Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

President Xi Jinping greets his US counterpart Donald Trump in November 2017, during Trump’s first-term visit to Beijing. Photo: TNS

China confirms dates for President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing

The visit will be the first trip to the country by a US president since 2017 and include two bilateral meetings, according to the White House.

2 hours agovideocam

Xi-Trump summit: why the Iran war could become fresh point of friction

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Economic Indicators

China’s producer, consumer inflation up in April as Iran war pressures persist

Factory-gate prices increased 2.8 per cent last month and consumer prices were up 1.2 per cent, surpassing expectations as fuel costs rise.

1 hour ago

Science

A big step forward for optical core of China’s Taiji gravitational wave project

A detector that will form part of a 3 million km-long triangular ruler has passed ground tests.

1 hour agovideocam

Society

Exclusive | Hong Kong may broaden at-risk elderly support after recent deaths, minister says

Welfare chief Chris Sun says support could be extended after recent deaths expose gaps in identifying vulnerable households.

3 hours ago

Open Questions

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

World

Omega-3 and brain risks, Filipinos divided over pageant winner: 5 weekend reads

From Hong Kong schools’ rise in students to Singapore’s investment stability, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

31 minutes ago

Bea Millan-Windorski will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe pageant in November. Photo: Facebook/Miss Universe Philippines

Diplomacy

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

Nearly a decade after his first-term visit, Trump returns to Beijing amid tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and tech rivalry.

4 hours agovideocam

People

Thaksin exits jail to a Thailand that seems to have moved on from Shinawatra era

The former prime minister’s once unassailable Pheu Thai party is now just a minor player in Anutin Charnvirakul’s government.

28 minutes ago

International

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.

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Cityscape Global

Diplomacy

Trump, Tehran and a Qatari tanker transit: here’s what happened overnight

US leader calls Iran’s response to its peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’, while a Qatari ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

4 hours ago

A woman holds the Iranian flag as she stands in front of an anti-US billboard in Tehran on Sunday. As the war enters its tenth week, peace talks remain stalled. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

China, US confirm Seoul trade talks days before Trump-Xi summit in Beijing

Meeting follows Paris round in March and a video call in April as both sides prepare for Trump’s state visit.

11 May 2026 - 4:17AM

Society

Exclusive | Cigarette butts ‘strong evidence’ of smoking ban breach at work sites: Chris Sun

Labour chief reveals further details of proposed ban and lays out other priorities, including injury compensation mechanism for online delivery workers.

4 hours ago

People

Remote control: the inmates running crime empires from Philippine prison

What do a South Korean drug ring and a Japanese robbery syndicate have in common? They were both allegedly run from Philippine prison cells.

27 minutes agovideocam

Park Wang-yeol at Incheon International Airport on March 25 after being extradited from the Philippines. Photo: Korea Times

Food & Drink

She swapped fish for veg in her omakase – and Vancouver ate it up

Japanese chef Akiko Gulkison is on a mission to reveal vegetables’ hidden powers at her restaurants in Vancouver, Canada.

16 minutes ago

Chef Akiko Gulkison prepares mushrooms at her vegan restaurant Cofu Chinatown, in Vancouver, Canada. Photo: Bernice Chan

Markets

Hong Kong chip stocks extend rally as they ride the global semiconductor wave

Gains in the sector are bucking broader market trends following a strong signal from Beijing that it is committed to chip self-sufficiency.

58 minutes ago

China EVs

Tech and pricing edge behind China’s SUV surge against BMW, Mercedes and Audi

Chinese SUVs storm the premium segment with fresh momentum, giving German marques their toughest test in years.

1 hour ago

Middle East

‘Playing games’: Trump calls Iran’s response to US peace proposal ‘unacceptable’

Both sides remain far apart as Tehran demands war reparations and control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran state TV.

2 hours ago

The USS Rafael Peralta enforcing a US maritime blockade on April 24. Photo: US Navy via AFP

Politics

Israel’s election may end the Netanyahu era but not the ‘forever wars’

After nearly two decades and six terms in office, Israel’s prime minister could be on his way out. But little looks likely to change.

