TOPIC

/ location

Brazil

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Brazil. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Brasília

Head of State

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Head of Government

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Silvinei Vasque, left, former director-general of the Brazilian Federal Highway Police, after his arrest at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion, Paraguay on Friday. Photo: Paraguay’s National Migration Directorate / AFP / Handout

Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil judge orders house arrest for coup plot convicts after ex-police chief flees

Alexandre de Moraes’ decision came after Paraguay arrested Silvinei Vasques, who is also convicted in the plot, and returned him to Brazil.

7 minutes ago

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Bolsonaro backs son’s presidential bid, undergoes hernia surgery

26 Dec 2025 - 10:00AM

China-Latin America relations

Brazil weighs visa-free entry for Chinese tourists and business travellers

25 Dec 2025 - 12:38AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

BYD’s big plans in Brazil, Xpeng tries to go global: 7 EV reads

From EV battery giants in China venturing into shipbuilding to BYD’s ambitious plans in Brazil, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

24 Dec 2025 - 3:30PM

BYD’s confidence in Brazil was reinforced in October with the opening of the company’s large passenger vehicle factory in Camacari, in the northeastern state of Bahia. Photo: Handout

China-Russia relations

Russian LNG shipments to China surge 143% in November, overtaking Australia

Russian LNG accounted for 23.5 per cent of China’s total shipments, cementing Russia as its top energy partner after President Xi pledged deeper ties.

23 Dec 2025 - 11:00AMvideocam

Asean

Southeast Asian floods set to threaten more wildlife due to climate change

Environmental crimes and poor oversight are also worsening the risks faced by animals and trees.

23 Dec 2025 - 7:39PMvideocam

China economy

Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

China’s pivot to emerging markets has kept its export machine running. But frictions are growing and steel is the most visible flashpoint.

23 Dec 2025 - 7:49AM

A worker stacks steel products meant for the export market at a factory in Binzhou, Shandong province, China on April 15. Photo: AFP

Year in Review

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

SCMP Plus looks back at the year’s 10 most popular Daily Pulse bulletins, covering China issues related to diplomacy, trade and economics.

22 Dec 2025 - 5:00PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Lula vows to veto bill slashing Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison term

The proposed law could see the ex-president spend just over two years behind bars for an attempted coup.

19 Dec 2025 - 2:09AM

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Congress passes bill to cut Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence

If successful, the legislation could see Brazil’s former president serve a little over two years in prison for coup plot.

18 Dec 2025 - 1:55PM

The bill provoked protests in cities across Brazil on Sunday. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

BYD plans giant Brazil factory to scale electric bus and truck production

The new plant would dwarf BYD’s current Brazil operation, lifting output from about 600 units over a decade to up to 7,000 a year.

18 Dec 2025 - 5:14AM

China food security

Explainer | What does future hold for Brazil, US in China’s soybean balancing act?

The two countries remain top suppliers, but efforts to promote self-sufficiency are set to reduce reliance on imports.

18 Dec 2025 - 1:12AMvideocam

United States

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Video | Storm topples Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil

The 40-metre (131ft) replica was a promotional display for Brazilian retail store chain Havan.

17 Dec 2025 - 5:36PM

01:01

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$256 million of suspected cocaine hidden in ship hull

Underwater robots help detect 417kg of suspected cocaine wrapped in 11 waterproof packages concealed behind grate of sea chest.

17 Dec 2025 - 3:34AM

Underwater robots were used to locate the packages stashed in the cargo ship’s sea chest. Photo: Edmond So

China-Latin America relations

Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods

Government defends tariff package as vital to supporting domestic workers and producers, and not aimed at curbing imports from China.

16 Dec 2025 - 2:27AMvideocam

Commodities

Chinese mining giant CMOC buys four Brazilian gold mines to expand

CMOC will own the Aurizona, RDM, Fazenda and Santa Luz mines, with 8 tons of combined annual gold output.

15 Dec 2025 - 12:55PM

China-EU relations

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

12 Dec 2025 - 3:03AMvideocam

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Beijing on Monday. Photo: DPA

China technology

Opinion | Why the Global South is embracing Chinese AI

The US champions AI as an autonomous agent, a content creator. China exports a vision of AI as a digital nervous system for the real economy.

10 Dec 2025 - 10:26AMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

US senators warn of China-cartel links forming a global ‘Silk Road of crime’

At a Senate hearing, officials described Chinese money brokers as key to laundering cartel funds and fuelling the illicit fentanyl trade.

10 Dec 2025 - 7:28AMvideocam

US-China trade war

‘A slap in the face’: some US farmers unhappy with Trump’s US$12 billion bailout

US soybean growers, who were hit hardest by tariff disputes, have voiced frustration that overdue funding falls well short of what they need.

