• China’s Li, Brazil’s Lula pledge joint effort to bring AI to farming in both of their countries
• China’s military will need structural change to fend off drone threats: experts
• What’s in a name? Why Chinese aircraft carrier is called Shandong and has number 17
• Will China’s bid to boost domestic demand pay off?
• Why Chinese investors can still expect a warm welcome in many American cities
• Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails ‘best in history’ Brazil ties as he meets Lula in Rio
• ‘Cool’ officers on Chinese aircraft carrier impress Hong Kong visitors
• Chinese man dances on live-streams nightly to fund cancer treatments for wife and daughter
• Neurobiologist Wang Jing returns from US to lead institute at China’s Shenzhen Bay Lab
• How Singapore can help China build bridges in an age of fracture
• Chinese team develops faster, more efficient data sorting system for AI and computing
• Disabled Chinese scavenger donates tonnes of supplies to flood victims, keeps nothing
• China to power grid with record renewable energy as AI spurs demand
• China dad hides daughter from ex-wife, lies to girl ‘If mum finds you, she will sell you’
• Chinese researchers find genetics shapes brain’s critical balance linked to mental ability
• How young Chinese travellers are fuelling a cruise ship holiday boom
• New Communist Party rules hint China’s Xi Jinping is delegating more power to deputies
• China delivery rider graduated from top schools like Oxford inspires others to stay positive
• Meet the Chinese start-up behind Google’s Android XR-powered augmented reality glasses
• New Zealand golden visa lures potential luxury property buyers from Hong Kong, mainland China
• Trump wants to ground China’s drones - but have they flown too high to reach?

China’s Li, Brazil’s Lula pledge joint effort to bring AI to farming in both of their countries

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317158/chinas-li-brazils-lula-pledge-joint-effort-bring-ai-farming-both-their-countries?utm_source=rss_feed

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed to cooperate on bringing artificial intelligence to improve agriculture in both of their countries, and Lula called on his counterpart to join an initiative aimed at saving the world’s forests.

In a statement issued from the sidelines of the annual Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, the two sides also highlighted the “excellent moment in bilateral relations” and reaffirmed their “commitment to multilateralism and peace, underlining the role of BRICS in defending multilateral trade and climate regimes”.

Plans for the centre, whose focus will be on farming in semi-arid regions, were initially agreed to in Brasília during a meeting last month between Luciana Santos, Brazil’s minister of science, technology and innovation, and Lin Xin, China’s vice-minister of science and technology and secretary for technological development.

One of the centre’s first projects will be the creation of an AI laboratory focused on supporting family farming, through a partnership between Brazil’s National Semi-arid Institute (Insa) and the China Agricultural University.

According to Insa Director José Etham Barbosa, the joint project aims to find ways to connect AI technologies to machinery commonly used on smaller-scale farms to improve environmental monitoring and soil quality.

The Sertão region in Brazil’s northeast is home to nearly 22 million people, making it one of the world’s most populous and biodiverse semi-arid areas. Covering about 11 per cent of the country’s territory, it is characterised by heat, drought and sparse vegetation.

“We are bringing together various institutions to advance technology transfer, promote well-being, and embed these technologies into machinery for environmental and soil monitoring, so that we can transform the semi-arid region through this partnership,” Barbosa said at the time.

The two sides will also set up a working group tasked with identifying what kinds of technology exchange would support industrial innovation in both countries, and where they could establish more research centres to support the effort.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of trade tensions that Beijing is trying to work out with US President Donald Trump, who is holding American tech export restrictions as leverage in his effort to secure greater access to critical minerals for American firms. Last month, both nations said they reached a consensus on the issue, and the US eased limits on some chip design software exports to China.

China remains heavily reliant on US technology in hi-tech sectors such as smartphones, semiconductors, software, pharmaceuticals, engines, AI, drones, cloud computing, and autonomous vehicles.

Since 2022, Washington has tightened limits on the export of advanced technologies, especially semiconductors needed for AI training, in an effort to curb China’s progress in developing military capabilities considered to be a threat to US national security.

Chinese firms have been added to the US Entity Lists, restricting their access to high-performance chips from American companies, including Nvidia and AMD. The US has also pressured allies, including the Netherlands and Japan, to block exports of advanced chipmaking tools, notably from the Dutch firm ASML.

In response, China has accelerated its push for tech self-reliance. Firms like Huawei and SMIC have registered some success, with Huawei developing its own chips and software, and SMIC producing 7-nanometre chips. However, challenges remain on attracting skilled talent and scaling up production.

To overcome these hurdles, China has deepened tech ties with Russia, Malaysia and some other countries.

In addition to AI cooperation, Lula and Li Qiang also pledged to expand collaboration on semiconductors and renewable energy, and to strengthen ties between shipyards in both countries. No further details were revealed on these efforts.

China is the world’s leading shipbuilder, accounting for 50 per cent of global production and launching around 1,700 new vessels each year.

The meeting also touched on other points of cooperation, including the development of geostationary satellites and the deepening of the memorandum on “synergies” between national development programmes.

The goal is to build on agreements signed during Xi Jinping’s state visit to Brasília in November, when the two leaders pledged to identify projects from Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Program, one of Lula’s main campaign promises, that could be financed by China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The framework was the solution found by Brazilian diplomats to cooperate with the BRI without joining the Chinese trade and infrastructure initiative as Beijing wanted.

The leaders concluded their meeting with a request from Lula for China to join the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) at COP30, which Brazil is also hosting in November. The Brasília-led initiative aims to mobilise around US$4 billion per year to be distributed proportionally to countries that preserve their forests by keeping deforestation below a defined threshold.

China’s military will need structural change to fend off drone threats: experts

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316956/chinas-military-will-need-structural-change-fend-drone-threats-experts?utm_source=rss_feed

Three military analysts have called for structural changes within the People’s Liberation Army to counter the growing threat of drone attacks.

Writing in the PLA Daily, the experts said it was highly likely that the Chinese military would establish specialised counter-drone combat units capable of “rapid responses” to unmanned threats while addressing the inefficiencies of multitasked traditional units.

Drones have played an increasingly crucial role in recent regional conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the India-Pakistan conflict, and the recent strikes between Israel and Iran.

The article, published by the military mouthpiece on Thursday, suggests that Beijing has taken note of a US plan to deter any PLA aggression across the Taiwan Strait by deploying thousands of unmanned systems in what it calls a “hellscape” strategy.

According to the article, the establishment of dedicated counter-drone units is viewed as a “long-term” goal, while current structural adjustments are expected to focus on integrating counter-drone capabilities into existing combat units.

For example, the writers suggested that electronic warfare units could be upgraded to become intelligent counter-unmanned units capable of AI-driven analysis and mobile jamming.

The PLA’s structural shift towards counter-drone capabilities dates back to as early as 2016, when Chinese state media reported the formation of a specialised PLA Air Force unit tasked with detecting and neutralising small uncrewed aircraft.

Publicly available information indicates that fully specialised counter-drone units have not yet emerged across all service branches – including Ground Force, Navy, and Rocket Force – though some have conducted counter-drone drills at battalion or brigade level.

For instance, state media reported in November that a mobile radar battalion with the PLA Southern Theatre Command Air Force had carried out a full-scale, all-personnel, all-equipment mobile early warning exercise focused on countering drones.

Anti-drone training also featured in a bilateral military exercise conducted by China and Laos last July.

The article emphasised that warfare involving drone swarms and counter-swarm operations would become a battle of algorithms – with a sharp decline in the effectiveness of traditional firepower and physical destruction.

“AI-driven drone swarms will shift the focus of confrontation from firepower density in the physical domain to decision-making speed in the cognitive domain,” the three experts wrote.

“This requires the defending side to leverage intelligent algorithms, such as deep learning, to achieve full-chain intelligent fusion of massive data, multi-modal intelligent decision-making in command, and precise, coordinated countermeasures through intelligent collaboration.”

The article also highlighted the importance of enhanced information sharing and coordinated operations among military services and weapons platforms in unmanned warfare.

At the strategic level, the authors called for counter-unmanned operations to be incorporated into the core of national security and military strategy.

Operationally, the article emphasised the need for frontline units to independently build comprehensive defence systems that integrated multiple domains, sensors and interception capabilities.

What’s in a name? Why Chinese aircraft carrier is called Shandong and has number 17

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317151/whats-name-significance-why-aircraft-carrier-called-shandong?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for a five-day port call, sparking excitement and lively discussions about its name and hull number.

The carrier welcomed the public aboard for the first time, with 2,000 fortunate Hong Kong residents securing tickets in less than a minute during the weekend to mark the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty.

Below, the Post unpacks the stories behind vessel numbers and names.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy assigns hull numbers based on vessel classification and operational role, according to regulations updated in 1986.

Aircraft carriers adopt a simple one-X numbering series, such as 16 for the Liaoning and 17 for the Shandong, while other major combat vessels typically receive three-digit hull numbers.

Destroyers carry numbers in the 100s, frigates follow the 500s or 600s, while submarines are categorised within the 200, 300 or 400 series depending on whether they are conventional or nuclear powered.

Aircraft carriers and large amphibious vessels take provincial names approved by the State Council, while destroyers and frigates are named after cities by Navy Command.

Smaller vessels reflect China’s cultural heritage, drawing names from mountains, rivers, lakes or even historical revolutionary significance to convey national pride and legacy.

