Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Last month, BYD sold 100,600 units overseas, 53 per cent of its total. Photo: AFP

Chinese EV makers increasingly reliant on exports as domestic sales decelerate

Top EV makers such as BYD, Great Wall Motor and Chery are selling more cars in overseas markets than at home.

40 minutes ago

China’s EV battery leader CATL to step up use of AI in R&D: founder

Electric & new energy vehicles

Military

Middle powers Canada, South Korea set Arctic course between China-Russia and US

Seoul’s security agreement with Ottawa is also a ‘hedge’ against a transactional Washington, an analyst said.

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China Economy

China pivots to ‘investing in people’ strategy as growth engine switches gears

Premier announces changes in spending priorities, aiming to boost consumption, but doubts remain whether resources will match ambitions.

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Law and Crime

Jimmy Lai will not appeal 20-year sentence after national security trial: source

Legal source confirms 78-year-old Apple Daily founder will not file application to Court of Appeal before standard 28-day deadline.

34 minutes ago

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Beijing has pledged to provide a broader range of financing options to nurture the next generation of strategic industries. Photo: Xinhua

How China’s trillion-yuan plan aims to outpace US curbs and fund new tech giants

World

Woman marries 2 men in Thailand, China’s bamboo-fibre drone: 7 highlights

From a woman marrying two men in Thailand to a bamboo-fibre drone, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

2 hours ago

Dujduan Ketsaro with her two grooms, Roman and Macky. Photo: Facebook

Diplomacy

Trump demands Iran forces surrender or die, wants say on next leader

US president dismisses Khamenei’s son as a ‘lightweight’ and orders Iranian forces to lay down arms or face ‘guaranteed death’.

20 minutes agovideocam

Politics

South Korea uneasy as US weighs moving air defences to Middle East

Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea.

54 minutes agovideocam

Business

How Standard Chartered’s SME Banking helps Hong Kong arts and crafts design firm’s growth

Deepa Jivan, CEO of J.Gordhan & Co, says bank’s tailored financial solutions and expertise give it the agility to navigate global marketplace.

In partnership with:

Standard Chartered

Deepa Jivan is the founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based arts and crafts products company J.Gordhan & Co.

China Economy

Why China is moving away from tax cuts and pushing for reform

Tax revenue is way below peer countries – and Beijing is pushing for change.

4 hours agovideocam

Premier Li Qiang is visible on a screen during the opening session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Tech

China’s BYD looks to make EV charging as fast as filling up with petrol

Company says its new Blade Battery 2.0 can be charged from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in 5 minutes.

3 hours ago

China Business

China bets on AI-manufacturing integration to narrow digital gap with US

Beijing’s new five-year plan calls for digital economy to account for bigger share of GDP, backed by 28 major projects, 5G upgrades and data-focused industrial policy.

6 hours agovideocam

Politics

Can Japan build a ‘China-free’ military? The high price of defying a rival

Tokyo’s bid to boost ‘self-reliance’ may be costly and could take years given China’s dominance in critical materials, analysts say.

5 hours agovideocam

Japanese troops take position during a joint military drill in Funabashi, Chiba prefecture, on January 7. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Iran damage report: who and what has been targeted in US-Israel strikes?

The US says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in less than a week, while Israel says it has hit hundreds of sites across the country.

4 hours ago

A capsized ship at the Konarak Naval Base in Iran. Photo: Vantor via Reuters

Politics

Chinese vice-premier stresses shared duty in Hong Kong’s executive-led governance

Ding Xuexiang calls the executive-led model vital for aligning the city with China’s five-year plan and national integration.

10 minutes ago

Politics

Alarm sounded on mentally disabled women forced into marriage in rural China

CPPCC member Jiang Shengnan calls for crisis intervention centres and reporting hotlines as part of comprehensive prevention mechanism.

4 hours agovideocam

Middle East

US seen as likely responsible for Iran school strike that killed scores

A girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on Saturday during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country.

4 hours agovideocam

Graves for victims of the strike on a school in Minab, Iran. Photo: Iranian Foreign Media Department via Reuters

Society

Hong Kong grants HK$6.15 million to family of firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze

Government grant honours the bravery of Ho Wai-ho, who died during a search and rescue operation at Wang Fuk Court.

1 hour ago

The family of deceased firefighter Ho Wai-ho will receive HK$6.15 million in financial assistance. Photo: Eugene Lee

Politics

Japan weighs military upgrade on Iwo Jima as China deepens Pacific activity

Tokyo is reportedly planning to enhance facilities and station aircraft on the island, and establish a Pacific defence initiative office.

5 hours agovideocam

Hong Kong Economy

‘More dim sum, more often’: Hongkongers cash in as war triggers gold rush

Amid conflict in the Middle East, the number of people buying gold bars and pellets in the city doubled last weekend, industry veteran says.

6 hours ago

OPINION

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Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:24PM

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

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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.

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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.

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Policy

China’s 5-year plan emphasises ‘orderly’ AI development amid market volatility

First announced in 2024, the AI Plus initiative includes a target of integrating AI into 90 per cent of China’s economy by 2030.

5 Mar 2026 - 11:57PMvideocam

People watch as robots perform a dance during Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing on February 18. Photo: Reuters

Tech

China’s BYD looks to make EV charging as fast as filling up with petrol

Company says its new Blade Battery 2.0 can be charged from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in 5 minutes.

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Insilico Medicine advances Middle East push with UAE AI drug discovery deal

Hong Kong-listed biotech firm’s shares jump after announcing partnership to use AI tools in drug discovery in the United Arab Emirates.

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Banking & Finance

China and Hong Kong should relax biotech listing rules, venture capitalist says

Foreign investors are returning to China’s healthcare sector, but IPO bottlenecks and takeover rules could deter deals, VC Nisa Leung says.

5 Mar 2026 - 7:39PM

Biotechnology was explicitly included as a “strategic emerging pillar industry” in China’s government work report during the “two sessions” Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

Takeaways from Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s government work report

Li raises the curtain on the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a series of targets for the economy.

5 Mar 2026 - 4:18PMvideocam

Chinese Premier Li Qiang opens the annual session of the National People’s Congress by delivering the government’s work report. Photo: AFP

Science

Why China’s anti-corruption push in academia is key to its science and tech aims

Ahead of country’s annual ‘two sessions’ meetings, scientists urge more institutionalised and effective mechanisms to curb abuses of power.

5 Mar 2026 - 6:50AMvideocam

China Economy

How China is using its economic clout to give the US dollar a run for its money

Beijing is using economic clout to reshape its global financial influence – a strategy analysts say could play out over decades.

3 Mar 2026 - 10:08AMvideocam

Science

What cost foreign prestige? China says no to some Western science journal fees

Chinese researchers will no longer be reimbursed for paper publication charges in Nature Communications, among other titles.

2 Mar 2026 - 3:15PMvideocam

Chinese researchers accounted for at least a quarter of the more than 10,000 papers published in one leading international journal last year. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese EV makers increasingly reliant on exports as domestic sales decelerate

Top EV makers such as BYD, Great Wall Motor and Chery are selling more cars in overseas markets than at home.

China’s EV battery leader CATL to step up use of AI in R&D: founder

Middle powers Canada, South Korea set Arctic course between China-Russia and US

Seoul’s security agreement with Ottawa is also a ‘hedge’ against a transactional Washington, an analyst said.

China pivots to ‘investing in people’ strategy as growth engine switches gears

Premier announces changes in spending priorities, aiming to boost consumption, but doubts remain whether resources will match ambitions.

Jimmy Lai will not appeal 20-year sentence after national security trial: source

Legal source confirms 78-year-old Apple Daily founder will not file application to Court of Appeal before standard 28-day deadline.

How China’s trillion-yuan plan aims to outpace US curbs and fund new tech giants

Woman marries 2 men in Thailand, China’s bamboo-fibre drone: 7 highlights

From a woman marrying two men in Thailand to a bamboo-fibre drone, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Trump demands Iran forces surrender or die, wants say on next leader

US president dismisses Khamenei’s son as a ‘lightweight’ and orders Iranian forces to lay down arms or face ‘guaranteed death’.

South Korea uneasy as US weighs moving air defences to Middle East

Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How Standard Chartered’s SME Banking helps Hong Kong arts and crafts design firm’s growth

Deepa Jivan, CEO of J.Gordhan & Co, says bank’s tailored financial solutions and expertise give it the agility to navigate global marketplace.

Why China is moving away from tax cuts and pushing for reform

Tax revenue is way below peer countries – and Beijing is pushing for change.

China’s BYD looks to make EV charging as fast as filling up with petrol

Company says its new Blade Battery 2.0 can be charged from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in 5 minutes.

