https://www.scmp.com/rss/318198/feed The latest news on China politics, including domestic and foreign policy. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our US and China bureaus all year round. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. After three days in Washington, President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan returned to China with a promise of more face-to-face diplomacy with US President Donald Trump later this year, but not a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368858/last-day-xis-us-visit-begins-trump-white-house-tea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368858/last-day-xis-us-visit-begins-trump-white-house-tea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:49:31 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwanese officials and observers have reacted cautiously to the Washington summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with uncertainty lingering over what the two leaders discussed about the island. The only public mention of Taiwan after Thursday’s closed-door talks between the pair came from Beijing’s official statement, which said Xi had urged Trump to “oppose ‘Taiwan independence’” and “handle the Taiwan question with caution”. The White House did not immediately give its own detailed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368839/trumps-warm-welcome-xi-met-caution-and-uncertainty-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368839/trumps-warm-welcome-xi-met-caution-and-uncertainty-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:26:13 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Amid the polished silverware and fine crystal stemware on display at the state dinner in the White House on Thursday sat the vacuum flasks brought by Chinese President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan. The couple’s flasks, black for Xi and white for Peng, were spotted on their table during the formal dinner, signalling a subtle self-assurance as cultural authenticity met high diplomacy. Extending this everyday practice to the White House banquet was in tune with the host nation’s own... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368835/why-did-xi-and-chinas-first-lady-bring-their-own-flasks-white-house-banquet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368835/why-did-xi-and-chinas-first-lady-bring-their-own-flasks-white-house-banquet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:49:27 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the US for a high-stakes summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved to restrict visas for those who “engage in or facilitate” birth tourism, a practice the Trump administration has increasingly accused China of. “By restricting visa issuance of those who both engage in and profit from this fraud, we are sending a clear message: the United States will not allow foreigners to exploit our immigration system and violate the sanctity of US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368569/us-restricts-visas-birth-tourism-ahead-xi-jinpings-summit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368569/us-restricts-visas-birth-tourism-ahead-xi-jinpings-summit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:50:26 +0000 SCMP SCMP This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our US and China bureaus. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. President Xi Jinping met US President Donald Trump at Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews airbase, in the first face-to-face talks between the Chinese and American leaders since Trump visited Beijing in May. On this first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368567/xi-begin-3-day-us-visit-rare-airport-welcome-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368567/xi-begin-3-day-us-visit-rare-airport-welcome-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:18:58 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ambassador to the United States has hailed President Xi Jinping’s coming state visit as a “historic milestone” for bilateral and international relations. Xie Feng’s remarks came just as Beijing unveiled stringent new regulations on fentanyl, in a clear move to build diplomatic momentum ahead of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington. Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, the “giant ship” of China-US relations would continue to “break waves and sail ahead” along a trajectory of “mutual... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368527/ahead-xis-historic-milestone-us-visit-fentanyl-goodwill-gesture-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368527/ahead-xis-historic-milestone-us-visit-fentanyl-goodwill-gesture-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:35:16 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Tesla CEO Elon Musk described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a great leader” and “very capable” during an interview with China’s state broadcaster on Wednesday, just hours before Xi left China for a summit with US President Donald Trump. “He seems like a great leader. Under his tenure, China has prospered immensely. I’ve seen it first hand,” Musk said in one of a series of videos posted on CCTV’s social media account. “And it’s also obvious to see just walking around the streets, the …... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368524/elon-musk-hails-xi-jinpings-leadership-and-chinese-ai-capabilities-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368524/elon-musk-hails-xi-jinpings-leadership-and-chinese-ai-capabilities-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:04:41 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s industry minister is set to lead Anhui province, a key semiconductor hub, in the latest personnel reshuffle within the Communist Party. Li Lecheng, 61, has served as minister of industry and information technology since April 2025. State news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that Li had been appointed the party secretary of Anhui and a member of its standing committee, taking over both roles from Liang Yanshun. Liang, Anhui party chief since June 2024, retains his role as party... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368494/china-puts-industry-minister-charge-key-semiconductor-hub-anhui-province?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368494/china-puts-industry-minister-charge-key-semiconductor-hub-anhui-province?