The Shandong follows the sequential numbering that began with Liaoning’s designation as 16, officially for operational clarity. However, symbolic interpretations resonate deeply with the public.

A prominent unofficial explanation is that the numbers 16 and 17 symbolically follow the 15 ships lost by China’s Beiyang Fleet during the Jiawu War, also known as the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895).

While historians note the Beiyang losses were more complicated, the narrative resonates deeply with the public. Many regard the modern carriers as spiritual successors, symbolising national rejuvenation after historic humiliation.

Another widely circulated theory links the Liaoning’s hull number to Admiral Liu Huaqing, the revered father of China’s modern navy, who was born in 1916.

Hong Kong-based military analyst Leung Kwok-leung outlined three key principles for naming carriers: provincial-level names; significant historical sites; and national ideals.

“Many provinces fit these criteria, but none more closely than Shandong,” Leung said.

Liu Gong Island in Shandong was the headquarters of the Beiyang Fleet, once Asia’s strongest navy until its devastating defeat at the Battle of Weihaiwei in 1895, marking the end of three decades of naval modernisation.

“Choosing Shandong symbolically revives China’s maritime strength from a location historically associated with defeat, serving as a powerful reminder of past vulnerabilities and renewed national strength,” he added.

The Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, recognises the province where the former Soviet-built vessel was refitted in Dalian, in Liaoning province, also recalling the loss of the strategic port of Lushun during the First Sino-Japanese War.

“The first territory China reclaimed from foreign powers was Lushunkou in Liaoning province, returned from Soviet control in 1955,” Leung said.

“Only then could the Bohai Sea genuinely become part of China’s territorial waters. Otherwise, it would have remained open for foreign navigation, similar to the Taiwan Strait today.”

Fujian, China’s third carrier, recently completed its eighth sea trial. It commemorates the Fujian Fleet’s courageous but unsuccessful defence against French forces at Mawei in 1884.

“By reviving these historical names, the PLA Navy emphasises continuity with China’s maritime legacy, cautioning against repeating past humiliations,” Leung said.

These carriers are both modern warships and floating memorials honouring sailors and battles lost, symbolising China’s determination to uphold national dignity and maritime sovereignty.

Leung predicted that Hong Kong, as a special administrative region, would inevitably lend its name to a large Chinese warship in the future.

“I foresee this vessel having a displacement greater than the UK’s current carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, each weighing around 80,000 tonnes fully loaded. Given the size of modern Chinese naval vessels, this ship will certainly be an aircraft carrier. It is something we can all look forward to,” he said.

Following this established tradition, Guangdong and Jiangsu are also likely to be candidates, according to Leung.

Guangdong would commemorate the naval defeat during the Opium Wars at Humen, forcing China into the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, beginning China’s “Century of Humiliation”. Jiangsu marks the PLA Navy’s founding location in 1949, symbolising China’s resolve never to repeat past maritime vulnerabilities.

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Will China’s bid to boost domestic demand pay off?

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3316994/will-chinas-bid-boost-domestic-demand-pay?utm_source=rss_feed

At the World Economic Forum’s “Summer Davos” meeting in Tianjin last month, Premier Li Qiang said that China is evolving into a “mega-sized consumption powerhouse”. This was more than a rhetorical flourish. It marked a reaffirmation of Beijing’s long-standing ambition to change its growth model, placing domestic demand, rather than exports or real estate, at the heart of the economy.

This vision is not new. Policymakers have been talking about rebalancing for over a decade. But the timing of Li’s message is noteworthy: global demand is faltering, supply chains are shifting and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the global trade landscape. For China – and much of Asia – this consumption pivot could be transformative, provided it is backed by strong structural reform.

As for now, China’s efforts could go either way. On one hand, retail sales rose 6.4 per cent year on year in May – consumer spending saw the strongest growth in nearly 18 months – buoyed by the 618 shopping festival and a suite of policy incentives. Electric vehicle purchases have surged. JD.com reported a double-digit increase in sales of household appliances. These are encouraging signs that Chinese households are cautiously returning to the market. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales reached 4.1 trillion yuan (US$572 billion) in May.

The broader context is more complicated. Imports declined for a second straight month in June, indicating that internal demand – while recovering – is still uneven. As of last year, China’s per capita savings stood at 24.5 per cent, lower than the Covid-era peak of 2022 but still quite high.

Meanwhile, the purchasing manager’s index edged up to 49.7 in June but remained in contraction territory, reinforcing the urgency of domestic demand as a stabilising force. These figures underscore the reality that China faces: a steady return to consumption tempered by structural frictions that inhibit a full economic handoff.

Part of the caution stems from structural factors. Chinese households still save at high rates, shaped by a legacy of limited social safety nets and concerns around healthcare, education and retirement. Disposable income rose 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, but that growth has yet to translate into broad-based confidence.

Despite a decrease, the youth unemployment rate remains rather high. Wage growth in a variety of industries has not kept up with workers’ aspirations. Add to that the residual psychological impact of the property sector downturn, and it’s clear why so many families are choosing prudence over purchases.

That said, Beijing is clearly aware of the stakes. Through fiscal policies, such as targeted subsidies and rural revitalisation, Chinese policymakers aim to create more balanced income growth and stronger rates of household consumption. Trade-in schemes for home appliances and electric vehicles are not just meant to support short-term sales; they encourage long-term energy-efficient consumption patterns.

Moreover, Beijing is not relying on stimulus as the only solution. Important structural reforms are also being implemented, including broader pension coverage, expanded digital public services and improved access to healthcare. Such policies will gradually reduce the need for precautionary savings. The government’s efforts to modernise supply chains and build a greener consumption base are drawing interest from foreign investors and exporters.

Michael Pettis, non-resident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says that because Beijing has made the revival of consumption a priority, one could assume that it would account for 60-70 per cent of gross domestic product growth.

The global implications of China’s domestic reorientation are far-reaching. Countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are watching demand signals from China closely.

If the Chinese consumer becomes more import-reliant, the effect on Asian trade flows could be significant, shifting value chains towards more regional and service-based exchanges. For Australia, Brazil and other commodity exporters, renewed Chinese consumption could reignite demand for iron ore, soybeans and energy resources.

Boosting consumption also matters in the context of the climate crisis. Moving away from carbon-intensive growth towards consumer-driven services and green technologies could help China meet its emission targets while setting new regional standards for sustainable development.

Of course, the path forward is not without risk. The spectre of deflationary pressure has not entirely vanished, with the country’s consumer price index hovering near zero and persistent softness in housing and food prices. Policymakers must tread carefully by providing enough support to lift demand without reigniting debt-fuelled bubbles.

Yet there are reasons for guarded confidence. Premier Li’s message of reform and resilience resonates beyond China’s borders. His speech at the World Economic Forum reaffirmed the government’s commitment to high-quality, innovation-led growth and underscored China’s desire to remain a stable anchor for the region during a time of global uncertainty.

Foreign investors are recalibrating, too. While capital has generally flowed out, some investors are doubling down on China’s long-term consumption story, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, digital services and green technology. If reforms hold and consumer sentiment gradually improves, China may yet deliver on both sustaining domestic growth and stimulating the global economy.

Ultimately, the question is not whether China will rebalance, but how decisively and durably it can sustain its efforts to rebalance. The challenges – ageing demographics, wealth inequality and shifting global dynamics – are real. But so are the opportunities.

The next chapter of China’s growth story is being written not in ports and factories, but in the homes, wallets and aspirations of its people. If Premier Li’s pledge proves to be more than aspirational, China’s consumption pivot could become not only a domestic success but a pillar of global recovery.

Why Chinese investors can still expect a warm welcome in many American cities

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316992/why-chinese-investors-can-still-expect-warm-welcome-many-american-cities?utm_source=rss_feed

Most local government officials in the US still welcome Chinese-invested projects despite a rise in trade tensions this year, a Chinese chamber of commerce leader said this week as potential investors weigh up economic benefits and geopolitical risks.

City leaders want Chinese investment to help stimulate their local economies, especially in manufacturing projects that are hard to source elsewhere, said Ni Pin, chairman of the China General Chamber of Commerce branch in Chicago.

“There are a lot of people who want to come over here,” he said. “They are more concerned about geopolitics. The question is, ‘are you welcome here?’”

Chinese manufacturers see the potential to make money in the wealthy United States market, he said, and US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports have increased the urgency for companies to produce in the US for domestic sales.

Ni said that “yelling and screaming” by national-level political leaders had deterred some investors from applying for investment permits because they feared that American officials at the local level would also prefer they stay away.

In the Midwestern states of Illinois and Wisconsin, mayors are “very receptive” to Chinese investment, said Ker Gibbs, a partner at American business advisory Foresight Restructuring, citing personal contacts in the region.

The mayor of Wausau, a city in Wisconsin with a population of 40,000, is explicitly looking for Chinese investments linked to agriculture and possibly the automotive sector, given that industry’s prominence in surrounding parts of the Midwest, Kerr said.

California and New York state have “historically been happy” for Chinese to buy real estate or invest in tech start-ups, said Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Centre think tank in Hawaii.

Most voters in those states did not favour Trump’s Republican Party, Roy said, meaning they were less influenced by its “hawkish” views towards China.

Chicago Deputy Mayor Kenya Merritt sent the chamber a letter in December saying she was “eager to work with Chinese businesses to create jobs, promote innovation, and enhance cultural exchanges”. She offered the city’s help in talent development, tax incentives and a streamlined permitting process.