China bets on AI-manufacturing integration to narrow digital gap with US

Beijing’s new five-year plan calls for digital economy to account for bigger share of GDP, backed by 28 major projects, 5G upgrades and data-focused industrial policy.

Can Japan build a ‘China-free’ military? The high price of defying a rival

Tokyo’s bid to boost ‘self-reliance’ may be costly and could take years given China’s dominance in critical materials, analysts say.

Iran damage report: who and what has been targeted in US-Israel strikes?

The US says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in less than a week, while Israel says it has hit hundreds of sites across the country.

Chinese vice-premier stresses shared duty in Hong Kong’s executive-led governance

Ding Xuexiang calls the executive-led model vital for aligning the city with China’s five-year plan and national integration.

Alarm sounded on mentally disabled women forced into marriage in rural China

CPPCC member Jiang Shengnan calls for crisis intervention centres and reporting hotlines as part of comprehensive prevention mechanism.

US seen as likely responsible for Iran school strike that killed scores

A girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on Saturday during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country.

Hong Kong grants HK$6.15 million to family of firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze

Government grant honours the bravery of Ho Wai-ho, who died during a search and rescue operation at Wang Fuk Court.

Japan weighs military upgrade on Iwo Jima as China deepens Pacific activity

Tokyo is reportedly planning to enhance facilities and station aircraft on the island, and establish a Pacific defence initiative office.

‘More dim sum, more often’: Hongkongers cash in as war triggers gold rush

Amid conflict in the Middle East, the number of people buying gold bars and pellets in the city doubled last weekend, industry veteran says.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu don’t deserve to be caught in culture wars

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | As the US attacks Iran, the ancient Battle of Carrhae offers lessons

Editorial | Amid external uncertainties, China steers for growth and stability

Opinion | China’s ‘two sessions’ show plans for resilience in a stormy world

Macroscope | Why even bullish investors can’t ignore the Iran war

Hong Kong domestic helper jailed for 27 months over fatal runaway car accident

Hong Kong cancer patient dies 3 weeks after incorrect opening in abdomen

Middle powers Canada, South Korea set Arctic course between China-Russia and US

Chinese EV makers increasingly reliant on exports as domestic sales decelerate

Dozens of pet carcasses found on China road, unsafe transport by owners blamed

AC limits, flex-work, fuel-lock apps: Philippines readies for Iran oil fallout

Healthcare investors keeping an eye on ‘two sessions’ for clarity on drug pricing

Healthcare and insurance sectors will see policy fine-tuning, ‘moral support’ rather than ‘groundbreaking news’ from Beijing, analysts say.

Can China’s ‘two sessions’ find a strategy to fix the property rot?

Investors lock onto NPC as markets seek policy lift amid AI jitters

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

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.

China’s 5-year plan emphasises ‘orderly’ AI development amid market volatility

First announced in 2024, the AI Plus initiative includes a target of integrating AI into 90 per cent of China’s economy by 2030.

China’s BYD looks to make EV charging as fast as filling up with petrol

Company says its new Blade Battery 2.0 can be charged from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in 5 minutes.

Insilico Medicine advances Middle East push with UAE AI drug discovery deal

Hong Kong-listed biotech firm’s shares jump after announcing partnership to use AI tools in drug discovery in the United Arab Emirates.

China and Hong Kong should relax biotech listing rules, venture capitalist says

Foreign investors are returning to China’s healthcare sector, but IPO bottlenecks and takeover rules could deter deals, VC Nisa Leung says.

Takeaways from Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s government work report

Li raises the curtain on the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a series of targets for the economy.

Why China’s anti-corruption push in academia is key to its science and tech aims

Ahead of country’s annual ‘two sessions’ meetings, scientists urge more institutionalised and effective mechanisms to curb abuses of power.

How China is using its economic clout to give the US dollar a run for its money

Beijing is using economic clout to reshape its global financial influence – a strategy analysts say could play out over decades.

What cost foreign prestige? China says no to some Western science journal fees

Chinese researchers will no longer be reimbursed for paper publication charges in Nature Communications, among other titles.

How Standard Chartered’s SME Banking helps Hong Kong arts and crafts design firm’s growth

Opinion | Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu don’t deserve to be caught in culture wars

Letters | As the US attacks Iran, the ancient Battle of Carrhae offers lessons