https://www.scmp.com/rss/520949/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fan Chen Fan Chen In a rare condemnation of its strategic partner, China has come out in opposition to Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations, calling for a ceasefire and a guarantee of the safety of shipping lanes. Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said: “China does not support Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council nations and condemns all indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians and non-military targets. The security of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348986/china-europe-and-why-beijing-took-swing-iran-over-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348986/china-europe-and-why-beijing-took-swing-iran-over-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:16 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou With Washington’s objectives in the Iran war shifting, the evolving goals could allow US President Donald Trump to justify success and finish the conflict sooner than expected, Chinese analysts said. However, the observers cautioned that a wide gap with Israel over the conflict’s endgame could hinder the White House from swiftly moving past the war. The assessment coincides with growing international scepticism regarding the duration of the war in the Middle East. With global oil markets already... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348706/how-donald-trump-could-reframe-us-goals-iran-war-justify-finishing-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348706/how-donald-trump-could-reframe-us-goals-iran-war-justify-finishing-it?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:13 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Science and Nature are among the world’s most prestigious journals, which most scientists strive to publish in but never will. By the age of 30, quantum physicist Zhu Zijie had already published in both with significant discoveries on the behaviour of cold atoms. After graduating from Peking University, he went to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) – Albert Einstein’s alma mater – for graduate studies and stayed there as a postdoctoral researcher for over a year. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348415/do-something-nobodys-done-quantum-physicist-zhu-zijie-leaves-europe-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348415/do-something-nobodys-done-quantum-physicist-zhu-zijie-leaves-europe-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:18:12 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen US President Donald Trump’s war on Iran has not only exposed White House decision-making flaws but also “clear cracks” within the Republican Party and his political base, observers in China say, warning of the risks posed to the party’s midterm prospects. As the US-Israel war with Iran enters its fifth week, mixed signals from Trump and his administration continue to trigger questions about the trajectory of Operation Epic Fury and the exit strategy. Trump has repeatedly claimed victory, most... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348205/trumps-iran-war-could-republican-rift-and-maga-discontent-doom-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348205/trumps-iran-war-could-republican-rift-and-maga-discontent-doom-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei,Fan Chen Alcott Wei,Fan Chen As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its second month, another major shipping lane is at risk of closure but the chances of a prolonged conflict remain slim, according to Chinese analysts. The assessment came on Saturday as Iran-backed Houthi rebels joined the fray by firing missiles at Israel from Yemen. The Israeli military said it intercepted one of the projectiles. Chinese state news agency Xinhua quoted a Houthi source as saying the missile attack was meant “as a warning”. The Houthis... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348265/1-month-2-straits-more-strikes-how-long-will-us-israeli-war-iran-last?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348265/1-month-2-straits-more-strikes-how-long-will-us-israeli-war-iran-last?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:31:19 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Iran’s leadership is likely to prove resilient despite US-Israeli decapitation tactics, analysts say. Dozens of senior Iranian officials, including the former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and national security chief Ali Larijani, have been killed since the start of the bombing raids on February 28. Tehran has argued these changes do not matter. “Of course, individuals are influential, and each person plays their role – some better, some worse, some less – but what matters is that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347624/not-venezuela-why-iran-likely-survive-us-israeli-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347624/not-venezuela-why-iran-likely-survive-us-israeli-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:15:30 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Eminent life scientist Shu Xiaokun has received numerous awards and significant funding from the US government over the past two decades. Earlier this year, he was appointed the prestigious Herfindahl Endowed Chair professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), capping a career that included pioneering fluorescent protein tools in Nobel laureate Roger Yonchien Tsien’s laboratory. The motto of Shu’s lab is a quote from the Nobel laureate physicist Richard Feynman: “If you’re not... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347142/nih-awarded-life-scientist-shu-xiaokun-abruptly-shifts-research-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347142/nih-awarded-life-scientist-shu-xiaokun-abruptly-shifts-research-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:11:36 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Beijing has confirmed it remains in communication with Washington about a landmark visit by US President Donald Trump, who has requested to delay the trip by a month due to the US-Israel war on Iran. Chinese analysts characterised the delay as a strategic opportunity to ensure more substantive results. They also suggested the shift in timing was unlikely to derail the momentum towards stabilising ties between the two global powers. The White House previously announced that the trip – the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346923/why-trumps-china-trip-delay-could-open-door-more-substantive-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346923/why-trumps-china-trip-delay-could-open-door-more-substantive-results?