China sends trade mission to Central Asia as it braces for US tariff war
By Ji Siqi
Hours after China’s retaliatory tariffs on US energy imports went into effect on Monday, a group of Chinese oil and gas executives flew to Kazakhstan to explore new trade opportunities, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The representatives were part of a larger delegation led by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), a semi-official trade group, which involved more than 30 companies in sectors including energy, petrochemicals and industrial machinery, according to the report by Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with CCTV.
CCPIT plans to organise more trade missions to help Chinese companies tap opportunities in the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Africa and other regions in fields including oil and gas, automobiles and agricultural machinery, the report added.
On Monday, China imposed a 15 per cent tariff hike on eight products from the US, including coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with a 10 per cent tariff increase on a further 72 products, which include crude oil and agricultural machinery.
The moves were part of a slew of retaliatory measures launched by Beijing in response to Washington’s decision to hike tariffs on all Chinese imports by 10 per cent.
China has been deepening ties with emerging markets from Latin America to the Middle East in recent years, as it seeks to diversify its export destinations amid growing tensions with the West.
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By Ji Siqi
Hours after China’s retaliatory tariffs on US energy imports went into effect on Monday, a group of Chinese oil and gas executives flew to Kazakhstan to explore new trade opportunities, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The representatives were part of a larger delegation led by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), a semi-official trade group, which involved more than 30 companies in sectors including energy, petrochemicals and industrial machinery, according to the report by Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with CCTV.
CCPIT plans to organise more trade missions to help Chinese companies tap opportunities in the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Africa and other regions in fields including oil and gas, automobiles and agricultural machinery, the report added.
On Monday, China imposed a 15 per cent tariff hike on eight products from the US, including coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with a 10 per cent tariff increase on a further 72 products, which include crude oil and agricultural machinery.
The moves were part of a slew of retaliatory measures launched by Beijing in response to Washington’s decision to hike tariffs on all Chinese imports by 10 per cent.
China has been deepening ties with emerging markets from Latin America to the Middle East in recent years, as it seeks to diversify its export destinations amid growing tensions with the West.
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Complaints to Hong Kong consumer watchdog up by 20% to 40,839 cases last year
By Wynna Wong
The number of complaints handled by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog rose by 20 per cent to 40,839 cases last year, with grievances over food and entertainment services topping the list amid staff shortages.
The Consumer Council said on Monday that the overall amount covered by the complaints reached about HK$1 billion (US$128 million), as the number of cases exceeded 40,000 for the first time.
More than HK$15.2 million came from the food and entertainment services category, which accounted for the most complaints for the third consecutive year with 5,810 cases, an increase of 48 per cent compared with 2023.
Complaints soared in the sports games subcategory, which saw a 35-fold jump in the number of cases.
Controversy surrounding football star Lionel Messi drove most of the rise in complaints in the subcategory, after the athlete failed to take to the pitch in a much-anticipated and heavily advertised exhibition match in February last year between his Inter Miami club and a Hong Kong team.
The incident generated 1,476 of the subcategory’s 1,559 cases and involved more than HK$10 million. The cases also included 305 complaints from tourists.
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By Wynna Wong
The number of complaints handled by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog rose by 20 per cent to 40,839 cases last year, with grievances over food and entertainment services topping the list amid staff shortages.
The Consumer Council said on Monday that the overall amount covered by the complaints reached about HK$1 billion (US$128 million), as the number of cases exceeded 40,000 for the first time.
More than HK$15.2 million came from the food and entertainment services category, which accounted for the most complaints for the third consecutive year with 5,810 cases, an increase of 48 per cent compared with 2023.
Complaints soared in the sports games subcategory, which saw a 35-fold jump in the number of cases.
Controversy surrounding football star Lionel Messi drove most of the rise in complaints in the subcategory, after the athlete failed to take to the pitch in a much-anticipated and heavily advertised exhibition match in February last year between his Inter Miami club and a Hong Kong team.
The incident generated 1,476 of the subcategory’s 1,559 cases and involved more than HK$10 million. The cases also included 305 complaints from tourists.
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Alibaba offers more DeepSeek AI models at low prices, denies investment rumours
By Ann Cao
Alibaba Group Holding added to its cloud computing service more artificial intelligence (AI) models from DeepSeek, as the Hangzhou-based technology giant rejected speculation that it planned to invest in the hot start-up based in the same city.
