Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Footage of the test aired by state broadcaster CCTV shows a vehicle flashing across the maglev track, leaving a trail of mist in its wake. Photo: CCTV

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.

14 minutes agovideocam

China aims to deploy maglev rocket launch pad by 2028, challenging SpaceX

Science

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.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

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

Amid heightened tensions, commentator says Beijing has sufficient policy tools in reserve should Tokyo endanger China’s core interests.

3 hours agovideocam

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.

6 hours agovideocam

Focus

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

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.

4 hours agovideocam

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

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

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.

3 hours ago

People & Culture

How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates reshape modern literacy and skills worldwide

Mamadou Amadou Ly and Uri Wilensky help transform teaching and learning through multilingual education and computational thinking.

In partnership with:

Yidan Prize Foundation

The 2025 Yidan Prize laureates Professor Uri Wilensky (left) and Mamadou Amadou Ly help remove barriers to education by transforming how learners access and engage with knowledge.

Society

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

Police and MTR Corporation also warn of crowds at Shenzhen Bay, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau spur line control points.

3 hours ago

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

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.

14 minutes ago

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.

5 hours ago

Society

‘Holding on to hope’: Hong Kong fire survivors make New Year wish for a home

Fire-hit residents wish for long-term resettlement, saying they ‘are more concerned about having a roof over their head’.

25 Dec 2025 - 1:51PM

Residents of Wang Fuk Court are longing to return to the homes they lost in the blaze. Photo: Jelly Tse

Economics

Duopoly of Air India, IndiGo to face challenge from 2 new airlines

The approval for Al Hind Air and FlyExpress to operate in India comes amid mounting calls to challenge the dominance of Air India and IndiGo.

5 hours ago

Aircrafts queue up on the tarmac before taking off at Mumbai airport. Photo: AFP

Russia & Central Asia

‘Christmas under fire’: Ukraine, Russia report fatal air strikes

Ukraine has been warding off a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.

1 hour agovideocam

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.

25 Dec 2025 - 3:00PM

Policy

China broadens foreign investment list in renewed pitch for overseas capital

The catalogue, which lists the sectors carrying policy incentives for overseas investors, has hundreds of new entries, many in advanced manufacturing.

3 hours ago

China’s revised catalogue of encouraged industries has added many sectors, including medical equipment. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

People

Philippine court upholds murder verdict in Duterte’s drug war case

While the ruling has been hailed as a win for human rights, it may not have much impact on Duterte’s ICC case, legal analysts say.

25 Dec 2025 - 2:53PMvideocam

Filipino policemen (from left) Jeremiah Pereda, Arnel Oares and Jerwin Cruz attend a Senate inquiry in Pasay City on August 24, 2017. Photo: EPA

Entertainment

7 film stories from 2025 that readers loved, including a Chow Yun-fat profile

Profiles of Chow Yun-fat, Faye Wong and Deanie Ip and a look at Donnie Yen’s early films were among stories popular with readers this year.

6 hours ago

Global Economy

From Shein to Labubu, French shoppers are buying Chinese for Christmas

This year’s wave of popularity for Chinese brands has not waned in France’s capital, with Shein’s store packed and Labubu dolls dotting trees.

5 hours agovideocam

OPINION

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

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

25 Dec 2025 - 11:30AM

Alex Lo

As I see it | China is now the good guy in climate change

24 Dec 2025 - 9:30AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | China’s resolve to invest in people is economic good sense

24 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

Harry’s View | 25 Dec 2025

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LATEST

14 minutes ago

Tech Trends

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

14 minutes ago

Science

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

54 minutes ago

Society

Hong Kong firefighter unions slam Ip Man producer Checkley Sin over blaze remarks

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Russia & Central Asia

‘Christmas under fire’: Ukraine, Russia report fatal air strikes

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China Business

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

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Olympic snowboarding champ Su becomes first Chinese winner of Big Air World Cup

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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.

1 hour ago

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.

2 hours ago

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.

6 hours ago

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

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 Business

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

20 Dec 2025 - 8:57AM

Diplomacy

China urged to win ‘hearts and minds’ to fill leadership void as US retreats

Experts pushing Beijing’s vision for a new world order say nation can offer an ‘important alternative’ but it needs to improve its messaging.

19 Dec 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Beijing wants to fill the void as Washington steps back from its leadership role on the world stage under US President Donald Trump and his “America first” policy. Photo: Reuters

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.

China aims to deploy maglev rocket launch pad by 2028, challenging SpaceX

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.

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

Amid heightened tensions, commentator says Beijing has sufficient policy tools in reserve should Tokyo endanger China’s core interests.

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.

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

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.

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.

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-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates reshape modern literacy and skills worldwide

Mamadou Amadou Ly and Uri Wilensky help transform teaching and learning through multilingual education and computational thinking.

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

Police and MTR Corporation also warn of crowds at Shenzhen Bay, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau spur line control points.

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.

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.

‘Holding on to hope’: Hong Kong fire survivors make New Year wish for a home

Fire-hit residents wish for long-term resettlement, saying they ‘are more concerned about having a roof over their head’.

Duopoly of Air India, IndiGo to face challenge from 2 new airlines

The approval for Al Hind Air and FlyExpress to operate in India comes amid mounting calls to challenge the dominance of Air India and IndiGo.

‘Christmas under fire’: Ukraine, Russia report fatal air strikes

Ukraine has been warding off a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.

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.

China broadens foreign investment list in renewed pitch for overseas capital

The catalogue, which lists the sectors carrying policy incentives for overseas investors, has hundreds of new entries, many in advanced manufacturing.

Philippine court upholds murder verdict in Duterte’s drug war case

While the ruling has been hailed as a win for human rights, it may not have much impact on Duterte’s ICC case, legal analysts say.

7 film stories from 2025 that readers loved, including a Chow Yun-fat profile

Profiles of Chow Yun-fat, Faye Wong and Deanie Ip and a look at Donnie Yen’s early films were among stories popular with readers this year.

From Shein to Labubu, French shoppers are buying Chinese for Christmas

This year’s wave of popularity for Chinese brands has not waned in France’s capital, with Shein’s store packed and Labubu dolls dotting trees.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}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

As I see it | China is now the good guy in climate change

Editorial | China’s resolve to invest in people is economic good sense

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

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

Hong Kong firefighter unions slam Ip Man producer Checkley Sin over blaze remarks

‘Christmas under fire’: Ukraine, Russia report fatal air strikes

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

Olympic snowboarding champ Su becomes first Chinese winner of Big Air World Cup

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.

‘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.

Are Chinese biotechs what the doctor ordered as Big Pharma faces ‘patent cliff’?

US drug makers are racing to plug looming ‘patent cliff’ revenue gaps – and increasingly they are turning to China biotechs.

China urged to win ‘hearts and minds’ to fill leadership void as US retreats

Experts pushing Beijing’s vision for a new world order say nation can offer an ‘important alternative’ but it needs to improve its messaging.

How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates reshape modern literacy and skills worldwide

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

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