Ni said American carmakers would find it hard to get certain made-in-China parts from other sources, raising the appeal of projects that would produce such components. His company, Wanxiang American, makes some of them.

Gibbs said pragmatists in local and state government “still see Chinese investment as a positive thing that creates jobs and opportunities”.

“Everyone has heightened awareness for national security, so the sectors would have to be clearly benign,” he said. “Consumer products and appliances are fairly safe.”

But a Chinese firm’s welcome in the US depends on how Americans near a proposed project see China’s role in geopolitical issues such as the South China Sea dispute, which involves US allies, Gibbs said.

Roy said American local governments were also on the alert now for any “siphoning” of innovation by US tech companies, Chinese control over “crucial” US infrastructure or ownership of land near US military installations.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails ‘best in history’ Brazil ties as he meets Lula in Rio

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317154/chinese-premier-li-qiang-hails-best-history-brazil-ties-he-meets-lula-rio?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has lauded his country’s growing ties with Brazil as at their “best in history”, as both nations brace for a battle with the US over trade and the global order.

Meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for talks on Saturday ahead of the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, Li said the two sides were “working together to build a more just world”.

“The two sides are working together to build a China-Brazil community of shared future in a more just world and a more sustainable planet,” the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Li as saying.

The Chinese premier is in Rio de Janeiro for the annual two-day summit of the Brics bloc, an emerging economies group of which China and Brazil are founding members.

The bloc takes its name from the initials of early members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – and has expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.

The summit, which gets under way on Sunday, is taking place at a critical moment for the international community, with a 90-day suspension of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs set to expire on Wednesday.

The tariffs are set against a backdrop of growing strategic competition between China and the United States and efforts within the Global South to have a greater say over the international governance system.

Without referring directly to the US on Saturday, Li said in his meeting with Lula that China and Brazil were both defenders of multilateralism and free trade.

“China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Brazil in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, Brics, and the Group of 20,” the foreign ministry quoted Li as saying.

Li also pledged that China would work with Brazil to “unite the vast number of developing countries, promote inclusive economic globalisation and equal and orderly world multipolarisation, and inject more stability and certainty into the world”.

The focus on multilateralism echoed Lula’s meeting in May with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

In those talks, Xi and Lula jointly called for a “more just world” and to “safeguard multilateralism”, saying “there are no winners in tariff or trade wars, and that protectionism should not be the answer to current challenges”.

This is the first time Xi will not attend the Brics summit. Li will lead the Chinese delegation, as he did during the G20 summit in India in 2023 – the only time Xi has been absent from that event.

The two countries have tightened ties in recent years, with Beijing increasing agricultural imports from South American nations to reduce its reliance on the US, cementing China’s decade-plus status as Brazil’s top trading partner.

In their meeting on Saturday, Li said China and Brazil should “consolidate and deepen” cooperation in a range of areas under the Belt and Road Initiative framework – including trade, infrastructure, and technology – to jointly improve its implementation.

Brazil is not formally a member of China’s flagship infrastructure and connectivity project, but it agreed on a cooperation plan in 2024 to synergise national policies with the belt and road.

During the meeting, the two countries “announced the successful conclusion of negotiations” for a memorandum of understanding on further efforts to align their national development programmes.

They also finished talks on an additional protocol for the joint development of the CBERS-5 geostationary meteorological satellite, which aims to provide data for weather forecasting and disaster monitoring.

The two countries signed an agreement last June to jointly build the satellite focused on Brazil.

Li and Lula also formalised two agreements during their meeting: one on financial strategic cooperation and the other on setting up a China-Brazil centre for artificial intelligence application.

The agreements were among the dozens of deals signed between Lula and Xi in China in May.

The leaders also agreed to expand currency swaps, technology transfer, and space data sharing.

‘Cool’ officers on Chinese aircraft carrier impress Hong Kong visitors

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317149/cool-officers-chinese-aircraft-carrier-impress-hong-kong-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed

Naval officers on China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, were popular photo subjects for Hong Kong residents enjoying a rare opportunity to sing and dance with them on the second and final day of the warship’s public opening on Sunday.

Visitors queued up to capture on camera the sheer scale of the 70,000-tonne carrier, with its distinctive “ski jump” ramp, fighter jets, likely to be J-15s, and helicopters, and to seize the chance to meet and interact with officers.

“The deck was absolutely buzzing with excitement. There was a massive singalong and you could even dance with the naval officers,” said Dong Xiaoyang, a user of the Chinese social media platform RedNote.

“You got a full, close-up view of both the J-15 and J-15T jets – I heard you can’t even get this close at air shows.

“And the naval officers on board were incredibly cool. They were all happy to take photos with us, which was such a rare opportunity. I seriously made sure to get a picture with almost every one of them.”

Another RedNote user, Da Bonjour, took photos with several crew members and expressed gratitude for their efforts in sweltering temperatures over the past few days.

“We got a glimpse of the battle stations that the Shandong carrier’s naval officers and soldiers tirelessly guard day and night. We’re incredibly grateful to every naval officer and sailor who guided and explained things, as well as those on deck patrol and countless others who quietly ensured a smooth and safe visit.”

RedNote user Lubi was also impressed by the sailors, the weaponry and the size of the carrier.

“Seeing it for the first time was absolutely breathtaking. The deck was incredibly sunny and so vast that walking around was exhausting. It really made me admire the sailors serving on this ship,” the Hong Kong resident said.

Despite the immense difficulty in securing a ticket for the visit, Lubi expressed profound luck and gratitude for the rare opportunity to board the cutting-edge warship.

The Shandong arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning for a five-day visit, accompanied by the destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang and the frigate Yuncheng, while carrying a dozen advanced carrier fighters and military helicopters. The 10,000 tickets made available earlier for tours on three of the ships were snapped up within minutes.

Visitors on the Shandong were allowed to explore designated areas, view jets and helicopters, and watch training displays.

Figures from the political and sporting arenas were also spotted on board, including lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong and his wife Guo Jingjing, China’s “diving queen”, and Olympic gold medal fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai.

They toured the vessel while taking pictures with other visitors.

The carrier also welcomed hundreds of secondary school students, who waved national flags as they toured the vessel. They eagerly tried on various coloured uniforms at a workwear exhibit and sought out crew members for commemorative stamps.

The Shandong strike group is set to leave Hong Kong on Monday, which also marks the 88th anniversary of the July 7 Incident, an event in 1937 at Beijing’s Marco Polo Bridge that is widely recognised as the spark that ignited Japan’s full-scale invasion of China and the onset of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

This pivotal clash escalated tensions into a widespread conflict, marking a significant precursor to World War II in Asia.

With the fleet departing, the Transport Department has announced adjustments to ferry services on Monday, with nine routes affected across Victoria Harbour and to outlying islands.

The department said commuters should prepare for potential disruptions between 10am and 12pm, during which temporary service changes might be implemented. The department and ferry operators would closely monitor the situation and provide real-time updates as needed, it said.

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Chinese man dances on live-streams nightly to fund cancer treatments for wife and daughter

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3316759/chinese-man-dances-live-streams-nightly-fund-cancer-treatments-wife-and-daughter?utm_source=rss_feed

A 28-year-old man from southwestern China dances every evening on live-streams to raise funds for his wife and daughter, both of whom have been diagnosed with cancer.

His unwavering love for them has resonated with many, prompting generous donations through his online account.

Wen Haibin and his wife, Yang Xiaohong, were secondary school classmates. After getting married, they relocated from their hometown, a small city in Sichuan province, to Guangdong province in southern China, seeking better financial opportunities.

They welcomed their elder daughter three years ago, followed by their younger daughter a year later.

Their joyful life took a devastating turn in June last year when their younger daughter, Xiyang, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma. The heartbreak deepened in December last year when Yang was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Faced with overwhelming challenges, Yang contemplated giving up to avoid further financial burden on the family.

However, Wen was determined to ensure both of them received treatment. He had to leave his job at a construction site, as he became the sole caregiver for his ailing wife and daughter.

The couple entrusted their elder daughter to their parents in Sichuan and moved to a rented flat in the nearby Chongqing municipality for better treatment options.

Both Yang and their daughter needed chemotherapy, with each session costing thousands of yuan (hundreds of US dollars), along with radiotherapy expenses exceeding 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) each time.

The family has exhausted their savings and accumulated a debt of 200,000 yuan.

Unfamiliar with the city, Wen found it difficult to work as a delivery rider, a job typically favoured by migrant workers for its profitability.

In April, Wen turned to dancing on a live-streaming platform as a means to generate income. During the day, he cared for his family, and in the evenings, he danced after they went to sleep.

Initially inexperienced, he admitted to feeling stiff, but after two months, he saw significant improvement in his dancing skills.

Wen reported earning anywhere from dozens to hundreds of yuan each evening; however, many viewers felt compelled to donate after learning about their plight.

In a show of kindness, their landlord also reduced their monthly rent from 900 yuan (US$130) to 600 yuan.

Wen expressed his determination not to give up, stating: “Otherwise my wife and daughters will become helpless.”

He also affirmed: “I am willing to do anything for them.”

Despite the struggles, Wen remains hopeful, noting that both his wife and daughter’s treatments have shown progress.

His unwavering commitment and love for his family have inspired many online.

“His hard work will pay off. I’m deeply moved by this family’s persistence and dedication to each other,” commented an observer.

“He is a wonderful husband,” remarked another.

“It’s encouraging to see that an ordinary person can earn money through live-streaming, bringing hope in times of difficulty,” added a third.