Alibaba’s cloud computing and AI unit is offering six new DeepSeek models through its large language model (LLM) service platform Bailian, according to a WeChat post from Alibaba Cloud on Sunday.
The share price of Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, gained 5.5 per cent in Hong Kong on Monday.
A closer integration of Alibaba’s cloud service and DeepSeek models comes as Chinese businesses and consumers are rushing to adopt the start-up’s open-source products.
Alibaba, along with other major Chinese cloud service providers – including Tencent Holdings, Huawei Technologies, and Baidu – all worked overtime during the Lunar New Year holiday to support DeepSeek’s new models on their respective platforms.
The country’s three major telecoms operators – China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom – also integrated DeepSeek’s models into their services.
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By Ann Cao
Alibaba Group Holding added to its cloud computing service more artificial intelligence (AI) models from DeepSeek, as the Hangzhou-based technology giant rejected speculation that it planned to invest in the hot start-up based in the same city.
Alibaba’s cloud computing and AI unit is offering six new DeepSeek models through its large language model (LLM) service platform Bailian, according to a WeChat post from Alibaba Cloud on Sunday.
The share price of Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, gained 5.5 per cent in Hong Kong on Monday.
A closer integration of Alibaba’s cloud service and DeepSeek models comes as Chinese businesses and consumers are rushing to adopt the start-up’s open-source products.
Alibaba, along with other major Chinese cloud service providers – including Tencent Holdings, Huawei Technologies, and Baidu – all worked overtime during the Lunar New Year holiday to support DeepSeek’s new models on their respective platforms.
The country’s three major telecoms operators – China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom – also integrated DeepSeek’s models into their services.
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India’s Modi cements national dominance after beating AAP in Delhi state election
By Biman Mukherji
The decisive victory by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Delhi state election has further cemented Modi’s dominance over national politics and dealt a big blow to rival Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The results of last week’s election, announced on Saturday, saw BJP reclaim power in Delhi after 27 years, winning 48 of the 70 seats in the Delhi legislative assembly and ousting AAP from its decade-long rule in the state. Kejriwal lost his seat as chief minister to BJP’s Parvesh Verma in the state, while AAP secured only 22 seats.
The win for Modi’s BJP marked a triumphant return for the party after it lost an outright majority in last year’s parliamentary elections and was its third significant success in state elections after securing unexpected victories in the states of Haryana and Maharashtra in late 2024.
Kejriwal’s rise to power a decade ago was driven by public outrage over corruption, but analysts have suggested that his appeal was waning amid controversies, including an ongoing investigation into AAP officials over an alleged liquor distribution bribery scheme.
The clamour for change of power grew louder in the Delhi state as AAP had fallen short on its poll pledges over healthcare and jobs, though it retained its loyalty among the poor through free electricity and water up to certain levels as well as providing quality school education, the analysts added.
“BJP managed to inch past AAP by wooing the middle class who had turned away from the party [BJP] 27 years ago. Kejriwal wanted to focus on the bottom of the pyramid, but only succeeded partially once his anti-corruption image faded away,” said Yashwant Deshmukh, an independent political commentator and founder of C-Voter, a voter research firm.
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By Biman Mukherji
The decisive victory by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Delhi state election has further cemented Modi’s dominance over national politics and dealt a big blow to rival Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The results of last week’s election, announced on Saturday, saw BJP reclaim power in Delhi after 27 years, winning 48 of the 70 seats in the Delhi legislative assembly and ousting AAP from its decade-long rule in the state. Kejriwal lost his seat as chief minister to BJP’s Parvesh Verma in the state, while AAP secured only 22 seats.
The win for Modi’s BJP marked a triumphant return for the party after it lost an outright majority in last year’s parliamentary elections and was its third significant success in state elections after securing unexpected victories in the states of Haryana and Maharashtra in late 2024.
Kejriwal’s rise to power a decade ago was driven by public outrage over corruption, but analysts have suggested that his appeal was waning amid controversies, including an ongoing investigation into AAP officials over an alleged liquor distribution bribery scheme.
