• Donald Trump says US and China will hold talks on TikTok deal early next week
• Will US strikes on Iran tighten North Korea’s nuclear resolve? Why China might be worried
• Chinese graduates struggle to compete in harsh UK job market: ‘it’s harder for us’
• China, EU close to EV tariff deal, state media says, dismisses ‘trade diversion’ fears
• China talent agent Yang Tianzhen, who works with stars like Fan Bingbing, pursues US studies
• Chinese study uncovers cancer-fighting potential of impotence drugs like Viagra
• Chinese man caught in wig disguise trying to take exam for woman escapes
• How amateur sport is making it to the big leagues in China
• China’s Wang Yi calls for ‘new international agreement’ on Iran after US, Israeli attacks
• Chinese driver accused of sexual harassment for praising passenger for ‘nice smell’
• Solar energy milestone: China taps the ocean in breakthrough for industry
• Brazil blasts the West ahead of Brics summit, while China mute on tariffs, sanctions
• How Chinese scientists cracked the secret of organ regeneration
• South Korea, Japan step up as US targets China’s shipbuilding industry – can they succeed?
• Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’ advice for Australia raises eyebrows
• Chinese baby goes viral for skateboarding wearing protective headgear and nappies
• Chinese robot maker Dobot’s humanoid cooks steak from 1,800km away using VR
• Why Singapore’s identity demanded distance from China – and its own story of nationhood
• Can India block China’s leadership in Global South-based alliances like the SCO?

Donald Trump says US and China will hold talks on TikTok deal early next week

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317093/donald-trump-says-us-and-china-will-hold-talks-tiktok-deal-early-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his interest in visiting China and announced that talks between Beijing and Washington were set to start early next week on a possible TikTok deal that could determine the future of the popular video-sharing platform.

The fate of TikTok, which faces a potential ban in the US over national security concerns, has long been a sticking point in US-China relations.

Under a law passed by the US Congress last year, ByteDance Ltd, the Beijing-based parent company of the social media app, is required to divest TikTok and secure a local buyer in the US.

Trump, who has extended the divestment deadline three times to allow more time for negotiations, said on Friday that the US “pretty much” had a deal on the sale of the app.

“I think we’re gonna start Monday or Tuesday...talking to China, perhaps President Xi [Jinping] or one of his representatives, but we pretty much have a deal,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One, according to Reuters.

When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, “I’m not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it’s good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it’s good for us.”

The Chinese government has long opposed such a deal, which would grant new outside investors a 50 per cent stake in TikTok’s US operations through a unit spun off from ByteDance, reducing the Chinese firm’s ownership to below 20 per cent.

Last week, Trump told Fox News that he had identified a buyer for TikTok, without naming the prospective group. He also acknowledged that any deal would hinge on Beijing’s approval.

“We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way. I think I’ll need probably China’s approval and I think President Xi will probably do it,” he said on Fox News. “It’s a group of very wealthy people.”

According to Bloomberg on Tuesday, the buyer is believed to be a consortium including Oracle Corporation, Blackstone Inc and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. The group was reportedly close to finalising a deal with ByteDance in April, but talks stalled after Beijing withheld its approval amid escalating trade tensions sparked by Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs.

Bilateral ties showed signs of stabilising after Beijing and Washington reached a trade framework in London last month. As part of the framework agreement, China agreed to ease restrictions on rare earths exports, while the US reduced tariffs on Chinese imports to 30 per cent and promised to resume shipments of ethane, jet engines and chip design software.

Trump also told reporters on Friday that he might visit Xi in China or the Chinese leader might visit the US, without offering further details, according to Reuters.

His remarks came amid speculation that Beijing was planning to invite Trump to its Victory Parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Another potential window for Trump’s China trip could be in late October or early November, either before or after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea.

Trump has previously floated the idea of reciprocal state visits on multiple occasions.

Following a long-anticipated phone call with Xi last month, Trump said a trip to China might happen “at a certain point”. The call was the first official conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House.

Trump also confirmed that Xi had invited him and the first lady to visit China, and that he had extended a reciprocal invitation.

“As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing,” Trump said at the time on social media.

Will US strikes on Iran tighten North Korea’s nuclear resolve? Why China might be worried

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317103/will-us-strikes-iran-tighten-north-koreas-nuclear-resolve-why-china-might-be-worried?utm_source=rss_feed

Last month’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities could strengthen North Korea’s view that nuclear weapons are vital for its survival, deepening Pyongyang’s distrust and reinforcing its commitment to nuclear arms, security experts have warned.

They added that the attacks were likely to undermine denuclearisation efforts on the Korean peninsula, a goal shared by Beijing, and that increasing US pressure on North Korea risked destabilising the region and encouraging nuclear proliferation.

Stephen Costello, a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said, “North Korean leaders may confirm their previous assessment: that [US President Donald] Trump acts for reasons that are not ‘security’ or geopolitical-related. He is therefore an emotional, unpredictable force, and not one that is trustworthy at all.”

According to Niklas Swanstrom, executive director of the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy, the US strikes on Iran are likely to drive North Korea to make its nuclear arsenal more “mobile and dispersed”, prioritise second-strike capability, and invest heavily in deep underground facilities and redundant production capabilities.

“Any remaining possibility of North Korean denuclearisation will be effectively terminated, as the regime will view nuclear weapons as the ultimate guarantee of survival,” Swanstrom said.

During his first term, Trump held a series of historic talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the issue.

The first summit in Singapore in 2018 resulted in a joint statement with vague commitments to denuclearisation, while a second a year later in Hanoi, Vietnam, ended abruptly without a deal.

Washington and Pyongyang remain at odds over the definition of denuclearisation and the steps to achieve it. While North Korea advocates for an incremental approach that trades reciprocal concessions step by step, Washington wants “complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation”.

Experts said Beijing now faced “a complex strategic environment” where increased US pressure was likely to create regional instability that would be unfavourable for Beijing.

The impact on China is quite “evident”, according to Niu Xiaoping, an expert on North Korea at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, who said that it deepened concerns in Beijing about the possibility of future strikes targeting North Korea.

She added that although such a scenario was highly unlikely, the US strikes set a dangerous precedent.

“China will also warily watch out for any particular US actions that could increase the escalation ladder, such as US-led joint military exercises or other provocative military posture,” Niu said.

China and North Korea share a border of over 1,300km (808 miles), primarily defined by the Yalu and Tumen rivers and a mountain range. The geographic proximity means Beijing cannot afford instability on the border or any security threats from it.

“China’s primary interest is maintaining stability on the Korean peninsula to prevent refugee flows, economic disruption, and potential conflict near its borders,” Swanstrom said.

Beijing supports denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and a peaceful resolution through dialogue, while making regional stability a priority. It has also insisted that Pyongyang’s security, economic and political concerns should be addressed as part of any nuclear negotiations.

It has advocated a “dual-suspension” approach, urging Seoul and Washington to halt joint military drills while Pyongyang freezes its missile and nuclear programmes.

Meanwhile, nuclear non-proliferation could be at risk, as Beijing’s commitment to denuclearisation is partly fuelled by fears that North Korea’s nuclear programmes could raise calls for developing nuclear capabilities in South Korea or Japan, according to Niu.

“Under the circumstances where North Korea already possesses nuclear warheads and a certain level of nuclear weapon delivery capability, the focus now should be on preventing further development of its nuclear weapons,” she added.

Analysts have noted that Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities provide a convenient pretext for heightened US intervention and deeper military collaboration with its regional allies. This, in turn, expands the conventional military abilities of the US and its partners, which also target China and increase insecurity.

The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea nearly a decade ago, aimed at countering North Korea’s missile threats, drew strong opposition from China over fears its advanced radar system could undermine Beijing’s nuclear deterrence.

In early June, North Korea reportedly refused to accept a letter from Trump to Kim that aimed at reopening communication. Despite this, Trump last week said that he had “a good relationship with Kim” and would “get the conflict solved with North Korea”.

Niu, however, said that mistrust, generated from the previous failed talks between Kim and Trump, had been compounded by the strikes on Iran, and Pyongyang was probably reassessing its strategy.

“North Korea is unlikely to return to the negotiating table unless the US makes greater concessions,” she said.

Acknowledging Beijing’s unique leverage over Pyongyang due to their economic ties and proximity, Swanstrom said Pyongyang now held the upper hand with nuclear weapons, partnerships with Russia and China, and a divided Western response to global challenges.

“Pyongyang has significant autonomy in its decision-making. [North Korea] is more likely to pursue independent actions that serve its interests rather than being ‘herded’ by external powers, even China,” he said.

Beijing also tried to play a mediator role in six-party talks aimed at denuclearising North Korea. Initiated in 2003, the talks involved North Korea, South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

Beijing hosted all rounds of the talks, providing the venue and often chairing the discussions. This positioned China as the primary facilitator of dialogue between the often antagonistic parties, particularly between North Korea and the United States.

The multiple rounds of talks sought to address North Korea’s nuclear ambitions through diplomatic engagement and reciprocal agreements.

Initial breakthroughs and progress were made, such as North Korea agreeing to disable its nuclear facilities, US assurance of no intention to attack or invade North Korea with nuclear or conventional weapons, as well as Pyongyang’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

However, due to mistrust among parties, governments’ differing priorities and disagreements on verification protocol, the talks eventually stalled in 2009 as Pyongyang formally withdrew. It has since carried out a series of nuclear and missile tests, angering neighbours including China.

Costello, who is also a visiting scholar at George Washington University, said that Beijing would unavoidably play a pivotal role in any “next deal” involving North Korea and the United States, given Washington’s inability to “conclude any deal by itself”.

“However, Beijing’s ability to carefully support any next deal will depend on its working with South and North Korea and supporting South Korea’s expanded and leading role. This not only recognises US weakness, but also South Korea’s unique status as a most-at-stake player regarding North Korea,” he said.

