https://www.scmp.com/rss/266060/feed China Central Television is the predominant state television broadcaster in China. Founded in 1958, it serves as one of the chief propaganda arms of the Communist government. In 2016, CCTV rebranded its international networks as China Global Television Network (CGTN). en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese navy has unveiled a new anti-drone air defence system, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Drones have fundamentally transformed naval warfare in recent years and emerged as a significant threat to modern warships in conflicts such as Russia’s war against Ukraine and the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The CCTV report on Monday said a “finalisation test” – which certifies that a weapon system’s design meets all operational requirements – had been successfully carried out in the Bohai... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3352515/china-unveils-new-naval-defence-systems-drones-change-nature-war-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3352515/china-unveils-new-naval-defence-systems-drones-change-nature-war-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 11:06:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Chinese football fans appear largely unconcerned about the possibility of missing out on watching this summer’s World Cup, with Fifa and state broadcaster CCTV yet to reach a deal on television rights. With less than five weeks until the tournament starts, there has been almost no promotional content on the mainland, standing in stark contrast to the previous two editions when CCTV secured rights early and began airing adverts and sponsor content weeks in advance. A combination of early morning... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3352483/china-fans-why-pay-watch-world-cup-were-not-and-can-get-free-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3352483/china-fans-why-pay-watch-world-cup-were-not-and-can-get-free-online?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 08:30:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Millions of football fans in the world’s two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup, which starts next month, because of a deadlock over broadcast rights in India and no official decision in China. In India, a Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered US$20 million for 2026 World Cup broadcast rights, a fraction of Fifa’s ask, which was not acceptable to football’s global governing body, two sources said on Monday. Sony ‌held talks but also decided not to make an offer for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3352400/fifa-faces-world-cup-broadcast-crisis-after-india-makes-low-rights-offer-no-china-decision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3352400/fifa-faces-world-cup-broadcast-crisis-after-india-makes-low-rights-offer-no-china-decision?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Beijing’s decision to block Meta Platforms’ proposed acquisition of artificial intelligence firm Manus should not be seen as a restriction on foreign investment, Chinese state media said, urging companies in the sector to “go global when ready” and “pursue partnerships where appropriate”. “What stands out from Meta’s Manus deal is that the AI industry is transcending simple commercial logic,” Yuyuan Tantian, the influential social media account run by state broadcaster CCTV, said on Wednesday in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352005/chinas-manus-block-warning-other-ai-firms-global-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352005/chinas-manus-block-warning-other-ai-firms-global-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Holly Chik,Fan Chen Yuanyue Dang,Holly Chik,Fan Chen Senior officials from China and the United States have been “testing the waters” ahead of US President Donald Trump’s coming visit to China by outlining some of their main concerns. Meanwhile, new areas of concern emerged on Friday as the Chinese Ministry of Commerce warned that the United States was threatening the “hard-won stability” in their trade relations after the national telecoms agency effectively banned smartphones tested in Chinese laboratories from the American market. Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352074/china-voices-serious-concern-over-us-curbs-talks-bessent-greer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352074/china-voices-serious-concern-over-us-curbs-talks-bessent-greer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:25:17 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China has stepped up its tech war with the United States, blocking Facebook owner Meta’s US$2.5 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Manus and raising cybersecurity concerns about Anthropic’s new AI model Claude Mythos Preview. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced it was prohibiting the Manus deal in a one-sentence statement on Monday, which didn’t give a specific reason. Meta is now planning to unwind the acquisition, which means untangling... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3351705/china-blocks-metas-manus-deal-raises-mythos-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3351705/china-blocks-metas-manus-deal-raises-mythos-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:08:11 +0000 David Ho David Ho Opera Hong Kong’s Carmen, running from May 7 to 10, promises to be a seductive strut down memory lane. Under the direction of Jia Ding, the classic tale has been reimagined. The opera, by French composer Georges Bizet, is a story of burning love and brutal passion traditionally set in Seville, Spain. But what would the story look like if that drama took place in 1978 Hong Kong instead? Jia is a tour de force in the performing arts, being an acclaimed lyricist, playwright and director. For... