Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

About half of China’s oil comes from the Middle East, underscoring the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, which also serves as a crucial trade corridor for the country’s exports. Photo: dpa

As Iran war hits trade hubs, China’s logistics firms rush for alternatives

Disrupted Middle East transit routes squeeze sector, pushing freight costs higher and pressuring supply chains.

4 hours agovideocam

As war on Iran escalates, Asia scrambles to deal with global energy fallout

China trade

Military

How Iran’s strikes on US bases could offer a preview for the Asia-Pacific

Tehran’s retaliation against Washington’s Gulf allies offers lessons for a potential Taiwan conflict, analysts say.

5 hours ago

Military

China warns US against letting AI ‘determine life and death’ on battlefield

China believes that human primacy must be upheld in military applications of AI, defence ministry spokesman says.

4 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

Chile’s Boric leaves office, calls for unity after China cable fallout

Undersea fibre-optic cable project linking Chile to Hong Kong enraged US, causing dispute that defined Gabriel Boric’s final weeks in office.

48 minutes agovideocam

Military

The CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missile system, which the Iranians were said to be interested in, was launched to the international market in 2016. Photo: Dickson Lee

What if Iran really did buy export variant of China’s YJ-12 supersonic missile?

Politics

As US missiles leave South Korea, the Philippines asks: are we next?

South Korea couldn’t stop the pull-out. Now, Manila must figure out if it is indeed a strategic partner or just another supply depot.

11 Mar 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

Patriot missile launchers are seen deployed at a US military base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Sunday. Photo: Yonhap/AFP

Tech

China issues new safety rules for OpenClaw. Here are the dos and don’ts

Authorities outline six dos and six don’ts for OpenClaw users, warning of risks amid an adoption frenzy.

4 hours ago

Society

Only 1 Hong Kong landlord seeks subdivided flat approval as new law takes effect

Housing Bureau receives 316 registration applications involving 1,160 subdivided flats for grace period, but only one to approve certification.

6 hours ago

Business

How Standard Chartered’s SME Banking helps Hong Kong arts and crafts design firm’s growth

Deepa Jivan, CEO of J.Gordhan & Co, says bank’s tailored financial solutions and expertise give it the agility to navigate global marketplace.

In partnership with:

Standard Chartered

Deepa Jivan is the founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based arts and crafts products company J.Gordhan & Co.

Diplomacy

Latest US military warning to civilians highlights Iranian navy outposts

Ongoing investigation also reportedly found US responsible for deadly missile strike on Iranian elementary school on first day of attacks.

1 hour agovideocam

A plume of smoke rises after a US missile strike in Tehran, Iran, on Monday. Photo: AP

Science

Award-winning memory chip expert leaves US for job at Chinese semiconductor firm

Scientist will lead planning and development in emerging industries at DK Electronic Materials, focusing on the semiconductor memory business.

11 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

Diplomacy

US threats and a Chinese cable scandal mark first day for Chile’s new president

The US forced Chile to cancel a Chinese undersea cable. Now the region is asking who gets to decide what infrastructure Latin America builds.

2 hours agovideocam

Europe

Trio with Iraq links arrested for ‘terrorist bombing’ of US embassy in Norway

The siblings are Norwegian citizens, and police are investigating if they were working on their own or on orders from a foreign entity.

35 minutes ago

Police vehicles are seen at the US embassy in Oslo, Norway, on Sunday after an explosion was reported at the site. Photo: EPA

Economics

Iran war threatens prolonged energy shock, slower growth for Asia

Observers say an extended disruption of energy flows could mean persistently higher fuel costs and widening trade deficits for Asian importers.

6 hours agovideocam

A man carries a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder in Mumbai on Wednesday. India has implemented several measures to secure energy supplies and manage demand. Photo: EPA

Military

Why China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war

‘Any weakening’ of US presence in Asia-Pacific will work to someone’s advantage, ‘and you can imagine who that is’: cross-strait adviser.

6 hours agovideocam

Tech

China’s Midea pledges US$8.7 billion for AI and robotics in pivot to automation

Robotics and physical AI are emerging as the next battleground for manufacturers seeking efficiency gains.

5 hours ago

Banking & Finance

Eli Lilly boosts China footprint with US$3 billion plan to expand supply chain

US firm is strengthening its China operations amid an intensifying expansion race with other pharmaceutical giants.

5 hours ago

The move will bring the total cumulative investment of Eli Lilly in China to nearly US$6 billion. Photo: Reuters

Tech

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

AI-related positions accounted for more than a quarter of new-economy job listings in the first two months of the year, report says.