He suggested a two-track approach: working with middle powers to manage Trump and guide better US policies, while collaborating with regional players such as Japan and Australia to adopt pragmatic, mutually beneficial strategies led by Seoul.

Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has made gestures to ease tensions with North Korea, such as halting propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and pledging to restore a military hotline with Pyongyang.

On Thursday, he said that his administration would work to improve relations with the North based on cooperation with the United States, while also acknowledging that the work would not be easy.

“When we decided to suspend the loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea, I was concerned about how quickly – or even whether – they would respond. But [North Korea’s] response was very swift and exceeded expectations,” he was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

“Some of the first ways that China could contribute would be with intensive, quiet discussions with its North Korean neighbours. Just because Trump is unlikely to be of help in the coming years, that does not mean that North Korea, South Korea, Japan and China are paralysed into inaction,” Costello said.

However, Niu said that the international community should hold realistic expectations for China’s role in denuclearisation.

“The crux of the issue lies in the US. This has been evident through multiple rounds of negotiations, showing that Pyongyang’s core demand is a security guarantee from the US,” she said.

According to Niu, over the long term, China is likely to position itself as a facilitator in reviving the multilateral dialogue mechanism or to use existing multilateral organisations to encourage the parties to return to talks.

“In the short term, China may prioritise strengthening crisis management on the peninsula, such as improving communication channels through hotlines with other parties.”

Chinese graduates struggle to compete in harsh UK job market: ‘it’s harder for us’

https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316972/chinese-graduates-struggle-compete-harsh-uk-job-market-its-harder-us?utm_source=rss_feed

After finishing her master’s degree in education last December, Harley Hu began looking for a full-time job in the United Kingdom. The search proved to be far more gruelling than she had expected.

“I sent out maybe 200 or 300 CVs,” the 25-year-old told the Post. “It took half a year to find something stable.”

After six months of juggling part-time work as a Chinese language tutor, Hu has now secured a full-time role in teaching. But the job only provides a temporary respite, as her employer does not sponsor skilled worker visas.

That means Hu will need to find another solution to stay in the UK after her two-year post-study work visa expires in late 2026. “It’s really tough,” she said. “If I can’t sort it out, I’ll have to prepare to go back to China.”

Hu is far from alone in struggling. Competition for graduate jobs in the UK is intense amid a sky-high youth unemployment rate of 14.3 per cent – and Chinese graduates often face even greater challenges due to a host of cultural barriers.

UK government data reveals a sharp contrast between the trajectories of Chinese international students and those from other nations after graduation.

Chinese nationals make up about 25 per cent of Britain’s international student population, yet account for only 10 per cent of graduate visas – whereas a smaller number of Indian students end up receiving more than 40 per cent of the visas.

The discrepancy is partly linked to the fact that many Chinese students actively intend to return home after graduation, aiming to use their UK degree as a stepping stone to a better career in China. But many more appear to choose to leave by default, after losing faith in their ability to find work in Britain.

Young Chinese are often unprepared for the vast differences between the UK and Chinese job markets, with British employers placing far less focus on candidates’ academic achievements, according to Hu.

“In China, we’re taught that degrees are everything,” Hu said. “But once you’re overseas, you realise employers care a lot more about experience – and no one really tells us that.”

And international students have little time to adjust, as a large chunk of them have signed up to master’s degree programmes, which typically last only one year in the UK. “It’s such a short time,” Hu said. “Just when you start adapting to life here, it’s already time to hunt for work, and you’re not ready.”

Jack Chen, who earned a humanities degree from the University of York last year, has also noticed that his Chinese classmates struggled more than their peers to secure work after graduation.

“It’s just harder for Chinese graduates to get jobs than for Indian students,” the 25-year-old said. “Our culture doesn’t encourage us to stand out.”

Chen has found things difficult, too. Since finishing his studies, he has submitted more than 400 job applications and received only two part-time offers – one as a retail assistant at Zara and another as a social media manager for a small Chinese business in the UK.

“I know I studied a not-so-practical subject, but two part-time jobs? That’s way below my expectations,” he said. “I’m barely making £2,000 (US$2,750) before tax, which isn’t even enough to cover basic living expenses in London.”

For Chen, many Chinese students lack the confidence and competitive mindset of some of their peers. “Indian students are way more proactive,” he said. “They’ll call companies directly to pitch themselves. That sounds crazy to me, but while we’re still looking for part-time gigs, they’ve already landed full-time jobs.”

To make matters worse, platforms like LinkedIn – essential for UK jobseekers – are often unfamiliar to Chinese students due to restrictions back home. “They know how to use it and have polished CVs. Meanwhile, we come from a system where that stuff doesn’t even exist,” Chen said.

Emily Lu, a London-based headhunter who works mostly with Chinese nationals, noted similar issues. “Chinese graduates hesitate to reach out to employers, don’t use LinkedIn effectively, and rely on submitting CVs through formal channels – missing out on networking and informal routes that often lead to jobs.”

China’s rigid, exam-driven education system is partly to blame, as it does not teach students the soft skills that would help them stand out, according to Lu. “They’re smart and capable, but they need direction,” she said. “At home, teachers guide them every step of the way. Here, that’s not how things work.”

A 2024 report from the UK-based Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) confirmed the gap in post-graduation outcomes. It found that Chinese students in the UK often struggled with oral English, relied on tight-knit social circles, and faced digital literacy barriers that prevented them from accessing useful job-hunting tools.

With Chinese students scoring just 6.1 on average in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) spoken English exam, significantly lower than most other nationalities, many find it hard to integrate socially and access resources on campus, the study said.

A lack of support from universities exacerbates these issues, with Chinese students often clustered together in international student dormitories that effectively separate them from their classmates.

According to the report, 21 per cent of Chinese students said practically all their friends were Chinese, while just one in 10 reported having a diverse group of friends from other countries.

Meanwhile, only 21 per cent had used university career services, and just 2 per cent credited those services with helping them find a job, the report added.

This isolation and lack of access to local networks often shuts Chinese students out of opportunities like referrals, internships and job leads. And with growing uncertainty about the UK’s post-study visa programme, more Chinese graduates are simply going home.

In 2019, about 73 per cent of Chinese graduates returned to China after studying in the UK. By 2023, that figure had risen to 84 per cent, according to HEPI.

Chen said he was preparing to do the same thing. “If I don’t find something this year, I’ll go back to China,” he said. “A lot of jobs in China want you to work Saturdays, and salaries are lower, but at least I can get by. The cost of living is easier to manage.”

For Jessica Deng, things worked out – eventually. After completing a degree in education at the University of Southampton, she worked three part-time jobs before finally securing a full-time position in early years education this June.

“I sent out more than 300 applications,” she said. “In a country where even locals are struggling to find jobs, it’s hard to expect international students to have equal opportunities.”

While UK law prohibits discrimination against foreign applicants, Deng points out that many employers are put off by the uncertainty over foreign graduates’ visa status. “If you’re on a short-term post-study work visa, it’s not so simple,” she said.

The HEPI report urges universities to take a more hands-on approach to supporting Chinese students – from helping students build cross-cultural networks and navigate the UK job market more confidently to embedding work experience into their academic programmes.

“Some Chinese students feel like they are being treated as revenue sources rather than as valued members of the community,” it said.

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China, EU close to EV tariff deal, state media says, dismisses ‘trade diversion’ fears

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317099/china-eu-close-ev-tariff-deal-state-media-says-dismisses-trade-diversion-fears?utm_source=rss_feed

China and the European Union have largely finalised the “technical” part of negotiations towards resolving their electric vehicle (EV) tariff dispute, with the deal now hinging on “political will” from the European side, according to Chinese state-affiliated media.

The “technical negotiations” are essentially complete with only the “final step” remaining, Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account linked to state broadcaster CCTV, reported on Friday night. “The key now depends on whether the EU can demonstrate the necessary political will to push for a resolution of the issue.”

Meanwhile, state news agency Xinhua on Saturday dismissed claims of a new “China shock”, describing fears that Chinese exports deflected by US tariffs were flooding Europe as “grossly overstated”.

In April, China and the EU agreed to negotiate a “price undertaking” mechanism that would allow Chinese EV makers to avoid tariffs by adhering to minimum export prices. The dispute centres on EU tariffs of up to 45.3 per cent imposed last October on Chinese EVs, to counteract what Brussels sees as an unfair edge enjoyed by Chinese manufacturers due to huge state subsidies and lower production costs.

The reported progress in the talks comes ahead of a critical EU-China summit that is expected to primarily focus on trade issues. EU leaders led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to visit Beijing later this month as the two sides mark 50 years of diplomatic ties.

Over the past two years, the EU has persisted in challenging Beijing on trade issues, including subsidies, alleged dumping and other practices that “distort the market”, with numerous investigations either ongoing or at the planning stage.

Beijing, which has retaliated with its own trade measures, accuses the EU of protectionism and insists that any deal must respect World Trade Organization rules.

In the latest reciprocal action, China’s Ministry of Commerce on Friday imposed anti-dumping tariffs of up to 34.9 per cent for five years on European brandy – mainly from France.

But the ministry also said that major players in the cognac industry would be exempt from the duties taking effect on Saturday, provided they sold at a minimum price, which it did not disclose.

The move coincides with Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s European tour aimed at easing trade disputes, which saw him tell his German counterpart in Berlin on Thursday that rare earth exports should not strain China-EU relations.

Tensions have escalated in recent months over China’s curbs on rare earth elements and magnets – crucial to making smartphones and EVs – which have forced some European companies to halt manufacturing operations.

Wang emphasised on Thursday that controlling dual-use goods was a sovereign right and an international responsibility. He also mentioned China’s “fast track” process for European firms and recent approval of several export licences.

China’s commerce ministry said last week that it had accelerated reviews of rare earth export licence applications and already approved a number of them.

Wang’s comments in Berlin came after the EU urged China to ease export controls on seven rare earth minerals that had disrupted supply chains, especially in the auto industry.

