https://www.scmp.com/rss/4/feed The latest breaking news from China. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mark Magnier Mark Magnier In the latest cycle of threats and concessions that have marked US President Donald Trump’s approach to the war that he and his Israeli counterpart started against Iran, the mercurial president said on Thursday he would destroy any undersized boat attempting to lay mines in the blocked Strait of Hormuz. His focus on diminutive vessels followed his oft-repeated messaging that Iran’s larger naval vessels are no more as he renews his effort to muscle Tehran’s frustratingly resilient regime to... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3351209/trump-says-navy-will-shoot-and-kill-boats-laying-mines-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3351209/trump-says-navy-will-shoot-and-kill-boats-laying-mines-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:15:37 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen As key allies turn away and war costs soar, the US military campaign against Iran is spurring a growing consensus among Chinese observers and state media – that Washington’s unrivalled global dominance is crumbling. Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily issued a sharp critique on Thursday, warning that the United States’ shift from an “international rule-builder” to a “predatory hegemon” would ultimately undermine its prosperity and influence. “In the post-Cold War era, while the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351155/why-iran-war-surest-sign-us-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351155/why-iran-war-surest-sign-us-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen American enterprises operating in China lauded improvements in the country’s regulatory environment and more “openness”, but long-standing concerns over access and Beijing’s emphasis on security continue to weigh on optimism, with expectations for US President Donald Trump’s looming China visit also muted, according to a leading business chamber. Targeted regulatory refinement in some sectors, ongoing updates to foreign investment policies and market access measures, and “incremental”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351168/beijings-emphasis-security-weighing-us-firms-optimism-amcham-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351168/beijings-emphasis-security-weighing-us-firms-optimism-amcham-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Authorities in China’s western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have blamed construction defects and management failures – rather than the actions of tourists – for a deadly suspension bridge failure last summer. In a report released on Thursday, investigators concluded that “legal violations, gross negligence and dereliction of duty” caused the Jiangjun Bridge at the Xiata Scenic Area in Yili to tilt, killing five people and injuring 24 others. The incident occurred at 6.15pm on August 6, when... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351184/defects-not-jumping-tourists-caused-deadly-xinjiang-bridge-collapse-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351184/defects-not-jumping-tourists-caused-deadly-xinjiang-bridge-collapse-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:14 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has released new guidelines to reduce carbon emissions across strategic sectors – including energy-intensive data centres – as Beijing pushes to secure its 2030 climate targets amid volatile energy prices triggered by the US-Israeli war in Iran. The 18-point document, issued by the ruling Communist Party’s powerful Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, called on heavy industries – including steel, non-ferrous metals and chemicals – to boost energy efficiency and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351131/china-targets-greener-ai-data-centres-heavy-industry-push-meet-2030-climate-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351131/china-targets-greener-ai-data-centres-heavy-industry-push-meet-2030-climate-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen As the US-Israeli war with Iran chokes off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the “Middle Corridor” is being held up as a critical alternative lifeline linking East Asia to Europe. Also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the Middle Corridor is a multimodal logistics route that connects China and Europe via Kazakhstan in Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea and Turkey. Waqar Ahmad, president of Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351191/us-iran-war-chokes-hormuz-can-central-asias-middle-corridor-rise-rescue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351191/us-iran-war-chokes-hormuz-can-central-asias-middle-corridor-rise-rescue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:30:29 +0000 Burak Elmali Burak Elmali The Iran war has delivered a systemic shock to the Gulf’s security architecture and economic miracle. Two taboos were rapidly broken. The Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption and close to a quarter of seaborne crude, was paralysed for sustained periods. Iranian strikes reached deep into Gulf territory, hitting ports, energy terminals and airports with a frequency that exceeded attacks on Israel. War-risk insurance premiums and tanker charter rates surged... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350366/china-can-offer-gulf-states-more-just-security-umbrella?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350366/china-can-offer-gulf-states-more-just-security-umbrella?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Alcott Wei,Xinlu Liang Alcott Wei,Xinlu Liang A senior Chinese official who oversees religious and ethnic minority affairs has called for China to “strengthen” the education, training and management of Tibetan Buddhist personnel. Li Ganjie, head of the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department and a member of the now 22-man Politburo, made the call during a trip to Tibetan areas in western China, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. He visited several religious organisations and study institutions in the Tibetan autonomous... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3351181/china-must-strengthen-education-tibetan-buddhists-beijing-official-says-after-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3351181/china-must-strengthen-education-tibetan-buddhists-beijing-official-says-after-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham China’s close ties with Russia should be a “disqualifying factor” in Beijing’s bid to launch talks on a free-trade agreement with the European Union, Finland’s foreign minister has said. In meetings with European leaders, Beijing has been floating the prospect of a trade or investment deal, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last month said a pact could be possible in the future. In an exclusive interview in Helsinki on Wednesday, however, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen poured cold water on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351183/chinas-russia-ties-mean-eu-trade-deal-table-finland-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351183/chinas-russia-ties-mean-eu-trade-deal-table-finland-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The United States’ depleted stockpile of munitions from its war on Iran and limited production capacity will be a critical vulnerability against stronger adversaries, according to Chinese military observers. During the 39 days of war before the ceasefire, the US is estimated to have used about half of both its Patriot air defence missiles and the longer-range Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors. Stockpiles of Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) and Standard Missile 6 (SM-6)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351140/chinese-military-experts-take-stock-us-munitions-weak-spot-exposed-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351140/chinese-military-experts-take-stock-us-munitions-weak-spot-exposed-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A hotel operator’s planned entry into Xiongan New Area southwest of Beijing highlights a tentative but growing alignment between Hong Kong’s private sector and the state-backed development project, as leaders renew efforts to accelerate the zone’s transformation into a hi-tech growth hub. Hong Kong-based Langham Hospitality Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, said on Thursday that it had signed a management agreement with China Xiongan Group Public Service Management to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351113/hong-kongs-langham-group-among-first-invest-beijings-city-future-xiongan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351113/hong-kongs-langham-group-among-first-invest-beijings-city-future-xiongan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for China and Cambodia to “stand in closer solidarity, now more than ever” in the first 2+2 strategic dialogue aimed at deepening mutual political and security ties. During a meeting in Phnom Penh, Wang also urged the two sides to further strengthen political and security cooperation to “firmly hold the reins of development and security in their own hands”. The meeting on Wednesday was the first under the 2+2 mechanism with Cambodia involving defence and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351116/china-calls-cambodia-shared-security-and-risks-during-global-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351116/china-calls-cambodia-shared-security-and-risks-during-global-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin For years, Nasa funded a project called SpiderFab – a spider-like robot that would crawl through orbit, weaving solar power stations and giant antennas from spools of carbon fibre – creating structures too large for any rocket to carry whole. Although SpiderFab never ended up in space, scientists from the Shenyang Institute of Automation in northern China say they have built the key technologies to reach a similar goal. The team first made the building blocks from a carbon-fibre composite,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351085/can-chinese-scientists-bring-nasas-space-spider-dream-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351085/can-chinese-scientists-bring-nasas-space-spider-dream-life?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The number of Chinese tourists deciding to travel during the five-day Labour Day holiday at the start of next month could rival or exceed last year’s headcount despite higher global fuel prices, analysts said, adding travellers were likely to prefer shorter trips to save on transport costs. Domestic flight bookings were up about 8 per cent year on year and domestic package-tour reservations were about 10 per cent higher ahead of the break, even after fuel prices shot up because of the war in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351100/more-bookings-shorter-trips-chinese-adjust-higher-fuel-prices-labour-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351100/more-bookings-shorter-trips-chinese-adjust-higher-fuel-prices-labour-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:32:44 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Daniel Gros is the director of the Institute for European Policymaking at Bocconi University. Previously, he served as an adviser to the European Parliament, collaborated with the European Commission as economic adviser to the Delors Committee, which developed plans for the euro, and worked at the International Monetary Fund. In this interview, Gros examines the structural tensions shaping EU-China economic ties, draws lessons from the euro’s experience to analyse the yuan’s... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3351083/euro-yuan-unlikely-match-us-dollar-global-currencies-daniel-gros-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3351083/euro-yuan-unlikely-match-us-dollar-global-currencies-daniel-gros-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Alibaba Group Holding has struck its first external partnership for its flagship consumer artificial intelligence app, linking it with China Eastern Airlines in a move that pushes its agentic capabilities beyond the company’s own ecosystem and into real-world services. The company said the fresh collaboration allowed users of the Qwen app to manage the full flight booking process – from search and ticket purchase to seat selection and check-in – within a single natural-language chat interface.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351076/alibaba-opens-qwen-app-outside-partners-china-eastern-airlines-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3351076/alibaba-opens-qwen-app-outside-partners-china-eastern-airlines-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:12:43 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Shortly after the doors opened each day at the ongoing Canton Fair, every corner of the robotics and drone halls quickly filled to capacity, while the new energy pavilion remained densely packed with overseas buyers. Foreign buyers moved slowly between booths, live streaming their encounters with new tech products to social media, queuing to try out the latest devices and in some cases, purchasing samples on the spot at the event, which started last Wednesday. The scenes reflect a broader shift... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350820/chinas-canton-fair-defies-global-trends-overseas-customers-flock-buy-robots-drones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350820/chinas-canton-fair-defies-global-trends-overseas-customers-flock-buy-robots-drones?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin China has reported a staggering amount of domestic artificial intelligence power, pointing to what some experts say could be a “dark pool” of compute thousands of times larger than its public reports suggest. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China has achieved 1,882 exaflops – short for exa floating-point operations per second – which translates to 1,882 quintillion, or billion billion, calculations per second. The figure is more than 6,000 times higher... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351037/chinas-dark-compute-power-could-be-6000-times-higher-current-estimates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351037/chinas-dark-compute-power-could-be-6000-times-higher-current-estimates?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang All eyes are on the Strait of Hormuz as the world waits for a new round of US-Iran peace deal talks to ease the global energy crisis, while the extended ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump remains up in the air. These are the main takeaways from what happened overnight. Peace talks? It remains unclear when the two sides will return to the negotiating table. Trump on Wednesday said there was “no time frame” for when the war on Iran might come to an end. During an interview with Fox... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351064/iran-war-latest-trump-has-no-time-frame-world-waits-peace-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351064/iran-war-latest-trump-has-no-time-frame-world-waits-peace-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:48:03 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The US visa system rolls out the “red carpet” for spies and aids China’s alleged efforts to steal American innovation, senators charged at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, as Washington and Beijing intensify competition for dominance in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Through its permissive legal channels, the US is “inviting, welcoming, come on in with the red carpet rolled out” people who steal military and commercial secrets, Republican Senator Ashley Moody of Florida... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:37:28 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Few people have heard of Huangyan, a booming industrial district of Taizhou, a city in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. Yet without it, many cars would likely be heavier, more expensive and less energy efficient, while everyday household goods would probably cost more. The town specialises in plastic components and moulding equipment – unassuming products that rarely make the news, but sit at the heart of modern manufacturing. For years, Huangyan’s producers have dominated this supply chain,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351027/inside-teslas-hidden-supply-chain-how-chinese-town-shapes-modern-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351027/inside-teslas-hidden-supply-chain-how-chinese-town-shapes-modern-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sought to quell fears in Senate testimony on Wednesday that American technology was aiding China’s military, but drew scepticism given the US president’s willingness to sell advanced semiconductors. Lutnick asserted before the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee that US President Donald Trump was striking a “delicate balance” on the technology transfer issue given his cordial personal relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, claiming that China had... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3351059/china-bought-zero-h200-chips-today-says-lutnick-he-cites-delicate-balance-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3351059/china-bought-zero-h200-chips-today-says-lutnick-he-cites-delicate-balance-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:46:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters The United States is concerned that several African countries revoked overflight clearances for Taiwan’s leader at mainland China’s behest, the US State Department said on Wednesday, calling the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system. Taiwan this week said the Seychelles, Mauritius ‌and Madagascar unilaterally revoked flight permits for leader William Lai Ching-te’s aircraft to cross airspace they manage on a planned trip to eSwatini, one of Taiwan’s allies. It is the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351056/us-slams-china-after-african-countries-block-taiwan-leaders-eswatini-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351056/us-slams-china-after-african-countries-block-taiwan-leaders-eswatini-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:40:29 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The on-again, off-again US-Iran peace talks are casting doubt on whether Donald Trump will make his planned visit to Beijing in a few weeks, though the war could raise the diplomatic stakes of the trip if it does go ahead, Chinese observers say. Hours before a two-week ceasefire was set to end, the US president announced on Tuesday that he was prolonging the fragile truce with Iran. That came after Vice-President J.D. Vance’s trip to Pakistan for a second round of peace negotiations was first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351041/iran-talks-go-nowhere-will-donald-trump-still-go-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351041/iran-talks-go-nowhere-will-donald-trump-still-go-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:00:13 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Chinese battery cell manufacturers are poised to benefit from the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to Fitch Ratings, even as fierce competition, overcapacity and thin margins weigh on some downstream firms. Global demand for energy storage was set to rise, driven by high oil prices and rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, said Wang Ying, a managing director at the credit rating agency. “We believe that China’s leading energy storage cell manufacturers will be the bigger... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351035/chinas-battery-makers-stand-gain-iran-war-reshapes-energy-storage-demand-fitch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351035/chinas-battery-makers-stand-gain-iran-war-reshapes-energy-storage-demand-fitch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:15 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Washington’s reported plan to have embassies team up with the American military’s “psyops” department to boost the US’ image could backfire and actually damage the country’s credibility, according to analysts. The strategy amounts to using “propaganda to fight the truth”, according to Tad Stoermer, a historian and former lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. Amid slipping global approval, the US is looking to employ shadowy tactics that it previously condemned. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351023/washingtons-psyop-propaganda-push-could-backfire-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351023/washingtons-psyop-propaganda-push-could-backfire-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has named the two Pakistani astronauts selected to train for a mission to its space station this year. After undergoing assessments, one of the men would serve as a payload specialist on a space mission alongside the Chinese crew to become the first foreign astronaut to enter the Tiangong space station, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will soon arrive in China for their training, according to the China Manned Space Agency. They were... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351043/china-names-2-pakistani-astronauts-chosen-train-tiangong-space-station-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351043/china-names-2-pakistani-astronauts-chosen-train-tiangong-space-station-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:41:50 +0000 Wang Huiyao Wang Huiyao The Iran crisis loomed large in discussions when Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu ‌Dhabi, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met President Xi Jinping on separate visits to Beijing last week. Both meetings focused on the need for a comprehensive and sustainable security architecture for the Middle East. This week, on a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Xi reiterated China’s support for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350462/how-chinas-patient-diplomacy-can-help-secure-peace-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350462/how-chinas-patient-diplomacy-can-help-secure-peace-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei PLA warships transited sensitive international waterways off southwestern Japan twice this week, a rare move seen as a clear warning to Tokyo over its recent actions relating to Taiwan. The transits marked the start and end of exercises in the western Pacific, outbound through the Yokoate Channel on Sunday and back via the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway on Wednesday. In a statement on Wednesday, the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said: “[We] have organised the 133rd Fleet to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:24:14 +0000 Lawrence Chung,Xinlu Liang Lawrence Chung,Xinlu Liang Beijing has praised the decision by three African countries to deny overflight clearance for Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te, whose trip to eSwatini was cancelled a day before his scheduled departure. Lai had been due to leave on Wednesday for a five-day trip to eSwatini, the only African country that maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati’s accession and his 58th birthday. But Lai’s office announced late on Tuesday that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3351028/does-william-lais-cancelled-eswatini-trip-show-beijings-reach-africa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3351028/does-william-lais-cancelled-eswatini-trip-show-beijings-reach-africa?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:01:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China is embarking on a sweeping overhaul of its industrial architecture, aiming to fuse software and steel as part of a 100-trillion-yuan (US$14.7 trillion) undertaking to modernise its service sector while pushing manufacturing into the future. The State Council’s blueprint, unveiled on Tuesday, said the valuation target for the service sector was achievable by 2030 as advanced manufacturing increasingly becomes fused with specialised technical support. Analysts say Beijing’s plan will help... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351021/china-fuse-software-and-steel-us14tr-sector-fix-weak-links-worlds-factory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351021/china-fuse-software-and-steel-us14tr-sector-fix-weak-links-worlds-factory?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:00:15 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China has launched what it calls the world’s first “panoramic” carbon accounting system, a model that revises down the country’s emissions compared to other estimates and raises them for the United States. Unlike other models that assign responsibility for emissions based on total carbon output from facilities such as power plants and factories, the new model gives greater weight to the consumers of products. Developed by the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351009/how-chinas-new-ai-carbon-accounting-model-points-finger-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351009/how-chinas-new-ai-carbon-accounting-model-points-finger-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:21:20 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma US President Donald Trump announced a last-minute indefinite extension of a ceasefire with Iran and downplayed reports about an intercepted ship carrying a “gift from China” to Tehran. The US would avoid military action against Iran “until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal”, Trump said on social media on Tuesday. He cited a request from Pakistan as a reason for reversing earlier threats to resume bombing if no deal was reached. Prospects for new... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/world/middle-east/article/3351006/trump-extends-iran-war-ceasefire-strait-shutdown-drags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/world/middle-east/article/3351006/trump-extends-iran-war-ceasefire-strait-shutdown-drags?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:16:45 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Flights between China and Japan faced even more cancellations in March – with further cuts expected during the coming Labour Day holiday – as political tensions between the Asian neighbours continue to simmer. A total of 2,691 China-Japan flights were scrapped last month, according to figures from the data platform DAST cited by Chinese media outlet Yicai. That brought the cancellation rate to nearly 50 per cent, 1.1 percentage points higher than February. Only 2,711 flights between the two... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350995/2700-china-japan-flights-axed-march-rift-between-asian-powers-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350995/2700-china-japan-flights-axed-march-rift-between-asian-powers-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:17 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage China is backing Namibia’s bid to move beyond raw material exports by supporting the domestic processing of critical minerals and uranium. In a joint communique issued on Friday following talks in Beijing between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, China pledged to help transform Namibia’s natural resources into higher-value products through domestic processing and downstream cooperation. Namibia has exported unprocessed minerals for decades. It is now seeking... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350979/why-china-backs-namibias-nuclear-fuel-rod-production?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350979/why-china-backs-namibias-nuclear-fuel-rod-production?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:37:16 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The State Council, China’s cabinet, has published guidelines on innovative drug pricing that a bank analyst has described as the “most significant” in a decade, as they aim to reward drug innovation and ease pricing tension for domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies. The framework document published this month said patented innovative drugs would be supported through value-based pricing, while the prices of generic drugs would be driven down through market competition and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350956/multinational-pharmaceutical-companies-benefit-new-china-guidelines-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350956/multinational-pharmaceutical-companies-benefit-new-china-guidelines-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen The Iran conflict is pushing Saudi Arabia to reconsider its US-led security strategy, with China emerging to play a limited, but functional role, analysts say. However, deep US ties in defence would restrict Saudi Arabia’s broader cooperation with China, they added, as one expert predicted Riyadh was likely to deepen ties with regional powers such as Pakistan and Turkey. In a rare alignment, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a key US ally in the Middle East, initiated a phone... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350919/shifting-saudi-ties-what-role-could-china-take-after-iran-war-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350919/shifting-saudi-ties-what-role-could-china-take-after-iran-war-over?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:15 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Half of Taiwanese not only doubt the US would send troops to defend Taiwan in the event of a cross-strait conflict but also question whether American weapons would prove effective, a poll this week has revealed. The results highlighted mounting scepticism on the island over Washington’s security guarantees, according to the survey released on Monday by the Taipei-based Democracy Foundation. The poll found that 57 per cent of respondents did not believe the US would send troops to defend the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3350926/trump-effect-taiwan-poll-reveals-deep-doubts-about-us-military-protection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3350926/trump-effect-taiwan-poll-reveals-deep-doubts-about-us-military-protection?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Jinghan (Michael) Zeng Jinghan (Michael) Zeng A year ago, after more than a decade in the United Kingdom and several years in the United States – including time working for the United Nations in New York City – I returned to Asia and arrived in Hong Kong expecting it to also be a leading hub for international relations. Hong Kong is often described as a “superconnector” between China and the world. Yet in one crucial domain – the study and practice of international relations – the city remains a paradox: globally connected, intellectually... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The world breathed a sigh of relief as US President Donald Trump announced he would extend the ceasefire with Iran hours before it was set to expire. But the relief proved short-lived. Trump issued fresh war threats on social media – heightening uncertainty as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and a second round of Pakistan-mediated peace talks hangs in limbo. These are the main takeaways from what happened overnight. Last-minute extension Trump indefinitely extended the two-week ceasefire... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350936/iran-war-latest-trumps-ceasefire-reversal-and-tensions-simmer-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350936/iran-war-latest-trumps-ceasefire-reversal-and-tensions-simmer-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:03:57 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s shipyards are emerging as beneficiaries from the US-Israeli war on Iran, securing new orders as crude transport bottlenecks worsen and global demand for large oil tankers rises. With the United States and Iran effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint that handles about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil – shipping companies are racing to expand capacity, particularly in very large crude carriers (VLCCs) capable of transporting about 2 million barrels of oil per... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350872/chinas-shipyards-secure-wave-oil-tanker-orders-iran-war-drives-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350872/chinas-shipyards-secure-wave-oil-tanker-orders-iran-war-drives-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin A Chinese university student has been charged with unauthorised photography of US military aircraft in Nebraska during a road trip through several states, which included a stop at an air force base in South Dakota. Tianrui Liang, who is studying in Glasgow, was arrested at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport on April 7 as he attempted to return to Scotland, court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York revealed. The 21-year-old has been charged with photographing defence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350933/chinese-college-student-charged-illegally-taking-photos-us-military-planes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350933/chinese-college-student-charged-illegally-taking-photos-us-military-planes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:30:56 