• How China could shape future of the Middle East
• Why EU stance on Taiwan is a growing cause of concern for mainland China
• China’s high-speed jet drone, Trump shrugs off Latin American moves: SCMP daily highlights
• On WWII anniversary, China’s PLA says Japan never abandoned dream of military power
• Unitree’s H1 robot wins 1,500 metre race as China hosts world’s first humanoid games
• China told to remove purchase restrictions, set mandatory targets to spur consumption
• In first comment on South China Sea crash, Beijing slams ‘dangerous’ moves by Philippines
• Temasek fine tunes Chinese stock portfolio as PIF exits Alibaba in sovereign fund tweaks
• Why this small vacuum tube can be China’s big advantage in electronic warfare
• China rolls out mandatory safety regulations for power banks after fire incidents
• China dad warms IV tube for daughter during treatment to provide comfort, moves many online
• China tells US to rein in frontline forces after Scarborough Shoal ‘infringement’
• Japan’s naval move to New Zealand challenges China’s ‘geopolitical opportunism’
• China’s Xi Jinping calls for ‘no delay’ in private sector protection
• China’s Tsinghua University helps to break 40-year-old maths cap on computer speed
• Top Southeast Asian leaders will travel to China for military parade, sources say
• Chinese couple escape unscathed from serious car crash, decide to get married right away
• How China clothed the world with a gigatonne of fabric in 2 generations
• China’s home prices continue slide as support measures fail to budge sentiment
• China unveils cruise missile, Kim Keon hee’s fall from grace: SCMP’s 7 highlights
• China’s economy shows signs of strain as retail sales, industrial output lose momentum
• China unveils first high-speed VTOL jet drone that makes every warship an aircraft carrier
• ‘We’re blowing everyone away’: Trump shrugs off Latin American nations looking to China
• China actress Zhao Lusi claims talent agency forced exorcism to treat her depression
• Amid big-city gloom, can China’s far-flung counties become a key driver of consumption?

How China could shape future of the Middle East

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3321664/how-china-could-shape-future-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed

Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, have exposed the fragility of the US-led international order and Western double standards like never before. It’s hard to understate the gravity of the situation, underscoring the need for urgent international intervention.

Multiple Israeli scholars, human rights organisations and political leaders are publicly warning of unprecedented atrocities. Even former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, a past member of the incumbent Likud party, has warned of war crimes and “the transformation of Gaza into a humanitarian disaster area”. Amid the starvation of Palestinians, experts are raising the alarm about the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.

Yet the United States and key European powers still firmly back Israel, insisting on its “self-defence” following the horrific October 7 attacks. Meanwhile, there is deepening fear of a renewed and more devastating military confrontation between Israel and Iran, which would have dire consequences for regional security and the world’s energy supply.

In short, the world is desperately seeking alternative leadership to uphold a rules-based international order. By and large, China has not involved itself in any of the Middle East conflicts. Rather, Beijing has condemned the actions of Western governments while expressing support for diplomacy.

But given its immense network of influence, due to burgeoning trade and defence ties with key nations across the Middle East and beyond, China is in a unique position to leverage its global clout to push for a more constructive solution that prevents major wars and mitigates human suffering.

As the world’s second-largest economic and military power, as well as the top trading partner of many countries, China is in a prime position to play a vital role in global politics. Despite touting a rules-based international order, the West has started or failed to prevent multiple simultaneous conflicts in the Middle East.

After decades of exercising global hegemony, the US’ standing has been jeopardised by years of double standards, violations of international law and even direct assaults on international institutions. If anything, the second Trump administration’s coercive approach towards allies, demanding greater defence contributions from Nato allies and imposing massive tariffs on close partners in Asia and Europe, has further eroded America’s soft power.

A recent Pew Research Centre survey showed that China enjoys greater favourability than the US even among American allies such as Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Kenya, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa. In Western nations such as Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy, China and the US enjoy similar favourability ratings.

Amid its growing influence, Beijing has launched the Global Security Initiative. Like the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, the project is aimed at cementing China’s position as a pillar of a new post-American global order.

Although not on Beijing’s doorstep, the Middle East has become central to its foreign policy due to a growing reliance on energy imports from regional states – responsible for nearly half of China’s total energy imports – shared concerns over extremism and the need to counterbalance America’s pivot to Asia.

Under the “March West” strategy, China has sought to establish strategic depth in the Middle East by leveraging infrastructure investments, trade agreements, defence deals and, crucially, growing anti-Western sentiment. China’s role in normalising ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and its more recent hosting of rival factions of Palestinian leadership, has raised hope of a more proactive regional role.

China’s growing importance to regional security was on display shortly after the conclusion of the recent “12-day war” between Iran and Israel when Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh made his first visit to China. Attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, Shandong province, Nasirzadeh expressed hope that the host nation would “continue to uphold justice and play an even greater role in maintaining the current ceasefire and easing regional tensions”.

China can exercise constructive influence on multiple fronts. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a leader within institutions such as the SCO and Brics, Beijing has been rallying the Global South towards a post-American order.

China can mobilise and preserve global support for a two-state solution that preserves the dignity and sovereignty of both Palestinians and Israelis based on international law. Beijing has firmly opposed Israel’s occupation of Gaza, with its ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, recently calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.

The country can work with regional powers, including Turkey, Iran and leading Arab nations, to broker and preserve a lasting ceasefire. And given its economic prowess, China could play a pivotal role in post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation to ensure a viable Palestinian state. China can also help broker a more lasting detente between Iran and the US as part of a long-term road map to prevent major regional wars.

Beijing, after all, holds significant leverage since it can block UN sanctions, consumes the bulk of Iranian oil exports and potentially holds the key to a restored balance of power in the Middle East, should it decide to sell military hardware to Iran in the future.

China’s national interests – that is, energy supply stability from the Middle East and concerns over religious extremism – are at stake. After playing a primarily mercantile role in the Middle East, China has an opportunity to constructively shape the future of one of the most consequential yet traumatised regions of the world.

Why EU stance on Taiwan is a growing cause of concern for mainland China

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322001/why-eu-stance-taiwan-growing-cause-concern-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed

This year marks half a century of formal diplomatic relations between China and the European Union as well as the 25th anniversary of the founding of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. In this, the fourth part of the series, Shi Jiangtao looks at how the issue of Taiwan is overshadowing the relationship.

As mainland China and the European Union mark 50 years of diplomatic ties, there is growing concern in Beijing that the bloc may be undermining its one-China policy, as Brussels – and some individual member states in particular – expand informal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Historically viewed as a diplomatic formality, Taiwan has gained increasing prominence in Beijing’s relations with the EU over the past decade. This has complicated Brussels’ efforts to balance between economic partnerships with Beijing, strategic alignment with Washington, and growing unofficial trade and cultural ties with Taipei.

After establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1975, all member states of the European Economic Community – the precursor to the EU – formally recognised Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China, a stance now mirrored by most of the world.

This commitment, routinely reaffirmed in subsequent high-level exchanges, has long been seen by Beijing as a major diplomatic red line.

It regards the issue as both a gauge of the EU’s adherence to the one-China policy and a litmus test of Brussels’ much-touted drive for strategic autonomy amid intensifying US-China rivalry.

In recent years, however, several European countries have expanded ties with Taipei, seeking to actively reinterpret their one-China policy – distinguishing it from Beijing’s one-China principle, even as Brussels has stepped up efforts to “de-risk” its relationship with mainland China.

Beijing’s concerns cover multiple areas, including some EU members’ increased military presence in the Indo-Pacific, which it sees as a provocation, and a growing belief that Europe would prefer to maintain the status quo – something the mainland Chinese authorities fear could embolden pro-independence forces in Taiwan.

With ties increasingly overshadowed by tensions over Taiwan, observers have warned of growing risks of escalation, miscalculation and the possibility that European states, especially those that play a prominent role in Nato, would be drawn into any future conflict between Washington and Beijing over the self-governed island.

According to Cui Hongjian, a former diplomat and head of EU studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, the question of Taiwan, once largely a non-issue, has gradually become a “prominent concern”.

“This has created a new dynamic between China and Europe on [the issue of] Taiwan,” Cui said.

European officials, however, maintain that their engagement with Taiwan, centred largely on economic and cultural exchanges, aligns with long-standing practices and does not infringe upon their commitment to the one-China policy.

As the EU increasingly diverges from its historical stance on Taiwan, Beijing has countered by leveraging trade incentives and emphasising landmark historical documents, such as the 1943 Cairo Declaration, the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation and UN Resolution 2758, to reinforce its position that the island is China’s internal matter.

Cui argued that some European countries, adopting US-style strategies, had increasingly used the Taiwan issue as a “diplomatic card” to gain leverage over China and identified the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war as key catalysts.

During the pandemic, Taiwan’s role as a semiconductor powerhouse, led by TSMC, and its “mask diplomacy” elevated its global visibility.

Central and eastern European countries, particularly Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Poland – have deepened their relationship with Taipei through diplomatic visits, trade offices and parliamentary support, citing shared democratic values and economic interests.

In contrast, countries like Hungary and Serbia – a non-EU member – maintain pro-Beijing stances, bolstered by Chinese investments under the Belt and Road Initiative and overall diplomatic alignment.

Meanwhile, major powers like Germany and France have cautiously expanded economic and security ties and unofficial cultural exchanges with Taiwan, while adhering to the one-China policy by avoiding formal recognition of the island or support for its independence, and prioritising trade with Beijing to avoid escalation.

“Often driven by populist motives, Taiwan has become a symbol that fuses nationalism and resistance to great-power interference, elevating its profile through the ‘sympathy card’, ‘economic card’ and ‘security card’, making it a critical and increasingly visible factor in China-EU relations,” Cui said.

From Europe’s perspective, however, Taiwan remains a secondary concern compared with its broader economic interests in mainland China.

Europe has yet to form a coherent consensus on what the Taiwan issue means for China-Europe relations or how to respond to future developments, according to Cui.

“Europe has mirrored the US in playing the ‘Taiwan card’, though its impact remains confined mainly to diplomacy,” he said.

“Unlike the US, where Taiwan involves strategy, security, and military dimensions, Europe’s engagement has limits.

“For most European countries, Taiwan continues to serve primarily as a diplomatic and economic instrument, rather than a strategic security concern.”

Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also said Taiwan had not played as prominent a role in China–EU relations as it had in Beijing’s relations with the United States.

But the current European stance warranted caution, he added, pointing to its growing criticism of Beijing’s cross-strait approach – particularly its increased military pressure and diplomatic efforts to isolate Taipei – and its preference for maintaining the status quo.

