https://www.scmp.com/rss/522259/feed King’s College London is a prominent public research university located in London, England, with five campuses across the city. Established in 1829, it is one of the two founding colleges of the University of London and a member of the prestigious Russell Group. Its primary mission is the advancement of knowledge and understanding in service of society, aiming to create positive change through outstanding education, impactful research, and genuine public service. King’s is renowned for... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Maria Siow Maria Siow US President Donald Trump’s public rebuke of South Korea for refusing to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz is an uncomfortable moment for a 70-year alliance, piling fresh pressure on a Seoul government already uneasy about Washington’s appetite for confrontation in the Middle East. But analysts believe the relationship can withstand the strain, pointing to deep institutional ties between the two militaries, broad elite and public support in both capitals, and the reluctance of other US... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349554/why-trumps-hormuz-rebuke-wont-derail-south-koreas-very-strong-alliance-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349554/why-trumps-hormuz-rebuke-wont-derail-south-koreas-very-strong-alliance-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:30:15 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang AstraZeneca said it would establish drug manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai as well as a separate innovation centre in Shanghai, joining a group of foreign players building new plants in China amid geopolitical tensions. The moves are part of a US$15 billion commitment the British firm pledged to make in the world’s second-largest drug market through 2030, unveiled during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in January. China’s manufacturing capabilities, integrated... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:30:09 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow North Korea fired a volley of ballistic missiles on Saturday, just as US officials were in Seoul exploring ways to reopen talks with the regime that launched them. But Kim Jong-un is not waiting by the phone. Instead, analysts say North Korea’s supreme leader has set terms that leave little room for negotiation, with a calendar that leaves even less room for a summit. US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre touched down in Seoul last week and met Jeong... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347040/why-north-koreas-kim-expects-us-come-cap-hand-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347040/why-north-koreas-kim-expects-us-come-cap-hand-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Gender equality in politics remains far from achieved across Japan’s 47 prefectures, research by a group of experts has shown as it released local index scores on International Women’s Day. While nearly 80 years have passed since women in Japan first exercised their right to vote, the politics index fell in eight prefectures, including Kanagawa near Tokyo, from the 2024 figures, while many other prefectures also saw little change. With a score of 1 representing full equality, Tokyo scored 0.386,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3345847/80-years-gender-gap-persists-japanese-politics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3345847/80-years-gender-gap-persists-japanese-politics?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s decapitation operation in Iran would push Pyongyang to feel “vindicated” in developing nuclear weapons for its own security and move closer to China and Russia to bolster its deterrence capabilities, according to analysts. On Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the test firing of what the country’s state media called a “strategic cruise missile” from the new 5,000-tonne naval destroyer Choe Hyon before the vessel’s official commissioning. Kim hailed the warship as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345806/will-us-attack-iran-push-north-korea-even-closer-russia-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345806/will-us-attack-iran-push-north-korea-even-closer-russia-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s push to sell its J-35 fifth generation fighter jet in the Asia-Pacific was likely to face stiff competition from US rival the F-35 as well as cheaper alternatives, military analysts said after the plane featured at this year’s Singapore Airshow. They said political and economic considerations apart from performance would weigh on potential buyers, and questioned how many countries would want to buy the Chinese plane. In Singapore this month, the booth operated by China National... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344208/can-china-find-market-its-fifth-generation-j-35-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344208/can-china-find-market-its-fifth-generation-j-35-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The United States’ latest trade deal with India may be linked to a freeze on discounted Russian oil purchases, but analysts say it is unlikely to upset New Delhi’s decades-old defence ties with Moscow. Announcing the agreement last week, US President Donald Trump said tariffs on India imports would be cut from 18 to 50 per cent, tying the reduction to India halting its intake of Russian crude. “India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342912/why-us-tariff-deal-cannot-sever-india-russia-defence-ties-structural-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342912/why-us-tariff-deal-cannot-sever-india-russia-defence-ties-structural-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:30:16 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim In the first few weeks of this year alone, the leaders of two of the five “eyes” in the world’s oldest intelligence-sharing alliance signalled they were ready to rethink their relationship with China. First came Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and then this week it was the turn of his British counterpart, Keir Starmer. And in both cases, the visits have prompted warnings from US President Donald Trump. As Western economies grapple with the unpredictability and at times hostility of the White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Sarah Mullally was confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England. The worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in the US, has no formal head, but the archbishop traditionally has been seen as its spiritual leader. Mullally, 63, a cancer nurse turned cleric, officially took up the responsibilities of her new job as judges presided over a legal ceremony confirming her appointment, which was announced almost four... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3341578/sarah-mullally-confirmed-archbishop-canterbury-first-woman-lead-church-england?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3341578/sarah-mullally-confirmed-archbishop-canterbury-first-woman-lead-church-england?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:42:28 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India is facing multiple geopolitical challenges in the region as Bangladesh and Myanmar show signs of drifting away from New Delhi’s orbit amid its long-standing disputes with Pakistan and China. Dhaka has been drawing closer to Islamabad following the downfall in 2024 of its former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who had close ties with Delhi during her rule, while China has continued to maintain its influence in Myanmar since the junta in Naypyidaw ousted the elected government in a coup in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340184/why-india-losing-ground-over-bangladesh-and-myanmar-regional-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340184/why-india-losing-ground-over-bangladesh-and-myanmar-regional-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:35:15 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain As tensions between the United States and Iran threaten to plunge the Middle East into chaos again, regional military powers Turkey and Pakistan have revealed they are planning a tripartite defence partnership with Saudi Arabia. Thursday’s disclosure comes as Iran’s neighbours await clarity on US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on the Islamic Republic’s trading partners earlier in the week – a measure which threatens to disrupt supply chains across the region. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340136/turkey-pakistan-saudi-arabia-plan-defence-pact-us-iran-row-threatens-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340136/turkey-pakistan-saudi-arabia-plan-defence-pact-us-iran-row-threatens-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:27:31 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain Israel is cashing in on soaring international demand for combat-proven air defence systems, as analysts say the billions of dollars' worth of weapon sales will significantly expand the country’s influence beyond the Middle East. The weapon exports to Europe, Asia and Africa are helping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration overcome its diplomatic isolation over the Gaza war by making the Jewish-majority state a key long-term security partner for its customers. “Exporting air defence... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337726/israels-rising-air-defence-sales-become-its-most-potent-foreign-policy-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337726/israels-rising-air-defence-sales-become-its-most-potent-foreign-policy-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 05:30:07 +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 Maria Siow Maria Siow South Korea’s recent moves to lower tensions with Pyongyang – from removing its propaganda loudspeakers to downplaying the North’s human rights record – may ease frictions on the peninsula, but analysts say they are unlikely to help restart stalled denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the US. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continues to spurn engagement with US President Donald Trump, while Washington appears to have shifted its focus away from curbing Pyongyang’s expanding nuclear... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335789/why-south-koreas-concessions-are-failing-revive-trump-kim-nuclear-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335789/why-south-koreas-concessions-are-failing-revive-trump-kim-nuclear-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:30:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s second fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35, could find buyers in the Middle East as demand grows for advanced stealth aircraft in the region – though its capabilities remain unknown, according to analysts. China, the United States and Russia are the only countries making fifth-generation fighter jets, and all three showcased their aircraft at last week’s Dubai Air Show. A model of the J-35 – made by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (Catic) and with a design... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India and Afghanistan will launch direct air cargo flights in a move that deepens their economic ties and signals a strategic shift in South Asia’s power dynamics, as both countries grow increasingly estranged from their mutual neighbour Pakistan. Analysts say the initiative reflects Kabul’s push to diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on Islamabad following deadly border clashes, while also underscoring New Delhi’s effort to reassert influence in a country where it once played a key... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334225/india-afghanistan-close-ranks-against-pakistan-marking-south-asia-power-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334225/india-afghanistan-close-ranks-against-pakistan-marking-south-asia-power-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:11:00 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India and Canada have agreed to restart talks on a long-delayed free-trade agreement, in the strongest signal yet of a thaw in their relations following a two-year diplomatic row triggered by the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia. The resumption of negotiations underscores both countries’ aim to prioritise economic ties over a resolution to a lingering political issue, even as the underlying tensions over Sikh separatism remain unresolved, according to analysts. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3334063/economics-above-politics-india-and-canada-resume-trade-agreement-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3334063/economics-above-politics-india-and-canada-resume-trade-agreement-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:28:53 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain The US is poised to supply Saudi Arabia with its most advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, a move that analysts say reflects a new era of Middle East policy in which countering Chinese influence is fast becoming as important for Washington as maintaining Israeli military superiority. It would make Saudi Arabia only the second country in the region, after Israel, to operate the fifth-generation jet. US President Donald Trump announced the decision following a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s visiting... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333936/china-factor-behind-trumps-sale-f-35s-saudi-arabia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333936/china-factor-behind-trumps-sale-f-35s-saudi-arabia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:30:13 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The Indian Navy has marked a milestone with the launch of its first locally made anti-submarine ship, but it still faces a naval capabilities gap compared with arch-rival Pakistan, which is set to acquire potent Chinese-made submarines. The core issue is New Delhi’s long-standing failure to modernise its conventional submarine fleet, analysts say. This leaves India vulnerable to the new-generation, air-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped Hangor-class vessels that Beijing is supplying to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333802/indias-submarine-deficit-persists-china-bolsters-pakistans-undersea-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333802/indias-submarine-deficit-persists-china-bolsters-pakistans-undersea-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:01:07 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai As China’s global influence grows, the landscape of China studies is undergoing a profound transformation. Scholars both within China and internationally are confronting new challenges, from escalating geopolitical tensions and mutual distrust – especially between Washington and Beijing – to increasingly limited access, making research and academic collaboration more difficult than ever. Some have also urged a shift beyond Western-centric frameworks towards more field-based research and a truly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332865/why-china-studies-scholars-west-have-been-left-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332865/why-china-studies-scholars-west-have-been-left-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:00:23 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The three-member Aukus defence pact may soon expand beyond its primary aim of boosting Australia’s submarine fleet to also include Japan and South Korea, according to analysts, with both North Asian powers potentially co-developing or acquiring similar nuclear-powered vessels and taking part in hi-tech projects. These developments could transform Aukus – a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United States and Britain – into a more expansive Indo-Pacific defence... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332562/will-japan-and-south-korea-join-aukus-co-develop-nuclear-submarines-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332562/will-japan-and-south-korea-join-aukus-co-develop-nuclear-submarines-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:14:47 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A potential visit by US President Donald Trump to India could provide the impetus to conclude trade talks between New Delhi and Washington, analysts say, amid doubts about his commitment to the Indo-Pacific due to uncertainty over a proposed Quad security summit in the Indian capital. Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that his talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were “going great” and that a visit to Delhi could take place next year, though he declined to specify a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332344/are-us-india-ties-set-rebound-following-trumps-positive-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332344/are-us-india-ties-set-rebound-following-trumps-positive-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:23:52 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu When life unspools – whether through the transition into young adulthood, a career change, or the physical and emotional journey of postpartum recovery – we learn a crucial truth: mental health is not static. It works in a fluid state, waxing and waning – sometimes fiercely, sometimes subtly – always according to the unpredictable rhythms of life. This is why mental health charity Mind HK has chosen “Navigating Life’s Defining Moments” as the theme of its third Hong Kong international... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331004/hong-kong-mental-health-conference-will-look-social-and-cultural-impacts-wellness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331004/hong-kong-mental-health-conference-will-look-social-and-cultural-impacts-wellness?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Alessandro Arduino Alessandro Arduino Early this month, Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is expected in Beijing for what both sides have billed as a “reset” in relations. The move reflects a wider trend across the Middle East, where governments wary of Western conditionality are increasingly seeking what they view as less encumbered partnerships with China. The winds of realpolitik are sweeping from the Middle East to Central and South Asia, bringing “hard resets” across entire regions. India’s quiet pivot towards the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3331122/what-syrias-post-war-pivot-china-tells-us-about-new-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3331122/what-syrias-post-war-pivot-china-tells-us-about-new-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 05:30:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to skip the Asean summit in Malaysia was probably made with an eye on coming crucial state polls in Bihar and to avoid meeting US President Donald Trump amid sensitive trade negotiations, analysts have said. During a special event at the White House last week, Trump had reiterated claims that India would stop buying Russian oil. The US president then attended the Asean meeting in Kuala Lumpur before departing for Japan on Monday. Modi addressed the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330502/why-indias-modi-skipped-asean-summit-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330502/why-indias-modi-skipped-asean-summit-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:30:14 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s sanctions on Hanwha Ocean will drive up the firm’s costs in the medium term but may also end up boosting South Korean ties with the US over the long term as Washington seeks to expand naval shipbuilding capacity, analysts said. Last week, the Chinese commerce ministry announced it had imposed sanctions on five US-based affiliates of Hanwha Ocean, one of South Korea’s largest shipbuilding companies. The ministry alleged that Hanwha had supported Washington’s investigation into Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330219/chinese-sanctions-will-cost-south-korean-shipbuilder-could-boost-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330219/chinese-sanctions-will-cost-south-korean-shipbuilder-could-boost-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s “golden week” holiday was an exceptionally busy time for the South Korean capital, with Chinese tourists streaming into the city’s shopping districts under a new visa-free scheme. At the same time, the country’s diplomatic machinery was setting the stage for the Apec summit, an event that gets under way later this month and is expected to see the first visit by a Chinese president to the country in 11 years. Only four months into his term, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung seemed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328415/are-anti-china-protests-putting-south-koreas-fragile-reset-beijing-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328415/are-anti-china-protests-putting-south-koreas-fragile-reset-beijing-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 02:00:08 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain The US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza has halted two years of bloodshed, but analysts warn it will only hold if President Donald Trump, his administration and key Middle Eastern mediators remain deeply invested in preventing the conflict from reigniting. Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Hamas readily agreed to the truce. Rather, observers say they were compelled to comply by Trump and the coordinated efforts of Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. “They are invested in the ceasefire and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328597/war-over-will-fragile-gaza-ceasefire-hold-amid-deep-divisions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328597/war-over-will-fragile-gaza-ceasefire-hold-amid-deep-divisions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:35:29 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba travelled to South Korea on Tuesday, seeking to reinforce fragile ties as his government faces a looming leadership transition. Analysts say the landmark visit, at the invitation of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, reflects an effort by both nations to consolidate gains in security and economic cooperation while signalling Seoul’s intent to join a Japanese-led trade bloc. Ishiba’s two-day trip to Busan – the first visit by a Japanese leader to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327318/japans-outgoing-pm-seeks-cement-south-korea-ties-final-visit-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327318/japans-outgoing-pm-seeks-cement-south-korea-ties-final-visit-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:21:59 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi In a break from past practice, the United States did not send an aircraft carrier to its military drill with treaty allies Japan and South Korea last week. Some analysts said this suggested that the US was playing down the exercise to boost its dealings with China and North Korea. Others highlighted the Trump administration’s insistence on greater contributions from Asian allies in its strategy to contain China within the strategically crucial first island chain. The trilateral multi-domain... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326285/us-held-major-military-drill-minus-aircraft-carrier-what-does-it-mean-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326285/us-held-major-military-drill-minus-aircraft-carrier-what-does-it-mean-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:00:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It is the sort of experience you just can’t buy. The carriages are being polished, the family silver is being laid out, and diamonds are being dusted off as King Charles prepares to offer a royal welcome to Donald Trump for what will be the highlight of the US president’s unprecedented second state visit to Britain. Hundreds of soldiers, gardeners and chefs are putting the finishing touches on their preparations to make sure the president and first lady Melania Trump get the full royal... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3325821/trump-loves-bling-royal-pomp-and-uk-goes-all-out-flatter-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3325821/trump-loves-bling-royal-pomp-and-uk-goes-all-out-flatter-him?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:40:19 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s display of advanced military technology at its Victory Day parade could help it overtake Russia in global arms sales, but geopolitical factors might keep it from entering markets with ties to the US, according to analysts. During the military parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, China showcased its advanced weapon systems. In addition to President Xi Jinping, state leaders of 26 countries attended, including a handful from Southeast Asia... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324377/could-chinas-hi-tech-military-display-help-it-surpass-russia-arms-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324377/could-chinas-hi-tech-military-display-help-it-surpass-russia-arms-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:20:54 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The United States has declined for the first time to send any uniformed military or government personnel to speak at a key security conference organised by Britain and held this week in Japan. The Pacific Future Forum, being held on Friday and Saturday aboard the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in Tokyo Bay, features the UK and Japanese defence ministers as speakers and senior military officials from Japan and Western nations. The US Seventh Fleet commander, Vice-Admiral Fred W. Kacher,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3323743/us-skips-uk-led-security-conference-japan-amid-retreat-defence-forums?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3323743/us-skips-uk-led-security-conference-japan-amid-retreat-defence-forums?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 02:50:41 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji As India and China reconfigure their relationship, US President Donald Trump’s steep trade tariffs may prove to be a blessing in disguise and bring greater urgency to efforts to mend ties between the two neighbours. Peace talks have been ongoing, resulting in Indian and Chinese troops pulling back from their common borders last year, and there are other signs of possibly warmer bilateral ties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Tianjin at the end of this month to attend the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3323508/are-trumps-tariffs-nudging-india-and-china-mend-their-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3323508/are-trumps-tariffs-nudging-india-and-china-mend-their-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 02:30:07 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen From a new border agreement to resuming direct flights and deepening economic cooperation, China and India appear to be entering a new diplomatic chapter following Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s first visit to New Delhi in three years. There could be a further thaw in ties when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Tianjin at the end of the month – his first trip to China in seven years – for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, when he could also meet Chinese leader Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322621/china-and-india-are-rebuilding-relations-will-it-be-cold-peace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322621/china-and-india-are-rebuilding-relations-will-it-be-cold-peace?