https://www.scmp.com/rss/318198/feed The latest news on China politics, including domestic and foreign policy. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A Chinese court has begun hearings in a defamation case filed by authorities and institutes in Beijing and Wuhan against the US state of Missouri over accusations tied to Covid-19. In a notice on Monday, the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court said it held a hearing on Friday and legal proceedings were continuing. The case was jointly filed on April 30, 2025 by the Wuhan government in Hubei province, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its subordinate entity, the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV),... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373161/chinese-court-hears-us535-billion-covid-defamation-case-against-us-state-missouri https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373161/chinese-court-hears-us535-billion-covid-defamation-case-against-us-state-missouri Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A key document endorsed by the Communist Party proposes stronger oversight of principal leaders below the central level, barring them from demanding personal allegiance from their leadership teams – a demand that is only for the top leaders. The proposal is part of a 17,000-word resolution approved at the fifth plenum of the 20th Central Committee, the full text of which was published by state news agency Xinhua on Sunday. The four-day plenum held last week emphasised internal governance,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373028/speak-last-chinas-fifth-plenum-moves-rein-regional-leaders https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373028/speak-last-chinas-fifth-plenum-moves-rein-regional-leaders Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:59:52 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma China’s ruling Communist Party has pledged to target “old nice persons” within its ranks as it steps up its anti-corruption drive ahead of a major leadership reshuffle next year. Rendered in Chinese as lao hao ren, the term refers to unprincipled, conflict-averse officials who turn a blind eye to misconduct to protect their own careers and social standing. A resolution adopted at the close of the party’s 20th Central Committee’s fifth plenum last week signalled a crackdown on this culture of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373017/chinas-communist-party-plenum-targets-passive-nice-guys-anti-corruption-push https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373017/chinas-communist-party-plenum-targets-passive-nice-guys-anti-corruption-push Tue, 03 Nov 2026 01:00:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Retired cadres were consulted during the eight-month drafting of a landmark document on building China’s Communist Party endorsed at a major political meeting in Beijing last week, according to state media. A detailed account published by Xinhua on Monday gave a behind-the-scenes look into how the 20th Central Committee finalised its resolution on “persevering with full and rigorous party self-governance”, adopted at the fifth plenum, which ended on Thursday. The 17,000-Chinese character,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373029/how-xi-jinping-and-communist-party-elders-shaped-key-plenum-document-addressing-wrongdoing https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373029/how-xi-jinping-and-communist-party-elders-shaped-key-plenum-document-addressing-wrongdoing Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Eve Qiao Eve Qiao Three ancient wooden boats unearthed in Beijing and dating back about 1,800 years offer new evidence of shipbuilding technology and cultural exchanges between ancient China and the rest of the world, according to researchers. The researchers unveiled details of “the first physical evidence of ancient inland water transport” in the Chinese capital at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Beijing Public Archaeology Season on Saturday, according to an official social media account of the Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373016/echoes-rome-ancient-china-what-beijings-1800-year-old-ship-find-reveals https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373016/echoes-rome-ancient-china-what-beijings-1800-year-old-ship-find-reveals Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:00:40 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has overhauled its personnel process in its search for clean and battle-tested cadres ahead of next year’s major leadership reshuffle. New rules were included in a resolution adopted at the 20th Central Committee’s fifth plenum last Thursday and published by state news agency Xinhua on Sunday. Analysts said that as provincial and ministerial reshuffles begin ahead of the 21st party congress, the fifth plenum sent a clear message: Beijing wants proven crisis... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373013/chinas-fifth-plenum-cadre-promotion-rules-overhauled-focusing-problem-solving https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373013/chinas-fifth-plenum-cadre-promotion-rules-overhauled-focusing-problem-solving Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:00:08 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus This article is the official English translation of the original Chinese document released by Xinhua. https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3372928/chinas-fifth-plenum-readout https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3372928/chinas-fifth-plenum-readout Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:29:22 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,William Zheng Phoebe Zhang,William Zheng Construction workers have been working late into the night in downtown Shenzhen as the city makes its final preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in two weeks’ time. On a weekday night, a South China