Neurobiologist Wang Jing returns from US to lead institute at China’s Shenzhen Bay Lab

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3317129/neurobiologist-wang-jing-returns-us-lead-institute-shenzhen-bay-laboratory?utm_source=rss_feed

An eminent neurobiologist has left his tenured professorship in the United States to return to China as the director of the Institute of Molecular Physiology at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory.

Wang Jing resigned as chair and professor of the department of neurobiology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in January to assume the full-time position at the institute in southern China. The role marks a new direction in a career that has drawn on his experience in several disciplines, including engineering and biology.

Since starting at the laboratory, Wang said he had read every paper written by its young principal investigators, meticulously reviewing the researchers’ work for months. He said the practice stemmed from a habit he developed at UCSD, which allows him to gain fresh perspectives from junior researchers quickly.

Wang has published more than 50 papers in prominent international journals, including Nature and Cell.

One paper that brought him significant global recognition, published in Nature in February 2022, used the fruit fly model to reveal the neuroscience underlying lust.

In a controlled experiment, Wang’s team found that male fruit flies deprived of a protein-rich diet showed no interest in nearby females and no desire. After consuming a protein meal, however, the male Drosophila exhibited courtship behaviour.

According to the researchers, the transition from feeding to courtship depends on a hormone produced in the gut, diuretic hormone 31 (DH31). When fruit flies consume a protein-containing diet, DH31 levels rise, triggering a shift in behaviour – governed by the gut.

“We found the transition from feeding to mating and were very surprised that a single molecule would have such a profound influence on behaviour decisions,” Wang told campus publication UC San Diego Today in an edition coinciding with the Nature article.

“Our study provides a mechanistic explanation of how the DH31 neuropeptide acts on the brain to change the motivational drive for two evolutionarily critical behaviours.”

Over the past five years, Wang’s research has focused on the function of the gut-brain axis. He investigates how neural circuits process sensory information, with a particular emphasis on the neural mechanisms that shape innate behaviours.

Using Drosophila as a model organism – leveraging its powerful genetic tools and simplified neuroanatomy – his research uses engineering principles as a framework to explore the logic of sensory information processing and behavioural regulation within neural circuits.

“Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, depression and Alzheimer’s disease, are closely linked to the gut,” Wang told China Science Daily last month. “The gut-brain axis is a portal to understanding neuromodulation mechanisms and represents a frontier for future neuroscience.”

Born in China’s southern island province of Hainan, Wang was admitted in 1982 to Tsinghua University, one of the country’s top universities.

There, his academic interests constantly evolved. Initially, Wang joined the department of engineering physics, where he studied accelerators. In his third year, he transferred to the department of optics. As a graduate student, he shifted focus to the biology department under the tutelage of its deputy dean, Shen Ziwei.

After earning his master’s degree, Wang moved to the US in 1991 and received a PhD from the University of Iowa in 1997. From 1997 to 2004, he conducted postdoctoral research at Bell Labs and Columbia University.

Technological innovations have driven Wang’s research trajectory. As a postdoctoral scientist, he pioneered the application of the genetically encoded calcium sensor GCaMP for functional imaging in vivo, or in living organisms.

Additionally, he developed a non-invasive imaging system to visualise structure and function in the living fruit fly brain by coupling three-photon microscopy with the genetic expression of fluorescent proteins and GCaMP.

In 2004, Wang joined the neurobiology department of the school of biological sciences at UCSD. He was promoted to assistant professor in 2010 before becoming a full professor and, ultimately, department chair.

The current director of the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory is academician Yan Ning, a structural biologist who also heads the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation since returning to China from Princeton University in 2022.

The lab integrates resources from universities, research institutions and enterprises across the Greater Bay Area, as part of its aims to build a world-leading innovation hub in life sciences and biomedicine.

Construction of the lab began in 2019, and it is co-sponsored by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission and the Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University.

How Singapore can help China build bridges in an age of fracture

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3316985/how-singapore-can-help-china-build-bridges-age-fracture?utm_source=rss_feed

The recent visit of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to China reaffirmed the strategic depth of the China–Singapore relationship. His meetings with Chinese leaders underscored a readiness to work together to uphold the principles of free trade and multilateralism

But beyond symbolism, this visit raised critical questions. What role will Singapore now play on the global and regional stage? What new possibilities does this moment unlock?

As geopolitical rivalry hardens and the risks of global fragmentation grow, Singapore’s strategic position as a mediator, convenor and facilitator is becoming more important. Rather than simply hosting dialogues or taking part in frameworks, Singapore must step forward and shape them. It can draw on its unique positioning: rooted in Southeast Asia yet globally engaged, trusted by both East and West and respected for its competence, discretion and policy independence.

Consider the opportunities presented by Wong’s visit, including expanding training programmes between the Singapore and Chinese governments and helping export the joint business management, shared investment and industrial zoning model of the Suzhou Industrial Park. Singapore is already adept at blending governance expertise with China’s industrial scale.

These initiatives must not remain technocratic exercises. They should serve as platforms to elevate standards in transparency, sustainability and local empowerment across countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. Singapore can help redefine connectivity, not as a contest of influence but as a laboratory for inclusive development.

Singapore has long navigated a careful path between China, its largest trading partner, and the United States, its foremost security partner. This balancing act is about more than survival – it is about leverage. Wong’s trip to Beijing affirms that Singapore is not a bystander in great power competition, it is a potential promoter of shared frameworks that reduce risk and enable cooperation, even amid rivalry.

This can be seen in how Singapore helps steward flagship bilateral projects, from the Suzhou Industrial Park to the Tianjin Eco-City and the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative. But the next step lies in scaling these examples into replicable multilateral models to other parts of the world. Singapore should help translate its experience into formats that align Chinese capital and technology with international development goals, particularly in the Global South.

Likewise, Singapore’s efforts on the multilateral stage merit greater ambition. It has been a pioneer in digital governance, trade facilitation and sustainable finance. As a founding signatory of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), it has set new standards for data flows, platform interoperability and digital trust. With China formally applying to join the DEPA, Singapore has the opportunity to promote Beijing’s integration into an international digital rule-making network.

Similarly, Singapore’s role in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership follows a similar logic. As a founding member, it should continue to offer technical and diplomatic support to aspiring members such as China while reinforcing the pact’s high standards. The goal is not merely expansion for its own sake but meaningful convergence that strengthens regional trust.

But Singapore’s most vital contribution might lie beyond formal agreements. It has the rare ability to mediate across divides, not only between states but also between institutions, sectors and civil societies. The world today suffers from a deepening trust deficit: between governments and the public, between the Global North and South, and between Western societies and Chinese institutions. Singapore is uniquely placed to help bridge these gaps, enhancing exchanges between East and West.

Singapore can foster peaceful understanding and facilitate cooperation by convening cross-disciplinary meetings and engaging stakeholders from across ideological divides. As negotiations between China and Southeast Asian nations continue over a South China Sea code of conduct, Singapore’s commitment to dialogue positions it to support the speeding up and enactment of an agreement. In addition, Singapore facilitated a meeting in 2015 between President Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s leader at the time, the first time both sides’ leaders had met since 1949.

Beyond diplomacy, Singapore can also translate technical work on maritime law, regional governance or military risk reduction into actionable frameworks. Its multilingual and multicultural strengths and trusted reputation make it uniquely capable of contextualising narratives across diverse audiences. In an age of information silos and geopolitical mistrust, this combination is both rare and essential.

This extends to its think tanks, professional networks, universities and even media institutions. Singapore can become the preferred venue for informal dialogue between Chinese and Western experts, less politicised than Washington and more convenient than Beijing. Such multichannel diplomacy will become indispensable as great power competition intensifies.

Singapore must also reinforce its unique role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This mediating role allows it to help shape the norms and structures of the post-unipolar world. In this context, Singapore can position itself as a central node – flexible, principled and proactive.

Of course, this is not without risk. Singapore’s strength lies in its credibility, and credibility must be continuously earned. Its challenge now is to show that it can navigate complexity and offer solutions that are pragmatic, scalable and fair to the dilemmas of interdependence.

As China continues its own process of internationalisation, and as the world confronts shared crises, the need for trusted interlocutors is greater than ever. If Singapore can use this moment to expand its convening power, institutional imagination and agenda-setting capacity, it will reinforce its relevance and help stabilise a volatile region.

Building bridges is more than a metaphor today – it is creating the infrastructure for peace. If it chooses, Singapore is one of the few actors trusted enough to help lay its foundation.

Chinese team develops faster, more efficient data sorting system for AI and computing

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3317138/chinese-team-develops-faster-more-efficient-data-sorting-system-ai-and-computing?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese scientists have developed a faster and more energy-efficient method to sort data, which could be used to overcome limitations in scientific computing, artificial intelligence, and hardware design.

Their new sorting system relies on memristors, an electronic circuit component with memory-like abilities, along with a sorting algorithm to enable more efficient data processing.

The team built a memristor-based hardware sorting prototype to demonstrate tasks such as route finding and neural network inference, achieving both speed and energy efficiency improvements over traditional sorting methods.

“Sorting is a performance bottleneck in numerous applications, including artificial intelligence, databases, web search and scientific computing,” the team said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Electronics on June 25.

Computing systems are typically based on Von Neumann architecture, which separates data storage – or memory – and processing, such as through the use of a central processing unit (CPU).