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3351385/director-jia-ding-reimagining-georges-bizets-carmen-hong-kong-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3351385/director-jia-ding-reimagining-georges-bizets-carmen-hong-kong-story?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow In the third of a three-part series on Anthropic’s powerful Mythos AI model, we look at how China is responding to the growing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks and what it means for the country’s cybersecurity. China is not immune to any fallout that might result from AI-powered cyberattacks, according to experts, although a sense of panic may not be as high due to the country’s strict scrutiny of its artificial intelligence industry. In the weeks since US start-up Anthropic announced its new... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351485/scepticism-concern-mythos-panic-slowly-starting-reach-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351485/scepticism-concern-mythos-panic-slowly-starting-reach-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:31 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei PLA warships transited sensitive international waterways off southwestern Japan twice this week, a rare move seen as a clear warning to Tokyo over its recent actions relating to Taiwan. The transits marked the start and end of exercises in the western Pacific, outbound through the Yokoate Channel on Sunday and back via the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway on Wednesday. In a statement on Wednesday, the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said: “[We] have organised the 133rd Fleet to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:24:14 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The Strait of Hormuz should remain open, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. It was the first time the Chinese leader had called for the reopening of the strategically vital waterway, which has been repeatedly blockaded since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. “The Strait of Hormuz should remain open for normal passage, which aligns with the common interest of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350747/xi-jinping-says-strait-hormuz-should-be-open-call-saudi-crown-prince?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350747/xi-jinping-says-strait-hormuz-should-be-open-call-saudi-crown-prince?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:36:05 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China has started work on a project to reduce natural gas consumption by blending it with hydrogen that will provide energy to 100,000 households. The project in Weifang in the eastern province of Shandong is first to be carried out on such a scale and forms part of the country’s green energy push, an effort that is likely to gain further momentum in the wake of the current global energy crisis. It uses equipment capable of handling up to 30,000 cubic metres (1 million cubic feet) of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350628/how-hydrogen-could-help-china-cut-natural-gas-use-and-carbon-emissions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350628/how-hydrogen-could-help-china-cut-natural-gas-use-and-carbon-emissions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The “drone-killing” success of Iran’s 358 loitering munition, especially against expensive US-made platforms, is attracting attention well beyond the battlefield in the Middle East. In China, state media has taken a look at the Iranian-designed counter-drone loitering interceptor’s reported role in bringing down multiple uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones, like the MQ-9 “Reaper” in the US-Israel war on Iran. The 358 missile, also known as the SA-67, weighs about 50kg (110lbs). Powered by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350564/lesson-china-irans-low-cost-358-missile-takes-out-million-dollar-us-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350564/lesson-china-irans-low-cost-358-missile-takes-out-million-dollar-us-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong welcomed back its iconic Sevens rugby tournament for a 50th year on Friday, with an opening ceremony featuring robots, K-pop and a light show almost as sparkling as some of the action on the pitch. Not even a hole in the roof of the HK$30 billion Kai Tak Stadium could put a dampener on proceedings, even if the rain that leaked in left some fans running for cover. Even so, the thunderstorms that hovered over the city for much of the afternoon did little to deter spectators generally,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3350541/hong-kong-sevens-heaven-dazzling-display-marks-start-50th-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3350541/hong-kong-sevens-heaven-dazzling-display-marks-start-50th-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:06:53 +0000 Holly Chik,Victoria Bela Holly Chik,Victoria Bela The three astronauts stationed on China’s Tiangong space station will extend their stay by around a month, state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday. The crew lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on October 31 on board the Shenzhou-21 vessel and were expected to return to Earth at the end of this month after a standard six-month mission. In November, a crack was discovered in a window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, forcing the space station’s previous crew to extend their stay for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350472/chinas-space-station-crew-maximise-opportunities-spending-extra-month-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350472/chinas-space-station-crew-maximise-opportunities-spending-extra-month-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:02:40 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China’s prototype Qingzhou robotic cargo spacecraft successfully conducted capture and towing operations on “non-cooperative” space targets, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday. The progress paves the way for so-called orbital tow trucks capable of clearing space debris and derelict satellites. The prototype spacecraft launched last month also conducted a suite of in-orbit experiments designed to sustain long-duration missions, according to CCTV. These included automated metal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350337/chinas-qingzhou-robotic-craft-tests-space-debris-capture-and-clean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350337/chinas-qingzhou-robotic-craft-tests-space-debris-capture-and-clean?