2 h. ago Japanese debate over US immigration raid protests and influx of foreigners

US President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of military personnel to Los Angeles in response to protesters rallying against his administration’s immigration raids has split public opinion in Japan, where debates have escalated in recent years over an influx of foreigners into the country. The protests in Los Angeles – now in their third day – have prompted Trump to order around 4,000 National Guard personnel and 700 Marines to the city. Clashes between both sides have led to rubber...

Events

2 h. ago In Japan, LA protests are dividing people as much as in the US. Here’s why

US President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of military personnel to Los Angeles in response to protesters rallying against his administration’s immigration raids has split public opinion in Japan, where debates have escalated in recent years over an influx of foreigners into the country. The protests in Los Angeles – now in their third day – have prompted Trump to order around 4,000 National Guard personnel and 700 Marines to the city. Clashes between both sides have led to rubber...

Events

7 h. ago China, US officials agree to ‘framework’ that will need approvals by Xi, Trump

China and the United States wrapped up two days of high-level trade talks in London with an agreement “in principle to a framework” that each side will bring home for review by their top leaders. “The two sides agreed in principle a framework for implementing the consensus” that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump reached in their phone call last week, and the consensus of high-level bilateral negotiations in Geneva last month, China’s top trade negotiator Li Chenggang...

Politics

14 h. ago ‘Chaotic era’: Chinese state media say LA protests are proof of a broken America

Chinese state media have sought to portray the escalating Los Angeles protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies as proof of a broken government and the lack of social cohesion in the United States. Such a framing, alongside a mix of gloating and schadenfreude on Chinese social media, comes amid sustained US-China tariff tensions and ongoing high-level trade talks in London. The state-backed Beijing Youth Daily, in a commentary published on its social media page on Tuesday,...

Events

33 h. ago US Pentagon orders 700 Marine Corps troops to Los Angeles as unrest spreads

The US Pentagon ordered hundreds of Marine Corps members to Los Angeles to quell unrest that has led to a political stand-off between Washington and officials in the West Coast state. Earlier on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to sue US President Donald Trump for dispatching National Guard troops to America’s second-most-populous city without state authorisation. Chinese and Asian residents in the economically powerful state expressed concern amid fear that, having already...

Politics

33 h. ago US Pentagon deploying 700 Marines to quell Los Angeles unrest

The US Pentagon ordered hundreds of Marine Corps members to Los Angeles to quell unrest that has led to a political stand-off between Washington and officials in the West Coast state. Earlier on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to sue US President Donald Trump for dispatching National Guard troops to America’s second-most populous city without state authorisation. Chinese and Asian residents in the economically powerful state expressed concern amid fear that, having already...

Politics

33 h. ago Trump deploying 700 Marines and 2,000 more National Guard to quell LA unrest

The US Pentagon ordered hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles and an additional 2,000 National Guard members on Monday to quell unrest that has led to a political stand-off between Washington and officials in the West Coast state. Earlier in the day, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to sue US President Donald Trump for dispatching National Guard troops to America’s second-most populous city without state authorisation. Chinese and Asian residents in the economically powerful state...

Politics

33 h. ago Trump orders 700 Marines, more National Guard to quell LA unrest

The US Pentagon ordered hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles and an additional 2,000 National Guard members on Monday to quell unrest that has led to a political stand-off between Washington and officials in the West Coast state. Earlier in the day, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to sue US President Donald Trump for dispatching National Guard troops to America’s second-most populous city without state authorisation. Chinese and Asian residents in the economically powerful state...

Politics

38 h. ago Hongkongers warned to be vigilant in US as protests rock Los Angeles

Hong Kong authorities have called on residents to be vigilant and prioritise safety when travelling to the United States amid ongoing immigration-related protests in Los Angeles. Some Hongkongers based in California’s largest city on Monday slammed US President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard in the city, saying it would only further heighten the situation. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operation against illegal immigrants in Los Angeles on Friday triggered...

Events

3 d. ago EU pushes for ‘independence’ from China and US – but can it achieve it?

For more than four months, Europe has been one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite punchbags, absorbing bruising blows on trade, security and social issues. Over the same period, the European Union has held out an olive branch to Beijing, seeking concessions on economic matters in exchange for better political ties. The consensus now in Brussels is that China has chosen not to grab it. Sandwiched between two uncompromising superpowers, a growing number of European leaders are pushing for...

Politics

3 d. ago EU pushes for ‘independence’ from China and US – but can it get there?

For more than four months, Europe has been one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite punchbags, absorbing bruising blows on trade, security and social issues. Over the same period, the European Union has held out an olive branch to Beijing, seeking concessions on economic matters in exchange for better political ties. The consensus now in Brussels is that China has chosen not to grab it. Sandwiched between two uncompromising superpowers, a growing number of European leaders are pushing for...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump moves to block foreign drone makers from selling new models in US

US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders meant to rebuild America’s drone industry, tighten airspace security and boost military readiness, potentially squeezing Chinese manufacturers like DJI and Autel Robotics out of the market. “Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies,” Trump stated in one of the orders, warning that foreign-made drones were “endangering the public” and compromising critical infrastructure. The orders also call for federal...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump’s top economic officials to meet with China counterparts in London next week

US President Donald Trump’s top economic officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts on Monday. “I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting in London on Monday, June 9, 2025, with Representatives of China, with reference to the Trade Deal,” Trump said on social media. “The meeting should go very well. Thank you for your attention to this...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump says his top economic officials will meet with China counterparts in London next week

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his top economic officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts next week to discuss trade, just days after he conducted a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting in London on Monday, June 9, 2025, with Representatives of China, with reference...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump says US economic officials to meet China counterparts in London next week

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his top economic officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts next week to discuss trade, just days after he conducted a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and also reiterated that Beijing agreed to restart exports of critical minerals. “I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting...

Politics

4 d. ago Caught in a bad bromance: Trump and Musk go for the throat – what just happened?

Hours after US President Donald Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday night and shared optimistic remarks about the call on social media, a public feud escalated between him and his biggest political donor. Elon Musk, once Trump’s most high-profile donor and self-proclaimed “first buddy”, lambasted the “big beautiful bill” earlier this week – one of Trump’s key domestic policy initiatives that was recently passed by the House – lighting the fuse on a public fight that quickly...

Politics

4 d. ago As costs of Trump’s chaos become clear, expect him to shift the blame

Perhaps this is a good moment for an audit of US President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” (Maga) acolytes’ efforts to reshape the world as we have known it for over seven decades. That means reviewing the 130-or-so days since his inauguration, during which he has seeded the storm, and looking towards the 500-or-so days up to next year’s US midterm elections, during which he is set to reap the whirlwind. One clear certainty is that we face a period of unrelenting uncertainty,...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump’s Harvard ban, how early birds conquered the skies: 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 orders immediate ban on new Chinese and other foreign students at Harvard The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus. 2. Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust...

Politics

5 d. ago China’s ‘milestone’ engine, battery scientist leaves US: 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 orders immediate ban on new Chinese and other foreign students at Harvard The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus. 2. Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust...

Science

5 d. ago Pakistan’s bitcoin reserve plan aims to turn energy surplus into tech investment

Following in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump’s administration, Pakistan plans to create a sovereign bitcoin reserve powered by unused electricity in a bold bid to monetise its energy oversupply and attract foreign tech investors. Analysts warn that the high-risk strategy could strain Pakistan’s fragile power grid, raise red flags with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and expose Islamabad to cryptocurrency market volatility. However, some argue it could also help diversify the...

Science