Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

A woman selects fruit at a supermarket in Shanghai on Friday. Photo: EPA

Despite Iran war, China set for ‘solid’ first-quarter GDP growth: analysts

Flexible growth target means little likelihood of imminent stimulus, but focus will switch to impact of disruptions in second quarter.

20 minutes agovideocam

China’s imports surge in March as exports soften amid Hormuz blockade

China GDP

Diplomacy

Xi tells Vietnamese counterpart they should ‘jointly oppose unilateralism’

On To Lam’s state visit, Chinese president also urges keeping ‘supply chains stable and unimpeded’ as Iran war deepens global energy crisis.

1 hour agovideocam

Tech Trends

From ‘probing minds’ to verified account: how Musk’s stance on TikTok shifted

The billionaire’s surprising return to TikTok reveals his evolving tech diplomacy, with his account quickly gaining 120,000 followers.

20 minutes ago

Hong Kong Economy

EU budget chief pushes collaboration, bonds on Hong Kong leg of Asia tour

Piotr Serafin says EU remains open to capital from city and mainland China despite pursuing a ‘de-risking strategy’ in certain key sectors.

20 minutes ago

Science

The Haiyang Dizhi 2 research vessel completed its first deep-sea scientific mission of the year on Saturday, according to China’s Ministry of Natural Resources. Photo: CCTV

China tests submarine cable cutter at 3,500-metre depth

Tech

Amazon bets on Shenzhen smart warehouse to cut storage costs by 45 per cent

Amazon expands China push with smart warehouse model, aiming to retain sellers amid rising competition from Temu and Shein.

1 hour ago

Amazon’s expansion comes as regulators in the US and Europe tighten rules on low-value imports. Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

Trump dismisses concern Iran war will derail China trip next month: interview

US president says war is ‘very close to over’ but also ‘we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly’.

36 minutes agovideocam

Military

Can Iran’s small, fast-attack boats challenge US naval blockade of Hormuz?

Iran’s conventional navy might be decimated, but its large fleet of high-speed boats could well pose a threat, analysts in China say.

1 hour agovideocam

Business

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

In partnership with:

Standard Chartered

China Economy

Chinese steelmakers team up to adjust to EU’s carbon-linked import imposts

Industry insiders say carbon costs are expected to cascade through supply chains, adding to compliance costs for Chinese exporters.

3 hours ago

Workers prepare steel coils for shipment at Lianyungang Port, in Jiangsu province, on Saturday. Photo: AFP

East Asia

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirms a rapid rise in activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex.

5 minutes ago

Society

Local official defends decision to decline mainland firefighters in Tai Po fire

Mainland counterparts may not have adapted to local environment nor communicated effectively, Hong Kong fire services officer says at hearing.

1 hour ago

Hong Kong Economy

Exclusive | Jockey Club to channel HK$1 billion basketball betting investment into football

Source says club’s main concern is illegal wagering and that it will work with government to solve crisis over basketball betting pause.

28 minutes ago

Hong Kong has put the launch of legalised basketball betting on hold. Photo: Sam Tsang

Africa

Sudan enters 4th year of war as ‘abandoned crisis’ grows

The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine and the UN says about 34 million people, or almost two of every three Sudanese, need help.

2 hours ago

A Sudanese man pulls a donkey cart filled with water for sale in Port Sudan on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Politics

Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills

Given the rivalry between Washington and Beijing, joining the annual military exercise may risk being seen as picking the US, analysts say.

1 hour ago

Middle East

At least 4 dead in Turkey’s second school shooting in 2 days

The teenage attacker, who killed three fellow pupils and one teacher, shot and killed himself in the commotion, officials say.

13 minutes ago

Big Tech

Lightelligence on track with IPO plans as China’s AI photonics race gathers pace

Shanghai-based company aims to become Hong Kong’s first listed AI photonics chipmaker as AI infrastructure buildout drives momentum.

2 hours ago

An illustration of Lightelligence’s optical network on a chip. Photo: Handout

Europe

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

The app will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms and is ‘completely anonymous’ to ensure data cannot be tracked.

1 hour ago

An illustration shows an EU flag and smartphone with social media app icons displayed. Photo: Reuters

People

Prabowo’s overseas trips draw scrutiny as Indonesia urges fuel restraint

Since his inauguration in October 2024, Prabowo has gone on 51 official visits, travelling to 28 countries and chalking up 99 days overseas.

2 hours agovideocam

Politics

Hong Kong leader vows reforms to boost safety, national security after Tai Po fire

Chief Executive John Lee says city will act on lessons learned from deadly blaze, as Beijing warns against exploiting tragedies to sow unrest.

