3 h. ago Chinese AI scientists, Beijing’s message to Brics: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump vows tariff boost for ‘anti-American’ policies as China urges Brics action US President Donald Trump has threatened to slam an additional 10 per cent tariffs on countries supporting what he calls “anti-American policies” after the leaders of Brics nations condemned unilateral tariffs. 2. Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China...

Politics

12 h. ago Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China visit

When Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives in China next week for his second official visit, he will have more than the typical diplomatic niceties to discuss with President Xi Jinping. A major task on Albanese’s agenda, besides routine topics like trade, will be to explain his country’s stance on Chinese investment – in particular, addressing the controversy over the ownership and potential government-influenced sale of the Darwin the Post has learned from sources with knowledge of...

Politics

12 h. ago Exclusive | Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China visit

Exclusive | Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China visit  South China Morning Post

Politics

13 h. ago Shandong warship departs Hong Kong after visit showcasing ‘military power’

The visit of China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier is both a lesson in patriotic education for Hong Kong and a chance for the country to showcase its military might, an official and a political analyst have said, as the vessel departed the city’s waters. Hundreds flocked to waterfront vantage points in Hong Kong on Monday to catch a final glimpse of the Shandong aircraft carrier and its fleet as they concluded their five-day port call. The city’s No 2 official hailed the role of the...

Events

13 h. ago Shandong warship leaves Hong Kong after visit showcasing ‘military power’

The visit of China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier is both a lesson in patriotic education for Hong Kong and a chance for the country to showcase its military might, an official and a political analyst have said, as the vessel departed from the city’s waters. Hundreds flocked to waterfront vantage points in Hong Kong on Monday to catch a final glimpse of the Shandong aircraft carrier and its fleet as they concluded their five-day port call. The city’s No 2 official hailed the role of...

Events

32 h. ago How Singapore can help China build bridges in an age of fracture

The recent visit of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to China reaffirmed the strategic depth of the China–Singapore relationship. His meetings with Chinese leaders underscored a readiness to work together to uphold the principles of free trade and multilateralism. But beyond symbolism, this visit raised critical questions. What role will Singapore now play on the global and regional stage? What new possibilities does this moment unlock? As geopolitical rivalry hardens and the risks of...

Politics

62 h. ago Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’ advice for Australia raises eyebrows

The Chinese ambassador to Canberra has urged Australia not to be “incited” by Nato’s support for demands by the US to raise defence spending sharply and instead should cooperate with Beijing to resolve regional disputes. Analysts say the “unsolicited advice” is unlikely to sway Canberra and could backfire by reinforcing distrust of Beijing, ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China and amid an ongoing debate in Australia over its defence spending. In an opinion article published...

Politics

63 h. ago Why Singapore refused to be a ‘Third China’ – and how Lee Kuan Yew made it clear

In his new memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong Yip Seng reflects on the intersection of geopolitics, media, and identity through the lens of his long career as editor-in-chief of The Straits Times. In this excerpt, Cheong recounts a revealing moment during an official visit to China in 1976 with then-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Among the officials present was S.R. Nathan, later Singapore’s sixth president, who witnessed Lee subtly rebuff a Chinese attempt to influence the...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Powerful’: why Shandong’s visit to Hong Kong is geopolitically significant

As Hong Kong celebrates the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, Beijing has once again deployed a powerful naval fleet, this time spearheaded by the aircraft carrier Shandong, highlighting both symbolic significance and strategic resolve amid escalating geopolitical tensions. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and its fleet arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning, embarking on a five-day visit, which is set to include public tours this weekend. The Shandong is...

Politics

4 d. ago Climate action with China aligns with Australia’s security needs

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s coming visit to China later this summer presents a timely chance to reframe Australia–China relations through an increasingly vital lens: climate cooperation. With bilateral ties having largely stabilised since 2022 and a joint Australia–Pacific bid for the 2026 UN climate summit under way, climate action offers a promising platform for stronger engagement. The rationale for cooperation is clear. Australia possesses vast reserves of critical minerals...

Events

4 d. ago Australia should leave politics out of climate collaboration with China

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s coming visit to China later this summer presents a timely chance to reframe Australia–China relations through an increasingly vital lens: climate cooperation. With bilateral ties having largely stabilised since 2022 and a joint Australia–Pacific bid for the 2026 UN climate summit under way, climate action offers a promising platform for stronger engagement. The rationale for cooperation is clear. Australia possesses vast reserves of critical minerals...

Politics

4 d. ago China aircraft carrier 'Shandong' draws crowds in first Hong Kong visit

China aircraft carrier 'Shandong' draws crowds in first Hong Kong visit  Reuters

Transport

4 d. ago China says Premier Li to visit Egypt after BRICS Brazil trip

China says Premier Li to visit Egypt after BRICS Brazil trip  The New Arab

Politics

4 d. ago New memoir reveals Lee Kuan Yew’s respectful strategy for China relations

Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew recognised early on that China demanded respect and equality in diplomacy – a posture that earned him Beijing’s enduring trust, according to veteran newspaper editor Cheong Yip Seng. In his newly released memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong reflects on Lee’s deft handling of China relations, drawn from personal experience covering his landmark 1976 visit to Beijing and later working closely with him as editor-in-chief of...

Politics

4 d. ago Developing | Chinese aircraft carrier’s visit shows national security ‘rock

Developing | Chinese aircraft carrier’s visit shows national security ‘rock-solid’: John Lee  South China Morning Post

Events

7 d. ago Will Trump visit China for WWII victory parade? Optimism as speculation swirls

Speculation that US President Donald Trump may visit Beijing in September has sparked “cautious optimism” among some Chinese analysts about a possible diplomatic breakthrough as trade ties between the rival powers teeter on the edge of a fragile truce. A Kyodo report on Sunday citing unnamed sources said that China was planning to invite Trump to its Victory Parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. When asked to comment on the report on...

Politics

9 d. ago China visit strengthens BNP's relation with Beijing: Fakhrul

China visit strengthens BNP's relation with Beijing: Fakhrul  Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

Politics

1 week ago China’s Top Diplomat to Visit Europe as Tensions With US Linger

China’s Top Diplomat to Visit Europe as Tensions With US Linger  Bloomberg

Politics

1 week ago Rare earths, Taiwan discussed in Wang Yi’s embassy visit to meet EU envoys

China and the European Union should enhance mutual trust and stick to cooperation to elevate their ties to “a new level”, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday amid widening trade tensions. In a meeting with EU diplomatic envoys in Beijing, Wang said that China and the EU “have both the responsibility and capability to provide much-needed stability and predictability to a world fraught with turbulence”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. “Both sides should enhance mutual...

Politics

1 week ago Rare earths, Taiwan discussed as Wang Yi meets EU envoys at Polish embassy

China and the European Union should increase mutual trust and stick to cooperation to elevate ties to “a new level”, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday amid widening trade tensions with the bloc. In a meeting with EU diplomatic envoys in Beijing, Wang said that China and the EU “have both the responsibility and capability to provide much-needed stability and predictability to a world fraught with turbulence”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. “Both sides should enhance...

Politics