https://www.scmp.com/rss/21074/feed Xinhua News Agency is the official state-run news agency in China, distributing official news, updates and information related to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese government. Xinhua has correspondents and journalists in China and around the world, offering multilingual news coverage in various formats. It is headquartered in Beijing. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Meredith Chen Meredith Chen TV drama regulators in China have taken aim at beauty-obsessed and traffic-driven programming in the industry, with a call for more “quality” storytelling. The National Radio and Television Administration’s drama department sent out the call on Thursday as it brought major streaming platforms and production companies together for a conference on “healthy aesthetics”. “[Efforts should be made] to avoid the tendency to value physical beauty above everything else and reliance on traffic-driven... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349085/are-chinas-tv-dramas-obsessed-beauty-industry-regulator-thinks-so?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349085/are-chinas-tv-dramas-obsessed-beauty-industry-regulator-thinks-so?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:00:13 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan has moved swiftly to contain the diplomatic fallout after a member of its Self-Defence Forces broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo last week. But observers and local media say the incident has given Beijing an opening to reinforce claims of rising militarism and anti-China sentiment in Japan. Yoshinobu Kusunoki, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, on Monday called the break-in on March 24 “extremely unusual and serious”, adding that it “should not have happened”. His... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348549/japan-races-limit-fallout-chinese-embassy-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348549/japan-races-limit-fallout-chinese-embassy-break?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Emily Hung,Olga Wong Emily Hung,Olga Wong Retired civil servant Janice Tse Siu-wa has been appointed the new secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, with her top priority being the formulation of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday that he had nominated the 61-year-old Tse to the State Council because of her strong passion for the five-year plan and capability, stemming from her 38 years of working for the government. “The first local five-year plan must be formulated within this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348334/janice-tse-appointed-new-constitutional-and-mainland-affairs-chief-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348334/janice-tse-appointed-new-constitutional-and-mainland-affairs-chief-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:38:26 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan As Washington steps up rhetoric and pressure on Cuba after its campaign in Iran, Beijing finds itself torn between geopolitical reality and ideological affinity. According to analysts, Beijing has few good options to counter US hegemony in Washington’s own backyard, and its response is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and modest humanitarian aid. They said any disruption to global stability ultimately harmed Beijing’s interests and did not see prolonged US military action... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346970/trump-ramps-pressure-cuba-china-has-very-limited-options?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346970/trump-ramps-pressure-cuba-china-has-very-limited-options?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is offering solar energy to Cuba, an old ally left without power amid the US oil embargo, in a show of strength for Chinese renewable-energy credentials and a sign of Beijing’s economic footprint in Latin America. Beijing’s ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, on Monday outlined joint energy projects in progress as part of an effort to ease a “complex power situation” in the Caribbean nation, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “China has always maintained that Latin America and the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346978/china-help-cuba-solar-energy-amid-us-oil-blockade-and-total-power-outage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346978/china-help-cuba-solar-energy-amid-us-oil-blockade-and-total-power-outage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China is expected to rebalance its ties with Israel as US-Israeli air strikes on Iran reshape the region’s security landscape, but analysts say it is unlikely to abandon its long-standing “balanced diplomacy” in the Middle East. The strikes began on Saturday after nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran reached a stalemate and tensions spiralled. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 86-year-old cleric who had dominated the Islamic Republic’s political system for nearly four... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345308/how-will-china-adjust-israel-ties-us-led-strikes-iran-reshape-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345308/how-will-china-adjust-israel-ties-us-led-strikes-iran-reshape-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Communist Party cadres have been put on notice over governance and performance appraisals as the ruling body counts down to leadership changes across the country and the start of the next five-year plan. In a campaign that will continue until July, officials from the county level up have been told to correct any deviations from the “correct” line in their own duties and in assessments of those under their watch. In an article on Wednesday, state news agency Xinhua suggested that breaches of this... