Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

A container ship is moved into position at a port in China’s eastern Shandong province. Photo: AFP

‘Unsustainable’: firms face huge spike in shipping costs amid Hormuz crisis

Shipping lines say they have no choice but to pass on steep cost rises, as the Iran war sparks a fuel crisis that could last well into next year.

31 minutes agovideocam

Polar shipping era: China, South Korea bypass old trade lines amid Hormuz crisis

China trade

Diplomacy

Beijing demands measures to curb impact of Czech senate president’s Taiwan trip

Milos Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation from business, academic and cultural sectors, is set to meet island leader and other officials.

1 hour agovideocam

China Economy

Family offices eye shifting assets from North America to China, survey finds

Privately run firms managing investments of wealthy families showing ‘growing interest’ in China, UBS report says.

3 hours ago

Society

Hong Kong baby left without legal identity as parents refuse DNA test

Lawmakers urge action, saying baby Danny currently trapped in ‘identity vacuum’ as lack of birth registration denies access to public services.

1 hour ago

Open Questions

Hong Kong must embrace ‘bipolar’ role to thrive in its ‘Stage 3.0’: Charles Li

Health & Wellness

Like a car, your brain’s mileage matters. Unlike a car, you can wind it back

New ageing clock MileAge estimates biological age from blood. While a higher MileAge predicts a greater risk of dementia, you can reverse it.

42 minutes ago

a steering wheel with an ai brain for autonomous driving. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Business

China’s property market shows more positive signs with price, sales upticks

Sector has ‘weathered its most severe adjustment’, with overall market sentiment ‘turning noticeably positive’, analyst says.

31 minutes ago

Politics

India rolls out welcome mat for Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

The military leader’s first presidential trip to New Delhi signals pragmatic engagement as India moves to counter rising Chinese influence.

6 minutes ago

Business

How Changan Automobile’s design-driven brand strategy shapes its global expansion plans

Klaus Zyciora, vice-president of the Chinese carmaker, says its innovative, smart, low-carbon vehicles can entice customers around the world.

In partnership with:

Changan Automobile

Big Tech

World of humanoid robots set for new blueprint as Nvidia teams with Asian firms

The tech trio team up to create a state-of-the-art robot reference design allowing researchers to build, fine-tune and deploy skills faster.

2 hours agovideocam

Unitree robots perform dance moves at Global Sources Hong Kong Shows at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok. The exhibition showcases the newest technologies in mobile accessories and AI-powered consumer electronics. Photo: Eugene Lee

Diplomacy

China responds to Japan-Philippines boundary talks with expanded sea patrols

Coastguard vessels carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan on Monday, in a ‘necessary action’, a spokesman said.

4 hours agovideocam

Lifestyle & Culture

Jakarta deploys troops against muggers, stirring dark memories

While residents welcome tougher action on street crime, rights groups fear a return to authoritarian-era security crackdowns.

1 Jun 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Tech Trends

MiniMax debuts AI model built for long and complex coding tasks

Shanghai-based company says M3 can process data five times faster than its predecessor, while also slashing inference costs.

2 hours ago

MiniMax says AI model M3 has increased response speed and lowered inference costs. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong Economy

Impact of Middle East war on Hong Kong’s inflation limited, finance chief says

Inflation forecast raised to 2.6 per cent, but Financial Secretary Paul Chan says service-based economy and stable mainland Chinese supplies cushion impact.

1 minute ago

Paul Chan says rising fuel prices will push up inflation, but the impact on Hong Kong remains limited. Photo: Sam Tsang

Politics

How has China’s year-long law enforcement campaign changed local governance?

The nationwide campaign uncovered more than 66,000 problematic cases in the application of administrative laws, officials said.

5 hours agovideocam

Middle East

US says struck Iran sites, Tehran responds by targeting base

Kuwait intercepts incoming drone and missile fire as negotiations to end the Iran war drag on.

1 hour ago

Tech Trends

How US export curbs are forcing China to redesign its AI chip industry

China’s tech giants are pursuing ASICs, a type of custom chip, over generic GPUs dominated by American giants like Nvidia.

1 Jun 2026 - 10:00AM

China’s AI chipmakers are battling to forge a self-reliant silicon ecosystem. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Health & Environment

Hong Kong-born scientist King Li named founding dean of third medical school

King Li says he is honoured to take up the role at HKUST, pledging to nurture future leaders of ‘healthcare revolution’.

43 minutes ago

Professor King Li has been named to lead the city’s third medical school. Photo: May Tse

China Economy

Giant Chinese brokerage raising billions for overseas expansion

Citic Securities launches largest equity fundraising by a Chinese brokerage since 2022, aiming to raise 16 billion yuan.