Meeting Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Paris last month, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the issue was a “priority”. They also made “significant progress” over issues of export controls, market access and tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, Chinese state media reported.

In its commentary on Saturday, Xinhua said EU fears of Chinese “trade diversion” due to US tariffs were “rooted not in economic reality but in political anxiety”.

Such a narrative “risks undermining one of the world’s most vital economic relationships,” it added.

The article cited trade data and think tanks to assert that China’s exports to the EU remained stable and were not significantly redirected from the US, with minimal sector overlap.

“If China were truly weaponising exports to circumvent US tariffs, the data would paint a starkly different picture. In reality, the EU’s alarm over trade diversion is grossly overstated,” it said.

China’s focus on domestic demand and economic reforms reduced the need for export diversion, the article emphasised, while urging the EU to deepen industrial cooperation and develop a long-standing, mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.

“As China and the EU mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, it is worth remembering that decades of cooperation have made the two sides vital trade partners,” it said.

“By upholding multilateralism, defending fairness and justice, and resisting unilateral bullying, China and Europe can together meet global challenges, anchor globalisation amid turbulent times, and foster a more equitable and inclusive world.”

China talent agent Yang Tianzhen, who works with stars like Fan Bingbing, pursues US studies

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3315084/china-talent-agent-yang-tianzhen-who-works-stars-fan-bingbing-pursues-us-studies?utm_source=rss_feed

She is one of the biggest names in China’s entertainment industry, and spotting talent is her business.

But Yang Tianzhen is now putting her own skills to the test by studying for a master’s degree in the United States.

The famous mainland talent agent and entrepreneur is studying global communication and public policy at the University of Southern California (USC).

Her switch from the bright lights of the entertainment industry to the hallowed halls of academia has captivated mainland social media and left some asking, just who is Yang Tianzhen.

Her first lesson at USC was finding that fame is difficult to shake off, even if you are thousands of miles away from home.

On June 6, Yang complained on social media that Chinese students were gathering around the classroom where she studies to give her their résumés.

“I suggest you not wait for me at the entrance of the classroom. It will make my classmates feel weird. Thank you. Otherwise, I will have to attend online classes,” she said.

The incident is indicative of both China’s current tough job market and the big influence Yang has in show business.

Yang, who has been dubbed the walking traffic queen, is regarded as a legend of artist management.

Born as Yang Siwei in eastern Jiangxi province in 1985, Yang graduated from the Communication University of China in Beijing.

She enrolled in the directing department of the university, but in her third year realised she was not cut out for that line of work.

Instead, she went for marketing, planning and coordination before finding an internship at a Beijing-based agency.

After graduation, Yang joined the agency and became responsible for promoting their stars in the media.

In 2008, she became the director of communication at the Fan Bingbing Studio.

The cooperation between Yang and Fan, a top Chinese actress with international reach, ended six years later, but their friendship has remained.

In early June, Fan shared a picture of her and Yang together with the caption “long time no see”.

Besides Fan, Yang has managed a slew of top-tier stars from both mainland China and Taiwan, like Lu Han, Zhang Yixing, Zhang Yuqi, Mark Chao and Nana Ouyang.

In the past couple of years, Yang has taken part in numerous variety shows, winning the hearts of audiences with her positive personality, eloquence, insight and confidence.

She established her garment brand, Plusmall, in 2020, targeting big-sized women.

Yang was once well known for her sizeable physique, with her weight peaking at 115kg.

When she successfully got her weight down to less than 60kg, Yang was accused by some people of “betraying fat girls”.

“Losing weight is for the sake of my health, not for pleasing anybody,” Yang responded.

She revealed her secret to staying thin is working out for two hours three times a week.

Her announcement in May about her overseas study plans caused a stir on social media.

Some people asked: “Why bother to study abroad? You are already so successful?”

“Studying abroad was my dream when I was a little girl. It is an experience that cannot be replaced by other things,” Yang responded.

Chinese study uncovers cancer-fighting potential of impotence drugs like Viagra

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3316838/chinese-study-uncovers-cancer-fighting-potential-impotence-drugs-viagra?utm_source=rss_feed

Men around the world dealing with sexual impotence have been treated for years with the drug sildenafil, sold under brand names including the well-known Viagra.

A new Chinese study now suggests that the drug may perhaps also help to save lives.

Sildenafil could combat cancer by strengthening a group of key anti-tumour immune cells, according to the study by researchers from China’s Westlake University, Zhejiang University, Peking Union Medical College and Shanghai Institute of Immunology.

Dendritic cells, which act as the “intelligence agents” of the immune system, can become severely depleted or functionally impaired as the tumour progresses. According to the researchers, sildenafil could reverse the process and help to restore the cells.

The researchers, led by Westlake cancer immunology specialist Zhou Ting, published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Nature on June 25.

In an article posted on its social media account the same day, the university hailed the discovery as a possible new “form of tumour immunotherapy strategy”.

Dendritic cells are known for their distinctive shape, which helps them to move between tissues, as well as their ability to capture antigens – substances or markers found on viruses, bacteria, tumours or normal cells that cause the body to mount an immune response.

They were first discovered and named by the biologist Ralph Steinman in 1973, for which he was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

In the battle between tumours and the immune system, dendritic cells are responsible for sending tumour antigen information to the lymph nodes – which circulate fluid and immune cells throughout the body – and for activating T-cells to launch attacks. T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune system.

Zhou joined Westlake University in 2021 after finishing his postdoctoral training at Yale University and made dendritic cells a key part of his research. His team has since been trying to reveal potential new treatment clues about the crucial component of the tumour immune cycle.

After analysing samples from patients with pancreatic, breast and colorectal cancers, the researchers found that the number of mature dendritic cells in lymph nodes decreased significantly as tumours progressed. The phenomenon has also been observed in lab mice.

Naturally, the fight against cancer would see a boost if the cause of this loss of “intelligence agents” could be identified and countermeasures proposed.

The mystery was finally unravelled by the joint team with the help of sophisticated research methods, such as gene-editing and sequencing techniques.

They found that the synthesis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), an intracellular molecule identified decades ago as a key messenger regulating interstitial migration, or the movement within cells, was disrupted by advanced tumours. This in turn resulted in a reduction in the migratory capacity of dendritic cells.

Based on this discovery, the team identified the enzyme Phosphodiesterase-5 or PDE5, a regulatory factor that blocks cGMP signalling, and developed a way to inhibit it. The idea was to eliminate the “brake” that restricted cGMP, thus enabling the mobility of dendritic cells to return.

It turned out that sildenafil, which is already in use worldwide, belonged to the group of PDE5 inhibitors that prevents the enzyme from working too quickly.

The drug, which can dilate blood vessels, is used extensively in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and certain cardiovascular diseases, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Subsequent experiments by the joint team proved that their solution worked.

Sildenafil was found to significantly enhance the interstitial migration ability of dendritic cells. In mice with late-stage cancer, sildenafil restored the number of dendritic cells and enhanced T-cell responses, thereby effectively controlling the spread of the cancer.

Westlake University concluded that the study had “unexpectedly revealed the immunological mechanism of sildenafil for the first time, while also laying a new theoretical foundation for its use as an immunotherapy drug”.

Chinese man caught in wig disguise trying to take exam for woman escapes

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3316451/chinese-man-caught-wig-disguise-trying-take-exam-woman-escapes?utm_source=rss_feed

A bizarre case of academic fraud has sent shock waves through the Chinese online community, as an impostor was caught red-handed cross-dressing as a woman – complete with a wig and face mask – in an attempt to take an exam on behalf of another student.

The scandal came to light on June 24 when a Chinese netizen revealed that a male student from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, Hubei province, had attempted to impersonate a woman to take an exam at a public venue.

According to images circulating online, the netizen wrote: “I heard someone was caught impersonating a candidate during the senior accounting exam this morning? Apparently, it was a man dressed as a woman?”

The post quickly garnered widespread attention, with others chiming in to share more details. One user noted that the man wore a wig, a face mask, and even a headband to carry out the exam.

However, his elaborate scheme unravelled when the teacher grew suspicious, observing that the wig was “too obvious” and reportedly asking the impostor to “remove the wig”.

Upon being exposed, the male impersonator immediately fled the scene.

It was also reported that another student in the exam room recognised him and revealed his identity.

China’s educational system is notorious for its fierce competitiveness, where academic success is often seen as the primary determinant of a student’s future opportunities.

While this particular incident involved merely an internal university exam, the intense pressure to succeed can sometimes drive individuals to such desperate measures.

In response, the university issued a statement on June 25 confirming the incident and outlining the disciplinary actions to be taken.

According to the announcement, a female student surnamed Li allegedly commissioned the man she met through an online platform to take the Advanced Accounting exam on her behalf.

The announcement did not specify whether any payment was made or the amount involved.

According to regulations at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law regarding student misconduct, Li is facing expulsion from academic status.

Meanwhile, the identity of the male impersonator is still under investigation by the university and relevant authorities.

The scandal has sparked widespread disbelief and amusement among Chinese netizens, with many finding humour in the situation while others expressed concern over academic integrity.

One person commented: “The wig was too obvious! I can’t believe someone actually tried this.”

Another added: “What kind of person would agree to be a cross-dressing exam impostor? This is beyond ridiculous.”

A third wrote: “This is what happens when people get desperate. The pressure to succeed in Chinese academia is immense, and the consequences are severe. Being expelled for cheating is a huge blow to her future prospects.”

How amateur sport is making it to the big leagues in China

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3317070/how-amateur-sport-making-it-big-leagues-china?utm_source=rss_feed

It was not quite the American Super Bowl but it was a big moment nonetheless.

In the middle of last month, as two amateur football teams from two small cities in eastern China took to the field, a fleet of light aircraft flew over the stadium.

The fly-past at the Yangzhou Sports Park Stadium was testament to the popularity of the competition the two teams were playing in, the Jiangsu City Football League – also known as the Su Super League.