Morning Post reporter saw at least 50 construction workers gathered at an intersection about 1km (just over half a mile) from the Apec venues in the central district of Futian, laying down pebbles and planting trees along the pavements. The main road that leads up to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372880/apec-china-summit-traffic-curbs-tree-planting-shenzhens-plans-enter-final-phase https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372880/apec-china-summit-traffic-curbs-tree-planting-shenzhens-plans-enter-final-phase Mon, 02 Nov 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s ruling Communist Party will step up “party building” across the country’s tech sector and deploy digital tools to fight corruption, according to a landmark document adopted at a key political plenum. These tools include a digital discipline inspection platform and a big-data supervision platform. The party will also crack down on corruption involving the internet, virtual currency, cross-border funds and blockchain technology, according to the document formally approved on Thursday at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372899/communist-party-pledges-reach-deeper-chinas-tech-digital-platform-sectors https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372899/communist-party-pledges-reach-deeper-chinas-tech-digital-platform-sectors Sun, 01 Nov 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese President Xi Jinping has mounted a direct defence of the campaign for strong Communist Party governance and internal discipline, describing them as a “fundamental guarantee” for China’s rise and warning against any easing of scrutiny, according to state media. Xi took the floor as the party’s 20th Central Committee closed its fifth plenum on Thursday, to directly address the scepticism over the sweeping campaign, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday. According to “side notes”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372901/chinas-xi-says-strict-party-governance-has-positive-impact-does-not-stifle-growth https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372901/chinas-xi-says-strict-party-governance-has-positive-impact-does-not-stifle-growth Sun, 01 Nov 2026 13:47:24 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun The 2026 Global Governance Forum in Xiongan, Hebei province, wrapped up on October 25. Against a backdrop of acute strains on multilateralism and a widening global governance deficit, the forum galvanised a shared sense of urgency across the international community for reform and solidarity. More than a century ago, Karl Marx noted that, “Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.” That insight strikes at the very heart of today’s global... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3372669/chinas-global-initiatives-offer-ray-hope-turbulent-world https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3372669/chinas-global-initiatives-offer-ray-hope-turbulent-world Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:30:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beijing has stepped up its maritime presence around Taiwan, deploying coastguard patrols from the island’s eastern approaches to waters near Quemoy and remote Dongsha Island. China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said that a formation led by the vessel Hushi had carried out routine law enforcement patrols east of Taiwan on Saturday to reinforce administrative control and safeguard maritime navigation. “Since October, the Hushi task group has been strengthening control over the relevant waters to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372875/beijing-ramps-maritime-patrols-around-taiwan-prompting-taipei-shadow-ships https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372875/beijing-ramps-maritime-patrols-around-taiwan-prompting-taipei-shadow-ships Sun, 01 Nov 2026 07:32:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taipei Mayor Wayne Chiang Wan-an faces an unexpectedly tough re-election fight in a race closely watched for its potential to damage the main opposition party Kuomintang and further strain the island’s relations with Beijing. Just five months ago, Chiang appeared comfortably positioned for a second term in a city where the KMT has traditionally enjoyed an advantage over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. A poll by local cable news network TVBS in late May put him 28 percentage points ahead... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372865/could-taipeis-unexpectedly-tight-mayoral-race-add-cross-strait-tensions https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372865/could-taipeis-unexpectedly-tight-mayoral-race-add-cross-strait-tensions Sun, 01 Nov 2026 06:00:18 +0000 Eve Qiao Eve Qiao China is further narrowing access to a key government recruitment programme for overseas-educated graduates, limiting their pathways into the country’s civil service and party-state system. More than a dozen provincial-level regions, including Beijing and Shanghai, opened applications for the 2027 xuandiaosheng recruitment rounds in September and October. Xuandiaosheng, or the “selected graduates” system, is designed to select and train university graduates to become elite cadres and officials... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372827/china-narrows-path-elite-official-training-scheme-citizens-graduating-overseas https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372827/china-narrows-path-elite-official-training-scheme-citizens-graduating-overseas Sat, 31 Oct 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Fu Chengyu, the former chairman of leading oil giants Sinopec and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is under investigation for corruption by the country’s top watchdogs. The Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) was investigating Fu for alleged “serious violations of discipline and law”, a euphemism for corruption, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday, quoting a notice posted on the commission’s website. He is “currently undergoing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372837/china-places-former-sinopec-cnooc-boss-fu-chengyu-75-under-corruption-probe https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372837/china-places-former-sinopec-cnooc-boss-fu-chengyu-75-under-corruption-probe Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:48:29 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing promoted 10 officials to full membership of the Communist Party’s Central Committee at a major political gathering this week, where the normally routine process of filling vacancies took on new significance. The names of the officials who have filled the vacant slots were included in a communique released at the end of the fifth plenum of the party’s 20th Central Committee on Thursday. The event, which focused on party discipline and the fight against corruption, confirmed that 24 full... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372766/are-latest-communist-party-promotions-sign-new-political-trend-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372766/are-latest-communist-party-promotions-sign-new-political-trend-china Sat, 31 Oct 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed a years-long anti-corruption drive at a major Communist Party meeting, while the general who led a military anti-graft purge was promoted to the Politburo. The party must “ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to commit corruption”, read a communique passed at the fifth plenum of the party’s Central Committee. The document also highlighted “unwritten rules” as a key issue to address. Zhang Shengmin, Xi’s vice-chairman on the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3372719/politburo-promotion-lula-victory-us-midterm-elections https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3372719/politburo-promotion-lula-victory-us-midterm-elections Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:00:31 +0000 Jane Cai,Alyssa Chen,Josephine Ma Jane Cai,Alyssa Chen,Josephine Ma The Communist Party of China has pledged to vigorously crack down on the “unwritten rules” that enable corruption in the party, deepening its long-running campaign to keep officials in line. At a Friday press conference, senior officials described the important takeaways from the 20th Central Committee’s fifth plenum, which concluded the day before. They underscored President Xi Jinping’s assertion that corruption remains a serious challenge that requires sustained pressure and targeted action... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372686/unwritten-rules-become-newest-target-communist-partys-war-corruption https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372686/unwritten-rules-become-newest-target-communist-partys-war-corruption Fri, 30 Oct 2026 05:55:49 +0000 William Zheng,Alcott Wei,Phoebe Zhang William Zheng,Alcott Wei,Phoebe Zhang Beijing has promoted General Zhang Shengmin, the key player in the anti-corruption campaign that has cut deep into the military’s top leadership, to its top decision-making body, the Politburo. Zhang, who was last year promoted to vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top command body, was the military’s anti-corruption chief from 2018 until July this year, and is the top enforcer in Beijing’s fight against corruption in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). That drive left the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372591/china-promotes-general-zhang-shengmin-politburo https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372591/china-promotes-general-zhang-shengmin-politburo Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:48:24 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Former Chinese vice-premier Liu Yandong died of illness on Wednesday at the age of 80. She was one of China’s most prominent female leaders, playing a pivotal role in the country’s united front work and education sector. Xinhua, which announced her death on Wednesday afternoon, described Liu as an “outstanding leader in the [Communist] Party’s united front work, in China’s education, science and technology, healthcare, and women and children’s affairs”. Liu was vice-premier from 2013 to 2018.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372453/chinas-former-vice-premier-liu-yandong-dies-beijing https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372453/chinas-former-vice-premier-liu-yandong-dies-beijing Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:09:38 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A Chinese investigative blogger who exposed telecoms fraud and other illegal activity was killed by criminals hired on social media, according to media reports, prompting calls for heavier punishment for the perpetrators. The body of Wu Kai, who used the name “Huijian” on social media and had written for years about telecoms fraud in Southeast Asia, was discovered in southern China in November 2024. His death and details of the case were revealed this week. In August 2024, Wu accused Liu Ren – a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372403/chinese-anti-scam-blogger-killed-contractors-hired-online-silence-his-work https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372403/chinese-anti-scam-blogger-killed-contractors-hired-online-silence-his-work Wed, 28 Oct 2026 06:30:31 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Beijing has appointed veteran propaganda official Mo Gaoyi as Communist Party secretary of Yunnan province in its latest leadership reshuffle, making him a rare example this year of a provincial head with minimal local governance experience. An analyst said that the move could reflect Beijing’s efforts to broaden the talent selection criteria for some senior roles, allowing specialists to take on important generalist positions. Mo – director