Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China, in the central province of Anhui, stand in front of the Zuchongzhi 3.2 superconducting quantum computing system. Photo: Handout

China’s new quantum computer hits stability milestone, beating Google on efficiency

Chinese team is first outside the US to cross key threshold that determines whether practical quantum computers can work reliably at scale.

43 minutes agovideocam

Chinese scientists create super stable building block for quantum computers

Science

Military

Will Trump’s battleship plan deter China or is it just a pipe dream?

Donald Trump unveils new class of ship meant to ‘inspire fear in America’s enemies’, but analysts say the initiative faces huge hurdles.

4 hours agovideocam

Science

China’s military maglev achieves 0-700km/h acceleration in less than 2 seconds

Feat seen to catapult China into global top tier of ultra-high-speed maglev technology and unlock new possibilities for hyperloop transport.

25 Dec 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

Society

How Hong Kong’s Tai Po community is finding light in darkness, 1 month after fire

As Wang Fuk Court residents and their neighbours pick up the pieces after blaze, glimmers of warmth and generosity bring hope.

1 hour ago

Diplomacy

Japanese ground troops take part in an exercise in Okinawa prefecture in June. Chinese state media says the resurgence of Japanese militarism has dealt a serious blow to bilateral relations and undermined regional peace and stability. Photo: AFP

China sharpens criticism of Japan ‘neo-militarism’, warns of ‘dangerous signal’

Society

Thousands stuck for hours at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on Christmas Day

Immigration Department figures show Hong Kong residents made about 644,000 outbound trips by 9pm on Thursday.

26 Dec 2025 - 12:01AM

Hong Kong’s border checkpoints pack with outbound travellers on Christmas Day. Photo: Emily Hung

Africa

US launches strike on Islamic State targets in Nigeria, Trump says

The US military said the strike was carried out at the request of the Nigerian authorities and killed multiple Isis militants.

31 minutes ago

Politics

‘Maximum deterrence’: why North Korea just revealed its new nuclear submarine

The unprecedented transparency from the normally secretive country shows a shift in North Korean defence strategy, analysts say.

2 hours agovideocam

Business

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

In partnership with:

MPOC

Palm oil is a versatile ingredient found in a wide range of everyday items, from ice cream and cake to lipstick and biofuel.

Tech Trends

Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra, backed by Leica, challenges Apple’s iPhone Pro Max in imaging

The 17 Ultra’s US$998 starting price is nearly 8 per cent higher than the previous generation owing to the soaring cost of memory chips.

25 Dec 2025 - 11:14PM

Xiaomi’s new 17 Ultra premium smartphone. Photo: Weibo

Diplomacy

Tracing China’s long links with Kenya, from Admiral Zheng He to belt and road

National museum in Nairobi celebrates 620th anniversary of Ming dynasty navigator’s voyages and 62 years of modern bilateral ties.

25 Dec 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

Politics

4 Chinese defence firm chiefs among 8 sacked from top advisory body CPPCC

National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference endorsed removals at meeting on Wednesday, Xinhua reports.

25 Dec 2025 - 4:18PMvideocam

China Economy

China’s offshore yuan breaks major benchmark as appreciation momentum builds

For the first time since 2024, the currency strengthened past the threshold of seven per US dollar – and did it again the next day.

25 Dec 2025 - 1:48PM

China’s yuan has appreciated considerably against the US dollar in recent months. Photo: AFP

Europe

Britain’s King Charles calls for ‘reconciliation’ in Christmas speech

UK monarch praises the courage of those who risked their lives for others during his fourth Christmas broadcast as king.

1 hour ago

Britain’s King Charles during the recording of his Christmas message. Photo: PA via AP

United States & Canada

Jimmy Kimmel takes aim at Trump in ‘alternative Christmas message’ to UK

The talk show host says the US president acts like a king, as he warned about the rise of fascism and tyranny.

25 minutes agovideocam

Americas

Brazil’s Bolsonaro backs son’s presidential bid, undergoes hernia surgery

The former president, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup, was allowed to leave prison for the operation.

50 minutes ago

Russia & Central Asia

‘Ball in French court’: Russia makes ‘proposal’ over jailed NGO researcher

Laurent Vinatier is in prison in Russia and facing more spying allegations, but Moscow says it has reached out to Paris.

25 Dec 2025 - 11:37PMvideocam

French citizen Laurent Vinatier sits in a cage prior to a court session in Moscow in October 2024. Photo: AP

Hong Kong Economy

Japan popular with Hong Kong travellers over Christmas, Harbin gaining appeal

Despite row with China, Japan remains popular with Hongkongers, with mainland cities such as Harbin and Yunnan gaining appeal.

