3 h. ago China pushes trilateral currency swap, new drone sighted: 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. China eyes currency swap with Japan and South Korea amid trade tensions: source China is in talks with Japan and South Korea – both US allies – about a possible trilateral currency swap to bolster the region’s financial safety net and deepen economic cooperation amid US President Donald Trump’s trade war, according to a source familiar with the issue. 2....

Events

8 h. ago Can the Philippines regain its tourism edge with revival of China e

The Philippines will revive its electronic visa programme for Chinese tourists next month, nearly two years after its abrupt suspension, as part of a broader push to boost lagging visitor arrivals and regain lost ground in the regional tourism race. The Philippine embassy in Beijing confirmed in a statement issued on October 15 that Chinese citizens – including those from Hong Kong and Macau – would again be able to apply for short-stay e-visas online for up to 14 days of travel for tourism or...

Politics

3 d. ago Chinese minister calls out US ‘protectionism’ in shipping industry

China’s Minister of Transport Liu Wei has called on shipping companies and port operators worldwide to promote free trade in a “concerted effort” to combat “protectionism” after the US administration slapped port fees on Chinese vessels. “All the companies dealing with shipping businesses should work together to promote a fair, just and open environment and safeguard the common interests of global economic and trade development,” he said at the North Bund Summit, a shipping industry ­conference,...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong TCM hospital to collect data on Chinese, Western medicine interactions

Hong Kong’s first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital aims to co-develop the world’s first clinical database on interactions between its healing practices and Western treatments to help provide evidence-based therapy guidelines. Dr Cheung Wai-lun, project director of the Health Bureau’s Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, said on Sunday that no such database currently existed and hoped the launch of the institute would help to fill that gap. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong...

Science

3 d. ago Wake up Britain, your pressing problem is hardly Chinese espionage

The collapse of the so-called China spy case in the UK has sparked a storm of headlines. Accusations of “spying for China”, allegations of improper government involvement in the dropping of the case, White House anger – the story ticked every box for front-page drama. Criticism of the government’s handling of the case was amplified by opposition politicians and commentators who never miss an opportunity to cast suspicion on closer ties with Beijing. This is not the first time people have been...

Politics

3 d. ago Britain’s obsession with ‘Chinese spying’ says more about the UK than China

The collapse of the so-called China spy case in the UK has sparked a storm of headlines. Accusations of “spying for China”, allegations of improper government involvement in the dropping of the case, White House anger – the story ticked every box for front-page drama. Criticism of the government’s handling of the case was amplified by opposition politicians and commentators who never miss an opportunity to cast suspicion on closer ties with Beijing. This is not the first time people have been...

Politics

4 d. ago Nexperia said to halt salaries and system access for Chinese employees

Nexperia has withheld access to work accounts and halted salaries for its employees in China, according to local news reports citing a letter from the Chinese unit of the Dutch chipmaker, marking the latest escalation in a growing political dispute between the Netherlands and China. The Chinese unit of Nexperia informed customers on Friday that it had been notified by headquarters that salary payments would cease and employees’ access to company systems would be suspended, according to Chinese...

Politics

4 d. ago Overseas expansion adds fuel to Chinese energy storage firms’ hunt for bosses

Openings at overseas energy storage operations flood John Yang’s screen anytime he browses recruitment websites, with listed giants and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alike offering salaries well above those typically found in China’s manufacturing sector. “Job seeking has never felt easier. The only worry is whether the new role could last beyond next year,” joked Yang, Thailand director at a Shenzhen-based energy storage firm. Yang’s experience reflects the recent, rapid overseas...

Economics

5 d. ago Dutch seized Nexperia over fears Chinese owners planned to move chip production to China

The Dutch government believed chipmaker Nexperia’s Chinese owners planned to move its manufacturing operations to China, prompting the unprecedented seizure of the company that has sent shock waves through the global tech world. Earlier this month, authorities seized control of Nexperia’s management and ousted its Chinese CEO, Zhang Xuezheng, citing national security concerns. In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce on October 4 imposed export controls on Nexperia’s Chinese subsidiary and its...

Politics

5 d. ago Envoys take special tour of Hong Kong’s exhibition on Chinese side of WWII

China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has organised its first tour for diplomats and business chamber representatives of an exhibition on the country’s war of resistance against Japan, with a Beijing official saying the event promotes remembering history, cherishing peace and creating a better future. More than 20 consuls general, consuls and representatives from foreign commerce chambers on Friday afternoon joined the visit to “United in Arms, Standing for Peace: 80th Anniversary of Chinese...

