22 h. ago China’s AI and EV boom drives record power demand, widening energy gap with US

China’s total electricity consumption hit a record high of 10.4 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2025, more than double that of the US, the National Energy Administration (NEA) said on Saturday. The 5 per cent jump from the previous year marked the first time in China’s history that annual electricity consumption had surpassed 10 trillion kWh – the highest in the world and more than the combined total of the European Union, Russia, India and Japan, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing NEA...

Politics

5 d. ago India overtakes Japan, Bali mulls bank check requirement: 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. India overtakes Japan in economic size – while prosperity trails far behind India ushered in the new year with a symbolic triumph as its economy edged past Japan’s to become the world’s fourth largest by nominal gross domestic product. 2. Nearly 94% of Malaysians who...

Politics

5 d. ago PLA Justice Mission 2025: China’s Military Drills Around Taiwan

PLA Justice Mission 2025: China’s Military Drills Around Taiwan  orfonline.org

Events

8 d. ago India overtakes Japan in economic size, but prosperity trails far behind

India ushered in the new year with a symbolic triumph as its economy edged past Japan’s to become the world’s fourth largest by nominal gross domestic product. The achievement unleashed a wave of national pride in New Delhi and among business leaders, but behind the celebrations lingers a question: can the world’s fastest-growing economy turn rapid growth into widespread prosperity? Economists warn that GDP figures alone cannot create jobs, lift incomes or bridge yawning inequality in a nation...

Economics

8 d. ago As India overtakes Japan in economic size, prosperity lags far behind

India ushered in the new year with a symbolic triumph as its economy edged past Japan’s to become the world’s fourth largest by nominal gross domestic product. The achievement unleashed a wave of national pride in New Delhi and among business leaders, but behind the celebrations lingers a question: can the world’s fastest-growing economy turn rapid growth into widespread prosperity? Economists warn that GDP figures alone cannot create jobs, lift incomes or bridge yawning inequality in a nation...

Economics

8 d. ago How PLA could use ‘decapitation’ strike to counter Taiwan’s ‘porcupine’ strategy

Taiwan’s asymmetric warfare plan – also known as the “porcupine” strategy – could pose a significant threat to a PLA campaign against the island, a mainland Chinese military magazine has warned. But the People’s Liberation Army could counter that strategy with an American-style “decapitation” strike, according to the article in the November issue of Naval and Merchant Ships. It analysed how the porcupine strategy played out in Taiwan’s annual military exercise in July – known as Han Kuang –...

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 US ‘decapitation’ strike on Venezuela sparks PLA copycat fears in Taiwan

The US “decapitation-style” operation against Venezuela’s leadership has heightened concerns in Taiwan that Beijing could one day attempt a similar strike against the island, even though Taipei has played down such a possibility. The anxiety has been amplified by the People’s Liberation Army’s two-day drills around Taiwan last week, parts of which simulated joint operations aimed at paralysing political and military command structures – a scenario analysts say echoes elements of leadership...

Events

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 US Navy aircraft crashes offer lessons for PLA carrier operations, analysts say

After two US Navy aircraft crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other in October, analysts said there were lessons for the Chinese navy as it rapidly expands aircraft carrier operations. They said the People’s Liberation Army could learn from its rival’s strengths in search and rescue response, but also its weaknesses in maintenance and training. The US Navy said the aircraft – an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet – went down in separate...

Events

2 w. ago Japan may lose GDP race to India amid weak yen, tourism woes and China row

Japan’s economy is likely to fall behind India’s in 2026 to fifth place in the world, according to an International Monetary Fund’s estimate, potentially diminishing the East Asian nation’s presence on the global stage. The subdued economic outlook makes Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s planned growth strategy, due out in the summer, all the more important to combat the burden from the country’s shrinking population, economists say. They call for productivity improvements and further efforts to...

Politics

2 w. ago Taiwan No Walkover For China’s PLA! Will India Join Japan, S.Korea & The U.S. To Deter Beijing, Defend Taipei?

Taiwan No Walkover For China’s PLA! Will India Join Japan, S.Korea & The U.S. To Deter Beijing, Defend Taipei?  EurAsian Times

Politics

2 w. ago Taiwan No Walkover For China’s PLA: Why Invasion Could Be A Nightmare For Beijing, IAF Air Marshal Explains

Taiwan No Walkover For China’s PLA: Why Invasion Could Be A Nightmare For Beijing, IAF Air Marshal Explains  EurAsian Times

Events

2 w. ago China's resolve for national unity seen in PLA's drills around Taiwan

China's resolve for national unity seen in PLA's drills around Taiwan  chinadailyasia.com

Politics

2 w. ago US envoy hosts Quad meeting in Beijing as PLA’s drills around Taiwan continue

US envoy hosts Quad meeting in Beijing as PLA’s drills around Taiwan continue  South China Morning Post

Politics

2 w. ago China military exercises: PLA simulates Taiwan blockade, Trump 'not worried'

China military exercises: PLA simulates Taiwan blockade, Trump 'not worried'  NBC News

Events

2 w. ago India overtakes Japan as world’s 4th largest economy, eyes top 3 by 2026

India has overtaken Japan as the world’s fourth-largest economy – and officials hope to pass Germany within three years, the government’s end-of-year economic review calculates. Official confirmation however depends on data due in 2026 when final annual gross domestic product figures are released, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggesting India will cross over Japan next year. “India is among the world’s fastest-growing major economies and is well-positioned to sustain this...

Politics

2 w. ago India overtakes Japan as world’s fourth largest economy, eyes top 3 in 2026

India has overtaken Japan as the world’s fourth-largest economy – and officials hope to pass Germany within three years, the government’s end-of-year economic review calculates. Official confirmation however depends on data due in 2026 when final annual gross domestic product figures are released, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggesting India will cross over Japan next year. “India is among the world’s fastest-growing major economies and is well-positioned to sustain this...

Politics

2 w. ago China says PLA drills near Taiwan are punitive and deterrent action

China says PLA drills near Taiwan are punitive and deterrent action  chinadailyasia.com

Politics

2 w. ago Beijing threatens to block ships carrying US arms as PLA holds more drills near Taiwan

The People’s Liberation Army is staging a second day of large-scale drills around Taiwan, including live-firing at targets in waters to the north and south of the island. Mainland China’s coastguard also threatened to block cargo ships carrying US-made weapons to the island in a poster it released on Tuesday. In a statement, the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said troops would conduct exercises simulating attacks on maritime targets and carry out anti-air and anti-submarine operations. The...

Events