11 Mar 2026 - 7:29PM

People look for employment opportunities at a job fair in Meishan, Sichuan province, last month. Photo: Xinhua

Europe

UK PM Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in appointing Mandelson

The concerns were raised in a document sent to Starmer in December 2024 before he appointed Mandelson as US ambassdor.

5 hours agovideocam

Football

Iran will not compete in US-hosted 2026 World Cup, sports minister says

Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate⁠’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico.

3 hours ago

LATEST

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Diplomacy

Chile’s Boric leaves office, calls for unity after China cable fallout

1 hour ago

Europe

Trio with Iraq links arrested for ‘terrorist bombing’ of US embassy in Norway

3 hours ago

Diplomacy

Latest US military warning to civilians highlights Iranian navy outposts

4 hours ago

Football

Iran will not compete in US-hosted 2026 World Cup, sports minister says

4 hours ago

Racing

Fownes says ‘good luck’ to title rivals after extending lead with Valley treble

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Tech

China issues new safety rules for OpenClaw. Here are the dos and don’ts

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Staff members dispense medicines at a pharmacy in Wuhan, in central China’s Hubei province, on February 27, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

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Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

9 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:24PM

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

23 Feb 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:25PMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

OpenClaw fever: why is China rushing to ‘raise a lobster’?

Chinese consumers are using OpenClaw for everything from stock picking and report writing to slide decks, emails and coding.

8 Mar 2026 - 10:33PMvideocam

OpenClaw has been dubbed “raise the lobster” by Chinese consumers. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech

China issues new safety rules for OpenClaw. Here are the dos and don’ts

Authorities outline six dos and six don’ts for OpenClaw users, warning of risks amid an adoption frenzy.

4 hours ago

Tech

China’s Midea pledges US$8.7 billion for AI and robotics in pivot to automation

Robotics and physical AI are emerging as the next battleground for manufacturers seeking efficiency gains.

5 hours ago

Banking & Finance

Eli Lilly boosts China footprint with US$3 billion plan to expand supply chain

US firm is strengthening its China operations amid an intensifying expansion race with other pharmaceutical giants.

5 hours ago

China Economy

Why China’s red-hot tech push is leaving some sectors out in the cold

Beijing’s preferences for innovation and emerging industries are affecting businesses’ development paths and reshaping the corporate landscape.

11 Mar 2026 - 6:16AMvideocam

Politics

Why China’s cadres must master rare earths as economic security becomes a KPI

Beijing’s decision to instruct promising cadres on logistics and resources reflects a sober outlook on trade relations, observers say.

10 Mar 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

Diplomacy

As US universities retreat from China, who is filling the academic void?

Many elite Sino-American ventures have ended under the strain of geopolitics but other, more diverse, programmes are emerging.

8 Mar 2026 - 6:04AMvideocam

China Economy

China works to build slow, steady stock markets, rejecting norm of boom and bust

Beijing is emphasising gradual growth in its policies for capital markets, encouraging dividend payouts and drawing a contrast with the West.

7 Mar 2026 - 8:16AMvideocam

As Iran war hits trade hubs, China’s logistics firms rush for alternatives

Disrupted Middle East transit routes squeeze sector, pushing freight costs higher and pressuring supply chains.

As war on Iran escalates, Asia scrambles to deal with global energy fallout

How Iran’s strikes on US bases could offer a preview for the Asia-Pacific

Tehran’s retaliation against Washington’s Gulf allies offers lessons for a potential Taiwan conflict, analysts say.

China warns US against letting AI ‘determine life and death’ on battlefield

China believes that human primacy must be upheld in military applications of AI, defence ministry spokesman says.

Chile’s Boric leaves office, calls for unity after China cable fallout

Undersea fibre-optic cable project linking Chile to Hong Kong enraged US, causing dispute that defined Gabriel Boric’s final weeks in office.

What if Iran really did buy export variant of China’s YJ-12 supersonic missile?

As US missiles leave South Korea, the Philippines asks: are we next?

South Korea couldn’t stop the pull-out. Now, Manila must figure out if it is indeed a strategic partner or just another supply depot.

China issues new safety rules for OpenClaw. Here are the dos and don’ts

Authorities outline six dos and six don’ts for OpenClaw users, warning of risks amid an adoption frenzy.

Only 1 Hong Kong landlord seeks subdivided flat approval as new law takes effect

Housing Bureau receives 316 registration applications involving 1,160 subdivided flats for grace period, but only one to approve certification.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How Standard Chartered’s SME Banking helps Hong Kong arts and crafts design firm’s growth

Deepa Jivan, CEO of J.Gordhan & Co, says bank’s tailored financial solutions and expertise give it the agility to navigate global marketplace.

