Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

A feasibility study would look into having Japanese and South Korean shipbuilders supplement the US Navy’s overstretched production lines. Photo: Shutterstock

Pentagon mulls plan to outsource warship design, building to South Korea, Japan

If the proposal goes ahead it will be the first time the US has bought a major surface combatant from a foreign partner since WWII.

10 minutes ago

Trump’s Golden Dome targets China’s ‘hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles’

US military

China Economy

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Rising pension burdens and social security subsidies are also straining public finances – though trends remain uneven, analysts say.

1 hour ago

Diplomacy

‘Diplomatic malpractice’: experts warn of thin agenda ahead of Xi-Trump summit

Former diplomat warns ‘malpractice-like’ lack of preparation for meeting could hollow out potential for productive talks.

1 hour ago

Health & Environment

Hong Kong to block off parts of Sharp Island shore to protect corals over break

Authorities expect 1,000 visitors in the area each day during the coming Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday.

2 hours agovideocam

Tech

The DeepSeek app is seen on a mobile phone screen in Beijing on January 27, 2025. Photo: AFP

China’s DeepSeek prices new V4 AI model at 97% below OpenAI’s GPT-5.5

Diplomacy

Trump’s Golden Dome targets China’s ‘hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles’

US president’s US$185 billion missile defence shield to counter Chinese, Russian missile arsenals, a senior Pentagon official told Congress.

1 hour agovideocam

The Trump administration’s Golden Dome concept is expected to identify incoming projectiles, calculate their trajectories, and deploy interceptor missiles to destroy them mid-flight. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Diplomacy

Trump and Iran trade red lines as Putin enters the diplomatic crossfire

Message via Pakistan outlines terms on nuclear work and Strait of Hormuz, as Moscow signals support and Washington considers next move.

15 minutes agovideocam

Economics

Will Asean’s oil scramble mean Russia builds lasting stronghold in region?

Southeast Asia’s pivot may be for economic reasons, but some analysts warn Moscow could seek to build lasting influence in the region.

11 minutes ago

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

Diplomacy

2 months into the Iran war, who holds the upper hand?

Analysts are divided on who has the most to lose as the conflict drags on.

27 Apr 2026 - 10:08PMvideocam

The war in Iran is dragging on in part because both sides remain confident that time is on their side, according to one analyst. Photo: AFP

Companies

Rolls-Royce boosts China presence with engine maintenance venture

The maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Beijing will be capable of handling up to 250 shop visits per year.

2 hours ago

Middle East

Hezbollah disarmament ‘must happen’, Lebanese minister tells US think tank

Haneen Sayed said in Washington that the process would take time, as the group was a ‘community’, not merely a militant organisation.

28 Apr 2026 - 2:33AMvideocam

Science

Chinese supercomputers help crack mystery of Yellowstone volcanic plumbing

Scientists who started research in the US make breakthrough after returning to China and gaining access to domestic computing power.

27 Apr 2026 - 10:21PMvideocam

The Steamboat Geyser erupts in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Chinese scientists say Yellowstone’s magma channels were not blasted open by magma forcing its way upward, as long believed. Photo: Reuters

Health & Wellness

The 10-minute morning exercise workout that millions of Japanese people do

Over 20 million people in Japan practice a Radio Taiso session at least once a week in a country with one of the highest life expectancies.

2 hours agovideocam

People perform a stretching exercise while listening to a Radio Taiso programme in a public park in Tokyo, Japan, on April 6, 2026. Photo: AP

United States & Canada

Trump demands immediate sacking of TV host Jimmy Kimmel over ‘despicable’ joke

Trump joined his wife Melania in calling for ABC to fire Kimmel after the comedian said the first lady had a ‘glow like an expectant widow’.

6 hours agovideocam

Big Tech

China blocks Meta’s Manus deal after months-long probe, thwarting purchase

Economic planner asks both parties to withdraw from deal for AI firm, in move with wider implications for other start-ups operating overseas.

