TOPIC

/ location

Xinjiang

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

Capital

Ürümqi

Head of Government

Party Secretary of Xinjiang Ma Xingrui

Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, exits federal court in Los Angeles after pleading guilty on charges of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government on Friday. Photo: AP

US-China relations

Ex-California mayor Eileen Wang pleads guilty to acting as China agent

She faces up to 10 years in prison for doing the bidding of Chinese officials by sharing articles favourable to Beijing.

30 May 2026 - 6:19AM

Science

Why China is weaponising a ‘towering’ hybrid crop to farm where wheat fails

29 May 2026 - 12:57PMvideocam

Food and Drinks

Discover Aberdeen’s fish market secrets with Hong Kong’s top chefs

22 May 2026 - 1:34PM

Science

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

22 May 2026 - 6:57AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Omega-3 could hurt the brain, China’s new war on deserts: 7 science highlights

From China’s new war on deserts to Singapore-based physicist’s big move, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

21 May 2026 - 2:37PM

Science

How a remote patch of Gobi Desert became central to China’s national security

A national energy and chemical hub being built on a 15,500 sq m site in the Gobi Desert is set to modernise coal mining.

21 May 2026 - 10:48AMvideocam

Science

China’s motorsports industry continues to rev up with first race-grade fuel

The unveiling of the high-octane fuel at the Taklimakan Rally comes on the back of international success for the ZXMOTO motorbike marque.

17 May 2026 - 7:00PM

The racing-grade fuel was unveiled at the start of the Taklimakan Rally on Saturday. Photo: Handout

Science

China launches new war on deserts with technology tested on far side of the moon

Projects meant to help Xinjiang region build ecological barrier to protect its arable land from erosion and desertification.

17 May 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

SCMP Exclusives

Exclusive | Un-sanctioned: China to welcome Dutch trade minister amid Nexperia, ASML discord

Source says Beijing has quietly dropped an old sanctioning of Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who recently spoke of wanting to lead a Dutch trade mission to China.

28 Apr 2026 - 3:02PMvideocam

China birth rate

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Rising pension burdens and social security subsidies are also straining public finances – though trends remain uneven, analysts say.

28 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM

Elderly people rest at a park in Fuyang in eastern China’s Anhui province on September 13, 2024. Photo: AFP

Science

Defects – not jumping tourists – caused deadly Xinjiang bridge collapse: report

‘Wholly man-made disaster’ that killed five at popular scenic area last year blamed on construction and management failures.

23 Apr 2026 - 9:00PM

Five people died when the Jiangjun Bridge at the Xiata Scenic Area in Yili, Xinjiang, collapsed last year. Photo: Handout

SCMP Highlights

Hormuz oil crisis hits China; a family of dentists: 5 weekend reads you missed

From how Pakistan paid the price for mediating in the Iran war to a family of dentists, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

13 Apr 2026 - 12:12PM

Science

Chinese crystal ‘paves way’ for GPS-free thorium clock navigation

World-first crystal tunes laser light to power ultra-precise, compact nuclear clocks which could guide submarines and deep-space probes.

11 Apr 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Pakistan

Why has China mapped out a third new county in Xinjiang on its western frontier?

Cenling county, near Pakistan and Afghan borders and disputed frontier with India, follows Hean and Hekang as Beijing boosts security.

11 Apr 2026 - 3:46PMvideocam

A visitor takes a photo at a China-Pakistan border crossing checkpost, high in the Karakoram Range in Xinjiang. Photo: EPA

Science

2 years on: China’s ‘desert wheat farms’ show the seeds of success

Chinese project turns sand dunes into cropland to combat desertification and strengthen food security.

10 Apr 2026 - 2:34PMvideocam

Chinese farmers have grown wheat in the country’s largest desert, Taklamakan, amid ongoing efforts to turn arid deserts into fertile soil and the drive to strengthen food security.
Photo: Weibo

Science

China’s electric truck revolution: powerful painkiller for the Iran war?

