Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Taiwan opposition parties KMT and TPP cheer after parliament approved the defence spending bill, in Taipei on May 8. Photo: AFP

Did US pressure before Xi-Trump summit force KMT hand on Taiwan’s defence budget?

Taiwan’s main opposition parties have cleared special defence budget bill after months of fractious debate and infighting.

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What to expect from this week’s Trump 2.0 visit to Beijing

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Tech Trends

China deepens footprint at AI conference despite NeurIPS dispute, US tensions

Alibaba, ByteDance, other Chinese tech giants top paper submissions in conference, quelling worries over geopolitics impacting participation.

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Global Economy

US-China negotiations seek a quick Seoul search for deals ahead of Trump’s visit

Setting stage for presidential summit with Xi in Beijing, Bessent and He to meet in South Korea, and the ‘3 Bs’ could be on the cards.

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Diplomacy

Will Starmer’s election woes force a shake-up in the UK’s ties with China?

British prime minister’s dwindling authority may see him come under pressure to shift policies, Chinese experts say.

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Open Questions

Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

China Business

Chinese smart cars set to control 20% of western European market by 2028: JPMorgan

Amid surging demand for electrification and a worldwide energy crisis, domestic carmakers can benefit from the stepped-up ‘go-global’ drive.

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MG electric cars before being loaded onto a ship for export at the port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province on April 29. Photo: CN-STR / AFP

China Economy

The US tried to rein in China’s shipyards. Now, they are even more dominant

China’s shipyards secured a staggering 85 per cent of global orders in the first quarter, as demand for oil tankers surges amid the Iran war.

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Health & Environment

Hong Kong braces for typhoon season with 50,000 sandbags, flood barriers

Civil Engineering and Development Department introduces new guidelines for communities, property managers and businesses near coastal areas.

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International

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

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Diplomacy

Trump urged to raise cases of detained Americans when he meets Xi in Beijing

In letter to US president, congressional commission says silence will leave China free to ‘use human beings as bargaining chips’.

4 hours agovideocam

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are set to hold talks in Beijing later this week. Photo: AFP

Americas

Bolivia’s Evo Morales held in contempt after missing court in trafficking trial

The ex-president is accused of having a ⁠relationship ⁠with a teenager and having a child with ‌her in 2016 while he was in office.

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Business

China’s bond market faces climbing re-defaults as property crisis drags on

Re-defaults erode credit differentiation as homebuyer confidence weakens under slow income growth and high leverage, analysts warn.

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United States & Canada

Heatstroke suspected among 6 found dead in train carriage at Texas rail depot

Laredo, Texas is a busy land port of entry for trade on the US-Mexico border and a common connection for the illegal movement of people.

1 hour ago

In an image taken from video footage provided by KGNS, Union Pacific train cars are stationed at a railway depot in Laredo, Texas on Sunday, Photo: KGNS via AP

Business

Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui tops Asia luxury retail rents – but loses global crown

City’s luxury retail shows resilience with rising tourist arrivals and new store openings despite global slowdown, according to Savills.

11 May 2026 - 4:42PM

Shoppers queue and snap photos in Tsim Sha Tsui in early May. Photo: Jelly Tse

Science

Here’s how China plans to sanction-proof its C919 passenger jet

Aviation expert Zhang Yanzhong, who played a leading role in developing the C919, warns of a real risk of being cut off from supply chains.

5 hours agovideocam

United States & Canada

Trump gala shooter pleads not guilty to all charges

The charges include attempted assassination of the president, assault on ⁠a federal officer and firearms offences.

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Europe

UK sanctions 85 people and entities over ‘pro-Kremlin narratives’

The sanctions target individuals and organisations thought to have helped Russia forcibly deport and militarise Ukrainian children.

2 hours agovideocam

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK will work alongside allies to trace Ukrainian children taken from their communities and bring them home. Photo: AP

Markets

China’s ChiNext Index up 3.5% as global semiconductor rally broadens

Tech-heavy index breaches the 3,900-point mark amid strong signals from Beijing that it is committed to chip self-sufficiency.