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:14:03 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing has appointed a new party chief in Tibet as the Communist Party shuffles regional leaders ahead of its 21st national congress. Hu Changsheng, 62, will serve as the party secretary of Tibet autonomous region, leaving his post as party secretary of Gansu province to Wu Xiaojun, 60, currently the party chief of Qinghai province. Meanwhile, Luo Dongchuan, 60, Qinghai’s governor, will succeed Wu as party secretary of the province. The 21st party congress is expected to be held next year and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368431/china-names-new-tibet-party-chief-communist-party-reshuffles-regional-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368431/china-names-new-tibet-party-chief-communist-party-reshuffles-regional-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:37:12 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Reports that Taiwanese officials have been asked to scale back visits to Washington have sparked debate over whether the island’s ties with the United States remain as “rock solid” as Taipei has maintained. The New York Times reported on Monday that some Taiwanese officials travelling to the US had been told by Trump administration officials to “curtail their visits to research groups in Washington”. The report came as US President Donald Trump prepared to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368407/taiwans-opposition-casts-doubt-rock-solid-us-ties-ahead-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368407/taiwans-opposition-casts-doubt-rock-solid-us-ties-ahead-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:30:05 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng When Xi Jinping sits down with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, the Chinese leader’s side of the table will be filled with senior aides bringing extensive policy expertise. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that Xi would pay a state visit to the United States from Wednesday to Friday. The trip – Xi’s first state visit to Washington since 2015 – will also mark his second face-to-face meeting this year with Trump, as the world’s top two economies seek to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368363/who-chinas-side-will-be-room-weeks-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368363/who-chinas-side-will-be-room-weeks-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:00:12 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/series/3368316/xi-trump-path-constructive-strategic-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/series/3368316/xi-trump-path-constructive-strategic-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 02:27:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Communist Party accused former military leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of factionalism and disloyalty, expelling them from the party and the armed forces following a Politburo meeting on Monday, state media reported. Zhang was once a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the highest-ranking uniformed member of the Chinese military, second only to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The CMC is China’s top military decision-making body. Zhang was also a member of the party’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368287/former-top-pla-generals-expelled-communist-party-factionalism-and-disloyalty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368287/former-top-pla-generals-expelled-communist-party-factionalism-and-disloyalty?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:10:07 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Nearly half of Taiwanese lack confidence that Washington will continue military aid and arms sales to the island, a new survey shows. The results of the poll were released on Monday, ahead of this week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The poll by Taiwan-based United Daily News found 47 per cent were not confident the United States would continue providing military assistance and selling weapons to Taiwan, slightly exceeding the 44 per cent who remained... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368265/nearly-half-taiwanese-lack-confidence-us-defence-commitments-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368265/nearly-half-taiwanese-lack-confidence-us-defence-commitments-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Qin Weizhong, former mayor of the southern technology hub of Shenzhen, is under investigation for corruption, the country’s top watchdog has confirmed. According to a statement by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Monday, Qin is “suspected of grave disciplinary and law violations and is currently undergoing review”, which usually means a corruption probe. Qin was appointed deputy party secretary and mayor of Shenzhen in May 2021. On August 24 this year, those positions were... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368269/former-shenzhen-mayor-qin-weizhong-under-graft-probe-chinas-discipline-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368269/former-shenzhen-mayor-qin-weizhong-under-graft-probe-chinas-discipline-body?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:41:33 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The Communist Party has set a date for its most important political gathering this autumn, the news coming shortly before Beijing confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US. The fifth plenary session of the party’s 20th Central Committee will be held from October 26 to October 29, according to official news agency Xinhua on Monday. The meeting of political elites is likely to be the most important gathering ahead of next autumn’s national party congress, a five-yearly event... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368215/communist-party-sets-date-key-political-gathering-october?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368215/communist-party-sets-date-key-political-gathering-october?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:16:45 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Zhang Dongdong has been fielding ever more requests for legal advice from jittery entrepreneurs, nervous government officials or their desperate relatives. They usually do not tell him the whole story, and sometimes say it happened “to a friend”, but most want to know the same thing: what to do when they are targeted by China’s corruption busters. “Some had received a tip-off that they were being investigated, some got a call from disciplinary inspectors asking them to cooperate, but in most of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368119/chinese-lawyers-offer-coaching-when-corruption-busters-come-knocking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368119/chinese-lawyers-offer-coaching-when-corruption-busters-come-knocking?