27 Apr 2026 - 7:35PMvideocam

United States & Canada

‘Looming’ risk of nuclear arms race, UN proliferation meeting hears

With atomic powers at loggerheads over safeguards, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned trust is wearing thin.

4 hours ago

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, left, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday, Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

King Charles arrives in US for trip overshadowed by Iran quarrel and shooting

The state visit, the most consequential of Charles’ reign, marks 250 years since the US declaration of independence from British rule.

2 hours ago

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, right, greet King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House in Washington on Monday. Photo: AFP

China Economy

China outlines new labour protection plan for nation’s 200 million gig workers

The 12-point document pledges stronger protections for gig-economy workforce, which has rapidly grown amid China’s economic slowdown.

27 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

China Business

China’s CATL touts landmark energy-storage order for sodium-ion batteries

Deal for massive grid storage system shows that CATL has ‘overcome all the challenges in mass-producing sodium-ion batteries’, company says.

27 Apr 2026 - 9:52PMvideocam

OPINION

Sophie Wushuang Yi

Opinion | Without diplomacy, deterrence in Asia is a path to escalation

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SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Online privacy guidelines underscore key role of parents and teachers

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Ram Manikkalingam

Opinion | Reopen Strait of Hormuz by reframing Iran’s tolls as reconstruction

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Nicholas Spiro

The View | Asian private wealth an emerging force in property investment

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Harry’s View | 28 Apr 2026

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China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

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Anthropic’s strong anti-China stance has increased the possibility that the US could use Mythos-type models to conduct cyberattacks against China, according to a cybersecurity expert. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

SCMP Series China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

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

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Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

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Open Questions series

China Economy

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

9-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

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Tech Trends

China’s DeepSeek prices new V4 AI model at 97% below OpenAI’s GPT-5.5

DeepSeek’s move aims to attract more enterprise clients, developers and agent-based users, according to an academic.

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Tech Trends

Chinese optical chipmaker’s profit soars 1,153% on strong AI demand

Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology’s profit gain matches its elevenfold share price increase over the past year.

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Tech Trends

Chinese robotaxi firms accelerate global roll-outs as cost edge drives expansion

Pony AI and WeRide harness China’s supply chain strength to cut costs, boost efficiency and scale robotaxi fleets worldwide.

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A Pony AI robotaxi is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show. Photo: DPA

Diplomacy

Why tougher US visa rules for skilled foreign workers may end in ‘brain drain’

Trump administration is targeting several visa categories, including popular H-1B pathway, with bias towards fewer numbers and more revenue.

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Science

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

5-MIN READvideocam

Big Tech

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

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Tech

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

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Pentagon mulls plan to outsource warship design, building to South Korea, Japan

If the proposal goes ahead it will be the first time the US has bought a major surface combatant from a foreign partner since WWII.

Trump’s Golden Dome targets China’s ‘hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles’

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Rising pension burdens and social security subsidies are also straining public finances – though trends remain uneven, analysts say.

‘Diplomatic malpractice’: experts warn of thin agenda ahead of Xi-Trump summit

Former diplomat warns ‘malpractice-like’ lack of preparation for meeting could hollow out potential for productive talks.

Hong Kong to block off parts of Sharp Island shore to protect corals over break

Authorities expect 1,000 visitors in the area each day during the coming Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday.

China’s DeepSeek prices new V4 AI model at 97% below OpenAI’s GPT-5.5

Trump’s Golden Dome targets China’s ‘hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles’

US president’s US$185 billion missile defence shield to counter Chinese, Russian missile arsenals, a senior Pentagon official told Congress.

Trump and Iran trade red lines as Putin enters the diplomatic crossfire

Message via Pakistan outlines terms on nuclear work and Strait of Hormuz, as Moscow signals support and Washington considers next move.

