https://www.scmp.com/rss/321403/feed The latest news, analysis and opinion on China. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Yoyo Yue has spent much of her life navigating the complex US immigration system. The 31-year-old Chinese content creator moved from China to a US boarding school, went to university, secured an H-1B visa and later a “green card” – a path long considered the “gold standard” for skilled foreign workers. Now, she said, that path felt far less certain. “The H-1B path today comes with significant uncertainty, not just around job stability, but also around long-term prospects,” Yue said. US President... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351544/why-tougher-us-visa-rules-skilled-foreign-workers-may-end-exodus-asia-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351544/why-tougher-us-visa-rules-skilled-foreign-workers-may-end-exodus-asia-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Alibaba Group Holding gained approval from the Hong Kong stock exchange to proceed with a proposed spin-off of a warehouse park in mainland China, two years after the tech giant withdrew the listing plan of its logistics arm Cainiao. The e-commerce giant said it could separate an infrastructure real estate investment trust (Reit) and list it on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, with the underlying asset being the Jiaxing Park, a logistics and warehousing infrastructure hub in eastern China’s Zhejiang... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351610/alibaba-gets-approval-spin-warehouse-park-reit-pivot-logistics-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351610/alibaba-gets-approval-spin-warehouse-park-reit-pivot-logistics-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:32:43 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,Orange Wang Shi Jiangtao,Orange Wang Two months after US and Israeli strikes began, their war on Iran has settled into a costly stalemate. The fighting has paused under a fragile Pakistan-brokered ceasefire, but the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, direct talks have collapsed and neither side shows signs of yielding. Last weekend, Washington’s envoys cancelled their planned trip to the Pakistani capital for further talks after Tehran declared it would not join negotiations until the US Navy ended its blockade of Iranian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351608/2-months-iran-war-who-holds-upper-hand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351608/2-months-iran-war-who-holds-upper-hand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:08:06 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Chinese optical chipmaker Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology reported an elevenfold surge in first-quarter profits as domestic firms capitalise on soaring demand for computing power amid the artificial intelligence boom and the country’s tech self-sufficiency drive. Net profit in the three months ended March 31 jumped 1,153 per cent year on year to 179 million yuan (US$26.2 million), while revenue grew 321 per cent to 355 million yuan, the Shanghai-listed company said in a stock-exchange filing on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351605/optical-chipmakers-profit-soars-1153-ai-demand-chinas-tech-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351605/optical-chipmakers-profit-soars-1153-ai-demand-chinas-tech-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:00:35 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Yellowstone is the world’s largest active volcanic system – its eruptions are hundreds of times more powerful than Vesuvius’ blast and its ash could blanket half the US. Yet, for decades, scientists could not agree on what drove its underground magma system. A new finding detailed by Chinese researchers could settle the dispute. They declared that Yellowstone’s magma channels were not blasted open by magma forcing its way upwards. Instead, tectonic forces tore the lithosphere apart first and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351602/chinese-supercomputers-help-crack-mystery-yellowstones-volcanic-plumbing-paper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351602/chinese-supercomputers-help-crack-mystery-yellowstones-volcanic-plumbing-paper?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s Security Bureau has defended its decision to appoint singer Hins Cheung as a mentor in a “rehabilitation project” for youngsters arrested during the 2019 protests, saying it welcomes individuals from all backgrounds to share positive life experiences following criticism from internet users in mainland China. The project, which has been running for two years, aims to support the rehabilitation of about 7,000 people arrested during the social unrest but not prosecuted. “[Activities]... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351603/bureau-defends-hins-cheung-mentor-role-after-mainland-china-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351603/bureau-defends-hins-cheung-mentor-role-after-mainland-china-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:40:26 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese robotaxi firms from Pony AI to WeRide are accelerating global roll-outs of commercial fleets, leveraging cost competitiveness from the country’s world-leading new energy vehicle (NEV) supply chain and improved operational efficiency, company executives have said. China’s NEV supply chain had helped reduce the total cost of Pony AI’s upgraded seventh-generation robotaxi – including the base vehicle, battery and autonomous driving kit – to below 230,000 yuan (US$33,700), making it cheaper... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351581/chinese-robotaxi-firms-accelerate-global-roll-outs-cost-edge-drives-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351581/chinese-robotaxi-firms-accelerate-global-roll-outs-cost-edge-drives-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) has taken a leap forward in commercialising sodium-ion batteries, signing a large supply contract with an energy-storage system (ESS) provider amid high demand for power infrastructure after the global oil shock. The world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and ESS battery maker announced on Monday that it would deliver 60 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of sodium-ion batteries to Beijing HyperStrong Technology over three years in a landmark deal for the new battery... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351601/chinas-catl-touts-landmark-order-deepseek-moment-sodium-ion-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351601/chinas-catl-touts-landmark-order-deepseek-moment-sodium-ion-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:16:17 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The long-standing rivalry between China’s two largest economic heavyweights – with each boasting a gross domestic product comparable to Group of Seven members Italy and Canada – reflects the regional dynamism and shifting economic gravity within the world’s second-biggest economy. Jiangsu has been threatening to end Guangdong’s uninterrupted reign as China’s largest provincial economy since the late 1980s, and the latest economic data reveals the gap between the two narrowed further in the first... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351572/guangdongs-rule-chinas-gdp-king-faces-unprecedented-threat-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351572/guangdongs-rule-chinas-gdp-king-faces-unprecedented-threat-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Ram Manikkalingam Ram Manikkalingam The Strait of Hormuz is usually described as a chokepoint. Today, it is more than that. It is the hinge point between war and peace in the Gulf. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade passes through this narrow waterway. When it was secure, the global economy barely noticed it. As soon as it was threatened, prices jumped, shipping costs rose and military tensions spread beyond the region. Today, the issue is even larger than economics. If the status of the strait is left unresolved,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351457/reopen-strait-hormuz-reframing-irans-tolls-reconstruction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351457/reopen-strait-hormuz-reframing-irans-tolls-reconstruction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong plans to table a bill by year-end to standardise regulation of future mass transit projects, including Kai Tak and East Kowloon, the transport chief has said, as lawmakers raise concerns over fares and long-term service quality. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told lawmakers on Monday that the government was pursuing policy innovation by adopting open tenders for future projects, with the aim of enhancing service quality and identifying the most effective operators for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351598/hong-kong-proposes-bill-unified-regulation-new-mass-transit-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351598/hong-kong-proposes-bill-unified-regulation-new-mass-transit-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:28:59 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has received its final shipment of US-made M1A2T Abrams tanks, completing a long-delayed order aimed at modernising the island’s ageing armoured forces. Considered among the world’s most powerful tanks, these vehicles are expected to bolster the island’s defence amid rising military pressure from Beijing. The shipment of 28 tanks arrived at the Port of Taipei over the weekend and was moved overnight under police and military escort to the army’s Armour Training Command in Hsinchu county’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3351596/taiwan-completes-us-tank-deal-final-abrams-shipment-reaches-port?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3351596/taiwan-completes-us-tank-deal-final-abrams-shipment-reaches-port?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:15 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has vowed to better protect the country’s vast gig-economy workforce, as an economic slowdown leads millions of people to sign up for delivery, ride-hailing and other informal jobs on online platforms. The 12-point plan – issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, and the Communist Party’s powerful Central Committee – pledges stronger labour protections for “new employment groups”, or gig workers, across a number of areas. The document calls for timely and fair wage payments, a stronger... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351571/china-outlines-new-labour-protection-plan-nations-200-million-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351571/china-outlines-new-labour-protection-plan-nations-200-million-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s drug maker WuXi AppTec reported record first-quarter revenue, as a robust order backlog and sustained demand from global pharmaceutical companies supported growth. For the three months ended March 31, the Shanghai- and Hong Kong-listed company posted revenue of 12.44 billion yuan (US$1.72 billion), up 28.81 per cent year on year, according to a filing released on Monday. Net profit climbed nearly 27 per cent to 4.65 billion yuan in the quarter. Both revenue and net profit exceeded market... