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China

Japan’s expected military build-up is seen to reflect the need to prepare for the possibility of “major-power protracted war with China”. Photo: Reuters

Military

What’s the message for China as Japan weighs US$500 billion defence boost?

Drones, AI battlefield management, and multi-domain warfare including cyber and space likely to be key elements of build-up, analyst says.

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Costs above competition? Why US voters aren’t buying Trump’s China AI pitch

China, US defence officials agree to improve ‘communication’ to reduce risks

US Elections

Asian-American voters, younger turnout fuel blue wave for Democrats in midterms

Asian-Americans and other voters of colour play key role in Democratic gains, new US poll confirms.

Supporters celebrate Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa’s win after Texas Governor Greg Abbott conceded the race during the US midterm elections in Austin on Tuesday night. Photo: Reuters
Supporters celebrate Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa’s win after Texas Governor Greg Abbott conceded the race during the US midterm elections in Austin on Tuesday night. Photo: Reuters

US Elections

US midterms: 5 takeaways as Democrats sweep Congress, Trump faces Iran reckoning

Democrats ended decades-long Republican winning streaks; new majorities give them sway over war spending and Trump’s deals with Beijing.

Science

Chinese scientists make toothbrush that uses electric shocks to reduce plaque

The self-charging devices can generate tiny currents designed to disrupt the spread of bacteria in the mouth.

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US Elections

Who won in China? In the US midterms, Susan Collins and the local firefighters

In China, Maine, voters backed the Republican senator. In two towns called China Grove, road repairs and council seats were on the ballot.

US Republican Senator Susan Collins waves to her supporters during a US midterm elections watch party in Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday night. Photo: Reuters
US Republican Senator Susan Collins waves to her supporters during a US midterm elections watch party in Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday night. Photo: Reuters

US Elections

US Congress welcomes record number of lawmakers of Chinese descent

Democrat Richard Pan won a California House race, making it six lawmakers of Chinese descent when the 120th Congress convenes in January.

Diplomacy

Republicans face prospect of ‘civil war’ as Trump’s aura starts to fade

Traditional Republican China hawks may try to challenge the influence of the US president and his Maga allies after election disaster.

Diplomacy

Europe’s relief over US midterms tempered by prospect of Trump backlash

Europe welcomes Democratic landslide, but fears over Ukraine, trade disputes and defence spending mute optimism.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands in Alaska in August 2025. Some European observers worry Trump might reopen business with Russia in the wake of the US midterms. Photo: TNS

Diplomacy

What is the one big thing that could stop Xi, Putin and Trump meeting at Apec?

Preparations are reportedly under way for three-way talks and each party would have something to gain.

Will the leaders of the US, Russia and China hold three-way talks when Apec meets in Shenzhen this month? Photo: AP
Will the leaders of the US, Russia and China hold three-way talks when Apec meets in Shenzhen this month? Photo: AP

Diplomacy

In Asia, midterms spark worries about diplomatic uncertainty, economic pressure

For US allies, there are concerns that a lame-duck Trump administration might squeeze them to score some easy diplomatic wins.

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Diplomacy

US midterm takeaways: Trump’s blame game, Elon’s space lasers and the rest of the world

The American president points to petrol prices, Musk looks to the skies and China singles out strategic stability.

US Elections

Trump suffers midterms trouncing weeks before Xi meeting

A collapse in the president’s poll ratings helped Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress in midterm elections.

The sun sets on the US Capitol on election day in Washington. Photo: AFP

Military

Taiwan flags massive PLA naval mobilisation, spike in air sorties

Island’s defence ministry reports 49 sorties of PLA aircraft in the 24 hours to 6am on Tuesday, marking the highest single-day total this year.

The Liaoning is leading a strike group in the western Pacific. Photo: Reuters
The Liaoning is leading a strike group in the western Pacific. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

‘Fake democracy’ or a plus for Beijing? Chinese internet users on the US midterms

Some commenters have criticised Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran and mocked what they call his unpredictability on foreign policy.