The league, which is in its first season, pits 13 teams of amateurs from various cities in Jiangsu province against each other in six home and six away matches, with the top eight teams on points entering the knockout stage starting in October.

The players on the teams are diverse, with everyone from teens to farmers and middle-aged weekend warriors lining up for the matches.

Since the league’s first game in May, millions of viewers have tuned in online and tens of thousands of fans have gone to stadiums, attracted by the local nature of the event.

So much so that fans petitioned the military’s Eastern Theatre Command to send fighter jets over the stadium for the final in November.

However, the defence ministry does not seem to be entertaining the idea.

“The ‘Su League’ is very popular these days, and the fans are very patriotic,” ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said last month when asked about the possibility.

As it enters its sixth round this weekend, the league is attracting an average of 25,000 spectators to each game, with many travelling from other parts of the country to attend, according to provincial authorities.

The league is organised as a commercial event by Jiangsu’s sports bureau as well as the governments of the cities represented in the competition.

The local rivalries and enthusiasm of the players have made the league a sensation in a country where the men’s national squad has been a continued disappointment. Despite massive government investment, the men’s team has fallen from 81 in the world rankings in 2016 to 94 this year.

“This is our game, our men,” said Wang Haotao, 34, a Su League fan from Suzhou in Jiangsu. “They try their best in every round. That’s what the national men’s team cannot compare to.”

“The players, students, deliverymen and programmers … they are all brave, which gives me hope that China can have good athletes and quality games.”

Wang said that part of the appeal of the league was the chance to share a common local culture.

“We make fun of each other with rival cities in the game. We exchange quips and jokes, as we are familiar with the local culture. It’s great entertainment and an escape from the stress of real life, from the poor job prospects to the tariff war with the US.”

Similar scenes played out in the southwestern province of Guizhou, where players and fans turned out in force for the third Village Super League tournament in the small city of Rongjiang in January.

The tournament attracted more than a hundred teams to see amateurs put in some remarkable performances.

The Rongjiang county government said in May that the village tournament had generated billions of yuan in tourism revenue over the past two years.

Meanwhile in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the small city of Zhuji is home to “Village BA”, a hugely popular community tournament that brought more than 320 teams together for about 820 matches over a number of months.

Liao Yansong, a student studying new media at Neijiang Normal University in Sichuan province, is a big fan of the league and has helped to organise live broadcasts of the Village BA games in the township of Chaoyang.

He said he became involved in broadcasting the games to other platforms so fans could watch online.

“Grass-roots sports leagues can bring the public closer to sports,” Liao said. “The emergence of grass-roots basketball and football shows the effectiveness of the national fitness drive.”

China has issued national fitness guidelines every five years since the 1990s in a bid to improve public health and expand the base for competitive sport. Under the 2021-2025 guideline, China added or expanded more than 2,000 public sports venues around the nation, official data showed.

Liao said the popularity of the local leagues was also a result of greater access to online broadcast technology.

“The current online live broadcast and short video transmission speed is fast, and the operation threshold is low, giving these leagues the perfect conditions to gain popularity,” he said.

Migu is one online platform in the game, distributing Su League matches to the growing fan base.

Fred Ren, from Migu’s marketing department, said that in some cases, the local matches were more popular than established global competitions.

“Recently, the Su League traffic on Migu even exceeded that of the Fifa Club World Cup being held at the same time,” Ren said. “It’s quite impressive for an amateur league.”

“The audiences are not mainly enjoying football, but actually enjoying the emotional value provided by entertainment. Many people regard it as a fresh way to entertain on weekends,” he said.

Yonghui Yu, associate professor at the school of physical education and sports science at South China Normal University, said the local leagues gave fans a connection to their immediate communities.

“The fans are pursuing some quality time after work, and the grass-roots games make them feel more relevant compared with those formal games,” Yu said.

The matches were also a welcome lift for local economies.

“Sport drives growth across most service industries. Take the matches themselves – they involve live broadcasting, online ticket platforms, and spin-off benefits from branding. When fans travel here for games, they boost local transport, restaurants, accommodation, and tourism,” Yu added.

Qi Zhang, associate professor of economics at Shanghai University of Sport, said the low ticket prices for the matches contributed to the popularity of local leagues but it was not always certain who would take to the field.

“There’s no guarantee in China that the amateur players can have the time to play regularly,” Zhang said, adding that it was common for employees to have to work on the weekend.

Liu Dongfeng, another professor from Shanghai University of Sport, said that hopefully the popularity of the smaller leagues would encourage the government to let non-government organisers play a bigger role in sport.

“The resources for sport, such as … the screening of players and use of venues, is mainly controlled by the government. Hopefully the government can allow society and the market to play a bigger role to unleash the magic of sports,” Liu said.

China’s Wang Yi calls for ‘new international agreement’ on Iran after US, Israeli attacks

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317077/chinas-wang-yi-calls-new-international-agreement-iran-after-us-israeli-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has called for a “new international agreement” on Iran while accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the Middle East through military actions on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Friday, Wang also voiced deep concerns about escalating tensions in the region and warned of the looming spectre of a “nuclear disaster”.

His remarks came as Beijing, a key ally of an increasingly isolated Tehran, intensified its criticism of the US and Israel following last month’s pre-emptive strikes on Iranian personnel and nuclear facilities. China has also continued to style itself as a responsible power and key mediator.

Wang, currently on a European tour, reaffirmed that China valued Tehran’s repeated pledges not to develop nuclear weapons, while also respecting Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“On this basis, relevant parties should accelerate negotiations towards a new international agreement to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, and place Iran’s nuclear activities fully under the strict supervision and safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” he said without further elaboration, according to China’s foreign ministry.

“The road to peace lies beneath our feet, and history will judge each party’s sincerity.”

Wang stressed that the recent military conflict between Israel and Iran must not be repeated.

“War is not a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and pre-emptive strikes clearly lack legitimacy, and the abuse of military force will only ignite wider conflict and deepen enmity,” he said.

He condemned the US for launching air strikes on the nuclear facilities of a sovereign nation, calling it a “bad precedent”.

“If such actions trigger a nuclear disaster, the entire world will bear the consequences,” he said.

Wang also pointedly rejected the notion of “peace through strength”, which underpinned the American and Israeli military approaches, as “power politics”.

“If strength alone determines right from wrong, where are the rules? Where is justice? Strength cannot bring true peace, and it may well open Pandora’s box,” he said.

“How can weaker nations, especially small and medium-sized countries, deal with themselves? Can they only be served on the table and slaughtered at will?”

China has consistently supported a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iran nuclear issue and sought to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) since the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

While highly critical of US hegemony and “might makes right” logic, Beijing has over the years called for multilateral dialogue to maintain the JCPOA framework or seek a “mutually acceptable solution”, without explicitly suggesting a new Iran deal.

During a trip to the region in March, Wang put forward a five-point proposal for Middle East peace, which included resolving the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and discussions on a “road map and timeline” to revive the JCPOA pact.

During Friday’s press conference, Wang also put the Iran issue in the broader Middle East context, including the Palestinian issue.

“A real resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue cannot avoid the core problem in the Middle East: the Palestinian question,” he said.

He reiterated China’s pro-Palestinian stance, stating that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza must not continue and that the two-state solution remained the only realistic path out of the Middle East’s turmoil.

In a message to France, which has stressed its strategic autonomy, Wang urged Paris to work with Beijing to “uphold justice, take responsibility, support resolving conflicts through dialogue and negotiation, and oppose any double standards”.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, France is a key signatory to the JCPOA, alongside China, Russia, Britain, the US, Germany and the European Union.

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Chinese driver accused of sexual harassment for praising passenger for ‘nice smell’

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3316468/chinese-driver-accused-sexual-harassment-praising-passenger-nice-smell?utm_source=rss_feed

A driver has been suspended from an online ride-hailing platform for 21 days following accusations of verbal sexual harassment by a female passenger, who claimed he commented on her fragrance by saying she “smells good”.

The driver, identified only by his surname Zhao, from Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, was blocked from the platform after an incident on June 8, as reported by Zhejiang TV.

During the ride, Zhao asked the woman three times if she was wearing perfume. When she replied that she was not, he remarked: “The smell from your body is so good.”

The passenger, whose identity remains undisclosed, explained that the pleasant aroma was due to the liquid detergent she had used on her clothes. Zhao then inquired about the specific brand of the detergent.

After she provided the brand name, the woman exited the vehicle before reaching her intended destination, according to the report.

Subsequently, she lodged a complaint with the car-hailing platform, which was not named in the report. Hours later, the company decided to suspend Zhao after reviewing the voice recordings from his vehicle.

In his defence, Zhao stated that he had asked about the perfume because he believed its pleasant scent could help freshen up the car’s interior. He maintained that his conversation with the passenger was conducted in a “polite” manner and did not have any coercive undertones.

Zhao claimed the woman did not seem averse to his comments. “If she had not replied to me, I would not have continued asking her,” he stated. “I just do not understand. I did not say anything wrong!”

The passenger responded that she did not initially recognise that the driver was speaking to her until he inquired about the perfume multiple times while glancing at her through the rear-view mirror.

She expressed her discomfort, stating she felt disgusted by his comment about her smell. Nevertheless, she maintained politeness during the exchange to avoid provoking him and to ensure her safety.

“I was stunned when he said I smelled good. Who would accept such comments from a stranger?” she told the media.

“My courteous replies were interpreted as being amenable to him. I believe any passenger, regardless of gender, would feel uncomfortable if a driver made such remarks,” she added.

Zhao expressed his hope that the platform would reinstate his access soon and stated his desire to apologise to the passenger.

The incident quickly became a trending topic on mainland social media, sparking various reactions.

“What the driver said is really inappropriate,” commented one user.

Another agreed, stating: “He does not understand boundaries.”

However, a third commenter suggested: “Release the voice recording to the internet. Let the public decide whether the driver did anything wrong.”

