https://www.scmp.com/rss/322904/feed Latest news, analysis and opinion on the Communist Party of China which has ruled the country since 1949 and is currently led by General Secretary Xi Jinping. The party currently has over 90 million members and it began to admit private entrepreneurs into its ranks in 2001. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jane Cai Jane Cai “I can’t wait to watch the game – it’s Lion’s Head Meatballs versus Hairy Crab!” Liu Jieling, a 42-year-old company executive from Suzhou, joked about a derby clash pitting a side inspired by her city’s signature crustacean cuisine against one by Yangzhou’s steamed meatballs. The 2026 season of the Jiangsu City Football League – popularly known as the Su Super League – kicks off on Saturday, and the amateur tournament in Jiangsu, a province in eastern China, is already generating huge buzz... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349732/winners-chinas-growing-intercity-football-rivalries-may-surprise-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349732/winners-chinas-growing-intercity-football-rivalries-may-surprise-you?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:00:17 +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 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Ma Xingrui, a member of China’s Politburo and the former Communist Party boss of Xinjiang, is being investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday. He is the third member of the ruling party’s elite political body to come under investigation in the current term that began in 2022, a situation unseen in decades. He Weidong, former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), is also being investigated and was expelled from the party... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348968/ma-xingrui-third-politburo-member-investigated-chinas-anti-corruption-bodies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348968/ma-xingrui-third-politburo-member-investigated-chinas-anti-corruption-bodies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:05:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Cheng Li-wun will be the first sitting chairperson of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang to visit the mainland since Hung Hsiu-chu nearly 10 years ago. The announcement of the trip, from April 7 to 12, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, comes at a sensitive time in cross-strait relations, with four American senators arriving in Taiwan to promote arms sales opposed by Beijing, and Xi expected to host a summit with President Donald Trump next month. Xi’s invitation to Cheng, elected KMT... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348647/taiwan-kuomintang-leaders-visit-mainland-china-gives-reason-hope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348647/taiwan-kuomintang-leaders-visit-mainland-china-gives-reason-hope?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin China has emerged as a focal point in the debate over US birthright citizenship, as the nation’s Supreme Court appeared sceptical of oral arguments on Wednesday in a landmark case driven by President Donald Trump’s push to restrict the practice. Birthright citizenship “has spawned a sprawling industry of birth tourism”, said Solicitor General D. John Sauer, Trump’s top litigator, in his opening remarks before the highest court in the country. “Uncounted thousands of foreigners from potentially... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348722/china-targeted-birthright-citizenship-debate-supreme-court-justices-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348722/china-targeted-birthright-citizenship-debate-supreme-court-justices-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:21:48 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s top Communist Party journal has reaffirmed the country’s push to rebalance trade, saying a worsening global environment marked by rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions is adding urgency to its ongoing shift from an “unsustainable” export-driven growth model. “The underlying conditions, and both domestic and external environment shaping China’s trade balance, are undergoing profound changes, while deep-seated weaknesses in the foreign trade sector remain pronounced,” said a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348651/qiushi-reaffirms-chinas-trade-rebalance-push-calls-old-export-led-growth-unsustainable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348651/qiushi-reaffirms-chinas-trade-rebalance-push-calls-old-export-led-growth-unsustainable?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Beijing has ordered a sweeping national inventory of all state-owned museum collections following a high-profile scandal at a top museum, where former officials illegally sold donated national treasures for personal gain over several decades. The National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) announced the nationwide campaign on Wednesday. It mandates that every state-owned museum conduct a meticulous, piece-by-piece physical count of its collections this year, verifying every artefact against... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348682/china-orders-nationwide-museum-audit-after-nanjings-us12-million-ming-artwork-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348682/china-orders-nationwide-museum-audit-after-nanjings-us12-million-ming-artwork-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:15 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s leadership has passed new rules on the work carried out by local committees of the ruling Communist Party and called for upholding a “correct view” of political performance. The party’s 24-member Politburo met in Beijing on Friday to review the latest regulations for local party committees, part of its push to align regional governance with the central leadership’s strategic priorities. Chaired by President Xi Jinping, the meeting laid bare a dual mandate for local officials: absolute... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348184/what-do-chinas-new-correct-view-rules-local-communist-party-officials-mean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348184/what-do-chinas-new-correct-view-rules-local-communist-party-officials-mean?