“This contrasts with China’s goal of seeking eventual reunification. This divergence highlights a fundamental gap in understanding: Europeans see the status quo as a stabilising force, while China views it as a risk that could embolden pro-independence elements,” he said.

However, the European Parliament has joined the US in recent years in challenging Beijing’s interpretation of UN Resolution 2758, which gave China’s seat at the United Nations to Beijing, something it repeatedly cites to support its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.

During his recent visit to Europe, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Taiwan was a core national interest for China and pressed EU leaders to curtail unofficial engagements with Taipei.

In a meeting with the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, Wang specifically cautioned against any attempts to challenge the UN resolution, which he claimed had “once and for all” settled Taiwan’s status.

From Europe’s perspective, the Taiwan issue has already become “one of the most important factors” shaping EU-China relations, according to Frans-Paul van der Putten, a China expert based in the Netherlands.

He warned that a potential future conflict between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan – one that could draw in most EU member states as Nato allies – could not be ruled out.

“This means the EU has to view its current economic relations with China in light of the possibility that it could one day face China as a military adversary. As a result, the EU’s de-risking efforts won’t remain confined to peacetime national security concerns,” van der Putten said.

Following Washington’s lead, Europe has increasingly framed the Taiwan issue within the broader Indo-Pacific strategic context, in a bid to avoid overly provoking Beijing.

The EU’s 2021 Indo-Pacific Strategy underscored the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait for “European security and prosperity”, noting that 40 per cent of its external trade passed through the Indo-Pacific region, particularly the strait.

Unlike the US, which remains Taiwan’s staunchest backer and top arms supplier, the EU has largely avoided committing to the island’s defence, focusing instead on diplomatic and economic engagement. However, France and Germany have in recent years joined other US allies such as Britain and Australia in conducting freedom-of-navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait.

While they say these operations, modelled after similar US patrols, are designed to uphold international maritime law, Beijing deems them provocative, asserting that they challenge its sovereignty and risk destabilising the region.

Chinese observers argued that if Beijing were to conduct similar naval deployments near European waters, such as the English Channel, it would likely provoke strong reactions from capitals like Paris and London.

Cui said that these operations carried more symbolic than strategic and military weight, but highlighted the extent of US influence on the EU’s approach to China.

“The way China handles the Taiwan issue amid intensifying US-China rivalry will significantly shape the stance and behaviour of certain European countries,” Cui said. “It is not surprising that smaller nations in Europe and beyond choose to use the Taiwan card to curry favour with the US.”

Philippe Le Corre, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Centre for China Analysis, said the EU’s ties with Taiwan reflected shared interests in trade and democratic values, rather than a rejection of the one-China policy.

“EU-China relations are tense enough, with or without the Taiwan question,” he remarked. “There are widespread concerns that a Chinese action in Taiwan would destabilise trade and security in the region. No one would gain, not even China. This is not just a European concern, but also an Asian concern.”

Le Corre also highlighted the sizeable European expatriate community in Taiwan, around 30,000 residents, adding: “If a military conflict were to take place, what would happen to these people?

“The EU doesn’t support Taiwanese independence, but it sees no reason to close the doors to economic and cultural ties to Taiwan – all of which have been taking place for the past 40 years without China complaining whatsoever.”

Europe has repeatedly expressed concern about China’s increasingly close relations with Russia. Beijing’s efforts to address this by saying it is neutral in the war with Ukraine and does not provide arms to either side appear to have had a limited impact so far.

At this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, French President Emmanuel Macron also linked the two situations.

Beijing has firmly rejected such comparisons, pointing out that Ukraine is a sovereign state and member of the UN unlike Taiwan, amid growing concerns about coordinated attempts by the US and several European capitals to internationalise the issue.

Feng also warned against drawing parallels between the two, saying slogans such as “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow”, prompted by Nato, failed to acknowledge Taiwan’s distinct status as a non-sovereign entity under international law.

Framed within the broader “democracy versus authoritarianism” narrative, Taiwan is often portrayed as a democratic counterpoint to mainland China, an image that resonates deeply within Europe, according to Cui.

However, he warned that European expectations about China’s position on Ukraine have proven unrealistic, as Beijing views Russia’s future differently, limiting the potential for China-EU cooperation.

Cui echoed the need for nuanced diplomacy, calling for more targeted and differentiated policies towards individual European countries, balancing “reason with consequences through a mix of soft and hard approaches”.

“The Taiwan issue, as a core political foundation of bilateral ties, has eroded mutual trust between China and the EU,” he said. “If Europe aligns with the US, it will further destabilise the Taiwan Strait and escalate tensions. Under mounting international pressure, China’s room to resolve the issue domestically is shrinking.”

Cui argued that Beijing should issue stronger warnings to countries actively playing the Taiwan card, citing the example of Lithuania, which had its diplomatic relations downgraded for allowing a “Taiwanese representative office” in its capital in 2021.

For larger powers such as France and Germany, China should clarify its position to prevent undue influence from smaller, more provocative states, according to Cui.

“As Beijing continues to treat the Taiwan issue as a domestic matter, it needs to present a balanced and comprehensive Taiwan Strait policy to prevent Europe from amplifying unilateral security concerns,” he said.

“By showcasing positive aspects like economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, and emphasising peaceful resolution and demonstrating sincerity through tangible actions, Beijing can foster greater understanding and trust within Europe.”

Zhao Long, a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said that from China’s perspective, the EU and its member states had limited influence over Taiwan and were unlikely to agree on a unified approach.

But he warned that pro-Taiwan elements in Europe, driven by ideological bias and geopolitical agendas, would continue to leverage the Taiwan issue to contain Beijing.

“Taiwan is a core interest for Beijing and a political prerequisite for sustaining healthy China-EU relations. Although not always in the spotlight, it remains highly sensitive and, if mismanaged, could become a long-term variable affecting the trajectory of bilateral ties,” he said.

Zhao urged Beijing to continue cultivating rational voices within the EU, bolster diplomatic engagement and strengthen strategic communication.

Despite glaring differences, China and the EU share a fundamental interest in maintaining cross-strait stability, according to Van der Putten, author of China Resurrected: A Modern Geopolitical History.

“China could signal its intention not to provide military support to Russia, while the EU could state more explicitly than it has done so far that it will not support potential future Taiwanese initiatives aimed at gaining independence,” he said.

China’s high-speed jet drone, Trump shrugs off Latin American moves: SCMP daily highlights

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3322044/chinas-high-speed-jet-drone-trump-shrugs-latin-american-moves-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider .

In an aviation tech breakthrough that could change naval warfare, Chinese aerospace engineers have unveiled what could be the world’s first high-speed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone powered by a jet engine.

After six months of steady improvement, China’s economy showed signs of strain in July, with several headline indicators losing momentum amid a weakening of domestic consumption, headwinds from the US trade war and a prolonged property downturn.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was not worried about Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American nations moving closer to China, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “They can do whatever they want.”

China urged the United States to restrain frontline forces on Friday after a US destroyer entered disputed waters in the South China Sea.

A US federal court in Texas is dismissing a suit against a state law that would restrict property ownership and leasing by Chinese citizens, less than a month before the measure is to be implemented, according to one of the lawyers in the case.

Top Southeast Asian leaders are expected to attend China’s military parade next month to commemorate the end of World War II, in what would be a show of Beijing’s growing influence in the region.

In just over four decades, China has produced more than a gigatonne of textile fibres – equivalent to 1 billion tonnes or roughly twice the total human mass on the planet, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Tsinghua University.

On WWII anniversary, China’s PLA says Japan never abandoned dream of military power

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3321994/wwii-anniversary-chinas-pla-says-japan-never-abandoned-dream-military-power?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s military mouthpiece has accused Japan of hollowing out its pacifist constitution and “embarking on the dangerous path of military expansion”.

As Japan marked the 80th anniversary of its surrender in World War II on Friday, the PLA Daily warned in a commentary that “the spectre of militarism has never left the Japanese archipelago”, and that right-wing forces had “never abandoned the dream of becoming a military power”.

It accused Tokyo of using American support to steadily roll back post-war restrictions and trigger “deep concern in the international community over the revival of militarism”.

The commentary coincided with Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary, the first confirmed visit by a cabinet member from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s administration.

Such visits have consistently drawn sharp criticism from China and other Asian neighbours, which view the shrine as glorifying Japanese militarism and insulting the victims of Japan’s wartime aggression.

The commentary in the People’s Liberation Army’s newspaper also warned against Tokyo’s expanding defence partnerships, citing deeper US-Japan military integration, reciprocal access agreements with Australia, Britain and the Philippines, and growing engagement with Nato.

“Under the pretext of cooperation and exchange, Japan is using military linkages to build momentum for its own military development,” it said.

On Tuesday, the Philippines and Japan formally exchanged diplomatic notes to activate their reciprocal access agreement.

Set to take effect in September, the defence pact will allow the Japan Self-Defence Forces to deploy in the Philippines for joint exercises. It is Japan’s third such agreement, following similar pacts with Australia and Britain.

China’s state-run military newspaper said Japan had in recent years “substantially adjusted its post-war security policy from exclusive defence to pre-emptive strike”, citing moves to relax arms export restrictions and legalise overseas troop deployments.

In April 2014, the Japanese cabinet adopted the “Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology”, easing restrictions on arms and technology exports and effectively ending the nearly 50-year-old “Three Principles on Arms Exports”.

In September 2015, the Japanese government passed new security laws despite a constitutional controversy, legalising its self-defence forces’ exercise of collective self-defence and overseas deployments.

In December 2022, Tokyo approved three new policy documents – the national security strategy, the national defence strategy and the defence build-up programme – emphasising the development of “counterstrike capabilities” against enemy bases.

The PLA Daily commentary also criticised Tokyo’s plan to raise defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP by the 2027 financial year, breaking a long-standing 1 per cent ceiling. It accused Japan of “seeking offensive military capabilities”, such as hypersonic and ballistic missile technology, Tomahawk cruise missiles and expanded anti-ship missile deployments.

The article also referred to Japan’s expansion into new operational domains, including space, cyber and electronic warfare. It said these efforts, alongside integration with traditional land, sea and air forces, aimed to “empower conventional military strength and raise Japan’s overall combat power”.

Marking the anniversary of China’s victory in the war of resistance against Japan, the commentary concluded that Japan, as a defeated nation, “should take history as a mirror, abide by the pacifist constitution and truly achieve good-neighbourliness and peaceful development”.

It urged “all peace-loving people” to remain alert to any revival of militarism and “firmly safeguard the fruits of the second world war victory”.

Unitree’s H1 robot wins 1,500 metre race as China hosts world’s first humanoid games

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322025/unitrees-h1-robot-wins-1500-metre-race-china-hosts-worlds-first-humanoid-games?utm_source=rss_feed

China is hosting the world’s first-ever humanoid games, featuring contests that pit machines against each other in events such as basketball and kickboxing, as the country puts on a display of its ambitions in the rapidly growing sector.