Diplomacy

US midterm shift could squeeze China on AI, bring clarity to bilateral talks

Beijing eyes steady US ties after elections, while analysts say Democratic gains could bring fresh pressure over Taiwan and tech.

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Diplomacy

US-China trade truce remains ‘fragile’ after Xi-Trump summit, analysts say

Asia Society experts say modest economic gains leave deeper disputes unresolved, as Washington tests Beijing with a short extension.

People stroll along the Bund in Shanghai. The US and China plan to reduce tariffs on around US$30 billion worth of imports from each other after last week’s summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Photo: EPA
People stroll along the Bund in Shanghai. The US and China plan to reduce tariffs on around US$30 billion worth of imports from each other after last week’s summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Photo: EPA

Diplomacy

‘Hold the status quo’? US Congress reviews Xi-Trump summit outcomes

Talks between the two leaders in Washington produced a string of joint announcements, but some say it was more about managing tensions.

Diplomacy

Trump rejects calls to work with China on AI safety despite Xi summit progress

US president also announces voluntary accord signed by leaders of six major US tech companies to address concerns surrounding AI technology.

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Economy, Trade & Business

Greer says no specific timeline set for enforcing US-China Board of Trade

United States Trade Representative confirms recommendations must go through a legal process before implementation of new economic initiative.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks during a press conference at the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee on Thursday. Photo: AP
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LATEST China Science NEWS

Chinese scientists make toothbrush that uses electric shocks to reduce plaque

In tests, the new brush proved more effective at reducing plaque and gum disease than a conventional toothbrush. Photo: Getty Images

How are parts of Tibet’s ground ice thickening despite rapid warming?

Scientists in China used satellite data and borehole observations to reconstruct 40 years of variations in the ground ice in the Tibetan Plateau region. Photo: Getty Images

On This Day | China’s historic first space docking in 2011 – SCMP archive

A 3D animation shows China’s Shenzhou VIII spacecraft docking with Tiangong-1 space lab module on a screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on November 3, 2011. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese drug iza-bren doubles lung cancer survival window in phase 3 trial

Izalontamab brengitecan, which targets two tumour-associated antigens, is in the final stages of clinical testing as a treatment for lung cancer. Photo: Handout

Echoes of Rome in ancient China? What Beijing’s 1,800-year-old ship find reveals

The vessels were discovered in an ancient river channel along the former course of the Yongding River in Beijing’s Fengtai district in late 2025. Photo: Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau
MORE China Science NEWS
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OPINION
Marco Vicenzino

Opinion | As US-Iran war shows, China’s influence can’t secure its line to Gulf oil

Marco Vicenzino
Cui Jianchun

Opinion | How Hong Kong can help China bring about a better world

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As I see it | The flaw in Australia’s ‘China threat’ thesis

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Wang Huiyao

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Opinion | Trump’s days of running US-China relations on personal ties are numbered

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Eleni Stefania Kalapoda

Opinion | What China’s best new cultural spaces have in common: the light touch

Eleni Stefania Kalapoda
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Otherworldly fields of pink grass bloom in China

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Robots leave human referees in the dust in China mountain race

CCTV
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Video

Sanrio scraps Vivant collab over China backlash

China’s state broadcaster called the fictional TV show “cognitive poisoning” for featuring Chinese intelligence agents torturing Japanese operatives
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Video

Chinese scalpers slash iPhone Duo resale price over mixed reviews

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: Customers pose with their iPhone Duo during the iPhone Duo launch at the Apple Fifth Avenue store on October 23, 2026 in New York City. The launch marks Apple’s introduction of the iPhone Duo, the company’s latest smartphone model. The iPhone Duo features Apple’s thinnest form factor to date, with a 7.6-inch inner display that snaps closed into a 5.4-inch outer display. This is the first major product debut under new Apple CEO John Ternus, who took the role in September after Tim Cook stepped down from the role. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
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