of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372341/why-has-beijing-appointed-propaganda-veteran-lead-border-province https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372341/why-has-beijing-appointed-propaganda-veteran-lead-border-province Wed, 28 Oct 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Communist Party has started a key four-day conclave focused on party discipline and fighting corruption, as official media outlets say adherence to the party’s leadership under President Xi Jinping is key to the country’s success. The meeting – the fifth plenum of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee – began in Beijing on Monday, according to state news agency Xinhua. It said the main agenda for the plenum included a work report by the Politburo to the Central Committee and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372134/chinas-communist-party-opens-fifth-plenum-focus-discipline-and-loyalty-xi https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372134/chinas-communist-party-opens-fifth-plenum-focus-discipline-and-loyalty-xi Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:18:50 +0000 Alcott Wei,William Zheng Alcott Wei,William Zheng China’s five-year leadership cycle is getting under way at a provincial level, with new teams being installed in a process that offers important clues to the future of the Communist Party at a national level. Last week, four provinces – Anhui, Henan, Shanxi and Xinjiang – wrapped up their respective party congresses and appointed new standing committees for the next five years. The meetings were held a week before a key party gathering in Beijing – known as the fifth plenum – that runs from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372064/how-chinas-regional-leadership-changes-offer-clues-future-communist-party https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372064/how-chinas-regional-leadership-changes-offer-clues-future-communist-party Sun, 25 Oct 2026 10:00:08 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Beijing pledged to support pro-unification forces in Taiwan as it mounted a concerted publicity campaign on Sunday to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule over the island. October 25 was formally established by Beijing last year as an official memorial date known as “Taiwan Restoration Day”. Speaking at an event in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, on Sunday, Song Tao, the head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said the memorial day highlighted Beijing’s “firm... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372065/beijing-commemorates-end-japanese-rule-over-taiwan-call-reunification https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372065/beijing-commemorates-end-japanese-rule-over-taiwan-call-reunification Sun, 25 Oct 2026 08:05:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. In the fourth part of this series, William Zheng looks at how the next generation of the party is being formed. When China’s political elites gather behind closed doors in Beijing for the Communist Party’s fifth plenum on Monday, much of the attention will be on the quiet preparations for allocating hundreds of pivotal roles in next year’s 21st... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372013/chinas-next-generation-leaders-waiting-wings-more-senior-roles https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372013/chinas-next-generation-leaders-waiting-wings-more-senior-roles Sat, 24 Oct 2026 22:00:28 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Typhoon Champi continued to batter China’s eastern coast on Saturday, grounding over a hundred flights and prompting the authorities to relocate tens of thousands of people, while weakening as it moved towards Japan. Flights from airports in Shanghai as well as Fujian and Zhejiang provinces were grounded. China Eastern Airlines said it had cancelled 39 domestic flights to and from Shanghai’s two main airports while flights to and from the cities of Fuzhou and Wenzhou were also affected. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372015/thousands-evacuated-and-flights-grounded-typhoon-champi-hits-eastern-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3372015/thousands-evacuated-and-flights-grounded-typhoon-champi-hits-eastern-china Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:00:14 +0000 William Zheng,Alcott Wei William Zheng,Alcott Wei Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. In the third part of this series, William Zheng and Alcott Wei examine how the fight against corruption is shaping the party’s future. When China’s political elites gather for a key conclave in Beijing later this month, the increasingly empty auditorium will speak loudly to the event’s theme – the ruling Communist Party’s strict self-discipline and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371932/what-will-chinas-fifth-plenum-mean-root-and-branch-corruption-drive https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371932/what-will-chinas-fifth-plenum-mean-root-and-branch-corruption-drive Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s Communist Party convened an early monthly Politburo meeting on Friday to review a key internal inspection report, doubling down on its high-pressure anti-corruption campaign ahead of a major party conclave next week. Chaired by President Xi Jinping, the now 21-member Politburo met on Friday – earlier than its traditional end-of-month schedule – to discuss a comprehensive report on the seventh round of inspections by the 20th Central Committee. The latest inspection is a major internal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371960/xi-jinping-leads-early-politburo-meeting-signal-anti-corruption-drive-ahead-plenum https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371960/xi-jinping-leads-early-politburo-meeting-signal-anti-corruption-drive-ahead-plenum Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:26:49 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow A key Communist Party meeting next week in Beijing is likely to be dominated by two themes – the renewal of President Xi Jinping’s long-standing anti-corruption drive and the hunt for clues about a looming leadership reshuffle. “Major issues related to advancing full and rigorous party self-governance” will top the agenda at the fifth plenum of the party’s Central Committee, which runs from Monday to Wednesday. Plenums, which usually take place once a year, draw about 300 delegates and... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3371921/china-party-meeting-stocks-slump-hsbc-leads-earnings https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3371921/china-party-meeting-stocks-slump-hsbc-leads-earnings Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:06:52 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Flight disruptions and cancellations surged across East Asia as Typhoon Champi approached Taiwan on Friday, prompting emergency precautions in eastern mainland China, including Shanghai, and in Japan during a large-scale joint military drill with the US. Taiwan’s transport ministry said 262 local flights and 715 international and cross-strait flights had been cancelled as of 10am on Friday. The island’s largest airports – Taiwan Taoyuan, Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung and Taichung – faced widespread... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371901/typhoon-champi-grounds-hundreds-flights-taiwan-threatens-eastern-mainland-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371901/typhoon-champi-grounds-hundreds-flights-taiwan-threatens-eastern-mainland-china Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:39 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang All efforts need to be focused on search and rescue for survivors and treating the injured, President Xi Jinping instructed on Friday morning, after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed 16 and injured 65 in China’s Tibet autonomous region overnight. “The disaster-hit area is located in a high-altitude region with cold weather. It is imperative to closely monitor seismic activity and weather changes and implement rescue operations accordingly, while preventing secondary disasters,” he said,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371850/chinas-xi-jinping-orders-urgent-relief-after-tibet-earthquake-leaves-16-dead https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371850/chinas-xi-jinping-orders-urgent-relief-after-tibet-earthquake-leaves-16-dead Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:31:49 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang A strong and united party leadership is vital to victory, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a keynote speech on Thursday marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March. Speaking days before an important Communist Party meeting known as the fifth plenum, Xi said the party managed to turn the tide of defeat into a path to victory 90 years ago because it rallied around the leadership of Mao Zedong. By linking the Red Army’s historic endurance with today’s geopolitical struggles,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371796/ahead-communist-party-plenum-xi-jinping-warns-china-faces-new-long-march https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371796/ahead-communist-party-plenum-xi-jinping-warns-china-faces-new-long-march Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:18:11 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang A fresh dispute has erupted between Beijing and Taipei over commemorations for Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary hero who is revered on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Beijing on Wednesday lashed out at Taipei’s move to ban Taiwanese officials from attending events in the mainland Chinese capital marking the 160th anniversary of Sun’s birth on November 12. Sun brought an end to more than 2,000 years of imperial rule when he founded the Republic of China (ROC) in 1912, and he also founded the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371695/beijing-hits-out-after-taipei-bans-mainland-travel-sun-yat-sen-anniversary https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371695/beijing-hits-out-after-taipei-bans-mainland-travel-sun-yat-sen-anniversary Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang The director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), Song Tao, has held a rare meeting with a delegation of US scholars, pledging to push for the peaceful development of cross-strait ties. During the meeting in Beijing on Tuesday with a delegation from the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) led by its president and CEO, Susan Elliott, Song spoke of a broader diplomatic context following summit meetings between Chinese and US leadership. “President Xi Jinping elaborated on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371662/beijings-top-taiwan-official-meets-us-think-tank-reaffirm-red-lines https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371662/beijings-top-taiwan-official-meets-us-think-tank-reaffirm-red-lines Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin As Super Typhoon Champi – now the strongest storm of the year worldwide – barrels towards eastern China, authorities are planning evacuations and urging those in its path to prepare. Airports in major Chinese cities could be affected by the storm, including Wenzhou Longwan, Fuzhou Changle, Ningbo Lishe, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong and Xiamen Gaoqi, according to aviation data platform VariFlight. Travellers are bracing for potential disruptions, though there have been no... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371627/strongest-storm-year-barrels-towards-taiwan-and-mainland-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371627/strongest-storm-year-barrels-towards-taiwan-and-mainland-china Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Japan says it has spotted PLA aircraft, spy drones and warships, including a supply ship that could support the Liaoning aircraft carrier, in recent days as Tokyo and Washington started drills focused on a potential Taiwan contingency. Three People’s Liberation Army military aircraft – two drones and a reconnaissance plane – flew through international airspace between Japanese islands into the Pacific before heading back towards mainland China on Monday, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371525/chinese-military-vessels-and-spy-drones-track-keen-sword-war-games-japan https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371525/chinese-military-vessels-and-spy-drones-track-keen-sword-war-games-japan Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A Monday article published by the ruling Communist Party’s mouthpiece argued that a key lesson from the Long March was the need for the party to have a strong core leadership and for its members to uphold that core’s authority. “History shows us that only with a core can the party unite as one, and only with authority can its orders be effectively carried out … The most important thing is to establish and resolutely uphold the party’s core,” wrote Xie Chuntao, vice-president of the Central Party... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371388/long-march-shows-why-communist-party-needs-strong-leadership-state-media https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371388/long-march-shows-why-communist-party-needs-strong-leadership-state-media Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Eve Qiao Eve Qiao As China marks the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory in the Long March, some young Chinese are looking to the historic journey for guidance as they face uncertainty in their lives and future. For Lyu Leiyiyi, a 22-year-old student at the Communication University of China, the spirit of the Long March offers a sense of stability at a time when people and the environment around her are changing at a dizzying pace. “People in their 20s are going through a period of uncertainty,” Lyu said.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371269/chinas-youth-draw-upon-long-march-spirit-navigate-modern-uncertainties https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371269/chinas-youth-draw-upon-long-march-spirit-navigate-modern-uncertainties Sun, 18 Oct 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang There is “no way out” for corrupt officials no matter how senior they are, China’s top anti-corruption watchdog has warned following the downfall of a former big-city mayor who survived numerous previous scandals. This week, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced both the probe into Huang Qifan, the former mayor of Chongqing, and the expulsion of a senior figure in Sichuan province. On Saturday, the commission said these developments showed the party’s “unwavering... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371257/corrupt-officials-have-nowhere-hide-chinas-anti-graft-watchdog-warns https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371257/corrupt-officials-have-nowhere-hide-chinas-anti-graft-watchdog-warns Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang In Shenzhen, drones are banned, shiny new hotels have opened their doors and taxi drivers are carrying devices that can translate nearly 150 languages. Since President Xi Jinping announced last year that China’s southern tech hub would host Apec meetings in November, the city has done all it can to get ready under the watchful eyes of the local, provincial and national authorities. While every Apec summit draws the world’s attention, this year’s edition is considered to be especially high-stakes... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371206/chinas-shenzhen-ready-host-xi-trump-and-putin-during-apec-summit https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371206/chinas-shenzhen-ready-host-xi-trump-and-putin-during-apec-summit Sat, 17 Oct 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The owner of a Chinese kindergarten has been jailed for life after more than 200 children were poisoned by lead in the country’s worst food safety scandal for almost two decades. A total of six people were jailed by the Lanzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Gansu province on Friday for making or selling harmful foodstuffs. Li Huifang, owner of the Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, was handed a life sentence and fined 500,000 yuan (US$75,000), while Zhu Jinglin, the principal, was jailed for 15... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371229/chinese-kindergarten-owner-given-life-sentence-over-lead-paint-poisoning-scandal https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371229/chinese-kindergarten-owner-given-life-sentence-over-lead-paint-poisoning-scandal Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:10:18 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei President Xi Jinping has pledged to “uproot sick trees” in the anti-corruption fight, according to a transcript of a speech published by the Communist Party’s flagship magazine ahead of a major party conclave later this month. The warning appeared on Thursday in the magazine Qiushi, which carried fresh details of a speech Xi delivered in January at the fifth plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party’s top anti-corruption watchdog. The speech contained... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371094/xi-pledge-uproot-sick-trees-aired-weeks-ahead-major-party-conclave https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371094/xi-pledge-uproot-sick-trees-aired-weeks-ahead-major-party-conclave Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:05:18 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Authorities in the central Chinese province of Hunan have warned of the potential risks of cross-border arranged marriages, saying some relationships lack genuine emotional foundations and can lead to financial ruin or legal trouble. Marriages can be risky when they are organised by illegal matchmaking agencies that charge high fees, according to a post on the Xintian county police branch’s social media account on Tuesday. For-profit international matchmaking is illegal in China. The post... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370982/cross-border-matchmaking-can-lead-financial-ruin-chinese-police-warn-rural-men https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370982/cross-border-matchmaking-can-lead-financial-ruin-chinese-police-warn-rural-men Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:59:13 +0000 Alcott Wei,William Zheng,Jun Mai Alcott Wei,William Zheng,Jun Mai For a decade, former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan stood out as a political survivor while colleague after close colleague fell in China’s far-reaching anti-corruption campaign. Throughout that time, including his seven years as the megacity’s mayor from 2009 to 2016, Huang was seen as a “tumbler” in Chinese politics – a weighted doll that wobbles but never falls over. The nickname was well-deserved – he served under six municipal Communist Party secretaries, watching two of them – Bo Xilai and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370903/huang-qifan-chinas-political-tumbler-falls-after-decade-close-corruption-calls https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370903/huang-qifan-chinas-political-tumbler-falls-after-decade-close-corruption-calls Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:13:13 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Beijing has warned Taiwanese people against acting “two-faced” on the issue of “Taiwan independence” after television host Kevin Tsai Kang-yong attended a campaign rally for a Taipei mayoral candidate labelled a separatist by Beijing. The episode underscores the political risks facing Taiwanese entertainers working on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. “No individual or force may act as a ‘two-faced person’ – reaping the benefits of the mainland’s development while simultaneously colluding with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370895/beijing-warns-taiwanese-not-be-two-faced-after-kevin-tsai-attends-dpp-rally https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370895/beijing-warns-taiwanese-not-be-two-faced-after-kevin-tsai-attends-dpp-rally Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:27:37 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Courts in China have sentenced three key figures of a notorious Myanmar crime syndicate to death for operating large-scale cross-border telecoms fraud networks and causing the deaths of four Chinese nationals. The Quanzhou Intermediate People’s Court and the Nanan City People’s Court in southeastern Fujian province handed down the rulings against syndicate head Wei Huairen, his nephew Chen Dawei and accomplice Liao Jingfang on Tuesday, following a trial held in May, state broadcaster CCTV... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370757/china-sentences-3-more-myanmar-crime-bosses-death-scam-centre-crackdown https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370757/china-sentences-3-more-myanmar-crime-bosses-death-scam-centre-crackdown Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:26:07 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Huang Qifan, former mayor of Chongqing and a survivor of multiple regional graft scandals, is under investigation for corruption, according to state media. State news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday that the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was investigating Huang for alleged serious violations of discipline and law, a euphemism for corruption. Huang, 74, was mayor of the southwestern municipality from 2010 to 2016, overseeing an economic boom while navigating... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370744/former-chongqing-mayor-huang-qifan-under-investigation-corruption https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370744/former-chongqing-mayor-huang-qifan-under-investigation-corruption Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:04:33 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A group of Chinese officials are in the middle of a highly sensitive meeting involving critical decisions yet to be made behind closed doors, with documents stamped “classified” spread across the table. Suddenly, an invisible laser beams into the room, sweeping across a glass window and allowing the contents of the meeting to be transmitted elsewhere. China’s Ministry of State Security laid out this seemingly futuristic scenario six months ago, warning government departments and other entities... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370572/laser-shields-iphone-detectors-inside-chinas-booming-secrecy-industry https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370572/laser-shields-iphone-detectors-inside-chinas-booming-secrecy-industry Mon, 12 Oct 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Beijing is rapidly scaling up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce short-form videos and microdramas in its publicity campaigns, aligning with directives stressing technology’s role in strengthening ideological work and guiding public opinion. In contrast to sensational tropes dominating AI content across Chinese media platforms – such as Cinderella romance, rebirth for revenge and post-apocalyptic survival – a new wave of AI-generated miniseries weaves Chinese culture, policies... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370547/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-shape-public-opinion-home-and-abroad https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370547/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-shape-public-opinion-home-and-abroad Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:03:06 +0000