1 Jun 2026 - 10:00AM

World

Firms flee Singapore’s rising costs, teacher probed over photos: 5 weekend reads

From Pete Hegseth’s Shangri-La speech to a Chinese woman’s botched eyelid surgery, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

4 hours ago

OPINION

Alice Wu

Opinion | Who benefits from the ‘significant improvement’ in Hong Kong’s finances?

1 Jun 2026 - 9:30AM

Letters

Letters | Is ranking Hong Kong’s civil servants on a curve a good idea?

6 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | US pressure has only helped make China’s tech giants stronger

1 Jun 2026 - 7:15AM

Mike Rowse

Opinion | On fire safety, Hong Kong needs a mindset change

1 Jun 2026 - 5:30AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong’s progress in quitting tobacco is worth celebrating

1 Jun 2026 - 6:45AM

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China Business

China index reshuffle to entrench tech trades and boost AI rally: brokerages

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Politics

India rolls out welcome mat for Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

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‘Unsustainable’: firms face huge spike in shipping costs amid Hormuz crisis

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Football

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Hong Kong baby left without legal identity as parents refuse DNA test

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Formula One (F1)

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US President Donald Trump listening to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last week. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

3-MIN READ

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

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How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

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Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

After Trump’s China trip, political scientist gives his assessment on Taiwan, trade leverage, the Iran war and Beijing’s tensions with Tokyo.

9-MIN READvideocam

Politics

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

12-MIN READ

Politics

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

17-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

13-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

United States & Canada

US takes step to halt Nvidia AI chip shipments to Chinese overseas subsidiaries

Surprise move suggests US chips may have been making their way to the subsidiaries of Chinese firms based in places such as Malaysia.

2-MIN READvideocam

The Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California. Photo: Getty Images / TNS

Big Tech

World of humanoid robots set for new blueprint as Nvidia teams with Asian firms

The tech trio team up to create a state-of-the-art robot reference design allowing researchers to build, fine-tune and deploy skills faster.

2-MIN READvideocam

Tech Trends

How US export curbs are forcing China to redesign its AI chip industry

China’s tech giants are pursuing ASICs, a type of custom chip, over generic GPUs dominated by American giants like Nvidia.

4-MIN READ

China EVs

AI could redefine China’s EV market: Morgan Stanley

Carmakers redirect resources to autonomous driving upgrades, hoping AI can deliver growth beyond subsidy-driven sales.

3-MIN READvideocam

The push in AI would likely bring EV models with conditionally autonomous driving capability, or Level 3, to market, according to Morgan Stanley. Photo: Getty Images

Health & Environment

‘Silent killer’: the race to beat cancer in Hong Kong

Despite a rising number of cancer cases in Hong Kong, survival rates are improving. Here is what you need to know.

1-MIN READ

‘Silent killer’: the race to beat cancer in Hong Kong

Global Economy

China and Japan aren’t talking. Will their rare earth trade go quiet?

With bilateral relations at a low and Beijing already enacting limited export controls on critical minerals, fears of a broader ban grow.

7-MIN READvideocam

Diplomacy

Why the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation isn’t Nato for Iran

Central Asian members in particular see bloc’s main value as preserving their sovereignty rather than enabling collective military action.

6-MIN READvideocam

Science

How Chinese green tech and investment are reshaping the Central Asian landscape

As the belt and road pivots towards clean energy, Kazakhstan and its neighbours are emerging as top partners for Beijing-backed projects.

6-MIN READvideocam

‘Unsustainable’: firms face huge spike in shipping costs amid Hormuz crisis

Shipping lines say they have no choice but to pass on steep cost rises, as the Iran war sparks a fuel crisis that could last well into next year.

Polar shipping era: China, South Korea bypass old trade lines amid Hormuz crisis

Beijing demands measures to curb impact of Czech senate president’s Taiwan trip

Milos Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation from business, academic and cultural sectors, is set to meet island leader and other officials.

Family offices eye shifting assets from North America to China, survey finds

Privately run firms managing investments of wealthy families showing ‘growing interest’ in China, UBS report says.

Hong Kong baby left without legal identity as parents refuse DNA test

Lawmakers urge action, saying baby Danny currently trapped in ‘identity vacuum’ as lack of birth registration denies access to public services.

Hong Kong must embrace ‘bipolar’ role to thrive in its ‘Stage 3.0’: Charles Li

Like a car, your brain’s mileage matters. Unlike a car, you can wind it back

New ageing clock MileAge estimates biological age from blood. While a higher MileAge predicts a greater risk of dementia, you can reverse it.

China’s property market shows more positive signs with price, sales upticks

Sector has ‘weathered its most severe adjustment’, with overall market sentiment ‘turning noticeably positive’, analyst says.

