https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/322904/feed Latest news, analysis and opinion on the Communist Party of China which has ruled the country since 1949 and is currently led by General Secretary Xi Jinping. The party currently has over 90 million members and it began to admit private entrepreneurs into its ranks in 2001. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The debate over ethnic identity in Xinjiang has triggered an online clash between Chinese and Turkish social media users. The row began earlier this month when a Turkish social media user recalled an encounter with a Uygur from Xinjiang, the region in China that is home to nearly 12 million mainly Muslim Turkic speakers. The user wrote that the woman did not look Chinese, but when asked whether she considered herself Turkic, the woman responded: “No, I’m Chinese.” The user also called on her to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372077/war-words-over-xinjiang-erupts-between-chinese-and-turkish-social-media-users https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372077/war-words-over-xinjiang-erupts-between-chinese-and-turkish-social-media-users Sun, 25 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei,William Zheng Alcott Wei,William Zheng China’s five-year leadership cycle is getting under way at a provincial level, with new teams being installed in a process that offers important clues to the future of the Communist Party at a national level. Last week, four provinces – Anhui, Henan, Shanxi and Xinjiang – wrapped up their respective party congresses and appointed new standing committees for the next five years. The meetings were held a week before a key party gathering in Beijing – known as the fifth plenum – that runs from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3372064/how-chinas-regional-leadership-changes-offer-clues-future-communist-party https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3372064/how-chinas-regional-leadership-changes-offer-clues-future-communist-party Sun, 25 Oct 2026 10:00:08 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. In the fourth part of this series, William Zheng looks at how the next generation of the party is being formed. When China’s political elites gather behind closed doors in Beijing for the Communist Party’s fifth plenum on Monday, much of the attention will be on the quiet preparations for allocating hundreds of pivotal roles in next year’s 21st... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3372013/chinas-next-generation-leaders-waiting-wings-more-senior-roles https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3372013/chinas-next-generation-leaders-waiting-wings-more-senior-roles Sat, 24 Oct 2026 22:00:28 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang A prominent Chinese economist’s social media channel has been restricted as Beijing steps up regulatory scrutiny of financial market influencers. Chinese internet users on Saturday noticed that the WeChat account of Ren Zeping, known for his outspoken comments on investments and policies, had been stopped from gaining new followers and a member of his team said posting had been suspended. Clicking the follow button generated a message saying “this account cannot be followed due to its violation... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/money-wealth/article/3372032/leading-chinese-economic-commentator-ren-zepings-social-media-account-restricted https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/money-wealth/article/3372032/leading-chinese-economic-commentator-ren-zepings-social-media-account-restricted Sat, 24 Oct 2026 13:50:26 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Kevin Rudd, president of the Asia Society and a former Australian prime minister, described US-China strategic competition as full-on and multidimensional at a Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics event on Friday. “There is a full-blown strategic competition under way in every dimension of national political power and influence, militarily, economically, trade and investment and technology, in foreign policy, in ideology,” said Rudd, a noted China scholar. “It’s across the world,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371990/us-china-strategic-competition-keep-escalating-world-watches-rudd-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371990/us-china-strategic-competition-keep-escalating-world-watches-rudd-says Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:29:03 +0000 William Zheng,Alcott Wei William Zheng,Alcott Wei Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. In the third part of this series, William Zheng and Alcott Wei examine how the fight against corruption is shaping the party’s future. When China’s political elites gather for a key conclave in Beijing later this month, the increasingly empty auditorium will speak loudly to the event’s theme – the ruling Communist Party’s strict self-discipline and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371932/what-will-chinas-fifth-plenum-mean-root-and-branch-corruption-drive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371932/what-will-chinas-fifth-plenum-mean-root-and-branch-corruption-drive Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s Communist Party convened an early monthly Politburo meeting on Friday to review a key internal inspection report, doubling down on its high-pressure anti-corruption campaign ahead of a major party conclave next week. Chaired by President Xi Jinping, the now 21-member Politburo met on Friday – earlier than its traditional end-of-month schedule – to discuss a comprehensive report on the seventh round of inspections by the 20th Central Committee. The latest inspection is a major internal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371960/xi-jinping-leads-early-politburo-meeting-signal-anti-corruption-drive-ahead-plenum