5 h. ago China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests

Beijing is likely to step up support for Tehran as it tries to secure its strategic interests in the Middle East, analysts say, amid concerns over how the recent Iran-Israel war will reverberate across the resource-rich region. But one analyst noted it was a balancing act for Beijing to avoid compromising ties with Arab countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. The assessment was made as policymakers around the world are closely watching how the 12-day conflict in June – briefly joined...

Politics

6 h. ago China’s military mouthpiece warns of ‘moral pitfalls’ of humanoid fighters

The official newspaper of the Chinese military has warned of potential ethical concerns associated with the use of humanoid fighters. On Thursday, an analysis in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said that the military should conduct “ethical and legal research” on humanoid robots to “avoid moral pitfalls”. “Military humanoid robots are the most humanlike weapons to date, and their large-scale, normalised use could lead to indiscriminate killings and accidental deaths, which would...

Events

8 h. ago Hong Kong authorities confirm bitumen in water in Sai Wan Ho private estate

Hong Kong authorities have confirmed the presence of bitumen in water samples from a private estate in Sai Wan Ho, with the substance believed to have originated from upstream water supply pipe work. In a reply to the Post on Thursday, the Water Supplies Department said it conducted tests on water samples after receiving isolated reports from the management office of Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho about black particles in drinking water. The department noted that the water samples collected from...

Economics

14 h. ago Beijing imposes export ban on companies tied to Taiwan’s military

Beijing imposes export ban on companies tied to Taiwan’s military  macau daily times 澳門每日時報

Events

15 h. ago Not Taiwan, Not Tariffs. What Really Haunts Beijing Is Food.

Not Taiwan, Not Tariffs. What Really Haunts Beijing Is Food.  International Policy Digest

Politics

17 h. ago U.S. Army Expanding Presence in the Philippines as China Threat Looms

U.S. Army Expanding Presence in the Philippines as China Threat Looms  USNI News

Events

18 h. ago Red Sea laser row rumbles on as China denies warship targeted German plane

China’s defence ministry has denied using lasers to target a German plane over the Red Sea as the two countries continued to trade barbs over the alleged incident. The German foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a People’s Liberation Army warship had shone a laser at a German surveillance plane “without reason or prior contact”, and summoned the Chinese ambassador to Berlin to protest. But on Thursday the defence ministry told the South China Morning Post the accusation “was completely...

Events

18 h. ago US Weapons Systems Feature in Taiwan Defense Drills Against China Invasion

US Weapons Systems Feature in Taiwan Defense Drills Against China Invasion  Newsweek

Events

23 h. ago Hard Numbers: Beijing calls Taiwan’s “bluff”, Copper prices soar, Russia breaks drone attack record (again), wildfire threatens France’s second city

Hard Numbers: Beijing calls Taiwan’s “bluff”, Copper prices soar, Russia breaks drone attack record (again), wildfire threatens France’s second city  GZERO Media

Events

24 h. ago China deflation worries, top Chinese oncologist’s death: 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 denies giving Iran air defence systems after conflict with Israel China has denied transferring surface-to-air missile batteries to Iran following Israel’s attacks on the Islamic Republic last month. 2. Export ban for Taiwan firms a stern warning for separatist forces: Beijing Beijing has banned the export of dual-use items to eight Taiwan-based...

Events

27 h. ago Surprise US copper tariff tests the mettle of China’s vast refining industry

Shockwaves from Washington’s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on copper imports are still rippling across the Pacific, and China, the world’s largest consumer of the metal, is feeling the effects. Copper futures traded in the US rallied on the tariff threat, expanding a price gap with the London and China markets, where prices fell. The most active copper futures contracts traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell by 1.36 per cent on Wednesday following US President Donald Trump’s...

Politics

27 h. ago China rejects German claim it targeted military plane with laser

China rejects German claim it targeted military plane with laser  BBC

Events

29 h. ago Mainland standards may cut Hong Kong rail link costs by up to 40%: lawmakers

A new arrangement for building a major rail link in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis mega development can reduce costs by up to 40 per cent through leveraging mainland China’s lower wages and construction standards, lawmakers have said. Speaking to the Post on Wednesday, legislator Michael Tien Puk-sun said the financing agreement announced the previous day would satisfy the demand of Xia Baolong, Beijing’s top man on local affairs, to accelerate the development of the metropolis near the border...

Politics

30 h. ago China denies giving Iran air defence systems after conflict with Israel

China has denied transferring surface-to-air missile batteries to Iran following Israel’s attacks on the Islamic Republic last month. The British-based platform Middle East Eye reported on Monday that Chinese air defence equipment had been sent to Iran after it struck a truce with Israel last month, citing an Arab official familiar with the intelligence. One source told the platform that China – the biggest recipient of Iran’s oil exports – had received payment in oil shipments, but the report...

Politics

30 h. ago 'Am going to bomb Moscow, Beijing': Donald Trump's old warning to Putin, Xi over Ukraine, Taiwan

'Am going to bomb Moscow, Beijing': Donald Trump's old warning to Putin, Xi over Ukraine, Taiwan - audio  Times of India

Events

31 h. ago Taiwan holds huge war games to role play Chinese invasion scenarios

Taiwan holds huge war games to role play Chinese invasion scenarios  Al Jazeera

Events

37 h. ago Developing | Taiwan aerospace, shipbuilding hit by Beijing export ban

Developing | Taiwan aerospace, shipbuilding hit by Beijing export ban  South China Morning Post

Events

37 h. ago Export ban for Taiwan firms a stern warning for separatist forces: Beijing

Beijing has banned the export of dual-use items to eight Taiwan-based aerospace and shipbuilding companies, including suppliers to the Taiwanese military. The move was hailed by the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office as a “stern warning against repeated provocations by separatist forces” in a statement on Wednesday, after the commerce ministry’s announcement of the move. According to the ministry, the companies, which include defence supplier Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC),...

Events

41 h. ago Exclusive: US lawmakers renew concerns about GenScript's ties to China

Exclusive: US lawmakers renew concerns about GenScript's ties to China  Reuters

Politics

45 h. ago Now, China Launches Five Year Long Term Visa Program to Boost Business Travel and Economic Ties with ASEAN Nations

Now, China Launches Five Year Long Term Visa Program to Boost Business Travel and Economic Ties with ASEAN Nations  Travel And Tour World

Economics