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China has succeeded where Elon Musk failed with an ultra-high-speed low-vacuum pipeline maglev railway. Photo: CREC

How China is solving the nightmare that killed Elon Musk’s Hyperloop

Chinese engineers have overcome the hurdles that stopped the US billionaire’s idea for a vacuum tube transport system in its tracks.

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Opinion | Time to start preparing for the AI-in-everything era

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China Economy

What’s behind the pro-Beijing camp’s criticism of the Panama ports deal?

The backlash against Hutchison’s ports sell-off is designed to send a message to other Chinese firms with overseas assets, analysts say.

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Politics

Black eye for BlackRock-Hutchison Panama ports deal? Not so easy, say experts

Legal tools to smash the sale are not really available as Hong Kong is a very free place for business, observers say.

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Politics

South Korea waits with bated breath for Yoon’s ruling as uncertainty deepens

The opposition has called for a swift verdict to end the political crisis and allow the country to move forward.

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US-China Relations
US government interest in the number of Chinese nationals at American universities and their types of research has intensified of late. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

House chair asks US universities to reveal info on Chinese nationals

Europe

The world’s happiest country keeps its crown for eighth year in a row

Finland’s top spot streak unbroken among 147 countries, with Afghanistan ranking last.

People enjoy a sunny and frosty day after sweating in the sauna of the public bath in Helsinki, Finland. Photo: AP
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Science

Former US defence researcher Zhan Hanyu joins China’s elite aerospace university

Zhan joins university named on US Entity List because of ties to China’s military after involvement in many American research projects.

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Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong, Macau residents can apply for temporary mainland travel permits via app

Anyone who loses their standard travel permit on the mainland but needs to catch a train or plane will no longer have to visit public security authorities.

Lifestyle

Exploration of Earth’s most biodiverse areas can solve planet’s environmental challenges

Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative supports vital research by Michel André in Amazon rainforest and Steve Boyes along Africa’s rivers.

In partnership with
Rolex
Michel André (far right) deploys a hydrophone into a river with his team to record underwater sounds for research at Brazil’s Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve. Photo: Rolex/Diego Bresani

Middle East

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 40, according to hospitals

Israel again bombarded Gaza after announcing renewed ground operations.

A Palestinian man inspects a destroyed house after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Science

Chinese scientists propose a giant telescope on the far side of the moon

Array would leverage robotic and crewed lunar missions and China-led International Lunar Research Station set to take shape by 2035.

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Diplomacy

Japan’s missile deployment on Kyushu addresses ‘risk factor’ in China relations

Tokyo’s reported plans to upgrade counterstrike missiles on strategic Kyushu by next year are not expected to derail improving relations, experts say.

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Banking & Finance

Exclusive | Hong Kong key to StanChart’s US$200 billion new money target: CEO Winters

Bank is developing over 200 use cases for AI, including fraud detection and prevention, anti-money-laundering screening and new products.

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Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters, at SCMP office in Causeway Bay on 17 March 2025. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Military

China’s military in frugal mode as it seeks best bang for its yuan

Armed forces must make greatest use of limited resources, PLA officers tell personnel in throes of modernisation push.

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China aims to have a “world-class” military by 2050. Photo: AFP

Politics

China unveils rule to fight ‘restrictive’ measures in international IP disputes

The regulation, aimed at striking back against external ‘containment and suppression’, appears to target the US and EU – without naming them.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Low pay, long hours: why workers are shunning Japan’s booming tourism industry

The country may have to tap foreign workers to fill the staffing gap if it wants to welcome 60 million tourists by 2030, travel players say.

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China

EU moves to curb steel imports to guard against China overcapacity

Facing duel threats from Washington and Beijing, European Commission wants measures meant to build security into its economic policies.

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Workers pour molten steel at a factory which produces engine parts in Binzhou, in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 14, 2025. Photo: AFP

Banking & Finance

Hong Kong keeps base rate steady as Fed monitors tariffs’ cost impact

The Fed is seen cutting rates again by midyear, while Hong Kong banks may lower the prime rate by 0.125 percentage points.

Pedestrians at the Victoria Harbour on February 7, 2025. Photo: Nora Tam

Europe

‘I couldn’t believe I was home’: Ukraine war prisoners savour freedom

Families reunite with freed POWs amid ongoing discussions about a temporary ceasefire that may pause war.