Sales of electric heavy-duty cargo trucks surged by 182 per cent in 2025, with more growth forecast as oil and gas prices soar.

6 Apr 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Orban on the brink: could Hungary’s election dent China’s influence in Europe?

‘Most consequential’ vote is being pitched as a referendum on whether the country should move towards the East or West.

13 Apr 2026 - 6:40PMvideocam

100 Top Tables: Cities of Gastronomy

The Chinese Wine Awards shine a spotlight on flourishing mainland vineyards

Local restaurants and the Chinese Wine Awards mark the increasing interest in home-grown vintages.

Supported by

Macau Government Tourism Office

Chinese wines are increasing in popularity and holding their own against old world vintages. Photo: AFP

China’s Communist Party

Ma Xingrui becomes China’s third Politburo member investigated for corruption

Former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang is under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’, according to state news agency Xinhua.

3 Apr 2026 - 7:53PMvideocam

Science

China’s far west site of a new bulwark against Mideast-induced resource woes

Ethylene glycol plant in Xinjiang is equipped with tech that includes green electricity coupling, carbon capture and storage.

1 Apr 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

Corruption in China

China puts Ma Xingrui protege Guo Yonghang under corruption investigation

Fate of ‘right-hand man’ deepens mystery around former Guangdong governor and Xinjiang party chief who has not been seen for months.

28 Mar 2026 - 4:09PMvideocam

Guo Yonghang is suspected of “serious violations of discipline and law”, according to China’s top anti-corruption watchdog. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

China consumption

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

Aquaculture in the far-western region is expected to grow even more rapidly after a dependence on imported eggs is diminished or ended.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Workers process “Xinjiang salmon” at Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture’s processing plant in Yili, Xinjiang. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong economy

Amid Iran war, Hongkongers choose short-haul high-speed rail trips

With war raging in the Middle East, tickets for mainland Chinese destinations are being snapped up.

23 Mar 2026 - 1:22AM

China society

Editorial | China’s ethnic unity law can foster a shared sense of belonging

The law seeks to bridge ethnic divides for social stability and national development while safeguarding diversity.

19 Mar 2026 - 7:15AM

Cathay Pacific

Beijing first stop as Cathay launches global drive to hire 3,000 workers

Hong Kong carrier has openings for pilots, flight attendants and engineers as well as vacancies for digital positions.

14 Mar 2026 - 7:55PM

Cathay Pacific has openings for cabin crew among other vacancies. Photo: Eugene Lee

US-China relations

Exclusive | Sanctioned Rubio to visit China with Trump despite earlier missed opportunities

The formerly hawkish US secretary of state has been sanctioned by Beijing and sources say he has previously appeared reluctant to visit.

13 Mar 2026 - 6:18AMvideocam

As a senator, Marco Rubio had cultivated a reputation as a China hawk. Photo: AP

Two Sessions 2026

China codifies ethnic assimilation with new ‘unity’ law as it counters the West

Legal safeguards heed Xi Jinping’s call to foster ‘shared spiritual home’ with an eye on staving off ‘domestic friction’, analysts say.

13 Mar 2026 - 11:02AMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

How will Hong Kong follow mainland China’s ethnic unity promotion law?

Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress set to be passed at the closing session of 14th National People’s Congress.

12 Mar 2026 - 8:30AM

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Xinjiang

Ex-California mayor Eileen Wang pleads guilty to acting as China agent

She faces up to 10 years in prison for doing the bidding of Chinese officials by sharing articles favourable to Beijing.

Why China is weaponising a ‘towering’ hybrid crop to farm where wheat fails

Discover Aberdeen’s fish market secrets with Hong Kong’s top chefs

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

Omega-3 could hurt the brain, China’s new war on deserts: 7 science highlights

From China’s new war on deserts to Singapore-based physicist’s big move, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

How a remote patch of Gobi Desert became central to China’s national security

A national energy and chemical hub being built on a 15,500 sq m site in the Gobi Desert is set to modernise coal mining.