5 hours agovideocam

Israelis protest against the war with Iran and Netanyahu’s government in Tel Aviv on May 2. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

Grieving family says Singaporean killed in Mount Dukono eruption died a hero

Timothy Heng’s stepsister said that she and her family were comforted to know that ‘his final moments were used to help someone else’.

3 hours agovideocam

Middle East

Netanyahu says war ‘not over’ until Iran’s uranium is physically removed

Israeli leader says nuclear material must be ‘taken out’, as US-Iran ceasefire remains tenuous.

1 hour ago

OPINION

Alice Wu

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

2 hours ago

Letters

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

2 hours ago

Asad Ullah

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

5 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong schools must balance phone policy against student concerns

6 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong’s maritime edge is real, but it’s not cause for complacency

6 hours ago

Harry’s View | 11 May 2026

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6 minutes ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong rugby player denies molesting woman at bar, but admits vandalism

16 minutes ago

Food & Drink

She swapped fish for veg in her omakase – and Vancouver ate it up

31 minutes ago

World

Omega-3 and brain risks, Filipinos divided over pageant winner: 5 weekend reads

36 minutes ago

People

Remote control: the inmates running crime empires from Philippine prison

42 minutes ago

Hong Kong

Video | Viral video shows alleged truck racing in Hong Kong

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58 minutes ago

Markets

Hong Kong chip stocks extend rally as they ride the global semiconductor wave

1 hour ago

Science

A big step forward for optical core of China’s Taiji gravitational wave project

1 hour ago

Economic Indicators

China’s producer, consumer inflation up in April as Iran war pressures persist

2 hours ago

Racing

Japan a likely option for Network as Ferrat is confirmed for Champions & Chater

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Southeast Asia

Teenager charged after assault on blogger Amos Yee at Singapore anime event

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SCMP Series

Trump’s 2026 trip to China

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AI's impact on Hong Kong

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

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

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.

4-MIN READvideocam

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

2-MIN READvideocam

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

6-MIN READvideocam

Open Questions series

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

China Economy

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.

10-MIN READvideocam

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.

15-MIN READvideocam

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.

16-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

China EVs

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

3-MIN READ

A humanoid robot poses at a BYD booth beside an electric vehicle at the Beijing auto show. Photo: Kyodo

China EVs

Tech and pricing edge behind China’s SUV surge against BMW, Mercedes and Audi

Chinese SUVs storm the premium segment with fresh momentum, giving German marques their toughest test in years.

2-MIN READ

Tech Trends

Alibaba brings chat-style shopping to Taobao, Qwen amid AI gateway push: source

E-commerce giant is integrating Qwen with Taobao and Tmall, enabling shoppers to use natural-language commands instead of keyword searches.

2-MIN READ

China Economy

China’s Comac looking to boost C919’s overhead luggage capacity: source

Aircraft maker reviewing new designs to challenge Boeing and Airbus and take better advantage of plane’s slightly wider fuselage.

2-MIN READ

A flight attendant welcomes passengers on board a China Eastern Airlines C919 at Hong Kong International Airport last year. Photo: Nora Tam

Diplomacy

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.

7-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

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.

6-MIN READvideocam

Diplomacy

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.

6-MIN READvideocam

Society

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.

7-MIN READ

China confirms dates for President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing

The visit will be the first trip to the country by a US president since 2017 and include two bilateral meetings, according to the White House.

Xi-Trump summit: why the Iran war could become fresh point of friction

China’s producer, consumer inflation up in April as Iran war pressures persist

Factory-gate prices increased 2.8 per cent last month and consumer prices were up 1.2 per cent, surpassing expectations as fuel costs rise.

A big step forward for optical core of China’s Taiji gravitational wave project

A detector that will form part of a 3 million km-long triangular ruler has passed ground tests.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Hong Kong may broaden at-risk elderly support after recent deaths, minister says

Welfare chief Chris Sun says support could be extended after recent deaths expose gaps in identifying vulnerable households.

