Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

The liquefied natural gas tanker LNG Jia Xing passes through the Strait of Malacca, a route for most of China’s maritime trade and energy imports. Photo: EPA

Why China should be wary of US focus on global maritime chokepoints

The Iran war reflects Washington’s greater emphasis on implementing its maritime security strategy, analyst says.

32 minutes agovideocam

Iran latest: Trump has ‘no time frame’ to end war as world waits for peace talks

US-China relations

Diplomacy

Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit

Republican senator to lead bipartisan delegation to China next week; visit will begin on May 1, with stops planned in Shanghai and Beijing.

14 minutes agovideocam

Diplomacy

Is the US in decline? Why Iran war might be the surest sign

In going from international rule-maker to ‘predatory hegemon’, the US is risking it all, Chinese state media and observers warn.

6 hours agovideocam

Education

All Hong Kong public universities make Asian league table top 100 for first time

HKU and CUHK retain places in the top 10, while the Education University of Hong Kong and Lingnan University make their debut on the list.

23 Apr 2026 - 9:02PM

Infographic

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

US

Trump says Navy will ‘shoot and kill’ boats laying mines in Strait of Hormuz

Order targets small craft as tensions persist; Pentagon warns clearing advanced mines could take months, raising energy concerns.

4 hours agovideocam

A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks

The US president says he sees ‘great chance’ of a peace deal between the two countries this year.

48 minutes agovideocam

Politics

China must ‘strengthen education’ of Tibetan Buddhists, Beijing official says

On inspection tour, Li Ganjie urges local authorities to promote new ‘unity’ law to ethnic minority groups.

23 Apr 2026 - 9:38PMvideocam

Tech

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

In partnership with:

Huawei

Middle East

Iran’s exiled crown prince splashed with red substance in Berlin

Reza Pahlavi targeted while leaving a press conference where he said diplomacy with Iran ‘has been given enough chance’.

23 Apr 2026 - 8:21PM

Reza Pahlavi after he was splattered with that appears to be tomato juice or sauce. Photo: dpa

Diplomacy

Exclusive | China’s Russia ties mean EU trade deal is off the table, Finland says

Tough talk from foreign minister shows the nation could provide a de facto veto on China’s efforts to launch a deal.

23 Apr 2026 - 7:20PMvideocam

Tech

Asia’s chipmakers feel the heat as naphtha crunch hits photoresist supply

Japanese suppliers warn of photoresist strain as upstream shocks ripple through Asia’s semiconductor supply chain.

23 Apr 2026 - 10:17PM

United States & Canada

Trump says King Charles’ visit could ‘absolutely’ repair US-UK ties

Tensions between the two countries have flared over the Iran war and scandals involving late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

5 hours ago

Britain’s King Charles (left) speaks with US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle in September 2025. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Millions of Americans may now also be considered Canadian under new law

Under the new law, descendants of Canadians are considered citizens, but they must provide proof to obtain a certificate of citizenship.

23 Apr 2026 - 10:54PMvideocam

The US and Canada flags flutter next to the Blue Water Bridge border crossing in Point Edward, Ontario. Photo: AFP

Military

Chinese military experts take stock of US munitions weak spot exposed by Iran war

Think tank warns that weapons shortfalls could leave American forces vulnerable in a future conflict – and Chinese observers agree.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

China Economy

Beijing’s emphasis on security weighing on US firms’ optimism: AmCham China

White paper recognises improvements and incremental advances, but says data security rules a concern.

23 Apr 2026 - 11:01PM

Europe

‘Free Timmy!’: beached whale grips and divides Germany

An initial wave of sympathy has tipped into public anger, spurring elaborate rescue plans, conspiracy theories and death threats.

5 hours ago

The humpback whale moves its fin as it lies stranded on a sandbank in the shallow waters off the Baltic Sea on the island of Poel on April 17. Photo: Reuters

Football

Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy’s idea they should replace Iran at World Cup

Italian minister says such a move is ‘shameful’ while media says envoy Paolo Zampolli made same suggestion four years ago ahead ⁠of Qatar.

