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Serbia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Serbia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Belgrade

Head of State

President Aleksandar Vučić

Head of Government

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević

Sinisa Karan after preliminary results indicated he won a snap presidential election. Photo: Reuters

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Separatist candidate wins presidential vote in Bosnia’s Serb region

Snap election sees Sinisa Karan win a tight race, pledging to forcefully continue the policies of the recently banned separatist leader.

24 Nov 2025 - 11:33AM

Aleksandar Vucic

Serbia tensions boil as riot police separate president’s opponents and loyalists

3 Nov 2025 - 2:05PM

Science

Serbia shows off Chinese missiles in Europe’s backyard

21 Sep 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

China’s military drills

China’s allies give top marks for parade but the West is not won over

Russia, Iran and Cuba credit the host with showcasing the strength of the Chinese military.

4 Sep 2025 - 6:14PMvideocam

(Left to right) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un are seen ahead of the parade. Photo: TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa

China's military weapons

The 5 key takeaways from China’s Victory Day military parade

From the images of Xi with Putin and Kim to a growing focus on nuclear weapons, here are the key moments from Tiananmen Square.

3 Sep 2025 - 1:22PMvideocam

US-China relations

Exclusive | US ambassador to China expected to skip Beijing military parade: sources

Post learns America’s top diplomat in China is unlikely to attend commemoration of end of World War II as bilateral tensions stay high.

29 Aug 2025 - 8:01PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Putin, Kim, Xi at military parade, Modi in China

This week: Donald Trump threatens 200 per cent tariff over Chinese rare earths, chip stocks surge, Shanghai relaxes home purchase rules. Next week: Putin, Kim and Xi watch Beijing military parade, Modi and other leaders attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, movie filmed in space hits the screens, and more.

29 Aug 2025 - 5:00PM

China-Japan relations

China protests over reports Japan urged other countries to skip WWII parade

Foreign ministry says Tokyo should face up to its history after claims it urged other countries not to attend the ‘anti-Japanese’ event.

26 Aug 2025 - 9:31PM

China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU envoys mull skipping China military parade over Putin’s attendance: sources

Post learns European missions in Beijing are especially troubled by Russian leader’s presence amid intensified attacks on Ukraine.

18 Aug 2025 - 4:37PMvideocam

China-Asean relations

Exclusive | Top Southeast Asian leaders will travel to China for military parade, sources say

Leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are expected to attend next month’s Victory Day event in Beijing.

15 Aug 2025 - 3:00PMvideocam

China will mark 80 years since the end of World War II with a military parade in Beijing. The last Victory Day parade was held a decade ago. Photo: AP

European Union

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

12 Aug 2025 - 9:03PM

Burning trees are pictured during a wildfire in Carcastillo, northern Spain on Sunday. Photo: AP

China-EU relations

Slovak PM Fico to attend China’s WWII event amid EU tensions

Central European leader is first from the European bloc and Nato to confirm plans to be in Beijing for 80th anniversary commemoration.

4 Aug 2025 - 6:12PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

China’s ‘energy ring’; Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: SCMP daily highlights

From China generating power from ‘sea of death’ to how US president’s tariffs may pay for his bill, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

14 Jul 2025 - 9:15PM

China’s military drills

China and Serbia gear up for first joint military training exercise

Special forces from both countries will take part in the Peace Defenders-2025 drill, cementing ties between armed personnel.

14 Jul 2025 - 6:55PMvideocam

The Serbian Ministry of Defence says its air force is the first in Europe able to independently operate and maintain the Chinese-made FK-3 air defence missile system. Photo: China’s Ministry of National Defence

Belt and Road Initiative

China to speed up bullet-train connectivity with neighbours

High-speed railways will be a cornerstone of China’s Belt and Road, creating key transport arteries to set international railway standards.

8 Jul 2025 - 8:08PM

China’s completed overseas rail projects include the China-Laos railway (pictured). Photo: Xinhua

US-ally trade wars

Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea

Equal or higher tariffs imposed on others before Wednesday deadline.

8 Jul 2025 - 1:33PMvideocam

European Union

Right-wing Croatian singer performs pro-Nazi salute with fans

One of Marko Perkovic’s most popular songs starts with the dreaded ‘For the homeland – Ready!’ salute, used by Croatia’s Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime.

6 Jul 2025 - 9:31PM

History

Before Dracula: sleepy village stakes claim as home of ‘father of vampires’

Historical records detail villagers in Kisiljevo exhuming Petar Blagojevic, believing he rose from the grave to kill locals.

30 Jun 2025 - 1:54PM

Tombstones from the 18th century in the oldest part of the cemetery in Kisiljevo, Serbia. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Trump complains about Nobel Peace Prize snub over Congo-Rwanda peace deal

The US president has confirmed that the two countries will be in Washington next week to sign a deal to end their conflict.

21 Jun 2025 - 9:25AM

US-China trade war

Why Chinese firms building foreign factories are no longer focused on US market

Countries like Brazil, Serbia, Hungary and Saudi Arabia have become top choices for Chinese companies looking to explore other markets.

15 Jun 2025 - 11:00AM

Ukraine war

Russia alleges back-stabbing as Serbia’s arms reach Ukraine

Serbia’s position of neutrality questioned as Russia alleges secret arms shipments for Ukraine sent through intermediaries.

30 May 2025 - 1:51PM

Ukrainian servicemen train for combat. Photo: Ukraine’s 65th Mechanised Brigade via AP

US-China trade war

Will Trump’s film tariffs mean lights, camera, inaction for the world’s studios?

While it is unclear how film tariffs would be enforced, suggestion of new duties on non-US productions has put industry in panic mode.