This has led to the Von Neumann bottleneck, a limit on the speed of data transfer between the main memory and processing unit.

“Sort-in-memory using memristors could help overcome these limitations, but current systems still rely on comparison operations so that sorting performance remains limited,” said the researchers from Peking University and the Chinese Institute for Brain Research.

A resistor is a component of a circuit that can slow down the flow of electricity by providing resistance to electrons passing through.

Memory resistors, or memristors, can remember the amount of electrical charge that previously passed through, allowing them to adjust their future resistance based on this information.

Memristors open up the possibility of performing processing where data is stored, bypassing the need for data transfer between separate memory and processing units.

Traditional hardware sorting systems usually rely on CPUs, graphics processing units, or application-specific integrated circuits with comparison units and a sorting algorithm that compares numbers step by step.

The team said they aimed to eliminate comparison units by using memristors for iterative search-based sorting, which looks for minimum or maximum values without needing to compare each pair of numbers directly, saving time and energy.

The team’s “comparison-free” hardware and software system – which includes memristor array chips, an integrated circuit, and a controlling personal computer – was able to see improvements over traditional hardware in experiments, including a task to find the shortest path between subway stations in Beijing.

The system saw throughput – or the amount of work a system can complete in a given amount of time – improved by 7.7 times compared to conventional sorting systems, and energy efficiency improved by over 160 times.

Their system also saw area efficiency, the measure of how much useful computation can be done within a given physical area on a chip, improved by more than 32 times.

“The breakthrough of this difficult problem means that storage and computing integration has moved from ‘suitable for specific applications’ to ‘supporting a wider range of general-purpose computing’,” People’s Daily on Friday quoted study author Tao Yaoyu as saying.

Tao, a researcher at the Peking University Institute for Artificial Intelligence, said the team’s sort-in-memory system could be used in a wide range of applications, including smart traffic image sorting and financial risk control scoring.

Disabled Chinese scavenger donates tonnes of supplies to flood victims, keeps nothing

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3316520/disabled-chinese-scavenger-donates-tonnes-supplies-flood-victims-keeps-nothing?utm_source=rss_feed

A polio-suffering man has once again moved the mainland public by donating tonnes of supplies to the victims of a flood in southwestern China.

Hu Lei, 32, who has been dubbed the Kneeling Giant, bought 5,000kg of rice, 500 boxes of instant noodles, 500 bottles of mineral water, 100 torches and 2,000 pairs of gloves at a combined cost of 55,000 yuan (US$8,000).

His friends also bought items worth 20,000 yuan (US$3,000).

They drove a truck loaded with supplies to flood-hit Rongjiang County in Guizhou province.

On arrival on June 29, they transferred the items to the local disaster relief authority, Jimu News reported.

The whole project left Hu with just 0.5 yuan in his bank account, the report said.

“Either I do not donate, or I give everything,” Hu was quoted as saying.

Hu, from a poor family in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in northwestern China, is known and admired by many as a Kneeling Giant due to his philanthropic dedication despite his physical condition.

He makes a living by collecting items that can be recycled and selling handicraft products at a street stall.

Despite his meagre income, Hu donated one million yuan (US$140,000) to help 500 impoverished students between 2008 and 2023.

Some of his earnings came from live-streaming on social media and subsidies from the government for the disabled.

Rongjiang County is famous for its village football league, which went viral on social media years ago.

The region experienced severe flooding from June 21 to June 24.

Roads and shopping centres were engulfed by the floodwaters and more than 100,000 residents were affected. 50,000 people had to be evacuated.

“I arrived in Rongjiang and felt sad with what I saw. Rongjiang is badly wrecked by the flood. Cheer up, Rongjiang. You will get through misery,” Hu said.

“I am sick with many diseases, but I must stick to the charity endeavour. Too many people have helped me since my childhood. The government also gives me a subsidy every month,” he added.

Hu’s story sparked a lively discussion on mainland social media.

“He is kneeling on the ground. But he deserves us to respect and look up to him,” one online observer said.

“He is a figure that moves the whole of China. Let us remember his name, Hu Lei,” said another person.

However, another person said: “His extreme charitable actions should not be advocated. When he wants to buy a steamed bun which needs just two yuan, he will find he cannot afford it.”

China to power grid with record renewable energy as AI spurs demand

https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3317136/china-power-grid-record-renewable-energy-ai-spurs-demand?utm_source=rss_feed

China expects to add a record 500 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy capacity to its national grid this year as the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) increases demand for electricity to power computing centres.

According to a report from the State Grid Energy Research Institute on Friday, over a quarter of that new capacity – or a record 140GW – will come from wind power, a source of energy that US President Donald Trump has suggested China does not use.

“They make about 95 per cent of them, the wind turbines. I have never seen a wind farm in China,” Trump said at the signing of his landmark legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill, also on Friday.

“Why is that? Somebody check that out.”

The increase in wind power capacity is equivalent to about six times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam and is 77 per cent more than the amount added last year.

Meanwhile, newly installed solar power capacity is expected to reach 380GW this year, up 35.5 per cent from last year.

If realised, it would be the first time for new renewable energy installations to exceed 500GW.

According to the report, the expanded capacity is needed in part to help the national grid cope with the vast amounts of electricity required for data centres, which are expected to grow at an average annual rate of 45.2 per cent over the next five years.

At the same time, China is trying to meet its dual carbon goals of reaching a peak in carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060.

Last year, China added a record 373GW of renewable energy capacity, with the country contributing 61.5 per cent of the world’s newly installed solar capacity and 70.5 per cent of newly installed wind energy capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

As of May, China’s installed solar power capacity reached 1,080GW, while wind power capacity stood at 570GW.

Renewable energy generated 3.46 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity last year, accounting for about 35 per cent of the country’s total power generation, according to the National Energy Administration.

In the United States, however, the clean energy sector is in crisis, with Trump’s legislation eliminating tax credits for wind and solar projects that start after 2027.

The move could deliver a major blow to the industry, potentially adding up to US$7 billion to its tax burden, according to the American Clean Power Association.

At the signing ceremony, Trump claimed that many of the components used in wind turbines were made in China and investing in “expensive energy” was a “waste of money”.

China dad hides daughter from ex-wife, lies to girl ‘If mum finds you, she will sell you’

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3316522/china-dad-hides-daughter-ex-wife-lies-girl-if-mum-finds-you-she-will-sell-you?utm_source=rss_feed

A father in China spent seven years moving across the country to hide his daughter from his ex-wife, deceiving her into believing that she would be sold if discovered by her mother.

According to mainland media outlet Kankan News, 22-year-old Chen Jiayuan’s parents divorced when she was just six years old.

Although custody was awarded to her mother along with their flat, her father took Chen, falsely claiming she had been abandoned. In reality, he sought control over the property.

Chen’s father warned her: “If your mother finds you, she will sell you.”

He also misled his ex-wife, telling her that their daughter was suffering from cancer and was hospitalised, thereby refusing her visits.

A year later, with the help of a teacher, Chen’s mother managed to reunite with her briefly at school. They embraced in tears, but the father intervened, tearing up a note containing the mother’s phone number, and whisked Chen away.

Following this, he continually relocated to remain hidden, enrolling Chen in different boarding schools each year and even changing her name.

During the seven years spent evading his ex-wife, the father remarried, and her stepmother sometimes treated Chen coldly.

“The experience left me anxious and unable to trust anyone,” Chen recalled.

Chen expressed that her father robbed both her and her mother of their time together, equating his actions to “child trafficking”.

“I had a dad, but he didn’t feel like one. I had a mum, but I couldn’t see her. I felt more like an orphan,” she said.

At 13, with the help of a friend, Chen’s mother finally located her, and they quietly reunited outside the school gate.

Chen remembered: “My mum told me she had tried everything to find me over the years, including involving the police, private investigators, and lawyers. She spent nearly all her savings.”

After another conflict with her father regarding her mother, Chen secretly took the property deed and household registration documents, then ran away.

She found refuge in a supermarket and called her mother, deciding to return.

To be with her daughter again, Chen’s mother relinquished the flat to her ex-husband.

“The past is the past. We can start fresh and build a better life,” her mother reassured her.

Chen later revealed that her father had already sold the flat and severed all contact with both of them.

Her story has garnered widespread attention on mainland social media, with related topics attracting over 3 million views.

One user commented: “This father is selfish and cruel. He didn’t love his child but still deprived her of the love she could have had from her mother.”

Another mother, posting under the name “A Le”, shared her own plight: “It has been nearly a year since the court granted me custody, but I still haven’t seen my son. I don’t even know where he lives.”

“He has severe allergies, and his father shows no concern. He just keeps teaching him to hate me.”

In China, many mothers continue to be forcibly separated from their children during divorce or separation, often through violence or concealment by the fathers.

According to Today’s Women News, around 80,000 children are taken and hidden this way each year in China.

Chinese law prohibits the use of minors in custody disputes. In February, new regulations were introduced allowing the other parent to seek a personal safety order or injunction if their child is taken or concealed.

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Chinese researchers find genetics shapes brain’s critical balance linked to mental ability

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3316859/chinese-researchers-find-genetics-shapes-brains-critical-balance-linked-mental-ability?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese researchers have discovered that genetics influences the brain’s ability to maintain the crucial balance between activation and control, a key element of cognitive function.

There is extensive evidence that brain criticality – the balance between neural excitation and inhibition – enhances its information processing capabilities.