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344633/why-communist-party-warning-cadres-about-their-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344633/why-communist-party-warning-cadres-about-their-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:18 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has joined Russia in congratulating North Korea on the conclave of its ruling party, hailing economic achievements under the leadership of Kim Jong-un and pledging to work with Pyongyang to promote regional peace. According to state news agency Xinhua, the Central Committee of China’s Communist Party sent a congratulatory message to Pyongyang on Thursday, asserting that the ruling Workers’ Party had in recent years helped to develop the North Korean economy and improve the lives of its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344118/china-applauds-north-korea-party-conclave-new-historical-period-ties-xinhua?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344118/china-applauds-north-korea-party-conclave-new-historical-period-ties-xinhua?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang In the cutthroat world of Chinese civil service exams, the most dangerous opponent is not necessarily the person in the next seat: it is the “ghost” candidate designed to scare you away before you even show up. A bizarre case of inflating applicant numbers to deter potential candidates has become a national talking point, as tougher job prospects raise interest in civil service examinations on the mainland. First reported by state media in December, the case involved the illegal purchase of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344010/chinas-tight-economy-fake-exam-takers-scheme-has-touched-nerve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344010/chinas-tight-economy-fake-exam-takers-scheme-has-touched-nerve?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s anti-corruption watchdogs have again put cadres on notice, ordering tighter discipline and greater scrutiny of Communist Party officials in the countdown to next year’s leadership reshuffle. Among the fresh warnings on Thursday was a caution against associating with “political swindlers”, people who fraudulently claim to have links to senior officials so they can peddle promotions for cash. The orders were issued jointly by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343527/beware-political-swindlers-chinas-cadres-warned-ahead-leadership-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343527/beware-political-swindlers-chinas-cadres-warned-ahead-leadership-change?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:10:31 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China on Saturday launched the latest mission of its reusable experimental spacecraft – a potential rival to the US Space Force’s X-37B. It was China’s fourth launch of such a prototype spacecraft since 2020, all of them conducted at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre using the Long March-2F carrier rocket. The official name and technical specifications of the spacecraft have yet to be announced, but Chinese space fans have dubbed it the Shenlong, or “Divine Dragon”. State news agency Xinhua... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342759/china-sends-fourth-shenlong-reusable-spacecraft-mission-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342759/china-sends-fourth-shenlong-reusable-spacecraft-mission-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Israel’s ambassador to China has hailed the historical connections between the two countries and called for closer socioeconomic ties in a rare column for Chinese state media. Eli Belotserkovsky’s signed Chinese-language article for state news agency Xinhua comes amid global conversation over the Board of Peace, US President Donald Trump’s newly created body to tackle the Palestinian issue. The Jewish and Chinese civilisations had amassed rich historical wisdom and knowledge over millennia,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342002/israels-china-envoy-calls-deepen-historical-ties-rare-state-media-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342002/israels-china-envoy-calls-deepen-historical-ties-rare-state-media-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:29:56 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China carried out naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Saturday – just days after joint US-Philippine drills nearby – underscoring tensions in the disputed South China Sea waters. The PLA Southern Theatre Command issued a statement on the “combat readiness patrols” near the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island. They were aimed at countering “infringement and provocative actions by individual countries”, it said, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States and rival... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341949/chinese-military-patrols-scarborough-shoal-5-days-after-us-philippine-drills-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341949/chinese-military-patrols-scarborough-shoal-5-days-after-us-philippine-drills-area?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:35:22 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick Macau, made for high rollers, isn’t short on flashy experiences. After a night at the MGM Cotai Supreme Room, where a million-pataca chip stack looks paltry, you can toast your winnings at Robuchon au Dôme at the Grand Lisboa and pop open a vintage wine that will set you back 250,000 patacas, before resting your head in one of 14 invitation-only David Beckham Suites at The Londoner. But one experience trumps all these because it cannot be bought: to climb into a blue Mini and be taken on a... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3340789/meet-goncalo-cesar-de-sa-journalist-who-got-scoop-macaus-return-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3340789/meet-goncalo-cesar-de-sa-journalist-who-got-scoop-macaus-return-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Shares of Labubu maker Pop Mart surged on Friday, extending this week’s gain to 23 per cent, after its CEO appeared in a high-profile state media interview and a newly launched product went viral amid growing investor appetite for consumer stocks. In a documentary interview released by Xinhua news agency at noon, founder and CEO Wang Ning reflected on the company’s entrepreneurial journey and outlined his long-term vision, offering rare public remarks that investors viewed as a signal of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340938/labubu-maker-pop-mart-rallies-new-toy-trend-and-state-media-spotlight-spark-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340938/labubu-maker-pop-mart-rallies-new-toy-trend-and-state-media-spotlight-spark-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:15:20 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Following the burglary of a warehouse belonging to Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com on Monday, a judicial source has confirmed an investigation has begun on charges of theft by an organised gang. The incident came in the middle of the Christmas shopping season and took place in the town of Dugny, a northern suburb of Paris that serves as a midpoint between the French capital and its main freight hub, Charles de Gaulle Airport. Suspects neutralised the warehouse’s video surveillance system, with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337610/burglary-jdcom-warehouse-france-prompts-investigation-speculation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337610/burglary-jdcom-warehouse-france-prompts-investigation-speculation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:00:12 +0000 Meredith Chen,Phoebe Zhang Meredith Chen,Phoebe Zhang A wave of online discussion blaming China’s last imperial dynasty for national historical sufferings has prompted official criticism after touching on sensitive questions, and ignited debate over historical narrative, nationalism and social governance. What began as a fringe literary interpretation of an 18th-century classical novel has evolved in recent weeks to become a viral internet topic, known as the “1644 historical perspective”. The main claim – which has exposed sharp divisions online –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337326/fringe-view-chinas-history-sparks-official-rebuke-after-going-viral-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337326/fringe-view-chinas-history-sparks-official-rebuke-after-going-viral-online?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:23 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang All eyes are on how Beijing’s “Chinese dream” of eventual Taiwan reunification will unfold at a time when the leader of the United States – Taipei’s top international backer – appears less likely to intervene in case of a cross-strait conflict. In the first of a three-part series, Amber Wang looks at how Beijing has increasingly focused on outlining post-unification governance visions while ramping up messaging to the island’s public. Orbiting high above the Earth, Jilin-1, a commercial... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337342/has-mainland-chinas-taiwan-policy-entered-new-phase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337342/has-mainland-chinas-taiwan-policy-entered-new-phase?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China’s youth-unemployment rate ticked lower in November, though competition remains fierce for university graduates trying to find work that matches their qualifications. The jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, fell to 16.9 per cent in November from 17.3 per cent in October, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. The rate has eased since August, when the graduation of a record 12.2 million university students over the summer pushed it... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336857/chinas-jobless-rate-young-people-eases-169-graduates-settle-less?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336857/chinas-jobless-rate-young-people-eases-169-graduates-settle-less?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:00:11 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo A 2026 calendar issued by a North Korean publisher for Chinese tourists features a new beach resort on the country’s east coast, a copy obtained by Kyodo News showed on Wednesday. The Wonsan Kalma tourist area with hotels and leisure facilities was launched in the summer, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visiting there in July for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Before North Korea shut its borders in early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many Chinese tourists had... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3335934/north-korea-beckons-chinese-tourists-beach-resort-2026-calendar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3335934/north-korea-beckons-chinese-tourists-beach-resort-2026-calendar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:01:59 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi China has pledged to better coordinate its domestic economic work to account for international trade turbulence next year, with a high-level decision-making body calling for the promotion of “effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth” in the country’s economy. After a meeting of the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo on Monday, the 24-member body said China would “seek progress while maintaining stability” in next year’s economic work, and continue to exert a “more... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3335563/chinas-politburo-says-more-proactive-fiscal-policy-come-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3335563/chinas-politburo-says-more-proactive-fiscal-policy-come-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:34:14 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen South Korea has designated Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” on its online registration form for arriving tourists, visitors from the island recently discovered. This comes as Beijing and Tokyo are locked in a diplomatic spat over the Japanese prime minister’s remarks on a hypothetical Taiwan contingency. Taiwan has protested the “unfriendly” designation, with its foreign ministry on Wednesday citing multiple reports from Taiwanese travelling to South Korea and urging that Seoul correct the “apparently... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335373/taipei-protests-after-south-korea-tourist-arrival-card-lists-taiwan-china-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335373/taipei-protests-after-south-korea-tourist-arrival-card-lists-taiwan-china-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:21:28 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China logged a record 180 billion express deliveries in the first 11 months of the year, according to state media reports, as the country’s online shopping platforms continue to rake in orders despite an economic slowdown. Xinhua said the bumper parcel deliveries – which reached as high as 777 million per day from January to November, according to the State Post Bureau – reflected the “vigorous vitality of China’s economy”, though analysts cautioned that vendors were often relying on generous... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334909/china-delivers-record-180-billion-parcels-11-months-shoppers-chase-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334909/china-delivers-record-180-billion-parcels-11-months-shoppers-chase-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Emily Hung,Ada Li,Jess Ma Emily Hung,Ada Li,Jess Ma Thousands of mourners poured into Tai Po on Sunday, forming a solemn river of remembrance for the 146 lives lost in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in more than seven decades, while Beijing called for unity and healing as a massive rescue and recovery operation continued amid the charred ruins. The scale of the calamity was evident, as the Disaster Victim Identification Unit (DVIU) discovered 18 more bodies in the wreckage of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po following Wednesday’s blaze. They have completed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334692/mourners-pay-tribute-hong-kong-fire-victims-beijing-calls-unity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334692/mourners-pay-tribute-hong-kong-fire-victims-beijing-calls-unity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:11:05 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Beijing’s state media has praised the swift rescue and relief efforts by the Hong Kong government after the city’s worst fire in decades, commending its leadership and pledging support in its first editorial commentary on the tragedy. Published on Sunday, the commentary by Xinhua, which typically reflects the stance of the central government, focused on how the disaster had united the city and urged Hong Kong to move forward. It praised Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his leadership was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334662/chinese-state-media-praises-hong-kong-fire-efforts-and-vows-beijings-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334662/chinese-state-media-praises-hong-kong-fire-efforts-and-vows-beijings-support?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 07:31:48 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Corrupt local officials in China are manipulating collective decision-making procedures for personal gain and to mask their activities, state media has warned. A report published on Wednesday highlighted examples of behind-the-scenes manipulation where subordinates were told how to vote in advance, and of collusion between corrupt officials or sham public consultations. “In recent years, to standardise collective decision-making, systematic procedures and requirements were introduced in many... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334189/corrupt-chinese-officials-hold-sham-votes-approve-projects-state-media-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334189/corrupt-chinese-officials-hold-sham-votes-approve-projects-state-media-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 02:00:16 +0000 Mark Magnier,Frank Tang Mark Magnier,Frank Tang Washington initiated the phone call between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, Beijing has clarified, describing the conversation as “positive”. “According to my understanding, the call was initiated by the US side, and the atmosphere of the conversation was positive, friendly and constructive,” Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a regular press conference on Tuesday. Communication between the two heads of state on issues of shared concern... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333998/xi-trump-hold-rare-call-taiwan-tensions-flare-after-japans-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333998/xi-trump-hold-rare-call-taiwan-tensions-flare-after-japans-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:18:39 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil’s top military court has closed a dictatorship-era case against nine Chinese citizens who were arrested and tortured in 1964, ending a process that stayed open for more than six decades despite the lack of evidence behind the original charges. In a decision released on Sunday, Brazil’s Superior Military Court ruled that the case should legally have expired in 1981 but was never closed. As a result, a 50-volume case file remained on the docket. The closure lifts a lingering point of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333168/brazil-ends-60-year-case-chinese-detainees-tortured-under-military-regime?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333168/brazil-ends-60-year-case-chinese-detainees-tortured-under-military-regime?