The clamour for change of power grew louder in the Delhi state as AAP had fallen short on its poll pledges over healthcare and jobs, though it retained its loyalty among the poor through free electricity and water up to certain levels as well as providing quality school education, the analysts added.
“BJP managed to inch past AAP by wooing the middle class who had turned away from the party [BJP] 27 years ago. Kejriwal wanted to focus on the bottom of the pyramid, but only succeeded partially once his anti-corruption image faded away,” said Yashwant Deshmukh, an independent political commentator and founder of C-Voter, a voter research firm.
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Hong Kong’s NWD puts another 55 units at State Pavilia up for sale at a low price
By Salina Li
New World Development (NWD) said it put another 55 units at its latest residential project on the market at a low price after buyers oversubscribed the sale of a first batch of flats last week.
NWD released the second batch of flats at its State Pavilia development in North Point on Sunday after more than 2,850 prospective buyers wrote cheques for a chance to buy the 88 units that were put up for sale at below-cost prices on Thursday, according to agents. The developer was likely to launch its new sale this weekend.
The second price listing included 11 one-bedroom units and 44 two-bedrooms flats, ranging from 351 sq ft to 621 sq ft. These flats were priced from HK$6.32 million (US$811,466) to HK$14.06 million, or HK$17,613 to HK$22,618 per square foot.
The average price per square foot for the new batch is HK$18,998, up 2.5 per cent from the first list.
The embattled developer has been scrambling to generate cash so it can trim its HK$123.7 billion debt load. It priced the first 88 units in State Pavilia – the first phase of its redevelopment project at the site of the former State Theatre in North Point – at an average of HK$18,540 per square foot. That was an eight-year low in the Eastern district, according to Centaline Property Agency.
The first price list was below some analysts’ expectations. It was around 13 per cent lower than its accommodation value of about HK$21,500, surveyors said. The accommodation value is the land acquisition cost divided by the gross floor area permitted for the project.
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By Salina Li
New World Development (NWD) said it put another 55 units at its latest residential project on the market at a low price after buyers oversubscribed the sale of a first batch of flats last week.
NWD released the second batch of flats at its State Pavilia development in North Point on Sunday after more than 2,850 prospective buyers wrote cheques for a chance to buy the 88 units that were put up for sale at below-cost prices on Thursday, according to agents. The developer was likely to launch its new sale this weekend.
The second price listing included 11 one-bedroom units and 44 two-bedrooms flats, ranging from 351 sq ft to 621 sq ft. These flats were priced from HK$6.32 million (US$811,466) to HK$14.06 million, or HK$17,613 to HK$22,618 per square foot.
The average price per square foot for the new batch is HK$18,998, up 2.5 per cent from the first list.
The embattled developer has been scrambling to generate cash so it can trim its HK$123.7 billion debt load. It priced the first 88 units in State Pavilia – the first phase of its redevelopment project at the site of the former State Theatre in North Point – at an average of HK$18,540 per square foot. That was an eight-year low in the Eastern district, according to Centaline Property Agency.
The first price list was below some analysts’ expectations. It was around 13 per cent lower than its accommodation value of about HK$21,500, surveyors said. The accommodation value is the land acquisition cost divided by the gross floor area permitted for the project.
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How Southeast Asia’s property sector is insulated from Trump’s tariff war
By Nicholas Spiro
The onslaught of protectionism has begun. Three weeks after the start of US President Donald Trump’s second term, it is clear that his administration’s trade aggression will prove far more damaging than many Wall Street analysts predicted.
While the imposition of tariffs of 25 per cent on most goods from Canada and Mexico was delayed by a month, an additional 10 per cent levy on Chinese imports was maintained, sparking retaliation from Beijing. On February 9, Trump said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, intensifying his trade offensive.
Two conclusions can be drawn. The first is that Trump’s willingness to eviscerate the North American free-trade agreement he himself negotiated with his country’s two largest trading partners will generate uncertainty for businesses and erode trust in the United States as a reliable partner. The second, which was obvious before Trump returned to the White House, is that Asia is the most vulnerable region to higher tariffs.
Not only are seven of the 10 economies with the largest trade surpluses with the US in Asia, exports have become a more important driver of growth in parts of the region since the eruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. Excluding China and India, exports account for 58 per cent of economic output, up from 52 per cent in 2019, according to JPMorgan data.