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:14 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China’s largest artificial intelligence computing cluster for scientific research entered operation on Tuesday, doubling its number of domestically made AI accelerator chips in just two months, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The AI acceleration cards were produced by Chinese supercomputer developer Sugon, which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and are running in the core node of the national supercomputing network in Zhengzhou, Henan province. The number of chips in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350208/china-doubles-ai-science-computing-scale-2-months-using-no-us-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350208/china-doubles-ai-science-computing-scale-2-months-using-no-us-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An online industry has emerged which allows people to create “wealthy” personal profiles on social media in China by buying “luxury lifestyle” photographs for as little as one yuan (15 US cents). The pictures feature travel scenery, gourmet dining, golfing, skiing and other activities on e-commerce platforms. The photographs are typically priced between one and eight yuan and are marketed as ready-made content for social media posts or for building a curated online persona. They are usually... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350006/chinese-create-wealthy-online-personas-buying-exotic-lifestyle-photos-warned-legal-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350006/chinese-create-wealthy-online-personas-buying-exotic-lifestyle-photos-warned-legal-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A woman in central China who took a five-hour-long office nap during working hours and issued a tearful online complaint that her boss threatened to fire her if she did so again has captivated mainland social media. The unidentified woman said she felt badly treated by her boss, adding that she was unhappy with the size of her salary, according to a report by the Haichao News. She works in a company in Shangqiu, Henan province. Neither her employer’s information nor her job description is clear... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349379/china-woman-unhappy-salary-takes-5-hour-nap-work-show-boss-you-get-what-you-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349379/china-woman-unhappy-salary-takes-5-hour-nap-work-show-boss-you-get-what-you-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army division responsible for the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait carried out a decontamination exercise amid targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel. A recent training exercise at an Eastern Theatre Command naval base included an emergency response to a simulated nuclear attack, according to a report on Tuesday by state broadcaster CCTV, which did not specify the time or location of the drill. The exercise focused on rapid detection... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349361/pla-troops-facing-taiwan-strait-and-japan-simulate-response-nuclear-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349361/pla-troops-facing-taiwan-strait-and-japan-simulate-response-nuclear-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has miniaturised the technology used to make electromagnetic cannons to develop a handheld coil gun, according to state media. The weapon was designed for stealth, non-lethal operations and law enforcement, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday, adding that it could fire between 1,000 and 2,000 projectiles a minute and penetrate wooden boards from dozens of metres away. Its power levels can also be altered, meaning that on lower settings there is less chance it will kill someone and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349089/china-unveils-handheld-coil-gun-works-less-deadly-pistol?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349089/china-unveils-handheld-coil-gun-works-less-deadly-pistol?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai When the American sitcom Growing Pains was first broadcast in China in the 1990s, it was the first window for many in the country into American middle-class life. In the series, a doctor father, a journalist mother and four children live in a spacious suburban home with room for mistakes and second chances. While the show lightly touched on serious social issues, it projected a picture of health, stability and security. However, Chinese viewers have had a chance to rethink the show since state... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349077/growing-pains-meets-kill-line-new-chinese-hot-take-american-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349077/growing-pains-meets-kill-line-new-chinese-hot-take-american-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Before autonomous driving freed up the hands of Beijing’s middle class, thousands of workers some 1,500km (930 miles) away in China’s southwestern Guizhou province clicked away at computer screens to teach AI about navigating traffic. In the mountainous city of Tongren, where incomes are less than half those in Beijing, the work of data labelling – marking residential buildings, pavements, roadways and traffic lights – shaped the artificial intelligence guiding those vehicles. The job required... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349038/what-next-struggling-rural-mothers-china-who-helped-build-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349038/what-next-struggling-rural-mothers-china-who-helped-build-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:00:21 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Beijing has confirmed receiving the cremated remains of historic Communist Party spies from Taiwan and hailed the “patriots” as providing encouragement in its pursuit of reunification. Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, noted on Wednesday that the ashes had been returned before the Ching Ming Festival, a tomb-sweeping day that falls on April 5 this year, and days before the expected visit of Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348655/beijing-says-cremated-spy-remains-returned-taiwan-are-reminder-heroic-deeds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348655/beijing-says-cremated-spy-remains-returned-taiwan-are-reminder-heroic-deeds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Flight bookings in China have grown 20 per cent year on year ahead of the annual Ching Ming Festival holiday that starts this weekend and follows public school breaks in much of the country – despite higher airfares on account of rising fuel prices. Holiday bookings had reached 2.04 million flight tickets as of Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing figures from data provider TravelSky Technology. CCTV’s Sunday report said cross-border holiday flight bookings inbound and outbound stood at... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348367/chinese-flight-bookings-rise-20-ahead-april-holiday-break-despite-soaring-airfares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348367/chinese-flight-bookings-rise-20-ahead-april-holiday-break-despite-soaring-airfares?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s military canine robots have evolved into intelligent “wolf packs” with specialised roles and a shared “brain” to coordinate complex tasks in urban warfare, according to state media. Compared with earlier models deployed and tested by the People’s Liberation Army, these “robot wolves” have achieved a transformational leap from a “single-soldier support system to a coordinated swarm combat platform”, state broadcaster CCTV said in a documentary series episode that aired on Thursday. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348167/rise-wolf-pack-chinas-canine-robots-evolve-think-one-urban-combat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348167/rise-wolf-pack-chinas-canine-robots-evolve-think-one-urban-combat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:01:18 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen An AI-generated animation by China’s state broadcaster satirising the US-Israel war on Iran has gone viral, triggering a wave of user-made sequels online. First posted by CCTV on Wednesday, the wuxia-style allegory centres on a war between the “White Eagle” and the “Persian Cat” – clearly representing the US and Iran. Though it does not explicitly mention the war, the animated short closely mirrors the conflict, which started on February 28, when the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347626/white-eagles-and-persian-cats-chinese-ai-satire-us-war-iran-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347626/white-eagles-and-persian-cats-chinese-ai-satire-us-war-iran-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:34:48 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An American man who donated photographs of the Japanese invasion of China in World War II and received a national gift of porcelain from China has announced that he has settled in the country. On March 15, Evan Kail announced the news on social media, saying that he has chosen to live in Tianjin in the north of the country, according to a report by the Beijing News. Minnesota pawn shop owner Kail, 37, has enjoyed enormous popularity in China after he donated an album containing more than 30... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347035/us-man-offered-national-gift-settle-china-after-donating-historical-japan-invasion-photos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347035/us-man-offered-national-gift-settle-china-after-donating-historical-japan-invasion-photos?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army has announced a new AI-assisted task dispatch system for China’s aerial refuelling tankers, days after a US military tanker crashed in the Middle East. According to the official PLA Daily, the Chinese air force has streamlined its aerial refuelling operations with a smart artificial intelligence (AI) system to improve efficiency and safety. The report on Monday came just days after a US Air Force Boeing KC-135 “Stratotanker” aerial refuelling tanker crashed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347011/chinas-pla-reveals-ai-assisted-aerial-refuelling-tech-days-after-us-military-tanker-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347011/chinas-pla-reveals-ai-assisted-aerial-refuelling-tech-days-after-us-military-tanker-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng An undercover investigation by state-run China Central Television (CCTV) has cast a harsh light on a controversial practice in a nascent industry: the “poisoning” of artificial intelligence models with fabricated information. The report showed how techniques of generative engine optimisation (GEO) – the AI version of search engine optimisation (SEO) – could be used to manipulate AI chatbots, provoking widespread public concern and debate as both industry insiders and observers anticipated... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346761/ai-poisoning-fake-fitness-tracker-fools-chatbots-china-sparking-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346761/ai-poisoning-fake-fitness-tracker-fools-chatbots-china-sparking-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Apple announced a reduction in the App Store commissions it charges developers in China ahead of the annual World Consumer Rights Day, drawing approval from the country’s biggest gaming companies Tencent Holdings and NetEase. The US tech company said it would reduce the commission for standard in-app purchases and paid app transactions on iPhone and iPad to 25 per cent, from the current 30 per cent, according to a statement on its website on Thursday. Meanwhile, the commission rate for... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346470/apple-reduces-app-store-commissions-china-move-applauded-tencent-netease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346470/apple-reduces-app-store-commissions-china-move-applauded-tencent-netease?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:02:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Just days ahead of the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, a news report suggested that Beijing was close to selling supersonic cruise missiles to Tehran – a move that could significantly boost the Islamic Republic’s capacity to counter US aircraft carriers. Before the world could work out whether game-changing Chinese missiles really would feature in an Iranian conflict against US forces, Beijing firmly denied the report, published by Reuters on February 24. Citing six sources, Reuters reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346026/what-if-iran-really-did-buy-export-variant-chinas-yj-12-supersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346026/what-if-iran-really-did-buy-export-variant-chinas-yj-12-supersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Wency Chen,Vincent Chow Wency Chen,Vincent Chow China’s leading humanoid robotics companies dominated the opening of this year’s Spring Festival Gala, the annual variety spectacle staged by state broadcaster CCTV that offers a rare nationwide marketing platform akin to the US Super Bowl, highlighting the central role of the industry in Beijing’s industrial policy. Four robotics firms – Hangzhou-based Unitree, Wuxi-based Magiclab, Beijing-based Galbot and Noetix – had announced partnerships with this year’s gala in deals said to be valued at... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3343634/chinas-tech-companies-vie-attention-cctvs-festival-gala-years-biggest-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3343634/chinas-tech-companies-vie-attention-cctvs-festival-gala-years-biggest-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The global frenzy around embodied intelligence is still in its infancy and could ultimately surpass the impact of the mobile internet, according to the founder of Chinese robotics pioneer Unitree Robotics. Wang Xingxing, the company’s CEO, told state broadcaster CCTV in an interview scheduled to air on Saturday that the sector remained in a “climbing phase” rather than nearing a peak. He said a definitive breakthrough in large-scale artificial intelligence models for robotics could trigger a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343476/unitree-bets-embodied-ai-leap-will-drive-next-wave-global-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343476/unitree-bets-embodied-ai-leap-will-drive-next-wave-global-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang State media has released rare footage of one of the PLA Navy’s most advanced destroyers warning off foreign aircraft near Taiwan with electronic jamming missiles. The footage, part of a series by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on the country’s naval power, involved the Yanan, a Type 055 guided-missile destroyer. CCTV said it was the first time the Yanan had been shown using “electronic countermeasures” in “waters near Taiwan island” to warn off foreign aircraft. The report did not specify where... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342000/pla-navy-warns-foreign-jets-jamming-missiles-near-taiwan-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342000/pla-navy-warns-foreign-jets-jamming-missiles-near-taiwan-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Chinese scientists have unveiled a cooling technology that can plunge a liquid cooling medium from room temperature to sub-zero levels in less than half a minute. This leap in thermal engineering offered a promising heat management solution for energy-hungry data centres that were mushrooming across China and the United States, they said. By harnessing the unique behaviour of ammonium thiocyanate in water under pressure, the team created a liquid cooling system that mimics squeezing a “wet... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341756/frost-20-seconds-can-supercooling-tech-give-china-edge-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341756/frost-20-seconds-can-supercooling-tech-give-china-edge-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang A Chinese court has executed 11 people, including several citizens of Myanmar, linked to a notorious telecoms fraud group based in the Southeast Asian country for crimes including fraud, drug trafficking and murder. The Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in eastern Zhejiang province carried out the executions of people who formed the core leadership of the Ming family crime syndicate and associated telecoms fraud groups, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday. According to China’s Supreme... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341710/china-executes-11-core-members-myanmar-based-telecoms-fraud-ring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341710/china-executes-11-core-members-myanmar-based-telecoms-fraud-ring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:00:17 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding’s semiconductor design arm, T-Head, on Thursday unveiled details of its advanced artificial intelligence chip with capabilities said to be on par with Nvidia’s H20, days after the unit was reportedly being prepared for a potential spin-off and public listing. According to information on T-Head’s website, the Zhenwu 810E was a “fully self-developed” parallel processing unit (PPU), an application-specific integrated circuit designed for both AI training and inference. Alibaba... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341703/alibabas-t-head-unit-unveils-details-ai-chip-designed-rival-nvidias-gpus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341703/alibabas-t-head-unit-unveils-details-ai-chip-designed-rival-nvidias-gpus?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:30 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Many overseas internet users have recently embraced a new trend of “Becoming Chinese” by incorporating elements of everyday Chinese life into their routines. These lifestyle changes predominantly involve common self-care practices in Chinese culture, such as drinking warm water instead of cold, wearing slippers indoors rather than walking barefoot, consuming cooked vegetables instead of raw greens in salads, and practising baduanjin qigong, a slow rhythmic exercise popular among the elderly, as... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341059/becoming-chinese-foreigners-adopt-habits-drinking-warm-water-practising-qigong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3341059/becoming-chinese-foreigners-adopt-habits-drinking-warm-water-practising-qigong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:00:18 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The People’s Liberation Army has released fresh details of its tests of AI-enabled drone swarm warfare, saying a single soldier can control a swarm of more than 200 drones. In a defence news programme aired on Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released details of a drone swarm test conducted by the PLA-affiliated National University of Defence Technology. Drone swarm warfare relies on artificial intelligence and data links to launch hundreds of drones in a short time. These drones could... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340972/1-soldier-200-drones-china-showcases-rapid-launch-and-agility-swarm-warfare-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340972/1-soldier-200-drones-china-showcases-rapid-launch-and-agility-swarm-warfare-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An entrepreneur in China has come under fire for promising to gift a car to every member of a city’s football team if they won an important competition, then reneging on her promise when they did. While many people criticised the woman, the local football association said it would not push the woman to fulfil her promise, saying they understood her financial predicament. The response was viewed 22 million times on one mainland social media platform alone. It also attracted praise from the state... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339003/china-entrepreneur-promises-football-team-players-car-each-retracts-offer-after-landmark-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339003/china-entrepreneur-promises-football-team-players-car-each-retracts-offer-after-landmark-win?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Chinese authorities have again stressed that hiking on the deadly Aotai Line in northwest China is illegal after three more people died on what Chinese media have described as the country’s “most dangerous hiking route”. “It is strictly forbidden to conduct unauthorised hiking traverses and similar activities [on the Aotai trail],” the General Administration of Sport’s mountaineering management centre said in a notice on Friday. “Recently, five individuals undertook an unauthorised crossing of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3339504/strictly-forbidden-china-warns-hikers-aotai-line-after-3-die-infamous-trail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3339504/strictly-forbidden-china-warns-hikers-aotai-line-after-3-die-infamous-trail?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:45:03 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang A Chinese defence giant has flexed its production muscle early in the new year by releasing a video of its star product, the J-35 stealth fighter, and pledging to double its warplane production over the next three to five years. On Tuesday, a green-coated J-35 fighter roared down the runway at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) airfield in China’s northern Liaoning province, making its first flight of the year, according to a video released by the manufacturer, a subsidiary of Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339315/chinas-j-35-jet-maker-flexes-production-muscle-pledging-double-output-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339315/chinas-j-35-jet-maker-flexes-production-muscle-pledging-double-output-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:35 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The People’s Liberation Army has released footage of exercises countering swarms of suicide drones, a key element of Taiwan’s asymmetric defence strategy. Mainland state broadcaster CCTV showed a video on Sunday of a naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target drills as the PLA launched its 2026 training cycle. During the drills, the “blue force”, acting as the adversary, deployed multiple suicide drones to simulate ultra-low-altitude penetration strikes against maritime targets. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339041/pla-drills-target-swarms-suicide-drones-taiwans-front-line-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339041/pla-drills-target-swarms-suicide-drones-taiwans-front-line-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea, a key US ally in East Asia, arrived in Beijing at noon on Sunday for his first China trip since taking office. The four-day state visit comes at a moment when the global order is teetering, with old structures crumbling and a new world yet to emerge. Over 200 South Korean entrepreneurs, including the chairmen of Samsung and SK Group, are accompanying Lee on his trip, which includes two days each in Beijing and Shanghai. Lee will attend a Korea-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338682/south-korean-president-lee-jae-myung-lands-beijing-200-strong-delegation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338682/south-korean-president-lee-jae-myung-lands-beijing-200-strong-delegation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:00:33 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Volcano Engine, the cloud computing unit of Chinese tech giant ByteDance, said on Monday it has secured an “exclusive AI cloud partnership” with the Spring Festival Gala – a marquee slot that underlines the company’s ambition to turn its artificial intelligence cloud business into a national-scale platform. Volcano Engine said the deal – built on “cutting-edge multimodal large models and cloud computing technologies” – would see it “play a pivotal role in broadcasting, online interactions and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3338038/bytedances-volcano-engine-lands-exclusive-ai-cloud-slot-spring-festival-gala?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3338038/bytedances-volcano-engine-lands-exclusive-ai-cloud-slot-spring-festival-gala?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:00:16 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A paralysed Chinese man who can move only one finger and one toe has successfully developed a smart farm control system and founded a start-up. The determination of Li Xia, who is reliant on a ventilator, has deeply moved countless people across China. Li, 36, from Chongqing in southwestern China, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of five. He was forced to drop out of school in the fifth grade. Since then, studying kept him going. He was most fascinated by physics and computer... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337080/china-paralysed-man-who-can-only-move-finger-and-toe-creates-smart-farm-system-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337080/china-paralysed-man-who-can-only-move-finger-and-toe-creates-smart-farm-system-start?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Wency Chen,Coco Feng Wency Chen,Coco Feng China’s biggest tech companies and a clutch of fast-rising consumer electronics brands are battling for coveted sponsorship slots at the Spring Festival Gala, as intensifying competition in artificial intelligence turns the country’s most watched television broadcast into a rare nationwide marketing battleground. Major players including ByteDance, Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding had all held discussions with state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) over high-stakes... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3337806/tech-giants-go-prime-time-fight-chinas-biggest-audience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3337806/tech-giants-go-prime-time-fight-chinas-biggest-audience?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has allowed the use of naked flames on board to accommodate a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The use of fire on the vessel is to be allowed so that cupping therapy can take place. The news has received much attention on mainland social media after it was reported by state broadcaster CCTV on December 24. The Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier and the most advanced, officially entered into service in November at a grand... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337781/china-aircraft-carrier-allows-use-naked-flames-tcm-therapy-which-popular-among-troops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337781/china-aircraft-carrier-allows-use-naked-flames-tcm-therapy-which-popular-among-troops?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Researchers at China’s National University of Defence Technology have successfully accelerated a tonne-class vehicle to a record speed of 700 km/h (435mph) within just two seconds on a 400 metre (1,310-foot) magnetic levitation test line, and brought it safely to a stop. The test speed has set a new global benchmark, making it the world’s fastest superconducting electric maglev to date. This same force that flung a sledge down a short track could fling a rocket into the sky. It could even... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337735/chinas-record-smashing-maglev-achieves-0-700km/h-acceleration-less-2-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3337735/chinas-record-smashing-maglev-achieves-0-700km/h-acceleration-less-2-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese military has simulated battles near Mexico and Cuba during a wargaming exercise – a rare insight revealed in a report on state television. Cuba, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, along with the Sea of Okhotsk and Taiwan, were among the locations of conflict scenarios visible on screens in a CCTV report on Friday showing People’s Liberation Army wargaming exercises. Despite closer economic ties with countries in the region, China has a minimal military presence in Latin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337652/chinese-military-simulated-battles-near-mexico-cuba-and-taiwan-cctv-report-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337652/chinese-military-simulated-battles-near-mexico-cuba-and-taiwan-cctv-report-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:02:08 +0000