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Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

The latest news and top stories on the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A prominent Beijing-based state research institute and think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) is dedicated to being China’s highest academic institution and comprehensive research centre for philosophy and social sciences. Established in May 1977, its main areas of focus include language, philosophy, law, economics, religion, ethnicity, archaeology, history and literature. CASS is recognised for its extensive research across nearly 300 sub-disciplines and its significant role as a leading think tank in China and Asia.

A scientific team from China discovered the deepest and most extensive whale graveyard in the depths of the Diamantina Trench. Photo: Handout

Science

For 5 million years, whales have come to this place in the Indian Ocean to die

Graveyard discovered by Chinese team is Earth’s deepest and most extensive for whale fossils, carcasses and the ecosystems they support.

12 Jun 2026 - 3:08PMvideocam

Science

Chinese team injects moss gene into Xinjiang cotton to beat fungus, boost output

8 Jun 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

China jobs

China’s gig economy is an employment reservoir – but is the well drying up?

7 Jun 2026 - 6:03AMvideocam

Trending in China

‘BeiDou Goddess’: key figure in China GPS-equivalent system, earns PhD by 26

‘Do not underestimate a girl at the foot of the mountain, and do not deify her once she reaches the summit,’ Xu famously states.

4 Jun 2026 - 2:00PM

Xu Ying, a key figure in China’s BeiDou satellite system, entered university at 16 and earned her PhD by 26. Photo: Handout

Science

Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?

Research team lead says while China follows research on salt lake resource extraction, ‘most efforts focus on lithium and potassium’.

2 Jun 2026 - 10:38PMvideocam

Science

Top Chinese map-making scientist Zhou Chenghu netted in anti-corruption sweep

Cartographer with business empire in spatial data and low-altitude economy suspected of ‘serious violations of duty’.

2 Jun 2026 - 8:36PMvideocam

Taiwan

Why have Japan and the Philippines’ maritime boundary talks angered China?

A new flashpoint has opened up in the western Pacific Ocean with Beijing expected to strengthen its presence in the waters east of Taiwan.

2 Jun 2026 - 2:00PM

Coastguard vessels from the Chinese mainland were spotted southeast of Orchid Island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan on Monday. Photo: Getty Images

China's military weapons

Gu Songfen, pioneering designer of Chinese supersonic fighter jets, dies at 96

The aerodynamics expert was the chief designer of the Shenyang J-8 and a recipient of China’s most prestigious science award.

1 Jun 2026 - 9:17PM

Semiconductors

Wingtech says core of Nexperia’s China unit now based on mainland

The statement comes amid escalation in the Nexperia conflict, as Wingtech files a lawsuit in China against chip firm.

29 May 2026 - 6:03PM

Science

Chinese team finds ‘garden-like’ ecosystem blooming in deepest ocean trenches

Rich community of organisms discovered living on rocks at depths of more than 9km, feeding on organic debris from the surface.

28 May 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

The Fendouzhe crewed submersible was used to explore seven hadal trenches, fracture zones and basins in the Indo-Pacific. Photo: Kareen Schnabel, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

China consumption

China should learn household balance sheet lessons from US: report

Chinese policymakers could use American response to recessions as a reference, new report argues.

26 May 2026 - 9:00PM

A cyclist rides past a residential construction site in Beijing in November. Photo: Getty Images

Science

Why China is looking to coal waste as a source of critical metals

China is leaning into its industrial strengths to extract germanium, aluminium, lithium and gallium from fossil fuel.

23 May 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

China-Russia relations

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.

23 May 2026 - 6:45AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Xi hosts Putin over tea; rare earth find in northeast China: 7 highlights

From the Iran conflict rattling Chinese investors to Li Ka-shing’s charitable support, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

22 May 2026 - 12:34PM

A rare earth mine at Bayan Obo, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China, seen in 2011. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Science

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

22 May 2026 - 6:57AMvideocam

China-Russia relations

China and Russia unite on world order, but Putin departs without concrete gains

Analysts say Beijing’s position in managing three-way ties appears to be strengthened after hosting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

21 May 2026 - 11:29PM

China-Russia relations

Substance for Putin, ‘face’ for Trump as China, Russia deepen strategic alliance

Signing of over 40 agreements during Beijing summit between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cements ‘historical peak’ in China-Russia ties.

20 May 2026 - 11:45PMvideocam

Science

SMILE: China-EU satellite to study Earth’s solar defence defies trade tensions

Launch of satellite to study Earth’s magnetic shield hailed by lead scientists as result of ‘true 50/50 collaboration’.

20 May 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

A rocket carrying the SMILE satellite blasts off from a launch centre in French Guiana on May 19. Photo: Handout via Xinhua

China energy security

Putin is pushing for a ‘serious’ new energy deal in China. Will he get it?

The Russian leader arrives in China days after Trump in search of an energy deal, with yuan settlements, pricing potentially on the table.

20 May 2026 - 8:23AMvideocam

Science

China confirms death of hypersonic weapon expert Fang Daining in South Africa

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has announced Fang’s death, confirming an SCMP report in March.

19 May 2026 - 7:01PM

Science

China’s northeast, poor in rare earths, scores big find

A new type of deposit in Heilongjiang and Jilin promises easier, cheaper mining than in southern clay-rich areas, say scientists.

18 May 2026 - 3:23PMvideocam

Science

China unveils world’s first germ resistant titanium-copper medical implant

Scientists around the world have been trying to master the techniques needed to produce the innovative material.

18 May 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

Titanium is widely used in surgical implants, ranging from bone pins to knee and hip replacements, but it carries an infection risk. Photo: Shutterstock

Science

Is China becoming Europe’s top science partner amid an American brain drain?

‘Massive changes in the global flow of talent’ are creating opportunities, according to the head of Germany’s Max Planck Society.

17 May 2026 - 6:05AMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Bought the farm? Details still fuzzy on scope of US-China agriculture deal

China granted five-year export licenses to 77 US beef facilities, while renewing expired licenses of 425 other plants for another five years.

16 May 2026 - 10:06PM

Science

China sends embryos into orbit to discover if humans can reproduce in space

Artificial embryos sent to the Tiangong space station to study impact of zero-gravity on human development, CCTV reports.

13 May 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

The artificial embryos used in the latest experiment were built from stem cells that shared similar structures with real human embryos. Photo: CCTV

China-EU relations

‘Frogs in a well’: Chinese diplomat slams Europe’s ‘outdated’ approach to China

Foreign ministry’s European Affairs chief warns about pitfalls of protectionism, says Beijing ready to address Brussels’ concerns.

12 May 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

Li Jian has urged Europe to develop greater “confidence” in China and to see the whole picture when trying to understand Chinese development. Photo: Weibo

2026 Xi-Trump summits

China’s AI ascent leaves Trump a stark choice: escalate or relax chip controls?

Beijing and Washington are locked in an era-defining contest – and China’s rapid technological progress raises questions about limits of containment.

12 May 2026 - 9:34AMvideocam

Semiconductors

Huawei’s chip research gains attention ahead of Trump visit to China

Tech giant’s advances in AI and semiconductors reflect Beijing’s push for tech breakthroughs and self-sufficiency amid US sanctions.

11 May 2026 - 8:30PM

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