The dependence on foreign trade is strongest in Southeast Asia. Trade volumes accounted for 89 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product between 2013 and 2023, compared with 34 per cent in China, 30 per cent in India and 17 per cent in the US, according to a report in August 2024 by Bain & Company, DBS and the Angsana Council.
During the 2018-19 trade war, Southeast Asia was largely a beneficiary of fraying ties between the US and China as big multinational companies adopted “China plus one” strategies to diversify and divert their supply chains. This time, US tariffs are more punitive and wide-ranging, putting the diversification of supply chains – in particular the increase in the value added by China to Southeast Asia’s exports to the US – under sharper scrutiny.
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By Nicholas Spiro
The onslaught of protectionism has begun. Three weeks after the start of US President Donald Trump’s second term, it is clear that his administration’s trade aggression will prove far more damaging than many Wall Street analysts predicted.
While the imposition of tariffs of 25 per cent on most goods from Canada and Mexico was delayed by a month, an additional 10 per cent levy on Chinese imports was maintained, sparking retaliation from Beijing. On February 9, Trump said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, intensifying his trade offensive.
Two conclusions can be drawn. The first is that Trump’s willingness to eviscerate the North American free-trade agreement he himself negotiated with his country’s two largest trading partners will generate uncertainty for businesses and erode trust in the United States as a reliable partner. The second, which was obvious before Trump returned to the White House, is that Asia is the most vulnerable region to higher tariffs.
Not only are seven of the 10 economies with the largest trade surpluses with the US in Asia, exports have become a more important driver of growth in parts of the region since the eruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. Excluding China and India, exports account for 58 per cent of economic output, up from 52 per cent in 2019, according to JPMorgan data.
The dependence on foreign trade is strongest in Southeast Asia. Trade volumes accounted for 89 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product between 2013 and 2023, compared with 34 per cent in China, 30 per cent in India and 17 per cent in the US, according to a report in August 2024 by Bain & Company, DBS and the Angsana Council.
During the 2018-19 trade war, Southeast Asia was largely a beneficiary of fraying ties between the US and China as big multinational companies adopted “China plus one” strategies to diversify and divert their supply chains. This time, US tariffs are more punitive and wide-ranging, putting the diversification of supply chains – in particular the increase in the value added by China to Southeast Asia’s exports to the US – under sharper scrutiny.
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China grants Asean tour groups visa-free access to Yunnan travel hub
By Alyssa Chen
China said it would allow tour groups from Asean countries to visit Xishuangbanna – an area in the southwestern province of Yunnan known for its ethnic minority cultures – without a visa for up to six days.
The policy, announced by the National Immigration Administration on Monday, took effect immediately.
The new measure applies to groups of two or more passport holders from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The bloc’s members are Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
To take advantage of the visa-free policy, the groups must travel with a Chinese travel agency. The tour group members must also enter and leave China together.
Located in southern Yunnan and bordering Laos and Myanmar, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture is one of China’s top attractions for both domestic and foreign visitors.
It is known for its lush tropical rainforests and rich cultural diversity, particularly the vibrant traditions of the Dai ethnic group, whose culture is closely related to that of Thai people. The area is also home to distinctive temples and a range of ecotourism activities.
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By Alyssa Chen
China said it would allow tour groups from Asean countries to visit Xishuangbanna – an area in the southwestern province of Yunnan known for its ethnic minority cultures – without a visa for up to six days.
The policy, announced by the National Immigration Administration on Monday, took effect immediately.
The new measure applies to groups of two or more passport holders from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The bloc’s members are Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
To take advantage of the visa-free policy, the groups must travel with a Chinese travel agency. The tour group members must also enter and leave China together.
Located in southern Yunnan and bordering Laos and Myanmar, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture is one of China’s top attractions for both domestic and foreign visitors.
It is known for its lush tropical rainforests and rich cultural diversity, particularly the vibrant traditions of the Dai ethnic group, whose culture is closely related to that of Thai people. The area is also home to distinctive temples and a range of ecotourism activities.
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Hong Kong lawmakers cast doubt on new care home role to attract talent
By Emily Hung
Hong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns over a plan by authorities to introduce a new care home role to solve long-standing staff shortages in the industry, saying the measure may fail to attract new blood.
