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SCMP Highlights

SCMP Highlights
The latest news, analysis and opinion on SCMP Highlights. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
US President Donald Trump signs executive orders at the White House on April 2, 2025, imposing tariffs on imported goods. Photo: Getty Images
US-China trade war

Tariffs, truces and Trump: key developments in US-China trade war in 2025

From Trump’s stiff tariffs and China’s response to high-level trade talks, here’s a selection of SCMP stories covering the major milestones.

Mainland China

Japan as a nuclear power, China’s first female C919 captain: 5 weekend reads

Jeffrey Sachs

Open Questions | How Trump ‘stunned’ China; ‘Western hegemony is over’: 12 interviews from 2025

Mainland China

Deceiving US experts; proving Einstein wrong: 2025 China science breakthroughs

From the detonation of a hydrogen-based explosive to ending a century-old debate, here are some of the major science developments of the year.

Chinese scientists used a 2kg bomb to generate a fireball that lasted 15 times longer than an equivalent TNT blast, according to a new study. Photo: 705 Research Institute
China's space programme

Beijing extends Mars mission lead; stranded crew returns: China’s year in space

From the US-China race to bring rocks back from Mars to a ‘tit-for-tat’ orbital stand-off, here are some of the year’s most notable space stories.

Malaysia

China’s reusable rocket failure, PLA growth leaves US ‘vulnerable’: 7 highlights

From Hong Kong’s crowded border at Christmas to jailed ex-Malaysian PM’s request rejected, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

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China’s military

Fujian enters service, J-10C impresses: 10 China military developments in 2025

From hardware on show at China’s military parade to anti-drone systems, here are some of the year’s most notable People’s Liberation Army stories.

The Fujian, China’s newest aircraft carrier, is commissioned on November 5 in Sanya, Hainan province. Photo: Xinhua
Russia

China, Russia clash with US at UN; Taipei mayor visit: SCMP daily highlights

From Beijing accusing Washington of violating international law to a study on animal fats, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD’s big plans in Brazil, Xpeng tries to go global: 7 EV reads

From EV battery giants in China venturing into shipbuilding to BYD’s ambitious plans in Brazil, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Science

7 scientists, mathematicians, physicists and experts who moved to China in 2025

From a world-leading statistician to a mathematics luminary, here are some experts who made the move.

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(From left) Joshua Zahl, Chen Jing and Zhou Ming. Photo: Handout/Tsinghua University
Venezuela

China’s reusable rocket recovery fails, US blacklists DJI: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s booster rocket woes to Beijing condemning US seizure of oil tankers, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China’s Long March 12A, the country’s first state-owned reusable rocket, has failed on its debut launch on Tuesday morning. Photo: Weibo
The Philippines

Philippines’ Chinese tourism woes, police officer goes viral: 7 Asia highlights

From India’s anxiety over US-Pakistan deals to South Korea’s visa policy debate, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Singapore

China-South Korea ties, Singapore’s ex-FM on Hong Kong: SCMP daily highlights

From why China-South Korea relations may be cooling to Beijing’s latest bid to boost births, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s shock rise, China’s robot boot camps: 7 AI breakthroughs in 2025

From DeepSeek sending shock waves through tech market to China’s robot boot camps, here are some of the major AI developments of the year.

DeepSeek is being touted as China’s secret weapon in the artificial intelligence war with the US. Photo: AFP
Mainland China

Mexico’s 50% tariff shock, China warns India over Dalai Lama: 5 weekend reads

From China warning India over Dalai Lama to a Hong Kong civil servant’s apology, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

A drone view shows the Manzanillo seaport in Mexico in April. Photo: Reuters
China’s soft power

From Labubu to blockbuster films, was 2025 the year of China’s soft power?

Chinese lifestyle brands and other cultural exports proved to be a hit around the world this year, here are some of our most notable stories.

Singapore

US singer marries sultan, paraglider’s 28,000ft stunt: 8 viral stories in 2025

From US singer marrying Malaysian sultan to Chinese paraglider cheating death, here are our stories that have gone viral in 2025.

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Mainland China

TikTok’s new US deal, China’s answer to Nvidia’s A100: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s discovery of Asia’s largest undersea gold deposit to TikTok’s deal on a new US venture, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

TikTok has reached a deal to sell its US operations to a consortium of American investors. Photo: dpa
Mexico

China’s heat pump tech, Tokyo clarifies Taiwan stance: SCMP’s 7 highlights

From Hong Kong Jimmy Lai’s trial verdict to China’s high-altitude tank threat, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Belgium

China’s youth-unemployment rate, Laos joins durian war: SCMP daily highlights

From EU-China trade ties to Laos securing approval to export durians, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Canada

Hong Kong’s festive dining; music cuts dementia risks: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Hong Kong cinema’s female action stars to must-try festive meals in Hong Kong, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Until December 31, The Astor at the Eaton HK hotel transforms into a Christmas market, with its buffet taking centre stage. Photo: The Astor
Chile

PLA division’s new leaders, lessons from 2025 trade war: SCMP daily highlights

From the newcomers in charge of PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command to retailers’ retreat from China, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Air Force Lieutenant General Yang Zhibin, pictured in uniform, is shown at the annual commemoration of the Nanking massacre on Saturday. Photo: CCTV
Science

Physicists prove Einstein wrong, US-China jet race: 7 science highlights

From a fresh water production breakthrough to a promising Parkinson’s treatment, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

Iran

US ‘seizes’ Chinese cargo, Mexico stands by tariffs: SCMP daily highlights

From US reportedly confiscating Chinese cargo bound for Iran to support for returning overseas students, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

The Philippines

Malaysia’s dress code row, South Korea falls out with K-pop: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-NBA player’s cancer treatment to backlash against Malaysia’s ‘moral police’, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Lawyers say Melaka police have overstepped the mark after officers barred two women wearing skirts from entering a police station to report a car accident. Photo: Handout
Japan

Japan’s bid to ease tensions with China, Liu Cixin on AI: SCMP daily highlights

From Tokyo spelling out in part its position on Taiwan to acclaimed author Liu Cixin discussing AI, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

The Japanese government has spelled out its position on Taiwan – although only in part. Photo: Reuters
Mainland China

China-US AI gap narrows, South Koreans snub K-pop: 5 weekend reads

From EU concerns about China’s involvement in Ukraine to decisions in green tech, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Middle East

Japan, US defence chiefs discuss China; Mexico’s tariffs: SCMP daily highlights

From Trump and Modi’s phone call to scientists addressing implant rejection with a soft brain chip, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

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