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Taiwan

Taiwan
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Taiwan, covering politics, economy, society and the island's relationship with mainland China.
A Taiwanese fisherman says this inflatable boat from mainland China sat abandoned on Bali Beach near the Port of Taipei for two days before he alerted police. Photo: Handout
Mainland China

Taiwan arrests 2 mainland Chinese after boat slips past defences

Mainland Chinese men in rubber dinghy dismissed as ‘sea clutter’ by coastguard radar operator, raising fresh concerns over island’s security.

China's military weapons

In Focus | Beyond the numbers: why China’s carrier force won’t copy the US model

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China-Japan relations

China detains Japanese executives in dual-use technology export probe: report

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South China Sea

Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea

Analysts say deploying the LY-1-equipped vessel during Scarborough Shoal drill was meant to send a message to Manila and Washington.

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The LY-1, seen here during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing in September 2025, is tasked with close-range interception of incoming missiles and drones. Photo: Xinhua
William Lai

Why Taiwan is conducting its first-ever mobile network throttling exercise

Critics question value of tests as authorities aim to prepare public for outages caused by war, cyberattacks or natural disaster.

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SCMP Highlights

Beijing urged to win Indian hearts, Hong Kong’s hottest day: 5 weekend reads

From Beijing’s struggles to win Indian hearts to the hottest day on record in Hong Kong, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

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Hong Kong property

Why McDonald’s assets stand out amid a weak Hong Kong retail property market

Restaurant chain’s disposal drive shows investors cherry-pick only top-tier assets amid city’s retail property slump, analysts say.

A McDonald’s shop on Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

Open Questions | Historian Wang Gungwu on why Xi thinks ‘only the party can save China’

The 95-year-old sinologist gives his take on the superpower rivalry, the US advantage and Taiwan, and explains why the past is so important.

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China-Australia relations

China-Australia relations reach ‘good enough’ baseline, ex-envoy says

Canberra is described as quietly confident in its resilience yet wary of Beijing’s overtures to go further and into new areas of activity.

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Japan

Opinion | Japan’s defence white paper is the opening move in a longer game

Japan’s latest defence white paper confirms Chinese strategists’ fears that post-war pacifist guard rails are being dismantled under the guise of ‘self-defence’.

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Illustration: Mario Rivera
Hong Kong transport

Typhoon Dolphin grounds Hong Kong flights, disrupts trips and business in Japan

Flights linking Hong Kong with mainland China, Taiwan and Japan cancelled, while Okinawa travellers and businesses count the cost.

At least 12 flights connecting Hong Kong with mainland China, Taiwan and Japan have been cancelled because of Typhoon Dolphin. Photo: Edmond So
William Lai

Taiwan’s William Lai rehearses late-night emergency escape during military drill

As part of annual Han Kuang exercise, the island’s leader is evacuated in a drill simulating a potential PLA decapitation strike.

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Hong Kong workers/labour rights

How a Hong Kong charity is using AI to help migrant workers tackle exploitation

Migrasia says AI chatbot PoBot serves as centralised call centre, providing instant support and gathering data to identify patterns of abuse.

Kuomintang

Taiwan’s push to dissolve pro-Beijing party triggers political censorship debate

Politicians divided over proposal to ban Chinese Unification Promotion Party after ministry says it jeopardises free and democratic constitutional order.

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Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau Commissioner Chiu Shao-chou says police have investigated 141 CUPP officials and members in 98 cases since 2010. Photo: AFP
Accidents and disasters in China

1,230 times the size of Hong Kong: China deploys drones as Typhoon Dolphin nears

Coastal provinces halt shipping and activities and evacuate fishermen as storm targets Zhejiang and Fujian.

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A satellite image shows Typhoon Dolphin approaching Japan’s Okinawa on August 6, 2026. By Friday morning, it was about 820km from China’s east coast. Photo: CSU/CIRA & JMA/JAXA/Reuters
US-China relations

Will latest trade ‘speed bump’ slow China-US ties, or even stop Xi-Trump summit?

As Beijing and Washington trade curbs, analysts say only major action or breach of the other’s core interests can prevent summit.

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US-China relations

Why was a US Yale graduate hounded out of his job promoting Chinese culture?

His supposedly sky-high salary and internship at a conservative think tank sparked online fury and rumours he was a US spy.

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US-China relations

China competition looms large in 2027 US defence bill

Taiwan, AI and supply chains headline House and Senate proposals as lawmakers broaden efforts to counter Beijing on multiple fronts.

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The South China Sea remains a central focus of US military planning as Washington expands efforts to counter China. Photo: US Navy
US-China relations

US hawks push Trump on multibillion-dollar Taiwan arms deal ahead of Xi summit

Observers say US leader may be ‘miscalculating’ if he attempts to use the US$14 billion package to ramp up pressure on Beijing.

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Hong Kong stock market

Mainland investors dodge AI tumult by extending buying spree in Hong Kong

Mainland traders poured US$8 billion into Hong Kong equities in July, eyeing refuge from global tech sector volatility, in a market trading at just 12.2 times earnings.

Huawei

Slapped with reality: why Huawei’s top chip scientist embraces war-hero mindset

In viral interview, Liao Heng talks navigating US curbs to make Ascend processors, placing innovation over nanometres for chip self-reliance.

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An image of a semiconductor displays the name of Huawei Technology’s chip-design unit, HiSilicon. Photo: handout
United States

How Taiwan is preparing for a PLA sea blockade in its biggest war games

Taipei to move weapons production, prepare for internet outages and adopt US ‘back briefs’ during Han Kuang drills.

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A US-made Taiwanese tank fires during the 2024 Han Kuang military exercises in Taiwan. Photo: AFP / Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence
South China Sea

KMT accuses Taiwan’s government of failing to uphold South China Sea claims

Opposition figure calls on DPP administration to protest to Manila over Philippine attempt to chart a boundary around Scarborough Shoal.

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China's military weapons

Open Questions | ‘Surprising’ how fast China’s military is closing US gap: analyst Lyle Goldstein

Beijing’s challenge is to resist temptation to build the PLA into a ‘hammer looking for a nail’, former US Naval War College professor says.

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South China Sea

Are commercial sea drones new headache for PLA in South China Sea and Taiwan?

A crewless vessel’s footage of a Chinese warship operating near the Philippines highlights their potential intelligence-gathering role.

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Seasats, a California-based autonomous vessel maker, has released footage of a Chinese warship shot by one of its drones. Photo: Seasats
US-China relations

Open Questions | China’s military goal is to stand neck and neck with US: ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo

Prominent commentator shares insights on the PLA’s 2027 goal, competition with the US, the Taiwan issue and the peacetime dilemma.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China’s aircraft carriers

Will Philippine Sea be the main battlefield for PLA carriers in a Taiwan war?

As Chinese forces push into the western Pacific, analysts say that carrier groups could be used to frustrate any intervention.

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South Korea

South Korean McDonald’s axes popular corn burger after customers find stones

McDonald’s Korea said the seasonal menu, created to support local farmers, used about 25 tonnes of corn from Chungju.

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