2 hours ago

OPINION

James David Spellman

Opinion | Given history of ceasefires, it’s no surprise US-Iran truce is fraying

50 minutes ago

Jeffrey Wu

Opinion | US controls chips in the AI race, but China controls the scoreboard

5 hours ago

Alex Lo

As I see it | KMT chief shows way forward to avoid blind confrontation with Beijing

15 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Letters

Letters | Hong Kong is the perfect complement to Dubai, not a replacement

15 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

Syed Munir Khasru

Opinion | How Pakistan outmanoeuvred India in Iran war diplomacy with China’s help

15 Apr 2026 - 5:30AM

Harry’s View | 15 Apr 2026

MORE COMMENT

LATEST

5 minutes ago

East Asia

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

13 minutes ago

Middle East

At least 4 dead in Turkey’s second school shooting in 2 days

19 minutes ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police intercept Maserati, arrest 2 over suspected money laundering

20 minutes ago

Economic Indicators

Despite Iran war, China set for ‘solid’ first-quarter GDP growth: analysts

20 minutes ago

Hong Kong Economy

EU budget chief pushes collaboration, bonds on Hong Kong leg of Asia tour

20 minutes ago

Tech Trends

From ‘probing minds’ to verified account: how Musk’s stance on TikTok shifted

50 minutes ago

World Opinion

Opinion | Given history of ceasefires, it’s no surprise US-Iran truce is fraying

1 hour ago

Europe

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

1 hour ago

Military

Can Iran’s small, fast-attack boats challenge US naval blockade of Hormuz?

1 hour ago

Tech

Amazon bets on Shenzhen smart warehouse to cut storage costs by 45 per cent

MORE LATEST NEWS

SCMP Series

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SCMP Series US-Israel war on Iran

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:26AMvideocam

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

8 Apr 2026 - 11:10AMvideocam

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

7 Apr 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

Open Questions series

Science

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

6 Apr 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

30 Mar 2026 - 10:03AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Key Industries:

China Business

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

14 Apr 2026 - 9:02PM

A Tesla robot on display at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Tesla has said it is transforming itself into a physical AI firm. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

Lightelligence on track with IPO plans as China’s AI photonics race gathers pace

Shanghai-based company aims to become Hong Kong’s first listed AI photonics chipmaker as AI infrastructure buildout drives momentum.

2 hours ago

China EVs

Brazil blacklists BYD, some foreign brands may exit China: 7 EV reads

From Telsa regaining world’s top spot to Chinese carmakers gaining rapid ground in Europe, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

6 hours ago

Tech Trends

Chinese robotics firms focus on quadrupeds as major revenue drivers

The newly established AgiQuad, a separate subsidiary under Shanghai-based AgiBot, is targeting US$73 million in revenue this year.

15 Apr 2026 - 7:00AM

Customers view quadruped robots at Unitree’s physical experience store in Beijing on December 31, 2025. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Diplomacy

Why the US may need more than just fixing gaps to rival China on rare earths

Washington’s mining ambitions may be complicated by the erosion of industrial know-how and a weak education pipeline, experts say.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:55AMvideocam

China Economy

Vocational schools a new front as China backs businesses’ global expansion

Earlier programmes focused on infrastructure, but new wave is shaped by demand in e-commerce, digital services and advanced manufacturing.

11 Apr 2026 - 6:06AM

Military

The US could be moving away from precision strikes in the Iran war. Here’s why

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:26AMvideocam

Politics

What next for the struggling rural mothers in China who helped to build AI?

Data-labelling workshops once hailed as a solution in the country’s poverty alleviation campaign face a painful reckoning.

5 Apr 2026 - 6:10AMvideocam

Despite Iran war, China set for ‘solid’ first-quarter GDP growth: analysts

Flexible growth target means little likelihood of imminent stimulus, but focus will switch to impact of disruptions in second quarter.

China’s imports surge in March as exports soften amid Hormuz blockade

Xi tells Vietnamese counterpart they should ‘jointly oppose unilateralism’

On To Lam’s state visit, Chinese president also urges keeping ‘supply chains stable and unimpeded’ as Iran war deepens global energy crisis.

From ‘probing minds’ to verified account: how Musk’s stance on TikTok shifted

The billionaire’s surprising return to TikTok reveals his evolving tech diplomacy, with his account quickly gaining 120,000 followers.

EU budget chief pushes collaboration, bonds on Hong Kong leg of Asia tour

Piotr Serafin says EU remains open to capital from city and mainland China despite pursuing a ‘de-risking strategy’ in certain key sectors.