Human-shaped bipedal robots from companies such as Unitree Robotics and X-Humanoid kicked off the event – officially known as the World Humanoid Robot Games – by competing in a 1,500-metre run in Beijing on Friday.

Chinese robotics darling Unitree, based in Hangzhou, was the clear winner in the first race, with its H1 humanoid securing first and third places.

Beijing-based X-Humanoid’s Tien Kung Ultra, which won the world’s first half-marathon featuring both human and robot runners in April, came in second.

The H1, priced at 650,000 yuan (US$90,526), was the same model that performed the Chinese folk dance Yangge at this year’s Spring Festival Gala, alongside a troupe of human dancers.

Unitree founder and CEO Wang Xingxing told local news portal Phoenix News that the performance of its H1 robots in the 1,500-metre race was “meaningful”, as the model was the first humanoid the company ever made.

The humanoid robot games opened on Thursday night and will run until Sunday. More than 500 humanoid robots in 280 teams from 16 countries – including Japan, Germany and the US – were expected to compete in 26 sports, from track and field events to kickboxing.

The three-day competition is being held as China is stepping up its game in the robotics sector, which Beijing sees as an overall tech growth driver.

Events staged on Friday morning included a football match, a kickboxing competition, and a dance performance where robot teams moved to pop music.

Teams formed by college students across the country also competed in a basketball game, using a limited budget and much simpler mechanical structures.

One team from Shandong Jiaotong University in Jinan, eastern Shandong province, said they developed their robot over a year on a budget of 50,000 yuan.

They were invited to compete in the robot games after taking third place in the most recent edition of Robocon, an influential contest for university students to design robots and compete in themed challenges.

Despite the hype around robot vs robot contests, Friday’s events showed that there was still much room for improvement.

In the opening race, some robots were not able to finish, while some did not even get off the starting line. One of the participants, a Xingzhe Taishan robot from Shandong-based Yobotics, fell and lost one of its arms, although it managed to carry on and finished the race to encouraging applause from the crowd.

In the football game, a fall by one robot tripped up several others, requiring human intervention to drag them off the field.

Nonetheless, organisers said the games provided “test fields” for competing robots to measure their decision-making, balance and interactive capabilities in a complex environment, with such skills being applied later to real-world applications in the home and factories.

One official said the games were “not a show, [rather] to test the limits, systems and collaboration [of the robots]”, adding that China had the supply chain and infrastructure to put the robots to test in real-world settings.

China told to remove purchase restrictions, set mandatory targets to spur consumption

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322014/china-told-remove-purchase-restrictions-set-mandatory-targets-spur-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed

A high-level Chinese official has called for easing property and other market restrictions to boost spending among the wealthy, as Beijing steps up efforts to stimulate consumption amid deflationary pressures.

“Let the rich spend. This is the most direct [approach],” said Yin Yanlin, who was deputy director at the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, a party organ overseeing economic policy, from 2018 to 2023.

Yin, now a senior economic adviser in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the comments at a Peking University organised seminar on Thursday, where he outlined the challenges of deepening reform.

Spending by affluent groups can drive market demand and generate income growth, setting off a positive cycle, he said. One of the most important tools to boost consumption lies in removing restrictions, such as those on property and vehicle purchases.

Major Chinese cities have relaxed home-purchase restrictions in recent years to support their struggling property markets. Even the capital Beijing, long known for its caution, further eased controls in its outlying districts last week.

Yin said certain restrictions have constrained diversified consumption and weakened domestic demand. Income levels are not the main impediment, he stressed, noting that the country’s savings have been rising.

In the first seven months of 2025, savings in China increased by over 18.4 trillion yuan, including nearly 9.7 trillion yuan (US$1.35 trillion) from households, according to central bank data.

However, new bank loans contracted by 50 billion yuan (US$6.96 billion) in July – the first monthly decline in 20 years – according to a Morgan Stanley research note on Wednesday citing central bank data. The drop shows continued caution among households and businesses, as the country’s prolonged property slump shows no sign of bottoming out.

“[Policymakers should] respect the right of consumers to make their own decisions and move beyond the entrenched practice of administrative intervention,” Yin said, calling for the removal of purchase, lending and price controls that stifle demand.

He specifically called for less direct intervention in the property market.

The core of China’s new development model for the property industry is to balance government regulation and market forces by building a supply system with both affordable housing and market-rate homes, Yin said.

Lu Feng, a professor of economics at Peking University, stressed that higher spending is key to making the country not only a manufacturing powerhouse but also a consumption one.

China should set a target to raise the share of household consumption in GDP by 5 to 10 percentage points in the next one or two Five-Year Plans, Lu said at the event, adding that this would strengthen the country’s resilience to external pressures.

Household consumption in China accounted for 46.8 per cent of GDP in 2024 – significantly below the global average by about 15 percentage points, said Liu Shangxi, former president of the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences, in March.

This low ratio constrains domestic demand and undermines the sustainability of economic growth, he added.

In first comment on South China Sea crash, Beijing slams ‘dangerous’ moves by Philippines

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322037/first-comment-south-china-sea-crash-beijing-slams-dangerous-moves-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed

Beijing on Friday issued its first direct comment on the reported collision incident in the South China Sea earlier this week, with its Ministry of Defence strongly condemning the Philippine coastguard for “dangerous manoeuvring”.

The Philippine vessels “severely jeopardised the safety of Chinese ship personnel”, ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said, referring to the confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday.

Several Philippine coastguard vessels and government ships had “illegally entered waters near China’s Huangyan Island”, he said, referring to the shoal by its Chinese name.

The Chinese coastguard “had taken measures such as surveillance, external coercion, and interception in accordance with the law to drive them away”, Jiang added, though he did not confirm whether any collision took place.

Scarborough, which the Philippines claims as the Panatag Shoal, has been the scene of numerous stand-offs between rival claimants.

“Philippine coastguard vessels engaged in dangerous manoeuvres multiple times, such as high-speed ramming, sharp turns and crossing in front of Chinese vessels, creating a complex and urgent situation at sea and seriously infringing upon China’s sovereignty and rights,” Jiang said.

While he did not directly confirm whether a Chinese coastguard ship had collided with a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval destroyer, Jiang acknowledged that the safety of Chinese “ship personnel” had been “seriously jeorpardised”, and condemned the Philippines for “seriously undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea”.

“We demand that the Philippine side immediately cease its infringing and provocative actions. The Chinese side reserves the right to take necessary countermeasures and will resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” he said.

Jiang also did not mention if there were any injuries or deaths during the incident.

On Monday, China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesman Gan Yu mentioned only a move to expel the Philippine vessels, adding that its actions were “professional, standardised, legitimate and legal”.

Footage released by the Philippines showed severe damage to the bow of the China Coast Guard ship 3104 after it collided with the PLA destroyer Guilin. The clip showed coastguard crew standing in the front deck of their vessel at the time of the collision. It also showed the CCG 3104 approaching the Philippine vessels while firing its water cannons.

The CCG and the PLA Navy have been conducting routine patrols in the South China Sea as part of Beijing’s efforts to assert its sovereignty over the disputed waters. But Monday’s incident has caused analysts to question the PLA Navy’s ability to coordinate its operations with the coastguard.

According to Manila, the incident took place as two Philippine coastguard ships were escorting a government-owned fishing vessel and 35 local fishing boats in the area as part of a government initiative to support fishing communities.

The Philippine coastguard said its ships, the Teresa Magbanua and the Suluan, were also delivering fuel and other supplies to the fishing boats at the time.

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Temasek fine tunes Chinese stock portfolio as PIF exits Alibaba in sovereign fund tweaks

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3322039/temasek-fine-tunes-chinese-stock-portfolio-pif-exits-alibaba-sovereign-fund-tweaks?utm_source=rss_feed

Two of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds have adjusted their stakes in Chinese equities, trimming their exposure to technology stocks while going long on consumer companies as they mirrored Bridgewater Associates in reacting to volatile markets and rising US-China tensions.

Singapore’s Temasek Holdings cut its stake in Alibaba Group Holding by two-thirds to 1.85 million shares in the quarter that ended in June, according to its 13F disclosure on Thursday. It slashed its JD.com holdings by 87 per cent to 589,256 shares, cut NetEase by 38 per cent to 1.45 million shares and pared H World Group by 8 per cent to 6.24 million shares.

Temasek went long on PDD Holdings, increasing its stake in the Pinduoduo discount e-commerce platform by 28 per cent. It raised its investments in Yum China, which operates the KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in the country, by 30 per cent. It invested in some companies for the first time, buying 1.23 million shares of the real estate brokerage KE Holdings and 1.19 million shares of the electric vehicle maker Xpeng.

The tweaks shrank the value of Temasek’s portfolio of 12 US-traded Chinese stocks by more than a third, or US$699.3 million, to US$1.32 billion at the end of June, based on the Post’s calculations. The value of the Singapore sovereign fund’s equity portfolio of 131 stocks grew 4.4 per cent to US$26 billion in June, from the previous quarter.

Temasek was not alone in selling the shares of Alibaba, which owns this newspaper. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) sold all 1.61 million Alibaba shares that it owns in one of China’s largest technology companies at the end of June for US$212 million, according to its 13F disclosure.

The shift came amid heightened market volatility and mounting signs of investor wariness, as renewed tariff tensions between the US and China in the second quarter sparked sharp pullbacks across both markets.

Just a day earlier, Bridgewater Associates – the world’s largest hedge fund – disclosed that it had exited all 16 of its US-listed Chinese equity positions in the second quarter, worth a combined US$1.4 billion, wiping out its direct exposure to US-traded Chinese stocks for the first time in years.

That included the full liquidation of a US$748.4 million Alibaba stake that had been raised dramatically by the end of 2024. Other divestments included search-engine operator Baidu, travel-booking platform Trip.com, the electric vehicle maker Nio and Yum China.

Oaktree Capital Management, an alternative investments firm, cut all its positions in six US-listed Chinese stocks in the second quarter, including JD.com, Baidu, and video streaming platform Bilibili, its 13F disclosed on Wednesday showed.

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Why this small vacuum tube can be China’s big advantage in electronic warfare

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3322028/why-small-vacuum-tube-can-be-chinas-big-advantage-electronic-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed

In a defence tech laboratory in Beijing, a research team powers up a vacuum tube about the size of a pistol.

Inside, a stream of electrons surges through thin coiled wires, amplifying microwave pulses ranging from 8 to 18 gigahertz with more than 500 watts of output – performance metrics that until recently were only achievable in devices much bigger.