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen President Xi Jinping has vowed to advance the creation of an international port alliance under the Belt and Road Initiative, at a time when the world’s top merchandise exporter confronts mounting challenges to global shipping routes – from the Strait of Hormuz to Panama. An excerpt of his speech, initially given at a closed-door meeting on July 1, 2025, was first published on Monday by Qiushi, the Communist Party’s top theoretical journal. “[China needs to] deeply participate in global ocean... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346753/xi-pushes-belt-and-road-initiative-port-alliance-amid-iran-war-panama-canal-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346753/xi-pushes-belt-and-road-initiative-port-alliance-amid-iran-war-panama-canal-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Orange Wang,Alyssa Chen Orange Wang,Alyssa Chen The US-Israeli war on Iran could prove difficult to end in the short term, with Israel expected to continue to “fan the flames”, Chinese experts have warned. However, they still believe that the intense back-and-forth attacks and high tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are unlikely to last. They also reject the notion that a prolonged Middle East conflict involving the United States would benefit Beijing. It has been 12 days since the US and Israel launched joint air strikes on Iran on February... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346263/why-war-iran-not-trumps-end-will-israel-fan-flames?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346263/why-war-iran-not-trumps-end-will-israel-fan-flames?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:12 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s oldest university has vowed to inject more resources into humanities programmes, praising them as a source of creativity and imagination, even as some institutions outside the city cut courses amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Xiang Zhang, president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), made the pledge on Wednesday as the head of the institution’s medical faculty revealed the school would ditch its target for 75 per cent of its intake to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:42:52 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The US war against Iran may have handed Beijing some fresh rare-earths leverage over Washington, with roughly three weeks until US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to China. Washington’s heavy reliance on the Chinese minerals for its advanced weapon systems means China could dictate how long US strikes on Iran can go on, according to sources and analysts. Sources told the South China Morning Post, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, that Washington had only... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346123/could-chinas-rare-earth-supplies-dictate-how-long-us-strikes-iran-go?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346123/could-chinas-rare-earth-supplies-dictate-how-long-us-strikes-iran-go?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The United States and China could still have a “big year” in bilateral ties despite Washington’s ongoing strikes against Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday, suggesting a planned visit to China by US President Donald Trump remained on track. Uncertainty has been mounting over Trump’s planned meeting with President Xi Jinping – expected to start on March 31 – after US and Israeli forces last month launched major strikes on Iran, one of China’s key strategic partners and oil... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345888/trumps-china-trip-still-despite-iran-wang-yi-sees-potential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345888/trumps-china-trip-still-despite-iran-wang-yi-sees-potential?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged European leaders to abandon bloc politics and instead “join the gym” of the China market to build muscle and competitiveness. Speaking to the press in Beijing on Sunday, Wang characterised China-Europe economic and trade ties as complementary advantages, saying that “a dynamic balance is entirely within reach amid growing ties”. “Building fences and barriers will only lead to self-isolation,” he cautioned. “We would be happy to see our European friends... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345900/leave-protectionist-attic-join-china-market-gym-wang-yi-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345900/leave-protectionist-attic-join-china-market-gym-wang-yi-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:11:30 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Iran is unlikely to dominate the agenda at this year’s national legislative sessions but it is likely to feature in policy discussions, according to observers. Analysts said the Middle East turmoil could prompt a broader rethink in some policy areas in Beijing, including a reassessment of its Middle East strategy and how it can safeguard its expanding overseas interests. The “two sessions”, the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body, get under way this week, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345295/will-iran-crisis-feature-foreign-policy-talks-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345295/will-iran-crisis-feature-foreign-policy-talks-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma In the run-up to this year’s ‘two sessions’ – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body – high-level policymakers have reiterated the need to defuse financial risks and root out political corruption, two of President Xi Jinping’s long-term priorities. In this series, we take stock of how those efforts have progressed, and what remains to be done. The iron ore trade between Australian miners and Chinese buyers has long followed a familiar, bruising pattern. Tense... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345155/can-chinas-roaring-trade-engine-power-yuans-challenge-us-dollar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345155/can-chinas-roaring-trade-engine-power-yuans-challenge-us-dollar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The massive American military strikes on Iran could add a new layer of uncertainty to US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes trip to China at the end of the month, observers warn. They said that while the visit was expected to go ahead as planned, the escalating conflict in the Middle East could fuel fresh concerns in Beijing over Washington’s global assertiveness and ambitions. Large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iran since Saturday have killed senior Iranian figures including the supreme... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:06:00 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Importers in the United States are expected to front-load goods from China after the Supreme Court struck down the use of emergency powers as the legal basis for US President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, potentially opening a brief window of relief, analysts said. Companies selling products made in China, or using Chinese raw materials, were likely to place larger orders in the coming weeks amid uncertainty over whether Trump’s pledge to raise a new tariff – from 10 per cent to 15 per... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344893/trumps-tariff-setback-could-spark-surge-chinese-imports-us-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344893/trumps-tariff-setback-could-spark-surge-chinese-imports-us-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has concluded his first visit to China, hailing the “good cooperation” with Beijing as Berlin seeks to rebalance ties with its biggest trading partner amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration. Merz characterised the visit as “worthwhile”, noting that China would buy up to 120 additional aircraft from Airbus SE. The company operates two assembly lines in the northern port city of Tianjin that mainly produce A320 jets for Chinese carriers. In his... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:25:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Agence France-Presse Cao Jiaxuan,Agence France-Presse German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China from Wednesday, shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the chancellor’s spokesman. “This date was proposed by the Chinese side,” spokesman Sebastian Hille said on Friday. “We consider this offer to come right at the beginning of the year to be a good omen.” Merz will leave Berlin on Tuesday for his first official China visit since he took office in May. He is expected to be welcomed in Beijing on Wednesday by Premier Li Qiang... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344174/germanys-merz-latest-european-leader-visit-china-amid-tensions-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344174/germanys-merz-latest-european-leader-visit-china-amid-tensions-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:25:32 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Chinese scientists have used artificial intelligence to make progress on a more than 300-year-old maths problem that has implications for large-scale data storage and advanced telecommunications. Using an AI system called PackingStar, the researchers made record-breaking advances on the “kissing number” problem, surpassing the limits of human geometric intuition and standard computing. The work done by the team was like a “romance” between machines and humans exploring science together, they... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343961/romance-between-scientists-and-ai-leads-progress-age-old-maths-problem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343961/romance-between-scientists-and-ai-leads-progress-age-old-maths-problem?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Chinese researchers have announced a new technique to mass produce 2D material wafers, paving the way for high-performance electronics using a successor to silicon. As semiconductor chips evolve, transistor sizes are approaching the physical limits of silicon-based technology. The search for next-generation semiconductor materials that can deliver superior performance has become a global priority. Among the candidates, two-dimensional (2D) materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) with their... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343807/chinese-scientists-hit-breakthrough-2d-semiconductor-wafers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3343807/chinese-scientists-hit-breakthrough-2d-semiconductor-wafers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Orange Wang,Fan Chen Orange Wang,Fan Chen Taiwan is likely to be “the most critical and contentious” issue when US President Donald Trump meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in less than two months, according to analysts, who called on Beijing and Washington to “turn the page” on trade. They also warned there was little chance the powers would make headway on nuclear arms control – an increasingly important fault line in bilateral ties – during Trump’s visit. While his precise arrival dates were still under discussion, Trump was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343363/taiwan-tensions-poised-be-primary-flashpoint-donald-trumps-beijing-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343363/taiwan-tensions-poised-be-primary-flashpoint-donald-trumps-beijing-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide election victory has dimmed hopes that ties between Tokyo and Beijing will significantly improve in the near term, analysts and businesspeople said, though some expect tensions to stabilise over time. Her ruling coalition secured the win on Sunday, strengthening the hand of a leader who infuriated Beijing by outlining how Tokyo might respond to a mainland attack on Taiwan. Enterprises caught in the middle of the dispute would have to tread... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342960/china-japan-dispute-what-next-businesses-after-takaichis-election-sweep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342960/china-japan-dispute-what-next-businesses-after-takaichis-election-sweep?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:30:10 +0000 Fan Chen,Shi Jiangtao,Cao Jiaxuan Fan Chen,Shi Jiangtao,Cao Jiaxuan In the deepening shadow of US-China rivalry, India’s back-to-back trade pacts with the United States and the European Union mark a major tilt towards stronger economic ties with the West. While critical details – especially the scope of any reduction in Russian energy imports under the vague US agreement – remain unclear, experts predict the twin deals will give India leverage in its relationship with China and may slow the fragile thaw between New Delhi and Beijing. Meanwhile, New Delhi is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342600/could-indias-twin-trade-agreements-set-back-its-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342600/could-indias-twin-trade-agreements-set-back-its-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is unlikely to pose a credible challenge to the United Nations, analysts say. They also warn that legal ambiguity, as well as doubts over credibility and funding, make the initiative’s long-term viability uncertain. Beijing was likely to respond cautiously but might also see some advantages if Washington’s attention was diverted elsewhere, leading to China potentially taking on a more proactive role in some regional security matters, they said. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342092/trumps-peace-board-no-match-un-and-possible-boon-china-analysts-find?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342092/trumps-peace-board-no-match-un-and-possible-boon-china-analysts-find?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma For decades, the US dollar has served as the currency of global reserve, the de facto anchor for the vast majority of international exchanges. Consequently, United States government debt – most commonly in the form of Treasury assets such as bonds, notes and bills – has long been regarded as a safe haven by investors, prized for its unmatched liquidity and deep market penetration. That faith has remained strong in the past, even amid global financial crises. But the events of recent weeks... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341391/age-trump-are-safe-haven-us-assets-not-so-safe-any-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341391/age-trump-are-safe-haven-us-assets-not-so-safe-any-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Finland’s prime minister begins a four-day visit to China on Sunday, heading a large business delegation on a trip designed to forge closer ties with Beijing amid pressure from coercive US policies. According to analysts, Petteri Orpo’s trip also highlights Beijing’s efforts to strengthen ties with individual European Union member states as a way to soften broader EU scrutiny over claims that China’s overcapacity is driving a huge trade imbalance. Observers expect cooperation to largely focus on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341111/finlands-leader-set-4-day-china-visit-europe-seeks-counter-trump-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341111/finlands-leader-set-4-day-china-visit-europe-seeks-counter-trump-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:00:11 +0000 William Choong,Joanne Lin William Choong,Joanne Lin The United States’ military operation in Venezuela, culminating in the capture and removal of President Nicolas Maduro, might at first have appeared distant to Southeast Asia. What should concern the region, however, is not geography but the logic underpinning Washington’s action: a growing willingness to act unilaterally, in this case undermining sovereignty and invoking presidential powers to justify the use of force against a perceived threat. More troubling still, it dusts off the old... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3341041/what-us-china-grand-bargain-would-mean-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3341041/what-us-china-grand-bargain-would-mean-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 02:00:19 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Chinese scientists have created fully flexible fibre chips with circuits that are integrated and embedded within stretchable strands as thin as human hair at a density rivalling those of a home computer’s central processing unit. Scientists have now advanced fibre-based electronics that already enable power supply and sensing functions and have spurred the growth of electronic textiles by developing integrated circuits in threadlike form. This allows the fibres to compute like chips or display... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341025/chinese-scientists-shrink-semiconductor-chip-fibre-thin-human-hair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341025/chinese-scientists-shrink-semiconductor-chip-fibre-thin-human-hair?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China trimmed its holdings of US Treasuries in November to the lowest level since 2008, diverging from a global trend that saw total foreign ownership of the debt instruments hit a record high. Analysts say the prospect of a politicised Federal Reserve chairmanship under Donald Trump’s presidency has deepened Beijing’s concerns over its exposure to American debt, with more cuts expected. Beijing’s stockpile fell to US$682.6 billion in November, down from US$688.7 billion in October, according to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340164/china-dumps-more-us-debt-buys-other-assets-trump-targets-powell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340164/china-dumps-more-us-debt-buys-other-assets-trump-targets-powell?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Orange Wang,Meredith Chen Orange Wang,Meredith Chen When US President Donald Trump gave his blessing to sales of Nvidia’s powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, he sparked a national security backlash in both countries. Rather than seeing it as an olive branch, many Chinese commenters interpreted the move as a sophisticated Trojan horse-style trap that aimed to make Beijing dependent on American technologies in advanced semiconductors and other chokepoint sectors. Trump’s green light for the H200 – a template that he said would be... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339866/does-trumps-nvidia-chip-flip-reveal-anxieties-both-sides-china-us-tech-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339866/does-trumps-nvidia-chip-flip-reveal-anxieties-both-sides-china-us-tech-war?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Kandy Wong Ralph Jennings,Kandy Wong China is likely to accept Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips following US clearance, driven by immediate demand in the country’s vast tech sector, according to analysts – though they said Beijing would push to replace them over time. The American chip giant’s second-most-advanced AI processor can be exported to China from Thursday, as long as shipments total no more than half the amount sold in the US, according to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339896/why-china-may-buy-nvidias-h200-chips-trump-eases-curbs-and-replace-them-later?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339896/why-china-may-buy-nvidias-h200-chips-trump-eases-curbs-and-replace-them-later?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:19 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow The European Union resolved a long-running dispute with China over electric vehicle (EV) production subsidies by opening a way for carmakers to avoid tariffs. Duties will be waived if car companies set minimum prices “adequate to eliminate the injurious effects of the subsidies”, the European Commission said on Monday (see SCMP Quick Digest). Investment plans in the EU and possible limits on import volumes will also be among factors weighed by officials considering pricing proposals. All offers... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3339728/china-eu-deal-evs-marks-rare-agreement-frosty-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3339728/china-eu-deal-evs-marks-rare-agreement-frosty-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:57 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Human migration is as old as history and as current as today’s headlines of law enforcement operations and tragedy. Amid the encounters, the question remains: how do strangers become a single people? Today, more than 90 per cent of China’s population identifies as Han Chinese, despite centuries of migration and upheaval. Historians once credited this unity to strong rulers, uniform writing and Confucius. But archaeologists in China are finding the answer in the bowl rather than the sword or pen.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339593/did-bowl-millet-help-end-migrant-crisis-china-1500-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3339593/did-bowl-millet-help-end-migrant-crisis-china-1500-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:35 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Last weekend, following the US military operation in Venezuela abducting its leader, Nicolas Maduro, Brazil’s president denounced the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law” and having “crossed an unacceptable line”. “These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community,” Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrote on social media. Lula, who said attacking countries was “the first step towards a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339437/how-us-raid-venezuela-has-triggered-brazilian-fury-and-chinese-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339437/how-us-raid-venezuela-has-triggered-brazilian-fury-and-chinese-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s influence in Latin America may be significantly tested by the US revival of the Monroe Doctrine, as Washington’s attack on Venezuela is set to have a chilling effect on the region’s engagement with Beijing, analysts warn. In a surprise precision operation on Saturday, the US military struck Venezuela, captured its leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and placed them in detention in New York. Without giving a timetable for elections, US President Donald Trump said the US would run... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338689/venezuela-crisis-how-trumps-donroe-doctrine-could-challenge-chinas-latin-america-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338689/venezuela-crisis-how-trumps-donroe-doctrine-could-challenge-chinas-latin-america-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 15:01:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Meredith Chen Vanessa Cai,Meredith Chen Tensions over the Taiwan Strait are likely to persist in 2026, but analysts expect Washington and Beijing to manage risks to ensure that reciprocal state visits planned for the new year are not derailed. Beijing launched massive live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday, less than a fortnight after Washington announced its largest-ever arms sale to the self-ruled island. The People’s Liberation Army said the drills served as a warning to “independence forces” and against external... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338384/can-beijing-and-washington-shield-their-planned-state-visits-taiwan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338384/can-beijing-and-washington-shield-their-planned-state-visits-taiwan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Nearly two months after Japan’s new prime minister enraged Beijing with her remarks on Taiwan, the issue is not going away. Sanae Takaichi set off a diplomatic firestorm in November when she suggested that Japan could justify a military response if Beijing attacked Taiwan. Beijing hit back with diplomatic, economic and military pressure in a campaign analysts said reflected concerns about Japan’s assertiveness on regional security and closer ties with the US and other allies. Tensions are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s ultra-wealthy are quietly parking their private jets offshore to sidestep tougher compliance rules at home, while corporate executives are downgrading to commercial flights, analysts say, as economic headwinds hit the country’s business aircraft fleet. Aircraft owned by affluent Chinese nationals are said to be increasingly resurfacing in hubs such as Singapore and Japan, while more billionaires and corporate executives are turning to first-class commercial cabins or timeshare jet... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337814/why-are-rich-chinese-quietly-moving-private-jets-offshore-slumming-it-budget-seats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337814/why-are-rich-chinese-quietly-moving-private-jets-offshore-slumming-it-budget-seats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Vanessa Cai Khushboo Razdan,Vanessa Cai As 2025 draws to a close amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over new arms sales to Taiwan, analysts warn that the worsening atmosphere could weigh on the substance – if not the scheduling – of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China next year to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Washington’s announcement last week of a US$11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, the largest to date, has sharpened frictions at a sensitive moment, making it less likely that Beijing will... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337856/record-taiwan-arms-deal-casts-shadow-over-trumps-2026-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337856/record-taiwan-arms-deal-casts-shadow-over-trumps-2026-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:46:59 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China has objected to India’s efforts to celebrate a 17th-century Dalai Lama well known for his love of poetry, seeing it as an attempt to challenge Beijing’s territorial claims in the region and its control over Tibetan Buddhism, according to experts. India hosted an international symposium on the sixth Dalai Lama in Tawang, his birthplace, from December 3 to 6. Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated the event, which was attended by local officials and scholars of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337072/china-warns-india-over-poet-monk-dont-even-think-about-stealing-our-6th-dalai-lama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337072/china-warns-india-over-poet-monk-dont-even-think-about-stealing-our-6th-dalai-lama?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen A prominent Chinese expert on US affairs says the competitive relationship between Washington and Beijing is likely to remain stable for the rest of Donald Trump’s presidential term – a prospect crucial for China’s strategic planning. The China-US rivalry had achieved a “resilient balance”, Ni Feng, researcher and former director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at a symposium in Shenzhen on Sunday. Unlike the competition between 2018 and 2024... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336650/resilient-balance-china-us-ties-remain-steady-trumps-term-scholar-predicts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336650/resilient-balance-china-us-ties-remain-steady-trumps-term-scholar-predicts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:25:37 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng In an attempt to solve the global fertility crisis, Chinese scientists have developed a balm for testicles they say can boost sperm activity. The lotion they developed for external application significantly enhanced sperm quality in both animal trials and in vitro studies, regardless of whether the decline in function was caused by exposure to heavy metals, plasticisers, heat stress or natural ageing, the researchers said. The findings of the study, conducted by researchers from several domestic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336452/worldwide-sperm-quality-decline-can-easy-use-balm-china-solve-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336452/worldwide-sperm-quality-decline-can-easy-use-balm-china-solve-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:31:34 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Kandy Wong Ralph Jennings,Kandy Wong US President Donald Trump’s green light for Nvidia to sell H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips in China signals a calculated shift to export older technology, according to analysts who see the move as aiming to fortify the US market share while dampening China’s urgency for self-reliance. But some predict an ongoing policy tug of war in the US between advocates of this week’s relaxation and those who prefer continued tight restrictions on hi-tech gear shipped to China. Trump said on Monday... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3335774/us-china-tech-thaw-trump-clears-nvidia-h200-exports-why-green-light-matters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3335774/us-china-tech-thaw-trump-clears-nvidia-h200-exports-why-green-light-matters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Competing priorities and US economic interests are likely to challenge Washington in its goal of “deterring a conflict over Taiwan” through an overwhelming military advantage, according to experts. The strategic goal was laid out in the White House’s latest National Security Strategy report released on Friday. While the report said the western hemisphere and domestic security were Washington’s top concerns, it also noted that “Taiwan provides direct access to the second island chain and splits... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335465/what-could-challenge-washingtons-latest-strategic-goal-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335465/what-could-challenge-washingtons-latest-strategic-goal-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The fragile rapprochement between China and India faces a fresh test as New Delhi looks to promote its links with the sixth Dalai Lama, observers have warned. India is hosting the first international conference of the 17th century Tibetan spiritual leader at his birthplace in today’s Tawang, a mountain town in an area that India governs as the border state of Arunachal Pradesh and China claims as Zangnan or southern Tibet. Pema Khandu, the state chief minister, opened the four-day event at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335100/how-17th-century-dalai-lama-could-test-china-india-border-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335100/how-17th-century-dalai-lama-could-test-china-india-border-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:08 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng With their domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. The emergence of Chinese companies onto the global stage has been one of the most important business stories of the past 50 years. From engineering contractors... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335005/railways-labubus-chinas-businesses-and-their-50-year-journey-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335005/railways-labubus-chinas-businesses-and-their-50-year-journey-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:01:12 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s Tsinghua University has set up a new cross-disciplinary institute to undertake robotics research, the latest sign of increased academic support from its top universities as the country doubles down on the embodied intelligence competition with the US. The Institute for Embodied Intelligence and Robotics will integrate resources from Tsinghua’s different schools, including automation, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and computer science. Embodied intelligence is a field of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334952/chinas-tsinghua-university-sets-research-institute-latest-push-robotics-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334952/chinas-tsinghua-university-sets-research-institute-latest-push-robotics-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:25 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s industrial profits dropped in October after a strong September, according to official year-on-year data released on Thursday, and analysts are pointing to domestic competition and trade tensions weighing on corporate balance sheets. Profits fell 5.5 per cent from a year ago, reversing a 21.6 per cent surge in September and a 20.4 per cent jump in August, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics. For the January-October period, profits earned by Chinese companies of a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3334339/chinas-industrial-profits-slump-october-price-war-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3334339/chinas-industrial-profits-slump-october-price-war-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 07:43:15 +0000