Will Asean’s oil scramble mean Russia builds lasting stronghold in region?

Southeast Asia’s pivot may be for economic reasons, but some analysts warn Moscow could seek to build lasting influence in the region.

.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.

2 months into the Iran war, who holds the upper hand?

Analysts are divided on who has the most to lose as the conflict drags on.

Rolls-Royce boosts China presence with engine maintenance venture

The maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Beijing will be capable of handling up to 250 shop visits per year.

Hezbollah disarmament ‘must happen’, Lebanese minister tells US think tank

Haneen Sayed said in Washington that the process would take time, as the group was a ‘community’, not merely a militant organisation.

Chinese supercomputers help crack mystery of Yellowstone volcanic plumbing

Scientists who started research in the US make breakthrough after returning to China and gaining access to domestic computing power.

The 10-minute morning exercise workout that millions of Japanese people do

Over 20 million people in Japan practice a Radio Taiso session at least once a week in a country with one of the highest life expectancies.

Trump demands immediate sacking of TV host Jimmy Kimmel over ‘despicable’ joke

Trump joined his wife Melania in calling for ABC to fire Kimmel after the comedian said the first lady had a ‘glow like an expectant widow’.

China blocks Meta’s Manus deal after months-long probe, thwarting purchase

Economic planner asks both parties to withdraw from deal for AI firm, in move with wider implications for other start-ups operating overseas.

‘Looming’ risk of nuclear arms race, UN proliferation meeting hears

With atomic powers at loggerheads over safeguards, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned trust is wearing thin.

King Charles arrives in US for trip overshadowed by Iran quarrel and shooting

The state visit, the most consequential of Charles’ reign, marks 250 years since the US declaration of independence from British rule.

China outlines new labour protection plan for nation’s 200 million gig workers

The 12-point document pledges stronger protections for gig-economy workforce, which has rapidly grown amid China’s economic slowdown.

China’s CATL touts landmark energy-storage order for sodium-ion batteries

Deal for massive grid storage system shows that CATL has ‘overcome all the challenges in mass-producing sodium-ion batteries’, company says.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Without diplomacy, deterrence in Asia is a path to escalation

Editorial | Online privacy guidelines underscore key role of parents and teachers

Editorial | New tactic on water seepage can help keep Hong Kong buildings safe

Opinion | Reopen Strait of Hormuz by reframing Iran’s tolls as reconstruction

The View | Asian private wealth an emerging force in property investment

Pentagon mulls plan to outsource warship design, building to South Korea, Japan

China pandas rise from unknown status to palace pets, national symbols, treasures

Will Asean’s oil scramble mean Russia builds lasting stronghold in region?

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Hong Kong foil coach believes World Fencing League ‘positive move’ for sport

Director Jia Ding on reimagining Georges Bizet’s Carmen as a Hong Kong story

Rolls-Royce boosts China presence with engine maintenance venture

Trump’s Golden Dome targets China’s ‘hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles’

Editorial | Online privacy guidelines underscore key role of parents and teachers

The 10-minute morning exercise workout that millions of Japanese people do

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

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

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}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.

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.

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

China’s DeepSeek prices new V4 AI model at 97% below OpenAI’s GPT-5.5

DeepSeek’s move aims to attract more enterprise clients, developers and agent-based users, according to an academic.

Chinese optical chipmaker’s profit soars 1,153% on strong AI demand

Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology’s profit gain matches its elevenfold share price increase over the past year.

Chinese robotaxi firms accelerate global roll-outs as cost edge drives expansion

Pony AI and WeRide harness China’s supply chain strength to cut costs, boost efficiency and scale robotaxi fleets worldwide.

Why tougher US visa rules for skilled foreign workers may end in ‘brain drain’

Trump administration is targeting several visa categories, including popular H-1B pathway, with bias towards fewer numbers and more revenue.

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Opinion | Without diplomacy, deterrence in Asia is a path to escalation

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