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Latest
China
Economy
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Asia
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Developing | Zhu Rongji, China’s chief engineer of economic reform, dies aged 97

Zhu, who rose to become premier, spearheaded China’s entry into the World Trade Organization.

Zhu Rongji, who was premier of China from 1998 to 2003, has died aged 97. Photo: Robert Ng
Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, has died aged 97. Here, as Shanghai mayor in April 1988, he speaks after the first preliminary meeting of the 9th Shanghai People’s Congress. Photo: SCMP
Then Shanghai mayor Zhu Rongji addresses a press conference during a visit to Hong Kong on June 12, 1990. Photo: SCMP

Politics

Blackout at Terracotta Army museum prompts cultural safety review in China

Policy

EU’s new packaging rules leave China’s traders feeling boxed in

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Health & Environment

Contractor ordered to fix faulty lifts causing Queen Mary Hospital block delay

Lawmaker says situation involving Anlev Elex Elevator ‘unacceptable’, warning it could further delay HK$13.5 billion redevelopment project.

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Clinical Block 1 forms part of the first phase of Queen Mary Hospital’s multibillion-dollar redevelopment. Photo: Hospital Authority
SERIES: Hong Kong’s 5-year plan

In Focus | Why does Hong Kong need a 5-year plan – and will it curb its free-market economy?

As Hong Kong embraces long-term planning for the first time, economists and officials debate whether strategic state guidance can coexist with its open, market-led economy.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Diplomacy

China approves Japanese envoy in Chongqing, ending 8-month vacancy

Shigehiro Nishiumi fills post at consulate in southwestern megacity left open amid diplomatic row over Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan comments.

Shigehiro Nishiumi has been approved as the new Japanese acting consul general in Chongqing. He previously served in Japan’s consulate in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Chinese culture

7 Hungry Ghost Festival taboos to avoid to keep unwanted spirits at bay

Spirits are believed to roam the world when the gates of the underworld open, and actions such as picking up loose change can attract them.

Paper offerings during Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations in Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong, on August 17, 2021. Photo: May Tse

Lifestyle

What drives 4 Shaw Prize laureates in pursuit of scientific discovery

In partnership with:The Shaw Prize
Four of this year’s Shaw Prize laureates: (from left) Ken’ichi Nomoto, Stanford Woosley, Camillo De Lellis and Emmanuel Candes.

Politics

Will Philippines win race to secure Pax Silica hub before neighbours do?

Top diplomat warns Manila risks losing out on the opportunity if it ‘drops the ball’, even as environmental and sovereignty concerns grow.

A protester holds a sign during a rally on a road leading to the US embassy in Manila on July 13, expressing opposition to Philippines-US defence agreements and the US-led Pax Silica initiative. Photo: EPA

Military

PLA to hold first joint naval drill with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan

As Washington and its allies tighten cooperation in the region, Beijing steps up defence ties with Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.

Crew members of the Chinese navy vessel Qi Jiguang wave as the ship prepares to dock at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, Indonesia, on August 2. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

Tencent capex jumps 176% on AI push as revenue beats estimates

Revenue hit US$30.4 billion for the quarter ending in June, surpassing projections compiled by Bloomberg.

The Tencent booth at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

China’s top court highlights first Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law ruling in Shanghai

Supreme People’s Court says judgment was first to ‘explicitly establish the mandatory application’ of five-year-old law.

China’s Shanghai Maritime Court ruled against a Singaporean company, and in favour of a Hong Kong company, in a case involving US sanctions. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech Trends

Robot in a pocket: Honor’s new phone camera nods back at users

The Chinese smartphone maker has integrated embodied AI to control camera movement, along with other features to boost interest amid a cooling market.

Chinese smartphone maker Honor has launched the Robot Phone, a handset with a motorised, fold-out gimbal camera. Photo: Handout
Chinese smartphone maker Honor has launched the Robot Phone, a handset with a motorised, fold-out gimbal camera. Photo: Handout
Chinese smartphone maker Honor has launched the Robot Phone, a handset with a motorised, fold-out gimbal camera. Photo: Handout
Chinese smartphone maker Honor has launched the Robot Phone, a handset with a motorised, fold-out gimbal camera. Photo: Handout

Military

After China’s missile test, US and allies demand 24-hour warning next time

Beijing hits back at Washington over ‘political manipulation’, arguing it protected others’ interests during the July launch.

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Beijing described the launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine as part of its annual military training and said relevant countries had been notified in advance. Photo: AFP

China Business

China’s EV sales keep sliding as incentives fade and price war seen heating up

A seven-month domestic downturn contrasts with a 147.8 per cent jump in overseas shipments, highlighting a widening gap between domestic and export markets.

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Electric vehicles made by Volkswagen are seen on a production line in China’s Anhui province earlier this year. Photo: Reuters

Politics

North Korea missile launch hints at upgraded weapons exports to Russia

North Korea usually reports launches but its silence in the recent tests raises the possibility they involved a top-secret new missile.

People in Seoul watch a news broadcast about a North Korean missile launch on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Tech

Chinese AI start-up ModelBest kicks off pre-IPO tutoring process on mainland

Company says it has hired Citic Securities to guide pre-listing preparation but has not announced further details of plans.

