Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

A J-35A stealth fighter at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Can China find a market for its fifth-generation J-35 warplanes?

Analysts are uncertain how much demand there will be for the fighter in the face of competition from the US F-35 or cheaper alternatives.

30 minutes agovideocam

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey and South Korea in Riyadh

China's military weapons

Big Tech

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and MiniMax are among the firms now actively recruiting fresh talent in the US.

1 hour ago

Science

EU bans Chinese organisations from critical tech programmes, including AI, chips

Chinese space scientist Wu Ji doubts the policy will hurt China much and may instead ‘make Europe appear more isolated’.

58 minutes agovideocam

Health & Environment

Calls for better supervision of Hong Kong’s campsites after areas inundated

While authorities have stepped up patrols in recent days, improvements in public education and limits on crowds needed, campers and hikers say.

27 minutes ago

US-China relations

US President Donald Trump will be visiting China from March 31 to April 2, his first such trip since returning to office last year. Photo: dpa

Is China’s Xi set to host a weakened Trump after tariffs setback in US court?

Global Economy

As high-speed railways saturate China, how far can their global reach extend?

As Chinese giants eye Eurasia for new infrastructure, analysts speculate on what it will take to keep overseas projects from going off the rails in different host nations.

6 hours agovideocam

A high-speed train leaves Tegalluar Station, located along the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia. Photo: Xinhua

Big Tech

Why China’s tech giants cannot afford to lose the global AI race

AI rivalry is challenging the traditional strategies of China’s ‘big tech’ firms and how they have monetised their products in the past.

21 Feb 2026 - 11:05AM

Economics

Views of corruption in Philippines worsen as ‘grease money’ dents confidence

A global index on corruption perceptions shows the Philippines posting its lowest ranking since 2012.

5 hours ago

Education

Academic innovation can help budding entrepreneurs overcome future challenges

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s 20-year evolution ensures it meets world’s fast-changing technological, industrial and societal needs.

In partnership with:

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Diplomacy

Date set for US President Donald Trump’s trip to China

Trump’s visit will begin on March 31 and be the first to the country since taking office for a second time.

54 minutes agovideocam

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping greet each other during their October 2025 summit in Busan, South Korea. Trump will be visiting China from March 31. Photo: AFP

Society

Hong Kong to spend HK$6.8 billion buying back fire-ravaged Tai Po flats

Deputy financial secretary says government offering HK$8,000 to HK$10,500 per square foot and will draw HK$4 billion from public funds.

46 minutes ago

China Business

From AI to aerospace: China meme rocket shares take off in race with US

Investors scramble for opportunities to maintain market momentum after the AI frenzy shows signs of losing steam.

21 Feb 2026 - 9:30AM

Science

How China’s Yangtze River fishing ban is also helping finless porpoise recover

Restoration and sustainable aquaculture project held up as model for other major river systems such as the Mekong and Amazon.

21 Feb 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Overall fish biomass in the Yangtze River has risen by 209 per cent compared with pre-2021 levels, while species richness increased by 13 per cent, a study has found. Photo: Xinhua

Lifestyle & Culture

Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life

Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status.

21 Feb 2026 - 3:00PM

Archaeologists at work in Tilaurakot, Lumbini, Nepal. Photo: Department of Archaeology, Nepal

Hong Kong Economy

New US 10% global tariff will have ‘limited impact’ on Hong Kong: treasury chief

Christopher Hui cites city’s service-dominated economy as buffer and says US move highlights Hong Kong’s safe haven status.

3 hours ago

Politics

Will Thailand’s election be voided? Bar code blunder sparks ballot secrecy fears

With counting errors forcing revotes this Sunday, the reformist opposition is seizing on irregularities to demand a fresh election.

21 Feb 2026 - 1:59PM

South Asia

India, Brazil sign rare earths deal to build ‘resilient supply chains’

With China holding a near-monopoly on rare earths production, India and other countries are seeking alternative sources.

1 hour ago

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: EPA

Europe

UK to consider removing ex-prince Andrew from royal line of succession

Police, meanwhile, are urging Andrew’s former protection officers to come forward with any allegations of Epstein-related sex offences.

21 Feb 2026 - 1:33PMvideocam

Newspapers featuring coverage of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are displayed at a newsagent in Egham near Windsor on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

Trump lashes out at US Supreme Court, rolls out new 10% global tariffs

Decision threatens administration’s trade agenda; casts shadow on Xi-Trump summit as some China tariffs wiped out before Beijing talks.

21 Feb 2026 - 8:27AMvideocam

China Personalities

China cabby drives foreign influencers on 4,000-km trip sees snow for first time

‘Grass roots’ taxi driver experiences host of ‘firsts’ during ‘trip of a lifetime’; pledges to take his family travelling when he has enough money.

6 hours ago

OPINION

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Why the IMF is right to press Japan on its fiscal risks

6 hours ago

Alex Capri

Opinion | Who will save the world from a US-China AI arms race?

