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Concerns about the risks of Chinese AI models held back some global users from adopting them, with DeepSeek banned or restricted in more than 10 countries. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese AI firms defend safety practices, push back on Western criticism

Chinese developers stress cultural context in AI safety, as domestic models narrow the gap with their US rivals to the closest level yet.

Compact AI model from China’s StepFun outshines rivals from DeepSeek, Moonshot

Artificial intelligence
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Military

Has China’s GJ-21 stealth attack drone joined sea trials for Type 076 Sichuan?

Photos circulating on social media have sparked speculation that the PLA Navy’s amphibious assault ship has entered a new phase of testing.

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Diplomacy

Top US trade official spells out plan to break China’s grip on critical minerals

Howard Lutnick accuses China of dumping and weaponising supply chains as White House tries to rally allies to its cause.

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Politics

CK Hutchison takes Panama to arbitration after court voids canal port rights

Move comes after Beijing called the ruling self-sabotaging and warned Panama would pay a heavy political and economic price.

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Focus
Illustration: Henry Wong

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Military

Why the collapse of the last US-Russia nuclear treaty matters for China

Analysts warn expiry of New Start could trigger vicious circle and three-way arms race between Beijing, Washington and Moscow.

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Russian soldiers load Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launchers as part of a June 2024 drill to train troops in using tactical nuclear weapons. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP
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Politics

Calls grow for tougher rules to track foreign-paid ‘trolls’ in Philippines

Retired justice says updating the Foreign Agents Act will help deter individuals from espousing pro-Beijing content.

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Transport

High rollers offered limousine trips for HK$3,500 as Uber drives into Macau

As cross-border travel requires permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport operator Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings.

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.

China Economy

Shanxi’s green leap: renewables surpass coal in China’s energy hub

Where Shanxi goes, China goes, in their broad energy overhaul, as the region with a quarter of the nation’s coal serves as the ultimate proving ground for Beijing’s ‘dual carbon’ strategy.

An aerial view of the Datong Panda Power Plant, where solar panels form massive panda patterns in Datong, Shanxi province. Photo: EPA

Diplomacy

USS Abraham Lincoln is in the Arabian Sea. So is a Chinese vessel

Research ship Dayang Yihao may have been sailing near the American warship, independent military observer says in a social media post.

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Health & Environment

Japan’s deadly winter spurs warnings of more ‘disaster-level’ weather patterns

Severe snowfall and related accidents across Japan have killed at least 29 people, including foreign nationals on holiday, in recent weeks.

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Economics

Exclusive | Indonesia’s top economic minister vows capital market reforms

Airlangga Hartarto also tells This Week in Asia that Indonesia is not on a nationalisation drive, but merely targeting illegal operations.

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Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs, during an interview with This Week in Asia on Tuesday. Photo: Handout

Politics

As Japan’s Takaichi eyes big election win, will China stance shift?

A solid win will boost Takaichi’s position in foreign affairs but she is unlikely to become more confrontational towards China, analysts say.

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Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, attends an election campaign event in Nagano on Sunday. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters

China Business

Tesla, Xiaomi vie for Chinese EV buyers with cheaper, longer loans

Low interest rates and seven-year payback periods replace price discounts while EV sales drop and materials costs rise.

United States & Canada

Trump signs spending bill to end US shutdown, setting stage for ICE fight

Hard negotiations loom as Democrats seek big changes to immigration operations following the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Nicole Good.

Middle East

US fighter jet shoots down Iranian drone approaching aircraft carrier

The Iranian Shahed-139 was flying towards the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea ‘with unclear intent’, a US official says.

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An F-35C Lightning II prepares to land on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln on January 28. Photo: US Navy via AFP

China Economy

China’s gold trading hub on edge: what is happening – and why now?

Uncertainty spreads in Shuibei as second platform falters, spooking investors.

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Chinese retail investors had rushed to capitalise on the unprecedented rally in global gold prices in recent months, leading many to put their funds into the online metals trading platform JWR. Photo: Xinhua

Health & Wellness

What is cancer ‘prehab’? How patients are getting a head start in recovery

On World Cancer Day on February 4, we look at how cancer prehabilitation helps patients recover more quickly and better handle treatment.

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United States & Canada

As US readied next moon mission, something dangerous caught Nasa off guard

Four astronauts are to fly around the moon and back, but hydrogen leaks push planned launch to at least March.

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OPINION
Letters

Letters | How Hong Kong can help cement the UK-China relationship

Letters
Ningrong Liu

Opinion | Surging stocks could help China become more than an export powerhouse

Ningrong Liu
Alex Lo

As I see it | Epstein files reveal the underbelly of Western elites

Alex Lo
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SCMP Editorial

Editorial | China well placed to take advantage of the shift away from the US dollar

SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Opinion | With US-Russia treaty set to expire, threat of a new nuclear arms race grows

SCMP Editorial
Harry’s View | 4 Feb 2026
February 4, 2026
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LATEST

Health & Wellness

What is cancer ‘prehab’? How patients are getting a head start in recovery

Hong Kong

Hong Kong equestrian learns age is no barrier to success at inspiring 5-star show

Politics

Calls grow for tougher rules to track foreign-paid ‘trolls’ in Philippines

Tech

Chinese AI firms defend safety practices, push back on Western criticism

100 Top Tables

Your Hong Kong weekend food guide for February 6-8

Southeast Asia

Friend or foe? Leaked Vietnamese military document labels US ‘belligerent’

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SCMP Series
Year of the Horse 2026
China Inc. goes global
Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy
Posties 27 Feb 2013. Features_Fantasy landscape with unicorn and a big moon Shutterstock Stock Photo: Image ID: 106687580 __One time use only
SCMP SeriesYear of the Horse 2026

The magic of unicorns: why this mythical horned horse still has us under its spell

From ancient Indus Valley seals to Starbucks cups, the unicorn has long served as a symbol of magic and hope.

How Rats can appease the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026

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This 17-year-old Hong Kong show jumper is making a name at home and abroad

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

China

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

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Tech Trends

Open Questions | Jeffrey Ding on why diffusion, not innovation, is the secret to AI success

Professor says a ‘diffusion marathon’, where AI is gradually embedded in an economy over decades, will determine the winner of US-China tech war.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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Tech Trends

‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot plans

Tesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers.

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Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is seen on display at a company showroom in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Tesla, Xiaomi vie for Chinese EV buyers with cheaper, longer loans

Low interest rates and seven-year payback periods replace price discounts while EV sales drop and materials costs rise.

Tech

Mainland memory firms eye Hong Kong for funds to fuel ‘global ambitions’

Several suppliers aim to follow in the footsteps of Montage Technology, which is set to raise US$896 million and debuts next week.

China Economy

How a regulatory change could help China’s C919 jet take on Airbus and Boeing

Chinese regulators have opened the door to letting the C919 use narrow runways, which could boost the plane’s prospects in Southeast Asia.

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A C919 passenger jet performs a fly-by at the Singapore Airshow in 2024. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

China’s expat pilots arrived on a red carpet – now, they’re taking a red-eye out

Well-paid foreign pilots once flocked to Chinese airlines – but winds have shifted as domestic talent steps up and airlines limit fleet expansions.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

China Economy

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

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China

The future of AI in music? US and China strike different chords

As generative music tools surge, China turns to state oversight while the US relies on courts, copyright suits and settlements.

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Diplomacy

How will China respond as US expands foreign ship seizures?

The question is whether high-seas US actions will alarm Beijing into deploying naval safeguards or prompt similar moves in Taiwan Strait.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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