25 Dec 2025 - 11:02PM

A street in Kamakura, in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, packed with tourists on December 17. Photo: Kyodo

Science

Bronze Age cemetery offers clues on how ancient Chinese brewed red rice wine

Vessels found in tombs at Mogou in modern-day Gansu contain traces of a fermentation starter of the type still used to make sake today.

25 Dec 2025 - 5:07PM

People

With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?

The High Court will rule on abuse of power and money laundering charges, with Najib facing the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty.

25 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM

OPINION

Bernard Chan

Opinion | West is getting on the same page as China for children’s social media use

13 minutes ago

Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | Why Wall Street remains bullish on China amid economic slowdown

2 hours ago

Grenville Cross

Opinion | Hong Kong’s new legislators must strengthen child protection laws

25 Dec 2025 - 9:30AM

Hannan Hussain

Opinion | Seoul holds the key to US-North Korea denuclearisation talks

25 Dec 2025 - 5:30AM

Letters

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World Opinion

Opinion | West is getting on the same page as China for children’s social media use

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China’s new quantum computer hits stability milestone, beating Google on efficiency

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‘Can’t buy true love’: Chinese man abducted as child returns to birth family after reunion

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Society

How Hong Kong’s Tai Po community is finding light in darkness, 1 month after fire

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‘Maximum deterrence’: why North Korea just revealed its new nuclear submarine

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SCMP Series

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SCMP Series Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

24 Dec 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

23 Dec 2025 - 3:43PMvideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:02AMvideocam

Science

Open Questions | Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

Acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his ‘dark forest’ theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.

15 Dec 2025 - 10:05AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Economist Huang Yiping on why China’s AI push must be ‘job-oriented’

Dean of Peking University’s National School of Development says ‘balance’ needed in AI development to protect employment, ‘human well-being’.

8 Dec 2025 - 10:07AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

Commentator and former senior colonel on Beijing’s row with Japan, lessons from the Ukraine war and why playing global policeman is a trap.

1 Dec 2025 - 3:57PMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

17 Dec 2025 - 7:00AM

The questions in FAI-C were reviewed by a panel of Biblical experts, including theologians, pastors, psychologists and scholars of ethics. Photo: SCMP

China Business

Mercedes-Benz buys US$191 million stake in Chinese autonomous driving developer

The German carmaker obtains a 3 per cent stake in Chongqing Qianli Technology.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

China Business

UBTech’s US$237 million Fenglong deal tightens humanoid robot supply chain

Hong Kong-listed UBTech is buying a 43 per cent stake in Zhejiang Fenglong, as China’s robotics firms increasingly eye A-share acquisitions.

25 Dec 2025 - 8:00PM

China EVs

CATL poised to bring Yichun lithium output back online after licence lapse

With battery costs again under the spotlight, regulators are set to green light CATL’s restart of the Yichun mine in eastern China.

25 Dec 2025 - 4:04PM

A restart of the Yichun lithium mine could strengthen CATL’s output capacity at a time when carmakers are pushing suppliers to cut costs. Photo: AFP

Military

How Beijing’s strategy shift explains decreased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

Politics

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

The party’s new chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has adopted a mainland-friendly tone but it remains to be seen if she can live up to Beijing’s hopes.

24 Dec 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

Politics

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

Analysts examine Taiwan-related policy announcements, a new commemoration day and military posturing for clues to Beijing’s intent.

23 Dec 2025 - 3:43PMvideocam

Politics

Are Trump loyalists struggling in US rural heartland ready to say ‘enough’?

Hammered by crippling costs and precious revenue lost to China, Midwest farmers’ loyalty to the US president will be tested in 2026 midterms.

21 Dec 2025 - 7:35AMvideocam

China’s new quantum computer hits stability milestone, beating Google on efficiency

Chinese team is first outside the US to cross key threshold that determines whether practical quantum computers can work reliably at scale.

Chinese scientists create super stable building block for quantum computers

Will Trump’s battleship plan deter China or is it just a pipe dream?

Donald Trump unveils new class of ship meant to ‘inspire fear in America’s enemies’, but analysts say the initiative faces huge hurdles.

China’s military maglev achieves 0-700km/h acceleration in less than 2 seconds

Feat seen to catapult China into global top tier of ultra-high-speed maglev technology and unlock new possibilities for hyperloop transport.

How Hong Kong’s Tai Po community is finding light in darkness, 1 month after fire

As Wang Fuk Court residents and their neighbours pick up the pieces after blaze, glimmers of warmth and generosity bring hope.

China sharpens criticism of Japan ‘neo-militarism’, warns of ‘dangerous signal’

Thousands stuck for hours at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on Christmas Day

Immigration Department figures show Hong Kong residents made about 644,000 outbound trips by 9pm on Thursday.