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351591/wuxi-apptec-posts-record-first-quarter-revenue-strong-global-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351591/wuxi-apptec-posts-record-first-quarter-revenue-strong-global-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:30:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is on a week-long visit to China with a focus on economics and trade. Zardari arrived in China on Saturday. The Pakistani foreign ministry said he would be visiting Changsha in the central province of Hunan before heading to Sanya in the southern island province of Hainan on Tuesday, where he would stay until heading home on Friday. “During the visit, the president will hold meetings with provincial leadership to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351587/pakistani-president-seeks-bolster-full-spectrum-ties-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351587/pakistani-president-seeks-bolster-full-spectrum-ties-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:30:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Chinese military aired footage over the weekend of YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile launches, as joint US-Philippines-Japan drills heighten tensions in the disputed South China Sea. China Military Bugle, a social media account run by the People’s Liberation Army, posted a video on Sunday of the PLA Navy conducting strike tests at sea, including multiple YJ-20 launches. The post did not specify when and where the missiles were fired. However, the footage was released two days after Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351593/pla-showcases-yj-20-hypersonic-missiles-balikatan-drills-heat-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351593/pla-showcases-yj-20-hypersonic-missiles-balikatan-drills-heat-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:13:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press India and New Zealand on Monday signed a free-trade agreement to deepen economic ties and expand market access, as both countries navigate mounting global trade disruptions. The deal comes as New Delhi moves to diversify export markets to offset the impact of steep tariffs imposed by the United States and instability in shipping and energy routes due to the Iran war. For New Zealand, the agreement is part of a broader push to reduce reliance on China, its largest trading partner. The agreement... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3351592/india-new-zealand-sign-once-generation-free-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3351592/india-new-zealand-sign-once-generation-free-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:11:03 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong police have arrested nine men in a crackdown on child pornography as part of a seven-jurisdiction operation in which more than 300 suspects were detained across Asia. Police said on Monday the city had joined a coordinated international operation involving Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Brunei, targeting offences related to the production, distribution and possession of child sexual exploitation material. “Through active intelligence exchange and investigation,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351590/hong-kong-police-arrest-9-men-joint-asia-wide-crackdown-child-pornography?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351590/hong-kong-police-arrest-9-men-joint-asia-wide-crackdown-child-pornography?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:04:07 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart continues to leverage the popularity of its collectibles as it launches two limited-edition Labubu-themed mini-refrigerators on Thursday. Capped at 999 units for each design, the appliances are in high demand, with second-hand resale prices on online platforms up to 80 per cent higher than the original retail price. The two designs, both from The Monsters series, were priced at 5,999 yuan (US$878) each, and they would be available for sale at 10pm on April 30 on... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3351578/pop-mart-comes-cool-idea-red-hot-labubu-mini-fridges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3351578/pop-mart-comes-cool-idea-red-hot-labubu-mini-fridges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:15:11 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Profit growth at China’s industrial firms accelerated to a six-month high in March, as long-suppressed factory-gate prices turned positive amid disruptions from the Iran war. Total profits for China’s major industrial enterprises – those with annual revenues greater than 20 million yuan (US$2.93 million) – grew by 15.8 per cent last month, the fastest rate since September, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. Profits in the first quarter reached 1.696... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351565/china-industrial-profits-hit-6-month-high-amid-iran-war-factory-gate-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351565/china-industrial-profits-hit-6-month-high-amid-iran-war-factory-gate-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:24 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong The long-anticipated state visit by US President Donald Trump to China next month could lift sentiment in mainland and Hong Kong equities, as investors bet that easing tensions between Beijing and Washington will support export-driven sectors and companies pursuing overseas expansion. Trump is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping on May 14-15, with discussions expected to cover tariffs, purchases of US goods and restrictions on rare earths. Any progress could clear a path for Chinese