Society

Jimmy Lo, Hong Kong lyricist behind popular Cantopop classics, dies at 75

‘My father has passed away in his sleep … he passed away peacefully,’ daughter Thalea Lo writes on social media.

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OPINION
Letters

Letters | Asean must keep markets open to allow digital economy to thrive

Letters
Letters

Letters | Hong Kong could take leaf out of US’ cost-cutting book

Letters
Phoebe Zhang

Opinion | China’s youth must be taught bad behaviour will not be tolerated

Phoebe Zhang
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Walmart’s bid to force China to pay Trump tariffs is unacceptable

SCMP Editorial
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Nong Hong

Opinion | As China modernises its navy, the US races to stay ahead

Nong Hong
Harry’s View | 20 Mar 2025
March 20, 2025
MORE COMMENT
LATEST

Southeast Asia

Video | Military bombs Myanmar village twice in one week

‘Killed on their way to the market’: Myanmar junta bombs village twice in a single week
01:55

Middle East

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 40, according to hospitals

Law and Crime

Hong Kong protester sentenced to 45 months in jail for role in 2019 riot

Lifestyle & Culture

Can Jakarta’s ‘cat island’ boost tourism and solve its stray cat problem?

Politics

Call by Malaysia’s DAP for 2-term limit for prime minister draws PAS’ rebuke

Science

Former US defence researcher Zhan Hanyu joins China’s elite aerospace university

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Focus
Illustration: Pearl Law

A battle is playing out over Congolese cobalt. China is well ahead

Rivalry for critical minerals is intensifying, but observer says US ‘doesn’t offer viable alternative’ to Chinese investments in DR Congo.

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‘A geopolitical move’: Trump’s big bet on crypto raises questions for China

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In SAFE hands: China’s secret plan for US$1 trillion reserves fund in Hong Kong

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Open Questions series

China Economy

Open Questions | Why China’s economic recovery is captivating investors again: Robin Xing

Morgan Stanley’s chief China economist sees green shoots in China thanks to innovation, but highlights need for social security reform.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Political analyst Zheng Yongnian on how China should respond to Trump’s return

Chinese political scientist says if the country’s private enterprises can’t thrive, foreign capital won’t either.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | China watcher Wang Xiangwei says ‘bloated bureaucracy’ is stifling growth

Journalism professor and former Post editor says China must walk the talk to reassure private sector, with lessons from DeepSeek, Ne Zha.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | US sentiment on China does not equal consensus, analyst Rick Waters says

Ex-US Department of State official discusses the role of civil diplomats and whether US should have an end-state goal in its China strategy.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
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China Future Tech
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China EVs

BYD shares surge on unveiling of ‘fast as gas’ charging tech

The new battery and charger platform from the world’s biggest EV maker operates at 1 megawatt, twice the power of Tesla’s fastest offering.

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Visitor view a BYD Sealion 7 EV at the 41st Thailand International Motor Expo, in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 29, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Big Tech

Musk’s xAI joins Microsoft-BlackRock US$30 billion AI fund

Microsoft, which has invested about US$13 billion in OpenAI, has increasingly been developing AI outside that partnership.

Tech Trends

Chinese AI firms turn to Hong Kong as gateway to global markets

Executives from several companies expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s growing role in supporting China’s AI development.

Big Tech

Tencent fourth-quarter profit surges 90% as AI gamble pays off

Profit reaches US$7.1 billion for the quarter, while full-year profit rises to US$26.8 billion.

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Tencent has made a big bet on artificial intelligence and is pushing for the use of its Hunyuan large language model across various industries. Photo: Reuters

China

‘De-dollar’ diplomacy: Brics focus on alternative currency stirs Trump’s ire

What Trump threats against challenging the US dollar’s global primacy could mean for the future of Brics and its member nations.

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Illustration: Davies Christian Surya

Diplomacy

Can China’s belt and road lead the way as Trump turns world order upside down?

It is China’s moment to shine as the US disrupts the post-World War II order, but there may be challenges ahead, analysts say.

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Diplomacy

Trump cut off aid to South Africa. Will it tilt the balance in China’s favour?

Washington’s ‘self-centred foreign policy’ may push Pretoria and others closer to Beijing, observer says.

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China

Webinar | ‘Two sessions’ 2025 key takeaways: insights into China’s economic strategy

SCMP and Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis co-host a webinar to discuss key developments from the annual ‘two sessions’.

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SCMP ‘two sessions’ 2025 webinar. Photo: SCMP
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