https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/318710/feed Founded by Richard Liu Qiangdong in 1998, JD.com’s business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce platform has become China’s second largest online B2C retailers, specialising in electronics, smartphones, and gadgets. JD.com is a key rival of Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms Tmall and Taobao. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Chris Tsang Chris Tsang Purpose-built student accommodation is drawing mainland Chinese university students away from Hong Kong’s traditional rental market, as professionally managed residences gain favour despite charging higher rents than many private flats. Some students said dedicated student housing offered greater convenience, stronger security, more predictable costs and a better living environment, helping offset higher rents and, in some cases, longer commutes. Qi Zhonghao, a mainland Chinese student pursuing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/property/article/3368296/despite-higher-costs-hong-kongs-student-residences-attract-mainland-chinese-renters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/property/article/3368296/despite-higher-costs-hong-kongs-student-residences-attract-mainland-chinese-renters Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:29 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Shanghai’s bustling riverfront has become the latest testing ground for urban logistics technology, with McDonald’s and Chinese food-delivery giant Meituan joining forces to launch the country’s first catering brand-exclusive drone-delivery route. Commencing operations last week, the new service allows visitors strolling or exercising along the scenic West Bund area in Shanghai’s Xuhui district to have their fast-food orders ‘airdropped’ directly to designated kiosks, according to a recent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3367482/cloudy-chance-big-macs-mcdonalds-and-meituan-launch-drone-route-shanghai https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3367482/cloudy-chance-big-macs-mcdonalds-and-meituan-launch-drone-route-shanghai Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:38:38 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Qatar is stepping up efforts to attract Chinese companies as the US-Israel war on Iran disrupts trade routes in the Gulf, adding urgency to a broader push by Chinese businesses to diversify supply chains and establish operations closer to customers. “Diversification of supply chain is going ahead anyway, right across the world,” said Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Thani, a member of Qatar’s ruling Thani family and chief executive of Qatar-based logistics solutions company WareOne. Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/markets/article/3367284/qatar-seeks-capture-chinas-growing-gulf-logistics-push-war-disrupts-trade-routes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/markets/article/3367284/qatar-seeks-capture-chinas-growing-gulf-logistics-push-war-disrupts-trade-routes Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:00:30 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng For Cindy Wang, the newly opened “community store” near her home in Guangzhou has been a godsend: the small outlet is cheaper than a traditional supermarket, but offers a bigger range of groceries than convenience stores like 7-Eleven. The 20-something now often stops off at the shop after work to pick up a few items. On an early September evening, she has bagged a bottle of milk for just 7 yuan (US$1), a 2.5 yuan beer and some mangoes priced at 10 yuan per kilogram. “It’s convenient and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367228/why-chinese-shoppers-are-ditching-supermarkets-small-community-stores https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367228/why-chinese-shoppers-are-ditching-supermarkets-small-community-stores Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is accelerating its push into robotics with a sweeping plan to automate its nationwide logistics network, while promising to retrain its vast workforce of couriers for technical roles as machines take over frontline duties. At an event in Beijing on Wednesday, the company’s logistics arm unveiled its industrial Wolf Robot series. Over the next five years, JD Logistics aimed to procure 3 million robots, 1 million unstaffed vehicles and 100,000 delivery drones to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3366884/jdcom-deploy-3-million-robots-fully-automate-logistics https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3366884/jdcom-deploy-3-million-robots-fully-automate-logistics Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:25:50 +0000 Olga Wong,Eric Jiang Olga Wong,Eric Jiang Hong Kong’s flagship tech hub at the border with mainland China received bids from firms specialising in cutting-edge fields such as chips, artificial intelligence and quantum technology, the South China Morning Post has learned. The government last week said that it received an “enthusiastic response” to the tender for four land parcels in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), with a better-than-expected six bids submitted. The sites are earmarked for laboratories and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366667/ai-chip-firms-among-bidders-flagship-northern-metropolis-tech-hub-border