23 Apr 2026 - 11:14PM

From left, Italy’s Gianluca Mancini, Pio Esposito, Marco Palestra, Leonardo Spinazzola and Federico Gatti after losing out to Bosnia Herzegovina in the final World Cup qualifier last month. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Warner Bros investors back US$110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance

Attention now turns to regulatory authorities, with both Washington and London expected to examine the merger’s impact on competition.

6 hours ago

China Business

China’s premium EVs mount tech-powered challenge to BMW, Mercedes-Benz at expo

10-day show in Beijing, the world’s largest, to feature 1,451 models and exhibition area of 380,000 square metres.

23 Apr 2026 - 5:00PM

OPINION

Zohaib Altaf

Opinion | Flexible dual-use claims could be new global trade chokepoint

1 hour ago

Burak Elmali

Opinion | China can offer Gulf states more than just a security umbrella

23 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM

Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | Why fixing Japan’s monetary policy isn’t getting any easier

23 Apr 2026 - 5:20PM

Ken Ip

Opinion | Hong Kong’s education hub cannot be a one-market wonder

23 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Kun Tian

Opinion | Hong Kong’s stablecoin roll-out puts banks at the centre of digital money

23 Apr 2026 - 8:26AM

Harry’s View | 24 Apr 2026

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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

Diplomacy

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.

20 Apr 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

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

Key Industries:

Tech

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

22 Apr 2026 - 11:20PM

Starting this year, models from Chinese companies have intermittently ranked among the global top tier in token usage. Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

China Economy

China targets greener AI data centres, heavy industry to meet 2030 climate goals

New emission rules for strategic sectors come as the Iran war reinforces the need for energy security.

23 Apr 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Tech Trends

Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

Following the Mythos announcement on April 7, shares of major Chinese cybersecurity firms rose for several consecutive days.

23 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

China Business

China’s premium EVs mount tech-powered challenge to BMW, Mercedes-Benz at expo

10-day show in Beijing, the world’s largest, to feature 1,451 models and exhibition area of 380,000 square metres.

23 Apr 2026 - 5:00PM

A worker puts the finishing touches on the China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of Auto China 2026. Photo: AFP

China Economy

How a Chinese plastics hub shapes Tesla’s supply chain – and moulds the modern world

From car components to keyboards, this little-known industrial district in eastern China is crafting the small parts the world relies on.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:54AMvideocam

Politics

Trump’s military push confronts US lawmakers and China’s shipbuilding edge

Congressional resistance, war costs and industrial limits could constrain ambitions, even as Beijing expands its naval capacity.

22 Apr 2026 - 12:55AMvideocam

Politics

How China is reinforcing its ‘legal shield’ against foreign pressure

New rules take aim at sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’, and the Strait of Hormuz crisis could provide a high-stakes testing ground.

21 Apr 2026 - 6:46AM

Diplomacy

The rupture: how Europe fell out of love with America

Many believed the transatlantic alliance could weather another term of Trump, but a year and a half on those hopes have largely faded.

19 Apr 2026 - 1:32AMvideocam

Why China should be wary of US focus on global maritime chokepoints

The Iran war reflects Washington’s greater emphasis on implementing its maritime security strategy, analyst says.

Iran latest: Trump has ‘no time frame’ to end war as world waits for peace talks

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit

Republican senator to lead bipartisan delegation to China next week; visit will begin on May 1, with stops planned in Shanghai and Beijing.

Is the US in decline? Why Iran war might be the surest sign

In going from international rule-maker to ‘predatory hegemon’, the US is risking it all, Chinese state media and observers warn.

All Hong Kong public universities make Asian league table top 100 for first time

HKU and CUHK retain places in the top 10, while the Education University of Hong Kong and Lingnan University make their debut on the list.

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

Trump says Navy will ‘shoot and kill’ boats laying mines in Strait of Hormuz

Order targets small craft as tensions persist; Pentagon warns clearing advanced mines could take months, raising energy concerns.

Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks

The US president says he sees ‘great chance’ of a peace deal between the two countries this year.