The proposal for a “health and care practitioner” role was floated in a government-commissioned study released in January, which attributed the manpower crunch to the lack of professional recognition and unclear promotion pathways in the sector.
The study also highlighted the high turnover among enrolled nurses, who often leave for better prospects in the medical sector after completing the year of service required in their government-subsidised training programme.
Health and care practitioners are placed one rank above health workers, and are expected to cover duties such as intramuscular injections and insertion or replacement of indwelling urinary catheters.
Health workers with three years of experience will be the first to be invited to undergo the training. The entry requirements will be the same as the nurse training programme.
But lawmakers at a panel meeting in the legislature on Monday expressed scepticism about its effectiveness in attracting new blood to the industry and solving the long-standing manpower shortage.
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By Emily Hung
Hong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns over a plan by authorities to introduce a new care home role to solve long-standing staff shortages in the industry, saying the measure may fail to attract new blood.
The proposal for a “health and care practitioner” role was floated in a government-commissioned study released in January, which attributed the manpower crunch to the lack of professional recognition and unclear promotion pathways in the sector.
The study also highlighted the high turnover among enrolled nurses, who often leave for better prospects in the medical sector after completing the year of service required in their government-subsidised training programme.
Health and care practitioners are placed one rank above health workers, and are expected to cover duties such as intramuscular injections and insertion or replacement of indwelling urinary catheters.
Health workers with three years of experience will be the first to be invited to undergo the training. The entry requirements will be the same as the nurse training programme.
But lawmakers at a panel meeting in the legislature on Monday expressed scepticism about its effectiveness in attracting new blood to the industry and solving the long-standing manpower shortage.
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China-Russia ties: Xi to visit Moscow to mark Soviet WWII victory over Germany
By Kawala Xie
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend Moscow’s Victory Day in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Russian media Tass said.
Xi has reportedly accepted Russia’s invitation to attend the annual celebration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, according to Tass which cited Igor Morgulov, Russia’s ambassador to China.
The announcement by Morgulov came after Russian President Vladimir Putin told Xi in a virtual meeting in January – a day after US President Donald Trump’s inauguration – that the two countries “should jointly celebrate” the occasion as China and Russia had worked more closely together in the face of Western pressure.
Xi last visited Russia in October for the Brics annual summit hosted in Kazan.
Tass cited Morgulov as telling Russia-24 television that Xi had also invited Putin to attend Chinese celebrations marking the end of the Sino-Japanese War in September.
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By Kawala Xie
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend Moscow’s Victory Day in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Russian media Tass said.
Xi has reportedly accepted Russia’s invitation to attend the annual celebration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, according to Tass which cited Igor Morgulov, Russia’s ambassador to China.
The announcement by Morgulov came after Russian President Vladimir Putin told Xi in a virtual meeting in January – a day after US President Donald Trump’s inauguration – that the two countries “should jointly celebrate” the occasion as China and Russia had worked more closely together in the face of Western pressure.
Xi last visited Russia in October for the Brics annual summit hosted in Kazan.
Tass cited Morgulov as telling Russia-24 television that Xi had also invited Putin to attend Chinese celebrations marking the end of the Sino-Japanese War in September.
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Australia plans ‘long-term managed retreat’ from Cocos Islands amid rising seas
By Agence France-Presse
The Australian government has proposed moving hundreds of residents from their island home within decades as sea levels rise, sparking outrage among inhabitants.
Like many island nations, Cocos Islands – a group of 27 small atolls that lie 2,936km (1,824 miles) west of Australia – are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels driven by climate change.
The federal government’s proposal, made public in January, suggests that residents, water resources, power stations, roads and shops be relocated in the next 10 to 50 years.
This “long-term managed retreat” is the most “viable option to protect lives in a socially, economically and environmentally respectful way,” the report said.
Government projections show that by 2030, sea levels could rise by 18cm (7 inches) along the Cocos Islands compared to 1992 levels.
Many of the 600 residents there are descendants of Malay workers brought to the islands to work in the coconut plantations in the 1830s.
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By Agence France-Presse
The Australian government has proposed moving hundreds of residents from their island home within decades as sea levels rise, sparking outrage among inhabitants.