It is the new heart of China’s advanced radar and electronic warfare systems – a miniaturised travelling-wave tube (TWT), and a symbol of how relentless refinement of microscopic details is propelling the country to the forefront of military electronics.

For decades, TWTs have powered high-end radar and electronic warfare systems, capable of amplifying broadband microwave signals with efficiency and power that solid-state amplifiers cannot match.

But their size – especially their height – has long limited their integration into next-generation phased arrays, particularly in aircraft, satellites and stealth platforms where space and weight are at a premium.

Squeezing hundreds or even thousands of tubes into a radar has always been a headache, but Chinese engineers have shrunk a high-power X-Ku band TWT to just 20 millimetres (0.8 inches) in height – less than half the thickness of comparable Western models – with a boost in performance.

“With technological advancements, domestically produced miniaturised travelling-wave tubes have seen significant improvements in bandwidth, power output, and efficiency,” wrote project lead scientist Shi Xuechun with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation’s Beijing Vacuum Electronic Research Institute. The article appeared in a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese-language journal Vacuum Electronics in June.

“When paired with high-gain broadband phased array antennas, they greatly enhance the detection range and accuracy of air defence and missile defence radar systems, while also boosting the jamming effectiveness and operational reach of multi-beam electronic warfare systems.

“From a system integration perspective, phased array systems typically consist of hundreds to thousands of elements. The unit size of travelling-wave tubes or microwave power modules directly impacts critical antenna performance metrics such as grating lobes, and furthermore determines the overall system weight and its adaptability across diverse platforms,” Shi and his colleagues said.

At the core of this advance is a design philosophy rooted in precision engineering: optimise everything, trust nothing to chance and extract performance from the margins.

The new TWT relies on a monolithic composite housing fabricated through integrated welding, eliminating the need for a transitional shell between the electron gun and the periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing system.

This single innovation reduced height and improved structural integrity, but it introduced a new challenge – tighter magnetic spacing could distort the electron beam.

To solve it, engineers re-engineered the PPM system, reducing magnet thickness and inner diameter, then recalibrated the pole piece geometry to maintain a stable axial magnetic field.

They did not stop there. The electron gun, now compressed to under an inch, required exquisite control of electric fields to prevent vacuum arcing.

By refining the vacuum gap between cathode and grid, optimising ceramic insulation surfaces and applying precise “rounding” to sharp electrode edges, they ensured field strength remained below breakdown thresholds – with a safety margin of over 1.5 times the operating voltage.

On the back end, Shi’s team replaced the aluminium sleeves of the collector – which absorbs spent electrons and dissipates heat – with beryllium oxide ceramic. Aluminium and beryllium are “brother metals” with very similar natures, but this small modification makes huge differences.

“The heat transfer efficiency increases nine to 10 times,” the researchers said.

The resulting TWT measured just 185 by 30 by 20mm (7.2 by 1.2 by 0.7 inches), with over 549 watts of output power, 26dB gain, and a dynamic beam transmission efficiency exceeding 97 per cent across the entire band.

When integrated into a microwave power module (MPM), the entire assembly measures 280 by 130 by 22.1mm (11 by 5 by 0.87 inches) – about the size of an iPad.

This miniaturisation is not an isolated achievement. It is part of a broader pattern across China’s military electronics sector – a systematic campaign of incremental optimisation. Engineers have refined beam-forming algorithms, reduced connector reflections, optimised dielectric materials and improved thermal management at the micro-scale.

“It is like drops filling a reservoir, these changes accumulate,” said a Beijing-based defence tech expert who is not involved in the project. “By filling one cup at a time, eventually it will be full.”

The payoff is visible. At this year’s World Radar Expo in Hefei, China unveiled over a hundred new radar systems – airborne, naval, space-based and ground-mobile – spanning microwave, millimetre-wave and even terahertz frequencies. Among them were quantum radar and cognitive electronic warfare systems capable of learning and adapting to enemy signals in real time.

During the India-Pakistan military conflict in May, Chinese-supplied radars – believed to be relatively new platforms such as the JY-27A and LY-80 – reportedly enabled J-10 fighters to down several of India’s French-made Rafales before they could react.

China rolls out mandatory safety regulations for power banks after fire incidents

https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3322002/china-rolls-out-mandatory-safety-regulations-power-banks-after-fire-incidents?utm_source=rss_feed

China has introduced new regulations requiring makers of lithium-ion battery packs to obtain a mandatory quality and security certificate, a move that comes after the demise of a major power bank brand amid a string of fire incidents caused by faulty products.

Starting Friday, power banks must carry a China Compulsory Certification (CCC), or 3C certificate, before they can be sold, distributed or produced in China, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation.

While the regulation is not an outright ban on the use of power banks that do not have the certificate, it could mean that their use in public vehicles or even public venues could be prohibited. China’s civil aviation administration has already banned such power banks on domestic flights.

On e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, owned by Alibaba Group Holding, searches for power banks now showcase results with 3C in the description. A popular search term is “power banks I can bring on the plane”.

Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

China has for some time been issuing 3C certificates, but they have not been mandatory until now. The lack of compulsory quality and safety checks was seen as one cause of multiple fire incidents linked to power banks.

Shenzhen-based power bank giant Romoss Technology suspended production last month after it was linked to multiple instances of combustible power banks. In one case, a faulty power bank set off a blaze in a Beijing university dormitory, while another caught fire on a flight to Hong Kong.

On July 24, China’s market regulator announced a nationwide initiative to improve the quality and safety of power banks. Key measures included strengthening certification oversight, expanding quality spot checks for online sales, enhancing law enforcement against non-compliant products, and ensuring e-commerce platforms manage seller qualifications effectively.

Requirements were put forward covering key manufacturing processes, from screening raw materials to the assembly of the finished power banks. The new rules also strengthen supervision and inspection, including an increase in random inspections of production lines.

The new rule had an immediate impact on power bank sales in the Huaqiangbei market in Shenzhen, one of China’s largest sourcing centres for such products, as consumers were keen to find products with 3C certificates, according to a report by China’s state-run CCTV on Friday.

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China dad warms IV tube for daughter during treatment to provide comfort, moves many online

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3321386/china-dad-warms-iv-tube-daughter-during-treatment-provide-comfort-moves-many-online?utm_source=rss_feed

A man in China who placed an infusion tube in his mouth to provide warmth to his daughter during her medical treatment has touched the hearts of many internet users.

The father, surnamed Zhang, was at a hospital in Shenyang, in the northeastern Liaoning province, with his three-year-old daughter receiving treatment for acute pneumonia, as reported by Haibao News.

Doctors had prescribed nebulisation therapy along with an intravenous (IV) drip for the toddler.

A video that circulated widely online captured a moment where, while the girl sat near a table for her therapy, her father knelt beside her. One hand supported her neck, while the other gently stroked her forehead.

Nebulisation is a process that converts liquid medication into a fine mist, allowing it to be inhaled into the lungs.

Zhang mentioned that his daughter, affectionately nicknamed Momo, felt dizzy due to a restless night, due to persistent coughing.

In a display of care, he put the infusion tube in his mouth to warm the liquid medicine. “The air conditioner in the room is on, and it’s quite cold. I wanted to warm the medicine so my daughter could feel more comfortable,” Zhang said.

After the treatment, he carried her in his arms to lay her on a bed. “When I stood up, I realised my legs were completely numb from squatting for 20 minutes,” he added.

Zhang has dedicated much of his time to caring for his daughter since her birth. “Whenever I have free time, I am with her. My daughter is very attached to me,” he expressed.

The father’s dedication has sparked an outpouring of praise from users on mainland social media.

“He is so gentle. Hats off to this wonderful father!” one user commented.

Another remarked: “This little girl is incredibly lucky to have such a loving and caring father!”

A third user mused: “The one who loves a princess the most isn’t a prince but a king.”

An editorial on the news portal cztv.com noted that, from a scientific perspective, placing the infusion tube in his mouth to warm the liquid medicine is ineffective, as it would quickly return to a cooler temperature once it flows out.

“However, from a psychological standpoint, his approach effectively warms the child’s heart and instils a sense of security,” the commentary stated.

“The father may have realised that his awkward method wouldn’t alter the medicine’s temperature, yet he did it anyway. It’s an instinct born from love,” concluded the article.

China tells US to rein in frontline forces after Scarborough Shoal ‘infringement’

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322017/china-tells-us-rein-frontline-forces-after-scarborough-shoal-infringement?utm_source=rss_feed

China urged the United States to restrain frontline forces on Friday after a US destroyer entered disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said China had expressed “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” and had lodged stern representations with the United States over the matter.

“We urge the US to effectively restrain its frontline forces and immediately cease its related acts of infringement and provocation against China,” Jiang said.

“The Chinese military remains on high alert at all times, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and security, and firmly maintaining regional peace and stability.”

The guided-missile destroyer, USS Higgins, entered disputed waters near Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, two days after a Chinese coastguard vessel and a PLA Navy ship collided while pursuing a Philippine coastguard vessel in the area.

The shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Island in China, is claimed by both countries and controlled by China.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command said on Wednesday that the US destroyer entered the waters “without the approval of the Chinese government” and the People’s Liberation Army’s naval forces “tracked, monitored, and warned the vessel to leave”.

According to US media reports, the US Seventh Fleet said “China’s statement about this mission is false”.

“The operation reflects our commitment to uphold the freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle,” the US Navy was quoted as saying.

“The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.”

The US military has increased its presence in the South China Sea in recent years, but it is rare for its vessels to sail directly into the vicinity of disputed islands.

The last time a similar action occurred was in 2022, when the PLA monitored the USS Benfold, another Arleigh Burke-class vessel, as it left the Paracel Islands, known in China as the Xishas and claimed by Beijing, Taipei and Hanoi.

The PLA described the USS Benfold’s transit as an example of the US’ pursuit of “navigational hegemony”, while the US military described the action as “innocent”.

Japan’s naval move to New Zealand challenges China’s ‘geopolitical opportunism’

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321992/japans-naval-move-new-zealand-challenges-chinas-geopolitical-opportunism?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s recent dispatch of warships to New Zealand – its first in nearly 90 years – signals Tokyo’s intention to take on a greater security role in the region and counter what analysts call increasing Chinese “geopolitical opportunism.”

Carrying more than 500 crew, the two Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyers docked in Wellington last Friday as part of an Indo-Pacific deployment that included war games with Australia, New Zealand and other partners.

The symbolic visit reflects Japan’s intent to deepen defence cooperation with like-minded nations and expand its naval footprint further away from its territorial waters, according to observers.