But despite the significance of brain criticality and its potential influence on neurological and psychiatric disorders, the genetic basis of this state had been “largely unexplored”, according to researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ biophysics and automation institutes.

“We demonstrate that genetic factors significantly influence brain criticality across various scales, from specific brain regions to large-scale networks,” the team said in their paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last month.

They also established a link between criticality and cognitive functions, suggesting a shared genetic foundation.

“These findings position brain criticality as a biological phenotype, opening broad avenues for exploring its implications in brain function and potential dysfunctions,” the team wrote.

Brain criticality is characterised by neuronal avalanches, or cascading bursts of neuron activity in brain networks.

“At the critical state, the brain exhibits scale-free dynamics, with avalanches observed across various scales ranging from local networks of individual neurons to the global network of interacting brain areas,” the paper said.

It also highlighted “growing evidence” that deviations from criticality might be associated with conditions like epilepsy, autism, stroke and major depressive disorder.

Research shows that drugs that excite brain cells can create a superactive state, while those that calm brain cells can create a less active state – affecting neuronal avalanches, or how brain signals spread.

Recent studies have shown there may even be a strong link between the critical state and consciousness. Understanding the genetic basis of the brain’s ability to strike this delicate balance could offer a “unique opportunity to gain pivotal insights that bridge genetics, critical dynamics, and brain functions”, the researchers said.

To study how brain criticality is passed down through genes, the team analysed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Human Connectome Project – covering data from 250 identical twins, 142 fraternal twins and 437 non-twin subjects.

They found significant correlations between neuronal avalanche dynamics in identical twins – who are born from the same fertilised egg and share nearly the same genetic material – but not in fraternal twins, who are born from different eggs and share about half their genes, the same as non-twin siblings.

“We found that genetic factors substantially influenced brain criticality across various scales, encompassing brain regions, functional networks, and the whole brain,” the team said.

They also found genetic links between the brain’s critical state and overall cognitive ability, suggesting that higher cognitive functions and criticality share common genetic factors.

The team found that criticality in the primary sensory cortex of the brain, which processes sensory stimuli, was more strongly influenced by genetic factors than the association cortex, which is involved in complex cognitive functions like memory.

However, more research is needed to determine how far genetics influences criticality, since environmental factors might have a greater impact on brain areas such as the association cortex.

Through further analysis with gene expression data from the Allen Brain Atlas, an open online resource that maps gene expression across the brain, the team found that the organisation of critical brain dynamics was largely explained by a specific gene expression profile.

A gene expression profile is the measurement of all the gene activity occurring simultaneously within a cell, which can involve thousands of genes. This provides a picture of which genes are turned on or off at a given time.

The team said that future research could also include patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders to investigate the potential genetic link between diseases and criticality, which could lead to new therapeutic approaches.

How young Chinese travellers are fuelling a cruise ship holiday boom

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316973/how-young-chinese-travellers-are-fuelling-cruise-ship-holiday-boom?utm_source=rss_feed

After graduating from Fudan University’s prestigious MBA programme this year, Dong Wenxin wants to keep in touch with his fellow students. The 30-year-old figured many former students probably felt the same way – eager to reconnect even when scattered across China.

Living in Shanghai, a major global port city with regular cruise ship departures, gave him an idea. Dong saw business potential in organising group trips that would bring former students back together for quality time at sea.

Over the past three years, he has organised weeklong round-trip cruises for groups ranging from four to 30 people, with some journeys reaching as far as Japan. Travellers pay between 3,000 (US$418) and 10,000 yuan each, depending on the ship’s level of luxury.

Dong’s venture is part of a growing trend among younger Chinese travellers – particularly high school and university graduates – who are increasingly embracing ocean cruises as a social way to travel, analysts have found.

Cruise ships provide a unique environment for groups to bond, with recreational activities and shared spaces without the limitations of crowding into a rented apartment.

“It’s not quite a road trip or hiking – [passengers] can’t do that on ships, so those are the limitations,” Dong said. “But they can be in a communal space enjoying lots of activities.”

The mode of travel is quickly gaining popularity. Bookings for summer cruises in 2025 have surged by 60 per cent compared to 2024 – driven mostly by graduates and large families, according to a June survey by travel marketing and technology company China Trading Desk.

Travellers often visit nearby countries such as Japan and South Korea, taking advantage of abundant online deals, the company found.

Interest in cruise travel gained momentum about half a year ago, according to travel agents surveyed by business consultancy Dragon Trail International.

“Quite a few [agents] mentioned that cruise travel was becoming more popular with younger travellers and that this was a new development for the market,” said Sienna Parulis-Cook, Dragon Trail’s marketing and communications director.

“One explained that young people are seeking new experiences and [are] attracted by the novelty of cruise travel.”

China Trading Desk CEO Subramania Bhatt noted that cruise ships are “both a reward and rite of passage” for younger travellers, combining convenience, curated itineraries, scenic views, affordable fares and opportunities for bonding.

Posts on social media platforms like RedNote and Bilibili have further accelerated the trend, Dong said, and are likely to boost passenger numbers in the years ahead.

In Hong Kong, Astro Ocean International Cruises has seen a “significant climb” in mainland Chinese passenger volume compared to 2024, with about 17,000 people joining its 11 summer holiday voyages this year, senior marketing manager Christopher Ma said.

The company’s trips last four to five days and visit Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam – with Japan the most popular destination.

To ride the wave, the operator is offering freebies to fresh graduates and teachers, which Ma said has seen a “pretty good” response rate.

Each voyage averages HK$20,000 (US$2547) for a group of four, plus about HK$1,000 per person typically spent on food, shopping and souvenirs. On-board entertainment is another selling point.

Unlike road or rail travel, Ma said cruise ship passengers “enjoy a pure, relaxing time on board with chill moments”.

New Communist Party rules hint China’s Xi Jinping is delegating more power to deputies

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3317101/new-communist-party-rules-hint-chinas-xi-jinping-delegating-more-power-deputies?utm_source=rss_feed

New rules on certain Communist Party organs suggest China’s ruling party is aiming to standardise its decision-making process and that President Xi Jinping might be delegating more of his power, according to observers.

One analyst said the move could hint at his plan for succession.

The 24-member Politburo, the party’s top echelon, on Monday reviewed new rules that would apply to the various “party coordinative institutes” – organisations aimed at coordinating cross-agency policies in a specific area.

Specifically, these refer to party “central commissions” and “party leading groups”, many of which were either founded or given expanded power during Xi’s tenure.

The new regulations aim to standardise the policy coordination and review process at the top, according to state news agency Xinhua.

According to Xinhua, the Politburo meeting noted that these organs should focus on “planning, discussing and checking on major matters”.

According to experts, this underscored a trend, first reported on by the South China Morning Post, of Xi delegating more authority to his deputies on day-to-day issues.

Dali Yang, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, said the new measures reflected Xi’s efforts to formalise and institutionalise governance procedures through regulations and laws to bring “more regularity” to operations.

“Especially because he remains himself the chairman of so many of these coordination organs, in addition to his party [and] state titles, all of which need his time and attention, which is not limitless,” Yang said.

Victor Shih, a specialist in Chinese elite politics and finance at the University of California San Diego, said the latest effort to formalise high-level coordination bodies itself “doesn’t suggest a large degree of delegation”.

“However, it does seem that Xi might pay less attention to day-to-day details, which necessitates a policing mechanism to ensure that his policy priorities are still being carried out by lower-level officials.”

Since 2012, Beijing has revitalised decades-old party coordination bodies, founded some new party bodies, and absorbed entire government offices into these bodies, most of which have been chaired by Xi. These moves align with Xi’s slogan of “strengthening the comprehensive leadership of the party” and aim to reinforce party control over key policy areas.

Changes of this kind have been seen in policy areas including economic affairs, national security, key reform issues and cybersecurity.

Most of the new bodies were established as “leading small groups”. Later, the more important ones were elevated to “central commissions” that are believed to play bigger decision-making roles and act as coordination hubs across key agencies.

For example, “the party leading group” on Hong Kong and Macau affairs was established in 2020, after a major elevation from its precursor. It is made up of regional chiefs as well as officials who oversee nationwide security and foreign affairs.

In a subsequent overhaul in 2023, this party group absorbed all power from the original Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council system.

Similar consolidations have taken place on financial stabilisation, religious policies, and liaison with overseas Chinese.

Since 2023, the party groups have become a vehicle for power-sharing among Xi’s deputies.

Two commissions established in March 2023 – the Central Financial Commission and the Central Science and Technology Commission – are led by Premier Li Qiang and Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, respectively.

Xi’s chief of staff, Cai Qi, heads the party’s Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, which oversees cybersecurity and the internet, a role previously held by the president.

Xi has also delegated some diplomatic functions. He is not attending the Brics summit beginning in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, marking his first absence from the gathering of leaders of the emerging economies group. Li will lead the Chinese delegation, as he did during the Group of 20 summit in India in 2023 – the only time Xi was absent from that event.

According to a China-based political analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity, the regulations on these party bodies could hint at preparations for Xi’s retirement.

“The rules may be set up to regulate the bodies because it’s a key time for power transition,” the analyst said.

The next five-yearly national party congress is set to be held in 2027, when Xi’s current term as the party’s leader will end.

But other observers dismissed the idea that the latest rules were preparations for Xi’s retirement, suggesting instead that the Chinese leader might pass down his power in phases, especially his three most important titles: party general secretary, the military’s top commander, and president. None of the titles carry term limits.