https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366667/ai-chip-firms-among-bidders-flagship-northern-metropolis-tech-hub-border Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s health regulators have granted approvals for a string of brain-technology products this year, as domestic start-ups push to transform the treatment of conditions ranging from paraplegia to Alzheimer’s and depression. The approvals come as Beijing bids to lead the world in brain-computer interfaces – devices that allow patients to control digital devices using thought alone – offering generous policy support to help Chinese firms compete with overseas players such as Elon Musk’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366040/china-approves-string-telepathy-devices-amid-push-leapfrog-elon-musk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366040/china-approves-string-telepathy-devices-amid-push-leapfrog-elon-musk Wed, 02 Sep 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye JD.com’s rapid expansion in Hong Kong could challenge the property model that has long made the city’s busiest streets and shopping centres its most valuable, analysts say. The Chinese e-commerce giant has invested more than HK$10 billion (US$1.3 billion) in Hong Kong property over the past two years, building a network of stores, warehouses and other assets that analysts said could reduce the importance of footfall for some retailers while increasing the value of logistics hubs and other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3365657/jdcoms-us13b-expansion-could-test-hong-kongs-footfall-driven-retail-property-model https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3365657/jdcoms-us13b-expansion-could-test-hong-kongs-footfall-driven-retail-property-model Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang On-demand delivery giant Meituan swung back to profitability in the second quarter as China’s price war in food delivery cooled, allowing the company to scale back subsidies and target higher-value customers. Beijing-based Meituan posted an adjusted net profit of 2.5 billion yuan (US$372 million) for the June quarter, snapping a three-quarter losing streak according to its earnings report on Friday. The figure beat average analyst forecasts of 340 million yuan compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue rose... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3365595/meituan-snaps-losing-streak-profitable-june-quarter-though-douyin-threat-looms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3365595/meituan-snaps-losing-streak-profitable-june-quarter-though-douyin-threat-looms Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:10:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The HK$1.03 billion (US$132 million) tender for 10.5 hectares in the Northern Metropolis is a landmark in Hong Kong’s development. A consortium comprising five mainland state-owned and private companies as well as local developer Sino Land has been awarded the first batches of land in the pilot area in Hung Shui Kiu. The mainland partners will diversify the financial risks and help Hong Kong align with national goals under the 15th five-year plan. The transaction sets a good example for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365294/consortium-won-northern-metropolis-plot-shows-way-forward https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365294/consortium-won-northern-metropolis-plot-shows-way-forward Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Mainland Chinese enterprises will play a key role in developing Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis by sharing financial risks and helping align the megaproject with national strategy, according to real estate and political advisers. Their analysis followed the award of the blueprint’s first pilot area in Hung Shui Kiu to HSK New Development, a consortium led by five mainland giants and local developer Sino Land on Monday. Pledging an investment of HK$16.8 billion (US$2.14 billion), the consortium... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365244/mainland-chinese-firms-share-risks-deliver-northern-metropolis-success-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365244/mainland-chinese-firms-share-risks-deliver-northern-metropolis-success-analysts Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:32:23 +0000 Cannix Yau,Eric Jiang Cannix Yau,Eric Jiang JD.com may be a major logistics leader in mainland China, but as part of a joint venture that won the first land project in the Northern Metropolis, it must overcome labour and road traffic hurdles to become an economic driver in Hong Kong, experts have said. Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, chairman of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company – the first government-owned entity established to accelerate development of the Northern Metropolis – said on Tuesday that JD.com’s participation in the project... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365235/jdcom-boosts-northern-metropolis-logistics-hub-hurdles-loom-experts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365235/jdcom-boosts-northern-metropolis-logistics-hub-hurdles-loom-experts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:02:04 +0000 Edith Lin,Ambrose Li Edith Lin,Ambrose Li A consortium comprising mainland Chinese state-owned and private heavyweights together with a major Hong Kong developer has won the first “large-scale land disposal” project in the Northern Metropolis for HK$1.03 billion (US$132 million), with total investment projected at HK$16.8 billion. The Development Bureau announced the results on Monday, awarding the tender for the 10.5-hectare development project in Hung Shui Kiu to the six-company joint venture, HSK New Development. It comprises... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365084/consortium-wins-northern-metropolis-project-hk103b-bid https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365084/consortium-wins-northern-metropolis-project-hk103b-bid Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:03:49 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Midway through a three-month negotiating period with Beijing, new data shows the trade balances of 24 European Union member states are still moving in what Brussels considers to be the wrong direction. China extended its trade surplus over all but three EU members in July compared to a year earlier, calculations based on new Chinese customs figures showed. In some instances, the monthly swing was dramatic. China’s surplus with Sweden quadrupled, while for Malta it rose by 166.6 per cent. For... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364791/chinas-trade-grip-tightens-europe-clock-ticks-towards-october-deadline https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364791/chinas-trade-grip-tightens-europe-clock-ticks-towards-october-deadline Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Beijing has banned Chinese entities from assisting with a European Union investigation into e-commerce giant JD.com under the bloc’s foreign subsidies regulation (FSR). A statement from China’s Ministry of Justice on Wednesday condemned the probe as “undue extraterritorial jurisdiction measures”, ordering that “no organisation or individual may execute or assist in the execution”. In May, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether JD.com’s proposed takeover of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364599/china-blocks-firms-aiding-eus-jdcom-probe-regulatory-clash-deepens https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364599/china-blocks-firms-aiding-eus-jdcom-probe-regulatory-clash-deepens Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:40:51 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Some of Wall Street’s best-known billionaire investors are reshuffling their bets on Chinese technology stocks amid the artificial-intelligence boom, with Stanley Druckenmiller returning to the market for the first time in more than two years with a stake in Baidu. Druckenmiller, an investor known for his decades-long track record of outsized returns, bought 88,200 of Baidu’s American depositary receipts (ADRs) – US-traded securities that represent shares in the Chinese company – through his... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3364358/several-us-billionaire-investors-reshuffle-their-chinese-technology-stocks-amid-ai-boom https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3364358/several-us-billionaire-investors-reshuffle-their-chinese-technology-stocks-amid-ai-boom Tue, 18 Aug 2026 03:00:17 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com saw its second-quarter net profit soar 15 per cent year on year to 7.1 billion yuan (US$1.1 billion), beating market expectations despite a slight dip in overall revenue, as it contends with sluggish domestic consumer demand, fierce competition and a push into new business lines. Net revenue for the three months ended June 30 fell 2.9 per cent to 346.4 billion yuan, according to a company announcement on Thursday, but still surpassed the 342.1 billion yuan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3363931/jdcoms-second-quarter-profit-climbs-15-food-delivery-losses-narrow https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3363931/jdcoms-second-quarter-profit-climbs-15-food-delivery-losses-narrow Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:11:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi For international retailers like DFI Retail Group, which operates 7-Eleven and Maxim’s in 12 global markets, mainland China is a tough market to crack given its “unsustainable” online subsidies, according to an executive. “I think customers in China still have a very value-focused, careful use of their money [approach], and they still have a little bit of an unrealistic view as to what pricing should be,” said Scott Price, chief executive of the Asian retail giant, in a recent interview. “I... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363400/dfi-navigates-hardest-market-china-7-eleven-stores-profit-despite-online-price-wars https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363400/dfi-navigates-hardest-market-china-7-eleven-stores-profit-despite-online-price-wars Sun, 09 Aug 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Chinese start-ups and researchers are racing to bring brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to market that can be implanted in just a few minutes, as Beijing pushes to nurture home-grown players in the sector to compete with Elon Musk’s Neuralink. The Chinese devices – which enable patients to control digital technology using their thoughts alone – can be inserted via a vein like a stent, unlike conventional BCIs that require patients to undergo brain surgery. StairMed Technology – one of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3363443/china-races-develop-brain-computer-interfaces-can-be-inserted-10-minutes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3363443/china-races-develop-brain-computer-interfaces-can-be-inserted-10-minutes Sun, 09 Aug 2026 09:50:10 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has launched a smart helmet for food couriers with features enabled by artificial intelligence technology, following similar roll-outs by rivals Alibaba Group Holding and Meituan as they seek to improve rider safety and boost delivery efficiency. The helmet integrates an AI-driven voice assistant with a camera that can “see” the surrounding environment, JD.com’s food delivery unit announced on Monday. The company said the device was designed to minimise... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362761/chinas-tech-giants-race-put-ai-delivery-riders-heads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362761/chinas-tech-giants-race-put-ai-delivery-riders-heads Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese stocks trading overseas may emerge as a shelter for global investors, as confusion over the Federal Reserve’s monetary path drives diversification away from US equities and bonds amid a stumbling artificial intelligence trade. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index of the biggest Chinese companies listed in the US has bucked a broader sell-off since the Fed’s July rate-decision meeting, rising 1.7 per cent. The Nasdaq-100 slumped 2.1 per cent and longer-dated Treasuries also fell during... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362385/us-listed-chinese-stocks-benefit-fed-policy-haze-drives-rotation-amid-ai-slump https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362385/us-listed-chinese-stocks-benefit-fed-policy-haze-drives-rotation-amid-ai-slump Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s unaddressed economic structural problems are swallowing profits and leaving its multinationals falling far behind their US peers in the latest Fortune Global 500 list, despite its firms remaining strong in terms of revenue. The profit gap between Chinese and US companies has continued to widen. Chinese companies posted an average profit of US$4.5 billion in 2025, or some 40 per cent of the US$11.24 billion recorded by their US counterparts, according to the list released by Fortune... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362234/why-has-china-us-profit-gap-widened-fortune-global-500 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362234/why-has-china-us-profit-gap-widened-fortune-global-500 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft An annual e-commerce shopping festival supporting Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises will expand into the Asean region for the first time via Singapore and Malaysia, with plans to include other countries in future. The Trade Development Council, the organiser, said on Tuesday that the third edition of the annual Hong Kong Shopping Festival, launching next month, had attracted a record number of local brands across its mainland China and Asean editions this year. The annual festival,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3362145/hong-kong-shopping-festival-eyes-asean-expansion-singapore-malaysia-first https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3362145/hong-kong-shopping-festival-eyes-asean-expansion-singapore-malaysia-first Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:47:29 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ann Cao Xiaofei Xu,Ann Cao Beijing expressed “strong dissatisfaction and serious concern” on Wednesday, urging the European Union to treat Chinese companies fairly after Brussels slapped e-commerce platform AliExpress with a €550 million (US$630 million) fine for breaching the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). “China firmly opposes the EU’s use of platform regulation as a pretext to erect digital barriers and adopt discriminatory measures that restrict and suppress the normal business operations of Chinese e-commerce... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3361491/beijing-vows-protect-chinese-firms-after-eu-hits-alibaba-unit-fine https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3361491/beijing-vows-protect-chinese-firms-after-eu-hits-alibaba-unit-fine Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:22 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Ikea’s parent company Ingka Group has hired property consultancy JLL as its sole sales agent to offload eight retail properties in mainland China, the multinational furniture brand’s largest asset disposal since it entered the market nearly 30 years ago. Seven of the properties were Ikea stores that ceased their operations in February. The remaining one, a site in Guiyang in the southern province of Guizhou, shut down in 2022 and has been vacant ever since, according to disclosure from JLL last... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361167/ikeas-china-remodelling-parent-firm-puts-eight-former-retail-sites-block https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361167/ikeas-china-remodelling-parent-firm-puts-eight-former-retail-sites-block Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese technology stocks trading in Hong Kong are emerging as beneficiaries of tumult in the South Korean market, analysts say, pointing to investors rotating out of crowded bets and into undervalued assets, positioning for a rebound. The Hang Seng Tech Index, which tracks Alibaba and other key Hong Kong-listed Chinese tech companies, has risen about 10 per cent from a June 26 low. Meanwhile, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) has technically slid into a bear market after a 20 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3360904/south-koreas-turbulence-seen-boon-hong-kong-stocks-capital-migration-under-way https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3360904/south-koreas-turbulence-seen-boon-hong-kong-stocks-capital-migration-under-way Fri, 17 Jul 2026 05:59:53 +0000 Ben Jiang,Wency Chen Ben Jiang,Wency Chen Chinese frontier artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek is in talks with investors to raise a new financing round at around US$70 billion pre-investment valuation, shortly after closing a landmark first round, reflecting unquenched investor enthusiasm for the company. The plan comes on the heels of the Chinese AI darling’s recently closed Series A funding round in June – its first external funding round – which brought in about US$7 billion and valued the Hangzhou-based firm at nearly US$60... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3360626/ai-investor-mania-chinas-deepseek-chases-us70-billion-valuation-fresh-round https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3360626/ai-investor-mania-chinas-deepseek-chases-us70-billion-valuation-fresh-round Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:11:30 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Dongfang Suanxin, a Chinese semiconductor start-up backed by state funds and domestic tech giants, has unveiled an ambitious plan to challenge American market leader Nvidia by using alternative chip architectures to sidestep United States-led export controls. The Shanghai-based firm announced on Monday that its strategy was built on software-defined computing and 3D-stacked near-memory architecture, which it said could reduce reliance on the advanced manufacturing processes and cutting-edge... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3360415/nvidias-future-challenger-chinese-start-reveals-aggressive-ai-chip-road-map https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3360415/nvidias-future-challenger-chinese-start-reveals-aggressive-ai-chip-road-map Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Stretches of green farmland and shimmering ponds, winding village roads and sprawling brownfield logistics yards all lend Hung Shui Kiu in the New Territories a patchwork look of rustic Hong Kong standing in stark contrast to its glistening skyscrapers. This rural landscape is slated for radical transformation under the government’s ambitious Northern Metropolis blueprint and is primed to be reinvented as a modernised logistics hub in the near future. However, the premise of this transformation... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3360033/why-did-only-2-hong-kong-developers-put-their-hands-northern-metropolis-project https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3360033/why-did-only-2-hong-kong-developers-put-their-hands-northern-metropolis-project Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Mark Greeven Mark Greeven The world’s attention is fixed on frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models, but China’s robot-making factories deserve just as much attention. Chinese e-commerce company JD.com has predicted that robots would ultimately replace its 700,000 delivery workers, while workers at South Korean carmaker Hyundai are threatening strike action over issues including the roll-out of robots. These are early signs of what could be China’s next export shock. The first “China shock” was from its low-cost... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3359052/china-shock-30-coming-and-itll-be-ai-powered-robots https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3359052/china-shock-30-coming-and-itll-be-ai-powered-robots Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao A Chinese artificial intelligence chip start-up led by industry veteran Wei Shaojun has emerged from stealth mode, joining giants like Huawei Technologies in betting on 3D stacking to bypass US tech export controls. Dongfang Suanxin, a company headed by Wei, who is also vice-president of the China Semiconductor Industry Association, has stepped into the spotlight by launching a corporate website and social media account, positioning itself as a new but formidable player in China’s AI computing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3359336/chinese-ai-chip-start-exits-stealth-mode-bets-3d-stacking-bypass-us-controls https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3359336/chinese-ai-chip-start-exits-stealth-mode-bets-3d-stacking-bypass-us-controls Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hong Kong’s first Northern Metropolis pilot tender drew only two confirmed bidders on Friday, underscoring the challenge facing the government’s effort to enlist private developers in delivering not only homes but also its broader technology and industrial ambitions. Henderson Land Development submitted the only stand-alone bid, while Sino Land teamed up with four mainland developers and Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com in a consortium. Three other major developers – CK Asset, New World... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3359400/why-hong-kongs-major-developers-stayed-out-northern-metropolis-first-pilot-tender https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3359400/why-hong-kongs-major-developers-stayed-out-northern-metropolis-first-pilot-tender Sun, 05 Jul 2026 03:00:14 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s development chief has welcomed the collaboration between property developers and industry operators in bids for a Northern Metropolis pilot project, saying the consortium reflected diversity and the government’s aim of pairing the two sectors. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho made the remarks on Saturday despite the government receiving only two bids for the Hung Shui Kiu project when the tender closed a day earlier. Henderson Land Development submitted a standalone... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3359416/development-chief-hails-diversified-consortium-northern-metropolis-pilot-bid https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3359416/development-chief-hails-diversified-consortium-northern-metropolis-pilot-bid Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:48:23 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Only two bids were submitted on Friday for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis pilot project, with Henderson Land Development and Sino Land joining five partners in a consortium including JD.com and four mainland state-backed developers. The Development Bureau said it had received two bids by the tender’s noon deadline for the flagship Hung Shui Kiu project, making Henderson Land and Sino Land the only Hong Kong developers to participate in the government’s first large-scale land sale under a new... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3359263/henderson-sino-join-jdcom-bid-hong-kongs-first-northern-metropolis-pilot-project https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3359263/henderson-sino-join-jdcom-bid-hong-kongs-first-northern-metropolis-pilot-project Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:25:56 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang UBTech Robotics, the world’s first publicly traded humanoid robot maker, has launched a consumer humanoid designed for personal companionship, featuring lifelike silicone skin and emotional artificial intelligence, as Chinese tech firms increasingly transition robots from the factory floor to the family living room. The U1, unveiled on Tuesday in Shenzhen, comes in male and female versions, standing 183cm and 168cm tall, respectively. The model is available in Lite, Pro and Ultra variants,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3358884/ubtechs-lifelike-humanoid-robots-built-companionship-arriving-homes-across-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3358884/ubtechs-lifelike-humanoid-robots-built-companionship-arriving-homes-across-china Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:00:08 +0000 dpa dpa UK Trade Secretary Peter Kyle is seeking to boost UK services exports to China as he hosts a delegation from the country on Tuesday. Peter Kyle and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will jointly host the 15th UK–China Joint Economic and Trade Commission at Mansion House in London. They will launch a “trade booster” initiative designed to support UK businesses expanding their exports into China during the visit. Brompton Bikes and HSBC are among the British businesses attending, while firms... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3358956/uk-trade-secretary-hosts-chinese-delegation-bid-boost-services https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3358956/uk-trade-secretary-hosts-chinese-delegation-bid-boost-services Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:27:59 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com’s €2.2 billion (US$2.5 billion) bid to acquire Europe’s largest electronics retailer Ceconomy has received the green light from German authorities as China and the European Union engage in high-stakes trade talks. Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy approved the deal after a review of its potential impact on the country’s public order and security, subject to conditions that the Chinese tech giant would ensure the personal data of Ceconomy’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3358902/jdcoms-bid-europes-ceconomy-clears-german-hurdle-eu-subsidy-probe-looms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3358902/jdcoms-bid-europes-ceconomy-clears-german-hurdle-eu-subsidy-probe-looms Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:41:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese technology companies establishing new headquarters and offices in northern cities around Beijing are expected to boost local rental demand, but analysts say home sales growth will be far milder than the surges delivered by traditional tech firms in previous years. Local governments hoping that red-hot artificial intelligence or chip companies setting up headquarters or research and development centres would lift slumping property markets as in the previous cycle were likely to