https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371960/xi-jinping-leads-early-politburo-meeting-signal-anti-corruption-drive-ahead-plenum Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:26:49 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow A key Communist Party meeting next week in Beijing is likely to be dominated by two themes – the renewal of President Xi Jinping’s long-standing anti-corruption drive and the hunt for clues about a looming leadership reshuffle. “Major issues related to advancing full and rigorous party self-governance” will top the agenda at the fifth plenum of the party’s Central Committee, which runs from Monday to Wednesday. Plenums, which usually take place once a year, draw about 300 delegates and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/politics/article/3371921/china-party-meeting-stocks-slump-hsbc-leads-earnings https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/politics/article/3371921/china-party-meeting-stocks-slump-hsbc-leads-earnings Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:06:52 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang A strong and united party leadership is vital to victory, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a keynote speech on Thursday marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March. Speaking days before an important Communist Party meeting known as the fifth plenum, Xi said the party managed to turn the tide of defeat into a path to victory 90 years ago because it rallied around the leadership of Mao Zedong. By linking the Red Army’s historic endurance with today’s geopolitical struggles,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371796/ahead-communist-party-plenum-xi-jinping-warns-china-faces-new-long-march https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371796/ahead-communist-party-plenum-xi-jinping-warns-china-faces-new-long-march Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:18:11 +0000 Frank Chen,Alice Li Frank Chen,Alice Li Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. This month’s edition, the fifth plenum, is attracting even more attention as the world’s second-largest economy takes on a more prominent role in global affairs. In the first part of this series, Frank Chen and Alice Li track the ways top-level policy decisions flow down to local officials – and the challenges those officials face in balancing a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3371666/china-moving-past-gdp-first-mindset-can-local-officials-get-programme https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3371666/china-moving-past-gdp-first-mindset-can-local-officials-get-programme Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang The Communist Party’s flagship newspaper has urged the public not to underestimate China’s technological achievements after Tesla’s “flying car” demonstration sparked concern in some quarters that the country may be falling behind in the global auto race. The People’s Daily commentary, published on Wednesday, followed the American electric vehicle giant’s unveiling last week of a second-generation Roadster fitted with thrusters developed with SpaceX, the rocket company led by Tesla CEO Elon... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371644/teslas-flying-car-draws-public-concern-china-and-official-response https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371644/teslas-flying-car-draws-public-concern-china-and-official-response Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A Monday article published by the ruling Communist Party’s mouthpiece argued that a key lesson from the Long March was the need for the party to have a strong core leadership and for its members to uphold that core’s authority. “History shows us that only with a core can the party unite as one, and only with authority can its orders be effectively carried out … The most important thing is to establish and resolutely uphold the party’s core,” wrote Xie Chuntao, vice-president of the Central Party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371388/long-march-shows-why-communist-party-needs-strong-leadership-state-media https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371388/long-march-shows-why-communist-party-needs-strong-leadership-state-media Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Eve Qiao Eve Qiao As China marks the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory in the Long March, some young Chinese are looking to the historic journey for guidance as they face uncertainty in their lives and future. For Lyu Leiyiyi, a 22-year-old student at the Communication University of China, the spirit of the Long March offers a sense of stability at a time when people and the environment around her are changing at a dizzying pace. “People in their 20s are going through a period of uncertainty,” Lyu said.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371269/chinas-youth-draw-upon-long-march-spirit-navigate-modern-uncertainties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371269/chinas-youth-draw-upon-long-march-spirit-navigate-modern-uncertainties Sun, 18 Oct 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong Lucy Quaggin,Zhang Tong A Republican lawmaker is requesting the Pentagon blacklist 58 Chinese universities and 62 technology labs as national security threats, a move Beijing calls Cold War-style overreach and critics warn could freeze US-China scientific collaboration and ultimately undermine American innovation itself. In a letter to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar urged the Pentagon to add several prestigious Chinese institutions – some linked to Nvidia,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371212/china-pushes-back-us-lawmaker-seeks-blacklist-universities-and-tech-labs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371212/china-pushes-back-us-lawmaker-seeks-blacklist-universities-and-tech-labs Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:21:54 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei President Xi Jinping has pledged to “uproot sick trees” in the anti-corruption fight, according to a transcript of a speech published by the Communist Party’s flagship magazine ahead of a major party conclave later this month. The warning appeared on Thursday in the magazine Qiushi, which carried fresh details of a speech Xi delivered in January at the fifth plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party’s top anti-corruption watchdog. The speech contained... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371094/xi-pledge-uproot-sick-trees-aired-weeks-ahead-major-party-conclave https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371094/xi-pledge-uproot-sick-trees-aired-weeks-ahead-major-party-conclave Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:05:18 +0000 Alcott Wei,William Zheng,Jun Mai Alcott Wei,William Zheng,Jun Mai For a decade, former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan stood out as a political survivor while colleague after close colleague fell in China’s far-reaching anti-corruption campaign. Throughout that time, including his seven years as the megacity’s mayor from 2009 to 2016, Huang was seen as a “tumbler” in Chinese politics – a weighted doll that wobbles but never falls over. The nickname was well-deserved – he served under six municipal Communist Party secretaries, watching two of them – Bo Xilai and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370903/huang-qifan-chinas-political-tumbler-falls-after-decade-close-corruption-calls https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370903/huang-qifan-chinas-political-tumbler-falls-after-decade-close-corruption-calls Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:13:13 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian A new exhibition about a pioneering school that nurtured talent for the country has opened at a Hong Kong history museum as part of the government’s efforts to promote national education, with many exhibits shown in the city for the first time. “National Development and Achievements Series: Cultivation and Renewal – The Education Legacy of Hong Kong’s Ta Teh Institute”, a free exhibition presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will run at the Hong Kong Museum of History in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3370894/exhibition-pioneering-hong-kong-school-national-talent-early-1940s-opens https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3370894/exhibition-pioneering-hong-kong-school-national-talent-early-1940s-opens Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:21:55 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Beijing is rapidly scaling up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce short-form videos and microdramas in its publicity campaigns, aligning with directives stressing technology’s role in strengthening ideological work and guiding public opinion. In contrast to sensational tropes dominating AI content across Chinese media platforms – such as Cinderella romance, rebirth for revenge and post-apocalyptic survival – a new wave of AI-generated miniseries weaves Chinese culture, policies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370547/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-shape-public-opinion-home-and-abroad https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370547/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-shape-public-opinion-home-and-abroad Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:03:06 +0000 Li Cheng,Pengfei Xie Li Cheng,Pengfei Xie This is a special contribution from the Centre on Contemporary China and the World at the University of Hong Kong. Read the full report at the end of the article. It will be available on the institute website cccw.hku.hk from October 13. With the rising strategic significance of energy, especially due to the need to support China’s artificial intelligence (AI) development, members of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee with energy backgrounds – the country’s “movers and shakers” in this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370383/ai-and-iran-war-loom-chinas-energy-technocrats-are-fast-track https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370383/ai-and-iran-war-loom-chinas-energy-technocrats-are-fast-track Mon, 12 Oct 2026 02:00:26 +0000 Eve Qiao Eve Qiao Communist Party officials in eastern China’s Zhejiang province have called for greater oversight of major internet platforms and their “traffic power”, warning that online traffic and algorithms had evolved into a force capable of shaping public discussion and sentiment. The publicity department of the Zhejiang provincial party committee published the commentary on social media on Thursday, saying traffic could no longer be viewed simply as a data resource. Zhejiang’s capital city, Hangzhou, is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370443/chinas-zhejiang-province-calls-limit-tech-giants-power-over-online-traffic https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370443/chinas-zhejiang-province-calls-limit-tech-giants-power-over-online-traffic Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin The setting may have been casual but the choice was not when the Communist Party boss of a northeastern Chinese province sat down with digital content creators at a coffee shop on Wednesday. Jilin province party secretary Huang Qiang invited the influencers to the relaxed setting of the Songyuan Coffee Shop in Changchun to encourage them to “actively promote mainstream values and spread positive energy”. According to a local government statement, Huang and the participants also exchanged views... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370417/why-communist-party-boss-had-coffee-shop-date-chinese-content-creators https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370417/why-communist-party-boss-had-coffee-shop-date-chinese-content-creators Sat, 10 Oct 2026 02:01:07 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China’s finance minister has pledged to roll out incremental and targeted fiscal policies to help achieve leadership’s full-year growth target for the country, following a freshly announced package of supportive measures. However, analysts expect Beijing to stop short of a major stimulus, providing only “just enough” support to meet the target. Lan Foan made the pledge in an article published on Thursday in the Communist Party’s leading theoretical journal, Qiushi, calling for the broadened... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369550/china-seen-doing-just-enough-targeted-fiscal-support-defend-gdp-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369550/china-seen-doing-just-enough-targeted-fiscal-support-defend-gdp-growth Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin China’s ruling Communist Party is marking 90 years since the end of the Long March with exhibitions, tours, film and television productions as it tries to mobilise the nation to contribute to its vision for the future. Ahead of the October 22 anniversary, commemorative activities are under way to promote the history of the Long March and revive its “spirit”. The Long March was an epic retreat between 1934 and 1936 by the party’s Red Army to evade Kuomintang, or Nationalist, forces during the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369418/shows-tours-and-film-china-marks-90-years-end-long-march https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369418/shows-tours-and-film-china-marks-90-years-end-long-march Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:59:40 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng President Xi Jinping has ordered China’s security and legal apparatus to relentlessly eliminate risks and build a “safer” country a year ahead of the pivotal 21st Communist Party congress, which will usher in a major leadership reshuffle. The latest instruction, published by state news agency Xinhua on Monday night, is also the Chinese leader’s first major domestic directive since his state visit to Washington last week, signalling a pivot back to the domestic agenda – especially stability. In a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369101/xi-jinping-demands-safer-china-communist-party-prepares-leadership-reshuffle https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369101/xi-jinping-demands-safer-china-communist-party-prepares-leadership-reshuffle Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:30:27 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng China has unveiled an overhaul of its university system, urging institutions to develop distinct roles as demographic change, a tighter job market and industrial upgrading alter the country’s skills needs. The general offices of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee as well as the State Council, China’s cabinet, jointly issued guidelines for higher education reform, state news agency Xinhua reported on September 20. The document said universities must adapt to “changing trends in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3368952/everyone-can-attend-university-china-unveils-sweeping-higher-education-reform https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3368952/everyone-can-attend-university-china-unveils-sweeping-higher-education-reform Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:00:22 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Scott Kennedy is a senior adviser and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. His areas of focus include China’s hi-tech drive, US-China relations and global economic governance. Open Questions first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. How would you characterise the outcomes of the China-US summit compared to expectations going in? Is it largely a continuation of that track or do you... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368936/scott-kennedy-chinas-slow-tech-dragon-and-2-more-xi-trump-meetings https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368936/scott-kennedy-chinas-slow-tech-dragon-and-2-more-xi-trump-meetings Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Chinese viewers watching Donald Trump welcome Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday may have been puzzled by the US president’s reference to the “Chinese phrase” gung-ho. Turning to Baidu – or increasingly, Doubao, the country’s most popular AI chatbot – they may well have asked: what Chinese expression is he referring to? It sounds Chinese, but gung-ho is neither part of everyday usage nor an idiom drawn from classical texts – making this moment almost as baffling as when US Secretary of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368832/chinese-roots-gung-ho-trump-and-xi-look-shared-history https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368832/chinese-roots-gung-ho-trump-and-xi-look-shared-history Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:38:11 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s industry minister is set to lead Anhui province, a key semiconductor hub, in the latest personnel reshuffle within the Communist Party. Li Lecheng, 61, has served as minister of industry and information technology since April 2025. State news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that Li had been appointed the party secretary of Anhui and a member of its standing committee, taking over both roles from Liang Yanshun. Liang, Anhui party chief since June 2024, retains his role as party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368494/china-puts-industry-minister-charge-key-semiconductor-hub-anhui-province https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368494/china-puts-industry-minister-charge-key-semiconductor-hub-anhui-province Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:14:03 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing has appointed a new party chief in Tibet