Latest US military warning to civilians highlights Iranian navy outposts

Ongoing investigation also reportedly found US responsible for deadly missile strike on Iranian elementary school on first day of attacks.

Award-winning memory chip expert leaves US for job at Chinese semiconductor firm

Scientist will lead planning and development in emerging industries at DK Electronic Materials, focusing on the semiconductor memory business.

US threats and a Chinese cable scandal mark first day for Chile’s new president

The US forced Chile to cancel a Chinese undersea cable. Now the region is asking who gets to decide what infrastructure Latin America builds.

Trio with Iraq links arrested for ‘terrorist bombing’ of US embassy in Norway

The siblings are Norwegian citizens, and police are investigating if they were working on their own or on orders from a foreign entity.

Iran war threatens prolonged energy shock, slower growth for Asia

Observers say an extended disruption of energy flows could mean persistently higher fuel costs and widening trade deficits for Asian importers.

Why China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war

‘Any weakening’ of US presence in Asia-Pacific will work to someone’s advantage, ‘and you can imagine who that is’: cross-strait adviser.

China’s Midea pledges US$8.7 billion for AI and robotics in pivot to automation

Robotics and physical AI are emerging as the next battleground for manufacturers seeking efficiency gains.

Eli Lilly boosts China footprint with US$3 billion plan to expand supply chain

US firm is strengthening its China operations amid an intensifying expansion race with other pharmaceutical giants.

Demand for AI talent in China outpaces other ‘new-economy’ sectors

AI-related positions accounted for more than a quarter of new-economy job listings in the first two months of the year, report says.

UK PM Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in appointing Mandelson

The concerns were raised in a document sent to Starmer in December 2024 before he appointed Mandelson as US ambassdor.

Iran will not compete in US-hosted 2026 World Cup, sports minister says

Ahmad Donyamali says the US and Israeli air strikes mean ‘under no circumstances can we participate⁠’ in event hosted by US, Canada, Mexico.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Data centres are a symbol of the Gulf’s economic future and weakness

Opinion | Why state capacity matters in an era of AI-driven inequality

Opinion | How America’s Iran miscalculation hands China a strategic advantage

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | In confronting child abuse, Hong Kong must reckon with the problem’s origins

As I see it | Iran war exposes the risks of being a US ally

Chile’s Boric leaves office, calls for unity after China cable fallout

Trio with Iraq links arrested for ‘terrorist bombing’ of US embassy in Norway

Latest US military warning to civilians highlights Iranian navy outposts

Iran will not compete in US-hosted 2026 World Cup, sports minister says

Fownes says ‘good luck’ to title rivals after extending lead with Valley treble

China issues new safety rules for OpenClaw. Here are the dos and don’ts

Healthcare investors keeping an eye on ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

Can China’s ‘two sessions’ find a strategy to fix the property rot?

Investors lock onto NPC as markets seek policy lift amid AI jitters

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

Open Questions | Why Trump’s April trip to China may not deliver ‘grand bargain’: James Zimmerman

The American Chamber of Commerce in China chairman says this year’s expected Trump-Xi meetings can put countries on a ‘visionary’ path.

OpenClaw fever: why is China rushing to ‘raise a lobster’?

Chinese consumers are using OpenClaw for everything from stock picking and report writing to slide decks, emails and coding.

China issues new safety rules for OpenClaw. Here are the dos and don’ts

Authorities outline six dos and six don’ts for OpenClaw users, warning of risks amid an adoption frenzy.

China’s Midea pledges US$8.7 billion for AI and robotics in pivot to automation

Robotics and physical AI are emerging as the next battleground for manufacturers seeking efficiency gains.

Eli Lilly boosts China footprint with US$3 billion plan to expand supply chain

US firm is strengthening its China operations amid an intensifying expansion race with other pharmaceutical giants.

Why China’s red-hot tech push is leaving some sectors out in the cold

Beijing’s preferences for innovation and emerging industries are affecting businesses’ development paths and reshaping the corporate landscape.

Why China’s cadres must master rare earths as economic security becomes a KPI

Beijing’s decision to instruct promising cadres on logistics and resources reflects a sober outlook on trade relations, observers say.

As US universities retreat from China, who is filling the academic void?

Many elite Sino-American ventures have ended under the strain of geopolitics but other, more diverse, programmes are emerging.

China works to build slow, steady stock markets, rejecting norm of boom and bust

Beijing is emphasising gradual growth in its policies for capital markets, encouraging dividend payouts and drawing a contrast with the West.

How Standard Chartered’s SME Banking helps Hong Kong arts and crafts design firm’s growth

Opinion | Data centres are a symbol of the Gulf’s economic future and weakness

Letters | In confronting child abuse, Hong Kong must reckon with the problem’s origins