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:30:23 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has told the Boao Forum for Asia – a high-level gathering of governments and business leaders – that power politics should be rejected in favour of economic development and conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. “The people of Asia, having endured the scourge of war and chaos, deeply understand the value of peace and stability,” said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:39:36 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Danny Mok Matthew Cheng,Danny Mok Beijing has selected Zhang Dongmei, a former vice-president of the All-China Women’s Federation, as a new deputy director of the top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs, making her the first woman to take on the role since the body’s status was elevated in 2023. Zhang’s appointment as the new deputy head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) fills the vacancy left by the departure of Xiang Bin, a Communist Party of China group member of the office, earlier this year. The State... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347890/zhang-dongmei-named-new-deputy-director-office-overseeing-hong-kong-affairs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347890/zhang-dongmei-named-new-deputy-director-office-overseeing-hong-kong-affairs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:17:34 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for developing the Xiongan New Area into an innovation hub to drive high-quality growth. Xi made the call on Monday during his first inspection tour of the “city of the future” following the “two sessions” annual parliamentary meetings and the launch of China’s 15th five-year plan. The state-level megacity in Hebei province, about 100km (62 miles) southwest of Beijing, is Xi’s signature project aimed at taking the urban pressure off the capital. Xi visited... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347690/xi-jinping-pushes-xiongan-embrace-science-and-technology-build-city-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347690/xi-jinping-pushes-xiongan-embrace-science-and-technology-build-city-future?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:29:46 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen has a new Communist Party chief, nearly six months after the city’s former party boss was promoted to provincial governor. State media announced on Sunday that Jin Lei, 56, had been appointed Shenzhen’s party chief as well as a member of the Guangdong provincial party committee and its standing committee. Jin, an economist and former official in the southwestern province of Sichuan, takes over from Meng Fanli, who had been in the position since April... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347482/veteran-iphone-city-tapped-party-boss-chinas-silicon-valley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347482/veteran-iphone-city-tapped-party-boss-chinas-silicon-valley?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:01:00 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The House Select Committee on China released a report on Friday asserting that China is manipulating its position at the United Nations to “undermine America’s interests and advance its international ambitions”. The 34-page report makes the case that China uses budget contributions, appointments to key UN executive positions and strategically deployed troops to expand its reach. The committee did not detail how these activities differed from how most countries operate at the UN, or the influence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347399/us-claims-china-manipulating-its-position-un-undermine-americas-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347399/us-claims-china-manipulating-its-position-un-undermine-americas-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:17:06 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Local governments across China have rushed to ride the OpenClaw AI boom in hopes of spurring economic growth, only for Beijing to step in swiftly to rein in the frenzy. Authorities in Beijing have issued a series of safety warnings that analysts say underscore the divide in priorities between local and central authorities. The rush to adopt the artificial intelligence (AI) software has seen major internet companies offer low-cost or easily accessible versions, while local governments have rolled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:57:44 +0000 William Zheng,Sylvie Zhuang William Zheng,Sylvie Zhuang In his decades toiling as a health official in a coastal Chinese province, Alan Chen has rarely had to study a subject about which he knew so little. “Nd is Neodymium. It is needed for almost all modern EV motors. China dominates the refining of Nd oxide. Dy is Dysprosium. It is needed for magnets to operate at high temperatures and is also essential for EV motors.” This was the kind of content Chen pored over in a training course he attended at the Central Party School, the Communist Party’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345957/economic-security-101-why-chinas-officials-now-have-study-rare-earths-and-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345957/economic-security-101-why-chinas-officials-now-have-study-rare-earths-and-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said 2026 could be a “landmark year” in relations with the United States, allaying concerns that the war in Iran might derail ties and an expected visit by US President Donald Trump. “I believe that when the two sides treat each other with sincerity and good faith, we will be able to lengthen the list of cooperation, and shorten the list of problems,” Wang told reporters in Beijing on Sunday. The countries could “produce results that are satisfactory to both... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345967/chinas-wang-sees-landmark-year-us-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345967/chinas-wang-sees-landmark-year-us-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Nearly five decades ago, in 1978, a dozen or so professors from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) were on a mission to visit their American counterparts as well as research institutes and factories across the United States. The visit, said to be personally approved by then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, was designed to forge academic ties and led to sister-school agreements with four prestigious US universities, including the University of Michigan (UM). It was a pivotal moment in academic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345807/us-universities-retreat-china-partnerships-who-filling-academic-void?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345807/us-universities-retreat-china-partnerships-who-filling-academic-void?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Chinese President Xi Jinping has again sought to shore up the military’s ideological defences, demanding absolute loyalty to the Communist Party from all ranks, just weeks after the country’s top general came under investigation for corruption. “There must be no room within the military for those harbouring disloyalty towards the party, nor any shelter for corrupt individuals,” Xi told a meeting of military and armed police lawmakers on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345830/xi-jinpings-zero-fail-mission-chinas-military-total-loyalty-no-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345830/xi-jinpings-zero-fail-mission-chinas-military-total-loyalty-no-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Jianxi Liu Jianxi Liu China’s “two sessions” this year presents less of a story of an economic miracle than of transition: from high-speed to high-quality growth, and from dependence on external demand to a more resilient, innovation-driven economy. Against a backdrop of global tensions and fragmenting supply chains, Beijing is using this political moment to signal that it sees opportunity in adversity and is prepared to recalibrate its development model rather than cling to the habits of the boom years. For China,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345552/chinas-two-sessions-show-plans-resilience-stormy-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345552/chinas-two-sessions-show-plans-resilience-stormy-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China set the lowest economic growth target since 1991 as the country contends with global trade tensions, weak domestic demand and rising debt from white elephant investments. A target range for growth of 4.5 to 5 per cent, “while striving for better in practice” was announced by Premier Li Qiang as he delivered the annual government work report on the opening day of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the annual legislative gathering. That marks a reduction from “around 5 per cent” in each... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3345566/chinas-growth-target-cut-reflects-pragmatism-amid-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3345566/chinas-growth-target-cut-reflects-pragmatism-amid-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:45:18 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma Song Ping, a veteran Chinese revolutionary who lived through five generations of Communist Party leaders, has died at the age of 108. He died at 3.36pm in Beijing on Wednesday, state news agency Xinhua reported, describing him as a loyal communist fighter, and an outstanding state and party leader. Song’s career began in the 1930s before the founding of the People’s Republic including a spell as political secretary to the future premier Zhou Enlai. Song held many important positions during the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345438/song-ping-veteran-chinese-communist-dies-aged-108-after-career-spanned-decades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345438/song-ping-veteran-chinese-communist-dies-aged-108-after-career-spanned-decades?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:56:06 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Beijing will roll out further favourable measures for Hong Kong while the coming 15th five-year plan will also step up support for the city in leveraging its unique strengths, a spokesman for the nation’s legislature has said. National People’s Congress (NPC) spokesman Lou Qinjian said on Wednesday that the central government would make further arrangements in the 15th five-year plan to support Hong Kong in “leveraging its unique strengths and to perform a significant role”. “More beneficial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345402/chinas-top-advisory-body-urges-greater-bay-area-cities-align-rules-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345402/chinas-top-advisory-body-urges-greater-bay-area-cities-align-rules-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:42:57 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the seventh entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Investors and policy watchers will be looking to this week’s meetings of China’s national legislature and top political advisory body – also known as the “two sessions” – for... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345261/investors-watch-chinas-two-sessions-clues-property-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345261/investors-watch-chinas-two-sessions-clues-property-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei As China’s leaders convene for the annual “two sessions” starting this week, the eyes of the world will be fixed on Beijing. This gathering is no ordinary policy meeting. Beyond setting the economic growth target for 2026, it will finalise the 15th five-year plan (2026–2030), a blueprint that will define the nation’s economic and social priorities for the second half of this decade. In an era of intensifying great-power competition, particularly with the United States, these decisions will shape... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344883/now-time-china-show-its-serious-about-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344883/now-time-china-show-its-serious-about-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Alcott Wei,Jun Mai Alcott Wei,Jun Mai For a book on performance appraisals, it contained some surprising language – especially given its author, President Xi Jinping. The volume, published by the Central Party Literature Press, coincided with the launch of an overhaul of the Communist Party’s promotion system that will continue in the run-up to next year’s leadership transition. Among the raft of speeches and instructions from Xi since November 2012 is a blunt warning to cadres about pursuing debt-laden white elephant... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345015/inside-xi-jinpings-new-guide-promoting-communist-party-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345015/inside-xi-jinpings-new-guide-promoting-communist-party-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:27 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the second entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Beijing’s campaign to purge the bureaucracy of a growth-at-all-costs mindset has caught some local officials off guard, triggering a mix of confusion and contradictory... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344887/chinas-pivot-gdp-obsession-sparks-cadre-confusion-testing-local-governance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344887/chinas-pivot-gdp-obsession-sparks-cadre-confusion-testing-local-governance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:00:49 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This document was translated from Chinese into English using Alibaba’s Qwen3.5-Plus and edited for accuracy by a Post journalist. It is for reference only and is not the official English version. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3344891/chinas-february-politburo-readout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3344891/chinas-february-politburo-readout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:16:25 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese lawmakers gather next week for the annual “two sessions” legislative meetings, where they will approve the 15th five-year plan and likely see a shift towards less emphasis on economic growth. Premier Li Qiang will summarise the new five-year plan and announce the 2026 GDP target on March 5, the first day of meetings for the National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature. Lawmakers will likely give near-unanimous support to the plan, which runs through 2030, when the meeting... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3344851/two-sessions-trump-tariffs-jdcom-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3344851/two-sessions-trump-tariffs-jdcom-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the first entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Beijing’s forceful campaign to instil a “correct” understanding of tenure performance among party cadres may signal Chinese leaders’ determination to downplay headline growth... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344723/china-shifts-cadre-appraisal-metrics-away-pure-gdp-growth-resetting-mindsets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344723/china-shifts-cadre-appraisal-metrics-away-pure-gdp-growth-resetting-mindsets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Communist Party cadres have been put on notice over governance and performance appraisals as the ruling body counts down to leadership changes across the country and the start of the next five-year plan. In a campaign that will continue until July, officials from the county level up have been told to correct any deviations from the “correct” line in their own duties and in assessments of those under their watch. In an article on Wednesday, state news agency Xinhua suggested that breaches of this... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344633/why-communist-party-warning-cadres-about-their-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344633/why-communist-party-warning-cadres-about-their-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:18 +0000 Genevieve Donnellon-May Genevieve Donnellon-May A single policy could redraw global food supply lines and scramble markets from the Americas to Southeast Asia. In early February, the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and State Council released the annual “No 1 document”, the country’s first policy statement of 2026 and its blueprint for agriculture, farmers and rural areas. As one of the world’s largest agricultural producers, importers and exporters, any shift in Beijing’s food strategy carries global repercussions. Covering... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344152/china-seeks-cultivate-food-supply-immune-geopolitical-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344152/china-seeks-cultivate-food-supply-immune-geopolitical-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to lift living standards as he opened a landmark congress, state media said on Friday, offering a glimpse of economic strains within the sanctions-hit nation. The supreme leader took centre stage with a speech to start the Workers’ Party congress, a gathering that directs state efforts on everything from house building to war planning. Held just once every five years, the days-long congress offers a rare glimpse into the workings of a nation where even... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3344155/north-koreas-kim-opens-rare-party-congress-pledge-fix-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3344155/north-koreas-kim-opens-rare-party-congress-pledge-fix-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:28:17 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has joined Russia in congratulating North Korea on the conclave of its ruling party, hailing economic achievements under the leadership of Kim Jong-un and pledging to work with Pyongyang to promote regional peace. According to state news agency Xinhua, the Central Committee of China’s Communist Party sent a congratulatory message to Pyongyang on Thursday, asserting that the ruling Workers’ Party had in recent years helped to develop the North Korean economy and improve the lives of its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344118/china-applauds-north-korea-party-conclave-new-historical-period-ties-xinhua?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344118/china-applauds-north-korea-party-conclave-new-historical-period-ties-xinhua?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang,William Zheng Sylvie Zhuang,William Zheng Beijing has quietly tightened restrictions on officials with family members overseas in the past year as part of a sweeping anti-corruption drive, according to sources. Three people familiar with the situation said inspections had been carried out since early last year within government bodies and state-owned enterprises to scrutinise the overseas connections of top officials and executives. In the past, such inspections have sought to identify “naked officials” – those whose spouses and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343893/china-widens-anti-corruption-net-catch-quasi-naked-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343893/china-widens-anti-corruption-net-catch-quasi-naked-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Hasan Piker knew his first trip to China would provoke backlash. What he did not expect was how quickly the debate would collapse into a binary: propaganda or patriotism. The live-streamer, and one of the most influential political commentators on the left among young Americans, travelled to China last year and live-streamed his experiences to over 3 million followers across platforms, including Twitch and YouTube. Clips of his visit circulated widely, some carried by Chinese state-linked... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3343845/hasan-piker-talks-about-his-controversial-china-trip-and-thinking-chinese-thoughts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3343845/hasan-piker-talks-about-his-controversial-china-trip-and-thinking-chinese-thoughts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:30:31 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Two Chinese investigative journalists detained in Sichuan province earlier this month after accusing a local Communist Party official of corruption have been released on bail pending further investigation. Liu Hu, 50, a veteran Chinese investigative reporter, and his colleague, Wu Yingjiao, 34, were taken into custody on suspicion of “making false accusations” and conducting “illegal business operations”, police in Chengdu’s Jinjiang district said on February 2. In an article posted last month... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343751/chinese-journalists-who-accused-communist-party-official-corruption-released-bail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343751/chinese-journalists-who-accused-communist-party-official-corruption-released-bail?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen President Xi Jinping has deemed the acceleration of consumption and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, an essential task as the world’s second-largest economy seeks to overcome challenges in 2026. The president’s priorities, officially laid out before the year began, were revealed to the public in a speech excerpt published on Monday by the ruling Communist Party’s leading theoretical journal. Xi emphasised the need to boost domestic demand, giving it the lion’s share of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343726/chinas-xi-prioritises-ai-plus-and-consumer-spending-counter-economic-headwinds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343726/chinas-xi-prioritises-ai-plus-and-consumer-spending-counter-economic-headwinds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:58:18 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s anti-corruption watchdogs have again put cadres on notice, ordering tighter discipline and greater scrutiny of Communist Party officials in the countdown to next year’s leadership reshuffle. Among the fresh warnings on Thursday was a caution against associating with “political swindlers”, people who fraudulently claim to have links to senior officials so they can peddle promotions for cash. The orders were issued jointly by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343527/beware-political-swindlers-chinas-cadres-warned-ahead-leadership-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343527/beware-political-swindlers-chinas-cadres-warned-ahead-leadership-change?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:10:31 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Authorities in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen have warned gold market operators not to use exaggerated slogans such as “get rich by buying gold”, barring them from making inflated promises to retail investors after two trading platforms failed amid sharp price swings in global markets. Ten government departments – including the local financial regulatory bureau and the Shenzhen branch of the People’s Bank of China – issued a notice on Friday to “prevent and defuse market risks, protect... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3343471/china-tightens-gold-trading-rules-shenzhen-after-platforms-collapse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3343471/china-tightens-gold-trading-rules-shenzhen-after-platforms-collapse?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:05:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army, is set for a leadership reshuffle after the downfall of most of its members. President Xi Jinping is now in his third term as chairman of the commission. But now five of the other six members of the commission – who were all originally expected to serve a five-year term, ending in 2027 – are no longer active. Last month Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and China’s most senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:32 +0000 Li Cheng,Tony Xiuye Zhao Li Cheng,Tony Xiuye Zhao The perpetual question of “who governs” finds stark expression in today’s US-China rivalry. As the two powers compete, the contrast between governance-by-technocrats in China and the predominance of lawyers in the United States is shaping each country’s respective development path. China is set to approve its 15th five-year plan, which will set development goals and strategies through 2030. It prioritises critical technological breakthroughs and industrial integration. Meanwhile, in the Trump... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343150/how-washingtons-lawyers-stack-against-beijings-technocrats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343150/how-washingtons-lawyers-stack-against-beijings-technocrats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo China has a few red lines. But if you respect them, life can be smooth and wonderful. China doesn’t care if you are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu or an atheist. It doesn’t care if your government is democratic, theocratic or dictatorial. If you want to do business, China is more than happy to partner with you. If you need aid, that’s fine; it won’t tell you what to do with the money or otherwise dictate your finances, so long as it sees some returns, whether commercial, strategic or... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342876/outside-its-few-red-lines-china-ultimate-win-win-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342876/outside-its-few-red-lines-china-ultimate-win-win-country?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun A senior executive at one of China’s major policy banks has been placed under investigation, becoming the latest target in a sweeping official anti-corruption drive across the financial sector. Xu Yiding, vice-president of the Agricultural Development Bank of China (ADBC) and member of its Communist Party committee, is suspected of “serious violations of party discipline and the law”, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. The two... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342816/farmers-son-banker-xu-yiding-under-investigation-chinas-anti-corruption-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342816/farmers-son-banker-xu-yiding-under-investigation-chinas-anti-corruption-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:00:14 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s top military command body has moved to tighten Communist Party control over the armed forces with updates to disciplinary rules for party members in the People’s Liberation Army. The PLA Daily, the military’s official newspaper, reported on Saturday that the revisions were to “actively respond to key concerns” in disciplinary enforcement practice. It did not specify the changes, but the report came just two weeks after the announcement that top general Zhang Youxia, first vice-chairman... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342755/chinas-military-command-tightens-discipline-top-generals-wake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342755/chinas-military-command-tightens-discipline-top-generals-wake?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China has removed three senior defence industry executives, including a nuclear weapons expert, from the national legislature as part of a deepening anti-corruption campaign. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Wednesday said it had expelled Liu Cangli, former president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics, Luo Qi, chief engineer of the China National Nuclear Corporation, and Zhou Xinmin, former chairman of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. It did not say... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342411/china-expels-defence-industry-officials-legislature-amid-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342411/china-expels-defence-industry-officials-legislature-amid-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:49:39 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will “deeply participate” in agricultural trade and expand imports of products in short domestic supply, a senior official said on Wednesday, signalling strong and sustained demand for overseas soybeans – a long-standing food security concern and a flashpoint in its ties with the United States. Despite a tight balance between production and demand, China would diversify import sources and make full use of international markets, said Han Wenxiu, head of the office of the Communist Party’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342390/china-signals-strong-demand-soybean-imports-2026-rural-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342390/china-signals-strong-demand-soybean-imports-2026-rural-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:02:46 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Wang Huning, mainland China’s top official on Taiwan affairs, told the vice-chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), the island’s main opposition party, that Beijing sought to promote cross-strait exchanges and peace. KMT vice-chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen was received by Wang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Beijing’s No 4 official, and Song Tao, head of the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. According to official... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342389/wang-huning-urges-cross-strait-peace-and-exchanges-talks-taiwans-kmt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342389/wang-huning-urges-cross-strait-peace-and-exchanges-talks-taiwans-kmt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:41:37 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A disbanded alliance behind Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square vigil had only intended to promote democracy and greater political freedom when it advocated the abolition of the mainland’s one-party rule, a defence lawyer has said in a high-profile national security trial. Defence counsel Erik Shum Sze-man on Wednesday said ending the Communist Party of China’s one-party rule would have been a solution to the political crisis after Beijing’s military crackdown on pro-democracy protests on June 4,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342331/defence-argues-tiananmen-vigil-activists-actions-lawful-exercise-rights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342331/defence-argues-tiananmen-vigil-activists-actions-lawful-exercise-rights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:45:09 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng,Jun Mai Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng,Jun Mai Beijing’s bold move to remove top generals accused of corruption reflects its strategic assessment that overhauling the armed forces is more urgent, and that the issue of Taiwan can wait, according to military analysts. The investigation into China’s top commanders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, has left the Central Military Commission (CMC), the country’s highest military command body, with just two members at present – President Xi Jinping, who is chairman of the CMC, and vice-chairman Zhang... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342224/what-does-fall-pla-top-brass-zhang-youxia-say-about-beijings-taiwan-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342224/what-does-fall-pla-top-brass-zhang-youxia-say-about-beijings-taiwan-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:00:48 +0000 Mark Logan Mark Logan Winston Churchill wrote his four-volume masterpiece, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, at the very moment a new era of world history was taking shape: victory over the Nazis, the birth of the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions. All signalled continuity of Anglo-Saxon leadership in world affairs, the baton passing fairly peacefully from Britain to America. But 80 years on from the end of the second world war, the world is reconfiguring itself once more. And what it means for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341102/anglosphere-fractures-starmers-china-visit-could-be-historic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3341102/anglosphere-fractures-starmers-china-visit-could-be-historic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:30:10 +0000