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:58:24 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin A bizarre debate on Chinese social media has put the two National Games mascots – with their enthusiastic, somewhat chaotic viral dance movements – in the spotlight: are they dolphins or are they chickens? Officially named Xiyangyang and Lerongrong – meaning “joy and happiness” – the mascots have become internet sensations, thanks to their cuteness and childlike, energetic characteristics, as performed by teenagers and young adults. The duo were originally inspired by the Chinese white dolphins,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332479/dolphins-or-chickens-national-games-mascots-xiyangyang-lerongrong-spark-strange-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332479/dolphins-or-chickens-national-games-mascots-xiyangyang-lerongrong-spark-strange-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s State Council has called for the faster development and wider rollout of large-scale testing and application environments for new technologies, as Beijing pushes to boost commercialisation and build a world-leading industrial base. The country should “focus on the frontiers of industrial development and key technological challenges, and prioritise the layout of new application scenarios in emerging fields and tracks, high-value niche areas and cross-regional and cross-sector domains,”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331318/china-calls-faster-broader-adoption-advanced-tech-cement-industrial-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331318/china-calls-faster-broader-adoption-advanced-tech-cement-industrial-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:14:03 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Communist Party’s fourth plenum communique reaffirmed the promotion of peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and advancement of the cause of national reunification. Within a day, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee designated October 25 as the annual day of commemoration of Taiwan’s return to Chinese sovereignty – 80 years after the surrender of Japanese forces in Taiwan to the then ruling Kuomintang. This sends a telling message. The Beijing leadership... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3331024/taiwan-one-china-principle-bottom-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3331024/taiwan-one-china-principle-bottom-line?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The world’s two largest powers signalled at least 14 months of likely stability in US-China relations following a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump – and hinted they would meet “regularly”, setting the stage for more encounters next year. During talks on Thursday that highlighted the personal connection between the two leaders and struck a conciliatory tone for long-term ties, Beijing and Washington reached a truce on thorny issues ranging from soybeans... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331101/beyond-trade-deal-are-more-xi-trump-summits-pathway-new-era-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331101/beyond-trade-deal-are-more-xi-trump-summits-pathway-new-era-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:42:08 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged world leaders to ensure the stability of supply chains, saying countries should be “joining hands” instead of “breaking chains”, as he pointed to growing uncertainty in the Asia-Pacific. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi also repeated earlier calls for countries to uphold the multilateral trading system and protect the interests of developing economies. “Currently, the world is undergoing profound changes, a once-in-a-century... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330991/chinas-xi-jinping-calls-world-leaders-join-hands-protect-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330991/chinas-xi-jinping-calls-world-leaders-join-hands-protect-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 02:45:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Seoul aimed to work with Beijing to advance practical cooperation in trade, supply chains and people-to-people exchanges to improve ties based on “friendly competition” and “equal cooperation”. Lee made the remarks in an interview with China’s state-run Xinhua news agency published a day ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in the South Korean city of Busan on Thursday. This marks Xi’s first visit to South Korea in 11 years, following his last... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330917/south-koreas-lee-calls-friendly-competition-china-ahead-xi-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330917/south-koreas-lee-calls-friendly-competition-china-ahead-xi-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 10:12:56 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Some bathhouses in China are invigorating the traditional hot spring experience with “hotpot baths”, where visitors immerse themselves in a chilli pepper “soup” inspired by the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In October, a resort in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, elevated the experience further by introducing a two-tone soup pool, offering a more visually stunning attraction. In restaurants, the yuan yang hotpot, or Mandarin duck hotpot,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3330738/what-china-tcm-inspired-hotpot-bath-where-visitors-soak-chilli-pepper-and-milk-soup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3330738/what-china-tcm-inspired-hotpot-bath-where-visitors-soak-chilli-pepper-and-milk-soup?