ModelBest’s logo . Photo: mrjjxw.com

Politics

Taiwan arrests 2 mainland Chinese after boat slips past defences

Mainland Chinese men in rubber dinghy dismissed as ‘sea clutter’ by coastguard radar operator, raising fresh concerns over island’s security.

A Taiwanese fisherman says this inflatable boat from mainland China sat abandoned on Bali Beach near the Port of Taipei for two days before he alerted police. Photo: Handout

Science

Fruit fusion: how will the market react to China’s lychee-longan creation?

Described as tender and crisp, Cuimi delivers about double the yield compared with Shixia longan, say developers.

Chinese scientists have crossed a lychee with a longan, producing a hybrid fruit called Cuimi that breaks long-standing reproductive barriers between plant genera for the first time. Photo: Guangzhou Daily
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Infographic

Unpacking Hong Kong's five-year plan and its role in China's development

In a milestone moment, Hong Kong will unveil its first-ever five-year plan in September, aligning the city’s priorities with the nation’s 2026-2030 development blueprint.

Unpacking Hong Kong's five-year plan and its role in China's development
Opinion
Tan Poh Hwee
Opinion |

How Hong Kong can unlock the real value of its Asean trade boom

3 hours ago
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Alex Lo
Opinion |

Hong Kong is no longer a Western playground – and it’s not looking back

12 Aug 2026 - 9:30AM
Alex Lo
Letters |

For better mental health, help students connect and build inclusive empathy

12 Aug 2026 - 11:30AM
Winston Mok
Opinion |

If India wants an edge on China, it must study education reform

12 Aug 2026 - 5:30AM
Winston Mok
Editorial |

Hong Kong must act fast to protect workers from heat distress

12 Aug 2026 - 7:15AM
Zhou Bo
Opinion |

A strong China is the best hope for the ‘long peace’ to endure

11 Aug 2026 - 8:30PM
Zhou Bo
Harry’s View | 12 Aug 2026
August 12, 2026
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Economics

Trump’s tariffs plan threatens India’s ‘pharmacy of the world’ status

Law and Crime

Hong Kong student arrested over HK$3m scam deceived by same swindlers

Tech Trends

Robot in a pocket: Honor’s new phone camera nods back at users

Hong Kong Economy

Tech innovator uses AI to rebuild David Webb’s Hong Kong database

Diplomacy

China approves Japanese envoy in Chongqing, ending 8-month vacancy

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SCMP SeriesUS at 250

How America’s 250-year China dream became its greatest strategic challenge

Historians trace how US hopes of trade, reform and friendship gave way to rivalry with the power it once sought to transform.

48

Did Trump’s tariffs paint the US into an economic corner?

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Politics over progress: how US-China tensions slow scientific advancements

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Open Questions series-
Global experts discuss US-China ties, the Chinese economy and more.

Open Questions | ‘Surprising’ how fast China’s military is closing US gap: analyst Lyle Goldstein

Beijing’s challenge is to resist temptation to build the PLA into a ‘hammer looking for a nail’, former US Naval War College professor says.

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Illustration: Brian Wang

Open Questions | China’s military goal is to stand neck and neck with US: ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo

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Open Questions | Nobel laureate Simon Johnson on the AI race and China’s ‘over-automation’ risks

19

Open Questions | Citic Capital’s Zhang Yichen on the ABCs of China’s markets: IPOs, M&As and AI

China Future Tech
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Big Tech

What is delaying Chinese AI giants switching from Nvidia to local chips?

High transition costs are keeping AI developers in China reliant on Nvidia chips, industry sources say.

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Huawei Technologies’ Compute Architecture for Neural Networks requires developers to rewrite and optimise large amounts of code. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech

Chinese AI start-up ModelBest kicks off pre-IPO tutoring process on mainland

China Business

China’s EV sales keep sliding as incentives fade and price war seen heating up

6

Big Tech

Why does SK Hynix want to sell its chip facility in southwest China?

SCMP Shorts
At least 1 dead as another Indonesian ferry catches fire, this time near Bali
At least 1 dead as another Indonesian ferry catches fire, this time near Bali
Colombia hunts for survivors as earthquake death toll climbs to more than 200
Colombia hunts for survivors as earthquake death toll climbs to more than 200
Elephant knocks down EV charging station after member of herd got caught up by cable in China
Elephant knocks down EV charging station after member of herd got caught up by cable in China
Philippines floods and landslides kill at least 12 people, with 8 missing
Philippines floods and landslides kill at least 12 people, with 8 missing
Typhoon Dolphin continues to wreak havoc in China’s Zhejiang province
Typhoon Dolphin continues to wreak havoc in China’s Zhejiang province
SCMP Spotlight

China Economy

In Focus | Why foreign workers are still climbing mountains of paperwork for a job in China

Beijing’s rigid visa points system and strict sponsorship rules frustrate young expats, but most are still undeterred in their job search.

Illustration: Kaliz Lee

China Economy

In Focus | ‘Quiet luxury’: why premium Chinese consumers are embracing home-grown brands

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Military

In Focus | Why China’s military is laser-focused on ‘disruptive’ technologies

20

Military

Why is China’s Communist Party intent on control over the military?

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