US launches strike on Islamic State targets in Nigeria, Trump says

The US military said the strike was carried out at the request of the Nigerian authorities and killed multiple Isis militants.

‘Maximum deterrence’: why North Korea just revealed its new nuclear submarine

The unprecedented transparency from the normally secretive country shows a shift in North Korean defence strategy, analysts say.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra, backed by Leica, challenges Apple’s iPhone Pro Max in imaging

The 17 Ultra’s US$998 starting price is nearly 8 per cent higher than the previous generation owing to the soaring cost of memory chips.

Tracing China’s long links with Kenya, from Admiral Zheng He to belt and road

National museum in Nairobi celebrates 620th anniversary of Ming dynasty navigator’s voyages and 62 years of modern bilateral ties.

4 Chinese defence firm chiefs among 8 sacked from top advisory body CPPCC

National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference endorsed removals at meeting on Wednesday, Xinhua reports.

China’s offshore yuan breaks major benchmark as appreciation momentum builds

For the first time since 2024, the currency strengthened past the threshold of seven per US dollar – and did it again the next day.

Britain’s King Charles calls for ‘reconciliation’ in Christmas speech

UK monarch praises the courage of those who risked their lives for others during his fourth Christmas broadcast as king.

Jimmy Kimmel takes aim at Trump in ‘alternative Christmas message’ to UK

The talk show host says the US president acts like a king, as he warned about the rise of fascism and tyranny.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro backs son’s presidential bid, undergoes hernia surgery

The former president, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup, was allowed to leave prison for the operation.

‘Ball in French court’: Russia makes ‘proposal’ over jailed NGO researcher

Laurent Vinatier is in prison in Russia and facing more spying allegations, but Moscow says it has reached out to Paris.

Japan popular with Hong Kong travellers over Christmas, Harbin gaining appeal

Despite row with China, Japan remains popular with Hongkongers, with mainland cities such as Harbin and Yunnan gaining appeal.

Bronze Age cemetery offers clues on how ancient Chinese brewed red rice wine

Vessels found in tombs at Mogou in modern-day Gansu contain traces of a fermentation starter of the type still used to make sake today.

With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?

The High Court will rule on abuse of power and money laundering charges, with Najib facing the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | West is getting on the same page as China for children’s social media use

Macroscope | Why Wall Street remains bullish on China amid economic slowdown

Opinion | Hong Kong’s new legislators must strengthen child protection laws

Opinion | Seoul holds the key to US-North Korea denuclearisation talks

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Let 2026 be the year we are kinder to animals

Opinion | West is getting on the same page as China for children’s social media use

China’s new quantum computer hits stability milestone, beating Google on efficiency

‘Can’t buy true love’: Chinese man abducted as child returns to birth family after reunion

How Hong Kong’s Tai Po community is finding light in darkness, 1 month after fire

‘Maximum deterrence’: why North Korea just revealed its new nuclear submarine

Lacrosse boss upbeat as ‘legendary’ Japanese coach makes Hong Kong debut

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

Open Questions | Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

Acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his ‘dark forest’ theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.

Open Questions | Economist Huang Yiping on why China’s AI push must be ‘job-oriented’

Dean of Peking University’s National School of Development says ‘balance’ needed in AI development to protect employment, ‘human well-being’.

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

Commentator and former senior colonel on Beijing’s row with Japan, lessons from the Ukraine war and why playing global policeman is a trap.

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

Mercedes-Benz buys US$191 million stake in Chinese autonomous driving developer

The German carmaker obtains a 3 per cent stake in Chongqing Qianli Technology.

UBTech’s US$237 million Fenglong deal tightens humanoid robot supply chain

Hong Kong-listed UBTech is buying a 43 per cent stake in Zhejiang Fenglong, as China’s robotics firms increasingly eye A-share acquisitions.

CATL poised to bring Yichun lithium output back online after licence lapse

With battery costs again under the spotlight, regulators are set to green light CATL’s restart of the Yichun mine in eastern China.

How Beijing’s strategy shift explains decreased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

The party’s new chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has adopted a mainland-friendly tone but it remains to be seen if she can live up to Beijing’s hopes.

‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

Analysts examine Taiwan-related policy announcements, a new commemoration day and military posturing for clues to Beijing’s intent.

Are Trump loyalists struggling in US rural heartland ready to say ‘enough’?

Hammered by crippling costs and precious revenue lost to China, Midwest farmers’ loyalty to the US president will be tested in 2026 midterms.

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Opinion | West is getting on the same page as China for children’s social media use

Letters | Let 2026 be the year we are kinder to animals