10 May 2025 - 6:36PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump has proposed a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the country, a move that has prompted confusion and alarm in the entertainment industry. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Opinion | Why China has refused to back down in the face of Trump’s tariffs

China’s elites, going back to the late Qing, have been waiting for this moment – to push back against the world’s strongest power.

9 May 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Putin’s 3-day ceasefire begins as Ukraine reports violations

Temporary truce coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany.

9 May 2025 - 9:10AM

China-Russia relations

Opinion | How China became central to Russia’s Victory Day parade

Russia may have hoped to send the message that it is not isolated but the event’s list of expected attendees is not entirely convincing.

6 May 2025 - 8:30PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2023. Photo: Sputnik/ Pool via Reuters

Taiwan

My Take | Western media ignore crackdown on opposition in Taiwan by Lai

Mainstream reporting targets illiberal regimes in Europe, but favours the island leader and his pro-US, independence-seeking government.

2 May 2025 - 9:00PM

Crowds flood into Ketagalan Boulevard for an opposition rally in Taipei on Saturday. Photo: CNA

Chaos in Serbia’s parliament as smoke bombs and flares thrown, lawmakers injured

Serbian opposition lawmakers set off flares in parliament, with one legislator suffering a stroke.

5 Mar 2025 - 10:44AM

European Union

Serbian students shake government with anti-corruption crusade

Almost daily protests have put increasing pressure on the government, with the resignation of Serbia’s prime minister and Novi Sad’s mayor.

2 Feb 2025 - 6:55PM

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Serbia

Separatist candidate wins presidential vote in Bosnia’s Serb region

Snap election sees Sinisa Karan win a tight race, pledging to forcefully continue the policies of the recently banned separatist leader.

Serbia tensions boil as riot police separate president’s opponents and loyalists

Serbia shows off Chinese missiles in Europe’s backyard

China’s allies give top marks for parade but the West is not won over

Russia, Iran and Cuba credit the host with showcasing the strength of the Chinese military.

The 5 key takeaways from China’s Victory Day military parade

From the images of Xi with Putin and Kim to a growing focus on nuclear weapons, here are the key moments from Tiananmen Square.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | US ambassador to China expected to skip Beijing military parade: sources

Post learns America’s top diplomat in China is unlikely to attend commemoration of end of World War II as bilateral tensions stay high.

Putin, Kim, Xi at military parade, Modi in China

China protests over reports Japan urged other countries to skip WWII parade

Foreign ministry says Tokyo should face up to its history after claims it urged other countries not to attend the ‘anti-Japanese’ event.

Exclusive | EU envoys mull skipping China military parade over Putin’s attendance: sources

Post learns European missions in Beijing are especially troubled by Russian leader’s presence amid intensified attacks on Ukraine.

Exclusive | Top Southeast Asian leaders will travel to China for military parade, sources say

Leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are expected to attend next month’s Victory Day event in Beijing.

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

Slovak PM Fico to attend China’s WWII event amid EU tensions

Central European leader is first from the European bloc and Nato to confirm plans to be in Beijing for 80th anniversary commemoration.

China’s ‘energy ring’; Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: SCMP daily highlights

From China generating power from ‘sea of death’ to how US president’s tariffs may pay for his bill, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China and Serbia gear up for first joint military training exercise

Special forces from both countries will take part in the Peace Defenders-2025 drill, cementing ties between armed personnel.

China to speed up bullet-train connectivity with neighbours

High-speed railways will be a cornerstone of China’s Belt and Road, creating key transport arteries to set international railway standards.

Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea

Equal or higher tariffs imposed on others before Wednesday deadline.

Right-wing Croatian singer performs pro-Nazi salute with fans

One of Marko Perkovic’s most popular songs starts with the dreaded ‘For the homeland – Ready!’ salute, used by Croatia’s Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime.

Before Dracula: sleepy village stakes claim as home of ‘father of vampires’

Historical records detail villagers in Kisiljevo exhuming Petar Blagojevic, believing he rose from the grave to kill locals.

Trump complains about Nobel Peace Prize snub over Congo-Rwanda peace deal

The US president has confirmed that the two countries will be in Washington next week to sign a deal to end their conflict.

Why Chinese firms building foreign factories are no longer focused on US market

Countries like Brazil, Serbia, Hungary and Saudi Arabia have become top choices for Chinese companies looking to explore other markets.

Russia alleges back-stabbing as Serbia’s arms reach Ukraine

Serbia’s position of neutrality questioned as Russia alleges secret arms shipments for Ukraine sent through intermediaries.

Will Trump’s film tariffs mean lights, camera, inaction for the world’s studios?

While it is unclear how film tariffs would be enforced, suggestion of new duties on non-US productions has put industry in panic mode.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Why China has refused to back down in the face of Trump’s tariffs

China’s elites, going back to the late Qing, have been waiting for this moment – to push back against the world’s strongest power.

Putin’s 3-day ceasefire begins as Ukraine reports violations

Temporary truce coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany.

Opinion | How China became central to Russia’s Victory Day parade

Russia may have hoped to send the message that it is not isolated but the event’s list of expected attendees is not entirely convincing.

My Take | Western media ignore crackdown on opposition in Taiwan by Lai

Mainstream reporting targets illiberal regimes in Europe, but favours the island leader and his pro-US, independence-seeking government.

Chaos in Serbia’s parliament as smoke bombs and flares thrown, lawmakers injured

Serbian opposition lawmakers set off flares in parliament, with one legislator suffering a stroke.

Serbian students shake government with anti-corruption crusade

Almost daily protests have put increasing pressure on the government, with the resignation of Serbia’s prime minister and Novi Sad’s mayor.

Exclusive | US ambassador to China expected to skip Beijing military parade: sources

Opinion | Why China has refused to back down in the face of Trump’s tariffs