China’s canal link to Southeast Asia; Malaysia’s ‘illegal’ temple row: SCMP’s 7 highlights
From free Disneyland tickets for Hong Kong’s helpers to China’s link to Southeast Asia, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting
1. ‘Time is ripe’: why China is eyeing another vast canal link to Southeast Asia
China has almost finished building the US$10 billion Pinglu Canal to deepen trade ties between its southwestern provinces and Southeast Asia. Now, it is considering an even more ambitious – and expensive – project further inland.
2. Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimes
A Hong Kong court sentenced former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison on Monday for violating the national security law, closing a chapter on what has become a geopolitical flashpoint between China and the West.
3. China failed to hit 2025 soybean meal dependence target. US deal makes it harder
China has been working to cut the use of soybean meal in animal feed – the primary end-use of imported soybeans – as part of its strategy to reduce external dependence, but the latest industry data suggests these efforts have made limited headway.