China tests submarine cable cutter at 3,500-metre depth

Amazon bets on Shenzhen smart warehouse to cut storage costs by 45 per cent

Amazon expands China push with smart warehouse model, aiming to retain sellers amid rising competition from Temu and Shein.

Trump dismisses concern Iran war will derail China trip next month: interview

US president says war is ‘very close to over’ but also ‘we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly’.

Can Iran’s small, fast-attack boats challenge US naval blockade of Hormuz?

Iran’s conventional navy might be decimated, but its large fleet of high-speed boats could well pose a threat, analysts in China say.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

Chinese steelmakers team up to adjust to EU’s carbon-linked import imposts

Industry insiders say carbon costs are expected to cascade through supply chains, adding to compliance costs for Chinese exporters.

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirms a rapid rise in activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex.

Local official defends decision to decline mainland firefighters in Tai Po fire

Mainland counterparts may not have adapted to local environment nor communicated effectively, Hong Kong fire services officer says at hearing.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Jockey Club to channel HK$1 billion basketball betting investment into football

Source says club’s main concern is illegal wagering and that it will work with government to solve crisis over basketball betting pause.

Sudan enters 4th year of war as ‘abandoned crisis’ grows

The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine and the UN says about 34 million people, or almost two of every three Sudanese, need help.

Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills

Given the rivalry between Washington and Beijing, joining the annual military exercise may risk being seen as picking the US, analysts say.

At least 4 dead in Turkey’s second school shooting in 2 days

The teenage attacker, who killed three fellow pupils and one teacher, shot and killed himself in the commotion, officials say.

Lightelligence on track with IPO plans as China’s AI photonics race gathers pace

Shanghai-based company aims to become Hong Kong’s first listed AI photonics chipmaker as AI infrastructure buildout drives momentum.

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

The app will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms and is ‘completely anonymous’ to ensure data cannot be tracked.

Prabowo’s overseas trips draw scrutiny as Indonesia urges fuel restraint

Since his inauguration in October 2024, Prabowo has gone on 51 official visits, travelling to 28 countries and chalking up 99 days overseas.

Hong Kong leader vows reforms to boost safety, national security after Tai Po fire

Chief Executive John Lee says city will act on lessons learned from deadly blaze, as Beijing warns against exploiting tragedies to sow unrest.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Given history of ceasefires, it’s no surprise US-Iran truce is fraying

Opinion | US controls chips in the AI race, but China controls the scoreboard

As I see it | KMT chief shows way forward to avoid blind confrontation with Beijing

Letters | Hong Kong is the perfect complement to Dubai, not a replacement

Opinion | How Pakistan outmanoeuvred India in Iran war diplomacy with China’s help

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

At least 4 dead in Turkey’s second school shooting in 2 days

Hong Kong police intercept Maserati, arrest 2 over suspected money laundering

Despite Iran war, China set for ‘solid’ first-quarter GDP growth: analysts

EU budget chief pushes collaboration, bonds on Hong Kong leg of Asia tour

From ‘probing minds’ to verified account: how Musk’s stance on TikTok shifted

Opinion | Given history of ceasefires, it’s no surprise US-Iran truce is fraying

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

Can Iran’s small, fast-attack boats challenge US naval blockade of Hormuz?

Amazon bets on Shenzhen smart warehouse to cut storage costs by 45 per cent

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

Lightelligence on track with IPO plans as China’s AI photonics race gathers pace

Shanghai-based company aims to become Hong Kong’s first listed AI photonics chipmaker as AI infrastructure buildout drives momentum.

Brazil blacklists BYD, some foreign brands may exit China: 7 EV reads

From Telsa regaining world’s top spot to Chinese carmakers gaining rapid ground in Europe, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Chinese robotics firms focus on quadrupeds as major revenue drivers

The newly established AgiQuad, a separate subsidiary under Shanghai-based AgiBot, is targeting US$73 million in revenue this year.

Why the US may need more than just fixing gaps to rival China on rare earths

Washington’s mining ambitions may be complicated by the erosion of industrial know-how and a weak education pipeline, experts say.

Vocational schools a new front as China backs businesses’ global expansion

Earlier programmes focused on infrastructure, but new wave is shaped by demand in e-commerce, digital services and advanced manufacturing.

The US could be moving away from precision strikes in the Iran war. Here’s why

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Exclusive | Jockey Club to channel HK$1 billion basketball betting investment into football

Opinion | Given history of ceasefires, it’s no surprise US-Iran truce is fraying