Solar energy milestone: China taps the ocean in breakthrough for industry

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316987/solar-energy-milestone-china-taps-ocean-breakthrough-industry?utm_source=rss_feed

China has launched a fully seawater-based solar energy system – the first of its kind suitable for industrial use and large-scale power production – as part of broader efforts to expand renewables in coastal regions, boost the maritime economy and drive industrial innovation.

Located in Qingdao, Shandong province, the floating solar station builds upon another offshore photovoltaic power generation project launched in late May. Together, they form the largest initiative of its kind by Sinopec, one of China’s biggest state-owned companies.

According to the State Council’s information website, the two projects could generate a combined 16.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 14,000 tonnes.

The floating power station, built in coastal waters by Sinopec Qingdao Refining & Chemical, spans about 60,000 square meters and has an installed capacity of 7.5 megawatts. The solar panels rise and fall with the tide, generating energy from the ocean’s surface. Their proximity to the water boosts efficiency by 5 to 8 per cent, according to the site.

The project is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported fuels and shift to home-grown renewables. In 2020, the government set a target of more than 1.2 billion kilowatts of installed wind and solar capacity by 2030.

Beijing views emerging industries such as photovoltaic energy as essential to developing “new quality productive forces” – a growth model centred on technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades, repeatedly mentioned by President Xi Jinping.

“Scientific and technological innovation is the core element in developing new quality productive forces. Green development is the foundation of high-quality development, and new quality productive forces are inherently green productive forces,” Xi said in April last year.

As the world’s largest manufacturer and consumer of photovoltaic products, China dominates the global industry.

According to the National Energy Administration, solar power now accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s total installed capacity, making up nearly half of the global total as of the end of May.

But after years of rapid expansion, the sector faces growing overcapacity risks, prompting a shift in the industry towards technological innovation and upgrades.

China’s western regions have long served as the country’s solar energy powerhouses, but challenging terrain and long transmission distances have spurred the push to explore offshore and other alternatives.

In January 2025, Shandong also completed the nation’s largest single-unit photovoltaic power generation station on salt-alkali mudflats along the coast, which is expected to generate 1.442 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually once operational.

Brazil blasts the West ahead of Brics summit, while China mute on tariffs, sanctions

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3317065/brazil-blasts-west-ahead-brics-summit-while-china-mute-tariffs-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and New Development Bank (NDB) president Dilma Rousseff accused the US, its allies and the Western-dominated financial order on Friday of weaponising tariffs and sanctions.

They also used the opening of the Brics bank’s annual meeting to call for new models of development and cooperation across the Global South.

Speaking before finance ministers and governors from Brics nations and new members in Rio de Janeiro, Lula said the NDB was proof that emerging economies could shape their own paths without heavy-handed Western conditionalities.

“The lack of effective reforms in traditional financial institutions has limited, for decades, the amount and type of credit multilateral banks can offer,” Lula said.

The Brazilian president praised the bank’s governance model for ensuring “equality of voice and vote” and for using local currencies. He added that 31 per cent of the bank’s projects today were funded in members’ own currencies.

Developing nations, led by China, have sought to chip away at the dominance of the US dollar and the clout it affords Washington through the global monetary system.

In response, US President Donald Trump has warned Brics, a 10-member bloc of emerging economies, against moving away from the American dollar, threatening 100 per cent tariffs.

Rousseff, who has led the Shanghai-based bank since 2023, echoed Lula’s message, saying that the institution’s mission was more crucial than ever as the world faced overlapping crises.

“Tariffs, sanctions and financial restrictions are being used as tools of political subordination,” she said, without calling out Trump by name.

“The international financial system remains deeply asymmetric, placing the heaviest burdens on those with the fewest resources,” the former Brazilian president added.

As Brazil chairs the 2025 Brics presidency and prepares to host the bloc’s two-day leaders’ summit from Sunday, Lula and Rousseff positioned the NDB, created by the Brics countries in 2014, as a viable alternative to what they described as outdated, “top-down” Western-led institutions.

Brics, an acronym formed from the original members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has since added Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates to the group.

The sharp rhetoric of Lula and Rousseff contrasted with the more pragmatic approach of China and India, which remained cautious about antagonising key Western trade partners as they conduct trade talks with the Trump administration.

However, both countries called on the bank to prioritise the collective needs of the Global South.

China’s Finance Minister Lan Foan struck a measured tone, avoiding direct mention of tariffs or sanctions. Citing a sluggish global economic recovery and rising risks, he urged the NDB to embody “openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation” to support Global South modernisation.

Lan outlined three priorities: aligning with Global South development needs, expanding membership to amplify their global voice, and creating more innovative financing models, particularly involving local currencies and green technology investments.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also emphasised collective action without targeting the West.

“We face a defining moment for the Global South, grappling with fiscal constraints, climate transitions, and shifting geopolitics,” she said. “Our response must be decisive, inclusive, and forward-looking.”

But the Brazilian politicians notched up their critique.

Rousseff recalled that the bank was founded “not just as an institutional milestone, but as a political statement that the Brics and the Global South would no longer be passive recipients of imposed growth models”.

In his speech, Lula warned that without new financing mechanisms, the poorest countries, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America, would remain trapped in poverty for another century.

Lula went further, blaming the Western financial system and political leadership for failing to address global inequality and conflict.

Despite being advised by Brazilian diplomats not to touch de-dollarisation, he revived the idea of a common trading currency among Brics nations as a way to reduce reliance on the US dollar and protect members from global financial shocks.

“It’s complicated, I know. There are political problems, I know. But if we do not find a new formula, we will end the 21st century the same way we started the 20th,” Lula said.

Not everyone is convinced, however, that pushing for a common Brics currency is realistic or wise for Brazil right now.

Alexandre Coelho, coordinator at the geopolitics centre at Observa China, a Rio de Janeiro think tank, warned that openly discussing a shared currency could spark unnecessary tensions with Washington at a delicate moment.

Coelho said that many Brics countries, including India and South Africa, had distanced themselves from the idea, preferring instead to expand local currency payment systems without giving Washington fresh reasons for trade retaliation.

He said that for Brazil, the bigger risk was losing part of its monetary independence, since any common currency would probably be shaped by China’s far larger economy and stronger currency.

“In practice, that would tie Brazil’s hands to China’s fiscal and monetary policies,” Coelho said, pointing to the euro zone and the Greek crisis in 2009 as a cautionary example of how smaller economies could lose control when joining a currency union dominated by a more powerful partner.

At the time, Greece struggled to adjust its economy to an exchange rate it no longer controlled, and it was forced to adopt deep austerity measures pushed by stronger euro zone members such as Germany to stay solvent.

“When we get distracted by the common currency debate, we waste effort that should go into the transition agenda and our role as a bridge at Cop30,” Coelho added, referencing the UN climate conference that Brazil will also host in November.

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How Chinese scientists cracked the secret of organ regeneration

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3316912/how-chinese-scientists-cracked-secret-organ-regeneration?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese scientists who successfully restored damaged outer ears in mice said their findings proved the existence of a genetic switch for organ regeneration, which meant it might also be present in other organs.

While the scientific journey to achieving organ regeneration in humans remains long and challenging, the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, has offered the researchers hope.

Last week, co-corresponding authors Wang Wei and Deng Ziqing published their findings that a mouse’s inability to regenerate was due to its failure to produce enough retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A that regulates which cell type emerges during development and tissue repair.

The scientists said they were able to reactivate the regeneration of the mouse ear by turning on an “evolutionarily disabled genetic switch”, which led to the complete restoration of lost tissues in a hole punched through their outer ear, including cartilage.

Wang, an assistant investigator at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, said the team would continue their research to determine when mice lost their ability to regenerate during evolution.

“The ability to regenerate appears to contribute to the survival of animals,” he said in an interview. “Why was this ability lost as species evolved?”

“It is unlikely that this loss occurred randomly. If it was not random, what logic governed it? This is a crucial question,” said Wang, who also serves as an assistant professor at Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research.

“We are also keen to explore the possibilities to regenerate other organs, including the spinal cord,” he added, pointing to testing the potential of retinoic acid. The vitamin A derivative has been found to be an important signalling molecule in vertebrate development.

Wang returned to China in 2021 after working for seven years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the United States. He started looking into mammal ear pinna regeneration in the same year.

As a regeneration and rejuvenation specialist, his research focuses on the molecular basis of spinal cord regeneration and the evolution of regenerative capacities in vertebrates.

The ear pinna was an ideal starting point because, while it contains multiple structures such as skin, cartilage, muscles and fat, it is not as complex as many internal organs. Wang added that it was an external body part that can be easily observed and operated on.

Co-corresponding author Deng Ziqing, senior scientist at BGI-Research, said the institute supported the research with Stereo-seq technology, “a camera of life” that combined high-resolution imaging of cells with gene expression analysis.

“In the study, we used the technology to identify the locations of cell type changes during the wound recovery process at different time points and to understand the mechanisms behind regeneration,” he said.

When asked how the team felt during the three years of experiments, Wang said the scientific inquiry brought both anxiety and surprise.

“We began by testing a range of possible genes one by one, but none produced results,” he said, adding that some gene expressions even enlarged the punched hole.

“Then came this gene that encodes an enzyme for retinoic acid synthesis. We were excited and surprised to discover that a single gene was the solution.”

Wang said further studies were needed to identify which genes could activate the genetic switch in other organs, and each organ might have a different switch.

“This study is important as proof of principle, showing us that a genetic switch for organ regeneration exists. Our mission is to find out the switches for other organs, and they will be the keys to organ regeneration,” he said.

“Our lab focuses on spinal cord recovery, and we have been searching for the key to regeneration. It may be more complicated and involve two or more signalling pathways working together. It is important that we see hope.”

He said the path to achieving the regeneration of human organs remained a long one.