“Our defence forces are developing cooperative work, not only with New Zealand and Australia but also many Pacific Island countries,” Japan’s envoy to Wellington, Makoto Osawa, said last Friday.

“Our main goal is the free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.

Such deployments to the far South Pacific are uncommon for Japanese naval vessels, but the region’s rich fishing grounds, critical resources and strategic sea lanes have become focal points for competing interests. Western powers, China and regional states are intensifying their military, economic and diplomatic outreach to Pacific Island nations.

New Zealand has also stepped up its security engagement in the Asia-Pacific while maintaining its traditional partnerships, increasing joint exercises and contributing to regional initiatives.

Japan is assuming a greater security role in the South Pacific as US President Donald Trump’s emphasis on domestic priorities has created a regional security vacuum, according to Yoichiro Sato, a professor at Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University.

Sato noted that New Zealand has long been a trusted partner of the Pacific Islands nations and highlighted Japan’s goodwill generated through bilateral economic assistance and diplomacy.

“The two countries teaming up have a ‘soft power’ dimension, which sometimes softens bold hard power messages that accompany US or even Australian approaches to the island states,” Sato said.

Some Pacific Island leaders say Washington has historically prioritised its strategic interests in the region over addressing their concerns, often relying on Australia to uphold its interests in the region.

Australia has often been criticised for taking a heavy-handed approach in its aid delivery, often with little consultation and dictating how Pacific Island nations should run their governments and public institutions.

Sato noted that Japan’s relations with South Pacific countries, including New Zealand, have a strong humanitarian help and disaster relief dimension, a key component of the US Navy’s engagement with the Pacific Island states.

“Japan is shouldering a growing part of this effort,” Sato added.

A Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ship, JS Osumi, visited Tonga in 2022 to deliver relief materials after a volcanic eruption.

Another vessel, the JS Kirisame, later visited both Tonga and Fiji that same year as part of the Indo-Pacific Deployment, a Japanese initiative that began that year aimed at realising a “free and open” region and has become an annual event.

This year’s port calls in the South Pacific included Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and several other nations.

Japan’s growing port calls are part of its expanding network of regional security partnerships, which offer Pacific Island nations a “diplomatic alternative” to Chinese influence, Sato said.

Stephen Nagy, professor of politics and international studies at Tokyo’s International Christian University, said Japan sees the growing Chinese presence in the South Pacific as “geopolitical opportunism”.

Tokyo understands that mainland China’s efforts to build regional ties are aimed at isolating Taiwan, gaining access to fisheries and other resources, and blocking sea lanes to prevent unified military cooperation with the US and Australia, Nagy said.

“With all this in mind, Tokyo wants to expand its naval presence and diplomatic activity in the region to provide South Pacific countries a real alternative to Beijing,” Nagy said.

This push for greater cooperation is significant for allies like New Zealand, whose large exclusive economic zone is difficult to “patrol” with its limited resources, said Alexander Tan, principal research fellow and founder of the Christchurch-based Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs.

“Joint efforts with like-minded countries are helpful in that regard,” Tan said, and in maintaining global order, especially given the ‘intensification of major power competition’ in the South Pacific region”.

A vital area for New Zealand’s economy, environment, and national security, its exclusive economic zone covers more than 4 million square miles (10.36 million sq km).

The Pacific region offers China strategic opportunities, including access to resources like fish stocks and minerals, and a chance to extend its diplomatic and military influence.

Additional reporting by Associated Press

China’s Xi Jinping calls for ‘no delay’ in private sector protection

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321999/chinas-xi-jinping-calls-no-delay-private-sector-protection?utm_source=rss_feed

In another show of support for China’s private sector, Beijing has released the details of a speech from President Xi Jinping which included vows the country would guarantee a level playing field for private firms, safeguard entrepreneurs’ lawful rights and interests, and step up efforts to solve their long-standing challenges, including overdue payments.

The full address, delivered in February to a group of China’s leading entrepreneurs, had not been made available to the public before Friday, when Qiushi – the ruling Communist Party’s theoretical journal – posted a transcript on its website.

“The policies and measures to promote the development of the private economy must be implemented in a solid and thorough manner,” Xi said in February. “Whatever the party Central Committee has decided must be resolutely carried out – without ambiguity, delay, or compromise.”

Among those present at the gathering were founders and CEOs from the country’s major tech companies, including Alibaba’s Jack Ma, Wang Xingxing of Unitree Robotics, DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng and Ren Zhengfei of Huawei Technologies. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.

“In recent years, governments at all levels have introduced various enterprise relief policies, yet many private businesses report limited tangible benefits,” Xi said.

“To address this, we must first enhance policy precision – grounding measures in reality and ensuring that commitments translate into concrete, substantive assistance. Moreover, all eligible enterprises of the same category should receive equal treatment.”

China’s private sector accounts for roughly 60 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and 80 per cent of urban employment.

Separately, a recent survey found that in the first half of the year, China’s private firms had differing fortunes, with traditional industry players hit hard by the US trade war and cutthroat domestic competition, in contrast to a strong performance from the tech sector.

The Beijing Dacheng Enterprise Institute’s findings, released on Thursday, were based on online interviews with 58 private entrepreneurs across different industries and provinces in the middle of this year.

“As for the overall operating conditions faced by Chinese firms, more than 60 per cent of those interviewed said they were ‘very challenging’,” it said in a report detailing the results of the survey.

Traditional manufacturing, services, and real estate-related sectors generally experienced declining revenues and profits, tightening cash flows and a noticeable rise in lay-offs, the report said.

“If the situation does not improve in the short term, there may be a crisis of widespread corporate bankruptcies,” it said, citing interviews with unnamed entrepreneurs.

About 30 per cent of them saw declines in both revenue and profits in the first half of this year. Only 20 per cent reported growth in both.

The results come as Beijing attaches increased importance to bolstering domestic demand and boosting private sector employment. After the Private Economy Promotion Law was enacted on May 20, the Supreme People’s Court published a variety of rulings designed to further protect the private sector.

Entrepreneurs were gaining confidence following the enactment of the law, but they also expressed hope that related policies and regulations would be effectively implemented, the report said.

Payment defaults, financing difficulties and local enforcement of laws were listed as their major concerns, but they put most of their current difficulties down to weak demand, both overseas and at home.

The photovoltaic industry, one example cited in the report, saw product homogenisation and oversupply, with profit margins for components, inverters and other hardware continuing to shrink.

China’s economy showed signs of strain in July, with several headline indicators losing momentum. National retail sales growth slowed to 3.7 per cent year on year from 4.8 per cent in June, while year-on-year industrial output growth slowed to 5.7 per cent from 6.8 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday.

Private investment dropped 1.5 per cent year on year in the first seven months of this year.

Entrepreneurs in the stronger performing emerging industries and hi-tech sectors emphasised the need to continuously increase research and development investment, enhance market competitiveness, and focus on developing differentiated, high-value-added products to secure a unique competitive position in the market.

They also said Chinese firms should pursue international expansion by exploring emerging overseas markets, diversifying production bases, and establishing transit warehouses to enhance re-export trade.

China’s Tsinghua University helps to break 40-year-old maths cap on computer speed

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321817/chinas-tsinghua-university-helps-break-40-year-old-maths-cap-computer-speed?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese computer scientists have solved a 40-year-old mathematics bottleneck, a breakthrough that holds significant implications for boosting the performance of hi-tech areas ranging from chip design and telecommunications to drone navigation.

One of the most fundamental problems in theoretical computer science is finding the shortest or most efficient path from one starting point to every other point in a network. Within the academic community, this problem is known as the “single-source shortest-paths” problem (SSSP).

For decades, the most famous and reliable method to overcome this has been Dijkstra’s algorithm, which repeatedly searches for the shortest path for each segment, continuously comparing and sorting the points until reaching its destination. Yet this sorting step poses an unavoidable speed limit.

A new approach devised by a group of young Chinese scientists promises to overcome the barrier, by skipping the sorting process and focusing only on the shortest distance between the most important points, thus greatly reducing calculation time.

The study, led by associate professor Duan Ran’s research team at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences (IIIS) at Tsinghua University, was published last month on arXiv, an open-access platform for preprint papers that are yet to be peer reviewed.

This development also won the Best Paper Award at the ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing or STOC, held in Prague in June.

“It’s an amazing result,” said Robert Tarjan, a Turing Award-winning American computer scientist and mathematician at Princeton University. “The authors were audacious in thinking they could break this barrier,” he said in an interview with science and maths journal Quanta Magazine this month.

Shortest-path algorithms are powerful tools used to tackle many real-world problems, with navigation being the most recognised example.

In circuit design, for instance, pathfinding can be used to determine the most efficient layout of components on a circuit board, thereby minimising wire length and reducing signal delay. It can also be used to plan the path for robots, drones and even disaster evacuation.

To analyse the SSSP problem mathematically, researchers use the language of graphs. In a graph, nodes represent locations. Lines, called “edges”, connect these nodes and can be labelled with numbers representing distances, travel times or toll costs, for example.

Dijkstra’s algorithm, which was proposed in 1956 by the Dutch computer scientist Edsger Dijkstra, has long been regarded as the textbook solution. The algorithm starts at a source node and gradually examines all reachable connections, always choosing the closest one at each stage.

In 1984, computer scientists including Tarjan devised improvements that took Dijkstra’s technique to its theoretical speed limit. But to go any faster, the sorting constraint had to be broken.

According to a report by Quanta Magazine earlier this month, Duan came up with a more promising approach in 2021. This basic idea was further developed when Mao Xiao, a PhD student in computer science at Stanford University, joined the endeavour last year.

The key to their breakthrough is a combination of Dijkstra’s algorithm with another algorithm for the shortest-paths problem called Bellman-Ford, which is much slower but does not produce a sorted list.

The new algorithm first splits the graph into layers, grouping neighbouring nodes within a certain range, or “frontier”. It then uses the Bellman-Ford algorithm to identify influential frontier nodes and only performs detailed calculations on key nodes, thereby significantly reducing computational complexity.

The team will next explore whether the algorithm can be streamlined to make it even faster, according to Quanta Magazine.

Top Southeast Asian leaders will travel to China for military parade, sources say

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321933/top-southeast-asian-leaders-will-travel-china-military-parade-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed

Top Southeast Asian leaders are expected to attend China’s military parade next month to commemorate the end of World War II, in what would be a show of Beijing’s growing influence in the region.

Many countries are said to be sending more senior delegations than they did a decade ago, when the first such parade was held.

According to multiple sources with knowledge of the matter, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will likely attend the parade, set to be held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3.

They said Vietnam was likely to send its president, Luong Cuong, the country’s No 2 official.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said leaders from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar were expected to first attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin before heading to Beijing for the parade.