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung In a rare development, Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han is expected to travel to Nanjing on Sunday, becoming the first cabinet-level official under William Lai Ching-te’s administration to visit mainland China. Hung will attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss employment, vocational training, social security and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs. Hung will be the most senior Taiwanese official to visit the mainland for Apec... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368061/how-will-beijing-receive-most-senior-taiwan-official-attend-apec-events-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368061/how-will-beijing-receive-most-senior-taiwan-official-attend-apec-events-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang A formal peace deal between Beijing and Taipei should be signed to build trust before discussions on post-reunification political arrangements, a prominent Taiwanese political scientist has argued at a security conference in Beijing. Chang Ya-chung, who heads the Taiwan-based Sun Yat-sen School advocacy group, said the “one country, two systems” formula, which has been applied to Hong Kong and Macau, had so far failed to resonate in Taiwanese society. “If reunification means that one side, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368054/beijing-taipei-need-peace-deal-reunification-taiwanese-scholar-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368054/beijing-taipei-need-peace-deal-reunification-taiwanese-scholar-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:03:04 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela A former director of a state-owned museum at the centre of a rare high-profile art scandal was sentenced to three years in prison, Chinese state media said on Wednesday. Xu Huping was found to have abused his position at the Nanjing Museum in eastern Jiangsu province and taken bribes, including money and property, for helping others secure projects and business collaborations. He was sentenced to prison for three years and fined 200,000 yuan (US$29,800), according to state news agency... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367753/former-director-leading-chinese-museum-jailed-3-years-after-art-selling-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367753/former-director-leading-chinese-museum-jailed-3-years-after-art-selling-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:18:18 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Another Chinese national dies in US immigration custody, raising profiling fears The Chinese-American community expressed anger and concern on September 3 over the death of a Chinese national in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on US territory. Read the full story here. 2. US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367373/ice-death-strikes-china-proposed-over-ai-huawei-trial-7-us-china-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367373/ice-death-strikes-china-proposed-over-ai-huawei-trial-7-us-china-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Police in Guangzhou said on Monday they had apprehended a man in the southern Chinese city’s university town district after receiving reports that he was wielding a knife and injuring pedestrians. Emergency services started receiving calls around 5.20pm local time about multiple stabbings in front of a hotpot restaurant in the Xiaoguwei Island area of Panyu district, according to an alert sent out by the district branch of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau. The bureau said in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367491/chinese-knife-attack-leaves-multiple-people-injured-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367491/chinese-knife-attack-leaves-multiple-people-injured-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:26:49 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing has hailed a “one country, two systems” proposal by a Taiwanese scholar in a rare official statement on an issue regarded as politically sensitive on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. “We are pleased to see that more and more Taiwan compatriots are facing up to reunification, beginning to understand and discuss the specific content of a one country, two systems plan for Taiwan, and offering suggestions and proposals for such a plan through various means,” Chen Binhua, a spokesman for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367428/beijing-hails-taiwanese-scholars-rare-proposal-reunification?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367428/beijing-hails-taiwanese-scholars-rare-proposal-reunification?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Beijing has introduced stricter drone regulations, banning all uncrewed flights as well as the possession and storage of existing devices, while detailing disposal methods for the first time in an effort to strengthen security in the capital. The new rules, which will take effect on November 15, follow an incident in June, when a small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest building, the Citic Tower – also known as China Zun – leading to the death of the pilot. The newly revised regulations on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367401/beijing-puts-total-ban-drones-update-regulations-after-deadly-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367401/beijing-puts-total-ban-drones-update-regulations-after-deadly-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen For generations of Chinese schoolchildren, English textbooks offered a glimpse of an unfamiliar world, from London’s Tower Bridge and Big Ben to American school life and Halloween traditions. Today, students opening an English textbook are more likely to encounter passages on late Qing dynasty (1644-1912) thinker Liang Qichao, the Dragon Boat Festival and China’s overseas aid projects. These changes are part of a nationwide overhaul of China’s primary and middle-school textbooks, which have... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367366/are-chinese-students-learning-english-just-tell-chinas-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367366/are-chinese-students-learning-english-just-tell-chinas-story?