21 Feb 2026 - 1:00PM

Lizzi C. Lee

Opinion | How the next China shock is shaping hearts and minds

21 Feb 2026 - 9:30AM

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | As Kim Jong-un grooms daughter to rule, a Chinese princess’s fatal ambition

21 Feb 2026 - 8:15AM

Letters

Letters | Jimmy Lai case verdict and State Council’s white paper send strong message

21 Feb 2026 - 11:30AM

Harry’s View | 21 Feb 2026

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Health & Environment

Calls for better supervision of Hong Kong’s campsites after areas inundated

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Law and Crime

Hong Kong police probe death of man, 60, in fall from bamboo scaffolding

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India, Brazil sign rare earths deal to build ‘resilient supply chains’

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China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

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Year of the Horse 2026

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China Inc. goes global

Customers choose colored glaze snake handicrafts for the coming Chinese New Year, the Year of Snake, in Xiye Colored Glaze Studio in Boshan district, Zibo city, Shandong province, China, on Jan. 9, 2025. With a long history of colored glaze, Boshan is regarded as China’s Hometown of Colored Glaze and has 12 colored glaze enterprises and 65 art studios. (Xinhua)
新华社照片，淄博（山东），2025年1月9日
1月9日，消费者在淄博市博山区西冶工坊展销厅内挑选蛇年主题琉璃工艺品。
春节临近，山东省淄博市博山区的琉璃生产企业推出众多蛇年主题创意琉璃制品，受到市场青睐。博山区被誉为“中国琉璃之乡“，琉璃生产历史悠久，当地已发展琉璃生产企业12家、工作室65个。
新华社记者朱峥摄

SCMP Series Year of the Horse 2026

Year of the Horse 2026 feng shui advice for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs to enjoy good luck

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan shares where each Chinese zodiac sign can place items for good luck in the Year of the Fire Horse.

21 Feb 2026 - 7:15AMvideocam

Feng shui advice for Snakes for luck in money, health and romance

20 Feb 2026 - 7:15AMvideocam

Why do Chinese love water chestnuts? All about the lucky ‘horse’s hoof’

19 Feb 2026 - 11:15AM

Open Questions series

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.

13 Feb 2026 - 9:03AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

9 Feb 2026 - 1:10PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

2 Feb 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

China

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

29 Jan 2026 - 11:50AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

How Chinese AI put a new spin on Winter Olympics action

Chinese tech firms have been using the Milano Cortina Games to showcase their capabilities to a global audience.

20 Feb 2026 - 7:00PM

Figure skater Ilia Malinin, from the United States, competes in the men’s singles free skating team event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on February 8. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and MiniMax are among the firms now actively recruiting fresh talent in the US.

1 hour ago

Big Tech

Why China’s tech giants cannot afford to lose the global AI race

AI rivalry is challenging the traditional strategies of China’s ‘big tech’ firms and how they have monetised their products in the past.

21 Feb 2026 - 11:05AM

AI

China’s extreme 996 work schedule meets US tech’s hustle culture

Why advocates believe 996, the controversial 9am to 9pm, six-day-a-week culture popularised in China, can give American firms decisive edge.

20 Feb 2026 - 11:51PMvideocam

China’s 996 work culture – a schedule of 9am-9pm, six days a week – has become a hot topic for the next generation of tech founders in the United States. However, such military-style management is not for everyone. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong Economy

What’s at stake for Hong Kong as reflected in budget 2026-27?

Analysts are upbeat amid city’s booming IPO sector and thriving financial market, but warn of geopolitical headwinds.

20 Feb 2026 - 8:36AM

Military

Everything we know about China’s mysterious, futuristic Nantianmen Project

Is it a storytelling vehicle for imaginative military hardware, blending science fiction with reality, or is it a glimpse of the future?

17 Feb 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Big Tech

Humanoids go mainstream as China’s robotics champions appear at CCTV spectacle

ByteDance, Unitree, RedNote, Bilibili and Kuaishou among the firms involved in the unparalleled nationwide marketing opportunity.

17 Feb 2026 - 4:46PMvideocam

Military

Will China’s state-backed thriller spill details of little-known spy cases?

‘Scare Out’ depicts leak of PLA jet secrets, and some speculate the plot could be based on true story involving stealth fighter tech.

15 Feb 2026 - 7:00AM

“Scare Out”, directed by Zhang Yimou, will debut in mainland China cinemas on February 17. Photo: Weibo

Can China find a market for its fifth-generation J-35 warplanes?

Analysts are uncertain how much demand there will be for the fighter in the face of competition from the US F-35 or cheaper alternatives.

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey and South Korea in Riyadh

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and MiniMax are among the firms now actively recruiting fresh talent in the US.

EU bans Chinese organisations from critical tech programmes, including AI, chips

Chinese space scientist Wu Ji doubts the policy will hurt China much and may instead ‘make Europe appear more isolated’.

Calls for better supervision of Hong Kong’s campsites after areas inundated

While authorities have stepped up patrols in recent days, improvements in public education and limits on crowds needed, campers and hikers say.

Is China’s Xi set to host a weakened Trump after tariffs setback in US court?

