https://www.scmp.com/rss/4/feed The latest breaking news from China. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage In Benin’s southern Atlantic coastal town of Ouidah, located about 40km (25 miles) west of the economic capital of Cotonou, China is turning a former slave trade hub into a busy tourist destination. The historic port once saw nearly 2 million enslaved Africans marched along the 2km “Slave Route” from the auction plaza to the beach during the transatlantic slave trade. On the shore, captives were passed through the “Gate of No Return”, with a monumental memorial arch now standing at the exact... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356024/how-china-turning-historic-african-slave-port-waterfront-tourism-destination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356024/how-china-turning-historic-african-slave-port-waterfront-tourism-destination?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Mainland China has equipped frontline troops facing Taiwan with a new missile, according to mainland state media. The missile is believed to be an HQ-16F, which has comparable qualities to the US Patriot PAC2 and 3 systems. On Friday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of the 73rd Group Army’s first operational and live-fire assessment of the missile in the Gobi Desert. The unit, which forms part of the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command, had travelled thousands of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356216/beijing-deploys-new-missiles-matching-patriots-opposite-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356216/beijing-deploys-new-missiles-matching-patriots-opposite-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:12:22 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Residents in some parts of Beijing are on edge as rises in humidity and temperature lure snakes into the Chinese capital, where encounters with the reptiles are usually rare. Concerned residents have been sharing their sightings on social media. “Why are there snakes in Beijing’s parks?” one user posted. “It scared me to death.” In the comments section, many others shared similar experiences, with one woman recounting her shock at finding a snake hiding behind the fridge of her 25th-floor... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3356111/snakes-alive-warmer-weather-brings-flurry-sightings-chinese-capital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3356111/snakes-alive-warmer-weather-brings-flurry-sightings-chinese-capital?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley What is in effect Japan’s version of the Belt and Road Initiative is being rolled out at an accelerating pace. But unlike China’s global infrastructure initiative, which mainly takes the form of highways, railways and sea lanes, Japan’s project is all about energy networks and supply chains. It poses a further challenge to America’s waning economic and strategic influence in Asia, the world’s most populous, resource-rich and potentially powerful region. What is more, it is a cooperative venture... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3355995/problem-japans-bid-strengthen-energy-security-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3355995/problem-japans-bid-strengthen-energy-security-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik The People’s Liberation Army said on Friday that it had tracked and monitored a Dutch warship during its passage through the Taiwan Strait, days after using electronic interference during a confrontation with the same vessel in the South China Sea. The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said on social media that in less than two weeks, the shipborne helicopter of the Dutch frigate De Ruyter had “illegally intruded into the airspace over China’s Xisha [the Chinese name for the Paracel Islands] and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356200/pla-says-it-will-stay-high-alert-after-dutch-warship-crosses-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356200/pla-says-it-will-stay-high-alert-after-dutch-warship-crosses-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:00:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s top internet watchdog has banned 11 specific online activities under strict new rules for multiplatform content creators taking effect later this year. Rolling out the new regulations last week, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said they aimed to prevent the spread of rumours and posts that could incite public anger, antagonism or social discrimination. The prohibited content includes posts fabricating topics to confuse the public, spreading fake or speculative information,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3356065/china-bans-11-online-activities-under-tighter-rules-curb-rumours-cyberbullies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3356065/china-bans-11-online-activities-under-tighter-rules-curb-rumours-cyberbullies?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Zhou Bo Zhou Bo Listening to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, I thought of the iconic Sichuan opera act of face-changing, where performers switch masks in an instant. Last year, Hegseth’s speech at the event was filled with blatant attacks on China. This year, he put on a completely different face, declaring that: “Under President Trump’s leadership, relations between the United States and China are better than they’ve been in many years.” Why this... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3355862/does-pete-hegseths-volte-face-china-reflect-america-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3355862/does-pete-hegseths-volte-face-china-reflect-america-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Indonesia is considering buying hi-tech policing equipment from China, setting out a shopping list for technology ranging from drones to tactical armoured vehicles at a police equipment trade show in Beijing. The Indonesian National Police is particularly interested in counterterrorism equipment, including intelligence technology, tactical weapons, bomb disposal gear and special purpose vehicles, according to a list of requirements released at a forum held at the expo on Thursday. Most of this... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356160/indonesian-police-market-hi-tech-chinese-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356160/indonesian-police-market-hi-tech-chinese-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Andrew Sheng Andrew Sheng Given that control over energy reinforces superpower status, the contest of the century has morphed into an intense rivalry between China, a rising “electrostate”, and the United States, the world’s hydrocarbon hegemon safeguarding its position. China recognises that electricity drives its economy. Despite being a major producer of coal, crude oil and natural gas, China remains an importer of these hydrocarbons. However, with strategic patience, through its five-year plans, the country has been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356042/energy-now-focus-us-china-contest-century?