firms to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351566/china-equities-set-boost-trump-xi-meeting-raises-hopes-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351566/china-equities-set-boost-trump-xi-meeting-raises-hopes-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:30:10 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma DeepSeek is touting its ultra-low charges for models unveiled last week, stoking price competition as China challenges the United States in artificial intelligence (AI). Developers are being offered 75 per cent discounts on the newly released DeepSeek V4 Pro. Fees for input cache hits across the Hangzhou-based company’s AI platforms have also been slashed to 10 per cent of the original price. That provides a cost saving for users who frequently make similar or repeat requests. The V4 Pro and the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3351567/deepseek-takes-step-away-nvidia-amid-export-curbs-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3351567/deepseek-takes-step-away-nvidia-amid-export-curbs-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:07:47 +0000 Coco Feng,Vincent Chow Coco Feng,Vincent Chow Beijing has blocked the proposed purchase by Meta Platforms of artificial intelligence firm Manus, a start-up that is officially registered in Singapore but developed its products in mainland China. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planner, announced the ruling in a statement on Monday, and asked the parties involved in the deal to cancel the transaction. Neither Meta nor Manus immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday. A... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351552/china-blocks-metas-manus-deal-after-months-long-probe-thwarting-purchase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351552/china-blocks-metas-manus-deal-after-months-long-probe-thwarting-purchase?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:18:45 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has delivered its largest-ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, bringing the number of domestic shipyards capable of designing and building the advanced vessels to five, as the country steps up its challenge to South Korea’s dominance in the high-value sector. The milestone was marked by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu), a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, which delivered the 180,000-cubic-metre (6.36-million cubic-feet) vessel on Sunday, according to a company press... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351546/china-delivers-record-lng-carrier-shipbuilding-rivalry-south-korea-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351546/china-delivers-record-lng-carrier-shipbuilding-rivalry-south-korea-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:48:04 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The intensifying technological rivalry between the United States and China is often framed as a race over semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) models and advanced computing power. Much of this conversation treats Southeast Asia as a peripheral actor – a consumer market... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351246/us-china-ai-race-southeast-asia-no-side-act?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351246/us-china-ai-race-southeast-asia-no-side-act?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:26:49 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea and Russia are moving to consolidate their military ties at a time of deepening global instability, with both sides using the Ukraine war as a symbol of their unwavering alliance. Sunday’s unveiling of a memorial museum in Pyongyang for North Korean soldiers killed in the war was also aimed at showing the two countries were in lockstep over their anti-West stance, according to observers. The partnership stemmed from their converging needs – Russia’s demand for manpower and materiel,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351533/north-korea-russia-boost-anti-west-powerful-bulwark-ukraine-war-drags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351533/north-korea-russia-boost-anti-west-powerful-bulwark-ukraine-war-drags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:13:41 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A large ice chunk is blocking the climbing route to Everest’s summit, risking delays in the summit season at the world’s highest peak, according to officials. A team of highly skilled mountaineers, known in Nepal as “icefall doctors”, began fixing ropes and ladders on Mount Everest last month to prepare for the coming spring climbing season. But a dangerous serac – a block of glacial ice – above the already treacherous Khumbu icefall has disrupted their work for nearly two weeks. “We are waiting... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351530/everest-climbers-left-hanging-after-giant-ice-chunk-blocks-path-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351530/everest-climbers-left-hanging-after-giant-ice-chunk-blocks-path-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:05:07 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au The appreciating yuan and ongoing Sino-Japanese tensions have given Hong Kong tourism a boost ahead of mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday, with hotel prices rising by as much as 8 per cent, an industry representative has said. Lawmaker Alan Chan Chung-yee, who is also the chief operating officer of Miramar Group, expressed optimism on Monday that the city would welcome more mainland tourists originally heading to other parts of East Asia during the country’s coming long holiday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351523/sino-japanese-tensions-boon-hong-kong-tourism-golden-week-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351523/sino-japanese-tensions-boon-hong-kong-tourism-golden-week-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:33:38 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny 2. Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered? 3. Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong Kong Mirror dancer Mo Li, dies 4. 3 killed in Japanese Type 10 tank blast that has military... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3351509/dji-insta360-rivalry-nuclear-hint-chinas-next-carrier-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3351509/dji-insta360-rivalry-nuclear-hint-chinas-next-carrier-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:28:08 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong Chinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in “all-iron flow battery” technology that could sharply reduce the cost of storing renewable energy while significantly extending battery lifespan. Lithium costs over 80 times more than iron as a raw industrial material at present. An iron battery may offer a potential solution to one of the biggest bottlenecks in the global energy transition, according to the researchers. A team from the Institute of Metal Research under the Chinese Academy of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351111/china-unveils-ultra-cheap-all-iron-battery-renewable-energy-storage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351111/china-unveils-ultra-cheap-all-iron-battery-renewable-energy-storage?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:59:44 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao China’s solar giant Sungrow Power Supply has filed a fresh application to list in Hong Kong, reviving plans initiated last year, as a wave of mainland companies seeks offshore funding to support overseas expansion. The Shenzhen-listed solar inverter and energy storage system maker submitted its latest application proof to the Hong Kong stock exchange after an earlier filing in October lapsed, according to exchange disclosures late on Friday. Sungrow, one of the world’s largest suppliers of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351515/chinas-solar-giant-sungrow-revives-hong-kong-ipo-plan-amid-rising-demand-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351515/chinas-solar-giant-sungrow-revives-hong-kong-ipo-plan-amid-rising-demand-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:55:24 +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 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Electric vehicles (EVs) made in China now account for one in every three new registrations in South Korea, as Tesla’s Shanghai-built models power the surge and Chinese carmakers start to gain traction. The country’s auto manufacturers have further room to expand, analysts said, supported by higher fuel prices linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran and looser restrictions than traditional target markets. Still, tightening subsidy regimes could slow the pace of expansion, they cautioned. Sales of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s recycling platform Zhuanzhuan is preparing to expand into Europe and the US by the end of the year, betting that demand for second-hand goods will continue to rise amid economic uncertainty despite geopolitical tensions. Backed by tech giants Tencent Holdings and Xiaomi, the Beijing-based company plans to export its model – which combines advanced quality inspection technology with door-to-door services – to get a slice of overseas markets. A dedicated international website was expected... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351394/turning-cast-offs-cash-chinas-zhuanzhuan-looks-europe-and-us-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351394/turning-cast-offs-cash-chinas-zhuanzhuan-looks-europe-and-us-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:32 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang China has launched a comprehensive national campaign against Alzheimer’s, as projections warn the degenerative brain disease could affect nearly 10 per cent of citizens by 2050. With the world’s fastest-growing dementia caseload set to sharply grow by mid-century, China is mobilising top scientific institutions, major biotech firms and dozens of experts to accelerate the development of original treatments. This urgent initiative aims to avert a looming public health and economic crisis, driven... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351070/china-launches-war-alzheimers-may-affect-10-cent-population-2050?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351070/china-launches-war-alzheimers-may-affect-10-cent-population-2050?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:20 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Shares of Moore Threads, one of China’s Nvidia challengers, jumped as much as 12.5 per cent on Monday morning on the back of a swing to a profit in the first quarter, as domestic graphics processing unit (GPU) champions capitalised on surging computing demand amid Beijing’s push for chip self-sufficiency. The Beijing-based firm reported a net profit of 29.4 million yuan (US$4.3 million) for the January to March 2026 period, compared with a net loss of 112.5 million yuan a year earlier, according... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351492/moore-threads-posts-us43m-profit-nvidia-rival-surges-amid-beijing-chip-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351492/moore-threads-posts-us43m-profit-nvidia-rival-surges-amid-beijing-chip-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:13 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The reserves of Hong Kong’s largest international school group have more than tripled to HK$3.75 billion (US$480.8 million) in over a decade, even as it taps different income sources to offset shrinking government subsidies, the South China Morning Post has found by reviewing the organisation’s annual reports. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also said in its annual report for the 2024-25 academic year that it expected increased competition for students and it would modernise its marketing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351498/esf-reserves-reach-hk375-billion-even-government-subsidies-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351498/esf-reserves-reach-hk375-billion-even-government-subsidies-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Middle East war has created new opportunities for family offices and private banking businesses in Hong Kong and Asia, as wealthy investors in the region seek to diversify their investments away from the conflict zone, according to industry players. Ida Liu, CEO of HSBC Private Bank, said some affluent Middle Eastern customers were diversifying into Asia. The bank is the largest wealth manager in Asia with US$1.05 trillion in wealth balances in Asia last year, up 16.3 per cent from a year... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351372/how-middle-east-war-boosting-family-offices-private-banking-hong-kong-and-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351372/how-middle-east-war-boosting-family-offices-private-banking-hong-kong-and-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong is known for its speed. Now it is set to move even faster, with plans to shorten stock settlement times from next year – a shift that could strengthen its standing as an international financial centre. The city’s stock market has operated on a T+2 settlement cycle for more than three decades, meaning trades are completed two days after they are executed. That may soon change. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is consulting the market on a proposal to move to a T+1 cycle, under... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351417/can-faster-settlement-sharpen-hong-kongs-edge-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351417/can-faster-settlement-sharpen-hong-kongs-edge-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Military spending in the Asia-Pacific rose at the fastest pace for 16 years in 2025 as US allies felt “growing uncertainty” over whether Washington would honour its security commitments, according to a new report. Total global spending reached US$2.89 trillion, an increase of 2.9 per cent from 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) think tank said in its annual report on military expenditure published Monday. That marked the 11th consecutive year of increases and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351456/trump-factor-drives-asia-pacific-military-spending-fastest-pace-2009?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351456/trump-factor-drives-asia-pacific-military-spending-fastest-pace-2009?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:00:18 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Daniel Gros is the director of the Institute for European Policymaking at Bocconi University. Previously, he served as an adviser to the European Parliament, collaborated with the European Commission as economic adviser to the Delors Committee, which developed plans for the euro, and worked at the International Monetary Fund. In this interview, Gros examines the structural tensions shaping EU-China economic ties, draws lessons from the euro’s experience to analyse the yuan’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351329/daniel-gros-what-china-can-learn-euro-it-works-towards-global-yuan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351329/daniel-gros-what-china-can-learn-euro-it-works-towards-global-yuan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Li Xing Li Xing Geopolitics, at its core, examines how geography shapes international politics, power distribution and security dynamics. One enduring idea is geographer Halford Mackinder’s “heartland” theory, which situates Eurasia as the central arena of global power competition. In 1904, Mackinder argued that the vast land mass of Europe and Asia – what he called the “world island” – contained a pivotal core, the “heartland”, rich in resources, population and strategic depth. His dictum – “Who rules Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351015/why-us-led-security-alliances-asia-are-losing-coherence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351015/why-us-led-security-alliances-asia-are-losing-coherence?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The ⁠Italian government has extradited to ⁠the United States a Chinese man wanted by authorities there on hacking charges that include stealing Covid-19 medical research, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The source ‌declined to say when Xu Zewei was flown out of Italy, saying only that he was already in the United States. The move follows a ruling by a top Italian court earlier this month allowing the extradition. Xu was arrested in Milan on July 3 at ⁠the request of US... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351502/italy-extradite-suspected-chinese-hacker-wanted-us-authorities-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351502/italy-extradite-suspected-chinese-hacker-wanted-us-authorities-source?