https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/520975/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Frank Chen Frank Chen The wide gulf in average annual wages between China’s private and non-private sectors continued to expand in 2025, while regional disparities also remained stark, with Tibet continuing to outshine some coastal provinces in income levels. The findings, based on the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics this week, underscore the yawning sectoral and regional divides in the world’s second-largest economy. Workers in China’s non-private sector – including government and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/economic-indicators/article/3372438/chinas-private-sector-wages-waver-gap-widens-non-private-firms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/economic-indicators/article/3372438/chinas-private-sector-wages-waver-gap-widens-non-private-firms Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:00:18 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao WuXi AppTec raised its full-year revenue guidance after its net profit surged 62.4 per cent in the first nine months of 2026, while revenue rose 38.6 per cent on strong demand for its drug development and manufacturing services. The Chinese pharmaceutical research services provider’s net profit reached 19.16 billion yuan (US$2.87 billion) for the nine months ended September 30, compared with 11.80 billion yuan a year earlier, a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange showed. Its revenue rose to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3372199/chinese-biotech-giant-wuxi-apptec-raises-2026-outlook-after-profit-surge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3372199/chinese-biotech-giant-wuxi-apptec-raises-2026-outlook-after-profit-surge Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:04:15 +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 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/series/3371844/chinas-fifth-plenum-ground https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/series/3371844/chinas-fifth-plenum-ground Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:15:14 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma 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 second part of this series, Emma Ma speaks to businesspeople as they adapt to stepped up regulatory enforcement and deal with other economic issues the government has pledged to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371779/chinas-private-firms-are-fighting-profits-are-regulations-adding-burden https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371779/chinas-private-firms-are-fighting-profits-are-regulations-adding-burden Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Unitree Robotics is developing a “self-evolving” feedback loop designed to allow humanoid robots to write code, run simulations and improve their real-world performance independently, founder Wang Xingxing said, in a move that mirrors a broader push towards “self-improving” artificial intelligence. Speaking on Thursday at a physical AI conference hosted by Unitree in Hangzhou, Wang unveiled the project, dubbed “Unitree Rehearsal”, which he called the company’s most important initiative of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371818/unitree-developing-ai-system-let-humanoid-robots-improve-themselves https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371818/unitree-developing-ai-system-let-humanoid-robots-improve-themselves Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:30:12 +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 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese pharmaceutical companies are ramping up global expansion and the sector, expected to sustain rapid growth in coming third-quarter earnings releases, could see a further lift in market sentiment, analysts said. In the first three quarters, domestic innovative drugs accounted for 80 per cent of all innovative medicines approved in China, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. “Research progress has been made across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371566/chinas-pharma-stocks-gain-favours-amid-greater-progress-innovative-drugs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371566/chinas-pharma-stocks-gain-favours-amid-greater-progress-innovative-drugs Wed, 21 Oct 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian A rising number of travellers from Hong Kong and Macau are flocking to indoor ski centres in Guangdong province, as new venues mushroom across the mainland amid a winter sports boom. Chinese indoor ski resort operator Bonski said 20 to 30 per cent of visitors to its facility in Guangzhou were now coming from Hong Kong and Macau, as the company’s venues continue to attract a growing customer base. “Most visitors to indoor ski venues are local residents, and we have seen steady inflows of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3371073/hong-kongs-skiers-flock-mainland-indoor-slopes-mushroom-nationwide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3371073/hong-kongs-skiers-flock-mainland-indoor-slopes-mushroom-nationwide Sat, 17 Oct 2026 06:00:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Hesai Group, the world’s largest maker of lidar sensors for vehicles, has launched a 3D spatial camera as it expands into physical artificial intelligence in search of new growth opportunities. The handheld device, called Kosmo, is described by Hesai as a “physical AI eye” and converts real-world environments into detailed, editable 3D models. The company said it was designed to standardise the digitisation of complex spaces such as campuses and factories. “Our interesting new products, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3370897/hesai-launches-3d-spatial-camera-chinese-lidar-maker-expands-physical-ai https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3370897/hesai-launches-3d-spatial-camera-chinese-lidar-maker-expands-physical-ai Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:47:29 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen The increasing global appeal of Chinese firms’ novel therapies has propelled the country’s rise as a biomedical powerhouse, but China has yet to produce a drug to