https://www.scmp.com/rss/516265/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alice Li Alice Li China’s rapid technological gains and aggressive pricing are making it increasingly difficult for South Korean firms to find profitable areas of industrial synergy with their Chinese counterparts, according to experts. Speakers at a recent forum in Beijing urged firms from both countries to pivot towards building more interdependent ecosystems in high-growth sectors such as batteries and artificial intelligence, while also calling for the advancement of negotiations towards an upgraded... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352913/how-chinas-sharper-tech-edge-forces-south-korea-rethink-decades-industrial-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352913/how-chinas-sharper-tech-edge-forces-south-korea-rethink-decades-industrial-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 10:30:13 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan and South Korea are closing ranks as they prepare for high-level meetings aimed at steadying ties amid growing regional volatility, with analysts saying the diplomatic push reflects shared concern over China, North Korea and the reliability of US commitments under President Donald Trump. Both countries appear willing to put past differences aside, at least for now, as they confront an assertive China and an unpredictable US administration that has unsettled long-standing allies and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352211/how-trump-inadvertently-bringing-japan-south-korea-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352211/how-trump-inadvertently-bringing-japan-south-korea-together?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 07:55:15 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Electric vehicles (EVs) made in China now account for one in every three new registrations in South Korea, as Tesla’s Shanghai-built models power the surge and Chinese carmakers start to gain traction. The country’s auto manufacturers have further room to expand, analysts said, supported by higher fuel prices linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran and looser restrictions than traditional target markets. Still, tightening subsidy regimes could slow the pace of expansion, they cautioned. Sales of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai A new wave of South Korean content creators is descending on Chinese cities, cameras in hand, transforming the streets of Shanghai, Shenzhen and beyond into lively backdrops for travel vlogs and lifestyle videos. Dubbed the “Korean v-blogger influx” by some online users, their ranks have swelled since China extended its unilateral visa-free policy for South Korean passport holders for another year, allowing stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business and family visits. Introduced in 2024 and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351425/whats-fuelling-surge-south-koreans-travelling-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351425/whats-fuelling-surge-south-koreans-travelling-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Repeat short-haul visits by Chinese travellers to South Korea are expected to rise after Seoul eased multiple-entry visa rules, but analysts say the immediate impact may be limited because of growing competition from Southeast Asia and higher airfares linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran. The South Korean embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese nationals who had previously visited South Korea would now be eligible for a five-year multiple-entry visa. Those holding residency status in 14 major... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348904/south-korea-eases-chinese-travel-visas-southeast-asia-rivals-iran-war-cloud-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348904/south-korea-eases-chinese-travel-visas-southeast-asia-rivals-iran-war-cloud-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s redeployment of elements of its missile defence systems from South Korea to the Middle East could be read by China as a short-term capability gap in the region, analysts said. They said the move also underlined US flexibility to move its assets across theatres of operation. A Washington Post report on Tuesday citing two unnamed US government officials said that the United States had been moving parts of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system stationed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346575/us-shifting-thaad-south-korea-mideast-what-does-mean-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346575/us-shifting-thaad-south-korea-mideast-what-does-mean-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi The prime ministers of South Korea and Singapore will be among the world leaders attending this month’s Boao Forum for Asia, three sources said, adding to a growing string of leaders from developed economies who have visited China this year. The annual conference is scheduled to be held in Boao, Hainan province, from March 24 to 27, its organiser announced earlier. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai’s most recent trip to China was in June, when he met President Xi Jinping and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345739/prime-ministers-singapore-south-korea-attend-months-boao-forum-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345739/prime-ministers-singapore-south-korea-attend-months-boao-forum-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Li Yanqing, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (Cansi), discusses the impact of US trade policies, global market cycles and China’s strategic pivot towards high-quality manufacturing. As a shipbuilding veteran who also serves as chairman of the ISO/TC 8 ships and marine technology committee, which oversees international standardisation for shipbuilding and marine operations, Li is a prominent voice for China’s industry on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345013/top-china-shipbuilding-voice-li-yanqing-why-us-industry-cant-be-rebuilt-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345013/top-china-shipbuilding-voice-li-yanqing-why-us-industry-cant-be-rebuilt-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China and South Korea have resolved a trade dispute over hot-rolled steel coils through a price-undertaking deal, mirroring the solution used in China’s electric vehicle (EV) stand-off with the European Union. Analysts say the deal, which will see exporters raise export prices to avoid anti‑dumping duties, could avert punitive tariffs and safeguard market access for Chinese exports. The China Iron and Steel Association said in a statement issued on Thursday night that it “welcomed and supported”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344898/evs-steel-how-chinas-price-setting-deals-are-easing-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344898/evs-steel-how-chinas-price-setting-deals-are-easing-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China widened its lead over South Korea in critical technologies in recent years, according to an official review by Seoul’s science ministry, as Beijing doubles down on strategic investment in advanced research. The expanding gap underscores the need for both countries to move beyond zero-sum competition and deepen cooperation in economic and technological development, according to analysts. Quantifying this trend, the latest technology-level assessment from the South Korean Ministry of Science... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344607/china-extends-tech-lead-over-south-korea-and-surpasses-japan-seouls-ranking-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344607/china-extends-tech-lead-over-south-korea-and-surpasses-japan-seouls-ranking-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee,Alice Li Yeon Woo Lee,Alice Li For his family’s first overseas trip together, Tang Junjie carefully planned a holiday to Japan during China’s longest Lunar New Year break on record. Flights were booked months in advance by the 22-year-old from Sichuan province, who had already made three solo visits to the neighbouring country that has long been a draw for Chinese tourists. But a sudden deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations changed everything. “The original plan was to transit through Seoul on our way to Japan,” Tang said.... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344356/seoul-gains-tokyos-pain-over-lunar-new-year-politics-reshapes-chinas-tourism-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344356/seoul-gains-tokyos-pain-over-lunar-new-year-politics-reshapes-chinas-tourism-map?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim South Korea last week protested to the US over a rare stand-off between American and Chinese fighter jets in the Yellow Sea, according to media reports. Analysts said the move signalled Seoul was reluctant to see US forces stationed in South Korea more actively confront Beijing. According to a Yonhap News Agency report on Saturday citing unnamed military sources, South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back lodged a complaint with General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea (USFK),... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344369/seouls-protest-over-stand-seen-reluctance-let-us-forces-korea-confront-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344369/seouls-protest-over-stand-seen-reluctance-let-us-forces-korea-confront-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:00:15 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen While K-pop has conquered almost every corner of the globe, South Korea’s entertainment industry remains largely locked out of the Chinese market due to a geopolitical chill that has lingered for a decade. China unofficially banned South Korean entertainment products in 2016 after Seoul deployed the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD) despite Beijing’s objections. K-pop concerts were cancelled, South Korean dramas disappeared from Chinese streaming platforms, and South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344205/k-pops-big-freeze-are-cracks-chinas-cultural-blockade-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344205/k-pops-big-freeze-are-cracks-chinas-cultural-blockade-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US and Chinese fighter jets have engaged in a rare stand-off over the Yellow Sea, according to media reports in South Korea. This comes at a time when the United States has been trying to shift the focus of its troops stationed in the country away from North Korea to concentrate more on China. The incident on Wednesday involved around 10 US F-16s, which took off from Osan Air Base around 65km (40 miles) south of Seoul and flew west over the Yellow Sea as part of a training operation, according... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344147/china-scrambles-fighters-confront-us-warplanes-based-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344147/china-scrambles-fighters-confront-us-warplanes-based-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:01:49 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee A surge in South Korean visitors wanting to play golf in Guangzhou, fuelled by China’s visa-free travel policy and the city’s warm climate, is keeping Quan Yulan busier than ever at the travel agency where she has worked for 12 years. Compared with 2023, when international travel began recovering after the coronavirus pandemic, Korean bookings surged by more than 300 per cent last year, said Quan, who is of Korean descent, adding that the Guangzhou-based agency expected even stronger growth this... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343744/how-did-chinas-guangzhou-tee-surge-south-korean-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343744/how-did-chinas-guangzhou-tee-surge-south-korean-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China and South Korea have had a turbulent relationship over the past few years as they compete across a range of hi-tech industries. But the two countries now appear to be bonding over a shared challenge: their rapidly ageing societies. The issue has featured on the agenda of several meetings between President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in recent months, with the leaders pledging to work together to deal with the economic changes being wrought by their nations’ low... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation after Japan’s ruling coalition secured a landslide victory in the lower house election, even as analysts warn that sharpening China-Japan rivalry and unresolved historical disputes could complicate Seoul’s regional diplomacy. The result, which consolidates the Liberal Democratic Party’s grip on power, has strengthened Takaichi’s political position – but also revived... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343056/south-korea-japan-eye-deeper-ties-after-takaichis-landslide-win-it-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343056/south-korea-japan-eye-deeper-ties-after-takaichis-landslide-win-it-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China secured the most new shipbuilding orders globally in 2025 despite a slight dip in market share, showing enduring market dominance amid industry turbulence sparked by US threats targeting the Chinese maritime sector, official data showed. Chinese shipyards secured 107.8 million deadweight tonnage (DWT) in new orders in 2025 – a 4.6 per cent year-on-year decline – accounting for 69 per cent of the global market, down from a 74.1 per cent share in 2024, according to data released on Sunday by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342091/china-navigates-us-threats-anchor-global-shipbuilding-dominance-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342091/china-navigates-us-threats-anchor-global-shipbuilding-dominance-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Albert Bakhtizin Albert Bakhtizin The latest developments in Venezuela are interpreted as part of a broader US strategy to secure access to major oil resources. They are much more than that: the US raid signals a transformation in the global economy wherein a country’s power is increasingly determined not by its political actions, but by its capacity to embed resource wealth within a self-sustaining production system. These deeper processes did not begin today, but rather around 2008-2009 when, according to an integrated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3339789/us-venezuela-raid-shows-geopolitics-now-contest-between-economic-blocs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3339789/us-venezuela-raid-shows-geopolitics-now-contest-between-economic-blocs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:30:13 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s back-to-back visits to China and Japan suggest a “pragmatic approach” to reset ties with both countries as tensions soar between Beijing and Tokyo, analysts said. Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday during a two-day trip to Japan. Speaking to reporters after their summit in Nara – Takaichi’s hometown – Lee said there was “unprecedented turmoil” in the global political landscape and trade order. He stressed the need for South Korea and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339989/south-korean-leader-lee-takes-pragmatic-approach-reset-ties-china-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339989/south-korean-leader-lee-takes-pragmatic-approach-reset-ties-china-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:00:14 +0000 Chan Young Bang Chan Young Bang The Ukraine war and Donald Trump’s return to the White House have significantly altered northeast Asia’s geopolitical landscape. North Korea’s defence treaty with Russia and leader Kim Jong-un’s decision to deploy troops to support Moscow have shattered any remaining illusions of strategic restraint. While Russia is believed to be supplying North Korea with finance and technology, Japan and South Korea are accelerating military spending and preparing for long-term confrontation, potentially –... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339398/why-timing-may-be-right-china-press-north-korea-denuclearisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339398/why-timing-may-be-right-china-press-north-korea-denuclearisation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The leaders of South Korea and China wrapped up a summit this week with both underlining support for one of Beijing’s diplomatic priorities but making no tangible progress on North Korea, Seoul’s main concern. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday for a high-stakes summit held just over nine weeks after their first meeting. During the trip, Lee declared 2026 as the year for the “full restoration of South Korea-China relations” and Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339434/north-korea-elephant-room-when-xi-met-lee-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339434/north-korea-elephant-room-when-xi-met-lee-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Beijing is leveraging a distracted Washington to ratchet up pressure on Tokyo, launching an anti-dumping investigation into a key semiconductor chemical while the United States is preoccupied with Venezuela, according to analysts. China made moves targeting Japan for two consecutive days. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce banned exports of “dual-use” products to end users linked to the Japanese military. And on Wednesday, it said the anti-dumping investigation into dichlorosilane would last... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339212/us-focused-venezuela-china-has-window-pressure-japan-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339212/us-focused-venezuela-china-has-window-pressure-japan-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi As the new year unfolds, China finds itself grappling with strategic pressures fuelled by two US treaty allies at its doorstep – Japan and South Korea. In the second of a two-part series, Seong Hyeon Choi looks at how competing pressures in the Korean peninsula may complicate China’s security calculus. Read the first part here. In 2025, there was a major shift in China’s security environment relating to the Korean peninsula, as the North grew more open in its push for nuclear weapons and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338853/korean-peninsula-arms-race-heating-how-will-china-react-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338853/korean-peninsula-arms-race-heating-how-will-china-react-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Lee Min-Yong Lee Min-Yong At the recent South Korea-China summit, both sides agreed to improve dialogue, rebuild trust and promote regional peace and stability, marking a first step towards a normalisation of relations. While the Beijing meeting produced no concrete agreement for peace on the Korean peninsula, it reaffirmed the peninsula’s stability and peace as a common interest – paving the way for cooperation. The prolonged stalemate over North Korea’s nuclear programme is no longer just a diplomatic impasse. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3338207/denuclearisation-stalls-china-will-shape-stability-korean-peninsula?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3338207/denuclearisation-stalls-china-will-shape-stability-korean-peninsula?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Alcott Wei,Oliver Balch Seong Hyeon Choi,Alcott Wei,Oliver Balch Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “patience” over North Korea’s nuclear programme, the South’s president, Lee Jae Myung, said on Wednesday. Speaking during a visit to Shanghai, Lee said he had asked Xi to act as a “mediator for peace” on the Korean peninsula, including on the nuclear issue. He said all channels between the North and South had been blocked and there was “zero trust” between the two sides. “President Xi noted the efforts until now and said patience is needed,” Lee said. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339046/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-seoul-be-patient-over-north-korean-nuclear-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339046/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-seoul-be-patient-over-north-korean-nuclear-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:01:11 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China signed cooperation agreements and trade deals with South Korea as part of a visit by President Lee Jae Myung, while also slapping export controls on Japan, reflecting markedly contrasting relations between Beijing and two of its biggest neighbours. Lee concluded his four-day trip on Wednesday, having had a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and signed 14 memorandums of understanding in areas such as trade talks, cross-border investments and supply-chain collaboration. South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3339035/lees-bid-south-korea-china-reset-can-only-go-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3339035/lees-bid-south-korea-china-reset-can-only-go-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:00:13 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China and South Korea have reignited their economic cooperation after years of relatively muted ties, signing US$44 million in new export deals and dozens of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in the wake of a high-level summit held amid shifting regional dynamics – most notably, a protracted diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo. South Korea hosted its first export promotion and investment attraction event in Beijing in nine years, according to its Ministry of Trade, Industry and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338983/china-south-korea-sign-us44-million-trade-deals-after-years-friction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338983/china-south-korea-sign-us44-million-trade-deals-after-years-friction?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Premier Li Qiang called for multilateralism and free trade in his meeting with visiting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday and said China would promote cooperation in emerging fields such as high-end manufacturing, new energy and artificial intelligence (AI). Li said China aimed to expand “the breadth and depth of cooperation” to achieve more practical outcomes and was willing to expand market access and integration, according to Beijing’s account of the meeting. “We stand ready to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338952/li-qiang-and-lee-jae-myung-back-free-trade-and-multilateralism-during-beijing-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338952/li-qiang-and-lee-jae-myung-back-free-trade-and-multilateralism-during-beijing-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:19:31 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China and South Korea had a shared responsibility for regional stability and should make the “correct strategic choice”, President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung on Monday, as Seoul seeks to turn the page on recent tensions in their relationship. Xi said the international landscape was becoming increasingly turbulent and complex as changes on a scale “unseen in a century are rapidly unfolding across the world”, according to state broadcaster CCTV. As beneficiaries of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338817/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-south-korea-make-correct-strategic-choices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338817/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-south-korea-make-correct-strategic-choices?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:41:48 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea, a key US ally in East Asia, arrived in Beijing at noon on Sunday for his first China trip since taking office. The four-day state visit comes at a moment when the global order is teetering, with old structures crumbling and a new world yet to emerge. Over 200 South Korean entrepreneurs, including the chairmen of Samsung and SK Group, are accompanying Lee on his trip, which includes two days each in Beijing and Shanghai. Lee will attend a Korea-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338682/south-korean-president-lee-jae-myung-lands-beijing-200-strong-delegation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338682/south-korean-president-lee-jae-myung-lands-beijing-200-strong-delegation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:00:33 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Ahead of his state visit to China, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that while security cooperation with the US was an “unavoidable reality” for Seoul, its relations with Beijing should not move towards confrontation. In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Friday, Lee called for more frequent leader-level dialogues – at least annually – to explore mutually beneficial opportunities amid an increasingly complex global environment. His four-day trip to China, set to begin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338605/conflict-china-wont-benefit-south-korea-lee-jae-myung-says-ahead-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338605/conflict-china-wont-benefit-south-korea-lee-jae-myung-says-ahead-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:01:34 +0000 Ji Siqi,Shi Jiangtao,Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Ji Siqi,Shi Jiangtao,Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings As a diplomatic row sees Japanese company executives put visits to China on hold, Beijing is preparing to roll out the red carpet for South Korean business leaders accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on a state visit starting Sunday. The contrasting receptions highlight how geopolitics is reshaping corporate ties in East Asia. Analysts expect continued friction between Beijing and Tokyo in 2026 to accelerate Japanese efforts to de-risk from the Chinese market. Conversely, Beijing’s warming... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338540/chinas-diplomatic-divide-red-carpet-south-korea-cold-shoulder-japanese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338540/chinas-diplomatic-divide-red-carpet-south-korea-cold-shoulder-japanese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea will seek Beijing’s support on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and press to lift an unofficial cultural content ban when he travels to China for a state visit next week, according to Seoul. Lee’s four-day trip from Sunday will make him the first sitting South Korean president to visit China since 2019. Lee will first travel to Beijing, where he is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon, their second summit in two months. They... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338558/china-state-visit-south-koreas-lee-will-push-denuclearisation-end-culture-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338558/china-state-visit-south-koreas-lee-will-push-denuclearisation-end-culture-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:37:47 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang With less than a week to go until a presidential summit, China’s top diplomat has used talks with his South Korean counterpart to reassert Beijing’s stand on Taiwan and take aim at Tokyo. In a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Wednesday, China’s Wang Yi raised the spectre of Japan’s colonial past to get support for his country’s position on Taiwan. Wang accused “certain political forces in Japan” of trying to “reverse the course of history and whitewash [the country’s]... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338403/chinas-wang-yi-takes-aim-japan-call-south-korean-foreign-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338403/chinas-wang-yi-takes-aim-japan-call-south-korean-foreign-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:06:08 +0000 Fan Chen,Alyssa Chen Fan Chen,Alyssa Chen South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will make a state visit to China next week as the two countries try to find a way through their intense economic rivalry to improve ties. The trip will make Lee the first sitting South Korean president to travel to China since 2019, and will include a three-day stop in Beijing from Sunday, a presidential official in Seoul said on Tuesday. Lee will meet President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital before heading to Shanghai and then back to Seoul. The talks... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338188/south-koreas-lee-jae-myung-visit-china-economic-and-nuclear-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338188/south-koreas-lee-jae-myung-visit-china-economic-and-nuclear-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:26:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Lee Jae-myung is set to become the first sitting South Korean president to travel to China since 2019 with a visit scheduled for early January. Analysts said Lee was expected to engage Beijing on security issues, including North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and the enforcement of international sanctions, while seeking to build on his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. Neither side has confirmed the visit, but preparations are under way, highlighted by a recent strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337847/south-korean-president-set-visit-china-next-month-north-korea-high-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337847/south-korean-president-set-visit-china-next-month-north-korea-high-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 04:00:11 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee In a bid to overhaul their economic relationship, China and South Korea are reviving long-stalled trade talks, with an eye on moving beyond factory floors to target the lucrative services sector as geopolitical shifts redraw the region’s alliances. The thaw follows a December 12 agreement between Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan to accelerate negotiations on the second phase of their free-trade agreement (FTA). The push aims... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337086/blackpink-ayumi-why-china-may-reward-south-koreas-soft-stance-amid-japan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337086/blackpink-ayumi-why-china-may-reward-south-koreas-soft-stance-amid-japan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Beijing’s build-up of maritime facilities in a contested part of the Yellow Sea is expected to trigger “more scrutiny” from South Korea, a report by a US think tank has warned. According to a report published on Monday by the website Beyond Parallel – a project operated by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies – there has been “growing” Chinese activity in and around the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) in the Yellow Sea. It said Beijing was building buoys in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336626/chinas-build-yellow-sea-facilities-expected-fuel-south-korean-suspicions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336626/chinas-build-yellow-sea-facilities-expected-fuel-south-korean-suspicions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:00:25 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Mounting US pressure on allies to bolster the first island chain’s defence in the western Pacific Ocean is raising concerns about South Korea’s possible but reluctant involvement in a conflict over Taiwan, analysts have said. In its recently released National Security Strategy (NSS), US President Donald Trump’s administration highlighted the importance of a “favourable conventional military balance” as an “essential component of strategic competition”, focusing on deterring conflict over Taiwan... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336351/us-pushing-south-korea-fore-deterring-war-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336351/us-pushing-south-korea-fore-deterring-war-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 04:00:22 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Rising tensions in the Middle East despite the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza are continuing to fuel demands for arms in a region where China has emerged as a major supplier. As well as supplying drones and missiles, China is looking to expand its offering into advanced weapons systems, such as fighter jets, but is facing increasing competition from a near neighbour: South Korea. While both have opportunities to expand arms exports, analysts said South Korea was relatively better positioned... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336039/why-south-korea-poses-major-challenge-chinas-middle-east-arms-sales-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336039/why-south-korea-poses-major-challenge-chinas-middle-east-arms-sales-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:00:19 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen South Korea has designated Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” on its online registration form for arriving tourists, visitors from the island recently discovered. This comes as Beijing and Tokyo are locked in a diplomatic spat over the Japanese prime minister’s remarks on a hypothetical Taiwan contingency. Taiwan has protested the “unfriendly” designation, with its foreign ministry on Wednesday citing multiple reports from Taiwanese travelling to South Korea and urging that Seoul correct the “apparently... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335373/taipei-protests-after-south-korea-tourist-arrival-card-lists-taiwan-china-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335373/taipei-protests-after-south-korea-tourist-arrival-card-lists-taiwan-china-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:21:28 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Zhou Bo is a retired senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army and a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Centre for International Security and Strategy. His military career included roles in the Ministry of National Defence’s Foreign Affairs Office and as a defence attaché. Zhou is the author of the recent book Should the World Fear China? SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. This article will be available to regular SCMP subscribers next... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334347/ex-pla-colonel-taiwan-question-ukraine-war-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334347/ex-pla-colonel-taiwan-question-ukraine-war-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:00:13 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times North Korea’s wealth gap is reportedly widening, as luxury goods circulate among affluent border residents while ordinary citizens face growing extreme poverty. Economic disparities in areas near the Chinese border have become more pronounced compared with the period before trade resumed, according to Daily NK on Friday. In cities such as Hoeryong in North Hamgyong province and Hyesan in Ryanggang province, cross-border commerce through customs offices has increased, and the number of high-end... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3333888/north-koreas-rich-flaunt-fur-coats-chanel-cosmetics-poor-freeze-without-insulation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3333888/north-koreas-rich-flaunt-fur-coats-chanel-cosmetics-poor-freeze-without-insulation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:50:38 +0000 C. Uday Bhaskar C. Uday Bhaskar South Korea is set to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines with US approval and assistance, according to a joint fact sheet last week. That approval came following a meeting at the end of October between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump in Gyeongju. The agreement allows South Korea to build its first nuclear-powered attack submarines, which will be conventionally armed and powered by highly enriched uranium the United States will help source. It also... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3333413/south-koreas-us-nuclear-sub-deal-risks-roiling-east-asias-waters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3333413/south-koreas-us-nuclear-sub-deal-risks-roiling-east-asias-waters?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea is watching with mounting alarm as tensions between China and Japan escalate over the Taiwan Strait, a development that threatens to test Seoul’s pragmatic diplomacy and its balancing act between Beijing and Washington, observers warn. The dispute is unfolding just as Seoul has worked to stabilise long-strained relations with both regional powers, raising fears that renewed rivalry could force South Korea into unwelcome geopolitical crossfire, they add. Analysts say the flare-up is... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333739/china-japan-row-escalates-south-korea-fears-being-dragged-unwanted-flare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333739/china-japan-row-escalates-south-korea-fears-being-dragged-unwanted-flare?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 02:30:16 +0000 Sukjoon Yoon Sukjoon Yoon For US President Donald Trump to consent to South Korea building its own nuclear-powered submarines was unexpected – though a welcome decision for the many South Korean analysts who have long argued such vessels were urgently needed by the country’s navy. It will have a huge impact on the US alliance with South Korea and its neighbours, not least North Korea, which is apparently building its first nuclear ballistic missile submarine with Russian technical support: not just any nuclear-powered... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3332056/devil-details-us-agrees-south-korean-nuclear-powered-sub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3332056/devil-details-us-agrees-south-korean-nuclear-powered-sub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Talks between the Chinese and South Korean leaders have renewed diplomatic momentum, but what happens next could hinge on how Seoul balances its relations with Washington, according to analysts. Chinese President Xi Jinping – on his first visit to South Korea in 11 years – met his counterpart Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju last Saturday, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. A lighthearted exchange before their state banquet drew media attention. After Xi presented Lee... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331860/can-china-and-south-korea-build-their-diplomatic-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331860/can-china-and-south-korea-build-their-diplomatic-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:07:28 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The United States has given South Korea the green light to build nuclear-powered submarines – a landmark decision that could significantly boost Seoul’s naval capabilities and place it among a select group of nations with such assets. Analysts say the move could reshape Northeast Asia’s strategic landscape in ways that not only strengthen deterrence but also reduce the risk of open conflict, as Washington recalibrates its alliance priorities under President Donald Trump. Trump announced the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331790/how-us-nod-south-koreas-joining-nuclear-sub-club-could-reshape-strategic-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331790/how-us-nod-south-koreas-joining-nuclear-sub-club-could-reshape-strategic-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:30:14 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As Beijing continues advocating for deeper regional economic cooperation in East Asia amid ongoing tensions with Washington – including by working towards a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Japan and South Korea – analysts say that making substantial progress remains challenging, given the existing trade framework and conflicting interests. In a meeting with South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan on Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331365/beijing-pushes-china-japan-south-korea-trade-pact-amid-us-tensions-hurdles-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331365/beijing-pushes-china-japan-south-korea-trade-pact-amid-us-tensions-hurdles-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 01:00:15 +0000