be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3358482/will-chinas-new-northern-tech-bases-hebei-and-tianjin-spark-local-housing-demand https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3358482/will-chinas-new-northern-tech-bases-hebei-and-tianjin-spark-local-housing-demand Sun, 28 Jun 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Judy Xue Judy Xue South Korean convenience store giant CU has been testing the waters in China with a limited online trial operation, marking a different approach from other multinational brands that bet big on physical outlets. The brand, operated by BGF Retail which has around 18,600 stores in South Korea, is being cautious to start with. Together with its Chinese partner Ningshing Ubay, it is only selling 11 products on e-commerce platform Tmall under Alibaba Group, which also owns the South China Morning... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3358510/cu-china-why-south-korean-retail-giant-adopting-online-first-strategy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3358510/cu-china-why-south-korean-retail-giant-adopting-online-first-strategy Sat, 27 Jun 2026 02:00:06 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Wency Chen Xiaofei Xu,Wency Chen DeepSeek is looking to “at least double the size of every department” in a new hiring spree, according to an announcement made by the Chinese AI champion on Thursday. The firm announced openings in 33 positions across seven major categories, including full-stack development and algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) core system R&D, deep learning research, and model data strategy product management and engineering. “DeepSeek’s hiring philosophy is to let newcomers take on the most core and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3358394/deepseek-hiring-spree-chinese-ai-firm-seeks-newcomers-it-pursues-agi https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3358394/deepseek-hiring-spree-chinese-ai-firm-seeks-newcomers-it-pursues-agi Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:38:30 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China’s most renowned amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient, Cai Lei, has been battling the illness for seven years following his diagnosis. His wife, Duan Rui, has supported him in her own way, also becoming a pillar for other families affected by ALS. After the former vice-president of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com received his ALS diagnosis in 2019, Cai, now 48, emerged as one of the world’s most determined advocates against the disease, investing over 100 million yuan (US$15 million)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3358200/wife-als-stricken-china-e-commerce-tycoon-refuses-divorce-despite-request https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3358200/wife-als-stricken-china-e-commerce-tycoon-refuses-divorce-despite-request Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks rebounded on Wednesday afternoon after a jittery morning session, bucking overnight tumult in US markets spurred by concerns over frothy tech company valuations and an unwinding of leveraged bets on South Korean chipmakers. The Hang Seng Index had risen 0.3 per cent to 23,412.18 by market close, after a seesawing morning session with multiple changes of direction. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 1.8 per cent, while mainland China’s CSI 300 Index added 0.5 per cent. A rebound in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3358123/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-contrast-overnight-sell-offs-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3358123/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-contrast-overnight-sell-offs-us Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:50:24 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The fierce battle among China’s food delivery giants has moved beyond aggressive discounting, with market leader Meituan accused of paying merchants to provide negative information about a major rival, according to an investigative report by state-owned newspaper Shanghai Securities News. The controversy dates back to October 2025, when Beijing’s market regulator launched a campaign to curb unhealthy competition and price wars in the food delivery sector. The newspaper reported that Meituan paid... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3357945/how-chinas-delivery-giants-are-moving-price-wars-smears-official-media https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3357945/how-chinas-delivery-giants-are-moving-price-wars-smears-official-media Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:45:53 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A former Chinese e-commerce executive in the final stages of a rare disease is still working 12-hour days, devoting what time he has left to accelerating the search for a cure. Cai Lei, 48, a former vice-president of JD.com, one of China’s largest e-commerce companies, has spent seven years battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable disease that progressively attacks motor neurons. His condition has recently deteriorated to an advanced stage. Unable to move or speak, Cai can now... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3357415/only-death-can-stop-me-terminally-ill-chinese-tycoon-works-12-hours-daily-cure-als https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3357415/only-death-can-stop-me-terminally-ill-chinese-tycoon-works-12-hours-daily-cure-als Sun, 21 Jun 2026 01:00:06 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee South Korean e-commerce companies are increasingly turning to Chinese platforms to help sellers tap rising demand for Korean products, offering a lower-cost route into China and other overseas markets without building local operations. 11street, one of South Korea’s major online marketplaces, recently opened a storefront on JD Worldwide, JD.com’s cross-border e-commerce platform, where about 700 million consumers have made at least one purchase over the past year. The store carries products from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3357120/chinas-e-commerce-platforms-help-unlock-global-markets-south-korean-brands https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3357120/chinas-e-commerce-platforms-help-unlock-global-markets-south-korean-brands Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:00:05 +0000 Ben Jiang,Wency Chen Ben Jiang,Wency Chen Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek closed its first-ever external fundraising in an unusual and high-stakes deal that could not only reshape the country’s AI landscape but also offer a rare glimpse into how one of China’s most valuable AI start-ups will navigate its next phase of growth, sources and analysts said. Hangzhou-based DeepSeek now has a post-investment value of about 400 billion yuan (US$59.2 billion) after raising around 50 billion yuan in a Series A round, one source... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3357525/how-deepseeks-landmark-funding-secures-liang-wenfengs-grip-chinas-ai-rivalry-heats https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3357525/how-deepseeks-landmark-funding-secures-liang-wenfengs-grip-chinas-ai-rivalry-heats Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:01:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese authorities introduced draft regulations on Wednesday to crack down on the misuse of subsidies by food-delivery platforms, as Beijing seeks to rein in the sector’s intense competition. The proposed rules, open for public comment until July 17, identify several practices that would be banned, including using subsidies to disrupt the market and selling goods at a loss, according to a statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). “China’s food-delivery platforms... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3357458/china-moves-end-irrational-food-delivery-subsidies-and-sectors-price-wars https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3357458/china-moves-end-irrational-food-delivery-subsidies-and-sectors-price-wars Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:56:00 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Police in mainland China have dismantled a coordinated, months-long smear campaign targeting major e-commerce platforms Alibaba Group Holding and JD.com, as Beijing continues to facilitate fair competition and improve the environment for the private sector. Both companies publicly praised the police in Chengdu, capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province, for “combating online rumours” and “maintaining a clean and healthy online environment”, according to social media posts last week by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3357140/chinese-police-smash-smear-campaign-targeting-alibaba-jdcom-ahead-shopping-festival https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3357140/chinese-police-smash-smear-campaign-targeting-alibaba-jdcom-ahead-shopping-festival Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:06:51 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developer Lai Sun Development, chaired by businessman Peter Lam Kin-ngok, who also chairs the city’s Tourism Board, has launched an exchange offer for its outstanding US$493 million worth of 5 per cent guaranteed notes due July 2026, in an effort to relieve short-term liquidity pressures, the company said Monday in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. Eligible noteholders can swap their existing holdings for new, US dollar-denominated senior guaranteed notes carrying an 8 per cent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3357134/hong-kong-developer-lai-sun-seeks-note-swap-bid-ease-liquidity-pressure https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3357134/hong-kong-developer-lai-sun-seeks-note-swap-bid-ease-liquidity-pressure Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:33:02 +0000 Ji Siqi,Alice Li Ji Siqi,Alice Li Chinese authorities have summoned representatives of US-based membership-only retailer Sam’s Club for an “accountability interview” in response to “frequent food-safety issues”, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced on Monday. According to a notice from the regulator, the Walmart-owned supermarket chain was urged to “prioritise food safety, strictly fulfil social corporate responsibilities, mitigate risks across the entire supply chain and safeguard public health” in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3357098/beijing-summons-sams-club-representatives-over-food-safety-issues https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3357098/beijing-summons-sams-club-representatives-over-food-safety-issues Mon, 15 Jun 2026 03:14:36 +0000