11 May 2026 - 5:11PM

General view of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) in Exchange Square, Central. Photo: Jelly Tse

Southeast Asia

Philippine senator escapes arrest as ICC confirms drug war warrant

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will be treated as if in the custody of the Senate.

3 hours ago

Policy

Huawei’s chip research gains attention ahead of Trump visit to China

Tech giant’s advances in AI and semiconductors reflect Beijing’s push for tech breakthroughs and self-sufficiency amid US sanctions.

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OPINION

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Letters

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Donald Trump is expected to visit China later this week. Photo: Reuters

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Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

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ByteDance raises 2026 capex by at least 25% amid AI boom, sources say

ByteDance is allocating a proportionally larger budget to domestic AI chips to mitigate geopolitical risks and heed Beijing’s call.

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Tech Trends

China deepens footprint at AI conference despite NeurIPS dispute, US tensions

Alibaba, ByteDance, other Chinese tech giants top paper submissions in conference, quelling worries over geopolitics impacting participation.

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Policy

Huawei’s chip research gains attention ahead of Trump visit to China

Tech giant’s advances in AI and semiconductors reflect Beijing’s push for tech breakthroughs and self-sufficiency amid US sanctions.

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Chinese smart cars set to control 20% of western European market by 2028: JPMorgan

Amid surging demand for electrification and a worldwide energy crisis, domestic carmakers can benefit from the stepped-up ‘go-global’ drive.

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Will warming Arctic trigger further chill in US-China relations?

The prospect of opening up new sea lanes presents both challenges and opportunities for the rival powers, analysts say.

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Will Hong Kong’s lending clampdown wean helpers off debt – and save their dreams?

NGOs say regulations should not be so strict that they deny domestic helpers access to loans since they may have legitimate needs such as family emergencies.

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Did US pressure before Xi-Trump summit force KMT hand on Taiwan’s defence budget?

Taiwan’s main opposition parties have cleared special defence budget bill after months of fractious debate and infighting.

What to expect from this week’s Trump 2.0 visit to Beijing

China deepens footprint at AI conference despite NeurIPS dispute, US tensions

Alibaba, ByteDance, other Chinese tech giants top paper submissions in conference, quelling worries over geopolitics impacting participation.

US-China negotiations seek a quick Seoul search for deals ahead of Trump’s visit

Setting stage for presidential summit with Xi in Beijing, Bessent and He to meet in South Korea, and the ‘3 Bs’ could be on the cards.

Will Starmer’s election woes force a shake-up in the UK’s ties with China?

British prime minister’s dwindling authority may see him come under pressure to shift policies, Chinese experts say.

Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Chinese smart cars set to control 20% of western European market by 2028: JPMorgan

Amid surging demand for electrification and a worldwide energy crisis, domestic carmakers can benefit from the stepped-up ‘go-global’ drive.

The US tried to rein in China’s shipyards. Now, they are even more dominant

China’s shipyards secured a staggering 85 per cent of global orders in the first quarter, as demand for oil tankers surges amid the Iran war.

Hong Kong braces for typhoon season with 50,000 sandbags, flood barriers

Civil Engineering and Development Department introduces new guidelines for communities, property managers and businesses near coastal areas.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

Trump urged to raise cases of detained Americans when he meets Xi in Beijing

In letter to US president, congressional commission says silence will leave China free to ‘use human beings as bargaining chips’.

Bolivia’s Evo Morales held in contempt after missing court in trafficking trial

The ex-president is accused of having a ⁠relationship ⁠with a teenager and having a child with ‌her in 2016 while he was in office.

China’s bond market faces climbing re-defaults as property crisis drags on

Re-defaults erode credit differentiation as homebuyer confidence weakens under slow income growth and high leverage, analysts warn.

Heatstroke suspected among 6 found dead in train carriage at Texas rail depot

Laredo, Texas is a busy land port of entry for trade on the US-Mexico border and a common connection for the illegal movement of people.

Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui tops Asia luxury retail rents – but loses global crown

City’s luxury retail shows resilience with rising tourist arrivals and new store openings despite global slowdown, according to Savills.

Here’s how China plans to sanction-proof its C919 passenger jet

Aviation expert Zhang Yanzhong, who played a leading role in developing the C919, warns of a real risk of being cut off from supply chains.

Trump gala shooter pleads not guilty to all charges

The charges include attempted assassination of the president, assault on ⁠a federal officer and firearms offences.

UK sanctions 85 people and entities over ‘pro-Kremlin narratives’

The sanctions target individuals and organisations thought to have helped Russia forcibly deport and militarise Ukrainian children.

China’s ChiNext Index up 3.5% as global semiconductor rally broadens

Tech-heavy index breaches the 3,900-point mark amid strong signals from Beijing that it is committed to chip self-sufficiency.

Philippine senator escapes arrest as ICC confirms drug war warrant

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will be treated as if in the custody of the Senate.

Huawei’s chip research gains attention ahead of Trump visit to China

Tech giant’s advances in AI and semiconductors reflect Beijing’s push for tech breakthroughs and self-sufficiency amid US sanctions.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Latin America is reassessing the benefits of warm ties with Beijing

The View | Hong Kong’s property recovery could be more robust than many think

Opinion | As claw machines proliferate, Hong Kong must regulate the unregulated

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Abrupt end to Kai Tak concert tarnishes Hong Kong’s mega-event ambitions

Opinion | The problem no one is naming as the UAE dramatically exits Opec

Bolivia’s Evo Morales held in contempt after missing court in trafficking trial

Heatstroke suspected among 6 found dead in train carriage at Texas rail depot

UK sanctions 85 people and entities over ‘pro-Kremlin narratives’

Did US pressure before Xi-Trump summit force KMT hand on Taiwan’s defence budget?

The US tried to rein in China’s shipyards. Now, they are even more dominant

Philippine senator escapes arrest as ICC confirms drug war warrant

Trump gala shooter pleads not guilty to all charges

China deepens footprint at AI conference despite NeurIPS dispute, US tensions

Trump urged to raise cases of detained Americans when he meets Xi in Beijing

Hong Kong braces for typhoon season with 50,000 sandbags, flood barriers

Could military AI use be on the agenda when Chinese and US leaders meet?

The technology has become increasingly important for militaries around the world, but the two sides may struggle to reach a consensus.

Exclusive | Buoyed by rare earths, China approaches Trump summit with fresh confidence

Trump heads to China weakened as Xi gains leverage ahead of summit

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’.

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

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.

ByteDance raises 2026 capex by at least 25% amid AI boom, sources say

ByteDance is allocating a proportionally larger budget to domestic AI chips to mitigate geopolitical risks and heed Beijing’s call.

China deepens footprint at AI conference despite NeurIPS dispute, US tensions

Alibaba, ByteDance, other Chinese tech giants top paper submissions in conference, quelling worries over geopolitics impacting participation.

Huawei’s chip research gains attention ahead of Trump visit to China

Tech giant’s advances in AI and semiconductors reflect Beijing’s push for tech breakthroughs and self-sufficiency amid US sanctions.

Chinese smart cars set to control 20% of western European market by 2028: JPMorgan

Amid surging demand for electrification and a worldwide energy crisis, domestic carmakers can benefit from the stepped-up ‘go-global’ drive.

Latest US-China rivalry combines undersea dominance with a race to riches

Ahead of leaders’ summit in Beijing next week, experts point to a high-stakes competition that features military and mining technologies.

Why US commercial stakes are ‘too high for Trump to ignore’ on China visit

After the US$37 billion, 300-plane deal from Trump’s last visit stalled, industry observers say the next one could be more flexible.

Will warming Arctic trigger further chill in US-China relations?

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Opinion | Latin America is reassessing the benefits of warm ties with Beijing

Letters | Abrupt end to Kai Tak concert tarnishes Hong Kong’s mega-event ambitions