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s top intelligence official has warned of rising national security risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), calling for robust risk prevention frameworks and stronger global governance of the emerging technology. The call from Chen Yixin, China’s state security minister, comes as Beijing seeks to play a leading role in global AI governance while criticising US restrictions. At the Brics summit in India over the weekend, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed an AI-powered initiative to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367349/chinas-intelligence-chief-warns-risks-ai-new-arena-strategic-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367349/chinas-intelligence-chief-warns-risks-ai-new-arena-strategic-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s new draft law on combating cross-border corruption is as much a weapon against foreign interference as it is a tool against illicit financial flows, analysts say. The draft sets out ways to block extraterritorial investigations and to retaliate against foreign anti-corruption enforcement, drawing a firm legal boundary against foreign jurisdictions while establishing its own mechanism to police overseas assets. In doing so, legal specialists warn, Beijing is also creating a double-edged... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367286/chinas-anti-corruption-law-going-global-what-does-it-mean-overseas-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367286/chinas-anti-corruption-law-going-global-what-does-it-mean-overseas-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang “Separatists” and the United States are putting Taiwan in greater danger, mainland China’s state broadcaster has warned, days after Washington’s de facto ambassador to the self-ruled island said it only needed to convince a potential adversary that landing forces would be very difficult. “Taiwan doesn’t need to demonstrate that it can win a war outright,” Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said in a keynote address at the 2026 Taipei Security Dialogue on Wednesday. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367283/us-wants-taiwan-serve-cannon-fodder-against-mainland-china-state-broadcaster-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367283/us-wants-taiwan-serve-cannon-fodder-against-mainland-china-state-broadcaster-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Authorities in China are taking content creators, fan groups and online platforms to task as their aggressive pursuit of online traffic upends lives and public services across the country. State media and local authorities have called on these parties to exercise restraint and stop attention-seeking behaviour from getting out of control. The warnings followed a wave of public attention that hit a 75-year-old man and his wife in Shaoxing in eastern Zhejiang province this month. Crowds of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367231/china-targets-toxic-traffic-viral-sensations-upend-daily-life-and-public-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367231/china-targets-toxic-traffic-viral-sensations-upend-daily-life-and-public-services?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese President Xi Jinping is heading to India for the first time since 2019 and finalising plans for a US trip as he works through his busiest month of international travel in years. Xi will attend the annual Brics summit in New Delhi over the weekend and meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russia’s Vladimir Putin and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa are among other leaders going to the event, which gathers some of the world’s biggest energy producers and users. The India trip gives Xi... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367198/xi-india-bank-capital-injections-eu-china-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367198/xi-india-bank-capital-injections-eu-china-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:00:28 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s representative office is among a list of entities US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue as part of his crusade against a progressive American think tank, triggering debate about the island’s US policy ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington later this month. Trump named the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (Tecro) in a social media post on Monday attacking the Centre for American Progress, a prominent left-leaning Washington think tank,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367073/trump-threatens-taiwans-representative-office-sparking-debate-over-islands-us-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367073/trump-threatens-taiwans-representative-office-sparking-debate-over-islands-us-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,William Zheng Cao Jiaxuan,William Zheng Twenty-five people were killed after a fire broke out on Thursday morning aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship at China’s eastern port of Qingdao. The vessel with 42 people on board was undergoing repairs at the state-owned Qingdao Beihai shipyard, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The blaze, which started at around 11.15am, was put out by 2.30pm, the report said. Twelve people were evacuated safely while five others had to be hospitalised. President Xi Jinping earlier gave orders to step up... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367049/heavy-casualties-after-foreign-cargo-ship-catches-fire-chinas-qingdao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367049/heavy-casualties-after-foreign-cargo-ship-catches-fire-chinas-qingdao?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:14:37 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Two laboratories in central China have been shut down for alleged surrogacy activities, an underground practice that persists despite repeated crackdowns. On Wednesday, the health bureau in Changsha, Hunan province, said six people were detained after a tip about a “laboratory that illegally uses assisted reproductive technologies”, according to state news agency Xinhua. A day earlier, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, in neighbouring Hubei province, announced that an illegal lab had been... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367023/why-surrogacy-china-proving-so-difficult-ban-despite-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3367023/why-surrogacy-china-proving-so-difficult-ban-despite-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:56:02 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has signalled a renewed push for social stability by quietly setting up a high-level party group about a year ahead of its 21st national congress. The creation of the Leading Group for Social Governance of the party’s Central Committee underscores the growing focus on internal security and grass-roots governance ahead of the next five-yearly congress, expected to be held in autumn 2027. Beijing has never officially announced the formation of the body, nor disclosed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366894/chinas-communist-party-quietly-signals-social-stability-push-new-high-level-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366894/chinas-communist-party-quietly-signals-social-stability-push-new-high-level-body?