China’s motorsports industry continues to rev up with first race-grade fuel

The unveiling of the high-octane fuel at the Taklimakan Rally comes on the back of international success for the ZXMOTO motorbike marque.

China launches new war on deserts with technology tested on far side of the moon

Projects meant to help Xinjiang region build ecological barrier to protect its arable land from erosion and desertification.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | Un-sanctioned: China to welcome Dutch trade minister amid Nexperia, ASML discord

Source says Beijing has quietly dropped an old sanctioning of Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who recently spoke of wanting to lead a Dutch trade mission to China.

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Rising pension burdens and social security subsidies are also straining public finances – though trends remain uneven, analysts say.

Defects – not jumping tourists – caused deadly Xinjiang bridge collapse: report

‘Wholly man-made disaster’ that killed five at popular scenic area last year blamed on construction and management failures.

Hormuz oil crisis hits China; a family of dentists: 5 weekend reads you missed

From how Pakistan paid the price for mediating in the Iran war to a family of dentists, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Chinese crystal ‘paves way’ for GPS-free thorium clock navigation

World-first crystal tunes laser light to power ultra-precise, compact nuclear clocks which could guide submarines and deep-space probes.

Why has China mapped out a third new county in Xinjiang on its western frontier?

Cenling county, near Pakistan and Afghan borders and disputed frontier with India, follows Hean and Hekang as Beijing boosts security.

2 years on: China’s ‘desert wheat farms’ show the seeds of success

Chinese project turns sand dunes into cropland to combat desertification and strengthen food security.

China’s electric truck revolution: powerful painkiller for the Iran war?

Sales of electric heavy-duty cargo trucks surged by 182 per cent in 2025, with more growth forecast as oil and gas prices soar.

Orban on the brink: could Hungary’s election dent China’s influence in Europe?

‘Most consequential’ vote is being pitched as a referendum on whether the country should move towards the East or West.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}The Chinese Wine Awards shine a spotlight on flourishing mainland vineyards

Local restaurants and the Chinese Wine Awards mark the increasing interest in home-grown vintages.

Ma Xingrui becomes China’s third Politburo member investigated for corruption

Former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang is under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’, according to state news agency Xinhua.

China’s far west site of a new bulwark against Mideast-induced resource woes

Ethylene glycol plant in Xinjiang is equipped with tech that includes green electricity coupling, carbon capture and storage.

China puts Ma Xingrui protege Guo Yonghang under corruption investigation

Fate of ‘right-hand man’ deepens mystery around former Guangdong governor and Xinjiang party chief who has not been seen for months.

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

Aquaculture in the far-western region is expected to grow even more rapidly after a dependence on imported eggs is diminished or ended.

Amid Iran war, Hongkongers choose short-haul high-speed rail trips

With war raging in the Middle East, tickets for mainland Chinese destinations are being snapped up.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | China’s ethnic unity law can foster a shared sense of belonging

The law seeks to bridge ethnic divides for social stability and national development while safeguarding diversity.

Beijing first stop as Cathay launches global drive to hire 3,000 workers

Hong Kong carrier has openings for pilots, flight attendants and engineers as well as vacancies for digital positions.

Exclusive | Sanctioned Rubio to visit China with Trump despite earlier missed opportunities

The formerly hawkish US secretary of state has been sanctioned by Beijing and sources say he has previously appeared reluctant to visit.

China codifies ethnic assimilation with new ‘unity’ law as it counters the West

Legal safeguards heed Xi Jinping’s call to foster ‘shared spiritual home’ with an eye on staving off ‘domestic friction’, analysts say.

How will Hong Kong follow mainland China’s ethnic unity promotion law?

Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress set to be passed at the closing session of 14th National People’s Congress.

Exclusive | Un-sanctioned: China to welcome Dutch trade minister amid Nexperia, ASML discord

The Chinese Wine Awards shine a spotlight on flourishing mainland vineyards

Editorial | China’s ethnic unity law can foster a shared sense of belonging