Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Major General Meng Xiangqing (second from left) leaves a special session at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

China dials down rhetoric but regional risks persist at Shangri-La Dialogue

In the wake of the Xi-Trump summit, the US and Chinese delegations dispense with the tough talk of previous years.

30 May 2026 - 10:35PMvideocam

How US defence chief Hegseth softened tone towards China after Xi-Trump meeting

US-China relations

Diplomacy

US agency goes back to the future to take on China’s Belt and Road Initiative

The US International Development Finance Corp mixes national security and foreign investment in its supply chain quest.

30 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

China Economy

AI has a ‘black box’ problem. China wants to make it more transparent

The initiative underscores Beijing’s growing focus on AI governance, as concerns grow over algorithm bias and data security.

30 May 2026 - 6:00PM

Hong Kong Economy

Beijing to release Hong Kong yacht policy with mainland port details next month

State Council revamps maritime policies, exempting Hong Kong and Macau yachts from customs guarantees and simplifying registration in Greater Bay Area.

6 hours ago

Shangri-La Dialogue

‘Clear-eyed’ on China: the takeaways from Pete Hegseth’s Shangri-La speech

Science

Chinese archaeologist who discovered 5,000-year-old city pleads guilty to corruption

Liu Bin, former Zhejiang University professor who discovered the Liangzhu ruins, admits taking bribes and embezzlement.

30 May 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Chinese archaeologist Liu Bin, who discovered a 5,000-year-old vast prehistoric city that rewrote the history of Chinese civilisation, has pleaded guilty to taking bribes and embezzlement. Photo: Caixin

China Economy

More Chinese provinces and cities add holidays in bid to spur consumption

Central government has added 5 days of public holidays this year, and local administrations are extending spring and autumn school breaks.

30 May 2026 - 4:00PM

Military

How US defence chief Hegseth softened tone towards China after Xi-Trump meeting

In contrast with last year, his speech to the Shangri-La forum avoided sensitive issues and did not directly describe Beijing as a ‘threat’.

30 May 2026 - 6:44PMvideocam

Business

How Changan Automobile’s design-driven brand strategy shapes its global expansion plans

Klaus Zyciora, vice-president of the Chinese carmaker, says its innovative, smart, low-carbon vehicles can entice customers around the world.

In partnership with:

Changan Automobile

Politics

Sustained security can’t come from ‘barrel of a gun’: East Timor’s Ramos-Horta

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, the East Timor president cites Asean as an example of how communication can prevent conflict and yield dividends.

30 May 2026 - 10:27PMvideocam

Jose Ramos-Horta, president of East Timor, speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Russia & Central Asia

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Kyiv denies being behind the attack, calling the Russian claims ‘yet another propaganda ploy’.

14 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Trump to headline Freedom 250 event after musicians pull out

The US president floated the idea of holding a rally instead of concerts, calling himself the No 1 attraction and a bigger draw than Elvis.

1 hour ago

Society

Inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con draws massive crowds and global vendors

Pop culture enthusiasts pack exhibition floor, driving optimism among international exhibitors for three-day event.

6 hours ago

A Dragon Ball statue dominates the floor at Hong Kong Comic Con at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong must remove bottlenecks to grow yacht economy, industry leaders say

Call comes after Beijing eases restrictions on yachts from Hong Kong and Macau entering mainland cities in Greater Bay Area.

30 May 2026 - 11:01PM

Yacht berths at Pak Sha Wan in Sai Kung. From next month, the Hong Kong government will allow yachts to anchor at designated waters without reserving a berth at private clubs or piers. Photo: Dickson Lee

Politics

17 nations launch pact to protect vital undersea cables amid US, China absence

Singapore’s defence chief tells the Shangri-La Dialogue the pact aims to explore potential areas of collaboration and share best practices.

30 May 2026 - 6:16PM

Military

Shangri-La Dialogue: Hegseth on China challenges, allies’ role – as it happened

Speech is expected to give first indication of American policy direction in the Indo-Pacific since the Trump-Xi summit two weeks ago.

30 May 2026 - 10:57AM

Transport

Scheme allowing Hong Kong drivers to enter Guangdong province extended to 2031

Mainland Chinese authorities announce five-year extension of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme for private cars.

30 May 2026 - 7:37PM

According to mainland Chinese authorities, the number of cross-border trips made by single-plate vehicles from Hong Kong and Macau via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge has surpassed 10 million. Photo: Eugene Lee

People

5 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave freed after 10-day ordeal

The men emerged weak and dazed to an outpouring of emotion from rescuers and relatives on the muddy topside. Two others remain missing.