rival all-time best-selling Western blockbusters in sales. Beijing has set ambitious new five-year targets to boost its global presence, including at least five products with annual global sales surpassing US$1 billion by 2030. The goal is achievable, according to some analysts. Jefferies’ head of Asia healthcare research Cui Cui noted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370340/china-wants-5-innovative-drugs-us1-billion-returns-2030-which-might-they-be https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370340/china-wants-5-innovative-drugs-us1-billion-returns-2030-which-might-they-be Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s biggest sportswear maker, Anta Sports, has strengthened its challenge to global rivals such as Nike and Adidas by becoming the largest shareholder in Puma, the German brand recognised worldwide for its sports and casual footwear. The Hong Kong-listed company completed the acquisition of a 29.06 per cent stake in Puma from Artemis, the investment vehicle of France’s Pinault family, in an all-cash deal valued at €1.51 billion (US$1.7 billion). “The stake is expected to boost Puma’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370148/how-puma-fits-chinese-sportswear-maker-antas-plan-challenge-global-rivals https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370148/how-puma-fits-chinese-sportswear-maker-antas-plan-challenge-global-rivals Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:10:59 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings TikTok owner ByteDance is China’s Going Global champion, according to a new SCMP Plus databank tracking mainland companies’ overseas expansion efforts. The social media giant topped the debut SCMP Plus Going Global 100 ranking ahead of Apple assembler Foxconn Industrial Internet, online fashion retailer Shein and electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD. More than 2,000 companies were assessed as part of the research project, which assigned each contender a weighted score based on overseas revenue,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370010/bytedance-heads-first-scmp-plus-going-global-100-ranking https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370010/bytedance-heads-first-scmp-plus-going-global-100-ranking Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:02:05 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Chinese gold jewellers are seeking opportunities in the Middle East and India, leveraging their advanced crafting technologies as the industry struggles amid the precious metal’s price volatility, according to an international association for the sector. At the most recent Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong fair, buyers from the two regions accounted for most visitors, said Wang Lixin, China CEO of the World Gold Council, in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post. The interest was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/commodities/article/3368110/chinese-consumption-gold-jewellery-slumps-34-sellers-look-markets-abroad-wgc https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/commodities/article/3368110/chinese-consumption-gold-jewellery-slumps-34-sellers-look-markets-abroad-wgc Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:00:39 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Taobao Instant Commerce, Alibaba’s on-demand delivery service that was revamped last year and is known as Taobao Shangou in Chinese, won a top French Design Award prize on Saturday for its delivery worker uniform, marking the first time the prize was awarded for a design for frontline workers. “We think the [Taobao Shangou] suit design would transform delivery workwear into a recognisable professional uniform, helping reshape how society sees this essential profession,” said Dario Olivero, chair... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368121/first-top-european-design-prize-awarded-eu20-uniform-chinas-delivery-drivers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368121/first-top-european-design-prize-awarded-eu20-uniform-chinas-delivery-drivers Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Beijing is planning a carrot-and-stick approach to stop large corporations from exploiting their market dominance to delay payments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of a broader campaign to curb cutthroat competition. “In recent years, we have observed that some large enterprises – in order to save on financial costs and gain a competitive advantage – have exploited their dominant market position to delay payments to suppliers,” said Cao Yuanyuan, director of financial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367555/china-cracks-down-big-firms-delaying-payments-cash-strapped-smes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367555/china-cracks-down-big-firms-delaying-payments-cash-strapped-smes Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:33:52 +0000 Zhu Wenqian,Frank Tang Zhu Wenqian,Frank Tang Over the past three decades, investor Fang Fenglei has had a major role in shaping China’s capital markets. He worked with Morgan Stanley in the early 1990s to help create the country’s first joint venture investment bank – China International Capital Corp. Then, at the start of the millennium, he spearheaded the listing of state-owned giants in Hong Kong as CEO of Bank of China International, later chairing a China joint venture with Goldman Sachs. Now the chairman of Hopu Investments, Fang... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367212/veteran-investor-fang-fenglei-why-china-investibility-debate-no-debate-all https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367212/veteran-investor-fang-fenglei-why-china-investibility-debate-no-debate-all Sun, 13 Sep 2026 22:00:12 +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 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Mainland Chinese supermarkets, including US warehouse retailer Sam’s Club, have dropped the Hong Kong-bound vegetable label under new customs rules. The change has triggered widespread concern among consumers, as the label had long served as a selling point for high quality amid frequent mainland food-safety incidents. The removal stems from new rules by the General Administration of Customs. From September 1, registration will no longer be required for growing farms, and only food-processing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367006/mainland-chinese-shoppers-lose-trusted-hong-kong-veggie-tag-customs-revamp-hits-shelves https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367006/mainland-chinese-shoppers-lose-trusted-hong-kong-veggie-tag-customs-revamp-hits-shelves Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:00:05 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s biotechnology market has “significantly” driven up the demand for primate experimental models as the market recovers, tightening the supply of laboratory monkeys, according to a leading biotech firm. The continued recovery of fundraising and out-licensing deals in innovative drugs in China this year has led to significant growth in the demand for primate experimental models, contract research firm Joinn Laboratories (China) said on Tuesday. Primate experiments typically use monkeys and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366870/china-needs-monkeys-lab-animal-shortage-could-hinder-biotech-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366870/china-needs-monkeys-lab-animal-shortage-could-hinder-biotech-growth Wed, 09 Sep 2026 05:01:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese collectible toymaker Pop Mart International is pushing forward with a global retail expansion amid slowing overseas sales, and will open its first European flagship store in Paris’ Boulevard Haussmann, the same street as iconic department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, according to the company. Last week, Pop Mart founder and CEO Wang Ning travelled to Paris ahead of the brand’s coming store opening. While in Paris, Wang met Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of luxury goods... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3366630/labubu-meets-lvmh-pop-mart-open-flagship-store-paris-amid-cooling-overseas-sales https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3366630/labubu-meets-lvmh-pop-mart-open-flagship-store-paris-amid-cooling-overseas-sales Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Chong Ming Lee Chong Ming Lee China’s artificial intelligence developers are competing for paying users on a new consumer front: Alibaba Group Holding’s Tmall, where AI subscription plans are now being sold alongside smartphones, skincare and luxury fashion brands. Moonshot AI, developer of the Kimi K3 model, and MiniMax were in talks to open official flagship stores on the e-commerce platform, people familiar with the matter told the South China Morning Post on Monday. The move comes as AI developers look for new channels... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3366617/chinas-moonshot-and-zai-bring-ai-model-subscription-race-tmalls-retail-shelves https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3366617/chinas-moonshot-and-zai-bring-ai-model-subscription-race-tmalls-retail-shelves Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:13 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Many Chinese tend to label the offspring of the country’s nouveau riche private business founders with the pejorative “fuerdai”, literally “second-generation rich”. They are seen as scions, waiting in the wings to inherit their family’s enterprises and the massive wealth their parents oversaw, a life in the lap of luxury guaranteed. In reality, many of these transitions are plagued by a clash between generations, as the younger generation is unwilling – or unable – to keep the family business... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366391/family-firms-power-chinas-economy-what-happens-when-heirs-refuse-throne https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366391/family-firms-power-chinas-economy-what-happens-when-heirs-refuse-throne Sat, 05 Sep 2026 22:00:08 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Yin Yue, a mother with a 15-year-old daughter, feels like after-school academic tutoring is everywhere again in Guangzhou, the city where she lives in southern China. Five years ago, China launched a sweeping crackdown that drove much of the industry out of sight. But prep centres had quietly begun popping up again in popular commercial areas across the city, said Yin, a pharmaceutical sales manager in her 40s. In Guangzhou’s shopping malls, these centres are now among the busiest tenants,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366381/5-years-after-sweeping-ban-chinas-tutoring-industry-still-bleeding-parents-dry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366381/5-years-after-sweeping-ban-chinas-tutoring-industry-still-bleeding-parents-dry Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen From low-quality “slop” such as soap operas starring humanlike cats and dating shows featuring anthropomorphic fruit, to increasingly slick productions realistic enough to pass for live action, artificial intelligence-generated video dramas have become almost inescapable on Chinese social media feeds. This week, the format graduated to prime time. A fully AI-generated adaptation of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West debuted on Hunan Satellite Television, a major state-owned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3366335/new-reality-chinas-entertainment-sector-ai-drama-goes-prime-time https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3366335/new-reality-chinas-entertainment-sector-ai-drama-goes-prime-time Sat, 05 Sep 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Chinese rocket maker Galactic Energy has successfully sent its Pallas-1 medium-to-large reusable rocket into orbit, marking the latest milestone in Beijing’s drive to develop reusable launch capabilities and narrow the gap with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The two-stage, liquid-propellant rocket lifted off at 10am on Tuesday from a self-built launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre’s commercial pilot zone in northwestern China’s Gansu province before entering its designated orbit, according to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3365964/pallas-1-sees-chinas-galactic-energy-join-reusable-launch-push-closing-spacex