9 Dec 2025 - 8:08AMvideocam

A soybean farmer inspects his harvest at his family’s farm in Maryland in October. US farmers fear that the government’s new US$12 billion farm aid package will not provide enough funding. Photo: AFP

Jair Bolsonaro

Bolsonaro’s son says he could drop his Brazil presidency bid ‘for a price’

Flavio Bolsonaro’s announcement comes as his allies push for amnesty for his father, the jailed former president.

8 Dec 2025 - 11:02AM

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

China exports

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:24AMvideocam

South Korea

‘Relive the magic’? K-drama dating service probed for sex crimes in Brazil

The KDramaDate platform offers curated outings with Korean men, including one of an ‘intimate experience’ at a motel or client’s home.

4 Dec 2025 - 5:05PM

China trade

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:21AMvideocam

Vehicles are seen loaded on a cargo ship for export at Wuhu Port, Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images

TikTok

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

4 Dec 2025 - 10:45AM

TikTok’s offices in Culver City, California. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

China-Latin America relations

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

4 Dec 2025 - 7:01AMvideocam

Banking & finance

Opinion | How yuan internationalisation is helping to close the climate finance gap

Through fast-growing markets for yuan-denominated bonds, China is showing it can support sustainability projects across the Global South.

3 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

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Brazil

Brazil judge orders house arrest for coup plot convicts after ex-police chief flees

Alexandre de Moraes’ decision came after Paraguay arrested Silvinei Vasques, who is also convicted in the plot, and returned him to Brazil.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro backs son’s presidential bid, undergoes hernia surgery

Brazil weighs visa-free entry for Chinese tourists and business travellers

BYD’s big plans in Brazil, Xpeng tries to go global: 7 EV reads

From EV battery giants in China venturing into shipbuilding to BYD’s ambitious plans in Brazil, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Russian LNG shipments to China surge 143% in November, overtaking Australia

Russian LNG accounted for 23.5 per cent of China’s total shipments, cementing Russia as its top energy partner after President Xi pledged deeper ties.

Southeast Asian floods set to threaten more wildlife due to climate change

Environmental crimes and poor oversight are also worsening the risks faced by animals and trees.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

China’s pivot to emerging markets has kept its export machine running. But frictions are growing and steel is the most visible flashpoint.

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

SCMP Plus looks back at the year’s 10 most popular Daily Pulse bulletins, covering China issues related to diplomacy, trade and economics.

Brazil’s Lula vows to veto bill slashing Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison term

The proposed law could see the ex-president spend just over two years behind bars for an attempted coup.

Brazil’s Congress passes bill to cut Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence

If successful, the legislation could see Brazil’s former president serve a little over two years in prison for coup plot.

BYD plans giant Brazil factory to scale electric bus and truck production

The new plant would dwarf BYD’s current Brazil operation, lifting output from about 600 units over a decade to up to 7,000 a year.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | What does future hold for Brazil, US in China’s soybean balancing act?

The two countries remain top suppliers, but efforts to promote self-sufficiency are set to reduce reliance on imports.

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Storm topples Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil

The 40-metre (131ft) replica was a promotional display for Brazilian retail store chain Havan.

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$256 million of suspected cocaine hidden in ship hull

Underwater robots help detect 417kg of suspected cocaine wrapped in 11 waterproof packages concealed behind grate of sea chest.

Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods

Government defends tariff package as vital to supporting domestic workers and producers, and not aimed at curbing imports from China.

Chinese mining giant CMOC buys four Brazilian gold mines to expand

CMOC will own the Aurizona, RDM, Fazenda and Santa Luz mines, with 8 tons of combined annual gold output.

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

Opinion | Why the Global South is embracing Chinese AI

The US champions AI as an autonomous agent, a content creator. China exports a vision of AI as a digital nervous system for the real economy.

US senators warn of China-cartel links forming a global ‘Silk Road of crime’

At a Senate hearing, officials described Chinese money brokers as key to laundering cartel funds and fuelling the illicit fentanyl trade.

‘A slap in the face’: some US farmers unhappy with Trump’s US$12 billion bailout

US soybean growers, who were hit hardest by tariff disputes, have voiced frustration that overdue funding falls well short of what they need.

Bolsonaro’s son says he could drop his Brazil presidency bid ‘for a price’

Flavio Bolsonaro’s announcement comes as his allies push for amnesty for his father, the jailed former president.

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

‘Relive the magic’? K-drama dating service probed for sex crimes in Brazil

The KDramaDate platform offers curated outings with Korean men, including one of an ‘intimate experience’ at a motel or client’s home.

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

Opinion | How yuan internationalisation is helping to close the climate finance gap

Through fast-growing markets for yuan-denominated bonds, China is showing it can support sustainability projects across the Global South.

Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

Explainer | What does future hold for Brazil, US in China’s soybean balancing act?

Video | Storm topples Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil