China’s EUV breakthrough, Japan shuts down earthquake rumours: SCMP’s 7 highlights

From China sending back Boeing jets to Pakistan and India in an arms showdown, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

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Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines are critical for producing the advanced chips that drive hi-tech industries. Illustration: Getty

Published: 12:15pm, 2 May 2025Updated: 1:27pm, 2 May 2025

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. China defies ASML prediction with EUV breakthrough in advanced chip production

Chinese researchers have cracked a barrier to the home-grown production of advanced chips by building an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source platform that operates at internationally competitive parameters, according to a research paper.

2. Walmart tells some Chinese suppliers to resume shipments amid trade war: sources

US retail giant Walmart has reportedly told some Chinese suppliers to resume shipments, in a possible sign that a deal to de-escalate the US-China trade war may be getting closer. Photo: AFP

Some manufacturers in China’s Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces – export powerhouses that have been hit hard by the US-China trade war – have been told by Walmart and other major American retailers to resume shipments in recent days, the Post has learned.

3. India vs Pakistan: a Western-Chinese arms face-off in the making?

Pakistan’s arsenal of Chinese-made and jointly developed weapons could clash with India’s mix of French, Russian and domestically produced military hardware amid rising warnings of an “imminent” conflict between the South Asian rivals.