https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3365964/pallas-1-sees-chinas-galactic-energy-join-reusable-launch-push-closing-spacex Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Beijing-based GalaxySpace’s deployed what it called China’s first turnkey satellite export to Southeast Asia this week, underscoring the country’s efforts to boost its influence in the space industry overseas amid competition with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. GalaxySpace said it launched the Lingzhi-09 Thailand CubeSat aboard a Long March-6C rocket – alongside six other satellites – from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province on Tuesday. Developed for Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3365534/chinas-commercial-space-sector-expands-global-footprint-thailand-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3365534/chinas-commercial-space-sector-expands-global-footprint-thailand-deal Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:00:12 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma As geopolitical tensions intensify, China’s steel sector – the world’s largest – is facing trade-restrictive measures in overseas markets and shrinking margins, but the country must strive to avoid the mistakes of America’s rust belt, according to an article in the Communist Party’s top theoretical journal. The piece, published in the latest issue of the Qiushi Journal and written jointly by the journal and the China Iron and Steel Association, argued that China should not allow its steel sector... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365325/chinas-steel-sector-must-avoid-us-rust-belts-fate-party-journal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365325/chinas-steel-sector-must-avoid-us-rust-belts-fate-party-journal Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Fuelled by the recent bubble tea boom and an intensely competitive market, financial investors have shown growing interest in the sector’s major brands, shifting their playbook from early-stage bets and initial public offering subscriptions to full equity buyouts. Growth of mid to high single digits was now expected for the industry in China, down from the double-digit growth projected in previous years, analysts said. The slowdown followed years of capital being raised and deployed to chase the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3364392/how-full-equity-buyouts-could-help-chinas-cooling-bubble-tea-sector-turn-new-leaf https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3364392/how-full-equity-buyouts-could-help-chinas-cooling-bubble-tea-sector-turn-new-leaf Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:00:05 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Record-breaking cross-border deals helped make some formerly loss-making Chinese biotech companies profitable in the first half of the year, but multinational drugmakers are now signalling plans to tighten deal budgets. Analysts said deals with global partners had overtaken initial public offerings and pre-IPO fundraising as the main funding option for cash-starved Chinese biotech firms wanting to advance the discovery, clinical development and regulatory approval of new drugs. Yet questions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365125/global-drug-giants-grow-cautious-can-chinese-biotech-keep-cashing-out-licensing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3365125/global-drug-giants-grow-cautious-can-chinese-biotech-keep-cashing-out-licensing Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Lan Shili, a former billionaire who founded one of China’s first private airlines, beamed in front of the camera: “With the Oxford gown, the Oxford badge, and this library card – once you’ve got this three-piece set and you’re sitting here, don’t you kind of look like an Oxford person?” “My Oxford life officially begins today,” he declared in a video he shared on the Weibo microblog service in September. Nearly a year on, the executive training programme that took him to the prestigious... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364846/oxford-blues-chinese-executives-log-complaints-over-training-programme https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364846/oxford-blues-chinese-executives-log-complaints-over-training-programme Sat, 22 Aug 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China has approved its first private-sector commercial trial for satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services, granting a permit to a Geely-backed venture as part of broader efforts to open the country’s burgeoning satellite communications market to private capital. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) granted Zhejiang Geespace Technology, the commercial space subsidiary of electric vehicle giant Geely, a two-year trial period, according to a notice published on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3364781/china-clears-geely-landmark-satellite-iot-test-spur-commercial-space-sector https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3364781/china-clears-geely-landmark-satellite-iot-test-spur-commercial-space-sector Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:00:19 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan Much of the Western debate about China begins with a category error. “Communism” is often treated as synonymous with a monolithic command economy, limited private enterprise and bureaucratic control over every commercial decision. Modern China does not fit that model. It is better understood as a mixed, state-led system in which private enterprise, foreign investment and fiercely competitive markets coexist alongside public ownership and state control in strategic sectors. This is more than... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3364594/china-shows-liberal-capitalism-not-only-path https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3364594/china-shows-liberal-capitalism-not-only-path Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Ann Cao,Wency Chen Ann Cao,Wency Chen Alibaba Group Holding on Thursday reported revenue growth of 45 per cent for its cloud and artificial intelligence division in the June quarter, driving adjusted profit to a better-than-expected 27.3 billion yuan (US$4 billion). The company assured investors that its soaring spending on AI infrastructure would pay off, with executives noting in an earnings call that its AI computing investments would break even within three years – or possibly two as gross margins rose. AI Cloud and Compute... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3364705/alibabas-ai-cloud-growth-surge-drives-earnings-despite-soaring-tech-spending https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3364705/alibabas-ai-cloud-growth-surge-drives-earnings-despite-soaring-tech-spending Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:16:24 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong China’s state-backed funds are pulling out of Kweichow Moutai, adding to the woes of the nation’s biggest baijiu liquor maker, whose stock has lost more than 40 per cent from its peak five years ago. Central Huijin Investment, a unit operated by China’s sovereign wealth fund, and China Securities Finance were not listed among Kweichow Moutai’s top 10 shareholders at the end of the second quarter, according to the distiller’s first-half report. Profits for the distiller fell by 1.95 per cent from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3364299/chinas-national-team-ditches-kweichow-moutai-move-adds-valuation-woes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3364299/chinas-national-team-ditches-kweichow-moutai-move-adds-valuation-woes Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen just recorded its wettest July in 31 years, with small businesses and airline passengers feeling the effects. Last month’s deluge was bad news for Yuan Zhang, who runs a small breakfast shop near a subway station in the city. Her monthly profit more than halved as weeks of persistent rain kept customers away. She spent 200,000 yuan (US$27,900) setting up the eatery, which opened last year, and made monthly profits of more than 10,000 yuan last... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364071/south-china-tech-hubs-wet-summer-puts-damper-small-business-profits https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364071/south-china-tech-hubs-wet-summer-puts-damper-small-business-profits Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:00:49 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li Thanks to an efficiency edge that transcends simple cost advantages, China is set to see the emergence of a home-grown drug giant capable of competing with global players in a decade, analysts say. “For the past three decades, there was only one global research and development ecosystem, which was the US,” said Fu Wei, founder and CEO of CBC Group, a healthcare-dedicated asset management firm founded in Shanghai and now based in Singapore. “Over the past decade, a parallel ecosystem – China –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363531/china-set-compete-global-drug-giants-decade-analysts-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363531/china-set-compete-global-drug-giants-decade-analysts-say Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Global pharmaceutical giants are doubling down on investing in China’s fast-growing biotech companies given the sector’s huge room for valuation growth, according to speakers at the Global Health Summit, which concluded in Hong Kong on Saturday. “Multinational pharmaceutical companies are shifting their business strategies in China away from asset-heavy operations,” said Xu Chenming, head of the healthcare group at Hong Kong-based Citic Securities. “They are moving towards investing in companies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363398/global-pharma-giants-turn-chinese-biotech-tap-innovation-valuation-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363398/global-pharma-giants-turn-chinese-biotech-tap-innovation-valuation-growth Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:34:51 +0000 Julie Zhang,Alice Li Julie Zhang,Alice Li Hong Kong is stepping up its efforts to invest in a cluster of biotech companies, positioning itself as a linchpin in Beijing’s push to reach new levels of innovation and challenge the United States for dominance in the global pharmaceutical market. Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which manages about US$8 billion in assets and is wholly owned by the Hong Kong government, has built a biotech and healthcare technology investment portfolio covering both traditional Chinese and Western... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363320/us-china-pharma-rivalry-heats-can-hong-kongs-us8b-fund-be-global-bridge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363320/us-china-pharma-rivalry-heats-can-hong-kongs-us8b-fund-be-global-bridge Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:12:36 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong The outlook for Chinese technology stocks has improved after a sharp monthly sell-off, as the global rebound in the artificial intelligence trade regains momentum, speculative positions are flushed out and falling oil prices ease fears of monetary tightening. The tech-heavy Star Market 50 Index, which features major chip manufacturing companies on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, closed the week up by 6.6 per cent. This partial recovery followed a 26 per cent slump in July, its steepest monthly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363261/global-ai-trade-revival-brightens-outlook-chinese-tech-stocks-after-record-sell-offs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363261/global-ai-trade-revival-brightens-outlook-chinese-tech-stocks-after-record-sell-offs Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:41:13 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu China’s foreign exchange reserves barely budged last year despite a record US$1.18 trillion trade surplus, as the country’s massive external earnings increasingly wound up on the balance sheets of domestic households, commercial banks and corporations rather than in Beijing’s central coffers, a new report from the Institute of International Finance (IIF) shows. China has long been a major net creditor to the rest of the world. But in 2025, its non-reserve sector – banks, companies and investors... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3363021/chinas-foreign-reserves-hold-steady-external-earnings-stay-private-hands https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3363021/chinas-foreign-reserves-hold-steady-external-earnings-stay-private-hands Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:00:12 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Leading Chinese brokerages have expressed optimism for domestic tech shares traded in August, distinguishing them from the sharp sell-off that has rattled South Korean financial markets. Citic Securities said it believed mainland-traded shares – also known as A shares – had only undergone a correction after investors piled into artificial intelligence-related sectors, rather than suffering the deleveraging shock seen in South Korea. “The liquidity pressure in some industries remains, but the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/markets/article/3362812/why-chinese-brokers-forecast-share-tech-and-chip-rebound https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/markets/article/3362812/why-chinese-brokers-forecast-share-tech-and-chip-rebound Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:00:05 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Robbyant, the embodied artificial intelligence division of Ant Group, has begun seeking external funding, becoming the fourth unit of the fintech giant to step up capital-raising efforts. The unit said it was in talks with investors on Monday. As Ant Group’s “core initiative in embodied intelligence”, a Robbyant spokesperson said it would remain focused on developing a general-purpose “robot brain”, investing in technologies designed specifically for embodied AI and accelerating commercial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362822/ant-groups-embodied-ai-arm-robbyant-kicks-external-funding https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362822/ant-groups-embodied-ai-arm-robbyant-kicks-external-funding Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:30:20 +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 Themis Qi Themis Qi Seventeen Chinese entrepreneurs have held the title of the country’s richest billionaire in the past 27 years, over four times as many as in the United States, which wealth research firm Hurun Group attributed to the “dynamism” of the Chinese market. China’s richest people – including ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming, Nongfu Spring founder Zhong Shanshan, and Country Garden chairwoman Yang Huiyan – came from sectors including technology, consumption and property, Hurun’s rankings of Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/money/wealth/article/3362539/turnover-top-17-people-have-held-title-chinas-richest-person-past-27-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/money/wealth/article/3362539/turnover-top-17-people-have-held-title-chinas-richest-person-past-27-years Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Zhongji Innolight fell on its trading debut after Hong Kong’s biggest initial public offering in seven years amid souring appetite worldwide for artificial intelligence (AI) shares. The stock closed down 2 per cent after earlier plunging as much as 10 per cent. Shenzhen-listed shares of Innolight, which supplies AI data-centre operators such as Amazon and Alphabet, tumbled 9.2 per cent, extending declines from a June peak to 38 per cent. Prior to the sell-off, the stock had surged almost 10-fold... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/business/companies/article/3362388/ai-stock-rout-fells-innolight-after-mega-hong-kong-ipo https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/business/companies/article/3362388/ai-stock-rout-fells-innolight-after-mega-hong-kong-ipo Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:06:47 +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 Zhang Shidong,Howard Liu Zhang Shidong,Howard Liu Zhongji Innolight’s buy-back plan – worth as much as 8 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) in the run-up to its offshore listing in Hong Kong – may give global investors an anchor for pricing, as the Chinese supplier of US hyperscalers seeks to pre-empt a shaky start to trading in the city. The Chinese maker of optical transceivers used in artificial intelligence (AI) data centres said it would repurchase its Shenzhen-listed shares for between 4 billion and 8 billion yuan, through its own or borrowed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362255/why-zhongji-unveiling-us12-billion-buy-backs-its-hong-kong-debut https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362255/why-zhongji-unveiling-us12-billion-buy-backs-its-hong-kong-debut Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:00:31 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye China’s largest second-hand electronics platform, ATRenew, plans to use its technology and trading standards to modernise Hong Kong’s huge wholesale market for pre-owned devices, as it seeks to make the city a springboard for its global expansion. The New York-listed company on Tuesday launched FoneSquare – a cross-border business-to-business online marketplace for used electronics – as well as ReRe, a new consumer brand making its debut with a store in Hong Kong. While the bricks-and-mortar... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362225/chinas-atrenew-has-big-plans-hong-kongs-little-known-phone-trading-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362225/chinas-atrenew-has-big-plans-hong-kongs-little-known-phone-trading-hub Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:12 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart International ramped up its global expansion on Wednesday by opening a new store on Singapore’s Sentosa Island – alongside its first overseas Pop Bakery dessert store in the same venue – with observers predicting that more overseas locations would help drive growth, especially those in underpenetrated markets. The launch comes amid softer domestic sales and normalising demand after a strong intellectual property cycle in 2025. Analysts said improved inventory... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362199/chinas-pop-mart-opens-new-store-singapores-sentosa-amid-slowing-domestic-sales https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3362199/chinas-pop-mart-opens-new-store-singapores-sentosa-amid-slowing-domestic-sales Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:00:08 +0000