12 h. ago As Trump urges cap on credit card rates, could China follow suit for online loans?

US President Donald Trump’s call for American credit card interest rates to be capped at 10 per cent for a year has sparked a debate in China about whether Beijing should impose a similar limit on online loans. The discussion comes as many in China – especially younger people – are being enticed by credit offers amid a weak job market and a boom in online loan services. “Apps now keep luring young people into borrowing,” a finance blogger with nearly 500,000 followers wrote in a social media...

Politics

16 h. ago Scam and corruption cases spark debate in China over cryptocurrencies’ future

The seizure of enormous cryptocurrency caches in two high-profile criminal cases in China – a former head of the central bank’s digital currency research institute accused of corruption, and an alleged scam centre kingpin linked to about US$15 billion in bitcoin – have sparked questions in the country about the safety and future of virtual money. But analysts said the long-term trend for the assets, especially bitcoin, depended on institutional capital, interest rate expectations and the...

Politics

16 h. ago Scam, corruption cases spark Chinese debate about future of virtual money

Scam, corruption cases spark Chinese debate about future of virtual money  South China Morning Post

Politics

43 h. ago Asia week ahead: Rate decisions in China, Japan, Indonesia and key data from China, Taiwan, and South Korea

Asia week ahead: Rate decisions in China, Japan, Indonesia and key data from China, Taiwan, and South Korea  ING THINK economic and financial analysis | ING Think

Politics

63 h. ago Beijing Extends Maternity Benefits to Retirees, Sparking Debate on Older Mothers

Beijing Extends Maternity Benefits to Retirees, Sparking Debate on Older Mothers  Caixin Global

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong plan for shopping zone barriers sparks debate over access, congestion

A HK$5 million (US$641,000) plan to install crash barriers in Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay shopping district is expected to improve pedestrian safety, but could also worsen congestion and restrict access for delivery workers and wheelchair users, according to a district councillor and nearby businesses. Wan Chai district councillor Peggy Lee Pik-yee agreed on Wednesday with the government’s plan to introduce about 60 bollards in the area, but said the move needed to meet residential and...

Economics

7 d. ago Taiwan to fortify critical facilities and ramp up ammunition output to ward off PLA pressure

Taiwan will double down on strengthening key facilities, including defences against drones, and ramp up ammunition production to withstand growing pressure from the mainland, according to senior officials on the island. Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Thursday that the government would continue to reinforce critical infrastructure and defences against unmanned aerial vehicles. “Taiwan must be more fully prepared, especially in the face of the possibility of various new forms of...

Events

9 d. ago PLA drills target swarms of suicide drones – Taiwan’s front line of defence

The People’s Liberation Army has released footage of exercises countering swarms of suicide drones, a key element of Taiwan’s asymmetric defence strategy. Mainland state broadcaster CCTV showed a video on Sunday of a naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target drills as the PLA launched its 2026 training cycle. During the drills, the “blue force”, acting as the adversary, deployed multiple suicide drones to simulate ultra-low-altitude penetration strikes against maritime targets. In...

Events

1 week ago China woman, 62, gets pregnant through IVF after death of only child, sparks debate

China woman, 62, gets pregnant through IVF after death of only child, sparks debate  South China Morning Post

Events

1 week ago Singapore’s elite schools spark debate; concern for domestic helpers: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week 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. Malaysia’s tourism minister urges warmer welcomes after ‘less than friendly’ complaints 2. Japan’s shoplifters hate a simple ‘hello’ more than cameras 3. Debate on Singapore’s elite schools flares as ex-student recalls ‘privileged’ years 4. Netflix-Warner deal sparks...

Politics

1 week ago Japan gamer, 12, plans to quit school to pursue esports, supported by parents, sparks debate

A 12-year-old Japanese gaming streamer is set to drop out after graduating from primary school to pursue esports full time, sparking controversy online. The youngster, Tarou, began playing video games at the age of three and has since amassed more than 230,000 followers online. On February 8, popular gamer Tarou, 12, announced that he would not attend secondary school, opting instead to pursue a full-time career in esports. “This is the result of a year-long discussion with my family and...

Sport

2 w. ago Did a PLA stealth fighter approach a key Taiwan airbase? New video sparks debate

A video released by the People’s Liberation Army during a military drill this week has sparked debate about whether Taiwan failed to detect a J-20 stealth fighter and how close the aircraft might have come to a key military airport on the island. The video was released by the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command on Tuesday – the second day of the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military exercises around Taiwan. The footage shows a PLA J-20 flying near an unidentified landscape that some observers say...

Events

2 w. ago Silver’s Historic Breach of $80 Turns Chaotic as China’s Clampdown Sparks Bubble Debate

Silver’s Historic Breach of $80 Turns Chaotic as China’s Clampdown Sparks Bubble Debate  FXLeaders

Politics

3 w. ago Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

All eyes are on how Beijing’s “Chinese dream” of eventual Taiwan reunification will unfold at a time when the leader of the United States – Taipei’s top international backer – appears less likely to intervene in case of a cross-strait conflict. In the third of a three-part series, Amber Wang looks at how PLA activity may reflect the wider political picture. In the past five years, People’s Liberation Army activity near Taiwan has been seen by many observers as a key indicator of when and whether...

Politics

4 w. ago Anwar’s coalition revives Malaysian Chinese school certification debate, sparking row

As Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration swings from one setback to another, his ruling coalition has turned to familiar talking points to regain the support of the country’s ethnic minorities. In the wake of a devastating defeat in the Sabah state election last month, members of Anwar’s ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition have renewed a push for government recognition of school leaving certificates issued by private Chinese high schools. The call, however, has driven a wedge...

Events

last month Can rising lithium costs save China’s energy storage firms from a brutal price war?

China’s energy storage firms, battered by a three-year price war, have been jolted by lithium battery maker Deegares, which has announced plans to raise prices by 15 per cent, a move that is sparking debate over whether the sector could be the first to break free from the “involution” cycle. Rising lithium costs were the immediate trigger, with at least three other battery makers reported in recent weeks to be planning similar increases. Prices of the metal, crucial to rechargeable batteries,...

Economics