“One challenge is the significant size difference between mouse and human organs, let alone the complex structure. The human heart is big and the spinal cord is thick.”

“After identifying the molecules or medications that can regenerate mouse organs, we must determine the safe and effective dosage for humans. This presents a complex issue,” Wang said.

South Korea, Japan step up as US targets China’s shipbuilding industry – can they succeed?

https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316971/south-korea-japan-step-us-targets-chinas-shipbuilding-industry-can-they-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed

As the United States vows to curb China’s dominance in shipbuilding – despite its domestic capacity being nearly nonexistent – South Korea and Japan are looking to benefit from the rivalry and reclaim their competitive edge.

South Korea’s president, Lee Jae-myung, who took office a month ago, campaigned on supporting the industry – which he described as being “in major crisis”.

“Shipbuilding has been a core industry driving Korea’s exports and creating jobs,” he said in a social media post on May 14. “I will create a maritime power that leads the world beyond being a shipbuilding powerhouse.”

Although the new administration has yet to pass any specific policies or bills in support of the sector, it has outlined measures in the “New Government Growth Policy Guide,” said Eon Hwang, a Seoul-based shipbuilding analyst at Nomura.

The guidelines focus on vessel development, production improvements and new growth plans, according to a translation provided by Hwang.

The new administration also aims to promote the development of future vessels, such as autonomous and eco-friendly ships, through digitalisation, automation and improved personnel training and working conditions, the document said.

Jayendu Krishna, a director at Drewry Maritime Services, said that while automation and the green transition were ongoing trends, significant efforts would be required before these technologies reach maturity.

“South Korea has very aptly decided to focus on these [areas],” he said.

The new measures build on the previous administration’s efforts to position South Korea as a key shipbuilding partner to the United States – in both commercial vessels and naval ships – at a time when Washington has explicitly called for allied support in the sector.

Seoul has called for building special-purpose ships, such as naval vessels, and developing the ship Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market as a new source of growth.

Despite trade tensions with the Trump administration, cooperation between South Korea and the US, especially in the shipbuilding industry, is strengthening as Washington intensifies its regulations on China, South Korea’s President Lee said in March.

In April, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), a major South Korean shipbuilder, signed a memorandum of understanding with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest military shipbuilder in the US, to accelerate cooperation and technology sharing.

Another top domestic shipbuilder, Hanwha Ocean – which acquired Philadelphia-based Philly Shipyard in December – announced last month that it had received US approval to acquire a full stake in Austal, an Australian-based shipbuilder that holds major contracts with the US Navy, if it chooses to proceed with the deal.

Both HHI and Hanwha have had access to the US Navy’s MRO services since last year.

Even though most major shipbuilding docks are fully booked through 2027 and 2028, Hwang said no dormant shipyards have reopened in South Korea –despite promising demand from the US.

Expanded capacity would depend on whether the US continues to strengthen regulations on Chinese shipyards and whether the “Ensuring Naval Readiness Act” – which allows allies to build US naval vessels outside the country – gets passed, he said.

In the past two years, Chinese shipbuilders have secured about 70 per cent of new vessel orders globally, while South Korea’s market share has fallen to an eight-year low, according to the China Institute of Marine Technology and Economy, a research institute affiliated with China State Shipbuilding Corp.

The gap has put Korean shipbuilders under pressure, it said in a note on Wednesday.

“Now, the policy measures have been put in place, but their effectiveness will depend on their implementation and the domestic and external conditions,” it added.

Japan, the world’s third-largest shipbuilder, is also keen to benefit from US demand, which the Nikkei newspaper described as the “last chance” for the country’s shipbuilding industry.

Krishna agreed and said, “For the Japanese, it may be tantamount to a drowning man clutching at a straw if US shipbuilding receives a necessary push by Mr Trump’s administration.”

Tokyo is drafting a multibillion-dollar plan that would involve restoring or building shipyards before handing them over to the private sector for operation. The estimated investment could total nearly US$7 billion.

Last week, Japan’s largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding, announced that it would acquire a controlling stake in the country’s second largest, Japan Marine United (JMU), turning it into a subsidiary.

“Imabari Shipbuilding and JMU will leverage each other’s strengths to compete with China and Korea, and will also make efforts to develop the Japanese shipbuilding industry by making quicker and more comprehensive judgments in terms of management,” Imabari said in a press release.

However, challenges remain. Japan has struggled to compete in the shipbuilding industry for some time, as it faces a decline in its labour force of about 30 per cent, Krishna said, noting that high production costs pose another significant obstacle.

“Consolidation may be a last-ditch effort to revive its shipbuilding industry,” he said.

Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’ advice for Australia raises eyebrows

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317004/chinese-ambassadors-grandstanding-advice-australia-raises-eyebrows?utm_source=rss_feed

The Chinese ambassador to Canberra has urged Australia not to be “incited” by Nato’s support for demands by the US to raise defence spending sharply and instead should cooperate with Beijing to resolve regional disputes.

Analysts say the “unsolicited advice” is unlikely to sway Canberra and could backfire by reinforcing distrust of Beijing, ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China and amid an ongoing debate in Australia over its defence spending.

In an opinion article published in The Australian newspaper on June 30, ambassador Xiao Qian said that some countries attending events such as the G7 summit and the recent Nato meeting had “hyped up the so-called China threat narrative” to increase defence spending and “even incited Australia to follow suit”.

“Dramatically increasing military spending places a heavy fiscal burden on the countries involved, undermining their efforts to boost economies and improve livelihoods, and further straining a global economy already struggling with weak recovery,” he said.

Australia currently spends just over 2 per cent of its GDP on defence, but is under growing pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump to raise that to 3.5 per cent. Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly pressed allies to boost spending, with Washington linking the issue to potential trade relief and deeper cooperation within Aukus, which comprises Australia, the UK and the US.

Ian Hall, an international relations professor at Griffith University, said Canberra had resisted calls from Washington to boost defence spending significantly.

“I don’t think they will welcome unsolicited advice from the Chinese ambassador either,” Hall said. Canberra had struck a balance on spending given the scale of its Aukus obligations and budgetary constraints, he added.

Under the Aukus pact, Australia has committed to buy up to five US-made nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s and co-develop with the UK to build the SSN-Aukus class about a decade later. It is expected to spend an estimated A$368 billion (US$241 billion) on the two sets of submarines under the deal by 2055.

Washington’s calls on allies to increase defence spending “have been met more with irritation than anxiety”, Hall said, adding that most major US allies had already spent more in this area and did not see “an obvious logic” behind Washington’s demands.

The inconsistent American approach towards China did not help as well, said Hall, referring to Trump vacillating between emphasising Washington’s determination to compete against Beijing and working towards “a grand bargain” with its rival.

“It is hard for allies to calibrate their strategies in this confused context,” Hall said.

Richard Dunley, a senior lecturer in history and maritime strategy at UNSW Canberra, said many Australian policymakers and the public were “not sold” on the need for a spike in defence spending or a potential confrontation with China.

The Chinese ambassador’s intervention would also not be seen as helpful by some, according to Dunley. “I would imagine that the statement will be largely disregarded as grandstanding by an interested party,” Dunley said.

Washington’s demands for greater defence spending had caused “considerable anxiety” in Canberra, particularly over its leveraging of the Aukus deal “to force the hand of the Australian government”, he added.

Last month, the US said it would review the deal, saying that the pact must fit its “America First” agenda.

Australian politicians and the public resented the idea of being forced “or even blackmailed” into spending more on defence, Dunley said.

Likewise, it was not an issue that China could use as a wedge to drive Australia and the US apart, as such a move would be counter-productive, he added.

“Australians will resent the US as an ally attempting to interfere in what they see as domestic issues, but they will resent Beijing even more for seeking to take advantage of it. If the Chinese have any sense, then they will stay quiet and let the issue play out on its own,” Dunley said.

Philipp Ivanov, founder of geopolitical advisory Grasp or Geopolitical Risks and Strategy Practice, said Xiao’s message would be viewed with suspicion by Australian policymakers.

“After all, Australia’s defence strategy and spending are aimed solely at deterrence and resilience in the face of China’s growing power,” he added.

Xiao’s comments will further fuel Canberra’s anxiety as it balances between fending off growing pressure from Washington, facing a weak economy and aiming to reduce its trade dependency on Beijing, according to Ivanov.

“He is doing so at a time when Australians are wary of American pressure, distrustful of Trump and worried about the rising costs of living,” Ivanov added.

Xiao is also trying to lay the groundwork for China’s key messages for Canberra ahead of Albanese’s visit to Beijing, which is expected in the next few weeks, according to Ivanov.

In a recent survey conducted by the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney, 72 per cent of respondents in Australia said they did not trust Trump to act responsibly in global affairs.

Nonetheless, Australian policymakers were more worried about China’s growing power in Asia than US demands and policy upheavals, Ivanov said. The general view was that the alliance between Australia and the US would endure the Trump presidency while the risks from China would grow, he added.

“It will be difficult for China to dramatically change this assessment,” Ivanov said.

During the visit by Albanese, China is likely to raise the issue of US pressure on Australia to increase its defence spending and barriers to Chinese foreign investment in Australia, particularly in mining and infrastructure, according to Ivanov.

In recent years, Australia has increased scrutiny of foreign investment inflows on national security grounds, particularly in critical infrastructure such as ports and telecommunications.

Last Thursday, Australia sued a Chinese-linked company for the first time over a breach of foreign investment laws linked to its stake in Perth-based rare earths miner Northern Minerals.

Chinese-owned Landbridge Group, which has a 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin after acquiring it in 2015, has sparked national security concerns due to the port’s location near Australian naval facilities.

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Chinese baby goes viral for skateboarding wearing protective headgear and nappies

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3316436/chinese-baby-goes-viral-skateboarding-wearing-protective-headgear-and-nappies?utm_source=rss_feed

An 11-month-old baby in southwestern China has been skateboarding independently for two months, earning viral fame for his confident posture in videos shared by his parents.

