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US drugmakers are increasingly looking to Chinese biotechs as an answer to the revenue gaps left by the looming ‘patent cliff’. Illustration by Henry Wong

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

China’s 3SBio seeks US$400 million in Hong Kong to boost drug pipeline

United States
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Diplomacy

Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

Top US envoy eschews ‘pacing threat’ label, stressing cooperation and Western hemisphere priorities for 2026.

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Diplomacy

TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

Compliance questions remain and Beijing’s approval for the spin-off is not guaranteed, observers say.

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Society

Why are Hongkongers waiting so long under Canada’s pathway to residency?

Only about 30 per cent of applicants since scheme launch in 2021 have been approved for permanent residency.

Focus
Illustration: Henry Wong

From taboo to trendy: China’s second-hand luxury market cashes in on resale boom

Politics

Trump Justice Department releases partial set of Epstein files for now

US official says more of the long-awaited documents will follow in coming months, citing legal limits to protect victims and investigations.

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A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol last month. Photo: AFP
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Big Tech

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

Economics

Rivals, rain and rising costs: Thailand’s tourism crown slips

As a border war with Cambodia flares and Malaysian tourism surges ahead, Thailand battles to save its holiday image.

Travel & Leisure

The journey ahead: AI paves the way for tourism business of the future

AI travel technology company Dida’s innovative solutions aim to bridge the gap between the industry and travellers.

In partnership with:
Dida
Dida is collaborating with the tourism industry to respond to the challenges and opportunities that AI is bringing to the sector.

Middle East

US strikes at Isis fighters in Syria after 3 Americans killed

The attack was reportedly conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters.

US President Donald Trump salutes as a US Army carry team moves a flagged-draped transfer case containing the remains of Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a US civilian working as an interpreter, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

China’s rebuilding of Micronesian airport runway raises alarm in US

At least two Chinese companies appear to be involved in the Woleai project in the strategically important region.

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China

3 killed in Taiwan knife and smoke grenade attack

The suspected stabber was also declared dead after jumping from the sixth floor of a department store building.

5

Diplomacy

US lawmakers want DeepSeek, Xiaomi added to list of China military-linked firms

Republicans want to add 19 more entities to the document that already includes tech giant Tencent Holdings and major ‍battery maker CATL.

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A letter, from US lawmakers asks for AI firm DeepSeek and other Chinese companies to be put on what is known as the Section 1260H list. Photo: Reuters

Health & Wellness

How to avoid gaining weight this Christmas while still enjoying great food

Diet experts weigh in on healthy festive eating to avoid weight gain, from foods with nutritional ‘superpowers’ to alternatives to sugar.

Experts suggest plant-forward dishes, lighter desserts and savouring meals for a healthier way to enjoy the festive period. Photo: Shutterstock

Society

Hong Kong fire: authorities seek to dissolve Wang Fuk Court owners’ committee

Home affairs minister Alice Mak says government intervening for first time on record in residential estate’s affairs.

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United States & Canada

Epstein files release highlights Clinton, makes scant reference to Trump

Few photos of the US president or documents mentioning him appear, a notable difference from previous batches of files made public.

Europe

Rubio says won’t force deal on Ukraine as Europeans join Miami talks

Trump envoys are meeting officials from Kyiv and Moscow, but the question of ceding territory remains a stumbling block in negotiations.

Residents react at the site of a Russian air strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

How right-wing misinformation hurt the Brown University shooting investigation

Unfounded claims that the gunman was a Palestinian student flooded social media, complicating the probe.

Law enforcement agents take part in the search for the Brown University shooter in Salem, New Hampshire, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers vow to impeach leader William Lai

Proposal is likely to be a symbolic gesture as impeachment would require 76 legislators to agree, while opposition camp holds only 62 seats.

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Europe

Rome to charge tourists to get close to famed Trevi Fountain

The city is seeking to raise US$7.6 million a year from visitors, who traditionally toss a coin into the water in hope of returning to Rome.

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OPINION
Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

Wee Kek Koon
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong well set to raise the global bar for Chinese medicine

SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Kam Tin Jiao Festival proves heritage and development can coexist in harmony

SCMP Editorial
Brian Y. S. Wong

Opinion | Protection of vulnerable workers must be part of China’s AI strategy

Brian Y. S. Wong
Andrew Sheng

Opinion | Why China is cracking down on ‘involution’

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Harry’s View | 20 Dec 2025
December 20, 2025
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Video | Politics fails to dampen launch of Japanese sushi chain Sushiro in Shanghai

Australasia

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Hong Kong

China selects Hong Kong handball players – but are they eligible to switch team?

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Why are Hongkongers waiting so long under Canada’s pathway to residency?

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Simon Li, executive director of the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre, with students (from second left) Kavira S. Kazimoto, Gem Peduche and Josue Camarena, at Andrews University’s Hong Kong campus. Photo: Handout
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After The War | Virtual reality and the Nanking massacre: where does historical immersion become trauma?

Amid push in China for museum digitalisation, one educator seeks to help students ‘feel history without being flooded by it’.

After The War | How the post-WWII order was formed and why China wants to reshape it

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After The War | Chinese scholars slam Western ‘historical nihilism’ on World War II

Open Questions series

Science

Open Questions | Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

Acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his ‘dark forest’ theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.

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China Economy

Open Questions | Economist Huang Yiping on why China’s AI push must be ‘job-oriented’

Dean of Peking University’s National School of Development says ‘balance’ needed in AI development to protect employment, ‘human well-being’.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

Commentator and former senior colonel on Beijing’s row with Japan, lessons from the Ukraine war and why playing global policeman is a trap.

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China Economy

Open Questions | ‘A mistaken view’: US economist Nicholas Lardy on the ‘peak China’ hypothesis

The veteran China watcher talks Beijing’s need for financial reform and how US-China economic convergence could still be on the horizon.

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Tech Trends

China’s open-source AI models rival US giants, making engagement urgent: report

The report calls on US actors to engage with Chinese firms as the AI landscape continues to evolve.

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Chinese AI developers are largely pursuing an open-source approach, releasing the weights of their models for end-users to freely deploy and modify. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

Big Tech

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

Tech Trends

China’s Sugon launches AI infrastructure to rival platforms from Nvidia, Huawei

The Beijing-based supercomputer maker says its scaleX platform represents China’s first 10,000-card AI supercluster.

Supercomputer maker Sugon launches scaleX platform at an event in Kunshan, a city in eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout

Military

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

China Economy

Surviving the shocks: what China and the US learned from 2025’s trade war

Businesses and officials faced a year of disruption – and in some cases, resilience – as tariffs and export controls roiled global markets.

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Diplomacy

Why ‘relative stability’ in US-China ties is unlikely to last

The temperature has lowered after a downward spiral since Trump’s return to the White House, but relations may face ‘strong headwinds’ again.

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Military

Why has reference to Taiwan attending Rimpac been removed from US defence bill?

Senators’ bid to ‘strongly encourage’ invitation is removed from compromise bill, raising questions in Taipei.

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Some of the naval ships taking part in the 2024 Rimpac exercises, as seen from the Japanese JS Kunisaki. Photo: Reuters
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