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Urgent priorities for advancing China’s philanthropy sector include fostering a favourable legal environment and overhauling the nation’s social service industry, according to leading policy experts at a forum in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Mainland charitable organisations could learn from Hong Kong’s experience to increase their professional expertise, while the Greater Bay Area city cluster plan could be leveraged as a catalyst to boost the sector, they said. The panel discussion – part of the Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366879/gba-integration-may-help-mainland-china-philanthropy-sector-learn-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366879/gba-integration-may-help-mainland-china-philanthropy-sector-learn-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:00:05 +0000 Lawrence Chung,Gabriel Dominguez Lawrence Chung,Gabriel Dominguez The first two F-16 Block 70 fighters bought by Taipei from the United States have yet to reach Taiwan, after spending more than two weeks in Hawaii for reasons that remain unclear. The aircraft, which were expected to arrive at Taiwan’s Chihhang Air Base in late August, were spotted preparing for departure at Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam on Monday, raising expectations that the fighters were finally about to resume their journey. But the two single-seat F-16Cs, numbered 6727 and 6728,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366858/taiwan-waits-its-new-f-16s-still-stuck-hawaii-after-fortnights-delay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366858/taiwan-waits-its-new-f-16s-still-stuck-hawaii-after-fortnights-delay?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:58:30 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Alcott Wei Phoebe Zhang,Alcott Wei When you are denied a pay rise, when you feel anxious about your children’s education, or when you are alienated by colleagues, Chairman Mao can help. At least, that is what China’s online influencers and their hundreds of thousands of followers believe. Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Mao Zedong, founding father of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese authorities have not announced any plans to mark the date, as former state leaders are usually commemorated on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366813/young-chinese-turn-mao-zedong-life-advice-50-years-after-his-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366813/young-chinese-turn-mao-zedong-life-advice-50-years-after-his-death?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s opposition and tour operators have hit back at new registration rules for travellers heading to mainland China, with politicians accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of trying to fan cross-strait fears ahead of local elections. Since September 1, travellers to the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau have been required to register details of their trip, including the purpose of their visit, contact information, travel dates as well as the numbers of their passports and mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366804/tour-industry-protests-over-taiwans-new-mainland-china-travel-registration-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366804/tour-industry-protests-over-taiwans-new-mainland-china-travel-registration-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:17 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s top court has issued new guidance on how judges should handle civil cases involving artificial intelligence, setting out rules on liability for deepfakes, voice cloning, hallucinations and violations of personal rights. Although Beijing has yet to pass a dedicated AI law, the guidelines expand the country’s legal framework governing the technology. The Supreme People’s Court’s 24-article opinion, released on Monday, instead provides guidance for handling AI-related disputes under... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366802/chinas-highest-court-sets-out-new-ai-red-lines-rules-deepfakes-and-privacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366802/chinas-highest-court-sets-out-new-ai-red-lines-rules-deepfakes-and-privacy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:12:50 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s top police officer has pledged deeper cooperation with his Central Asian counterparts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism, while strengthening measures to protect Belt and Road Initiative investments. Presiding over an informal meeting of the China-Central Asia Public Security and Interior Ministers’ mechanism in Beijing, Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong on Monday urged his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366751/china-rallies-central-asian-police-chiefs-terrorism-threats-energy-and-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366751/china-rallies-central-asian-police-chiefs-terrorism-threats-energy-and-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:58:59 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen “I do not want to stop [searching]. If I pause, I start thinking about my brothers and sisters and all the moments of my life here.” Gui Xinwei, deputy chief of the Gyirong Border Inspection Station, was speaking to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV from the ruins of his workplace, seven days after the devastating mudslide erased the port crossing where China and Nepal meet. “I just don’t want to stop.” Gui was away on holiday on August 26 when a glacier collapsed in Nepal, triggering a massive... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366706/gyirong-port-small-items-speak-human-cost-china-nepal-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366706/gyirong-port-small-items-speak-human-cost-china-nepal-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 03:13:40 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Calls to reduce English’s status as a core subject in China’s education system have resurfaced after an internet-famous maths teacher urged the country to end “worshipping foreign things”. The controversy has revived a long-running debate over the role of English in Chinese schools. The argument came to life again after Tang Jiafeng, a maths teacher known for coaching students through the national postgraduate entrance exam, said on social media that children, parents and schools had devoted... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366668/should-chinese-schools-demote-english-core-subject-discuss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366668/should-chinese-schools-demote-english-core-subject-discuss?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A television drama produced by Beijing’s top counter-espionage agency has put the spotlight on real-life cases in the high-stakes intelligence battle between mainland China and Taiwan. Over the past decade, mainland Chinese spy dramas have rarely touched on contemporary espionage across the Taiwan Strait but on Sunday state broadcaster CCTV began airing a 40-episode television series about such intelligence efforts from 1998 to 2018. Overseen by the Ministry of State Security, The Long Watch... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366639/rare-beijing-spy-series-highlights-real-life-intelligence-drama-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366639/rare-beijing-spy-series-highlights-real-life-intelligence-drama-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:56:13 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Radically rewriting world and Chinese history without solid proof could threaten China’s international image and national identity, a leading Communist Party journal has warned. There has been a growing trend to promote a less Western-centric view of history in recent years, while Beijing has also been keen to promote the idea that Chinese civilisation has a long and continuous history. But at the same time, the so-called pseudo-historical school – which has cast doubt on the origins of Western... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366546/rewriting-world-history-puts-chinas-image-and-cultural-security-risk-party-journal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366546/rewriting-world-history-puts-chinas-image-and-cultural-security-risk-party-journal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:00:07 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai China has been urged to draw on the lessons from Ukraine’s communications as it looks at new forms of wartime messaging. A recent study concluded that in the complex modern information environment, possessing advanced technology was not enough because success would depend on “weaving” together the information strategy and military operations. It said such campaigns should try to shatter the adversary’s sense of security while strengthening domestic resolve and gathering international... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3366516/why-china-being-urged-study-ukraines-wartime-pr-blitz-ai-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3366516/why-china-being-urged-study-ukraines-wartime-pr-blitz-ai-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:00:05 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng At least one person was killed and 11 are missing after they were buried by a landslide in central China as the region continued to battle severe flooding caused by Typhoon Saudel. The landslide hit Gaoping, a town in a mountainous area of Jiangxi province, at around 4am on Saturday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. It said rescue teams were rushing to the disaster site. The accident followed days of torrential rain brought by the outer bands of Typhoon Saudel and a cold front. Floodwaters... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366459/typhoon-saudel-days-flooding-trigger-fatal-landslide-central-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366459/typhoon-saudel-days-flooding-trigger-fatal-landslide-central-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:44:34 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A rupture between Taiwan’s two opposition parties over a mayoral race threatens to spill into November’s elections and erode the fragile trust underpinning their potential 2028 alliance. The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have both registered candidates for mayor of Zhubei, the biggest city in Hsinchu county, after weeks of negotiations failed to produce a joint contender. The KMT has nominated Hsinchu county councillor Wu Hsu-chih, while the TPP’s Chiu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366416/taiwans-opposition-parties-split-over-mayoral-race-threatening-2028-election-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366416/taiwans-opposition-parties-split-over-mayoral-race-threatening-2028-election-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are likely to become more unstable, which may lead to more collapses and collateral disasters, a senior climate official warns as the death toll from last week’s catastrophic landslide and flood on the China-Nepal border continues to rise. “Over the past 60 years, the glacier area on the Tibetan Plateau has shrunk by around 24 per cent, with around 7,000 small glaciers disappearing completely,” Gao Rong, deputy director of China’s National Climate Centre, said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3366180/unstable-tibetan-plateau-risks-cascading-disasters-glacier-losses-mount-nepal-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3366180/unstable-tibetan-plateau-risks-cascading-disasters-glacier-losses-mount-nepal-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:56:19 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen A Boeing 747-8 operated by Air China reportedly suffered a fuel leak at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport early on Monday, forcing the cancellation of the flight. No injuries were reported in or around the aircraft, which was expected to operate flight CA982 from New York to Beijing that day. The leak is said to have occurred between 1am and 2am while the plane was parked at the gate, according to posts on Chinese social media. It was being refuelled when the fuel truck moved... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366093/air-china-boeing-747-grounded-new-york-following-gate-refuelling-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3366093/air-china-boeing-747-grounded-new-york-following-gate-refuelling-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:15:53 +0000 William Zheng,Yuanyue Dang William Zheng,Yuanyue Dang For more, check out the South China Morning Post’s full anti-corruption data bank project: https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3366057/chinas-corruption-investigation-procedures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3366057/chinas-corruption-investigation-procedures?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:39:00 +0000