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356042/energy-now-focus-us-china-contest-century?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Taiwan’s main opposition leader said cross-strait peace can be maintained as long as Taipei did not move towards “de jure independence”, during her trip in the United States. Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), attended a closed-door seminar at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government on Thursday, according to a KMT statement on Friday. Cheng told the seminar that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which she described as the greatest common denominator... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356179/kmt-leader-says-taiwan-can-preserve-peace-avoiding-de-jure-independence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356179/kmt-leader-says-taiwan-can-preserve-peace-avoiding-de-jure-independence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:56:56 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Makeda George steps out of a Mixue store in downtown Brooklyn, New York, clutching a bubble tea as she weaves through a crowd of teenagers. The local resident says she had been eager to try the brand after noticing a surge of new outlets opening in recent months. “I decided to try the bubble tea. It was good,” she said, adding that she did not know it was a Chinese drink chain but figured it was Asian given the branding. “Everywhere you go, every nook, every cranny, you just see them popping... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3356110/how-chinese-drink-chains-are-testing-limits-soft-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3356110/how-chinese-drink-chains-are-testing-limits-soft-power?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:01:05 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma Cai Qi, the fifth-ranked member in the Communist Party’s hierarchy, has been picked to head the Central Party School, the top training ground for cadres. Cai, 70, sits on the elite Politburo Standing Committee and is secretary of the party’s secretariat as well as director of the party’s general office. Responsible for daily operations of the party’s nerve centre, Cai is often referred to as President Xi Jinping’s chief of staff. His new post at the party school means that he will also oversee... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3356162/xi-jinpings-chief-staff-cai-qi-takes-central-party-school-helm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3356162/xi-jinpings-chief-staff-cai-qi-takes-central-party-school-helm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:10:27 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Any US military attack on Cuba would most likely take place this summer, according to a Chinese defence technology company closely tracking US military movements around the island. The assessment by Jingan Technology, a civilian start-up founded in 2021 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said that if the US were to use force against Cuba, it would most likely take the form of a rapid “decapitation and paralysis” operation aimed at regime change, rather than a large-scale invasion. The company uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356143/summer-most-likely-window-us-attack-cuba-chinese-defence-tech-firm-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356143/summer-most-likely-window-us-attack-cuba-chinese-defence-tech-firm-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham The EU’s trade chief has confirmed publicly for the first time that the bloc is considering a specific rule to compel companies to diversify their suppliers, as Europe looks to unwind its dependencies on China. “Diversification now requires a dedicated instrument,” Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Friday, adding that he would model it on the manner in which the European Union reduced its reliance on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “Recent... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356159/eu-needs-dedicated-instrument-unwind-china-dependencies-trade-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356159/eu-needs-dedicated-instrument-unwind-china-dependencies-trade-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:10:23 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo China-Canada relations are undergoing a thaw after years of estrangement and recrimination. China and India are seeking a rapprochement despite deep-seated distrust and sometimes violent border disputes. Both cases share a common element: Donald Trump. Meanwhile, following the US president’s visit to Beijing, his defence secretary Pete Hegseth avoided mentioning Taiwan at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He sounded almost conciliatory by hailing ties with Beijing as “better than they’ve... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355960/trump-turning-allies-and-partners-friends-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355960/trump-turning-allies-and-partners-friends-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang A physicist who was awarded a fellowship reserved for the “brightest young scientists” in the US and Canada for his work hunting for black holes has returned to China. Dai Liang, who received a Sloan Research Fellowship for physics in 2021, recently took up a professorship at Fudan University in Shanghai and joined the Fudan Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics. The fellowships were established in 1955 by former General Motors chief executive Alfred Sloan to support early-career researchers... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3356052/chinese-black-hole-hunting-scientist-dai-liang-quits-us-shanghai-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3356052/chinese-black-hole-hunting-scientist-dai-liang-quits-us-shanghai-post?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao A PLA inspection team visited several facilities in Russia’s Eastern Military District this week, including an air defence missile unit in the far-eastern Jewish Autonomous Region, Russian media reported. The visit, conducted under a decades-old confidence-building mechanism, came as President Vladimir Putin described China and Russia as “natural allies and partners”, while emphasising that their deepening military cooperation was not directed against any third party. The June 2-3 inspection... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356124/chinese-military-team-inspects-russian-bases-putin-hails-natural-allies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356124/chinese-military-team-inspects-russian-bases-putin-hails-natural-allies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:07:15 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to North Korea next week, his first overseas trip this year and his first to the hermit nation since 2019. The trip will take place on Monday and Tuesday, Xinhua said without elaboration. Xi’s last official overseas excursion was to South Korea in October, when he met US President Donald Trump and attended a regional summit. Xi’s visit underscores a rebound in relations with China’s only formal ally following relative isolation during the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356076/xi-heads-north-korea-tech-transfer-clampdown-inflation-pickup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356076/xi-heads-north-korea-tech-transfer-clampdown-inflation-pickup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have created the world’s first superfast memory for quantum computers, solving a critical data-reading bottleneck and paving the way for big-data challenges such as drug discovery and detecting fraudulent financial activities. While quantum computers are expected to solve complex problems at speeds unattainable by traditional computers, they still need an efficient way to access classical data. Without a high-speed data interface, even the fastest quantum machine is slowed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3356030/china-unveils-worlds-first-superfast-quantum-memory-paving-way-practical-computing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3356030/china-unveils-worlds-first-superfast-quantum-memory-paving-way-practical-computing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:00:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump ‘personally called for China’s help’ to end Ukraine war in summit with Xi US President Donald Trump personally urged President Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine war, seeking to leverage Beijing’s influence over Moscow to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356025/trump-urged-xi-help-end-ukraine-war-chinas-tech-sanctions-list-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356025/trump-urged-xi-help-end-ukraine-war-chinas-tech-sanctions-list-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:34:05 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on Monday and Tuesday in a show of the two countries’ strong ties. At the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Xi will pay a state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from June 8 to 9, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday morning, citing the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The trip will be Xi’s second to North Korea. The Chinese president visited in 2019, before... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356021/chinese-leader-xi-jinping-visit-north-korea-confirmed-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356021/chinese-leader-xi-jinping-visit-north-korea-confirmed-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:09:38 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A Chinese shipbuilder has unveiled a blueprint for a massive, nuclear-powered floating island that will serve as a container transfer terminal and a charging station for vessels. The floating terminal will be powered by advanced molten salt reactors that use liquefied salt as both a fuel and coolant. These reactors can store vast amounts of thermal energy and cool without the need for water. Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, said the complex... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355989/china-proposes-nuclear-powered-floating-island-reshape-global-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355989/china-proposes-nuclear-powered-floating-island-reshape-global-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A US citizen who lived and worked for state media in China for several years pleaded guilty on Thursday to acting as a foreign agent for Beijing after allegedly collecting US$100,000 in return for gathering intelligence in the US on “American targets” and American politicians. According to court documents, Thomas Weir Pauken II worked at the “direction and control” of Chinese officials linked to China’s Ministry of State Security from at least 2019 until February 2026, with someone using the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356019/us-citizen-and-journalist-charged-acting-chinese-agent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356019/us-citizen-and-journalist-charged-acting-chinese-agent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:40:58 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong After it was sanctioned by the US government for allegedly helping Iran, a Chinese satellite company has released high-definition images of the Nvidia and Apple headquarters in California’s Silicon Valley. They were among photos posted on social media on Monday by Changguang Satellite based in Changchun, in northeast China. The satellite images – captured by the company’s Jilin-1 constellation – offer a detailed bird’s-eye view of the region. They include the futuristic Endeavour and Voyager... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355930/chinese-satellite-company-releases-images-nvidia-apple-hqs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355930/chinese-satellite-company-releases-images-nvidia-apple-hqs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:00:06 +0000 Igor Patrick,Dewey Sim Igor Patrick,Dewey Sim China accused the United States of using “invented allegations” to justify its terrorism case against Cuba, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators he needed no new evidence to tie the island to violent leftist groups across the western hemisphere. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday that Washington could not justify its blockade and sanctions against the island, adding that the decades-old embargo had wrecked Cuba’s economy. “China firmly supports Cuba in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356016/china-says-us-invented-terrorism-charges-justify-cuba-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356016/china-says-us-invented-terrorism-charges-justify-cuba-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:51:58 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told lawmakers on Thursday that American dependence on China for food, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs poses an “existential” threat, framing food security as a national security issue while defending the White House’s reduced fiscal 2027 budget request. “If we need to rely on China for our food and our fertiliser and all the things that come with that, we will lose what we understand to be liberty and freedom in this country. That’s how important... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356014/us-farm-chief-says-reliance-china-threatens-american-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356014/us-farm-chief-says-reliance-china-threatens-american-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:23:37 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Beijing’s strong opposition to maritime boundary talks between Manila and Tokyo reflects growing wariness over a shifting balance of power in the western Pacific. And, experts warn, these talks – part of a highly calculated geopolitical effort by US allies – could reinforce the so-called first island chain and restrict Beijing’s naval access in an area vital to any potential conflict over Taiwan: its clear red line. Tensions have sharpened since Japan and the Philippines announced last week that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355969/are-japan-philippines-talks-maritime-red-line-chinas-blue-water-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355969/are-japan-philippines-talks-maritime-red-line-chinas-blue-water-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Amber Wang,Alcott Wei Amber Wang,Alcott Wei China is aiming to boost its “hunt-and-kill” capabilities with a new submarine that boasts futuristic features, according to Chinese analysts. A submarine that appeared to lack a traditional fin was being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, France-based Naval News reported on Wednesday, citing Vantor satellite images dated June 1. A submarine’s fin is a tower on its topside, usually used for observation and communications. Analysts said a finless design could boost the craft’s stealth,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3355991/chinas-futuristic-stealth-sub-boost-hunt-and-kill-capabilities-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3355991/chinas-futuristic-stealth-sub-boost-hunt-and-kill-capabilities-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:33:11 +0000 Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos For over two decades, China’s rise in Latin America has been viewed as one of the most significant geopolitical developments in the western hemisphere. Through trade, investment, infrastructure projects and diplomatic engagement, Beijing built a presence that would have been difficult to imagine at the beginning of the century. The strategy appeared highly successful. Beijing became a leading trading partner for much of the region, financed major projects, expanded its diplomatic footprint and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355628/why-chinas-latin-america-ties-arent-immune-trumps-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355628/why-chinas-latin-america-ties-arent-immune-trumps-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Soon after Donald Trump concluded a visit to China that he hailed as a great success, America’s top diplomat joined his Indian, Japanese and Australian counterparts in New Delhi for a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. At the meeting on May 26, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, a strategic push to curb global reliance on Beijing for rare earth elements. Member states are pooling up to US$20 billion... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355977/us-china-policy-under-donald-trump-heading-unpredictable-drift-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355977/us-china-policy-under-donald-trump-heading-unpredictable-drift-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:30:06 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Four New Zealand lawmakers who were handed travel bans by Beijing for visiting Taiwan have been accused of crossing a “red line” by the Chinese embassy in Wellington. The ban – which covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau – was condemned by the New Zealand and Australian governments, which said they would lodge a formal protest. The party, which visited the island in early May, included three members of the ruling centre-right coalition – National MP Maureen Pugh, David Wilson from NZ First... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355971/beijing-slaps-travel-ban-new-zealand-mps-crossing-red-line-taiwan-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355971/beijing-slaps-travel-ban-new-zealand-mps-crossing-red-line-taiwan-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:01:15 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/series/3355958/japan-philippines-maritime-talks-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/series/3355958/japan-philippines-maritime-talks-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:27:14 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China is wasting a huge amount of green energy as the world grapples with an energy shortage because of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The “wasted” wind and solar energy stems from inflexible grid management that continues to rely on coal for baseload power and stymies a clean energy expansion that could otherwise generate electricity equivalent to the needs of France, according to analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) think tank. China’s energy demand rose in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355954/many-wind-and-solar-power-plants-china-are-strangled-amid-global-energy-crisis-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355954/many-wind-and-solar-power-plants-china-are-strangled-amid-global-energy-crisis-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:01:36 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma The EU and China were due to hold talks to defuse escalating trade tensions after Europe voted last week to adopt a tough new approach. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic was set to meet China’s top trade envoy, Li Chenggang, on the sidelines of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting on Thursday, the South China Morning Post reported. Talks will focus on establishing a new platform to discuss trade and investment issues and will pave the way for Chinese Commerce... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355952/eu-china-hold-talks-trade-war-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355952/eu-china-hold-talks-trade-war-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:01:01 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Chinese academics specialising in Tibet must find more creative ways to shape the global conversation about the region while remaining strictly aligned with the Communist Party’s ideology. That was the message Li Ganjie, head of the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department, had for researchers who gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the China Tibetology Research Centre on Wednesday. According to state news agency Xinhua, Li said that the international situation was “volatile” and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355946/tibetology-key-china-shaping-global-views-region-top-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355946/tibetology-key-china-shaping-global-views-region-top-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:41:24 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Some people living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have never been able to stand on their own. SMA is a genetic disorder that causes the nerves that connect the brain and muscles to deteriorate over time, making it challenging or even impossible for those affected to contract their muscles. Over time, their muscles shrink through lack of use. Depending on the severity, this condition can confine individuals to a wheelchair or leave them bedridden. It can also make eating and even breathing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355797/chinese-robot-helps-children-nerve-disorder-stand-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355797/chinese-robot-helps-children-nerve-disorder-stand-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Alcott Wei,Amber Wang Alcott Wei,Amber Wang Beijing could conduct military operations, bolster its electronic warfare strength and roll out trade sanctions in response to Tokyo and Manila’s deepening defence cooperation, according to Chinese experts. Last week, Manila and Tokyo announced they would launch negotiations on the maritime boundary of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves around Taiwan, a move that Beijing called “completely illegal and invalid”. In a report on Wednesday, the Beijing Lande Information... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3355864/how-beijing-could-use-its-military-and-trade-hit-back-tokyo-manila-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3355864/how-beijing-could-use-its-military-and-trade-hit-back-tokyo-manila-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang The need for Beijing and Washington to pursue “reconciliation and cooperation” and avoid war is the central message of her US trip, Taiwan’s main opposition leader Cheng Li-wun said in San Francisco. Cheng, leading a delegation from the Kuomintang (KMT), arrived in San Francisco on Monday evening, beginning a two-week US visit closely watched in Beijing, Taipei and Washington. In San Francisco’s Chinatown on Tuesday, Cheng said China and the US should forge “a relationship of friendship and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355888/taiwan-opposition-leader-promotes-cross-strait-peace-during-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355888/taiwan-opposition-leader-promotes-cross-strait-peace-during-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:45:19 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed on Wednesday that China is “very interested” in additional Boeing plane purchases, an issue the Trump administration plans to press when President Xi Jinping visits the United States in September. “They agreed to 200 aeroplanes during the visit. We will see if they commit to a larger number when Xi Jinping arrives in Washington,” Bessent said in his budget request testimony to the Senate Finance Committee. China’s commitment to buy 200 Boeing aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3355886/us-bessent-says-china-eyeing-more-boeing-purchases-ahead-xi-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3355886/us-bessent-says-china-eyeing-more-boeing-purchases-ahead-xi-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:03:20 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Despite recent back-to-back visits to Beijing by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, no new trilateral framework or major diplomatic breakthrough has emerged. Yet, according to observers, the summits highlight Beijing’s growing ability to manage its two most important relationships on separate tracks: sustaining a deep strategic partnership with Moscow, while pursuing a more transactional, stability-focused engagement with Washington. Several analysts said the pattern... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355814/first-trump-then-putin-go-china-does-great-power-diplomacy-now-hinge-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355814/first-trump-then-putin-go-china-does-great-power-diplomacy-now-hinge-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Mark Magnier Teresa Elena Frontado,Mark Magnier The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed new tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from China and dozens of other trading partners, using a forced-labour investigation to advance what analysts see as a bid to rebuild its tariff regime after recent court setbacks. The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said on Tuesday that China and 59 other economies failed to prohibit or adequately restrict US imports made with forced labour, subjecting them to punitive action... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355882/china-eu-slam-proposed-us-tariffs-reject-forced-labour-allegations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355882/china-eu-slam-proposed-us-tariffs-reject-forced-labour-allegations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:32:33 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva thanked China for clearing the country’s beef of foot-and-mouth disease and fired a barb at US President Donald Trump, saying “I will sell to someone else”, after Washington announced new tariffs on Brazilian goods. Lula made the remarks on Tuesday, hours after Beijing announced wider access for Brazilian beef to the world’s biggest market for the product. “As God writes straight with crooked lines, nothing comes free for a Christian man like me.... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3355879/lula-thanks-china-beef-win-and-tells-us-after-tariffs-i-will-sell-someone-else?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3355879/lula-thanks-china-beef-win-and-tells-us-after-tariffs-i-will-sell-someone-else?