Shih raised the possibility that Xi might adopt a phased approach to succession. He said this was “equivalent to deferring the succession issue by five to 10 more years while Xi delegates one of the three key positions, such as the position of state president, to a [Politburo Standing Committee] member of similar age”.

There is no obvious successor in the party’s leadership team. Unlike his predecessors, Xi did not promote an obvious successor at the end of his first term in 2017, and he has yet to do so since.

Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Centre for China Analysis, said the recent regulatory reforms were primarily driven by Xi’s desire to strengthen party leadership and to better monitor important issues by decentralising some authority.

“They appear aimed at improving the administration and effectiveness of the party commissions and leading groups that have taken on an increasingly central role in Chinese governance under Xi,” he said.

According to Thomas, while Xi has delegated some responsibilities to trusted aides, “this is more about conserving his energy for long-term strategic priorities than preparing for retirement”.

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China delivery rider graduated from top schools like Oxford inspires others to stay positive

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3316503/china-delivery-rider-graduated-top-schools-oxford-inspires-others-stay-positive?utm_source=rss_feed

A man in China has been dubbed “the food delivery worker with the highest education level” due to earning degrees from several prestigious global universities, including Oxford.

The story of 39-year-old Ding Yuanzhao has reignited intense discussions surrounding the devaluation of academic qualifications against the backdrop of a challenging job market, as reported by the news portal 163.com.

Ding, a native of southeastern Fujian province, sat for China’s national university entrance exam, known as gaokao, in 2004. He gained admission to the esteemed Tsinghua University with an impressive score of nearly 700 out of a total of 750.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Ding pursued further studies at another prestigious institution, Peking University, earning a master’s degree in energy engineering.

He later received a PhD in biology from Nanyang Technological University, a top school in Singapore. Additionally, he obtained a master’s degree in biodiversity from Oxford University in Britain.

Before his role as a food delivery rider, Ding worked on postdoctoral research at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where his contract ended in March last year. Despite sending out numerous resumes and attending over 10 interviews, he was unable to secure a suitable job.

As a result, he registered as a food delivery worker in Singapore, earning about SG$700 (US$550) per week by working 10 hours a day.

“It is a stable job. I can support my family with this income. If you work hard, you can earn a decent living. It’s not a bad job,” Ding shared on social media.

Details about his family have not been disclosed in the report.

“One advantage of delivering food is that you can get your workout in at the same time,” added Ding, who is an avid running enthusiast.

Ding expressed that he chose not to work as a private tutor for young students because he feels “too shy to seek customers on his own.”

A few months later, Ding relocated back to China, where he is now a food delivery worker for Meituan in Beijing, a leading shopping platform.

Recently, he garnered significant attention online after posting a video encouraging students who had just completed the gaokao exam.

Taking place annually in early June, China’s gaokao exam sees results released at the end of the month.

“If you haven’t achieved good results, don’t be pessimistic or discouraged. If you’ve done well, keep in mind that most people’s work doesn’t make much difference in the grand scheme of things,” Ding advised.

His story has sparked considerable discussion across mainland social media.

“So what’s the point of education?” questioned one internet user.

Another user agreed, noting: “He studied extensively but still ended up doing food delivery work.”

On the other hand, a commenter defended his choices, stating: “There’s nothing wrong with his decision. At least he didn’t give up during a low point in his life.”

About 13 million students have taken the gaokao test in China each year for the past three consecutive years.

The job market has been experiencing significant pressure lately, with the youth unemployment rate – covering those aged 16 to 24 in urban areas and excluding students – standing at 14.9 per cent in May, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Meet the Chinese start-up behind Google’s Android XR-powered augmented reality glasses

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3316645/meet-chinese-start-behind-googles-android-xr-powered-augmented-reality-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed

Xreal, the Chinese augmented reality start-up behind Google’s first Android XR-powered augmented reality (AR) glasses, is gearing up for the mass-market release of its lightweight eyewear as early as the first quarter of 2026, its co-founder said.

Code-named Project Aura, the product was first announced at Google’s annual I/O developer conference in May. Rivalling offerings from Apple and Meta Platforms, Google adopted a strategy from its smartphone playbook: providing the operating system – Android XR – while collaborating with hardware makers.

Project Aura is Google’s second XR initiative, following Moohan, a collaboration with Samsung Electronics on a virtual reality headset similar to Apple’s Vision Pro.

Aura’s field of view (FoV) – the visible area seen through the glasses – exceeds 70 degrees, “the largest screen we have ever made”, according to a statement from Xreal at the Augmented World Expo in June. The device will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset alongside Xreal’s own XR-optimised X1S chip.

“This achievement is thanks to Xreal’s extensive experience in optical engineering, enabling thinner lenses with broader fields of view,” Wu Kejian, the company’s co-founder, chief scientist and head of algorithms, said in an interview with the South China Morning Post.

Wu said the company had invested heavily to develop the X1 spatial computing chip, which was launched in late 2024 to power the Xreal One model. The upcoming X1S chip would be an upgrade, offering enhanced memory and optimised cooling and power efficiency tailored for Project Aura’s data processing needs.

Apple’s Vision Pro also adopted a dual-chip design, combining its M2 chip used in Macs and iPads and a customised R1 microprocessor for mixed-reality experiences.

Wu likened Project Aura’s partnership with Google to the collaboration between Taiwan’s HTC and Android about two decades ago, which spurred the popularity of smartphones.

While Wu did not specify sales targets, he indicated that Aura’s pricing would be higher than current AR glasses, but lower than VR headsets currently on the market. Xreal’s most powerful AR model, the One Pro, retails for US$599, significantly below Apple’s US$3,499 Vision Pro.

Talks with Google began in early 2024, which led to a prototype that gained approval from the US firm’s management, Wu said.

He sees clear advantages in Android XR, especially its seamless integration with Google’s first-party apps like Search, Maps and YouTube, as well as compatibility with other XR applications. Moreover, Android XR leverages Gemini’s multimodal AI capabilities, enabling advanced gesture and eye-tracking interactions and AI-assisted functionality.

Founded in 2017 under the name Nreal by Zhejiang University alumni Xu Chi, Wu Kejian, and Xiao Bing, Xreal has shipped over 600,000 devices globally and aims to exceed 1 million annual shipments within the next two to three years. Currently near breakeven, the company is also actively exploring an initial public offering, Wu said.

Despite cycles of hype and setbacks in the XR industry – from early VR excitement to buzz over the metaverse and most recently Apple’s Vision Pro launch – mixed reality technology has yet to achieve mainstream adoption due to high costs, hardware limitations and application scarcity.

“Integrating AI technology will define XR devices’ future,” Wu said, “Hardware breakthroughs are slow, but AI technology advances rapidly.”

The rise of AI-powered eyewear is evident in Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which have sold more than 2 million pairs since October 2023, despite lacking displays.

Following suit, other global players including Chinese firms Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi, Baidu, Rokid, Rayneo and Meizu, are racing to tap into the promising market segment. Xiaomi recently released AI glasses priced at 1,999 yuan (US$279), while Hangzhou-based Rokid began shipments in late June, promoting mobile payment integration.

IDC data showed that global smart eyewear shipments reached 1.487 million units in the first quarter of 2025, an 82.3 per cent year-on-year increase. In China, first-quarter shipments surged by 116.1 per cent to 494,000 units, with annual shipments expected to hit 2.907 million units, up 121.1 per cent.

Earlier this year, fellow Xreal founder Xu defined AI glasses as being from Level 1 to Level 5, and said this year marked the advent of low-tier Level 2 versions that were capable of photos and video, AI-driven conversations and simultaneous translation.

“The real tipping point for AI eyewear will come in 2027,” Xu wrote in a WeChat post, pointing out that more powerful AR displays and multi modal AI capabilities were coming.

Wu emphasised Xreal’s focus on domestic supply-chain localisation amid geopolitical tensions, and its strategy of global diversification in markets such as the US, China, Japan and Europe. He even speculated whether major Chinese tech giants might soon innovate operating systems akin to Android XR.

“Innovation is the ultimate resilience against market cycles,” he said.

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New Zealand golden visa lures potential luxury property buyers from Hong Kong, mainland China

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3317029/new-zealand-golden-visa-lures-potential-luxury-property-buyers-hong-kong-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed

New Zealand’s revamped golden-visa programme is likely to lift demand for its luxury homes, as wealthy Hongkongers and mainland Chinese count among the top applicants, according to consultants.

Since the relaunch of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) programme in April, the government has received some 200 applications for the fast-track residency initiative, according to Greener Pastures New Zealand. The top three sources of applications were the US with 85, mainland China with 26 and Hong Kong with 24, according to data compiled by the government-recognised AIP advisory and fund manager based in Tauranga, north of the capital, Wellington.

Although investing in residential property does not qualify for the scheme, those whose applications are approved will be able to buy homes for their own use.

“Almost any number of new high-net-worth individuals buying homes in New Zealand will have a significant impact on the country’s relatively small land and luxury home markets,” said Kashif Ansari, founder and group CEO of real estate broker Juwai IQI. “They will be buying houses in premium suburbs and land for large estates.”

Wellington restricted foreign property purchases in 2018 to avoid speculation and keep housing affordable for citizens. Australians and Singaporeans were the only foreign groups allowed to buy homes in the country until recently.

The AIP programme has two investment pathways. The growth category requires a minimum investment of around US$3 million, directed towards New Zealand businesses or managed funds, over a three-year period, requiring just 21 days of presence in the country over that span. The balanced category involves a broader investment scope of US$6 million over five years, with 105 days of presence required.

Successful applicants gain the right to live, work and study in New Zealand, with a pathway to permanent residency, said Dominic Jones, managing director at Greener Pastures.

“Each visa applicant will come from different backgrounds and have unique situations,” Jones said. “However, our experience is that they are high-net-worth individuals.”

These applicants were “attracted to the New Zealand lifestyle and our relaxed way of life” and were either looking to relocate permanently or to provide themselves and their families with the option of moving to the country, Jones said.

Greener Pastures was working directly with clients in Hong Kong for their AIP applications, Jones said, declining to elaborate.

For UK-based consulting firm Henley & Partners, New Zealand is its seventh most popular immigration programme globally so far this year, with half of applicants coming from the US and about a third being Chinese applicants.

In terms of overall inquiries, New Zealand is 16th, with US nationals again showing the most interest, the firm said in a statement. In 2024, the scheme saw a 151 per cent increase in inquiries and “is on track to match this elevated level this year, if not exceed it”, Henley said.

New Zealand had approved about 100 AIP applications so far, and if even a quarter of those bought homes, it would move the market, said Juwai IQI’s Ansari.

“That would mean 25 luxury property purchases added to a market in which there are typically just 10 to 30 sales of NZ$10 million [US$6 million] or more per year,” Ansari said.

In the first three months of the year, housing demand in New Zealand was “moderately balanced”, with 57 per cent of 44 valuers surveyed by CBRE in March indicating moderate demand and 41 per cent noting soft demand. The rest reported strong demand, the property consultancy said.

Pricing outlook was positive, with two-thirds of valuers expecting house values in their area to increase by up to 5 per cent in the next 12 months, while more than a quarter expected prices to be stable.

CBRE declined to comment on the potential impact of the AIP on the housing market.

Zoltan Morics, the company’s executive director and head of research, said that developing commercial and industrial property qualified as investment in the AIP scheme, as did developing residential property.

“We think the impact will be similar to that of Australia’s Significant Investor Visa,” Ansari said. “Home purchases will be limited to land for rural estates and to houses in the best neighbourhoods and near the best schools and amenities. The middle market and other locations won’t see any impacts. We expect it to have a focused and narrow impact.”

Auckland’s harbourfront suburbs would see the most buyer interest, with Wellington and Queenstown a distant second and third, he said. “Buyers will have different goals depending on their net worth and source country,” he added.

Despite New Zealand being extremely safe, with good education and healthcare, as well as a nice environment, its “geographical remoteness may be a deterrent for globally connected families who still want proximity to major markets”, said Troy Hanley, managing director for private clients at Henley.

“Places like Switzerland, Monaco, the UAE and the US may make more sense for such families,” he said.

Trump wants to ground China’s drones - but have they flown too high to reach?

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317044/trump-wants-ground-chinas-drones-have-they-flown-too-high-reach?utm_source=rss_feed

US President Donald Trump issues quite a few executive orders. So many, in fact, that one could be forgiven for not keeping up with them all.

But amid the rapid-fire policy changes that have come to characterise his administration, one arrived last month that could have drastic implications for the world’s drone market – and China’s role in it.

The order, signed June 6, requires government agencies to prioritise using home-grown unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) “to the maximum extent permitted by law”, and pledges to slash regulations to speed up domestic production and development.

While this is not the first time Trump and others in Washington have attempted to halt China’s rise in the lucrative field – Beijing’s firms remain world leaders in the industry – it shows the US has not given up the fight.

However, analysts and industry insiders alike said China’s pre-eminent place in the global drone market has made it hard for the US to remove its products from supply chains, at least for now.

Paul Nielsen, managing director at Proxim – a Pennsylvania-based firm which uses drones for commercial inspections – said he sees the executive order as a negotiation tactic, but bristles at the “unnerving” prospect of its implementation.

“There are only half a dozen non-Chinese companies in the world that make drones. My guess is the ban will raise costs,” he said during last week’s Paris Air Show. “It’s basic economics.”

Proxim purchases drones and modifies them for use in a variety of inspections. Its parent company, Near Earth Automomy, specialises in aircraft automation and the drone-powered evaluation of military planes. The firms are trying to break into commercial markets, which could be stymied by a ban or other restrictions.

Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden instructed the Federal Acquisition Security Council to draft a “Covered Foreign Entity List” of companies viewed as posing a risk to US security.

The action came as part of the American Security Drone Act, passed in 2023, which bars federal agencies from procuring drones manufactured by companies on the list, or those made with parts supplied by named companies.

Operations of UAS by companies on the list are also banned, and this prohibition is applicable to all government entities and contractors.

Trump’s executive order instructs the council to “protect the integrity of America’s drone supply chain” by coming up with the list within 30 days of its issuance, and authorises the Secretary of Commerce to “secure the United States drone supply chain against foreign control or exploitation” via the drafting of rules and investigations.

This is likely to be another regulatory setback for Chinese drone maker DJI, though the Shenzhen-based company has maintained its leading position in the drone trade even after earlier restrictions.

According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, the firm has a 90 per cent share in the US commercial market. Demand for drones is expected to only increase in the US, especially in farming, construction, maritime and industrial applications.

Market consultancy firm Nova One Advisor has estimated the commercial segment accounts for 77 per cent of the country’s overall drone market in 2023, with anticipated annual growth of 9.2 per cent at a compound rate through 2033. The logistics sector, it said, would be leading this expansion.

On the consumer side, the market is expected to grow at a 10 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2030, driven by technological advancement in drones as well as “flourishing incomes”, as forecast by California-based Grand View Research. This segment was valued at US$1.48 billion in 2023.

Wang Yiwei, an ex-diplomat and head of Renmin University’s Institute of International Affairs in Beijing, said that while Trump intends to relocate the drone supply chain to the US, he is effectively targeting China given the strength of the country’s enterprises.

The US might “imagine” Beijing will use Chinese-made drones to compromise the security of the US, as the technology has played a role in the Ukraine war and the recent Israeli-Iran conflict, he said.

“The US cannot achieve China’s productivity in a short time,” Wang said.

“[If Chinese drones are banned], the US might need to rely on smuggling or other ways to obtain drones and parts, which in turn will have consumers paying a higher price.”

Ke Zong-yuan, an industry analyst with Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute in Taipei, said a full US ban on Chinese drones would only be “a matter of time”, but firms from other countries could not provide the cost-effectiveness of a company like DJI.

“Looking at current trends, no player appears poised to significantly threaten DJI’s leadership in the short term,” he said.

“Given its strengths in product reliability, ecosystem integration and a comprehensive product line, companies like Skydio and Parrot still need time and innovation to breach DJI’s well-established moat,” Ke added, referring to two major Western drone makers, respectively based in the US and France.

Trump’s executive order did not come as a surprise. Washington’s concerns over China’s presence in the drone market began to take shape in 2017, when the US Army banned DJI units after an internal analysis flagged security vulnerabilities.

DJI, as well as Autel Robotics, is facing a national security review from Washington as stipulated by the 2025 Defense Authorisation Act.

The two Chinese drone makers will be barred from selling new models if the review is not completed by December 23, a year after the bill was signed into law.

But despite these restrictions, not even Washington’s top law enforcement organ has been able to fully rid itself of Chinese technology. In 2022, US officials confirmed in a Senate hearing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was one of several arms of government using DJI drones.

While pledging to shift away from overseas technologies, Brad Wiegmann, then a deputy assistant attorney general, admitted it would be difficult as “they kind of dominate the market”.

This superiority extends throughout the supply chain. Even drone companies outside China rely on Beijing’s firms to provide several parts they cannot get anywhere else, according to market research firm Drone Industry Insights.

“We have many Chinese partners that send us parts. For instance, most of our batteries come from China,” said Donald Djobo, vice-president for Europe and Africa at the Pennsylvania-based drone manufacturer Aerostar Dynamics.

“Nobody can do without another in this world. It doesn’t mean that American tech is not good. No one can do business alone and be sustainable.”

Chinese drone makers have moved some of their production to third countries such as Malaysia to bypass US restrictions, according to Ke with the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute.

Beau Vanburen, marketing coordinator for Zephyr Drone Simulator, a Virginia-based company that develops training programmes for practical drones, said most of his customers from police or other public safety departments were using DJI’s drones.

He added that no American companies could make drones at a volume comparable to DJI, and some products advertised as US-made were actually manufactured by Chinese firms.

“If DJI were banned, it would be problematic for any public safety agencies in the US.”

Confrontations over autonomous aircraft are just one aspect of the all-encompassing rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.

After Trump rolled out a sweeping package of “reciprocal tariffs” on nearly every US trade partner in April, Beijing and Washington levied new import duties in rapid succession, sending effective rates into the triple digits.

The conflict cooled in May, when talks in Geneva, Switzerland, ended with both countries scaling back most of their tariffs. Further negotiations in London last month saw the two countries agree “in principle” to a framework intended to resolve the upheaval, though prospects of a full-scale drawdown are dim.

Along similar lines, the US has taken several steps to limit China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence chips. In May, the Commerce Department said in a statement that any companies using the Ascend series of chips from Huawei Technologies could be violating US export controls and be subject to enforcement action.

Beijing hit back soon after, vowing to use its anti-foreign sanction laws to hold individuals and entities accountable if they were found to be enforcing or assisting the implementation of the US ban.