Cambodia and Myanmar are dialogue partners of the SCO, a largely Eurasian security bloc. China, which is chairing the SCO this year, will host the summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. Laos is expected to formally join the grouping as a dialogue partner at the meeting.

China’s foreign ministry has said this year’s SCO summit would be the biggest held so far.

It is only the second time the People’s Liberation Army has staged a Victory Day parade – the first was held in 2015.

Hu Heping, deputy head of the Communist Party’s publicity department, said in June that the parade would be part of a ceremony marking 80 years since China’s triumph over the Japanese invasion and the global victory against fascism. President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech during the ceremony.

Hu said leaders and senior officials from foreign countries would be invited to the ceremony but did not offer further details.

The delegations from Southeast Asia are expected to be higher ranking than those who travelled to China for the inaugural Victory Day parade.

In 2015, the presidents of Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam attended the event. Cambodia was represented by King Norodom Sihamoni while Thailand sent its deputy prime minister. Singapore and the Philippines sent former senior officials, and Indonesia was represented by a special envoy, its minister of national development planning.

Southeast Asia’s scaled-up representation at the parade comes as China is courting countries in the region. In recent months, Beijing has sought to portray itself as a stable and reliable partner for the region as nations navigate so-called reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Xi visited the region in April on his first foreign trip of the year, with stops in Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. He urged the nations to stand up against “unilateral bullying” and oppose hegemonism, a reference to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs.

Beijing is expected to use next month’s parade to show its rising global influence and also progress in its military modernisation drive.

In June, Wu Zeke, deputy head of the warfare bureau at the Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department, said the parade would highlight China’s will to “resolutely defend” the post-WWII order and that it would showcase the military’s combat capabilities and emerging technologies.

“On top of a new generation of traditional weapons and equipment, a range of new combat forces will participate in the parade, including unmanned intelligence, underwater combat, as well as cyber and hypersonic systems,” Wu said.

Among the other world leaders expected to travel to China for the event, the Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic have also confirmed their attendance.

In Beijing, preparations for the massive parade are in full swing. Last weekend, some 22,000 people took part in security preparations and rehearsals, which “comprehensively tested organisational support and command operations”, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Chinese couple escape unscathed from serious car crash, decide to get married right away

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3321343/chinese-couple-escape-unscathed-serious-car-crash-decide-get-married-right-away?utm_source=rss_feed

A Chinese couple narrowly escaped a serious car crash with only minor injuries and chose to get married shortly after, receiving heartfelt congratulations from across social media.

The 31-year-old man, surnamed Ma, had just returned from a self-driving trip with his girlfriend, travelling from their hometown in central China’s Shanxi province to Shandong province in the east.

On July 26, while driving on a two-lane highway in Shandong, Ma attempted to overtake a truck. Just as he manoeuvred past the truck’s left rear wheel, its left front tyre blew out, causing the vehicle to veer towards Ma’s car.

Despite Ma’s quick reaction to brake, they were unable to avoid a collision, getting squeezed against the highway’s median barrier. Their vehicle sustained severe damage, with both the front and rear dangerously mangled. Remarkably, Ma and his girlfriend, who was seated in the front passenger seat, emerged with only cuts and bruises.

Even the responding traffic police remarked that it was a miracle they survived. The truck driver also emerged unscathed. Ma later shared the truck’s dashcam footage online, where viewers noted that the driver accelerated after the tyre rupture, allowing Ma to narrowly avoid a more devastating impact.

Grateful for their safety, Ma emphasised their habit of wearing seat belts, which undoubtedly contributed to their survival.

Later that evening, Ma suggested to his girlfriend that they should get married. The couple, who were introduced by friends and had been dating for a year, had previously discussed marriage but had not been particularly eager to rush into it.

Though they intended to marry soon after the incident, Ma’s girlfriend expressed concern about their appearance, with their clothes torn from the crash. Ultimately, they registered their marriage just a few days later on July 29, after returning home.

Both sets of parents were thrilled about their union, especially given the couple’s extraordinary brush with fate, which they described as “bound by life and death”.

Ma shared their inspiring story online, garnering thousands of warm wishes.

One commenter wrote: “Those who survive great disasters will experience good fortune afterward.”

Another added: “They are proving that love defeats death’s power.”

Additionally, they received a congratulatory message from Xpeng P7, the Chinese electric vehicle brand they were driving during the incident: “Wishing you happiness, safety, and luck.”

How China clothed the world with a gigatonne of fabric in 2 generations

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321891/how-china-clothed-world-gigatonne-fabric-2-generations?utm_source=rss_feed

In just over four decades, China has produced more than a gigatonne of textile fibres – equivalent to 1 billion tonnes or roughly twice the total human mass on the planet, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Tsinghua University.

The research, published late last month in the peer-reviewed journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling, mapped textile fibre flows and stocks in China from 1978 to 2022 – a period of rapid economic and societal development in China.

The study traces how a nation transformed from a closed economy into the world’s garment maker, powering economic growth at home and supplying affordable garments to consumers across continents.

But the study also found that nearly 30 per cent of the textiles used in China had become waste, with only a small proportion recycled.

According to the research, the waste recovery rate in China is only 17 per cent, with most of this being downcycled – recycled into products of lower quality or value than the original material. The global waste recovery rate is around 12 per cent, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Given the textile industry’s complexity and size, tracking its global flows and environmental footprint has been a challenge for both academics and policymakers, particularly in China – a key player accounting for more than half of global processing capacity.

Using a method called “dynamic material flow analysis”, the researchers traced the sector’s production, manufacturing, use and waste management.

Zhu Bing, corresponding author of the study and a professor of chemical engineering at Tsinghua University, said: “We are the first team to quantify the entire supply chain of the sector in China in such a dynamic and comprehensive way.”

Zhu, who also heads Tsinghua’s Institute for Circular Economy, added that the research, which produced a massive amount of data, could lay the foundation for further research and policymaking, such as enabling a more accurate assessment of the recycling potential of waste.

The global annual production of textile fibre has more than tripled from 33 million tonnes in 1975 to 116 million tonnes in 2022 and is projected to grow by an additional 27 per cent by 2030.

The industry is grappling with serious environmental challenges. The fashion industry contributes 2 to 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and 92 million tonnes of waste were generated in 2015 alone.

Textile fibres fall into three broad categories: synthetic, natural and artificial cellulosic.

The production of synthetic fibres made from primary polymers – whether derived from petrochemical sources or agricultural crops – emits large amounts of carbon. In addition, the consumption and use of synthetic fibre products cause microplastic pollution.

The other two categories are derived from plant and animal sources.

Natural fibres, such as cotton, hemp, wool and silk, require large amounts of water and soil, and rely on pesticides for cultivation. Artificial cellulosic fibres are the product of specific chemical treatments and reconstitutions of natural polymers, particularly cellulose, but their production involves harmful chemicals.

As a group of British scientists pointed out in an article published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology last year, the environmental impacts of the fashion and textile industry are “notoriously difficult to quantify” due to the scale of its globalised supply chains.

“Establishing a complete understanding of this industry’s global environmental footprint, and communicating it effectively, therefore has considerable potential in advancing, and clarifying, the public understanding of sustainability,” the British team said.

Although many countries and regions are now advocating the idea of “circular fashion”, Zhu said textile industry governance should be considered within a broader socio-economic context.

“Society should oppose fast fashion practices, while also promoting consumption and striking a balance between international trade and the recycling and utilisation of discarded textiles to achieve sustainability,” Zhu said.

He said that their research aimed to “highlight the complexity of this system and provide a scientific foundation for the formulation of future policies”, suggesting that policymakers “consider the entire supply chain and its connections with many other industries”.

China’s home prices continue slide as support measures fail to budge sentiment

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3321953/chinas-home-prices-continue-slide-support-measures-fail-budge-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed

A gauge of new home prices in China slid 0.3 per cent in July, adding to the steepest drop in eight months in June as a slew of recent government support measures did little to revive citizens’ interest in property investment.

The month-on-month drop in new home prices across 70 major cities matched the decline in the previous month, which was the sharpest since a 0.5 per cent fall in October, according to National Bureau of Statistics data released on Friday.

New home prices have been sliding since April 2022 on a year-on-year basis. Last month, they fell by 3.4 per cent from a year earlier, narrowing from a 3.7 per cent decline in June.

Authorities have introduced a series of measures since September to support the housing sector. This month, the Beijing municipal government made a surprise move to lift home-purchase restrictions in the city’s outlying areas, a step analysts said could signal similar measures in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Other stimulus measures included cuts to mortgage rates and down payments, while local governments continued easing home-purchase restrictions to support prices. Banks have also been encouraged to provide developers with additional funding through the project “white list” scheme.

Prices in China’s four first-tier cities fell 0.2 per cent in July from a month earlier, when they dropped 0.3 per cent. In the southern metropolises of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, prices declined steadily over the last quarter, falling 0.3 per cent and 0.6 per cent, respectively. In Beijing, July prices were unchanged, while Shanghai continued to buck the trend, with prices rising 0.3 per cent to cap more than three years of increases.

Demand remains lacklustre, with cautious consumers adding to their savings rather than investing in homes, thus extending the struggles of developers, which have been battling a liquidity crunch since a nationwide deleveraging campaign began in late 2020 to rein in debt in the sector. China Evergrande, once China’s biggest developer, said it would delist from the Hong Kong stock exchange this month, nearly four years after it first defaulted. Meanwhile, other major developers including Country Garden, Sunac and Vanke continue to wrestle with heavy debt burdens.

The number of cities reporting a decline in home prices rose in July to 60 from 56 a month earlier. While seasonal factors – July is traditionally a slower month – played a role, the trend also reflected a tangible drop in housing demand, said Yan Yuejin, vice-president of E-House China Real Estate Research Institute in Shanghai.

“Some developers have been saying since the second quarter that sentiment has been waning,” he said. “A moderate reduction in home prices will better align demand with supply, but severe price adjustments could rattle the market, which is something we should avoid.”

The pressure on China’s property sector comes as other key indicators lose momentum, amid weakening domestic consumption and the ongoing trade war with the US. July retail sales rose 3.7 per cent, slower than expected and down from a 4.8 per cent increase in June. Industrial output also fell short of forecasts, growing 5.7 per cent from a year earlier, the weakest reading since November.

In the second-hand home market, where prices have been falling for more than two years, July sales slipped 0.5 per cent from June, which saw a 0.6 per cent drop. On an annual basis, prices fell 5.9 per cent in July, compared with a 6.1 per cent drop in June.

Property investment continued to dwindle in the first seven months of the year, dropping 12 per cent to 5.36 trillion yuan (US$746.5 billion) from a year earlier, compared with a decline of 11.2 per cent in the first six months, official data showed.

