Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Shortages are expected to hit advanced nodes that rely on extreme ultraviolet lithography the hardest. Photo: EPA

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.

45 minutes ago

Precision strike: China targets US, Japan stranglehold on photoresist supply

Semiconductors

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.

2 hours 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.

1 hour agovideocam

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.

1 minute ago

Infographic

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

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.

5 hours agovideocam

An American report estimates that the US used about half of its THAAD missiles in the 39 days of its war on Iran before the ceasefire. Photo: AP

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.

4 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.

2 hours 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

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.

6 hours ago

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

Diplomacy

As US-Iran war chokes Hormuz, can ‘Middle Corridor’ rise to the rescue?

Logistics route via Central Asia, South Caucasus, Caspian Sea and Turkey said to be ‘experiencing massive operational momentum’.

3 hours agovideocam

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.

3 hours ago

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.

8 minutes agovideocam

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

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 minutes ago

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

Tech

Beijing sounds alarm over urgent need to clean up online ads

Market watchdog flags AI abuse and traffic-driven tactics as it launches first campaign to overhaul online advertising.

2 hours ago

Science

Defects – not jumping tourists – caused deadly Xinjiang bridge collapse: report

‘Wholly man-made disaster’ that killed five at popular scenic area last year blamed on construction and management failures.

2 hours ago

Europe

EU approves US$106 billion loan to Ukraine after Hungary lifts veto

The loan will help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for the next two years.

2 hours agovideocam

A man in military uniform sits near a makeshift memorial dedicated to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers and international volunteers in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 20, 2026. Photo: EPA

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’.

3 hours ago

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

Tech

Chinese economist Fu Peng hails crypto’s historic rise as he joins Bitfire

The crypto asset management firm acquires a trading system and hires a team of 20 people from Avenir Group for US$1.6 million.

4 hours ago

Politics

How the Philippines became Japan’s closest security partner in Southeast Asia

Japan’s participation in the Balikatan drill and its new weapon export rules are set to further defence ties between the two countries.

3 hours ago

OPINION

Burak Elmali

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

3 hours ago

Nicholas Spiro

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

6 hours ago

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

Letters

Letters | If energy crisis drags on, Hong Kong may need to rely on conservation

23 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

Harry’s View | 23 Apr 2026

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Hong Kong

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Diplomacy

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

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China Economy

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

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Football

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Tech

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

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United States & Canada

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

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Video | AirAsia passenger loses temper, delays flight after crew couldn’t speak Mandarin

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United States & Canada

US reclassifies certain marijuana products as a less-dangerous drug

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

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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.

2 hours agovideocam

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.

3 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.

6 hours ago

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

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.

Precision strike: China targets US, Japan stranglehold on photoresist supply

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.

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.

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.

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

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.

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

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.

.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.

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.

As US-Iran war chokes Hormuz, can ‘Middle Corridor’ rise to the rescue?

Logistics route via Central Asia, South Caucasus, Caspian Sea and Turkey said to be ‘experiencing massive operational momentum’.

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.

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.

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.

Beijing sounds alarm over urgent need to clean up online ads

Market watchdog flags AI abuse and traffic-driven tactics as it launches first campaign to overhaul online advertising.

Defects – not jumping tourists – caused deadly Xinjiang bridge collapse: report

‘Wholly man-made disaster’ that killed five at popular scenic area last year blamed on construction and management failures.

EU approves US$106 billion loan to Ukraine after Hungary lifts veto

The loan will help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for the next two years.

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’.

Chinese economist Fu Peng hails crypto’s historic rise as he joins Bitfire

The crypto asset management firm acquires a trading system and hires a team of 20 people from Avenir Group for US$1.6 million.

How the Philippines became Japan’s closest security partner in Southeast Asia

Japan’s participation in the Balikatan drill and its new weapon export rules are set to further defence ties between the two countries.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}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

Letters | If energy crisis drags on, Hong Kong may need to rely on conservation

Hong Kong star Ceci Lee eyeing more World Cup glory days after heavy crash

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

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

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

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

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

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | AirAsia passenger loses temper, delays flight after crew couldn’t speak Mandarin

US reclassifies certain marijuana products as a less-dangerous drug

Beijing sounds alarm over urgent need to clean up online ads

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

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

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

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

Video | AirAsia passenger loses temper, delays flight after crew couldn’t speak Mandarin