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Chinese trade received a significant boost from the technology sector in April. Photo: Shutterstock Images

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

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US first lady Melania Trump’s life in the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration has been documented in the film Melania. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

‘Frogs in a well’: Chinese diplomat slams Europe’s ‘outdated’ approach to China

Foreign ministry’s European Affairs chief warns about pitfalls of protectionism, says Beijing ready to address Brussels’ concerns.

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Wang Fuk Court administrator outlines HK$127 million refund for displaced owners

Residents express dissatisfaction as administrator says HK$180 million in renovation levies have been paid, with remaining funds set aside for refunds.

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International

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

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Policy

Ex-adviser urges China to tackle inequality with higher taxes on ultra-rich

Raising taxes on assets, incomes of high earners will add to state revenues and incentivise protecting property rights, economist says.

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China should tax the ultra-rich’s property and income streams to align government incentives with protecting property rights and stabilising expectations, a prominent economist has said. Photo: Reuters

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Musk joins Trump’s Beijing delegation as a ‘natural bridge’ for trade

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China backs Hong Kong courts, ignores calls to free Jimmy Lai ahead of Trump visit

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Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa shows his bandaged fingers during a session at the Senate in Metro Manila on Tuesday, a day after he evaded an ICC arrest warrant. Photo: EPA

Tech Trends

Unitree debuts US$574,000 ‘mecha’ robot that ‘transforms’ from 2 legs to 4

The GD01 expands the Hangzhou-based company’s portfolio at a time when Chinese manufacturers are significantly outstripping their US rivals.

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The Unitree GD01 ‘mecha’ robot seen in bipedal mode. Photo: Handout

The Unitree GD01 ‘mecha’ robot seen in four legged mode. Photo: Handout

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Trump’s China visit opens door to ‘casual’ networking between business chiefs

Sources say Beijing’s exclusive Capital Club has been reserved for networking opportunities in a ‘less formal’ setting during state visit.

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Record gold ETF inflows lift Hong Kong’s global trading hub bid

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Gold prices have risen more than 6 per cent this year, after gaining 64 per cent in 2025. Photo: EPA

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Spain reports new hantavirus case as outbreak grows to 11

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Members of the media gather in front of the entrance to the Gomez Ulloa Hospital in Madrid on Tuesday, where Spanish passengers from the MV Hondius cruise have been taken for quarantine. Photo: EPA

Tech Trends

JD.com reports 53% decline in first-quarter profit to US$750m

The subdued results came after the firm reported its first quarterly loss in the fourth quarter last year amid an ongoing price war.

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United States & Canada

US consumer inflation jumps as Iran war sends energy prices higher

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OPINION

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China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

Huawei’s chip research gains attention ahead of Trump visit to China

Why Trump’s visit to Beijing has Taiwan on edge about US arms sales

Taipei fears US leader’s transactional approach to diplomacy could turn the island into a bargaining chip for a broader Sino-American deal.

Trump’s cadre of CEOs hunts for wins in China, from soybeans to semiconductors

Corporate leaders join this week’s state visit, with a diverse group eyeing market access and stability amid frictions.

In a bind over rare earths, Europe watches US-China tussle from the sidelines

As Xi Jinping and Donald Trump prepare to meet in Beijing, one European diplomat says the bloc is aware ‘we have little leverage here’.

Handshakes of history: when Chinese and US leaders meet - an infographic

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Melania, Rush Hour director returns to China with Trump’s delegation

Sources close to the filmmaker say he will be working on preparations for latest sequel of Rush Hour action-comedy franchise.

‘Frogs in a well’: Chinese diplomat slams Europe’s ‘outdated’ approach to China

Foreign ministry’s European Affairs chief warns about pitfalls of protectionism, says Beijing ready to address Brussels’ concerns.

Wang Fuk Court administrator outlines HK$127 million refund for displaced owners

Residents express dissatisfaction as administrator says HK$180 million in renovation levies have been paid, with remaining funds set aside for refunds.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

Ex-adviser urges China to tackle inequality with higher taxes on ultra-rich

Raising taxes on assets, incomes of high earners will add to state revenues and incentivise protecting property rights, economist says.

Musk joins Trump’s Beijing delegation as a ‘natural bridge’ for trade

Gigafactory stakes and a push for self-driving software approval cast the billionaire as a key US envoy while seemingly sealing a reconciliation with Trump.