The baby, affectionately nicknamed Juanjuan, is not yet a year old but already exhibits impressive skill on the skateboard, all before mastering the art of walking. The family lives in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

Juanjuan’s father, Liu Daolong, is a former snowboarding athlete and a member of the Chinese national snowboard team. Even after retirement, he continues to embrace his passion for boardsports.

When Juanjuan was about five months old, Liu introduced him to skateboarding at a local skate park.

His mother described the experience as a thrilling “free roller coaster ride,” highlighting how much Juanjuan enjoyed his first outing.

She mentioned that by the time he could stand, he was already practising balancing on a snowboard at home.

At six months, he could stand with support, demonstrating advanced development for his age.

By eight months, Juanjuan was able to balance himself on a snowboard for over a minute, prompting Liu to begin his training on the skateboard.

Juanjuan initially practised at home, and when he turned nine months old, he ventured outdoors for his first skateboarding experience in their residential complex.

He started rolling short distances, and now, at 11 months old, he can skateboard independently for several hundred metres in the bustling downtown area.

His mother manages a social media account for him, showcasing videos of her son skateboarding while wearing protective headgear and nappies.

As Juanjuan glides on the board, Liu runs alongside him at the same pace, extending his arms for protection.

Occasionally, Liu offers him guidance, like shifting his weight onto his back foot, to which Juanjuan responds with understanding.

He has clearly mastered the art of balancing while rolling, controlling his speed and manoeuvring over bumps effortlessly.

Often, he giggles during his skateboarding sessions, clearly relishing the activity.

Juanjuan’s mother noted that he has not yet learned to walk.

She shared that their energetic boy is always on the move when awake, seeking out activities to “burn his calories”.

Remarkably, he can now perform a dead hang on his baby climber for up to half a minute.

“My 11-month-old baby: sleeping all day long; other people’s 11-month-old baby: skateboarding better than an adult,” one online observer expressed with envy.

“Babies shouldn’t start skateboarding so early in life; it might hurt adults’ egos,” another joked.

“It’s incredible how fearless he is. He is clearly destined to be a skateboarder,” a third comment praised.

Chinese robot maker Dobot’s humanoid cooks steak from 1,800km away using VR

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3317002/chinese-robot-maker-dobots-humanoid-cooks-steak-1800km-away-using-vr?utm_source=rss_feed

A humanoid robot from the Chinese firm Shenzhen Dobot successfully cooked a steak – even sprinkling salt with its fingers – while being remotely controlled by an operator 1,800km away using a virtual reality (VR) headset.

A video of the feat, published on Friday on the company’s official WeChat account, showcased its latest technology – which could eventually disrupt how humans perform housework, conduct surgeries, inspect nuclear plants and even explore outer space.

The cooking was performed by Dobot Atom, the company’s first humanoid robot, which was launched in March. While the robot was in Shandong province, it was remotely controlled from Guangdong province – 1,800km away.

The video showed the robot replicating the engineer’s movements as he wore a VR headset to capture his hand gestures while monitoring the counter in front of the robot.

The four-minute clip showed the robot complete some delicate tasks, including dabbing the steak with a paper towel, pouring oil, flipping the meat and even sprinkling salt over the dish.

The company said the technology offered accuracy of 0.05 millimetres, but it was currently only capable of controlling the upper body of the robot.

The company has pushed the boundaries of teleoperated robots. In 2022, Nasa unveiled a technology to remotely control its Valkyrie humanoid robot via VR. While Nasa did not specify a maximum distance, the agency noted its research did not address how to deploy network cabling to maintain low latency.

Shares of Hong Kong-listed Dobot closed nearly 3 per cent higher at HK$55.60 on Friday.

Founded in 2015, Dobot initially specialised in robotic arms before venturing into humanoids.

The Dobot Atom, which is priced at 199,000 yuan (US$27,500), comes with a pair of dexterous five-finger hands that have been seen serving breakfast by placing toast, lettuce and cherries on a plate, and pouring a cup of milk. The robot walks with a straight-knee gait similar to humans.

Last week, the company officially began global deliveries of the robot, with Japan receiving the first batch. This milestone makes Dobot one of the few Chinese humanoid developers to reach mass production.

According to an April report by market research firm TrendForce, 11 Chinese robotics companies had launched mass production initiatives in 2024, with six planning to manufacture more than 1,000 units this year.

Why Singapore’s identity demanded distance from China – and its own story of nationhood

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317011/why-singapores-identity-demanded-distance-china-and-its-own-story-nationhood?utm_source=rss_feed

S.R. Nathan was in the delegation. Later, he told me this story: During Lee Kuan Yew’s (LKY) talks with the Chinese, his hosts gave him a book, India’s China War. It was written by Neville Maxwell, a journalist and Oxford academic.

The book was a pro-China version of the border war between India and China. LKY knew the Chinese purpose: It was trying to draw Singapore into its orbit.

According to S.R., LKY put the book aside, and responded, saying words to this effect: This is your version. There is another version of the war.

That left a deep impression on S.R. “I was so proud of what the PM did.” Singapore would not be drawn to take sides. It was also a demonstration of LKY’s commitment to multiracialism.

Three-quarters of Singaporeans are ethnic Chinese. Hence, Singapore is seen in some quarters in Indonesia and Malaysia as a subversive Third China.

If Singapore did not disabuse its neighbours of the notion that it was a Third China, regional peace would be threatened. Malaysia and Indonesia would be suspicious of Singapore’s motives. Singapore would be vulnerable to external pressures, from the east and west.

During the Mao era, Zhou Enlai, China’s PM, had stated China’s policy on its diaspora: Ethnic Chinese living outside China should be loyal to the country they lived in. So the “kinsmen” welcome the Singaporeans received was not expected.

Today, under Xi Jinping, China sees all ethnic Chinese as belonging to a large extended Chinese family.

When I mentioned this to a former colleague, Tammy Tam, the editor-in-chief of Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper, she gave me her interpretation of the policy: Overseas Chinese who have citizenship in the country they live in should be loyal to that country. Many others do not, those are the people Xi had in mind.

Tammy knew China far better than I. Even if hers was a correct reading of China’s policy, it is, of course, not so simple.

Hence, in 2021, Singapore passed a law to prevent foreign interference in domestic politics by identifying anyone of value to a foreign power as a politically significant person.

In 2024, a Hong Kong-born Singaporean businessman living in Singapore was the first to be so named. Under the law, he has to declare, every year, his foreign affiliation, any migration benefits, and any donation of $10,000 or more.

The man had been invited to China’s annual political meetings held in Beijing. There, he had openly declared, echoing Xi, that it was the duty of every ethnic Chinese to help China tell its story better.

This geopolitical risk is a permanent one. Back in 2005, it had prompted Lee Hsien Loong to summon editors to the Istana.

The PM was concerned about Lianhe Zaobao’s coverage of China. The Chinese morning newspaper had published a series of three articles with what he saw as a pro-China tilt. Worse, one of the pieces was written by a staff writer, one of about 20 recruited from China.

He could not allow such coverage to continue without undermining Singapore’s neutrality, a fundamental foreign policy of the country.

The 2005 meeting would be the last one I would attend at the Istana. I was to retire in a year’s time.

These meetings stood me in good stead. I had used geopolitics as a guide as early as 1974 when I was given my first editorship. It helped me decide what stories to pursue, how they should be played up and how they should be developed.

I am convinced journalists serve their readers better by taking a geopolitical approach.

LKY, by doing this, was able to join the dots and fashion the course Singapore should take.

He had a huge database, built from extensive travels, from engaging world leaders, and reading widely.

He had one major advantage. Global leaders sought him out. They found his insights valuable, especially his reading of China.

He tapped into the database to draw lessons for Singaporeans. With his storytelling skills, he could hold their attention for hours, as he did each year when he spoke at the National Day Rally.

He went one step further with editors: He sent them a stream of articles he had read and which he believed would benefit their journalists.

In the early days, those articles were from the British press. His central message was that state welfarism was ruining Britain.

As a result, he did not tolerate any sign that indicated The Straits Times (The ST) was leaning towards the British model.

I clearly remember one such occasion. It was a letter that The ST published from a reader who was finding it increasingly difficult to pay his medical bills. He wanted more state support for health care.

But what angered LKY more was a picture of a Singapore hospital that The ST had published together with the letter. He saw that as the paper deliberately amplifying the reader’s point.

The other country LKY used to educate Singaporeans was Sri Lanka. His point was that Singaporeans must be aware of politicians playing the race card to win votes.

Civil war in Sri Lanka was wreaking havoc. In 1948, the country was freed from British colonial rule. Immediately, it was engulfed in ethnic conflict. Sinhalese politicians fanned racial sentiments, won their elections handsomely but paid a very heavy price.

In November 2024, I went into what was once the bunker used by the intelligence headquarters of the Tamil Tigers in Jaffna. The war was long over and the place had been converted into an art gallery of a resort hotel, called Fox Jaffna.

A plaque at the entrance of the gallery told the story, but from the perspective of the victors, the Sinhalese.

“Ravaged mercilessly during Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war, the Jaffna Peninsula fell under the control of terrorist leaders for several years. During this period, it is reported that the Fox-Jaffna property was used as the rebel intelligence headquarters …”

But the makeover could not completely hide the wounds of war felt by the locals. I asked a local journalist what local history textbooks are used nowadays in the schools. His reply, unhappiness evident in the tone: They are published in Sinhalese by the authorities in Colombo. Jaffna has a local Tamil version of history, but it is not used in schools.

Travelling with members of the Singapore Press Club on a tour of Sri Lanka, I saw the ruinous consequences of the civil war, not just in Jaffna but the whole country. It is distinctly Third World, except for the high-end tourist hotels, like the City of Dreams in Colombo.

When the country achieved its independence in 1948, it had been a model Commonwealth country, with public institutions that were superior to those in Singapore.