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:28:22 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s “institutional strength” will help the country tackle “major tests” over the course of the next five-year plan, analysts and state media have said. The country’s latest development plan, which is due to start next year and run until 2030, comes at a time when Beijing is facing increasing obstacles to its long-term ambitions both at home and abroad – particularly its intense rivalry with the United States. China’s first five-year plan was introduced in 1953. The country has since... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3330584/why-china-may-be-banking-institutional-strength-implement-next-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3330584/why-china-may-be-banking-institutional-strength-implement-next-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:16:02 +0000 SCMP SCMP 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... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3330510/trumps-asia-trip-south-china-sea-air-crashes-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3330510/trumps-asia-trip-south-china-sea-air-crashes-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:15:13 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow China saw a massive uptick in generative artificial intelligence adoption in the first half of the year to 515 million users, with most of the users preferring domestic models, according to a state-run research organisation. The number of users more than doubled in the first six months of the year from the end of December to reach an adoption rate of 36.5 per cent, a report released on Saturday by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) found. Bolstered by advanced infrastructure... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3329667/chinas-generative-ai-user-base-doubles-515-million-6-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3329667/chinas-generative-ai-user-base-doubles-515-million-6-months?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s ruling Communist Party kicked off a key four-day conclave on Monday that will determine the country’s development over the next five years. The fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee began on Monday morning, according to state news agency Xinhua. Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is also the nation’s president, delivered a work report to the meeting and outlined the party’s proposals for the next five-year plan, which will be submitted for deliberation, a brief report said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329656/chinas-communist-party-kicks-fourth-plenum-amid-tightened-security-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329656/chinas-communist-party-kicks-fourth-plenum-amid-tightened-security-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:30:36 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Chinese Premier Li Qiang promised closer cooperation with North Korea as he began a three-day visit to the country on Thursday following a recent flurry of diplomatic exchanges that signalled a thaw in relations. Li is the most senior Chinese official to visit the country since 2019. During his visit he will attend a series of events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party. Li said Beijing was ready to work with Pyongyang to “strengthen strategic communication, maintain... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328380/chinese-premier-li-qiang-begins-north-korea-trip-friendly-cooperation-pledge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328380/chinese-premier-li-qiang-begins-north-korea-trip-friendly-cooperation-pledge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen A rare meeting of top US military leaders in Quantico this week sparked heated discussion on the other side of the Pacific, with Chinese media and online commenters pointing to chaos and political division. Hundreds of US generals, admirals and other senior enlisted military leaders were summoned abruptly from around the world – without advance notice of the agenda – for Tuesday’s meeting led by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, who spoke for 45 minutes, stressed the importance of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327655/maga-loyalty-test-chinese-weigh-hegseth-and-trumps-address-military-top-brass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327655/maga-loyalty-test-chinese-weigh-hegseth-and-trumps-address-military-top-brass?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:15:00 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will begin a four-day visit to China on Saturday, days after South Korea urged China to help broker inter-Korean talks. Choe would meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, state news agency Xinhua and Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday. Her trip closely follows leader Kim Jong-un’s appearance at China’s Victory Day parade on September 3 and his meeting with President Xi Jinping this month – his first since 2019. Choe... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326867/days-after-seoul-seeks-chinas-help-pyongyang-north-korean-envoy-will-visit-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326867/days-after-seoul-seeks-chinas-help-pyongyang-north-korean-envoy-will-visit-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:42:59 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A South Korean worker detained in a large-scale US immigration raid earlier this month has alleged mistreatment by American authorities, describing several days spent in degrading conditions under psychological duress at a federal detention centre in Georgia. The man, who declined to be identified, was among more than 300 South Korean nationals arrested during a surprise raid on September 4 at HL-GA Battery Company, a joint venture of Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, near Savannah,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3325729/mouldy-beds-foul-water-and-mockery-south-koreans-detail-grim-conditions-ice-detention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3325729/mouldy-beds-foul-water-and-mockery-south-koreans-detail-grim-conditions-ice-detention?