China backs Hong Kong courts, ignores calls to free Jimmy Lai ahead of Trump visit

Beijing reaffirms support for Hong Kong judiciary as foreign ministry calls former media boss ‘principal mastermind’ of 2019 anti-government protests.

‘Accountability is coming’: dela Rosa flight piles pressure on Duterte camp

Dela Rosa evading the ICC arrest and the Senate leadership coup could mark a turning point for a Duterte camp under siege, analysts say.

Unitree debuts US$574,000 ‘mecha’ robot that ‘transforms’ from 2 legs to 4

The GD01 expands the Hangzhou-based company’s portfolio at a time when Chinese manufacturers are significantly outstripping their US rivals.

German firms in China more optimistic despite Iran war, trade headwinds: survey

Expectations for growth, profits and investment are all up, despite geopolitical turbulence.

Trump’s China visit opens door to ‘casual’ networking between business chiefs

Sources say Beijing’s exclusive Capital Club has been reserved for networking opportunities in a ‘less formal’ setting during state visit.

Record gold ETF inflows lift Hong Kong’s global trading hub bid

As investors hedge against global risks, Hong Kong’s gold ETF inflows reinforce its emergence as a key trading centre.

Spain reports new hantavirus case as outbreak grows to 11

World Health Organization chief says there is currently ‘no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak’.

JD.com reports 53% decline in first-quarter profit to US$750m

The subdued results came after the firm reported its first quarterly loss in the fourth quarter last year amid an ongoing price war.

US consumer inflation jumps as Iran war sends energy prices higher

Inflation had been dropping more or less steadily since peaking with a 9.1 per cent year-over-year spike in prices in June 2022.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Opposing Taiwan independence is in America’s own interest

Opinion | Trump has few cards to play against Iran and in China

Opinion | The best of Hong Kong as a cultural hub is yet to come

Opinion | Just because Brics isn’t a coherent bloc doesn’t mean it’s impotent

Letters | China’s message to Trump is clear: red line of Taiwan must be respected

Man dies after suspected fall from Hong Kong’s Spiral Lookout Tower

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

Wang Fuk Court administrator outlines HK$127 million refund for displaced owners

‘Frogs in a well’: Chinese diplomat slams Europe’s ‘outdated’ approach to China

Top Swedish universities eager to forge ties with city, Hong Kong minister says

Why Trump’s visit to Beijing has Taiwan on edge about US arms sales

Pegula putting family experience in NFL, NHL to use in tennis prize money fight

Tencent wins conditional antitrust approval for US$2.4b Ximalaya acquisition

US consumer inflation jumps as Iran war sends energy prices higher

SCMP Best Bets: Ace War can lead the pack at Happy Valley

Exclusive | Melania, Rush Hour director returns to China with Trump’s delegation

Sources close to the filmmaker say he will be working on preparations for latest sequel of Rush Hour action-comedy franchise.

Trump’s China visit opens door to ‘casual’ networking between business chiefs

Why is Beijing on a stronger footing to discuss Taiwan with Trump this time?

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

China’s AI ascent leaves Trump a stark choice: escalate or relax chip controls?

Beijing and Washington are locked in an era-defining contest – and China’s rapid technological progress raises questions about limits of containment.

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

Musk joins Trump’s Beijing delegation as a ‘natural bridge’ for trade

Gigafactory stakes and a push for self-driving software approval cast the billionaire as a key US envoy while seemingly sealing a reconciliation with Trump.

China’s Hengrui seals US$15.2 billion deal with US pharmaceutical giant BMS

Company’s shares jump in Hong Kong and Shenzhen after tie-up that bolsters China’s growing drug innovation profile.

Latest US-China rivalry combines undersea dominance with a race to riches

Ahead of leaders’ summit in Beijing next week, experts point to a high-stakes competition that features military and mining technologies.

Why US commercial stakes are ‘too high for Trump to ignore’ on China visit

After the US$37 billion, 300-plane deal from Trump’s last visit stalled, industry observers say the next one could be more flexible.

Will warming Arctic trigger further chill in US-China relations?

Exclusive | Melania, Rush Hour director returns to China with Trump’s delegation

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Opinion | Opposing Taiwan independence is in America’s own interest