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

Omega-3 and brain risks, Filipinos divided over pageant winner: 5 weekend reads

From Hong Kong schools’ rise in students to Singapore’s investment stability, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

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

Nearly a decade after his first-term visit, Trump returns to Beijing amid tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and tech rivalry.

Thaksin exits jail to a Thailand that seems to have moved on from Shinawatra era

The former prime minister’s once unassailable Pheu Thai party is now just a minor player in Anutin Charnvirakul’s government.

.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, Tehran and a Qatari tanker transit: here’s what happened overnight

US leader calls Iran’s response to its peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’, while a Qatari ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

China, US confirm Seoul trade talks days before Trump-Xi summit in Beijing

Meeting follows Paris round in March and a video call in April as both sides prepare for Trump’s state visit.

Exclusive | Cigarette butts ‘strong evidence’ of smoking ban breach at work sites: Chris Sun

Labour chief reveals further details of proposed ban and lays out other priorities, including injury compensation mechanism for online delivery workers.

Remote control: the inmates running crime empires from Philippine prison

What do a South Korean drug ring and a Japanese robbery syndicate have in common? They were both allegedly run from Philippine prison cells.

She swapped fish for veg in her omakase – and Vancouver ate it up

Japanese chef Akiko Gulkison is on a mission to reveal vegetables’ hidden powers at her restaurants in Vancouver, Canada.

Hong Kong chip stocks extend rally as they ride the global semiconductor wave

Gains in the sector are bucking broader market trends following a strong signal from Beijing that it is committed to chip self-sufficiency.

Tech and pricing edge behind China’s SUV surge against BMW, Mercedes and Audi

Chinese SUVs storm the premium segment with fresh momentum, giving German marques their toughest test in years.

‘Playing games’: Trump calls Iran’s response to US peace proposal ‘unacceptable’

Both sides remain far apart as Tehran demands war reparations and control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran state TV.

Israel’s election may end the Netanyahu era but not the ‘forever wars’

After nearly two decades and six terms in office, Israel’s prime minister could be on his way out. But little looks likely to change.

Grieving family says Singaporean killed in Mount Dukono eruption died a hero

Timothy Heng’s stepsister said that she and her family were comforted to know that ‘his final moments were used to help someone else’.

Netanyahu says war ‘not over’ until Iran’s uranium is physically removed

Israeli leader says nuclear material must be ‘taken out’, as US-Iran ceasefire remains tenuous.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | As claw machines proliferate, Hong Kong must regulate the unregulated

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

Editorial | Hong Kong schools must balance phone policy against student concerns

Editorial | Hong Kong’s maritime edge is real, but it’s not cause for complacency

Hong Kong rugby player denies molesting woman at bar, but admits vandalism

She swapped fish for veg in her omakase – and Vancouver ate it up

Omega-3 and brain risks, Filipinos divided over pageant winner: 5 weekend reads

Remote control: the inmates running crime empires from Philippine prison

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Viral video shows alleged truck racing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong chip stocks extend rally as they ride the global semiconductor wave

A big step forward for optical core of China’s Taiji gravitational wave project

China’s producer, consumer inflation up in April as Iran war pressures persist

Japan a likely option for Network as Ferrat is confirmed for Champions & Chater

Teenager charged after assault on blogger Amos Yee at Singapore anime event

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 | 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.

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.

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

Tech and pricing edge behind China’s SUV surge against BMW, Mercedes and Audi

Chinese SUVs storm the premium segment with fresh momentum, giving German marques their toughest test in years.

Alibaba brings chat-style shopping to Taobao, Qwen amid AI gateway push: source

E-commerce giant is integrating Qwen with Taobao and Tmall, enabling shoppers to use natural-language commands instead of keyword searches.

China’s Comac looking to boost C919’s overhead luggage capacity: source

Aircraft maker reviewing new designs to challenge Boeing and Airbus and take better advantage of plane’s slightly wider fuselage.

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?

Exclusive | Hong Kong may broaden at-risk elderly support after recent deaths, minister says

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

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

Video | Viral video shows alleged truck racing in Hong Kong