as the Communist Party shuffles regional leaders ahead of its 21st national congress. Hu Changsheng, 62, will serve as the party secretary of Tibet autonomous region, leaving his post as party secretary of Gansu province to Wu Xiaojun, 60, currently the party chief of Qinghai province. Meanwhile, Luo Dongchuan, 60, Qinghai’s governor, will succeed Wu as party secretary of the province. The 21st party congress is expected to be held next year and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368431/china-names-new-tibet-party-chief-communist-party-reshuffles-regional-leadership https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368431/china-names-new-tibet-party-chief-communist-party-reshuffles-regional-leadership Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:37:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Qin Weizhong, former mayor of the southern technology hub of Shenzhen, is under investigation for corruption, the country’s top watchdog has confirmed. According to a statement by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Monday, Qin is “suspected of grave disciplinary and law violations and is currently undergoing review”, which usually means a corruption probe. Qin was appointed deputy party secretary and mayor of Shenzhen in May 2021. On August 24 this year, those positions were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368269/former-shenzhen-mayor-qin-weizhong-under-graft-probe-chinas-discipline-body https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368269/former-shenzhen-mayor-qin-weizhong-under-graft-probe-chinas-discipline-body Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:41:33 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The Communist Party has set a date for its most important political gathering this autumn, the news coming shortly before Beijing confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US. The fifth plenary session of the party’s 20th Central Committee will be held from October 26 to October 29, according to official news agency Xinhua on Monday. The meeting of political elites is likely to be the most important gathering ahead of next autumn’s national party congress, a five-yearly event... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368215/communist-party-sets-date-key-political-gathering-october https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368215/communist-party-sets-date-key-political-gathering-october Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:16:45 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Zhang Dongdong has been fielding ever more requests for legal advice from jittery entrepreneurs, nervous government officials or their desperate relatives. They usually do not tell him the whole story, and sometimes say it happened “to a friend”, but most want to know the same thing: what to do when they are targeted by China’s corruption busters. “Some had received a tip-off that they were being investigated, some got a call from disciplinary inspectors asking them to cooperate, but in most of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368119/chinese-lawyers-offer-coaching-when-corruption-busters-come-knocking https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368119/chinese-lawyers-offer-coaching-when-corruption-busters-come-knocking Sun, 20 Sep 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang China’s ruling Communist Party mouthpiece has rejected US allegations that Chinese artificial intelligence companies conducted “industrial-scale” distillation of American frontier models, warning that Beijing would respond if Washington continued to suppress China’s AI industry. In a commentary published on Wednesday, People’s Daily said the US claims were “without factual or legal basis” and accused Washington of “politicising” a normal technical and commercial practice. The strong stance came... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3367717/peoples-daily-rejects-us-claims-malicious-ai-distillation-warns-countermeasures https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3367717/peoples-daily-rejects-us-claims-malicious-ai-distillation-warns-countermeasures Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:35:08 +0000 Ji Siqi,Emma Ma Ji Siqi,Emma Ma As even China’s wealthiest provinces continue to run deficits and rely on the central government to make ends meet, Beijing is loosening the reins on the country’s highly centralised fiscal system, with legislation for a new tax category – the local surtax – under way. Late last month, the Ministry of Finance unveiled a draft local surtax law for public consultation. The proposed tax would merge three existing levies – the urban maintenance and construction tax, education surcharge and local... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3367608/will-chinas-new-local-surtax-provide-relief-its-regions-fiscal-headaches https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3367608/will-chinas-new-local-surtax-provide-relief-its-regions-fiscal-headaches Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow The unique circumstances surrounding Huawei Technologies’ landmark trial in a US court made jury selection especially important to ensuring a fair trial for the Chinese tech giant, according to US litigation experts. Known as voir dire, the process allows the presiding judge and two legal teams to question prospective jurors before the trial begins to identify possible bias and conflicts that could impede their ability to adjudicate the case in a “fair and impartial” way. Richard Gabriel,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367516/huaweis-us-trial-puts-jury-test-amid-china-iran-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367516/huaweis-us-trial-puts-jury-test-amid-china-iran-links Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Beijing has introduced stricter drone regulations, banning all uncrewed flights as well as the possession and storage of existing