https://www.scmp.com/rss/34210/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com David Tingxuan Zhang David Tingxuan Zhang For years, China’s embattled real estate sector has been framed as a terminal drag on the economy – a deflating bubble that policymakers are unwilling to rescue but unable to ignore. That framing misses what is happening. The absence of a large bailout is not so much a sign of the leadership’s indifference as a deliberate choice. It points to something more consequential than short-term market stabilisation: a systemic effort to redesign the sector’s role in the macroeconomy. The old development... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347891/reinflate-property-sector-no-china-wants-ambitious-redesign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347891/reinflate-property-sector-no-china-wants-ambitious-redesign?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has finished digging the underwater section of a high-speed rail tunnel stretching more than 14km (9 miles) under a busy segment of the Yangtze River, as the country increasingly turns to vast subterranean passages to expand its railway network. The tunnel beneath China’s longest waterway, which will link Shanghai’s Chongming Island with Taicang city in neighbouring Jiangsu province, is on track to be completed by the end of the year, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The project will allow... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348533/how-china-building-faster-high-speed-railways-using-vast-underwater-tunnels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348533/how-china-building-faster-high-speed-railways-using-vast-underwater-tunnels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s southern tech hub Shenzhen began operations of the country’s first 10,000-card intelligent computing cluster, built with advanced chips made by Huawei Technologies, in the latest sign of how the country is deepening its push for home-grown computing capabilities. Featuring a computing capacity of 11,000 petaflops, the new cluster, activated last week, is the country’s first 10,000-card intelligent computing cluster built with Huawei’s Ascend 910C AI chips, according to Shenzhen Special... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348502/shenzhen-activates-chinas-first-10000-card-ai-cluster-domestic-chips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348502/shenzhen-activates-chinas-first-10000-card-ai-cluster-domestic-chips?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A planned supercomputing hub in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis could overtake the MTR Corporation rail operator as the city’s single largest electricity consumer, prompting a green group and experts to call for setting energy efficiency standards to limit the sector’s carbon emissions. According to The Green Earth’s estimates, the new project – set to begin operating in 2029 – could increase the industry’s annual carbon emissions by about 70 per cent compared with current levels. Experts have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis that serves as a “yellow warning” for Hong Kong, which so far has escaped the severe impact seen elsewhere, tycoon Michael Kadoorie has said. “At this point, I think we’re very lucky. Now we touched on the story of fuel. It may impact us. It does already send a warning light,” the CLP Group chairman said. “So you have your traffic lights red, yellow and green. Well, we’re yellow. We’re not at red, but we have to think ahead as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348315/hong-kong-yellow-alert-middle-east-conflict-fuels-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348315/hong-kong-yellow-alert-middle-east-conflict-fuels-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A drone strike claimed by Ukraine triggered a fire at Russia’s Baltic port of Ust-Luga as the regional governor on Sunday reported new damage at the major exporting hub hit for a second time in days. Ukraine has intensified retaliatory attacks on Russian infrastructure – including refineries, oil depots and ports – saying they are justified as part of the effort to cut revenues funding Russia’s offensive. “There is damage to the port of Ust-Luga. There were no casualties,” Russian regional... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3348316/ukrainian-drone-strike-russian-baltic-port-starts-fire-damages-infrastructure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3348316/ukrainian-drone-strike-russian-baltic-port-starts-fire-damages-infrastructure?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:02:25 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As the country with the world’s largest cohort of billionaires, China is no stranger to wealthy elites engaging in luxurious leisure activities, but one common pastime in the West does not seem to have attracted a commensurate level of interest across the Pacific – yachting. While Chinese e-commerce billionaire Richard Liu recently announced a multibillion-dollar investment in a new yacht company, regulatory hurdles and infrastructure gaps have kept China’s wealthiest individuals from fully... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A proposal to scrap a ban on tall buildings in Kyoto to make way for towers and tourism infrastructure has drawn criticism that the move would fundamentally damage the skyline of Japan’s historic capital. A panel advising the city government suggested revising the existing height restriction – which limits buildings near Kyoto Station to a maximum of 31 metres – to 60 metres. The panel claimed on Wednesday the change would “revitalise” the area around the station that served as the gateway to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348197/kyoto-eyeing-taller-buildings-critics-warn-it-will-look-every-other-city-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348197/kyoto-eyeing-taller-buildings-critics-warn-it-will-look-every-other-city-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Construction has begun on a major data centre in the Northern Metropolis, with Hong Kong’s innovation and technology minister saying the project will supercharge the city’s computing power and drive the national artificial intelligence (AI) push. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Saturday at the Range (Hong Kong) Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which spans more than 110,000 square metres. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said the project marked a leap forward in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:04:10 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As China’s property downturn drags on, foreign companies in downstream industries are revamping their business models to cope with a decline in new construction projects, but the country’s stable policy environment is helping to ease the transition, according to an executive at a leading US supplier. Lift giant Otis is looking for new growth momentum in China’s government-led urban renewal drive, which includes a push to install or upgrade lift systems in ageing apartment buildings, said Judy... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348155/chinas-property-downturn-grinds-foreign-suppliers-strive-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348155/chinas-property-downturn-grinds-foreign-suppliers-strive-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen “Tokens are the new commodity,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, clad in his iconic leather jacket, at the company’s annual flagship developer conference, GTC, last week in San Jose, California. The chip designer’s helmsman wants to recast his company not as a silicon vendor but as the architect of what he calls “AI [artificial intelligence] factories”, whose standard product is “token”. While Nvidia is busy writing the rules of a new token economy, a parallel debate is emerging in China around the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347495/how-china-could-dominate-ai-eras-tokenomics-vast-power-grids-and-low-cost-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347495/how-china-could-dominate-ai-eras-tokenomics-vast-power-grids-and-low-cost-models?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Vietnam’s prime minister left on Sunday for an official visit to Russia during which the two nations will sign several agreements, including on oil and gas cooperation, Hanoi said. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to the major oil-producing nation from Sunday to Wednesday comes as Vietnam seeks to shore up its fuel reserves amid global supply disruptions due to the war in the Middle East. His visit will focus on deepening ties with Russia and expanding cooperation in trade, investment and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347500/vietnam-pm-visits-russia-sign-energy-deal-amid-iran-war-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347500/vietnam-pm-visits-russia-sign-energy-deal-amid-iran-war-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:26:32 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China’s artificial intelligence breakthroughs in recent years stemmed from the country’s strategic strengthening of its power grid, commitment to open-source models and complete manufacturing supply chain, according to Joe Tsai, chairman of Alibaba Group Holding. “Currently, geopolitical complexities are deeply affecting supply chain security and the sharing of technological achievements,” Tsai said in a speech on Sunday at the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing. “In this era and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347485/alibaba-chairman-joe-tsai-credits-chinas-ai-edge-power-grid-open-source-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347485/alibaba-chairman-joe-tsai-credits-chinas-ai-edge-power-grid-open-source-models?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:46:56 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen The administration of US President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) policy framework aimed at curbing state-level restrictions on innovation, as it urged Congress to address AI risks and reinforce the US edge in an intensifying technology race with China. Congress should pre-empt state AI laws that “impose undue burdens”, to ensure a national standard instead of “fifty discordant ones”, Trump said in a new legislative recommendation named the National AI... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3347396/trump-administration-moves-unify-ai-rules-bolster-edge-over-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3347396/trump-administration-moves-unify-ai-rules-bolster-edge-over-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:43:27 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As the Philippines forms partnerships with several countries to harness its potentially huge wealth of critical minerals, analysts have called for a coherent road map to develop the country’s mining industry to globally competitive standards. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s administration has signed multiple agreements over the past months, including a memorandum of understanding with the United States to cooperate on diversifying global critical mineral supply chains. The accord, signed during... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347369/why-philippines-struggles-tap-its-us1-trillion-mineral-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347369/why-philippines-struggles-tap-its-us1-trillion-mineral-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:30:03 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip In China this month, people have been lining up on streets to install an AI programme on their computers. Some had travelled from other cities. Others had waited for hours for engineers to set it up for them. There were even “birth certificates” given out upon installation. The programme is OpenClaw. Its logo is a red lobster. Chinese internet users quickly coined a phrase for the phenomenon: raising lobsters. The scene looks quirky, even amusing. But beneath the spectacle lies a revealing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346562/frenzy-over-ai-agent-openclaw-shows-lobster-has-escaped-pot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346562/frenzy-over-ai-agent-openclaw-shows-lobster-has-escaped-pot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai The war in Iran, culminating in the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has again exposed the world’s energy and maritime sector to acute vulnerabilities. The spike in oil prices and surging freight rates may grab headlines, but beneath these shocks lie fundamental questions about Asia’s – and Hong Kong’s – energy security, the resilience of shipping risk management and the urgent need to transform our maritime industry for a greener future. The Strait of Hormuz is not just a geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346529/iran-war-shows-urgency-hong-kongs-green-shipping-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346529/iran-war-shows-urgency-hong-kongs-green-shipping-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick A United States diplomat has told Brazilian port industry executives that Washington does not want a Chinese company to win the concession for a major container terminal in Santos, the largest port in Latin America, in the latest sign that the race for one of Brazil’s most prized infrastructure assets has become a front in the broader rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Kevin Murakami, the US consul-general in Sao Paulo, made the comments on March 5, at an event organised by Grupo A Tribuna,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3346804/washington-signals-it-wants-china-kept-out-brazils-largest-port-auction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3346804/washington-signals-it-wants-china-kept-out-brazils-largest-port-auction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:12:22 +0000 Carol Yang,Xinyi Wu Carol Yang,Xinyi Wu China’s economy got off to a strong start in 2026, as several indicators registered expectation-beating expansions in the first two months – though analysts cautioned the imminent energy crisis caused by the US-Israel war in Iran would present challenges for Beijing and the world at large in the months to come. Resilience in industrial output and retail sales, as well as a small expansion in fixed-asset investment, will provide a vital boost to Beijing as it strives to achieve an economic growth... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3346697/chinas-economy-starts-2026-strongly-retail-sales-investment-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3346697/chinas-economy-starts-2026-strongly-retail-sales-investment-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Barbora Valockova Barbora Valockova What does the world’s digital economy rest on? Thousands of kilometres of fibre-optic cable lying on the ocean floor and, increasingly, in the crosshairs of great-power rivalry. The confluence of recent subsea cable disruptions, gaps in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and intensifying great-power competition has elevated this underwater infrastructure from a technical and commercial concern to a security issue – characterised as “this century’s hidden battleground”. It has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3346525/underwater-and-unprotected-why-asean-and-eu-must-secure-subsea-lifelines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3346525/underwater-and-unprotected-why-asean-and-eu-must-secure-subsea-lifelines?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Global businesses are pouring billions into artificial intelligence amid a growing fear of missing out on enterprise AI strategies, according to Ken Wong, president of Lenovo’s Solutions & Services Group (SSG). However, despite projections of massive financial returns, the vast majority of these initiatives were not deemed a success, he added. Wong, whose division helps businesses build and maintain AI infrastructure, estimated more than 90 per cent of these pilots fail to reach satisfactory... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346506/companies-ramp-ai-spending-even-most-pilots-fail-deploy-lenovo-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346506/companies-ramp-ai-spending-even-most-pilots-fail-deploy-lenovo-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Meta is planning sweeping lay-offs that could affect 20 per cent or more of the company, three sources familiar with the matter said, as it seeks to offset costly artificial intelligence infrastructure bets and prepare for greater efficiency brought about by AI-assisted workers. No date has been set for the cuts and the magnitude has not been finalised, the people said. Top executives have recently signalled the plans to other senior leaders at Meta and told them to begin planning how to pare... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346573/16000-meta-jobs-stake-zuckerberg-focuses-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346573/16000-meta-jobs-stake-zuckerberg-focuses-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:50:22 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang By the time software programmer Guo Cancan realised something had gone horribly wrong with OpenClaw – the task-executing AI agent that has ignited a fervour across China – the damage was already done. While on holiday over the Chinese New Year, Guo was tinkering with the autonomous open-source program. When he attempted to resolve an error that it had made, OpenClaw responded by deleting nearly everything on his computer’s D: drive – a major storage partition – wiping out years of personal data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Bibek Bhandari Bibek Bhandari Nepal’s incoming government has signalled it will pursue a more pragmatic foreign policy centred on national interests, as the newly victorious Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) seeks to recalibrate relations with both China and India after years of shifting political alignments. In its election manifesto, RSP pledged to pursue “balanced and dynamic diplomacy” with both neighbours, emphasising economic cooperation, cross-border connectivity and trade while transforming Nepal from a “buffer state... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346179/nepals-new-government-signals-shift-india-china-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346179/nepals-new-government-signals-shift-india-china-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:03:07 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China plans to further strengthen its strategic transport network in sensitive border regions over the next five years to fortify and better project power along its remote frontiers amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. One project involves building a 394km (245-mile) highway linking the northern and southern sides of the rugged Tianshan Mountains in far-western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to the draft 15th five-year plan released last week. The route will run parallel to a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346094/how-china-plans-greater-power-projection-xinjiang-and-tibet-over-next-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346094/how-china-plans-greater-power-projection-xinjiang-and-tibet-over-next-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:10:04 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s Ministry of Transport has summoned two maritime giants – Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – for talks on “international shipping operations” amid legal disputes over the Panama Canal, a vital artery for global trade. No further details were provided in the one-sentence statement, which was posted on the ministry’s website on Tuesday. But in China, government summons often serve as a warning and, if ignored, could lead to further action. The move came as mounting... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346074/china-summons-maersk-msc-shipping-operations-amid-panama-saga-iran-war-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346074/china-summons-maersk-msc-shipping-operations-amid-panama-saga-iran-war-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:18 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Beijing is planning “moderately proactive” technology infrastructure expansion covering artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications and space internet, while emphasising strength in coordinating green energy planning in tandem with computing initiatives to solidify its advantage in infrastructure amid the AI race with the US. The infrastructure buildout plan forms a core pillar of the nation’s draft 15th five-year plan, released last week during the legislative “two sessions” meeting and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346055/china-lays-out-its-blueprint-ai-space-internet-and-green-energy-tech-race-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346055/china-lays-out-its-blueprint-ai-space-internet-and-green-energy-tech-race-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:59:21 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran An investigation into allegedly corrupt flood-control projects worth billions of pesos is beginning to ripple through the Philippines’ public finances, slowing infrastructure spending and adding uncertainty to the government’s investment-driven growth strategy. The budget deficit widened 4.68 per cent to 1.58 trillion pesos (US$26.5 billion) in 2025, Treasury Bureau data showed, surpassing 2024’s record of 1.51 trillion pesos. Despite slowing disbursements amid tighter scrutiny of public works... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3346029/philippines-budget-deficit-hits-record-us265-billion-corruption-probe-bites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3346029/philippines-budget-deficit-hits-record-us265-billion-corruption-probe-bites?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Representatives of China’s semiconductor industry are calling for stronger state backing in artificial intelligence chips and critical materials, aiming to fast-track core technology breakthroughs. During last week’s “two sessions” – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and advisory body – scholars and entrepreneurs in the semiconductor sector urged Beijing to leverage the nation’s advantage in strategic chip raw materials and accelerate the commercial application of AI chips to secure... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3345997/chinas-chip-industry-seeks-more-state-support-ai-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3345997/chinas-chip-industry-seeks-more-state-support-ai-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will allocate more of its fiscal spending this year towards human capital and social safety nets, as Beijing seeks to boost domestic demand and unlock new growth through “investing in people”. “Efforts must be sustained to optimise the expenditure structure, with greater emphasis on supporting the boosting of consumption, investing in people, and safeguarding people’s livelihoods,” Premier Li Qiang said in his annual work report, delivered during the opening session of the National... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng,Mia Nurmamat,Ann Cao Coco Feng,Mia Nurmamat,Ann Cao China’s policymakers want the digital economy to account for 12.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030, as Beijing accelerates its push to build a modern industrial system anchored in advanced manufacturing. The goal represents a significant increase from the 10.5 per cent share achieved in 2025, which was announced on Thursday during the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meetings and exceeded the initial target. A large part of China’s digital economy – activities facilitated by data,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345611/china-bets-ai-manufacturing-integration-narrow-digital-economy-gap-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345611/china-bets-ai-manufacturing-integration-narrow-digital-economy-gap-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin As China and the United States compete to shape the future of artificial intelligence, Africa’s rapidly expanding digital landscape is emerging as a new arena for their rivalry, far from the technology hubs of Silicon Valley or Shenzhen. With a growing population, expanding internet access and linguistic diversity, Africa is increasingly seen as a critical region for AI development, according to analysts. Early infrastructure and platform decisions can shape the future of emerging technology... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345483/africa-emerges-new-arena-us-china-competition-over-artificial-intelligence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345483/africa-emerges-new-arena-us-china-competition-over-artificial-intelligence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:10:11 +0000 Samer Elhajjar ,Niraj Dawar Samer Elhajjar ,Niraj Dawar For years, debates about US-China competition have defaulted to the obvious categories: ships, chips, tariffs and security pacts. Soft power was often treated as America’s home turf, the domain of Hollywood, top universities, global brands and a political ideal that still attracts even when it disappoints. That assumption is getting riskier. The world has entered a new emotional weather pattern: fatigue. It’s a structural condition shaped by overlapping shocks: pandemic after-effects, inflation... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344992/fatigue-rewriting-us-china-soft-power-contest-starting-asean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344992/fatigue-rewriting-us-china-soft-power-contest-starting-asean?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan A group of quick-thinking villagers swooped to the rescue of a runaway train in the East Malaysian state of Sabah on Tuesday, sacrificing a vital motorised rail trolley to force the carriage to stop. The incident unfolded at about 7.30am as the train was carrying passengers – including teachers and families with young children – on their regular morning commute from Tenom to the Pangi subdistrict in southwest Sabah, on the island of Borneo. The train suffered a brake failure, according to local... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3345302/quick-thinking-villagers-malaysias-sabah-stop-runaway-train-rail-trolley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3345302/quick-thinking-villagers-malaysias-sabah-stop-runaway-train-rail-trolley?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:40:37 +0000 Coco Feng,Eunice Xu Coco Feng,Eunice Xu Artificial intelligence has become a stronger force on the battlefield, with the US military’s use of AI-assisted strikes on Iran underscoring what analysts say is the “urgency” for China to accelerate its push for tech self-reliance. The US Department of Defence deployed Anthropic’s systems in the Iran campaign even after their deal collapsed, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The technology was used for intelligence assessments, target identification and battle... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345164/ai-assisted-us-strikes-iran-intensify-china-drive-tech-self-reliance-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345164/ai-assisted-us-strikes-iran-intensify-china-drive-tech-self-reliance-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China’s rapid push into artificial intelligence and its simultaneous energy transition are central to overtaking the United States in technological supremacy, according to a former finance vice-minister. Competition in the field of AI has shifted from purely a technological sprint to a broader contest over application scenarios and regulatory frameworks, led by the world’s two largest economies, Zhu Guangyao explained. “China’s leading position in energy transition has laid a solid foundation... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345106/chinas-ai-power-play-beijing-banks-clean-energy-boom-triumph-over-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345106/chinas-ai-power-play-beijing-banks-clean-energy-boom-triumph-over-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:03 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese companies are primed to capitalise on a vast global wave of investment in clean energy infrastructure in the coming decades, as they are able to deploy solutions at a scale and cost that few can match, analysts said. With China already rolling out green technologies – from wind and solar power to electric cars and batteries – at a massive scale domestically, its firms have the resources and know-how that other countries need to reduce their reliance on coal-fired power plants and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344902/china-poised-earn-vast-profits-global-energy-transition-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344902/china-poised-earn-vast-profits-global-energy-transition-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Xinyi Wu Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Xinyi Wu On a day typically considered one of the happiest on the calendar for Chinese workers – the eve of Chinese New Year, when families gather for dinner in the midst of an extended public holiday – the annual Spring Festival Gala, the world’s most-watched television programme, left some in the viewing audience with a sense of profound disillusionment. As a troupe of humanoid robots break-danced, flipped, swung swords and performed comedy sketches at the gala, domestic AI brands occupied the show’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344920/iron-rice-bowl-vs-algorithm-why-chinas-economy-may-better-withstand-ai-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344920/iron-rice-bowl-vs-algorithm-why-chinas-economy-may-better-withstand-ai-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:00:19 +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 Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Following a challenging cycle, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has delivered a budget returning Hong Kong to the black. After consecutive operating deficits, the operating account has returned to profit. Simultaneously, the consolidated account records a HK$2.9 billion (US$370.6 million) surplus for 2025/26, signalling stability. This turnaround is driven largely by a buoyant stock market and a stabilising property sector, reviving stamp duty revenues and investment income. This provides... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Early in 2021, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw and held talks with both General Min Aung Hlaing, the chief of the armed forces, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the civilian government. The meeting was a chance for China to voice support for Myanmar’s “national conditions” development path and signal China’s long-term pragmatic approach to ties with its southwestern neighbour, irrespective of who was in power. That strategy, however, came under... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343830/5-years-and-1-election-later-why-chinas-myanmar-dilemma-still-isnt-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343830/5-years-and-1-election-later-why-chinas-myanmar-dilemma-still-isnt-over?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters The United States has warned Syria against relying on Chinese technology in its telecommunications sector, arguing it conflicts with US interests and threatens US national security, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The message was conveyed during an unreported meeting between a US State Department team and Syrian Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal in San Francisco on Tuesday. Washington has been ‌coordinating closely with Damascus since 2024, when Syria’s now President... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344793/us-presses-syria-shift-chinese-telecoms-systems-cites-threat-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344793/us-presses-syria-shift-chinese-telecoms-systems-cites-threat-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:42:08 +0000 Narendra Modi Narendra Modi At a defining moment in human history, the world gathered at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. For us in India, welcoming heads of state, heads of government, delegates and innovators from across the world was a moment of immense pride and joy. India brings scale and energy to everything it does and this summit was no exception. Representatives from over 100 nations came together. Innovators showcased cutting-edge AI products and services. Thousands of young people could be seen in the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344463/how-india-can-lead-charge-inclusive-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344463/how-india-can-lead-charge-inclusive-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The Hong Kong government has produced a consolidated surplus earlier than expected, its first in four years, ahead of a rare transfer into coffers from the Exchange Fund and other sources. Wednesday’s budget pointed to fund transfers of HK$127.83 billion (US$16.35 billion) and an 11.1 per cent jump in government revenues contributing to another surplus for 2026-27, on top of the one for the 2025-26 financial year. “We will bring back about HK$15.8 billion from funds established outside the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344651/rare-move-take-income-out-exchange-fund-pay-northern-metropolis-other-big-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344651/rare-move-take-income-out-exchange-fund-pay-northern-metropolis-other-big-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:12:55 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has handed in a glowing report card of technological and economic development, surpassing Shanghai and Beijing as the nation’s largest manufacturing and exporting city while solidifying a lead in artificial intelligence and start-up cultivation, its mayor has revealed. Shenzhen’s economy grew from 2.83 trillion yuan in 2020 to 3.87 trillion yuan (US$560 billion) in 2025. The city’s annualised growth rate of 5.5 per cent over that period also... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344481/shenzhen-dethrones-shanghai-beijing-chinas-top-industrial-powerhouse-mayor-boasts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344481/shenzhen-dethrones-shanghai-beijing-chinas-top-industrial-powerhouse-mayor-boasts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A date has been set for a new era of Hong Kong aviation history to take off. On May 27, the airport’s HK$141.5 billion (US$18.1 billion) three-runway expansion will wrap up with the full opening of its redeveloped second terminal. Completion of the decade-long project sends a powerful message to the world that the air transport hub has turned a page after years struggling with economic woes deepened by civil unrest and the pandemic. Hong Kong International Airport is back – and bigger, smarter... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344110/hong-kong-airports-second-terminal-will-help-city-reach-new-heights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344110/hong-kong-airports-second-terminal-will-help-city-reach-new-heights?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:45:16 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines has fallen in a global corruption perception ranking, as allegations of financial wrongdoings and court cases surrounding a multibillion-peso flood-control programme have deepened doubts about its governance and dented investor confidence. Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International said the Philippines ranked 120th out of 182 countries and territories in its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, down six places from the previous year. The country received a score of 32 on a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344179/views-corruption-philippines-worsen-grease-money-dents-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344179/views-corruption-philippines-worsen-grease-money-dents-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese railway giants look set to scout Eurasia in the years ahead to build high-speed train lines as the domestic market matures and some countries are more prepared than others for capital-intensive yet transformative ventures, analysts said. Inspired by China-invested projects such as the 142km (88-mile) Jakarta-Bandung high-speed line in Indonesia and the partly finished 350km (217-mile) Budapest-Belgrade railway, Chinese construction and engineering firms are expected to expand their... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344149/rail-ahead-high-speed-lines-saturate-china-how-far-can-their-global-reach-extend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344149/rail-ahead-high-speed-lines-saturate-china-how-far-can-their-global-reach-extend?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:00:12 +0000