As high-speed railways saturate China, how far can their global reach extend?

As Chinese giants eye Eurasia for new infrastructure, analysts speculate on what it will take to keep overseas projects from going off the rails in different host nations.

Why China’s tech giants cannot afford to lose the global AI race

AI rivalry is challenging the traditional strategies of China’s ‘big tech’ firms and how they have monetised their products in the past.

Views of corruption in Philippines worsen as ‘grease money’ dents confidence

A global index on corruption perceptions shows the Philippines posting its lowest ranking since 2012.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}Academic innovation can help budding entrepreneurs overcome future challenges

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s 20-year evolution ensures it meets world’s fast-changing technological, industrial and societal needs.

Date set for US President Donald Trump’s trip to China

Trump’s visit will begin on March 31 and be the first to the country since taking office for a second time.

Hong Kong to spend HK$6.8 billion buying back fire-ravaged Tai Po flats

Deputy financial secretary says government offering HK$8,000 to HK$10,500 per square foot and will draw HK$4 billion from public funds.

From AI to aerospace: China meme rocket shares take off in race with US

Investors scramble for opportunities to maintain market momentum after the AI frenzy shows signs of losing steam.

How China’s Yangtze River fishing ban is also helping finless porpoise recover

Restoration and sustainable aquaculture project held up as model for other major river systems such as the Mekong and Amazon.

Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life

Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status.

New US 10% global tariff will have ‘limited impact’ on Hong Kong: treasury chief

Christopher Hui cites city’s service-dominated economy as buffer and says US move highlights Hong Kong’s safe haven status.

Will Thailand’s election be voided? Bar code blunder sparks ballot secrecy fears

With counting errors forcing revotes this Sunday, the reformist opposition is seizing on irregularities to demand a fresh election.

India, Brazil sign rare earths deal to build ‘resilient supply chains’

With China holding a near-monopoly on rare earths production, India and other countries are seeking alternative sources.

UK to consider removing ex-prince Andrew from royal line of succession

Police, meanwhile, are urging Andrew’s former protection officers to come forward with any allegations of Epstein-related sex offences.

Trump lashes out at US Supreme Court, rolls out new 10% global tariffs

Decision threatens administration’s trade agenda; casts shadow on Xi-Trump summit as some China tariffs wiped out before Beijing talks.

China cabby drives foreign influencers on 4,000-km trip sees snow for first time

‘Grass roots’ taxi driver experiences host of ‘firsts’ during ‘trip of a lifetime’; pledges to take his family travelling when he has enough money.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Macroscope | Why the IMF is right to press Japan on its fiscal risks

Opinion | Who will save the world from a US-China AI arms race?

Opinion | How the next China shock is shaping hearts and minds

Reflections | As Kim Jong-un grooms daughter to rule, a Chinese princess’s fatal ambition

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Jimmy Lai case verdict and State Council’s white paper send strong message

Calls for better supervision of Hong Kong’s campsites after areas inundated

Can China find a market for its fifth-generation J-35 warplanes?

SCMP Best Bets: Cool customer the one punters should target at Sha Tin

Hong Kong police probe death of man, 60, in fall from bamboo scaffolding

India, Brazil sign rare earths deal to build ‘resilient supply chains’

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

Year of the Horse 2026 feng shui advice for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs to enjoy good luck

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan shares where each Chinese zodiac sign can place items for good luck in the Year of the Fire Horse.

Feng shui advice for Snakes for luck in money, health and romance

Why do Chinese love water chestnuts? All about the lucky ‘horse’s hoof’

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.

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

How Chinese AI put a new spin on Winter Olympics action

Chinese tech firms have been using the Milano Cortina Games to showcase their capabilities to a global audience.

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and MiniMax are among the firms now actively recruiting fresh talent in the US.

Why China’s tech giants cannot afford to lose the global AI race

AI rivalry is challenging the traditional strategies of China’s ‘big tech’ firms and how they have monetised their products in the past.

China’s extreme 996 work schedule meets US tech’s hustle culture

Why advocates believe 996, the controversial 9am to 9pm, six-day-a-week culture popularised in China, can give American firms decisive edge.

What’s at stake for Hong Kong as reflected in budget 2026-27?

Analysts are upbeat amid city’s booming IPO sector and thriving financial market, but warn of geopolitical headwinds.

Everything we know about China’s mysterious, futuristic Nantianmen Project

Is it a storytelling vehicle for imaginative military hardware, blending science fiction with reality, or is it a glimpse of the future?

Humanoids go mainstream as China’s robotics champions appear at CCTV spectacle

ByteDance, Unitree, RedNote, Bilibili and Kuaishou among the firms involved in the unparalleled nationwide marketing opportunity.

Will China’s state-backed thriller spill details of little-known spy cases?

‘Scare Out’ depicts leak of PLA jet secrets, and some speculate the plot could be based on true story involving stealth fighter tech.

Academic innovation can help budding entrepreneurs overcome future challenges

Macroscope | Why the IMF is right to press Japan on its fiscal risks

Letters | Jimmy Lai case verdict and State Council’s white paper send strong message