China unveils cruise missile, Kim Keon hee’s fall from grace: SCMP’s 7 highlights

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3321843/china-unveils-cruise-missile-kim-keon-hees-fall-grace-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider .

China’s Xiluodu Dam – one of the world’s largest hydropower stations – has fully transitioned away from Western-made industrial control chips over national security and supply chain resilience concerns, according to a leading Chinese industrial chip supplier.

More tension is expected in the South China Sea following a collision between two Chinese vessels, with analysts predicting the incident was likely to prompt Beijing to further increase its presence in the contested waterway.

Apple has started testing Douyin Pay as a new mobile payment service on its China App Store, according to mainland media reports, while purportedly leaked images of the iPhone 17 stirred up discussion on Chinese social media this week.

A diamond pendant worth tens of thousands of dollars, once worn by former South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee on an official trip, has become the unlikely catalyst for her fall from grace.

China has released rare footage of its mysterious DF-100 supersonic cruise missile in action, shedding new light on the specifications and mobility of the model believed to be a major deterrent for US warships and military bases in the region.

The suspension of a Hong Kong private school that targeted students in mainland China has left parents in limbo, with some having paid HK$200,000 (US$25,500) but now unable to reach the institution despite repeated attempts.

A man in eastern China has sued a gym after he paid it more than 870,000 yuan (US$120,000) for memberships lasting 300 years before the management fled with his cash.

China’s economy shows signs of strain as retail sales, industrial output lose momentum

https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3321925/chinas-economy-shows-signs-strain-retail-sales-industrial-output-lose-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s economy showed signs of strain in July, with several headline indicators losing momentum amid a weakening of domestic consumption, headwinds from the US trade war and a prolonged property downturn.

Retail sales, a major gauge of consumption, rose by 3.7 per cent year on year in July, a decrease compared with the 4.8 per cent growth rate recorded in June, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday.

The figures fell short of the 4.87 per cent growth forecast from a poll of economists by financial data provider Wind.

“Generally speaking, the national economy, with the effects of macro policy unfolding in July, maintained steady development momentum,” said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the bureau.

“However, we should be aware that the external environment remains complex and severe, and certain risks and challenges to economic performance persist.”

Beijing has made increasing domestic consumption a key policy priority this year, as it looks to rebalance the Chinese economy and offset the impact of US tariffs.

The Politburo, a powerful decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, reaffirmed its goal of expanding demand by improving people’s livelihoods and promoting new service industries at a meeting last month.

China’s trade-in programme for appliances and other household goods has been a major driver of spending this year. The scheme had generated more than 1.6 trillion yuan (US$223 billion) in sales as of July 16, according to official data, but several provinces have had to suspend their subsidies for certain items due to depleted funds.

Beijing has allocated 231 billion yuan from ultra-long special treasury bonds to fund the programme this year, with the latest tranche of funding released last month. Another 69 billion yuan of funds is due to become available in October.

Industrial output grew by 5.7 per cent year on year in July, down from 6.8 per cent in June and underperforming Wind’s 5.82 per cent forecast.

The figures followed last week’s report of a surge in export growth in July despite the trade war. While China’s shipments to the United States continued to fall, total exports grew by 7.2 per cent – the highest level since April – boosted by rising shipments to other markets including Africa and Europe, as well as a surge in chip exports.

Despite strong export growth, China’s economic momentum is weakening, said Zhang Zhiwei, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, who noted the subsidy-induced boost to retail sales is also fading.

“The economic slowdown is expected by the market. Gross domestic product growth in the first half of the year exceeded the full year target of 5 per cent, therefore the government can tolerate moderate slowdown in the second half.”

China’s national fixed-asset investment rose by 1.6 per cent in the first seven months of 2025, falling short of Wind’s forecast of 2.68 per cent, following a 2.8 per cent gain in the first half of the year.

Property investment – a drag on the economy since 2021, when several major Chinese developers fell into liquidity crises – continued to decline, falling 12 per cent in the January-July period, compared with an 11.2 per cent slump in the first six months.

New home sales by floor area were down 4 per cent in the first seven months of 2025, after declining 3.5 per cent in the first half.

Elsewhere, the overall urban unemployment rate for July stood at 5.2 per cent, compared with 5 per cent a month earlier.

More to follow ...

China unveils first high-speed VTOL jet drone that makes every warship an aircraft carrier

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321677/china-unveils-first-high-speed-vtol-jet-drone-makes-every-warship-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed

In an aviation tech breakthrough that could change naval warfare, Chinese aerospace engineers have unveiled what could be the world’s first high-speed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone powered by a jet engine.

The sleek, runway-independent uncrewed aircraft can be launched from the decks of ordinary warships – even in rough seas – and transition seamlessly into a fast, long-range cruise flight.

The drone, representing a radical departure from conventional drone designs, was developed by a 10-year effort led by associate professors Wang Yaokun and Qiu Yuting with Beihang University, a top aviation research institute in Beijing targeted by US sanctions.

Unlike the US Air Force’s XQ-58A Valkyrie, which requires long runways or aircraft carriers for take-off and landing, this new Chinese platform combines vertical lift ability with jet-powered high-speed flight in a single, aerodynamically refined airframe.

This breakthrough could potentially transform every Chinese destroyer, frigate or amphibious vessel into a mini aircraft carrier.

“We’ve compared it to other mainstream VTOL drones at present. It is far superior in terms of speed,” wrote the project team in a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese-language journal Aero Weaponry on July 15.

At the heart of the innovation is a composite aerodynamic configuration that solves one of the oldest challenges in aviation: how to reconcile the conflicting demands of vertical lift and high-speed efficiency.

The drone uses a dual-system approach: compact rotors mounted at the bottom provide lift during take-off and landing, while a miniature turbojet engine powers high-speed cruise.

But what sets this design apart is a patented retractable fairing system – an aerodynamic cover that encloses the idle rotors once they are shut down after transition to forward flight.

During vertical ascent, the rotors spin freely, allowing the drone to lift off like a helicopter from a cramped warship deck. As speed increases, the wings generate enough lift to sustain flight and the rotors gradually spin down.

At that point, the fairings slide shut over the rotor hubs, sealing them from airflow and reducing parasitic drag by as much as 60 per cent, according to computational fluid dynamics simulations verified in wind tunnel tests.

The result is a remarkably clean, teardrop-shaped fuselage – nearly indistinguishable from a pure jet drone in cruise – enabling efficient high-speed flight while retaining full VTOL capability.

“It can lift off and land vertically under extreme conditions,” according to Qiu and her colleagues.

To meet the extreme demands of high-speed flight and repeated vertical landings, the team developed new advanced composites that can be mass-produced with existing materials at a low cost, including T-700-grade carbon fibre reinforced with modified resin matrices.

The airframe is both lightweight and strong, with improved fatigue resistance critical for carrier-like operations on rolling decks.

Crucially, the design includes thermal shielding in areas exposed to the exhaust of the miniature turbojet, allowing localised temperatures to exceed 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit) without structural compromise.

The propulsion system also requires sophisticated control algorithms: a compact turbojet provides sustained thrust for high-speed cruise, while an electric rotor system enables precise hover and landing control.

Flight tests showed smooth transitions between flight modes, with control algorithms managing the complex shift from rotary to fixed-wing flight with smoothness and stability.

A small version of the drone, just 45kg (99Ibs) in total weight, achieved 230km/h (142mph) with ease in a test flight, according to the researchers.

The project, according to openly available information on Beihang University’s website, began in 2015 and underwent multiple iterations before achieving a stable configuration by 2019.

It was conceived specifically for the Chinese navy’s need for aircraft for “non-carrier vessels”, according to an article dated in 2019.

The emphasis was on “multi-drone coordination, high-speed reconnaissance and vertical take-off and landing from destroyer decks”, it added.

If deployed at scale, the Chinese navy could operate high-speed, long-range reconnaissance and strike drones from virtually any vessel, according to a Chinese defence technology expert not involved in the project.

Such drones could launch in swarms from dispersed ships, penetrate adversary air defences at high speed, conduct time-sensitive surveillance or strike missions and return to their host vessels without relying on distant land bases or fixed airfields.

In scenarios involving island chain warfare, maritime blockade operations or a rapid crisis response, this capability would allow the Chinese navy to maintain persistent coverage over vast oceanic areas, coordinating with ship-borne radar and command systems to create a distributed, resilient combat network.

“This turns every major surface combatant into a forward-operating base,” said the expert, who requested not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

“The enemy can’t predict where the next strike will come from.”

Strategically, the technology could extend China’s operational reach far into the Pacific and Indian oceans, improving its ability to project power and deter intervention in regional flashpoints.

Yet the design is not without compromises. During high-speed cruise, the rotor system – though enclosed – becomes a deadweight, occupying space and adding mass that reduces payload capacity and fuel efficiency.

Similarly, during vertical flight, the turbojet and its fuel lines remain inert, contributing to structural burden.

As a result, the drone’s endurance and range likely fall short of pure jet-powered platforms like the Global Hawk or XQ-58A.

Its payload can be also limited, making it better suited for reconnaissance, electronic warfare or precision strikes with small munitions, rather than heavy ordnance.

“There is always a price for operational freedom,” said the expert.

‘We’re blowing everyone away’: Trump shrugs off Latin American nations looking to China

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321920/were-blowing-everyone-away-trump-shrugs-latin-american-nations-looking-china?utm_source=rss_feed

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was not worried about Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American nations moving closer to China, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “They can do whatever they want.”

The remarks came during a brief exchange at the White House. Trump added: “You know, none of them are doing very well, and what we’re doing in terms of economics, we’re blowing everyone away, including China. We’re doing better than any other country in the world right now.”

Trump’s comments came as Brazil steps up coordination with Beijing to mount a multilateral response to the tariffs he imposed last month.

On Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke for about an hour by phone with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss the “Brics bloc’s role in countering unilateral trade measures”.

The call was arranged after Washington announced a 50 per cent tariff on a wide range of Brazilian exports in late July, threatening billions of dollars in trade.

Trump has linked the tariffs to Brazil’s political crisis, citing the criminal prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro on charges of plotting to overturn the 2022 election.

Brazil’s prosecutor general, Paulo Gonet, has accused Bolsonaro of directly coordinating plans to assassinate then president-elect Lula, vice president-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the coup attempt case, after losing the election.

The US sanctioned de Moraes last month under the Magnitsky Act, alleging human rights violations against Bolsonaro and his allies.

Doubling down on his argument on Thursday, Trump called Brazil “one of the worst countries on Earth” as a trading partner, accusing it of imposing “tremendous tariffs” for years and making trade “very difficult”.