India rolls out welcome mat for Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

The military leader’s first presidential trip to New Delhi signals pragmatic engagement as India moves to counter rising Chinese influence.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How Changan Automobile’s design-driven brand strategy shapes its global expansion plans

Klaus Zyciora, vice-president of the Chinese carmaker, says its innovative, smart, low-carbon vehicles can entice customers around the world.

World of humanoid robots set for new blueprint as Nvidia teams with Asian firms

The tech trio team up to create a state-of-the-art robot reference design allowing researchers to build, fine-tune and deploy skills faster.

China responds to Japan-Philippines boundary talks with expanded sea patrols

Coastguard vessels carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan on Monday, in a ‘necessary action’, a spokesman said.

Jakarta deploys troops against muggers, stirring dark memories

While residents welcome tougher action on street crime, rights groups fear a return to authoritarian-era security crackdowns.

MiniMax debuts AI model built for long and complex coding tasks

Shanghai-based company says M3 can process data five times faster than its predecessor, while also slashing inference costs.

Impact of Middle East war on Hong Kong’s inflation limited, finance chief says

Inflation forecast raised to 2.6 per cent, but Financial Secretary Paul Chan says service-based economy and stable mainland Chinese supplies cushion impact.

How has China’s year-long law enforcement campaign changed local governance?

The nationwide campaign uncovered more than 66,000 problematic cases in the application of administrative laws, officials said.

US says struck Iran sites, Tehran responds by targeting base

Kuwait intercepts incoming drone and missile fire as negotiations to end the Iran war drag on.

How US export curbs are forcing China to redesign its AI chip industry

China’s tech giants are pursuing ASICs, a type of custom chip, over generic GPUs dominated by American giants like Nvidia.

Hong Kong-born scientist King Li named founding dean of third medical school

King Li says he is honoured to take up the role at HKUST, pledging to nurture future leaders of ‘healthcare revolution’.

Giant Chinese brokerage raising billions for overseas expansion

Citic Securities launches largest equity fundraising by a Chinese brokerage since 2022, aiming to raise 16 billion yuan.

Firms flee Singapore’s rising costs, teacher probed over photos: 5 weekend reads

From Pete Hegseth’s Shangri-La speech to a Chinese woman’s botched eyelid surgery, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Who benefits from the ‘significant improvement’ in Hong Kong’s finances?

Letters | Is ranking Hong Kong’s civil servants on a curve a good idea?

Editorial | US pressure has only helped make China’s tech giants stronger

Opinion | On fire safety, Hong Kong needs a mindset change

Editorial | Hong Kong’s progress in quitting tobacco is worth celebrating

China index reshuffle to entrench tech trades and boost AI rally: brokerages

India rolls out welcome mat for Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

China’s property market shows more positive signs with price, sales upticks

‘Unsustainable’: firms face huge spike in shipping costs amid Hormuz crisis

Losada unfazed by Hong Kong job waiting game, promises ‘more dynamic’ team

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Gallery | In pictures: India faces brutal heatwave as public finds ways to cool down

Hong Kong baby left without legal identity as parents refuse DNA test

McLaren to join Ferrari as only Formula 1 teams to make 1,000 grand prix starts

Beijing demands measures to curb impact of Czech senate president’s Taiwan trip

Beijing appoints Yuan Gujie as deputy director of Hong Kong liaison office

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

After Trump’s China trip, political scientist gives his assessment on Taiwan, trade leverage, the Iran war and Beijing’s tensions with Tokyo.

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

US takes step to halt Nvidia AI chip shipments to Chinese overseas subsidiaries

Surprise move suggests US chips may have been making their way to the subsidiaries of Chinese firms based in places such as Malaysia.

World of humanoid robots set for new blueprint as Nvidia teams with Asian firms

The tech trio team up to create a state-of-the-art robot reference design allowing researchers to build, fine-tune and deploy skills faster.

How US export curbs are forcing China to redesign its AI chip industry

China’s tech giants are pursuing ASICs, a type of custom chip, over generic GPUs dominated by American giants like Nvidia.

AI could redefine China’s EV market: Morgan Stanley

Carmakers redirect resources to autonomous driving upgrades, hoping AI can deliver growth beyond subsidy-driven sales.

‘Silent killer’: the race to beat cancer in Hong Kong

Despite a rising number of cancer cases in Hong Kong, survival rates are improving. Here is what you need to know.

China and Japan aren’t talking. Will their rare earth trade go quiet?

With bilateral relations at a low and Beijing already enacting limited export controls on critical minerals, fears of a broader ban grow.

Why the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation isn’t Nato for Iran

How Changan Automobile’s design-driven brand strategy shapes its global expansion plans

Opinion | Who benefits from the ‘significant improvement’ in Hong Kong’s finances?

Gallery | In pictures: India faces brutal heatwave as public finds ways to cool down