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The Philippines is trying to gradually establish “stable foundations” for its relations with China before tackling tougher problems such as the long-running South China Sea dispute, according to the country’s ambassador to Beijing. “We need a new equilibrium in our relations with China. Both sides [have agreed] to take incremental or baby steps towards that,” Jaime FlorCruz told the South China Morning Post. “That means a relationship that is stable, that is predictable, that is not subject to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350870/china-and-philippines-taking-baby-steps-towards-better-relations-manilas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350870/china-and-philippines-taking-baby-steps-towards-better-relations-manilas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Xiao Qian Xiao Qian The United States House Select Committee on China recently released a report on artificial intelligence. Titled “Buy What It Can, Steal What It Must: China’s Campaign to Acquire Frontier AI Capabilities”, it captures a hardening view in Washington that Beijing’s artificial intelligence rise is closely tied to both market access and security concerns. Whether fully substantiated or not, such beliefs are increasingly shaping the policy lens through which technology competition between the two... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350871/us-china-ai-race-must-strike-balance-between-security-and-openness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350871/us-china-ai-race-must-strike-balance-between-security-and-openness?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s next-generation “drone-carrier” amphibious assault ship is en route to the South China Sea for critical sea trials, the military announced on Tuesday, in the same waters where the US, the Philippines and Japan are conducting large-scale joint military exercises and the aircraft carrier Liaoning is apparently sailing to. “The Sichuan, our country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, has set sail from Shanghai for relevant waters in the South China Sea to carry out scientific research... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350932/chinas-new-type-076-drone-carrier-take-part-south-china-sea-training-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350932/chinas-new-type-076-drone-carrier-take-part-south-china-sea-training-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:09:29 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump’s long-standing obsession with sea power was underscored by his pledge to rebuild the US Navy into what he called a “Golden Fleet” as he returned to the White House. His financial year 2027 budget released on April 3 puts a price tag on the ambition: US$65.8 billion for 34 warships, including initial funding for a next-generation battleship he wants to name after himself, part of the largest US$1.5 trillion defence-spending request in history. But analysts say the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3350866/trumps-military-push-confronts-us-lawmakers-and-chinas-shipbuilding-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3350866/trumps-military-push-confronts-us-lawmakers-and-chinas-shipbuilding-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te was forced to postpone a visit to the island’s last African partner after three other nations abruptly refused to allow his aircraft to fly over their territory, in a move Taipei blamed on pressure from Beijing. This is the first time any Taiwanese leader has had to delay an overseas visit at the last minute, Lai’s office said. He had been due to depart on Wednesday for a five-day trip to eSwatini, the sole African country that maintains official diplomatic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3350917/taiwanese-leader-lai-postpones-africa-trip-after-3-nations-revoke-overflight-permission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3350917/taiwanese-leader-lai-postpones-africa-trip-after-3-nations-revoke-overflight-permission?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:25:54 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Japan has scrapped long-standing restrictions on arms exports in a major break with its post-war pacifist policy that is likely to derail any potential thaw in relations with China. The plans, given final approval by the cabinet on Tuesday, could clear the way for sales of lethal equipment that had long been banned and prompted expressions of “serious concern” from Beijing. Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology had previously limited exports to five non-combat... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350913/japans-new-arms-export-rules-trigger-chinese-warning-against-moves-towards-militarism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350913/japans-new-arms-export-rules-trigger-chinese-warning-against-moves-towards-militarism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:01:07 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The West’s narrative of Chinese “overcapacity” is a double standard, said a former chief economist of the World Bank as he urged advanced economies to draw on “Eastern wisdom” rather than protectionism to navigate the rise of hi-tech competition. Justin Lin Yifu, a prominent advocate of Beijing’s industrial policy, dismissed claims that China’s auto-export surge was a sign of industrial imbalance. Speaking at Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Lin drew a contrast with Germany to expose a logical... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350885/economist-justin-lin-urges-west-adopt-eastern-wisdom-china-moves-value-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350885/economist-justin-lin-urges-west-adopt-eastern-wisdom-china-moves-value-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump announced a last-minute extension of the ceasefire with Iran following a request from Pakistan’s top leadership, even as he appeared to suggest that American forces had intercepted a potentially lethal “gift from China” to Tehran. Describing the Iranian government as “seriously fractured”, Trump said on social media that he agreed to hold off military operations against Iran at the behest of Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Trump added... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350915/us-forces-intercepted-gift-china-iran-donald-trump-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350915/us-forces-intercepted-gift-china-iran-donald-trump-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:54:30 +0000