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:52:14 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong Quantum computing has long carried an aura of exclusivity, cloaked in dense academic papers and ultra-cold laboratory systems understood by only a small circle of physicists and mathematicians. However, a Chinese start-up has changed quantum computing into something closer to an AI chatbot. On May 15, Shanghai-based Youshu Quantum Technology unveiled what it described as the world’s first agent-driven quantum computing platform. UnitaryLab 2.0 is designed to allow users to operate quantum... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355781/chinese-ai-lets-everyday-users-command-quantum-computing-natural-language?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355781/chinese-ai-lets-everyday-users-command-quantum-computing-natural-language?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Japan and the Philippines are deepening defence and maritime cooperation over shared concerns about China, with broad implications that analysts say reach beyond the South China Sea. Following Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s state visit to Tokyo last week, the two sides agreed to launch formal talks on military intelligence sharing and maritime boundary delimitation, while elevating ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Beijing responded strongly, denouncing the boundary... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355849/how-japan-and-philippines-are-building-maritime-security-front-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355849/how-japan-and-philippines-are-building-maritime-security-front-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:11:49 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s latest air-to-air missile, the PL-16, could have a range of more than 300km (186 miles) thanks to a variable-thrust rocket motor, according to an unverified image being circulated online. It comes weeks after the first image emerged of the US Air Force’s new AIM-260 air-to-air missile – a joint advanced tactical missile with a range of at least 193km (120 miles). It is not clear when the AIM-260 will enter service, but US officials have cited China’s PL-15 missile as a key driver for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3355821/chinas-pl-15-missile-has-downed-rafale-jets-pl-16-even-more-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3355821/chinas-pl-15-missile-has-downed-rafale-jets-pl-16-even-more-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang The mainland Chinese coastguard’s first independent law enforcement patrol east of Taiwan on Monday – in response to the maritime border talks between Japan and the Philippines – marked an expansion of its patrolled area beyond the traditional focus. Since its launch in 2021, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has routinely patrolled in the South China Sea, East China Sea and Yellow Sea. In recent years, apart from routine patrols around a few Taiwan-controlled islands, the CCG has also joined the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355822/what-does-beijings-response-tokyo-manila-boundary-talks-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355822/what-does-beijings-response-tokyo-manila-boundary-talks-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:03:32 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Disciplinary authorities in central China are investigating a county-level Communist Party chief following a coal mine gas blast that killed 82 people and left two missing. Zhao Yongjin, party secretary of Qinyuan county in Changzhi, was “suspected of serious violations of discipline and law”, the Shanxi provincial discipline inspection and supervisory commission, an anti-corruption watchdog, said on Tuesday night. The blast at the Liushenyu Coal Mine on May 22 was China’s deadliest mine... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355800/china-launches-investigation-county-chief-months-after-he-inspected-fatal-coal-mine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355800/china-launches-investigation-county-chief-months-after-he-inspected-fatal-coal-mine?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:00:06 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese archaeologist who discovered 5,000-year-old city pleads guilty to corruption Liu Bin, a Chinese archaeologist credited with discovering a vast 5,000-year-old prehistoric city that rewrote the history of Chinese civilisation, has pleaded guilty to taking bribes and embezzlement. 2. Chip prodigy Da Bo... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355784/chip-prodigy-returns-china-coal-waste-used-critical-minerals-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355784/chip-prodigy-returns-china-coal-waste-used-critical-minerals-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:30:05 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japan is positioning itself as a partner for Pacific Island nations struggling with rising seas and caught between the US-China rivalry, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledging on Wednesday to help fight climate change and boost maritime cooperation. Speaking at the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo, Takaichi made a direct pitch to Pacific leaders, presenting Japan as a reliable partner that upholds the rule of law at sea and delivers consistent support. “Japan will continue to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355788/rising-seas-japan-makes-pitch-pacific-island-nations-caught-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355788/rising-seas-japan-makes-pitch-pacific-island-nations-caught-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:05 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Li Xiaohong, a former senior disciplinary official in charge of national inspection, has been placed under investigation for suspected severe disciplinary and legal violations, China’s top anti-corruption authorities said on Tuesday. The downfall of the 73-year-old veteran – known for spearheading high-level anti-corruption crackdowns and his top disciplinary roles at the securities regulator – underscores Beijing’s continued efforts to target corruption among its most senior disciplinary... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355776/chinas-anti-corruption-watchdog-targets-its-former-senior-official-li-xiaohong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355776/chinas-anti-corruption-watchdog-targets-its-former-senior-official-li-xiaohong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:11:11 +0000