Events

5 d. ago Envoys given special tour of Hong Kong exhibition on Chinese victory in WWII

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has organised its first tour for diplomats and business chamber representatives of an exhibition on the country’s war of resistance against Japan, with a Beijing official saying the aim of the visit was to remember history, cherish peace and create a better future. More than 20 consuls general, consuls and representatives from foreign chambers of commerce joined the visit on Friday afternoon to the “United in Arms, Standing for Peace: 80th...

Events

5 d. ago Kidnapped, trapped, forced to scam: inside Cambodia’s Chinese

Rows of grey buildings with thick iron bars line the streets of Sihanoukville, about 250km (155 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh. Near the city’s Chinatown stands Cambodia’s largest so-called yuanqu – a slang term in Chinese criminal circles meaning “scam compound”, derived from yuanqu, or industrial estate. Inside these complexes, online crimes such as voice phishing and romance scams are part of daily life. Young people from South Korea and other countries are kidnapped or lured by Chinese-run...

Events

7 d. ago Global monthly EV sales hit record 2.1 million, with 62% Chinese

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales hit a record last month, buoyed by Chinese consumers’ growing interest in new models and the rising popularity of battery-powered cars in Europe. Worldwide September deliveries of pure-electric cars and plug-in hybrids jumped 24 per cent from a year earlier to 2.1 million units – breaking 2 million for the first time and topping the previous record of 1.9 million in December, according to London-based consultancy Rho Motion. The figure represented 20 per cent...

Economics

7 d. ago Hong Kong’s first TCM hospital sets outpatient fee at HK$180 ahead of debut

Outpatient services for Hong Kong’s first hospital dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will start at HK$180 (US$23.10) per visit, with the operator describing the fees as both affordable and competitive. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong in Tseung Kwan O also said on Wednesday that staff recruitment had been smooth and there would not be any manpower shortages affecting its launch on December 11. Dr Cheung Wai-lun, project director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project...

Science

7 d. ago Can Thailand’s tourism recover from a drop in Chinese arrivals?

Once a bright spot in the economy, Thailand’s tourism sector appears to be losing its shine. Even with an expected bump in foreign arrivals during the peak travel season at the end of the year, the country’s main tourism body still expects just 33.4 million visitors for 2025, an almost 6 per cent drop from 35.5 million last year. That’s the first decline in a decade outside the pandemic, and underscores the country’s challenge in trying to revive tourist arrivals, which remain below pre-Covid...

Politics

7 d. ago Chinese premier stresses resilience in symposium with business leaders

Premier Li Qiang called on China’s companies to be resilient and reiterated a pledge to achieve the country’s annual economic goals at a symposium with business leaders, academics and other experts on Tuesday. “To accurately understand the current economic situation, one must take a broader perspective [it is necessary to] further strengthen confidence, face problems squarely and stay firmly committed to doing our work well,” Li was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua. The meeting,...

Politics

7 d. ago DJI appeals inclusion on Pentagon’s ‘Chinese military companies’ list

Chinese drone maker DJI has appealed a US federal court’s decision that it should remain on the Pentagon’s blacklist of companies allegedly linked to China’s military. The Shenzhen-based company filed the appeal on Monday to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. DJI filed a lawsuit last October, arguing that it is not owned or controlled by the Chinese military and does not contribute to China’s defence industrial base. The drone manufacturer, which sells over half of all US commercial...

Events

8 d. ago As China and US impose rival port fees, global shipping braces for disruption

As China and the United States begin charging additional port fees on Tuesday, analysts warn the global shipping industry faces growing uncertainty and turmoil – though Beijing’s exemption of domestically built vessels is expected to limit the impact. China announced retaliatory port fees last Friday and released implementation details in the first hour of Tuesday – the same day the Chinese and US measures took effect. Fees will be waived for vessels built in China and for empty vessels arriving...

Politics

8 d. ago South Korea’s PPP slammed for targeting Chinese nationals via ‘xenophobic’ bill

South Korea’s conservative opposition party is facing mounting backlash over a proposed bill that aims to tighten restrictions on Chinese nationals, with critics accusing it of stoking xenophobia to galvanise support ahead of next year’s local elections. The People Power Party (PPP) has unveiled legislation – dubbed the “Three Shopping Prevention Law” – targeted at Chinese citizens, claiming that they had been abusing the country’s national health insurance system and making speculative property...

Events

8 d. ago UK’s MI5 warns politicians they are targets of Chinese and Russian spying

Britain’s domestic spy agency MI5 issued a rare public warning to members of parliament on Monday that they are being targeted by spies from China, Russia and Iran in an attempt to undermine the country’s democracy. The warning comes a week after prosecutors said they had to abandon the trial of two British men charged with spying on members of parliament for China because the British government had not provided evidence showing China was a threat to its national security. MI5 warned politicians...

Events