30 May 2026 - 7:00PM

Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi with the first survivor rescued from a flooded cave network in Xaysomboun province, central Laos, on Saturday. Photo: Josh Richards/dpa

Politics

US senator warns of Indo-Pacific risks as Hegseth stresses ‘quiet’ tactics

Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that the US remained committed to the region as Duckworth criticised his policy and burden-sharing demands.

30 May 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

Science

Chinese scientists create ‘kill-them-all’ algorithm for drone warfare

Smart web identifies objects as friend, foe or terrain, meaning drone swarms can hunt even when communication is jammed and vision blocked.

30 May 2026 - 12:18PMvideocam

LATEST

14 minutes ago

Russia & Central Asia

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

16 minutes ago

Hong Kong Opinion

Opinion | Hong Kong’s old buildings: 5 lessons for urban renewal

4 hours ago

United States & Canada

Trump to headline Freedom 250 event after musicians pull out

6 hours ago

Opinion

My Take | World Cup ticket prices are showing the ugly side of the beautiful game

6 hours ago

Society

Inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con draws massive crowds and global vendors

6 hours ago

China

UFC Fight Night: Song raises spirits on bad night for Chinese fighters in Macau

30 May 2026 - 10:25PM

Politics

Sustained security can’t come from ‘barrel of a gun’: East Timor’s Ramos-Horta

30 May 2026 - 10:19PM

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong must remove bottlenecks to grow yacht economy, industry leaders say

30 May 2026 - 9:55PM

Hong Kong

Teenager Kwong rewrites women’s record books with historic javelin throw

30 May 2026 - 9:45PM

Racing

SCMP Best Bets: Blizzard can storm to victory for punters at Sha Tin

MORE LATEST NEWS

SCMP Series

Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

US-Israel war on Iran

AI's impact on Hong Kong

US President Donald Trump listening to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last week. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

3-MIN READ

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

3-MIN READvideocam

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

2-MIN READvideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

After Trump’s China trip, political scientist gives his assessment on Taiwan, trade leverage, the Iran war and Beijing’s tensions with Tokyo.

9-MIN READvideocam

Politics

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

12-MIN READ

Politics

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.

17-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

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’.

13-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

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.

3-MIN READ

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

China Economy

AI has a ‘black box’ problem. China wants to make it more transparent

The initiative underscores Beijing’s growing focus on AI governance, as concerns grow over algorithm bias and data security.

2-MIN READ

Tech

‘Arms race’: why investors can’t let go of robotic hand developers in China

Funding blitzes spotlight the dexterous hand sector, which is focused on the toughest component in humanoid hardware.

2-MIN READ

Tech Trends

Is Huawei’s new chip scaling law a true breakthrough, or mere hype?

Company says 3D design can deliver world-beating chips without the best chipmaking gear, rewriting the playbook for China’s tech future.

4-MIN READ

People visit the exhibition area of Huawei at the 10th China-Russia Expo in Harbin, in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, on May 19. Photo: Xinhua

Science

How Chinese green tech and investment are reshaping the Central Asian landscape

As the belt and road pivots towards clean energy, Kazakhstan and its neighbours are emerging as top partners for Beijing-backed projects.

6-MIN READvideocam

Diplomacy

A quiet reset in ties is brewing along the China-North Korea border

The resumption of train routes and a spike in overland trade underscore a reset in ties ahead of a reported leaders’ summit.

6-MIN READvideocam

Global Economy

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.

5-MIN READvideocam

Science

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

7-MIN READvideocam

China dials down rhetoric but regional risks persist at Shangri-La Dialogue

In the wake of the Xi-Trump summit, the US and Chinese delegations dispense with the tough talk of previous years.

How US defence chief Hegseth softened tone towards China after Xi-Trump meeting

US agency goes back to the future to take on China’s Belt and Road Initiative

The US International Development Finance Corp mixes national security and foreign investment in its supply chain quest.

AI has a ‘black box’ problem. China wants to make it more transparent

The initiative underscores Beijing’s growing focus on AI governance, as concerns grow over algorithm bias and data security.

Beijing to release Hong Kong yacht policy with mainland port details next month

State Council revamps maritime policies, exempting Hong Kong and Macau yachts from customs guarantees and simplifying registration in Greater Bay Area.

‘Clear-eyed’ on China: the takeaways from Pete Hegseth’s Shangri-La speech

Chinese archaeologist who discovered 5,000-year-old city pleads guilty to corruption

Liu Bin, former Zhejiang University professor who discovered the Liangzhu ruins, admits taking bribes and embezzlement.