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India’s central bank has eased rules for settling international trade in rupees, a move analysts say could bolster the currency’s global profile and reduce the country’s dependence on the US dollar as trade tensions with Washington escalate. Though New Delhi has distanced itself from global de-dollarisation drives, observer say the shift reflects a pragmatic push to insulate India from dollar volatility and future geopolitical risks. Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3322408/indias-easing-rupee-trade-rules-response-us-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3322408/indias-easing-rupee-trade-rules-response-us-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:26:14 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji With US tariffs threatening India’s exports, the prospect of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal has become more than a distant hope – it may be New Delhi’s best chance for some economic breathing room, analysts say. A summit in Alaska on Friday between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin failed to yield a breakthrough, but Trump later called the talks “productive” and Putin suggested hosting a follow-up meeting in Moscow. Trump is set to host another separate summit... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3322231/will-russia-ukraine-peace-deal-save-india-us-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3322231/will-russia-ukraine-peace-deal-save-india-us-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:30:08 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju An abrupt decision by US President Donald Trump to double tariffs on Indian goods has triggered what analysts describe as a “total mistrust” in bilateral ties and sent a “muddled strategic signal” about Washington’s foreign policy priorities. The move – an additional 25‑percentage‑point tariff on Indian exports, doubling duties to 50 per cent – was issued in an executive order on Wednesday to penalise India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which Washington argues is helping fund Moscow’s war... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321146/trumps-50-tariff-sows-total-mistrust-between-us-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321146/trumps-50-tariff-sows-total-mistrust-between-us-india?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma A young woman expelled from university for having sex with a foreigner. A man jailed for raping his fiancée after paying her the bride price. And a video game portraying women as gold diggers. These are among the cases fuelling heated debate, and outrage, on Chinese social media in recent months over sexism, misogyny and gender stereotypes. The discussion started in April when a court in Datong, Shanxi province upheld the guilty verdict and three-year prison sentence of a man who had raped his... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320433/sex-lies-and-video-games-heated-debate-over-sexism-and-misogyny-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320433/sex-lies-and-video-games-heated-debate-over-sexism-and-misogyny-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain After years of strained relations and embargoes, Turkey is poised to become an “indispensable” defence partner for Europe, as Germany lifts its veto on advanced jet sales and the United States seeks to end a damaging arms dispute. Analysts say the changes reflect a recalibration of Europe’s security architecture – and the West’s strategic priorities – amid rising tensions with Russia. Germany last week dropped its veto on the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, a fellow Nato member,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319945/how-turkey-re-emerged-wests-indispensable-defence-partner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319945/how-turkey-re-emerged-wests-indispensable-defence-partner?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:00:16 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India and Britain are poised to sign a long-awaited free-trade agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London this week, a deal analysts see as a signal that New Delhi is willing to shed its traditionally protectionist stance and engage more deeply with Western partners amid rising global trade tensions. The pact, which follows three years of negotiations, is expected to be finalised during Modi’s bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which begins on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3319115/how-india-uk-trade-deal-could-shape-future-pacts-eu-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3319115/how-india-uk-trade-deal-could-shape-future-pacts-eu-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system has reportedly drawn interest from at least 15 countries spanning from Asia to South America after its use in cross-border strikes against Pakistan enhanced the global profile of the Indian weapons industry. While security experts acknowledge the growing clout of the industry, they say sustaining this momentum would require broader expertise, less reliance on foreign technology and more supportive policies to realise India’s potential as a global... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318809/india-gets-global-buyer-interest-brahmos-missile-asia-south-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318809/india-gets-global-buyer-interest-brahmos-missile-asia-south-america?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2025 08:30:14 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Japan’s unprecedented proposal to transfer six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippine Navy could greatly boost the Southeast Asian nation’s anti-submarine capabilities – but the true value of these ageing vessels remains to be seen. The Philippines has confirmed it is preparing to dispatch a team to Japan for a visual inspection of the six warships, which were set to be decommissioned, following an official invitation from Japan’s Ministry of Defence. “This planned inspection forms... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317464/japans-used-destroyers-game-changer-philippines-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317464/japans-used-destroyers-game-changer-philippines-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India has signalled its growing maritime and shipbuilding ambitions in the Indo-Pacific with the country’s biggest warship builder, state-run Mazagon Dock, set to acquire a controlling stake in Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders said last week it would buy a 51 per cent stake in Colombo Dockyard for US$52.96 million. The deal is expected to be completed within the next six months. In a statement on social media on Friday, Mazagon Docks highlighted that the agreement would... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3316792/india-eyes-strategic-foothold-indo-pacific-stake-colombo-dockyard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3316792/india-eyes-strategic-foothold-indo-pacific-stake-colombo-dockyard?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:30:09 +0000