Then, as its PM Dr Harini Amarasuriya told the Singapore delegation, the paths of the two countries diverged.

The Sinhalese, who make up more than 80 per cent of the population, had resented British favouritism towards the nine per cent of Tamils. So, when they came into power, they unleashed severely discriminatory policies.

Sinhalese was made the official language, Buddhism became the official religion, and the country’s name, Ceylon, was changed to Sri Lanka. Tamils were forced to resign from their civil service jobs because they could not master Sinhalese.

University admission was based on ethnic quotas. Eighty per cent of places were reserved for the Sinhalese. Tamils were discouraged from joining the civil service.

The Tamils then launched a guerilla war that lasted from 1983 to 2009. Up to 100,000 lives were lost in the civil war.

LKY frequently spoke publicly about this tragedy.

Hence, Singapore’s strict policies like the ethnic integration policy to ensure public housing estates reflect the country’s multiracial balance. For affected Housing and Development Board owners, the pain is severe. The Malays and Indians found it harder to sell their flats, sometimes even if they offered them at lower prices.

For the nation, as a whole, the scheme has been worthwhile.

I left Sri Lanka after 10 days, with three vivid memories.

Dr Harini was impressive. She was clear-sighted about what her country needed to do, and she made no attempt to gloss over its fundamental problems. She deserves to succeed.

The Singaporeans also met a group of young Sri Lankans, who described themselves as “a tribe of smart, sassy and fun entrepreneurs” dedicated to making their country a leading Asian innovation hub. They exuded confidence, and I can see them making an impact.

Finally, the sense of pride in the voice of our local tour guide as he spoke of the world-class civil engineering works in building royal palaces many centuries ago, though they now lie in ruins.

Sam, the guide, has reason to be proud of his country as its history goes back more than 2,000 years.

Shortly after the Singapore group returned home, Sri Lanka voters made a historic decision. They gave Dr Harini’s party, led by a socialist-leaning president, a massive mandate in the parliamentary elections.

The people – a local political analyst, Krishantha Prasad Coorey, posted on LinkedIn – have turned their backs on racial politics, and had voted as Sri Lankans.

“Today marks the first time that Sri Lankans of all ethnicities across the country spoke with one voice, and placed their faith on a single leader. In one fell swoop, Sri Lanka made clear that it has had enough of race baiting, nepotism, class warfare, corruption, cronyism, political vendettas and rank incompetence.

“They saw in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake a leader they could trust, who sincerely cared for them, who would work hard for them, has no interest in political theatrics and amassing power for himself.

“Even before victory was declared, the President himself reminded Sri Lankans of the discipline and integrity required to not abuse a two-thirds majority to amass power, but to remain committed to strengthening democratic institutions.”

Sri Lankans deserve to see light at the end of the tunnel.

I have dwelt on two of LKY’s political assets – his geopolitical makeup and his huge database. There is a third, a legendary thirst for learning.

He never stopped learning. One of his closest friends told me that even in the final months of his life, he did not miss his daily Mandarin lessons.

He was 91 when he died on March 23, 2015.

Can India block China’s leadership in Global South-based alliances like the SCO?

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317031/can-india-block-chinas-leadership-global-south-based-alliances-sco?utm_source=rss_feed

Last month’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence meeting served not only as a curtain-raiser for the bloc’s summit in the autumn, but also as a test of Beijing’s broader ambition to promote a Global South-empowered multipolar world order.

Like Brics – the grouping of developing countries established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the Global South-oriented SCO is a showcase for China’s home-ground diplomacy.

Beijing has increasingly relied on these platforms to denounce hegemony and unilateralism while presenting itself as a defender of the Global South and emphasising its shared identity with the group.

However, the SCO and Brics require consensus in their decision-making, a rule that often highlights another contender for leadership of the Global South and a fellow member of both organisations – India.

When defence chiefs from the 10 SCO member states gathered in June at Qingdao, in the eastern province of Shandong, it was the first visit to China by India’s Rajnath Singh since the deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in 2020.

It was also the first time that senior ministers from India and Pakistan had shared a stage since their conflict in May, which followed an attack in Kashmir that killed dozens of Indian tourists, with New Delhi accusing Islamabad of supporting those responsible.

The defence ministers were unable to adopt a joint statement at the end of their discussions because of a lack of consensus over its language on terrorism, according to the Indian foreign ministry.

The statement reportedly omitted reference to the April attack in Kashmir while including references to militant activity in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, where India is accused of backing separatist militants that are targeting Pakistani and Chinese interests.

Beijing did not comment on the reported disagreement and described the meeting as a success, but some Indian media outlets claimed that China – as this year’s chair – had allowed biased language to be included in the statement, disregarding India’s concerns.

Observers noted that India’s refusal to endorse the joint declaration highlighted the deep-seated divisions within China-backed regional blocs while underscoring the limitations of the Global South solidarity that Beijing has long championed.

India also refused to back China’s Belt and Road Initiative during an SCO virtual summit chaired by New Delhi in 2023, leaving the bloc’s economic development strategy to 2030 unsigned because of its echo of the massive infrastructure plan.

Zhang Jiadong, director of Fudan University’s Centre for South Asian Studies, said India’s refusal to back the latest SCO joint statement on defence underscored the difficulty of China and India cooperating within such platforms.

The result was a weakening of the effectiveness of these groups and also of Beijing’s broader strategy to unify the Global South, according to Zhang.

“Whether it’s in the SCO or Brics, China and India are major powers that emphasise strategic autonomy, so their cooperation in these organisations is naturally limited,” he said.

“China and India are the most important countries in terms of population and economy in the Global South … Without their cooperation on global issues, the group is unlikely to achieve much.”

Amit Ranjan, a China-India relations expert at the National University of Singapore, said that both China and India aspired to lead the Global South, but separately.

The two countries had disputes over some of their bilateral issues and perceived most global affairs differently, according to Ranjan. Further, there were broader divisions within the heterogeneous Global South over important political issues, he said.

“In principle, most of the countries condemn any form of terrorism. But they did not come out in support of India against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. That was a big test for … India’s foreign policy,” Ranjan said.

“There’s a division within the Global South on many issues … but an important issue is how to lead this Global South. That remains a problem even for China.”

India is also seeking to position itself as the voice of the Global South, invoking a shared colonial past and advancing targeted economic partnerships with Africa and Southeast Asia to counter China’s expanding presence through the belt and road plan.

Since 2023, India has hosted Voice of the Global South summits, attended by more than 100 nations. The platform is designed for non-G20 countries, with the result that China is excluded.

Srikanth Kondapalli, an international relations professor at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, said that both India and China were pushing for the unity of the Global South, but “their approaches and tactics differ”.

While Beijing had achieved greater success in trade and investment through the belt and road programme, it had also drawn criticism for raising debt levels in African nations, Kondapalli observed.

Meanwhile, India had taken a more moderate path – launching alternative initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and Digital Public Infrastructure, despite its relatively limited trade and investment footprint in the Global South, he said.

“China pushed [the] Beijing Consensus while India the Mumbai Consensus. What is important is that China and Indian competition in [the] Global South created opportunities for these countries.”

Beijing has repeatedly denied accusations that its belt and road loans in Africa are a trap, pointing out that multilateral institutions and Western private lenders hold the largest share of the continent’s debt.

China has also highlighted its efforts in helping Zambia to restructure its debts, while forgiving interest-free loans for 17 African countries.

According to Min Ye, an international relations professor at Boston University, tensions between China and India were to be expected as they pursued leadership and influence among the Global South.

But such tensions were a “manifestation of peaceful coexistence” rather than “us versus them conflicts”, she added.

“Much to China’s dislike, India has opposed initiatives China put forward in organisations such as the SCO and Brics … While disappointing for China, this outcome is not unexpected and highlights that the SCO provides space for regional rivalry.”

Ye added that the purpose of such regional organisations was to foster dialogue and communicate disagreements.

She noted that they served as “symbols and evidence of China’s multilateral leadership”, enhancing its global image and authority, and were “not a panacea [nor a] guaranteed strategy” for any member state.

“China cannot unite the Global South, given its differences, interests, and alignments,” Ye said, adding that it could play a positive leadership role to facilitate multilateral exchange and allow disagreements, like those between India and Pakistan.

Niu Haibin, director of the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, noted that past initiatives involving India but excluding China had gained limited global traction.

The US-led Summit for Democracy and the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum were framed as alliances of like-minded democracies and involved many Global South nations but not China.

Such initiatives have been met with a wary eye from Beijing, which has often criticised the forming of such blocs as inciting ideological confrontations.

“The most representative and effective international forums today are not mainly based on ideological consistency,” Niu said. “I think Global South countries also see this very clearly – it’s a group defined by diversity indeed.”

Niu acknowledged that India and China remained at odds on issues such as the Brics currency proposals, but said this had not necessarily obstructed China from advancing its core agendas.

India is opposed to proposals for a common Brics currency, an initiative championed by Beijing and Moscow as an alternative to the US dollar amid their growing tensions with Washington.

US President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs against the Brics countries if they go ahead with the initiative. Despite a lack of consensus over a common currency, China has increased the use of yuan in trade with the Brics members, including India.

“India’s monetary policy within the Brics mechanism may be relatively limited to accommodate the concerns of the United States,” Niu said. “But this isn’t harmful. While such cooperation is welcome, its absence won’t hinder the organisation’s progress.”

According to Niu, China should not be too ambitious to achieve immediate breakthroughs over certain policy goals within the multilateral platforms.

“This is a gradual process – one that depends on building strategic trust, deepening exchanges, and strengthening economic ties. As that trust grows, cooperation will follow naturally.”

Zhang from Fudan University cautioned that the Global South itself was no more than a concept, making it hard for any country to materialise or institutionalise.

“[It] reflects a desire among these countries to pursue a new identity and think beyond the current system. [But] whoever’s idea about the Global South gains broader international acceptance will ultimately hold greater influence,” he said.