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Brian Rhoads
SCMP Plus Editor
Brian Rhoads has been a journalist in Asia and North America for more than three decades, serving in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and the San Francisco area. He graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Political Science in 1987.
Brian Rhoads has been a journalist in Asia and North America for more than three decades, serving in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and the San Francisco area. He graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Political Science in 1987.
Languages Spoken:
English, Mandarin
A booming IPO market, lower interest rates and the return of overseas visitors are boosting Hong Kong’s economy, stock market and Exchange Fund.
The US president’s support for a weaker dollar has helped fuel gold’s gains this year, along with purchases by central banks and retail investors, including in China.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be the fifth world leader to visit China this month, as nations seek to increase trade and hedge their reliance on the US.
The seven-seat Central Military Commission now only has two active members after the downfall of vice-chairman Zhang Youxia and fellow general Liu Zhenli.
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The US president has dropped threats to invade the Danish island, which he has said America ‘needs’ for national security.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer may soon visit Beijing after approving a controversial new Chinese embassy in London, making him the next world leader to face the challenge of balancing relations with China and the US.
A 75 per cent boom in China’s Belt and Road Initiative last year will help lock in resources for the energy transition and AI rush, as well as extending the country’s global reach.
Lost momentum, weak domestic demand and high yardsticks point to a challenging year ahead for the Chinese economy.
The US president’s new global deal-making drive kick-starts what is likely to be a years-long effort to pare reliance on Chinese critical minerals.
Chinese exporters brushed off the US trade war in 2025, partly by finding new markets, while lower oil prices and investments in renewable power kept imports flat amid economic growth.
The EU will waive tariffs on China-made battery electric vehicles if carmakers set a minimum price that offsets the effect of subsidies.
The US president’s suggestion of potential intervention in Iran after the fatal suppression of protests adds new jeopardy to China’s oil imports.
A review of Facebook owner Meta’s plan to buy AI agent Manus and a reported move to deter imports of Nvidia H200 chips show that China is moving to shore up both ends of its AI ecosystem amid US competition.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s success in improving relations with China means little when it comes to the issue of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Toppling of President Maduro by US forces splits UN council, undermines international order and sows doubt in Latin American governments about Chinese and Russian support.
The US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro highlights Chinese reliance on oil and gas imports and will fuel Beijing’s drive to build up renewable energy resources.
Stocks in Hong Kong and China are seen making further gains next year, even as weak consumption and trade risks threaten economic growth.
The US is trying to shut China out of Latin America, even as the Asian nation outlines plans to further grow trade and investment in the resource-rich region.
MetaX shares make their debut on Wednesday after a wildly popular IPO as China’s tech self-sufficiency push fuels investor demand for AI-related stocks.
Getting Chinese consumers to open their wallets after property-market losses is a tough task for leaders seeking to reheat the cooling economy – it may also be the only option.
The Japanese and US air forces flew a training mission over the Sea of Japan in wake of complaints from Tokyo about Chinese military activities in the region.
Policymakers meeting in Beijing this week will probably see few reasons for new stimulus measures after China’s economy largely weathered the US trade war.
Beijing snubbed Nvidia’s H20 chip earlier in the year as China works towards self-sufficiency in technology. Rejecting the vastly more powerful H200 may be harder to do.
The new US National Security Strategy focuses on trade and pushing allies to do more, rather than portraying a global danger.
French President Emmanuel Macron left Ursula von der Leyen in Europe, as European leaders sidestep the EU and seek to boost bilateral ties with China.
The new version of DeepSeek’s AI model is competitive with Google and OpenAI, underscoring how Chinese developers are challenging the US even when forced to rely on less advanced chips.
The central bank’s latest attack on cryptocurrencies, specifically including stablecoins, is sure to cause concerns in Hong Kong among regulators and potential issuers.
An eighth straight month of contraction in manufacturing and weakness in services, suggests that China’s days of 5 per cent annual economic growth are coming to an end.
The fatal housing estate blaze will prompt a review of safety standards in the construction industry, potentially including the use of bamboo scaffolding.