devices, while detailing disposal methods for the first time in an effort to strengthen security in the capital. The new rules, which will take effect on November 15, follow an incident in June, when a small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest building, the Citic Tower – also known as China Zun – leading to the death of the pilot. The newly revised regulations on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367401/beijing-puts-total-ban-drones-update-regulations-after-deadly-crash https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367401/beijing-puts-total-ban-drones-update-regulations-after-deadly-crash Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s top intelligence official has warned of rising national security risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), calling for robust risk prevention frameworks and stronger global governance of the emerging technology. The call from Chen Yixin, China’s state security minister, comes as Beijing seeks to play a leading role in global AI governance while criticising US restrictions. At the Brics summit in India over the weekend, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed an AI-powered initiative to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367349/chinas-intelligence-chief-warns-risks-ai-new-arena-strategic-rivalry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367349/chinas-intelligence-chief-warns-risks-ai-new-arena-strategic-rivalry Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim Rising tensions over artificial intelligence are shaping the final preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States. Washington and Beijing are discussing the possibility of folding a long-awaited AI dialogue into a broader economic meeting in the days before Xi meets US President Donald Trump, according to several people familiar with the arrangements. The two leaders agreed in Beijing in May to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on AI. For months, that channel was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367242/ai-fight-shadows-final-preparations-xi-jinpings-white-house-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367242/ai-fight-shadows-final-preparations-xi-jinpings-white-house-visit Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks in Peru on Thursday on countering Beijing’s growing footprint around the strategic Chancay megaport, drawing a sharp response from China’s embassy in Lima, which defended its investments and took aim at Washington’s strict visa rules. Rubio met President Keiko Fujimori at the Government Palace, where she confirmed Peru would join the Shield of the Americas, a US-led coalition against organised crime. The Peruvian capital was the last stop of a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3367108/china-rebuts-top-us-diplomat-marco-rubio-over-communist-party-backed-projects-peru https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3367108/china-rebuts-top-us-diplomat-marco-rubio-over-communist-party-backed-projects-peru Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:40:04 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has signalled a renewed push for social stability by quietly setting up a high-level party group about a year ahead of its 21st national congress. The creation of the Leading Group for Social Governance of the party’s Central Committee underscores the growing focus on internal security and grass-roots governance ahead of the next five-yearly congress, expected to be held in autumn 2027. Beijing has never officially announced the formation of the body, nor disclosed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366894/chinas-communist-party-quietly-signals-social-stability-push-new-high-level-body https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366894/chinas-communist-party-quietly-signals-social-stability-push-new-high-level-body Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Alcott Wei Phoebe Zhang,Alcott Wei When you are denied a pay rise, when you feel anxious about your children’s education, or when you are alienated by colleagues, Chairman Mao can help. At least, that is what China’s online influencers and their hundreds of thousands of followers believe. Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Mao Zedong, founding father of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese authorities have not announced any plans to mark the date, as former state leaders are usually commemorated on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366813/young-chinese-turn-mao-zedong-life-advice-50-years-after-his-death https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366813/young-chinese-turn-mao-zedong-life-advice-50-years-after-his-death Wed, 09 Sep 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong A shipping tycoon who was thrust onto the international stage as Hong Kong’s first chief executive and went on to become an elder statesman and consummate diplomat, Tung Chee-hwa will be remembered as a defining figure of the city’s modern history. The legacy of Tung, who died on Tuesday at age 89, is closely tied to his role as a patriot who led Hong Kong through uncharted waters, navigating a stormy post-handover period beset with economic, public health and political crises. With his Shanghai... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3366827/hong-kongs-first-chief-executive-tung-chee-hwa-dies-aged-89 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3366827/hong-kongs-first-chief-executive-tung-chee-hwa-dies-aged-89 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:00:36 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat President Xi Jinping’s journey from Central Asia to Egypt highlights Beijing’s efforts to strengthen alternative trade, energy and manufacturing networks across Eurasia and Africa, analysts said, as wars and tariffs expose a reliance on vulnerable supply routes and overseas markets. Xi arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for his first visit in 10 years after attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where state leaders including Indian Prime Minister... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3366123/chinas-xi-seeks-trade-routes-egypt-central-asia-bypass-tariffs-and-western-rules https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3366123/chinas-xi-seeks-trade-routes-egypt-central-asia-bypass-tariffs-and-western-rules Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:00:11 +0000 William Zheng,Yuanyue Dang William Zheng,Yuanyue Dang For more, check out the South China Morning Post’s full anti-corruption data bank project: https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/politics/article/3366057/chinas-corruption-investigation-procedures https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/politics/article/3366057/chinas-corruption-investigation-procedures Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:39:00 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China’s anti-corruption campaign has proved to be a sustainable drive rather than a transient clean-up exercise. More than 13 years after President Xi Jinping launched the crackdown with a pledge to hunt both “tigers and flies”, it has become a pillar of Communist Party governance. Its continuing escalation in the run-up to key leadership changes anticipated next year carries a strong and clear message: corruption is not merely individual misconduct within the government structure but a systemic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365936/chinas-anti-corruption-campaign-here-stay https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365936/chinas-anti-corruption-campaign-here-stay Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Vincent Chow,Lucy Quaggin Vincent Chow,Lucy Quaggin The US Congress on Tuesday advanced a new bill that seeks to establish American global leadership in open-source artificial intelligence, an area where China currently dominates, by promoting adoption of US open-source models and publicising risks associated with using their Chinese counterparts. The legislation was one of several proposals marked up in the US House of Representatives targeting China amid escalating tech competition between the two countries. Congressional committees “mark up” a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3366035/congress-advances-new-bill-give-us-edge-open-source-ai-race-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3366035/congress-advances-new-bill-give-us-edge-open-source-ai-race-china Tue, 01 Sep 2026 21:08:28 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Shanghai has named career finance official Zhu Zhongming as the municipal government’s new party chief, a role that puts him in line to become the city’s next mayor. His appointment as secretary of the Shanghai government’s Party Leadership Group was announced on Saturday in an official social media post that said he had chaired a meeting of the body. Zhu replaces the current mayor, Gong Zheng, in the post. However, the city’s most senior position is that of the secretary of the Shanghai... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365754/career-finance-official-moves-pole-position-become-shanghais-next-mayor https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365754/career-finance-official-moves-pole-position-become-shanghais-next-mayor Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:00:13 +0000 Shouqing Zhu Shouqing Zhu Artificial intelligence (AI) poses risks that do not respect national borders, from cyberattacks and misinformation to system malfunction and potentially dangerous misuse. In a geopolitically charged world, does greater incompatibility between countries make AI safer? UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres offered a clear answer at the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance: “When countries align on how to test systems, measure risk and assign responsibility, safety travels with the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3365101/us-china-ai-rivalry-neednt-preclude-cooperation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3365101/us-china-ai-rivalry-neednt-preclude-cooperation Fri, 28 Aug 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Beijing promised to send emergency aid to Nepal on Friday as Chinese rescuers battled through hazardous conditions to reach the border checkpoint hit by deadly flash floods this week. The disaster left five dead and 558 missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county, while Nepal reported 579 dead and 1,924 missing as of 7pm on Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to his Nepalese counterpart, Ram Chandra Paudel, following the devastating mudslides, state broadcaster CCTV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365583/china-pledges-send-urgent-emergency-aid-nepal-after-deadly-landslide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365583/china-pledges-send-urgent-emergency-aid-nepal-after-deadly-landslide Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:30:23 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng The South China Morning Post has launched a major data project diving into President Xi Jinping’s signature anti-graft campaign. In the fourth part of an accompanying series, Yuanyue Dang and William Zheng delve into the broader reach of the campaign. While economic crimes are often seen as the target of President Xi Jinping’s crusade against corruption, the campaign has become much wider. Thirteen years since it began, it is now increasingly about how officials use their power, whether they toe... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365450/xis-crusade-against-corruption-has-gone-well-beyond-economic-crime https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365450/xis-crusade-against-corruption-has-gone-well-beyond-economic-crime Fri, 28 Aug 2026 02:00:14 +0000