https://www.scmp.com/rss/520951/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Shi Huang Shi Huang A young scientist who was a leader in Britain’s AI chip field has returned to China, joining Nanjing University earlier this year as an associate professor at its School of Artificial Intelligence. Song Yuhang, whose published papers on artificial intelligence (AI) have been widely cited and reported, obtained his PhD from the University of Oxford in 2022, and is also a recipient of the coveted JP Morgan AI Research Award. According to Song, he and his fellow Oxford PhD candidate Walter Goodwin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351871/oxford-ai-star-song-yuhang-returns-china-why-did-he-leave-chip-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351871/oxford-ai-star-song-yuhang-returns-china-why-did-he-leave-chip-start?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The failure of the weekend US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan has left US President Donald Trump with a tough choice on resuming strikes, according to Chinese analysts. With midterm elections looming, further conflict would be unpopular in the United States but no military action would mean a continued stalemate over access to the Strait of Hormuz. The strait and Iran’s nuclear issues were among the main points debated during 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, according to Iranian officials. Those... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349805/trump-faces-dilemma-aftermath-failed-us-iran-peace-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349805/trump-faces-dilemma-aftermath-failed-us-iran-peace-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai “I can’t wait to watch the game – it’s Lion’s Head Meatballs versus Hairy Crab!” Liu Jieling, a 42-year-old company executive from Suzhou, joked about a derby clash pitting a side inspired by her city’s signature crustacean cuisine against one by Yangzhou’s steamed meatballs. The 2026 season of the Jiangsu City Football League – popularly known as the Su Super League – kicks off on Saturday, and the amateur tournament in Jiangsu, a province in eastern China, is already generating huge buzz... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349732/winners-chinas-growing-intercity-football-rivalries-may-surprise-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349732/winners-chinas-growing-intercity-football-rivalries-may-surprise-you?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen The United States boasts military superiority over Iran but has emerged as the strategic loser in the five-week conflict, with gains limited to a fragile two-week ceasefire and conditional passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysts. Shortly before US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to meet his demands or face destruction of its civilian infrastructure, the US and Iran entered a two-week ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan. Beijing reportedly intervened at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349423/why-us-iran-ceasefire-seen-failure-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349423/why-us-iran-ceasefire-seen-failure-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Whether the US-Israeli war on Iran wraps up quickly or drags on, the repercussions will be felt for years, reshaping warfare, geopolitics and energy security as well as how the world sees the United States and its tactical and strategic capabilities. In the second of a three-part series, we examine some of the implications likely to unfold over months and years, affecting the future of conflict in an increasingly unstable world. As the United States and Israel wage war on Iran, they are also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349261/missile-barrage-iran-continues-what-it-teaching-china-about-us-war-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349261/missile-barrage-iran-continues-what-it-teaching-china-about-us-war-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Despite land reclamation efforts in the fiercely contested South China Sea, an unusual silence has fallen between Beijing and Hanoi over their rival claims. Observers said this suggested both sides were prioritising pragmatism to keep tensions in check. In March, months into reports suggesting continued Chinese dredging activities at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, Hanoi broke its silence by lodging a protest with Beijing over what it called “illegal and invalid” foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:01:08 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Francois Penz, former head of the department of architecture at the University of Cambridge and a pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of architecture and film, has joined Nanjing University on a full-time basis. The school of architecture and urban planning of Nanjing University announced the appointment on its social media account on March 17. Penz is an emeritus professor at the university, a former director of The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, a fellow of Darwin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347941/cambridge-top-architect-francois-penz-relocates-china-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347941/cambridge-top-architect-francois-penz-relocates-china-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Amber Wang,Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Amber Wang,Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China soon after Donald Trump’s trip in May in a diplomatic double-header that would be the first time Beijing has hosted the leaders of the US and Russia in the same month outside a multilateral event. According to Chinese analysts, the back-to-back visits highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with both major powers amid rising global turbulence. Trump’s long-planned trip to Beijing was expected to take place from May 14 to 15, the White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348148/what-does-it-mean-china-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-visit-back-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348148/what-does-it-mean-china-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-visit-back-back?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei US air strikes may have weakened Iran’s ability to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, but in the short term it is probably too risky to provide a military escort for oil tankers because of the threat from drones and mines, according to Chinese analysts. Multiple media reports have said the United States was considering the use of ground troops to open the waterway, but many military observers have argued this would not be enough without further protracted fighting. The strait is a vital shipping... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347370/can-us-reopen-strait-hormuz-many-military-analysts-are-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347370/can-us-reopen-strait-hormuz-many-military-analysts-are-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:56 +0000 Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi Iran’s power structure, succession mechanism and geographic conditions are all factors in its military resilience, despite the decapitation of its leadership by the US and Israel, according to Chinese experts. They also said the United States was unlikely to achieve regime change in Iran without deploying ground forces, a lesson one expert argued Beijing would take into account for any operation on Taiwan. Beginning on February 28, the US and Israel have killed a string of senior Iranian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347070/chinese-experts-assess-military-decapitation-iran-venezuela-lessons-closer-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347070/chinese-experts-assess-military-decapitation-iran-venezuela-lessons-closer-home?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:37:24 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Trump’s threat to postpone his Beijing trip unless China helps break Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has fused two crises Beijing had sought to keep apart: the unravelling of Middle East stability and the fragile thaw in US–China relations. China, the world’s largest buyer of Gulf oil, is now being forced to weigh its economic reliance on stable energy routes against its tradition of non‑interference in diplomacy, according to observers. While Beijing is eager to host Trump for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346792/china-under-pressure-trump-ties-high-stakes-summit-strait-hormuz-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346792/china-under-pressure-trump-ties-high-stakes-summit-strait-hormuz-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao As US President Donald Trump prepares for his first China trip in nearly a decade, Chinese scholars see an opportunity to steer ties away from confrontation and towards a managed coexistence. Speakers at a seminar hosted by the University of Hong Kong’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World last week were cautiously optimistic about prospects for the relationship. That was despite Washington’s strategic pullback, heightened sensitivities over the Taiwan Strait, and intensifying conflict in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346061/love-and-hate-nationalism-can-xi-and-trump-rebalance-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346061/love-and-hate-nationalism-can-xi-and-trump-rebalance-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang,Alcott Wei Amber Wang,Alcott Wei The Chinese defence minister has signalled strategic caution with his call for the country to “shape” a stable environment for Beijing’s broader political and diplomatic agenda, according to analysts. Dong Jun made the call on Friday during a group discussion involving military and armed police lawmakers at the country’s annual legislative gathering in Beijing. According to meeting minutes released to the media, Dong stressed four times in his fewer than 400-word remarks that the military’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346113/stability-comes-first-chinese-defence-chief-signals-beijings-strategic-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346113/stability-comes-first-chinese-defence-chief-signals-beijings-strategic-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:32 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Beijing’s top diplomat has issued a stark warning against any attempt to thwart reunification with Taiwan and repeated his country’s criticism of Tokyo, dimming hopes that the diplomatic row sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan would come to an end any time soon. The comments by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, delivered in a press conference on Sunday as part of the “two sessions”, were the latest in a series of strong criticisms by Beijing officials following... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345882/wang-yi-warns-japan-taiwan-red-line-dashing-hopes-ending-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345882/wang-yi-warns-japan-taiwan-red-line-dashing-hopes-ending-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:31:05 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China and Iran may be strategic partners but, as was the case with America’s special operation in Venezuela in January, China has offered no security support to Iran over the US and Israeli attacks. The decision was based on a consideration of Beijing’s own interests, its ties with the US and other countries, and to minimise military and financial risks to China, according to analysts. Since the large-scale attacks against Iran began over the weekend, Beijing has limited its response to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345387/why-china-staying-sidelines-us-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345387/why-china-staying-sidelines-us-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +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 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan A deepening cash crunch at the United Nations has reignited debate over the future of multilateralism, with analysts warning that the crisis also reflects a more profound shift in how the United States views the world body. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week warned that the organisation was at risk of “imminent financial collapse” as unpaid contributions threatened programme delivery, with funds potentially running out by July. In a rare letter addressed to all 193 member states,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342614/un-grapples-cash-crisis-dont-expect-china-fill-gap-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342614/un-grapples-cash-crisis-dont-expect-china-fill-gap-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is said to be weighing up an early election, a move that could put her in a stronger position with both China and the United States if she secures a decisive win, according to observers. But a diplomatic thaw between Japan and China is not expected any time soon. Media reports in recent days have suggested that Takaichi may call a snap general election to capitalise on her high approval ratings. Citing government sources, the Yomiuri Shinbun reported on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339685/how-snap-election-japan-could-put-sanae-takaichi-stronger-position-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339685/how-snap-election-japan-could-put-sanae-takaichi-stronger-position-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:00:10 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang For three decades, Xu Chongyu was Europe’s secret weapon against the rising tides. Working from the University of Oslo, Xu developed hydrological models that helped to guard cities from Copenhagen to Brussels, predicting floods before the first clouds formed. But the climate clock was ticking fast and his homeland needed him, so the Chinese-born scientist decided to leave. A homecoming ceremony was held for Xu on December 3 at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power (NCWU)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336213/flood-expert-xu-chongyu-leaves-europe-china-climate-change-speeds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336213/flood-expert-xu-chongyu-leaves-europe-china-climate-change-speeds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang US President Donald Trump’s phone calls with both his Chinese and Japanese counterparts this week suggest Washington is engaged in a delicate balancing act over the Taiwan issue. These high-level communications are also intended as a message to Japan, and other US allies, that Taiwan is not a top priority for the Trump administration and should not disrupt the stabilisation of Sino-American ties, according to diplomatic observers. On Tuesday morning, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334139/trumps-calls-xi-and-takaichi-hint-he-wont-let-taiwan-derail-beijing-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334139/trumps-calls-xi-and-takaichi-hint-he-wont-let-taiwan-derail-beijing-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:57:13 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim In a span of just four days last week, Beijing’s envoy to the United Nations criticised Japan – and its leader’s comments related to Taiwan – twice. Fu Cong first said, during a debate on reforming the UN Security Council last Tuesday, that Tokyo was “totally unqualified” to seek a permanent seat on the group, calling Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s earlier comments on Taiwan “brazen” and “provocative”. Takaichi on November 7 suggested that Japan could deploy its military forces in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334131/why-china-took-japan-criticism-un-twice-did-not-raise-it-g20?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334131/why-china-took-japan-criticism-un-twice-did-not-raise-it-g20?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:35:07 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang The diplomatic crisis between Tokyo and Beijing is the result of a years-long fundamental shift to the right in Japan – and part of a “long-term struggle” that China must prepare for, according to analysts. The assessment comes as relations between the two countries nosedive, prompted by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion earlier this month that a hypothetical conflict in the Taiwan Strait would trigger a military response from Tokyo. For Beijing, the comments ventured into a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333837/why-japans-drift-right-means-long-term-struggle-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333837/why-japans-drift-right-means-long-term-struggle-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang In a small town in the US Midwest, 47-year-old military veteran Natalie Hubble loves spending her evenings lost in the mythic worlds portrayed in Chinese fantasy stories. Hubble has never been to China, yet few could describe Chinese mythical tales as well as she does. She described her growing connection to Chinese culture, ancient and modern, as a “natural progression”, since she reads over 150 books a year and likes to take recommendations from all over the world. She said her favourite... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332914/why-chinese-grass-roots-culture-may-be-finally-taking-its-place-global-limelight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332914/why-chinese-grass-roots-culture-may-be-finally-taking-its-place-global-limelight?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:00:19 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing sent a Type 055 destroyer fleet to the south of Japan on Tuesday, according to Tokyo, just days after comments about Taiwan from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drew a strong reaction from Beijing. Japan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that three Chinese ships, including a Type 055 destroyer, had passed through waters south of Kagoshima on Kyushu island on Tuesday before travelling through the Osumi Strait into the Pacific Ocean. According to a statement from the ministry,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332845/3-pla-warships-sailed-past-japan-amid-row-over-sanae-takaichis-taiwan-comments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332845/3-pla-warships-sailed-past-japan-amid-row-over-sanae-takaichis-taiwan-comments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:00:16 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will this month embark on the first trip to China by a Thai monarch since the two nations established diplomatic ties half a century ago. The state visit, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and scheduled to take place from November 13 to 17, will make China “the first major country” that the Thai king has officially visited since ascending the throne in 2016, according to Beijing’s foreign ministry. “In recent years … bilateral relations have... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331951/king-maha-vajiralongkorn-make-first-china-trip-thai-monarch-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331951/king-maha-vajiralongkorn-make-first-china-trip-thai-monarch-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:31:45 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng A database tracking the deaths of young Chinese scientists has triggered a heated debate amid growing concern about whether there is a disturbing pattern emerging among the academic community. But the list also triggered a public backlash, with critics raising ethical concerns about the way the information was used and questioning whether it was giving the full picture. According to the file posted on CSND, an online platform for computer programmers, last week, at least 76 researchers under the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3331244/database-younger-scientists-deaths-triggers-heated-debate-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3331244/database-younger-scientists-deaths-triggers-heated-debate-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Rare earths will remain an “important card” for China in its relations with the United States, despite the Group of Seven’s commitment to challenge Beijing’s dominance of the critical minerals, according to a Chinese observer. At a meeting in the Canadian city of Toronto on Friday, G7 energy ministers agreed to establish a critical minerals production alliance. The plans include more than two dozen new investments, partnerships and measures to accelerate and unlock C$6.4 billion (US$4.57... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331170/g7s-new-rare-earths-alliance-big-challenge-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331170/g7s-new-rare-earths-alliance-big-challenge-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang,Sylvie Zhuang,William Zheng Amber Wang,Sylvie Zhuang,William Zheng In a stark departure from past China-US summits, Taiwan did not rate a mention on Thursday, prompting speculation that Xi Jinping and Donald Trump had arrived at a tacit and pragmatic understanding to deprioritise the contentious issue. Taiwan – regarded by Beijing as a core interest and “the first red line that cannot be crossed” in bilateral relations – has in recent years occupied a few lines in official readouts following face-to-face meetings between the countries’ leaders, but not in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3330958/what-does-xi-trump-summits-silence-taiwan-mean-contentious-issue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3330958/what-does-xi-trump-summits-silence-taiwan-mean-contentious-issue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japan’s unstable political landscape is expected to cast doubt over its diplomatic commitments and could hinder progress in its trilateral summit with China and South Korea, analysts have observed. Uncertainties are mounting as the path to the Japanese premiership for recently elected Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi has been complicated by the abrupt exit of the LDP’s junior coalition partner, Komeito. Takaichi, aiming to be Japan’s first female prime minister, remains short of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329281/turbulent-japanese-politics-could-stall-progress-china-and-south-korea-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329281/turbulent-japanese-politics-could-stall-progress-china-and-south-korea-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Chinese scientists have found that the benefits of exercise can be inherited, with a father’s level of activity influencing his children’s health and endurance. The team found that mice could pass on the benefits of exercise – including improved muscle mass, lower body fat and stronger bones – through genes. By contrast, the offspring of inactive mice performed worse in running and strength tests. “We demonstrate that offspring sired by exercise-trained fathers display intrinsic exercise... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3328744/fathers-can-pass-benefits-exercise-children-chinese-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3328744/fathers-can-pass-benefits-exercise-children-chinese-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 03:00:52 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang Speculative fiction, which encompasses sci-fi and other futuristic literature, is emerging as a strong vehicle for China to project soft power in a competition with the United States over the imagined future. The genre may help China and the Global South challenge Western views of colonialism, capitalism and future tech, according to Chinese scholars of literature and culture. “Speculative fiction, as a genre that imagines the future while critiquing the present, has long been dominated by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327833/china-stakes-claim-future-soft-power-sci-fi-and-speculative-fiction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327833/china-stakes-claim-future-soft-power-sci-fi-and-speculative-fiction?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen The United States has stopped issuing official statements about the passage of its warships through the Taiwan Strait since Donald Trump returned to the White House – a move some analysts believe is designed to dampen down tensions with Beijing. Such transits were announced regularly while Joe Biden was president, but since Trump’s return there have only been three known operations. Beijing has long complained about the “public hype” surrounding such operations, but despite the apparent... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326248/why-has-us-grown-quieter-about-sending-its-warships-through-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326248/why-has-us-grown-quieter-about-sending-its-warships-through-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng The death of three prominent young scientists from top Chinese universities in recent months has again put the country’s ambitious science goals and ruthless academic system under scrutiny. While none of their institutions has issued any official statement about the deaths, the cases have once again prompted criticism of China’s flawed talent system, which is characterised by cutthroat competition that can push young academics to the limits. Issues within China’s academic system include an “up... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325470/or-out-death-bright-young-scientists-highlights-chinas-ruthless-academic-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325470/or-out-death-bright-young-scientists-highlights-chinas-ruthless-academic-system?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Calls this week between top American and Chinese officials are believed to have laid some of the groundwork for a visit to China by US President Donald Trump, possibly in early November. The trip could take place either before or after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, which gets under way late next month. Trade negotiations are expected to be a key part of the summit, which could take place shortly before a temporary tariff war truce expires on November 10. The White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325240/trump-trail-diplomacy-and-possible-trip-china-resolve-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325240/trump-trail-diplomacy-and-possible-trip-china-resolve-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after less than a year in the job might not be surprising, but it will add to uncertainty over relations with China. “Now is the time for me to resign as the negotiations on US tariffs have come to an end,” Ishiba said on Sunday, citing a trade deal reached with the United States on Thursday that cuts tariffs on Japanese car imports from 27.5 to 15 per cent. Ishiba’s announcement came a day before his Liberal Democratic Party was to decide... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324828/will-japans-new-leader-bring-more-pressure-relations-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324828/will-japans-new-leader-bring-more-pressure-relations-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Japan is expected to deploy the US-made Typhon missile system for the first time during joint military exercises with the United States next month, according to Japanese media. Analysts view the move as a strategic signal against Beijing, especially in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry criticised the move on Friday, saying Beijing firmly opposed “the US deployment of the Typhon intermediate-range missile system in Asian countries”. “The deployment of the system in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323657/typhon-warning-china-hits-out-japan-over-us-missile-system-deployment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323657/typhon-warning-china-hits-out-japan-over-us-missile-system-deployment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Dong Sijia, a promising young Chinese researcher, has died at the age of 33. The oceanographer was an assistant professor at Nanjing University’s school of sustainable energy and resources but despite her internationally recognised contributions to marine chemistry, no official notice has been issued by the university. Instead, the news emerged from a note in a scientific journal that did not give a cause of death, leaving colleagues, students and friends trying to piece together more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3323602/rising-academic-star-who-left-us-chinas-unprecedented-opportunities-dies-aged-33?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3323602/rising-academic-star-who-left-us-chinas-unprecedented-opportunities-dies-aged-33?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Carbon emissions generated by foreign firms accounted for about a quarter of the total from all companies in China in the two decades from 1997, according to a new study. It also found that foreign companies produced more than half of their total carbon emissions in China’s less-developed inland areas in the 15 years up to 2012. Yet these regions were not seeing as much economic benefit from foreign investment as the coastal areas. “The eastern coastal region gained more economic benefits, while... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321564/foreign-firms-created-25-emissions-all-companies-china-over-20-years-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321564/foreign-firms-created-25-emissions-all-companies-china-over-20-years-study?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:00:45 +0000 Fan Chen,Khushboo Razdan Fan Chen,Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump is keen to visit China but a September visit is not happening, according to sources, who said Beijing and Washington were working to secure a trip in October or November. Hurdles remain, but high-level officials “share a consensus”, sources familiar with the matter told the South China Morning Post. Media reports earlier said that China planned to invite Trump to the Victory Parade in Beijing on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319699/trump-eyes-autumn-china-trip-september-visit-table-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319699/trump-eyes-autumn-china-trip-september-visit-table-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Sylvie Zhuang,Meredith Chen Vanessa Cai,Sylvie Zhuang,Meredith Chen China’s latest mega dam on the Tibetan Plateau could help draw neighbouring countries closer into its economic orbit by supplying electricity and boosting growth, analysts have argued. According to some estimates, the dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo will be the world’s biggest, producing up to 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam. State news agency Xinhua said over the weekend that its output would “primarily deliver electricity for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319326/could-chinas-tibet-mega-dam-help-boost-its-sway-south-asian-neighbours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319326/could-chinas-tibet-mega-dam-help-boost-its-sway-south-asian-neighbours?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Zhao Ziwen Alyssa Chen,Zhao Ziwen Progress in relations between China and Japan could lose some steam if embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba steps down following a crushing electoral loss. Ishiba, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has come under intense pressure since the ruling coalition’s defeat in upper house elections on Sunday. It is the first time since 1955 that the ruling coalition does not have a majority in the upper and lower houses but LDP heavyweights have so far held off on calling publicly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319319/what-does-it-mean-china-if-japans-shigeru-ishiba-stays-or-steps-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319319/what-does-it-mean-china-if-japans-shigeru-ishiba-stays-or-steps-down?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:56:29 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang A leading engineer who spent 20 years working for the global oil giant Shell has taken up a position at a Chinese university to lead a team working with the petroleum industry on low-carbon technology. Jing Xudong, who is a visiting professor at Imperial College London, has held a number of positions in academia and industry and collected a number of awards and honours. This included his election as a fellow of Britain’s Royal Academy of Engineering in 2024. He introduced himself to the election... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3318278/former-top-shell-engineer-jing-xudong-leaves-britain-chase-cleaner-oil-tech-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3318278/former-top-shell-engineer-jing-xudong-leaves-britain-chase-cleaner-oil-tech-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Even as Washington ramps up pressure on Japan and South Korea to settle trade disputes with the US, diplomatic observers believe tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are not likely to push its two Asian allies closer to Beijing. However, they suggest that the trade tensions could create an opportunity for China to offer stronger incentives to enhance trilateral cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul. The assessment was made following US announcements that reciprocal tariffs on Japan and South... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317440/will-us-tariff-pressure-japan-and-south-korea-push-them-closer-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317440/will-us-tariff-pressure-japan-and-south-korea-push-them-closer-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 14:10:37 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The US will remain focused on containing China in the Indo-Pacific, despite short-term deployment distractions caused by its direct involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, according to analysts. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the American military had “totally obliterated” three of Iran’s nuclear sites, making Washington a direct participant in Israel’s conflict with its long-time regional rival. Before the strikes, the United States had repositioned forces for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315385/mideast-distractions-wont-shift-us-long-term-focus-china-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315385/mideast-distractions-wont-shift-us-long-term-focus-china-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 11:00:11 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Advances in the transplant of cells into the spleen could transform one of the body’s “expendable” organs into a hub for treating diabetes, two Chinese studies have found. Research published last month by scientists at Nanjing University and other institutes found that “shielding” islet cells could improve their survival after being transplanted into the spleen to treat type 1 diabetes. They also found that the spleen – a more promising long-term survival site than the conventionally used liver... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315369/unsung-spleen-may-play-big-role-fighting-diabetes-chinese-scientists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315369/unsung-spleen-may-play-big-role-fighting-diabetes-chinese-scientists?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 08:00:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Hours after Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as the president of South Korea early on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a congratulatory message, emphasising that China placed “great importance” on strengthening ties with its neighbour amid an increasingly uncertain global landscape. During his campaign, Lee pledged to repair strained ties with China and North Korea and underscored China’s role as a vital trading partner. Analysts predicted more stable China-South Korea relations to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313086/south-koreas-new-leader-faces-tightrope-act-between-us-alliance-and-stronger-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313086/south-koreas-new-leader-faces-tightrope-act-between-us-alliance-and-stronger-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Orange Wang Alyssa Chen,Orange Wang Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr might recalibrate his China policy after failing to stem the influence of rival Vice-President Sara Duterte in a midterm election tussle between two of Manila’s most powerful political dynasties, according to analysts. The observers noted that Duterte, now likely to survive an impeachment trial in July, was poised to become a formidable candidate in the country’s 2028 presidential election, and her “pragmatic” stance on China could usher in better... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3310363/china-philippine-ties-face-reckoning-after-marcos-fails-thwart-duterte-camp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3310363/china-philippine-ties-face-reckoning-after-marcos-fails-thwart-duterte-camp?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 02:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang During his lifetime, international relations scholar Joseph Nye’s idea of “soft power” was widely praised in China. But following his death earlier this week, scholars were cautious about his intellectual legacy, saying his policy influence was limited, and his attitude towards China had not been as friendly as some believed. Nye, a former dean of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a former US assistant secretary of defence, died on Tuesday at the age of 88. The influential... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309616/how-will-china-remember-us-scholar-joseph-nye-father-soft-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309616/how-will-china-remember-us-scholar-joseph-nye-father-soft-power?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 13:03:12 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Award-winning materials scientist Li Yongxi has left the United States for a position at China’s Nanjing University (NJU). Li, formerly an associate research scientist at the University of Michigan’s department of electrical and computer engineering, was lured back as part of China’s national high-level overseas young talent programme. According to an April 28 post on NJU’s social media account, Li joined the university’s Institute of Functional Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing as an... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3308688/chinas-young-talent-scheme-lures-smart-materials-scientist-li-yongxi-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3308688/chinas-young-talent-scheme-lures-smart-materials-scientist-li-yongxi-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 May 2025 14:30:09 +0000 While Beijing maintained official silence on Saturday on the Oval Office clash between the US and Ukrainian presidents, Chinese state media reported the incident quoting Russian sources. State broadcaster CCTV quoted Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, as saying US President Donald Trump did not berate Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky enough in the altercation on Friday. The meeting at the White House was supposed to cap a deal between Kyiv and Washington for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3300688/chinas-media-plays-russian-response-trump-zelensky-white-house-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3300688/chinas-media-plays-russian-response-trump-zelensky-white-house-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Mar 2025 13:27:21 +0000