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Focus
SCMP gets to the heart of the matter with its in-depth analysis on the pressing issues in Hong Kong and around the world.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Illustration: Henry Wong
China manufacturing

In China’s industry, it’s the law of the jungle. How should Beijing intervene?

A storm is gathering strength in China’s overheated industries, and its name is neijuan, as government intervention squares up against the law of the jungle.

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China energy security

As use of roof solar panels becomes more common in China, can the grid keep up?

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong fossil findings create buzz, but experts cool on ‘dinosaur tourism’ talk

China's economic recovery

How has Hengqin helped Macau diversify its casino-dominated economy?

Greater Bay Area plan has added impetus to development of neighbouring island in Zhuhai.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
US-China relations

Superpower showdown: how US-China economic warfare could play out under Trump

As US president-elect Donald Trump forms his hawk-filled cabinet, what might China do to counter and deflect a barrage of blows?

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Taiwan

Why mainland China’s ‘second navy’ is becoming increasingly active around Taiwan

As well as stepping up patrols, coastguards are training with the navy triggering speculation about their role in any attack on the island.

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Taiwan

Mainland China is upping the ante on Taiwan’s ‘safe’ east coast. Here’s how

Data compiled from the Taiwanese defence ministry’s daily briefings shows a rise in drone and helicopter activity on the far side of the island.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
Taiwan

‘Patience has a limit’: PLA boosts presence near Taiwan after leadership change

Six months after island’s new leader took over, PLA tracking data shows growing numbers of military exercises and sorties are getting closer to more of Taiwan.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong has slashed liquor tax but can it take on trade hubs like Singapore?

Merchants say tax cut will result in opportunities to bring in more high-end spirits to Hong Kong for trade in Asia, but obstacles remain.

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China trade

‘Get down to business’: China, Vietnam set aside maritime disputes for trade

Brisker trade and new investments in factories and infrastructure among the fruits of pragmatic approach to relationship.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China-EU relations

Open Questions | ‘Only game in town’: ex-Spain minister says China-EU ties can thrive under Trump

Former top diplomat says EU’s problems are not about Trump, and both China and the bloc must choose between maintaining existing trade relations or ‘chaos’.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Science

The English impediment: why Chinese scientists can’t use Chinese

In the world of science, English is the standard language. But could this be limiting talented Chinese academics?

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Business of climate change

Hong Kong’s status as aviation, maritime hub faces green fuel challenge

Hong Kong has to act fast if it wants to become a green fuel hub for the aviation and maritime sectors, as both Singapore and China are way ahead, analysts say.

China trade

What’s eating at Guangdong? For China’s economic champ, the hits keep coming

Malformed by manufacturing malaise, pummelled by property, and targeted by tariffs, the hits keep coming in the southern powerhouse region.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Ukraine war

How Trump’s push to end Ukraine war tips his hand on China, Russia

US president-elect likely to encounter difficulties given the three countries’ aligned interests in challenging the West, analysts say.

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Illustration: Davies Christian Surya
US-China relations

US importers race to prepare for Trump’s threatened tariffs

Port customers are said to ask: ‘How much cargo can I bring in before warehouses start busting at the seams?’.

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China-EU relations

‘Walking on eggshells’: Europe squeezed from all sides as Trump 2.0 looms

The EU is grappling with tariff threats from the incoming US president, hostile ties with China, and the rise of the far-right.

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Digital currencies

Decentralised kingdom: bitcoin’s Trump bump and how China lost its crypto crown

As the world’s factory, China cornered the market on bitcoin mining, leading to a flurry of crypto business activity before a harsh crackdown in 2021.

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Momentum in the cryptocurrency industry appears to have shifted towards the US after Donald Trump was re-elected to the presidency, but some see this as temporary. Illustration: Henry Wong
China's economic recovery

Stimulus perplexity: why Beijing, foreign investors can’t see eye to eye

It’s been a tumultuous two months since Beijing fired off a salvo to shore up China’s economy, and divergent perceptions show not everyone is on the same page.

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China trade

China is still smarting from Trump’s last tariff blitz. Is it ready for round 2?

With more tariffs certain once Donald Trump returns to the White House, China must ready its response – this time knowing what to expect.

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China trade

Will Trump’s China tariffs make manufacturing American again?

Donald Trump’s second White House term is bound to bring new China tariffs – but analysts wonder if it will bring manufacturing back.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Diplomacy

Xi’s South American tour: China takes centre stage as US heads for the wings

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s nine-day trip to Peru and Brazil shows Beijing’s growing profile while US awaits the coming of Trump 2.0.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China’s Communist Party

How Xi Jinping is going back to Confucius to define China’s future

Xi’s plan to glorify China’s deep cultural roots is embodied in Ruzang, a compilation of the philosopher’s writings and related works.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Where are the nurses? Will higher pay lure non-locals to Hong Kong?

Worries persist despite rule change to open door to professionals trained elsewhere, as city set to be short of thousands of nurses by 2045.

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Stocks

Global CEOs see new hopes, old threats in Hong Kong vs Trump 2.0

‘People are leery of investing a lot of money in a country that is part of geopolitical tensions,’ Oaktree Capital’s Howard Marks says.

Illustration: Henry Wong
China trade

Amid US tariff threats, can port in Peru open up new markets for China?

US$3.5 billion Chancay port will initially be able to handle 1 million containers a year.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Science

China, US ‘have different definitions of deterrence’. Will this bring disaster?

Scholars say it is time to shed Cold War concepts imported from the West and develop distinctly Chinese nuclear strategy.

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Hong Kong economy

Why some Hong Kong shoppers are ditching bargains in mainland China

Quality assurance, political values, human ties and ‘stubbornness’ among reasons they stay home to shop.

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