s new coastguard law

2. China’s next-gen sexbots powered by AI about to hit the shelves

From a collision in the South China Sea to a ‘ghost wedding’ in Malaysia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting