https://www.scmp.com/rss/328179/feed Phoebe Zhang is a senior reporter with the South China Morning Post. She has a master's degree in journalism. She likes to write human-interest stories and has written many about people living on the fringes of society. She believes there's no story or person that's too small. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The former chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has called for cross-strait dialogue to break the state of “cold peace”, rebuild trust and avoid conflict. “The key to cross-strait relations lies not in radical confrontation, but in profound mutual trust,” Hung Hsiu-chu wrote on a popular mainland online platform on Thursday. She also called for a return to the 1992 consensus, an unofficial agreement between Beijing and the then-ruling KMT in Taiwan. It states that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348979/no-more-cold-peace-across-taiwan-strait-former-kmt-chairwoman-calls-rebuild-trust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348979/no-more-cold-peace-across-taiwan-strait-former-kmt-chairwoman-calls-rebuild-trust?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:09:15 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), will visit Nanjing during her visit to mainland China next week. According to a KMT press statement issued on Tuesday night, she will pay tribute at the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China – Taiwan’s formal name – and a symbol of the shared past between Taiwan and the mainland. Cheng will arrive in Shanghai on April 7 and then travel by train to Nanjing, in eastern Jiangsu province, the itinerary... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348696/taiwans-kmt-chair-cheng-li-wun-honour-sun-yat-sen-landmark-mainland-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348696/taiwans-kmt-chair-cheng-li-wun-honour-sun-yat-sen-landmark-mainland-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:17:02 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Beijing has confirmed receiving the cremated remains of historic Communist Party spies from Taiwan and hailed the “patriots” as providing encouragement in its pursuit of reunification. Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, noted on Wednesday that the ashes had been returned before the Ching Ming Festival, a tomb-sweeping day that falls on April 5 this year, and days before the expected visit of Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348655/beijing-says-cremated-spy-remains-returned-taiwan-are-reminder-heroic-deeds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348655/beijing-says-cremated-spy-remains-returned-taiwan-are-reminder-heroic-deeds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Lawrence Chung Phoebe Zhang,Lawrence Chung Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), will lead a delegation to mainland China next month at the invitation of Beijing, her first visit since assuming the position in November. Song Tao, head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday that the Communist Party Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, would welcome her visit to Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7 to 12 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348342/taiwans-kuomintang-leader-visit-mainland-china-aid-peaceful-relations-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348342/taiwans-kuomintang-leader-visit-mainland-china-aid-peaceful-relations-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:47:18 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Japan has upgraded a naval vessel with capabilities to fire long-range Tomahawk missiles, with the first firing test expected this summer – a move experts said would pose a security threat to China. The Aegis destroyer Chokai “completed modifications and crew training” in the US that started in October, “confirming its acquisition of Tomahawk missile launch capabilities”, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Friday. He said a ceremony marking the acquisition of these capabilities... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348299/japan-upgrades-destroyer-tomahawk-missiles-why-it-might-pose-threat-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348299/japan-upgrades-destroyer-tomahawk-missiles-why-it-might-pose-threat-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +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 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The first night I installed OpenClaw on my laptop, I didn’t dare give it much authorisation. From numerous news reports and warnings, I knew that if it made a mistake, there could be serious consequences, like exposing my bank account password, deleting files or sending an offensive message to my boss. I only asked it to do some research, visit a few media websites, find China-centred topics over the past few months and list them, watch some videos and summarise the content for me. It had the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346830/chinas-openclaw-mania-driven-fear-missing-next-tech-gold-rush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346830/chinas-openclaw-mania-driven-fear-missing-next-tech-gold-rush?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:30:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Authorities in Beijing say peaceful reunification will solve Taiwan’s energy supply fears sparked by the hostilities in the Middle East, emphasising that “the removal of barriers between the two sides of the [Taiwan] strait will ensure the smooth flow of resources”. Chen Binhua, spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that peaceful reunification would create enormous opportunities for the island’s economic and social development and bring tangible benefits to the people... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347012/mainland-china-says-taiwan-can-ease-iran-energy-supply-anxiety-peaceful-reunification?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347012/mainland-china-says-taiwan-can-ease-iran-energy-supply-anxiety-peaceful-reunification?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:34:51 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Jiang Chaoliang, Communist Party chief of Hubei when Covid-19 first hit the province and a former prominent banker, has been charged with accepting “an especially huge amount” of bribes starting in the 1990s. The investigation into his case, first announced in February last year, has closed, and the Nanjing Municipal People’s Procuratorate has filed a public prosecution with the Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court, according to a statement on Tuesday from the Supreme People’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346885/former-banker-and-hubei-party-boss-indicted-accepting-especially-huge-bribes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346885/former-banker-and-hubei-party-boss-indicted-accepting-especially-huge-bribes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:15:35 +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 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Beijing has hailed as a success the sentencing and execution of leaders of a Myanmar crime syndicate, vowing to punish all who harm the rights of Chinese citizens overseas. During a plenary meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Monday, Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People’s Court, said in a report that Chinese courts closed 41,000 criminal cases related to telecoms and online fraud last year, up 1.2 per cent from 2024. “Sixteen principal criminals of the ‘four families’ crime... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345977/china-extols-myanmar-gang-executions-pledging-protect-citizens-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345977/china-extols-myanmar-gang-executions-pledging-protect-citizens-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:17:13 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The last uniformed man standing on China’s top military body has called for further “political rectification” of the armed forces, following a wave of high-profile corruption investigations. At a panel discussion in Beijing on Thursday as part of the country’s annual “two sessions”, Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said this year was “crucial for fulfilling the goal for the centenary” of the People’s Liberation Army. “We must deepen political rectification,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345700/chinas-last-cmc-general-urges-more-political-rectification-pla-centenary-countdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345700/chinas-last-cmc-general-urges-more-political-rectification-pla-centenary-countdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:52:03 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A top Chinese political adviser has sounded the alarm on forced marriages of women with mental disabilities in rural areas, calling for a prevention mechanism and a nationwide investigation campaign. Jiang Shengnan, a writer and member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body, warned that tackling the issue presented multiple challenges. There was a lack of support for such women when it came to marriage-related decision-making, Jiang told... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345470/chinas-two-sessions-adviser-urges-end-forced-marriages-mentally-ill-rural-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345470/chinas-two-sessions-adviser-urges-end-forced-marriages-mentally-ill-rural-women?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:12:53 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The deadly US-Israeli military strikes on Iran have triggered an outpouring of public sympathy and support in China, with many social media users condemning the attacks and discussing ways to help. The Iranian embassy in China thanked the “righteous” Chinese public on Thursday for their support, but said it was not accepting financial help from Chinese individuals and organisations for now. “The embassy would like to express its sincere gratitude to the civilised and righteous Chinese people,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345584/iran-thanks-chinese-public-after-us-israeli-air-strikes-prompt-online-wave-sympathy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345584/iran-thanks-chinese-public-after-us-israeli-air-strikes-prompt-online-wave-sympathy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:42:52 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A social media ban on a stand-up comic for joking about marriage has triggered an online backlash in China. Authorities said the Weibo account of Uygur stand-up comedian Xiao Pa was suspended as part of a cyberspace clean-up campaign during the Chinese New Year. Xiao Pa, whose real name is Paziliyaer Paerhati, was banned from posting online, a verified Weibo community manager posted on Friday. “Xiao Pa had posted information that stirred up gender conflicts and created anxiety over marriage and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344977/chinese-social-media-bans-female-uygur-comic-over-marriage-jokes-sparks-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344977/chinese-social-media-bans-female-uygur-comic-over-marriage-jokes-sparks-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:00:20 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The Chinese embassy in Angola has issued a warning about a crackdown on illegal immigration in the African country, urging its citizens and companies to make sure they follow the correct visa procedures. In a social media post on Wednesday, the embassy warned that Chinese citizens had been among those detained, fined or deported by the Angolan authorities. “We have warned Chinese companies and citizens repeatedly to follow Angola’s laws, find jobs and operate businesses legally,” it said,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344696/chinese-embassy-angola-warns-citizens-not-fall-foul-immigration-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344696/chinese-embassy-angola-warns-citizens-not-fall-foul-immigration-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang During the past decade, Chinese think tanks have had the best of two worlds – having the backing of the government while having some room to move outside it. Encouraged by the country’s leadership to promote China’s soft power, the sector has grown in influence as retired officials have come on board, bringing expertise, connections and some freedom. Not unlike their Western counterparts, these institutes have come to play major roles in Track 2 diplomacy and policy recommendations. But two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343977/end-golden-age-chinese-think-tanks-star-ex-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343977/end-golden-age-chinese-think-tanks-star-ex-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang I remember when I was four or five years old, my great-grandmother would get busy days ahead of Lunar New Year. She would clean the house, pickle vegetables in an enormous jar and start pre-cooking dishes for the New Year’s Eve family meal. One star of the night, called “lion’s head”, is steamed minced pork meat balls that take days to make. My great-grandmother would go to the market ahead of time and pick out pork belly that was the right balance of lean and fat meat, carefully chopping the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343871/why-lunar-new-year-celebrations-are-about-people-not-process?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343871/why-lunar-new-year-celebrations-are-about-people-not-process?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s top medical watchdog has ordered a nationwide review of the country’s psychiatric institutes following media reports that multiple hospitals in central China had locked up patients – including people who were not suffering from mental illness – as part of an insurance scam. The National Healthcare Security Administration said on Wednesday that its provincial bureaus should hold talks with directors of all psychiatric institutes in their area by Sunday. They were also told to ensure that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342493/china-probes-mental-hospitals-over-reports-patients-are-being-locked-insurance-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342493/china-probes-mental-hospitals-over-reports-patients-are-being-locked-insurance-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:22:14 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Sylvie Zhuang Phoebe Zhang,Sylvie Zhuang When a film about an investigation into a phone scam in Cambodia debuted at the Busan International Film Festival in 2018, it was not the cast or the plot that drew attention in China. Instead, the focus was on the film’s executive producer, Chen Zhi – a billionaire Chinese businessman who has himself been accused of running a sprawling online scam network in Cambodia. In The Prey – touted as Cambodia’s “first million-dollar action movie” – an undercover Interpol operative ends up in jail. But... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341096/why-china-was-so-keen-get-alleged-cybercrime-boss-chen-zhi-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341096/why-china-was-so-keen-get-alleged-cybercrime-boss-chen-zhi-first?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang For 11 years after graduating from high school, a 28-year-old woman from a village in Lushan county in the central Chinese province of Henan had fought against pressure from her parents to get married. By her own account, the woman, locally reported as Wei and a history teacher at Lushan’s top high school, had quarrelled, “gone crazy” and even made threats with a knife. Her fight ended on December 10, when she wrote her last post on WeChat and jumped from the seventh floor of what was to be her... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340590/china-pressure-women-marry-deadly-serious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340590/china-pressure-women-marry-deadly-serious?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Two Western defence companies appear to have Chinese warships in their sights, with promotional videos of their weapons systems targeting vessels that look a lot like those belonging to the PLA Navy. London-based BAE Systems posted videos on social media on Wednesday for “game-changing naval weapons and launching systems” it said it was showcasing at a US defence industry conference last week. One animated video simulated a naval base under attack. The base then launches missiles from containers... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340329/are-western-defence-firms-aiming-chinese-navy-their-promo-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340329/are-western-defence-firms-aiming-chinese-navy-their-promo-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 11:30:14 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang In a landmark case in China, two AI chatbot developers have appealed against their convictions on pornography charges over software that generated sexual content for paid users. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court began on Wednesday hearing the appeal by the two defendants against an earlier decision by a lower court to sentence one of the developers to four years and the other to 1½ years in prison for “creating pornographic material for profit”. The hearing has been adjourned,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339908/jailed-chinese-ai-chatbot-developers-appeal-landmark-pornography-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339908/jailed-chinese-ai-chatbot-developers-appeal-landmark-pornography-case?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Cambodia has extradited to the mainland a Chinese billionaire whom Beijing accuses of operating a transnational crime network, including alleged involvement in a casino and fraud. At the request of Chinese authorities, Cambodia arrested three Chinese nationals – including Chen Zhi, the founder of Prince Holding Group – and transferred them to China on Tuesday, the Cambodia China Times reported on Wednesday night. The Cambodian Ministry of Interior said law enforcement from both countries had... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339118/alleged-scam-billionaire-chen-zhi-arrested-cambodia-and-extradited-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339118/alleged-scam-billionaire-chen-zhi-arrested-cambodia-and-extradited-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:54:20 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Taiwan’s air force has suspended training missions for its F-16 fleet and ordered maintenance and inspections as it searches for a pilot who went missing after reportedly parachuting from one of the fighter jets. The pilot, Hsin Po-yi, took off in an F-16V jet at 6.17pm on Tuesday for routine nighttime training then ejected from the aircraft at around 7.29pm near Hualien county, after which all contact was lost, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA). Both the pilot and the aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339028/search-intensifies-taiwanese-airforce-pilot-who-parachuted-f-16-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3339028/search-intensifies-taiwanese-airforce-pilot-who-parachuted-f-16-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:19:40 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s ideology chief has again called on propaganda officials to focus on the economy, as the country grapples with a slowdown, high unemployment and weak consumer demand. Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, told a national meeting of publicity department heads in Beijing on Monday that “a good start should be set” for the next five-year plan, state news agency Xinhua reported. The country’s new blueprint for social and economic development has officially begun and runs until... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338882/chinas-ideology-chief-calls-propaganda-officials-focus-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338882/chinas-ideology-chief-calls-propaganda-officials-focus-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 07:00:11 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Foreign forces have used deepfakes and other artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create public panic and obtain sensitive information, posing a threat to China’s national security, the country’s top intelligence agency has warned. Deepfake technology, which uses AI’s deep learning algorithms to simulate and forge images, audio and video, could be abused or used maliciously to endanger individual legal rights, social stability and national security, the Ministry of State Security (MSS)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337838/china-warns-foreign-forces-deploy-ai-deepfakes-stir-panic-and-steal-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337838/china-warns-foreign-forces-deploy-ai-deepfakes-stir-panic-and-steal-data?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:17 +0000 Meredith Chen,Phoebe Zhang Meredith Chen,Phoebe Zhang A wave of online discussion blaming China’s last imperial dynasty for national historical sufferings has prompted official criticism after touching on sensitive questions, and ignited debate over historical narrative, nationalism and social governance. What began as a fringe literary interpretation of an 18th-century classical novel has evolved in recent weeks to become a viral internet topic, known as the “1644 historical perspective”. The main claim – which has exposed sharp divisions online –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337326/fringe-view-chinas-history-sparks-official-rebuke-after-going-viral-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337326/fringe-view-chinas-history-sparks-official-rebuke-after-going-viral-online?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:23 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China has highlighted its success in joint law enforcement with the US, with state media publishing a rare report on a drugs-related money laundering case triggered by a tip-off from American authorities. Two men were sentenced in September in the case spanning both nations, the People’s Daily reported last week. This comes amid renewed US-China momentum against drug crimes, showcasing steady bilateral progress in anti-narcotics enforcement. Officers in Shenyang, in northeast China’s Liaoning... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337299/china-praises-joint-effort-us-after-pair-sentenced-drug-related-money-laundering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337299/china-praises-joint-effort-us-after-pair-sentenced-drug-related-money-laundering?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:15:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s top court has ruled that if an employer fires an employee for sexual harassment it should not have to pay compensation to the dismissed worker – a move lawyers said would make it easier for victims to take action. The ruling was among five cases highlighted by the Supreme People’s Court on Tuesday as examples of “promoting core socialist values” in family relations, the workplace and transport. According to a document released by the court, a man surnamed Wu in the southern province of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337063/chinas-top-court-sends-message-employers-sexual-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337063/chinas-top-court-sends-message-employers-sexual-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The Chinese military is pushing for stricter rules on equipment purchases, including its pricing system, to stem corruption. According to a set of “professional ethics” released on Friday, the Central Military Commission’s (CMC) Equipment Development Department should foster “professional values in the new era”, with quality the top priority in equipment procurement. The department should serve the People’s Liberation Army with “integrity and clean practice”, the official PLA Daily quoted the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337046/chinese-military-tightens-review-equipment-and-weapons-pricing-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337046/chinese-military-tightens-review-equipment-and-weapons-pricing-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang After a pandemic that swept through the world, an economic slump and record-breaking unemployment rate, young Chinese have finally learned to love themselves. The hottest recent trend on Chinese social media has got to be “love you, good old self”. At first glance, it might seem a little schizophrenic – all of a sudden, the internet appears to be full of people answering their own questions. One post says, “Old self, I needed to save money, why did you spend it all?” Underneath it, the same... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3336579/how-young-chinese-learned-stop-worrying-and-love-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3336579/how-young-chinese-learned-stop-worrying-and-love-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Chinese authorities last month intercepted 430kg (948lbs) of cocaine aided by tip-offs from the United States, indicating possible progress on the issue following an agreement on counternarcotics cooperation reached by the leaders of the two countries in October. The drugs were found inside an international container at Yantian port in Shenzhen, southern China, on November 26, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday. The case is under investigation and no other details were given. Drug... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336590/china-seizes-430kg-cocaine-aided-us-intel-sign-anti-drug-agreement-may-be-working?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336590/china-seizes-430kg-cocaine-aided-us-intel-sign-anti-drug-agreement-may-be-working?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 06:19:41 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang US bombers and stealth fighters took part in a joint military exercise with Japan on Wednesday while an American aircraft carrier arrived at a Japanese port on Thursday, in a show of force amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) and the US military conducted the exercise “amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan”, Tokyo’s Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. “Through this exercise, we confirmed the strong commitment of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336085/us-military-sends-show-strength-japan-chinas-navy-air-drills-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336085/us-military-sends-show-strength-japan-chinas-navy-air-drills-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:00:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang At least 12 people have died in a fire at a residential building in southern China, the first major incident of its kind in the mainland since last month’s Hong Kong blaze. The fire broke out at around 9.20pm on Tuesday in Shantou in Guangdong province and was put out about 40 minutes later, according to state news agency Xinhua. The building was a four-storey reinforced concrete structure and about 150 square metres (1,600 sq ft) were affected by the fire, local authorities said. On Wednesday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335868/12-killed-after-fire-hits-residential-building-southern-chinas-shantou-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335868/12-killed-after-fire-hits-residential-building-southern-chinas-shantou-city?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Bi Jingquan, China’s former top food and drug regulator who received an international accolade for promoting innovation, has been expelled from the Communist Party and removed from public office on corruption charges. An investigation found that Bi had accepted gifts, money, trips and banquets and borrowed vehicles from private business owners, a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on Monday. The statement also said Bi had “allowed others to pay for him,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335712/former-chief-chinas-food-and-drug-watchdog-ousted-communist-party?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335712/former-chief-chinas-food-and-drug-watchdog-ousted-communist-party?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:00:15 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s Liaoning carrier strike group continued military drills in waters near Japan’s Okinawa on Sunday, Tokyo said, a day after a rare stand-off between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets in the area. The PLA Navy aircraft carrier and three guided missile destroyers were sailing northeast between Okinawa and Minami-Daito islands, and in waters around 190km (118 miles) east of Kikai Island, Japan’s defence ministry said on Sunday night. Around 50 take-offs and landings by carrier-based fighter... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A rare military stand-off unfolded northeast of Taiwan near the Miyako Strait on Saturday, when Japan claimed that Chinese naval fighters had intermittently beamed fire-control radars – a tactical precursor to missile engagement – on its F-15J jets. Responding on Sunday, Beijing said Japanese jets had intruded on a People’s Liberation Army naval drill by flying too close to its aircraft carrier fleet. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defence, J-15 fighters launched from China’s Liaoning aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335493/tokyo-accuses-chinese-fighters-locking-japanese-jets-northeast-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335493/tokyo-accuses-chinese-fighters-locking-japanese-jets-northeast-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 04:16:52 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Malaysia’s announcement that the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 will resume was welcome news for Jiang Hui, whose mother was a passenger on the plane. “I hope the truth will come out soon, the wait has been such a torment for the families,” he wrote in a social media post sharing the news. Malaysia’s transport ministry made the announcement on Wednesday, more than a decade after the Boeing 777 carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335153/chinese-families-hope-truth-will-come-out-when-hunt-missing-flight-mh370-resumes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335153/chinese-families-hope-truth-will-come-out-when-hunt-missing-flight-mh370-resumes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:11 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China should focus on technological innovation to drive domestic and global development, a forum this week has heard. China would push for high-quality development and opening up to the outside world, Li Shulei, head of the Communist Party’s publicity department, told the 2025 Understanding China Conference in Guangzhou on Monday. The event, which ran between Sunday and Tuesday, was attended by around 800 people and technological innovation was a central theme. China also strove to help... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335027/china-urged-boost-hi-tech-innovation-drive-development-home-and-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335027/china-urged-boost-hi-tech-innovation-drive-development-home-and-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 02:00:34 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Yuanyue Dang Phoebe Zhang,Yuanyue Dang The owner of a fireworks shop in central China died on Tuesday from drinking pesticide, just days after blowing up his business in protest at officials who closed it for “failing to meet air quality standards”, according to Chinese media reports. The owner, identified only by his surname Peng, had operated the business for three years in Chenzhou, Hunan province, and blew it up with explosives, according to mainland magazine China Newsweek. Shandong-based news outlet the Qilu Evening News... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335074/fireworks-shop-owner-dies-pesticide-after-reporting-officials-chinese-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335074/fireworks-shop-owner-dies-pesticide-after-reporting-officials-chinese-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:30:26 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A local government official in northeast China has been accused of covering up a fishing boat accident and preventing the vessel’s owner from calling the police for help, in an incident that led to the exposure of a series of corruption cases related to fishing industry safety. The accident took place on November 10. A boat registered in Yingkou, Liaoning province, capsized while crew members were fishing, causing 11 to fall into the water. Two were rescued and nine were reported missing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334455/deadly-boat-accident-cover-reveals-corruption-chinas-fishing-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334455/deadly-boat-accident-cover-reveals-corruption-chinas-fishing-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:16 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Corrupt local officials in China are manipulating collective decision-making procedures for personal gain and to mask their activities, state media has warned. A report published on Wednesday highlighted examples of behind-the-scenes manipulation where subordinates were told how to vote in advance, and of collusion between corrupt officials or sham public consultations. “In recent years, to standardise collective decision-making, systematic procedures and requirements were introduced in many... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334189/corrupt-chinese-officials-hold-sham-votes-approve-projects-state-media-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334189/corrupt-chinese-officials-hold-sham-votes-approve-projects-state-media-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 02:00:16 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang On the 32nd anniversary of New Oriental, a private Beijing-based education services provider, the company’s founder, Yu Minhong, wrote an internal letter to his staff about his trip to the South Pole. “I am standing in the icy world of Antarctica, surrounded by vast expanses of pure white, emerald-like icebergs and boundless tranquillity,” he wrote. “The glaciers shimmer with a captivating glow under the sunlight, as if to silently declare the power of time and the meaning of perseverance.” He... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334051/elite-success-stories-are-cold-comfort-disillusioned-young-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334051/elite-success-stories-are-cold-comfort-disillusioned-young-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:30:11 +0000 Amber Wang,Phoebe Zhang Amber Wang,Phoebe Zhang Escalating global conflicts could create opportunities for China’s private defence companies as customers, both at home and abroad, seek affordable and reliable military equipment, according to industry insiders. “The international landscape is highly favourable for our private enterprises’ participation in the defence industry,” said Li Yi, a researcher with Beihang University’s Shenzhen Research Institute. Li made the comments on Monday at a military exhibition in the southern city of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334124/chinas-private-defence-companies-see-opportunities-amid-growing-global-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334124/chinas-private-defence-companies-see-opportunities-amid-growing-global-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang For Gu Chuan and his wife, relocating from China to Japan appeared to be a logical choice. Last year, when China’s economy slowed and optimism about job prospects dimmed, the Beijing-based tech worker did not want his family to put all its eggs in one basket. The couple considered several options. Hong Kong was ruled out as too far from home, and so was the United States because of its myriad disputes with Beijing. They finally decided that Gu’s wife would go to Japan to study for an MBA and he... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333712/chinese-invested-japan-public-sentiment-factor-watch-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333712/chinese-invested-japan-public-sentiment-factor-watch-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:00:16 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334442/chinas-lgbtq-community-loses-safe-spaces-blued-finka-apps-vanish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334442/chinas-lgbtq-community-loses-safe-spaces-blued-finka-apps-vanish?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The vulnerability of safe digital spaces for China’s LGBTQ community has been underscored by the abrupt removal of the country’s two most popular same-sex dating apps – Blued and Finka – from mainland app stores under government orders. The apps, both owned by Hong Kong-based BlueCity Holdings Ltd, were first noticed missing by Chinese social media users last weekend. Apple confirmed the removals in a statement sent to the South China Morning Post on Thursday, explaining that it follows the laws... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332962/chinas-lgbtq-community-loses-key-lifeline-blued-finka-apps-abruptly-vanish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332962/chinas-lgbtq-community-loses-key-lifeline-blued-finka-apps-abruptly-vanish?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 08:00:15 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Mainland Chinese police are offering a cash reward for tips on possible crime-related behaviour by two Taiwanese online influencers, saying their separatist activities are having a “terrible influence”. The Quanzhou police department in Fujian province, on the southeastern Chinese coast, said on Thursday that Wen Tzu-yu and Chen Po-yuan were first identified by the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) in March as henchmen and accomplices for the island’s independence. “According to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332605/mainland-chinese-police-offer-cash-rewards-tips-taiwans-terrible-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332605/mainland-chinese-police-offer-cash-rewards-tips-taiwans-terrible-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:00:19 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,William Zheng Phoebe Zhang,William Zheng Beijing was irritated by a rare speech in Brussels by Taiwan’s No 2 leader, Hsiao Bi-khim, but is likely to be measured in its response, according to analysts. On Friday, Hsiao delivered a speech titled “Taiwan: A Trusted Partner in a Volatile World” at an event held by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) inside the European Parliament complex. IPAC comprises members of legislatures from 43 countries and the European Parliament promoting hawkish policies towards Beijing. During her... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332509/beijing-irked-taiwan-no-2s-brussels-speech-measured-response-likely-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332509/beijing-irked-taiwan-no-2s-brussels-speech-measured-response-likely-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:05:07 +0000