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:21:26 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong An international research team in China has developed a microscopic “predator-like” material capable of swimming through water and hunting uranium ions, a breakthrough that could open new possibilities for nuclear fuel extraction and cleaning up radioactive pollution. The light-powered material, a metal-organic framework (MOF) micromotor created by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, can autonomously move through water while capturing uranium ions.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351260/scientists-china-create-predator-material-hunt-uranium-ocean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351260/scientists-china-create-predator-material-hunt-uranium-ocean?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Remember all the hyped-up, over-the-top warnings by US politicians and pundits about the dangers posed by TikTok owned by a Chinese company? It turns out they are now doing all those terrible things and adding some threatening extras just for its American users. Who would have guessed? In one of her latest clips, influential commentator Angela Baker of Parkrose Permaculture, who has close to half a million YouTube subscribers, complained about her TikTok experience since joining it in April... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3351493/why-tiktok-being-deliberately-ruined-its-new-american-owners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3351493/why-tiktok-being-deliberately-ruined-its-new-american-owners?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:38:01 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A Hong Kong survey has found a 20 percentage point gap in relationship scores between parents and children who play video games together and those who do not. The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong on Sunday urged parents to adopt a new approach to supervising their children’s gaming habits, encouraging families to take part in such activities together rather than just observing. The group issued the call after conducting a survey of the experiences and attitudes of parents, young children and teenagers... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351491/can-parents-and-children-playing-video-games-together-level-their-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351491/can-parents-and-children-playing-video-games-together-level-their-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:45:13 +0000 Dulue Mbachu Dulue Mbachu In the face of a prolonged US energy blockade of Cuba, solar panels from China have come to the rescue and provided a model of independence from fossil fuels that is resonating globally amid what is being called the worst energy crisis in history. Within the 12 months through February, solar’s share of national power generation in Cuba increased from 6 per cent to more than 20 per cent, according to Microgrid Media, a California-based publication that tracks global renewable energy capacity. “By... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351455/china-poised-reap-rewards-energy-shock-heats-race-renewables?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351455/china-poised-reap-rewards-energy-shock-heats-race-renewables?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China has demanded that the European Union remove Chinese businesses and individuals from its latest sanctions list related to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing also warned the bloc that it would take whatever measures were necessary to protect the rights and interests of its citizens and companies. “[We should] find a way to resolve our respective concerns through dialogue and consultation,” the ministry said, adding that the consequences of not lifting the sanctions... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351486/china-warns-eu-remove-firms-and-citizens-russian-sanctions-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351486/china-warns-eu-remove-firms-and-citizens-russian-sanctions-list?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:40:50 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Li Auto, one of Tesla’s major rivals in mainland China, has set its sights on the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, with its premium intelligent models poised to take on petrol car brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The Beijing-based electric vehicle (EV) maker, which is actively building a sales network abroad, expected overseas deliveries to account for 30 per cent of its total by 2030, according to president Ma Donghui. “It is inevitable that we will compete against BMW, Benz and Audi, which... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351481/chinas-li-auto-targets-bmw-and-mercedes-premium-suvs-middle-east-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351481/chinas-li-auto-targets-bmw-and-mercedes-premium-suvs-middle-east-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:10:02 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China has pledged to help Myanmar’s new government to engage more with multilateral platforms and eradicate telecoms scam operations. Capping a five-day trip to Southeast Asia on the weekend, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s junta leader-turned-president, on Saturday that China “firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”. “This year marks the first year of Myanmar’s new government. Both sides should seize... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351479/china-backs-myanmars-push-ease-diplomatic-isolation-stamp-out-telecoms-scams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351479/china-backs-myanmars-push-ease-diplomatic-isolation-stamp-out-telecoms-scams?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:37:26 +0000