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:14:36 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Chinese police have fined fashion giant Dior’s Shanghai subsidiary after finding the company guilty of transmitting data overseas without security screening, according to state media. Citing the National Cybersecurity Notification Centre, state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday that the investigation followed media reports of a data breach at the French fashion brand, while users in mainland China received alert text messages from Dior. The cyber police said their findings indicated... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3324865/dior-fined-china-sending-data-overseas-without-security-screening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3324865/dior-fined-china-sending-data-overseas-without-security-screening?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:16:19 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Chinese lawmakers began their first review of draft amendments to the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law on Monday, seeking to address shortcomings in the market-exit mechanism, state media reported. The amendments, discussed during the ongoing 17th session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, include more than 160 new or modified articles based on the current law that was enacted 18 years ago and features 216 articles, according to Xinhua. Calling it the foundational legal... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324748/urgent-revisions-mulled-chinas-bankruptcy-law-shortcomings-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324748/urgent-revisions-mulled-chinas-bankruptcy-law-shortcomings-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang North Korea, one of the world’s most isolated and heavily sanctioned countries, has remained a major destination for Chinese wine exports this year, as the nation has few alternative options to source alcoholic drinks. North Korea bought 157,393 litres of wine from China in the first seven months of 2025 – more than double the volume imported during the same period last year – making it the second-largest buyer of Chinese bottled wine so far this year, trailing only Hong Kong, according to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323645/when-north-koreans-raise-toast-its-increasingly-chinese-wine-import-volume-surges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323645/when-north-koreans-raise-toast-its-increasingly-chinese-wine-import-volume-surges?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 06:00:08 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Chinese authorities have announced new rules targeting the rapid expansion of medical science accounts on social media and other unofficial channels, to stop the spread of false and misleading medical information online. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the National Health Commission (NHC), the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) jointly issued a notice about the new regulatory framework on August... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3322803/china-cracks-down-fake-medical-advice-new-rules-health-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3322803/china-cracks-down-fake-medical-advice-new-rules-health-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:46:06 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Xi Jinping has arrived in Tibet for events to mark the 60th anniversary of the autonomous region, making him the first Chinese president to attend the once-a-decade activities. He arrived in Lhasa around noon on Wednesday with a high-level entourage including Wang Huning, China’s top political adviser and fourth-ranking official; Cai Qi, the president’s chief of staff; Li Ganjie, head of the United Front Work Department; Vice-Premier He Lifeng; and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3322542/chinese-president-xi-jinping-arrives-tibet-landmark-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3322542/chinese-president-xi-jinping-arrives-tibet-landmark-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:22:54 +0000 Hannah Wang Hannah Wang An AI start-up backed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Automation is seeking to promote its artificial intelligence offerings outside the mainland under a strategic partnership with Cherrypicks, the firm behind Hong Kong’s Covid-19 tracking app. Beijing-based Zhongke WengAI, whose services are used by various Chinese ministries and state media outlets, will also jointly develop with Cherrypicks – owned by Hong Kong-listed NetDragon Websoft – enterprise AI solutions for industries... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3322029/chinese-start-joins-netdragon-owned-cherrypicks-push-ai-solutions-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3322029/chinese-start-joins-netdragon-owned-cherrypicks-push-ai-solutions-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Aug 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A hiker attacked by a wild brown bear was found dead in northern Japan on Friday, officials said, a day after the bloody encounter that reportedly saw him dragged into a forest. The hiker in his 20s tried to fight off the large animal but was pulled into the nearby woods with his legs bleeding profusely, local media outlets including the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said. The man was attacked while walking a trail on Mount Rausu on the northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday morning, a local police... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3322006/hiker-japan-found-dead-after-bear-attack-forest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3322006/hiker-japan-found-dead-after-bear-attack-forest?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:55:31 +0000