In fact, the US maintained a US$7 billion surplus with Brazil last year, with eight of the 10 main American export products to the South American nation exempt from tariffs, according to Brazilian trade data.

“They made it very difficult to do anything,” Trump said. “So now they’re being charged 50 per cent tariffs, and they’re not happy, but that’s the way it goes.”

Mexico has also deepened trade with China. Exports to the Chinese market reached a record US$5.2 billion in the first half of 2025, according to figures reported on Thursday by local newspaper El Economista.

Trump has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on Mexican goods but extended by 90 days earlier this month the deadline for reaching a deal with its neighbour.

China actress Zhao Lusi claims talent agency forced exorcism to treat her depression

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3321105/china-actress-claims-talent-agency-locked-her-hotel-exorcism-treat-depression?utm_source=rss_feed

A Chinese actress says that her agency locked her in a hotel room and performed an exorcism on her to treat depression.

The shocking allegation has sparked a heated online discussion about possible abuse and mental health-related stigma in China.

Zhao Lusi, who is also known as Rosy Zhao, has been dubbed one of China’s “top flowers born after 1995”.

The 26-year-old debuted in the variety show Mars Intelligence Agency in 2016 and became a household name for appearing in television series like The Romance of Tiger and Rose and Hidden Love.

She reportedly fell ill due to depression last December and had to cancel and suspend ongoing work.

On August 2, Zhao revealed on her social media account, which has 31 million followers, that her agency made her pay the penalty for breach of contract, despite them promising to take responsibility.

She had already been forced to pay two million yuan (US$280,000).

Zhao said she has faced constant verbal and physical abuse from her company.

Earlier this year, Zhao’s friend claimed Zhao was reprimanded for hours in a bathroom at 2am by her boss in 2019 because she failed an audition.

The company, Tianjin Galaxy Cool Entertainment Culture Media Co. Ltd, has denied the accusation.

Zhao had returned to work within three months with a reality show tailored for her.

The show, Be Myself, featured Zhao visiting the impoverished countryside and “getting close to” the locals.

In the show, Zhao tells villagers she did not feel well due to work pressure and depression and slept only two hours a day. She also called a girl who climbed a cliff to pick Matsutake “cool”.

She was criticised by some as frivolous and condescending, disregarding the plight of the villagers.

Zhao blamed her company for designing the show for her and telling people that she was faking her illness.

She also posted her diagnoses from the hospital, showing that she had severe anxiety and depression.

In following live-streaming sessions, Zhao also revealed that her company did not take her to hospital after she developed physical symptoms due to her mental illness.

Instead, they locked her in her hotel room and asked a shaman to perform an exorcism on her.

The shaman also said an evil spell had been cast on her.

Many people online say they believe Zhao’s story.

“Chinese show business is famously superstitious. A common example is films and television dramas choosing auspicious days to start shooting,” one said.

Zhao said she was stupid to have renewed a four-year contract with the company earlier this year.

She said she wanted to quit show business and open a noodle shop.

On August 3, Zhao’s company said that they had always supported Zhao, a claim which the actress has refuted.

The company did not respond to the controversy regarding the penalty.

Online observers supported Zhao: “If she stays there longer, she might die,” one person said.

It has been reported that because of her talent, Zhao generates 80 per cent of the company’s income.

Amid big-city gloom, can China’s far-flung counties become a key driver of consumption?

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321826/amid-big-city-gloom-can-chinas-far-flung-counties-become-key-driver-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed

As widespread economic gloom in China’s megacities sees high-end restaurants close their doors one after another, Starbucks is accelerating its expansion into the country’s far-flung counties, where a growing number of residents are embracing a petit-bourgeois lifestyle.

While county shopping centres might not stock Dyson vacuum cleaners and hairdryers, they have already become part of daily life in households in urban counties thanks to China’s ubiquitous e-commerce networks.

Driving Teslas and eating expensive cherries imported from South America, the expanding middle class in smaller cities and towns is fuelling China’s next wave of consumption.

As the world’s second-largest economy grows more slowly, residents of major cities have reined in their spending. But the consumption upgrade in China’s more numerous lower-tier markets is far from complete, experts said.

With lighter economic burdens, faster income growth and greater confidence in the future, consumers in such areas have stronger purchasing power and a greater willingness to spend, becoming a new engine for consumption growth as China seeks to shift its economy towards a consumption-driven model and away from one relying on exports and investment.

“Lower-tier cities have been overlooked in the past, with their consumption potential untapped, while the disposable consumption capacity of first-tier city residents is more affected by the slowing economy,” said Professor Liu Xuexin, who heads a consumer data research institute at Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing.

In China’s governance hierarchy, county-level cities sit below prefecture-level ones, covering smaller urban and rural areas, including townships and villages, and serving as regional hubs for commerce, education, healthcare and local government.

Classified by their economic strength and population, such cities are usually – and informally – referred to as being third-tier or lower, lacking the scale and influence of first- or second-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and the provincial capitals. A typical third-tier city is Yiwu, in east China’s Zhejiang province, which is known for its globally focused wholesale markets.

According to the 2020 census, about 509 million people lived in China’s first- and second-tier cities, meaning around 903 million lived outside them.

A nationwide survey conducted by management consultancy McKinsey & Company at the end of last year found that nearly 80 per cent of Chinese consumers in third- and fourth-tier cities expressed optimism about the economy, compared with 70 per cent in second-tier cities and 67 per cent in first-tier ones. However, the rates for all were down compared with 2023, it said in a report released in May.

In terms of retail sales, about 97 per cent of the 171 non-first-tier cities across China that publish such data reported positive year-on-year growth last year, with third- and fourth-tier cities outperforming, according to statistics compiled by Chinese news app thepaper.cn in March. Yuxi, a fourth-tier city in Yunnan province, reported the highest growth rate at 8.8 per cent.

In contrast, official figures showed that Shanghai’s total retail sales of consumer goods fell 3.1 per cent last year, while those in Beijing declined 2.7 per cent.

Lily Huang, a housewife who moved from Beijing to Haiyan, a county-level city in Zhejiang, several years ago with her family, said she now buys the same kinds of products she used to buy in Beijing, despite the bad macroeconomic environment in recent years and its effects on incomes.

“We don’t feel a lot of pressure, most probably because we don’t have a large loan to repay since home prices are much cheaper here,” she said.

A lower housing price-to-income ratio than in high-tier cities is one reason lower-tier cities are experiencing faster consumption growth, according to a research note issued by China International Capital Corporation in June.

Higher proportions of handed-down properties, greater family financial support for home purchases and lower overall debt burdens have also contributed, it said.

Besides, market penetration rates in many consumer sectors in high-tier cities have nearly reached saturation point, leaving little room for further expansion.

Using ready-to-drink coffee as an example, the frequency of consumption among consumers in China’s first- and second-tier cities is approaching that of Japan, South Korea and Western countries, analysts from Puyin International said in a note issued June. However, the overall penetration rate in China remained significantly lower than in high-tier cities, they said.

Well aware of this trend, Starbucks entered 166 new county-level markets in China in the 2024 financial year. In its second-quarter business update this year, Starbucks China said there were Starbucks stores in more than 1,000 county-level markets.

A series of government policies has also boosted consumption confidence in such regions, according to the Puyin International note.

“In contrast, consumers in higher-tier cities, who are generally wealthier, are less sensitive to policy stimuli, and meanwhile they face greater employment pressures, more severe asset depreciation due to falling housing prices, and a higher potential impact from tariff wars,” it said.

A nationwide consumer goods trade-in programme has been in place in China since March last year as the authorities work to drive spending and boost the economy.

Fu Longcheng, vice-president of the China General Chamber of Commerce, told a news conference in January that the consumption structure in county-level markets is being optimised and upgraded, with increased spending on developmental and experiential consumption, as well as service-oriented consumption, and clear trends towards more consumption for personal gratification.

“Entertainment formats such as cinemas, along with new tea drinks, fast fashion and maternity chains are continuously entering county markets, while new consumption models like live-streaming e-commerce and instant retail are rapidly integrating, boosting the momentum for quality enhancement and expansion of county-level consumption,” Fu said.

Products in hot demand not only include trendy milk tea and artisanal baked goods, once exclusively found in first- and second-tier cities, but also Boston lobsters and Sam’s Club speciality products on dining tables and tickets for music festivals and concerts.

More spending by affluent rural residents is also contributing as the country’s top leadership pushes forward with an urbanisation drive, reiterating its determination over the past few years to make it easier for farmers to settle in urban areas.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics said that rural retail sales of consumer goods grew by 4.3 per cent last year, outpacing urban growth by 0.9 of a percentage point.

In line with that, the McKinsey survey found that the proportion of rural consumers who were optimistic rose by 6 percentage points last year to 73 per cent.

Members of Gen Z – those born between 1996 and 2010 – from high-income families in rural areas stood out as the most confident, with 88 per cent having an optimistic outlook, 11 percentage points higher than in 2023.

Meanwhile, county tourism is emerging as a vital contributor to efforts to increase consumption’s role in the Chinese economy, attracting young people from first-tier cities seeking cost-effective, experiential getaways and at the same time fostering sustainable growth in lower-tier regions.

Reports from several travel platforms have highlighted it as a hot trend this year, with posts on RedNote, China’s leading lifestyle app, touting the middle-class appeal and affordability of horse riding and tennis lessons in county-level cities.

The ITB China Travel Trends Report 2024/25 noted that rural counties are increasingly popular destinations among younger travellers drawn to authentic experiences such as ecotourism and cultural festivals.

Huang said she had welcomed several batches of friends from Beijing who had visited Haiyan for sightseeing in the past couple of years. “They really enjoyed the stay here as it is cheap and relaxing,” she said.

In a plan aimed at revitalising rural areas during the period from 2024 to 2027, the State Council, China’s cabinet, outlined measures to “fully promote rural consumption”, including the development of county-level commercial systems, providing a key focus for unleashing rural consumption potential.

But researchers remain cautious about whether the rise of consumption in lower-tier markets is sufficient to revitalise overall consumer activity.

Liu, the Beijing professor, noted that compared to big cities, lower-tier cities lag behind in infrastructure and the overall consumption environment, including consumer rights protection, limiting their consumption potential.

“Whether the consumption boom in these regions can sustain China’s shift to a consumption-driven economy is hard to answer, but it is undoubtedly a crucial supplement,” he said.

Fudan University economist Shi Lei said that while growth is evident, county-level consumption still faces constraints, primarily due to insufficient local financial resources, with many areas, including regions mainly populated by ethnic minorities, relying on fiscal transfer payments from higher-level governments to sustain development.

“In the long term, the potential arising from underdevelopment should be recognised,” he said. “But short-term performance should not be overestimated.”