China must ‘strengthen education’ of Tibetan Buddhists, Beijing official says

On inspection tour, Li Ganjie urges local authorities to promote new ‘unity’ law to ethnic minority groups.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

Iran’s exiled crown prince splashed with red substance in Berlin

Reza Pahlavi targeted while leaving a press conference where he said diplomacy with Iran ‘has been given enough chance’.

Exclusive | China’s Russia ties mean EU trade deal is off the table, Finland says

Tough talk from foreign minister shows the nation could provide a de facto veto on China’s efforts to launch a deal.

Asia’s chipmakers feel the heat as naphtha crunch hits photoresist supply

Japanese suppliers warn of photoresist strain as upstream shocks ripple through Asia’s semiconductor supply chain.

Trump says King Charles’ visit could ‘absolutely’ repair US-UK ties

Tensions between the two countries have flared over the Iran war and scandals involving late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Millions of Americans may now also be considered Canadian under new law

Under the new law, descendants of Canadians are considered citizens, but they must provide proof to obtain a certificate of citizenship.

Chinese military experts take stock of US munitions weak spot exposed by Iran war

Think tank warns that weapons shortfalls could leave American forces vulnerable in a future conflict – and Chinese observers agree.

Beijing’s emphasis on security weighing on US firms’ optimism: AmCham China

White paper recognises improvements and incremental advances, but says data security rules a concern.

‘Free Timmy!’: beached whale grips and divides Germany

An initial wave of sympathy has tipped into public anger, spurring elaborate rescue plans, conspiracy theories and death threats.

Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy’s idea they should replace Iran at World Cup

Italian minister says such a move is ‘shameful’ while media says envoy Paolo Zampolli made same suggestion four years ago ahead ⁠of Qatar.

Warner Bros investors back US$110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance

Attention now turns to regulatory authorities, with both Washington and London expected to examine the merger’s impact on competition.

China’s premium EVs mount tech-powered challenge to BMW, Mercedes-Benz at expo

10-day show in Beijing, the world’s largest, to feature 1,451 models and exhibition area of 380,000 square metres.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Flexible dual-use claims could be new global trade chokepoint

Opinion | China can offer Gulf states more than just a security umbrella

Macroscope | Why fixing Japan’s monetary policy isn’t getting any easier

Opinion | Hong Kong’s education hub cannot be a one-market wonder

Opinion | Hong Kong’s stablecoin roll-out puts banks at the centre of digital money

US soldier charged with using inside info to win US$400,000 bet on Maduro raid

Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit

‘China or India or some other hellhole’: Trump reposts anti-immigrant rant

Why China should be wary of US focus on global maritime chokepoints

Opinion | Flexible dual-use claims could be new global trade chokepoint

How to Style like Kristen Stewart, Sofia Coppola, Nick Jonas and Jeff Goldblum

Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks

Trump says King Charles’ visit could ‘absolutely’ repair US-UK ties

‘Free Timmy!’: beached whale grips and divides Germany

Warner Bros investors back US$110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance

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 | ‘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.

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.

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

China targets greener AI data centres, heavy industry to meet 2030 climate goals

New emission rules for strategic sectors come as the Iran war reinforces the need for energy security.

Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

Following the Mythos announcement on April 7, shares of major Chinese cybersecurity firms rose for several consecutive days.

China’s premium EVs mount tech-powered challenge to BMW, Mercedes-Benz at expo

10-day show in Beijing, the world’s largest, to feature 1,451 models and exhibition area of 380,000 square metres.

How a Chinese plastics hub shapes Tesla’s supply chain – and moulds the modern world

From car components to keyboards, this little-known industrial district in eastern China is crafting the small parts the world relies on.

Trump’s military push confronts US lawmakers and China’s shipbuilding edge

Congressional resistance, war costs and industrial limits could constrain ambitions, even as Beijing expands its naval capacity.

How China is reinforcing its ‘legal shield’ against foreign pressure

Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Opinion | Flexible dual-use claims could be new global trade chokepoint