More Chinese provinces and cities add holidays in bid to spur consumption

Central government has added 5 days of public holidays this year, and local administrations are extending spring and autumn school breaks.

How US defence chief Hegseth softened tone towards China after Xi-Trump meeting

In contrast with last year, his speech to the Shangri-La forum avoided sensitive issues and did not directly describe Beijing as a ‘threat’.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How Changan Automobile’s design-driven brand strategy shapes its global expansion plans

Klaus Zyciora, vice-president of the Chinese carmaker, says its innovative, smart, low-carbon vehicles can entice customers around the world.

Sustained security can’t come from ‘barrel of a gun’: East Timor’s Ramos-Horta

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, the East Timor president cites Asean as an example of how communication can prevent conflict and yield dividends.

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Kyiv denies being behind the attack, calling the Russian claims ‘yet another propaganda ploy’.

Trump to headline Freedom 250 event after musicians pull out

The US president floated the idea of holding a rally instead of concerts, calling himself the No 1 attraction and a bigger draw than Elvis.

Inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con draws massive crowds and global vendors

Pop culture enthusiasts pack exhibition floor, driving optimism among international exhibitors for three-day event.

Hong Kong must remove bottlenecks to grow yacht economy, industry leaders say

Call comes after Beijing eases restrictions on yachts from Hong Kong and Macau entering mainland cities in Greater Bay Area.

17 nations launch pact to protect vital undersea cables amid US, China absence

Singapore’s defence chief tells the Shangri-La Dialogue the pact aims to explore potential areas of collaboration and share best practices.

Shangri-La Dialogue: Hegseth on China challenges, allies’ role – as it happened

Speech is expected to give first indication of American policy direction in the Indo-Pacific since the Trump-Xi summit two weeks ago.

Scheme allowing Hong Kong drivers to enter Guangdong province extended to 2031

Mainland Chinese authorities announce five-year extension of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme for private cars.

5 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave freed after 10-day ordeal

The men emerged weak and dazed to an outpouring of emotion from rescuers and relatives on the muddy topside. Two others remain missing.

US senator warns of Indo-Pacific risks as Hegseth stresses ‘quiet’ tactics

Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that the US remained committed to the region as Duckworth criticised his policy and burden-sharing demands.

Chinese scientists create ‘kill-them-all’ algorithm for drone warfare

Smart web identifies objects as friend, foe or terrain, meaning drone swarms can hunt even when communication is jammed and vision blocked.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Hong Kong’s old buildings: 5 lessons for urban renewal

My Take | World Cup ticket prices are showing the ugly side of the beautiful game

Macroscope | Why bond yields are going up everywhere

Being Chinese | Once, I was proud of the Shenzhen miracle. Now I’m not so sure

Letters | Hong Kong must not delay making bid-rigging a criminal offence

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Opinion | Hong Kong’s old buildings: 5 lessons for urban renewal

Trump to headline Freedom 250 event after musicians pull out

My Take | World Cup ticket prices are showing the ugly side of the beautiful game

Inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con draws massive crowds and global vendors

UFC Fight Night: Song raises spirits on bad night for Chinese fighters in Macau

Sustained security can’t come from ‘barrel of a gun’: East Timor’s Ramos-Horta

Hong Kong must remove bottlenecks to grow yacht economy, industry leaders say

Teenager Kwong rewrites women’s record books with historic javelin throw

SCMP Best Bets: Blizzard can storm to victory for punters at Sha Tin

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

After Trump’s China trip, political scientist gives his assessment on Taiwan, trade leverage, the Iran war and Beijing’s tensions with Tokyo.

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

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’.

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.

AI has a ‘black box’ problem. China wants to make it more transparent

The initiative underscores Beijing’s growing focus on AI governance, as concerns grow over algorithm bias and data security.

‘Arms race’: why investors can’t let go of robotic hand developers in China

Funding blitzes spotlight the dexterous hand sector, which is focused on the toughest component in humanoid hardware.

Is Huawei’s new chip scaling law a true breakthrough, or mere hype?

Company says 3D design can deliver world-beating chips without the best chipmaking gear, rewriting the playbook for China’s tech future.

How Chinese green tech and investment are reshaping the Central Asian landscape

As the belt and road pivots towards clean energy, Kazakhstan and its neighbours are emerging as top partners for Beijing-backed projects.

A quiet reset in ties is brewing along the China-North Korea border

The resumption of train routes and a spike in overland trade underscore a reset in ties ahead of a reported leaders’ summit.

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

How Changan Automobile’s design-driven brand strategy shapes its global expansion plans

Opinion | Hong Kong’s old buildings: 5 lessons for urban renewal

Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says