Like many island nations, Cocos Islands – a group of 27 small atolls that lie 2,936km (1,824 miles) west of Australia – are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels driven by climate change.
The federal government’s proposal, made public in January, suggests that residents, water resources, power stations, roads and shops be relocated in the next 10 to 50 years.
This “long-term managed retreat” is the most “viable option to protect lives in a socially, economically and environmentally respectful way,” the report said.
Government projections show that by 2030, sea levels could rise by 18cm (7 inches) along the Cocos Islands compared to 1992 levels.
Many of the 600 residents there are descendants of Malay workers brought to the islands to work in the coconut plantations in the 1830s.
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Clean energy: China to allow solar, wind power prices to be set by market forces
By Yujie Xue
The price of electricity produced from renewable energy in mainland China will be set by market forces rather than fixed by authorities, as the country seeks to modernise its power sector and advance the development of clean energy.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly issued a notice on Sunday about deepening the “market-oriented reform” of pricing for renewable electricity.
The price of on-grid electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar, previously fixed, would be determined by market mechanisms in the country’s power market, the notices said.
“With the large-scale development of new energy, the fixed pricing for on-grid electricity cannot accurately reflect market supply and demand and does not share its responsibility for regulating the power system,” the authorities said.
The NDRC ordered local governments to introduce their own plans for the change by the end of this year.
China’s installed capacity for renewable power, led by wind and solar, reached 1,410 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the country’s total installed power capacity while surpassing coal, according to NEA.
Given the increasingly important role renewable energy is playing in China’s power system, setting regulations on the renewable tariff mechanism has become more important, Pierre Lau, head of Asian utilities and clean energy research at Citigroup, said in a report on Monday.
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By Yujie Xue
The price of electricity produced from renewable energy in mainland China will be set by market forces rather than fixed by authorities, as the country seeks to modernise its power sector and advance the development of clean energy.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly issued a notice on Sunday about deepening the “market-oriented reform” of pricing for renewable electricity.
The price of on-grid electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar, previously fixed, would be determined by market mechanisms in the country’s power market, the notices said.
“With the large-scale development of new energy, the fixed pricing for on-grid electricity cannot accurately reflect market supply and demand and does not share its responsibility for regulating the power system,” the authorities said.
The NDRC ordered local governments to introduce their own plans for the change by the end of this year.
China’s installed capacity for renewable power, led by wind and solar, reached 1,410 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the country’s total installed power capacity while surpassing coal, according to NEA.
Given the increasingly important role renewable energy is playing in China’s power system, setting regulations on the renewable tariff mechanism has become more important, Pierre Lau, head of Asian utilities and clean energy research at Citigroup, said in a report on Monday.
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China’s population woes deepen as marriage registrations plummet to lowest level since 1980
By Luna Sun
China recorded its lowest number of new marriages for four decades in 2024, in a sign that the country’s challenges with a declining birth rate and shrinking population are likely to deepen this year.
Last year, 6.10 million couples in China tied the knot, down 20.5 per cent from 2023, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The 2024 total is the lowest recorded since 1980.
Meanwhile, the number of divorces edged up by 1.1 per cent to 2.82 million in 2024, despite the fall in the marriage rate.
“Given that the vast majority of births in China occur within marriage … the sharp decline in marriage registrations in 2024 is a clear indicator that the birth rate will continue to drop in 2025,” said He Yafu, an independent demographer based in southern China’s Guangdong province.
China’s demographic crisis is being compounded by its chronically low birth rate, a product of a declining number of women of childbearing age and a growing trend among young people to put off getting married and starting a family due a range of social and economic factors.
Despite government efforts to encourage couples to have more children, China’s population is widely expected to continue shrinking, creating a long-term policy challenge as the country grapples with a shrinking workforce and a rapidly ageing society.
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By Luna Sun
China recorded its lowest number of new marriages for four decades in 2024, in a sign that the country’s challenges with a declining birth rate and shrinking population are likely to deepen this year.
Last year, 6.10 million couples in China tied the knot, down 20.5 per cent from 2023, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The 2024 total is the lowest recorded since 1980.
Meanwhile, the number of divorces edged up by 1.1 per cent to 2.82 million in 2024, despite the fall in the marriage rate.
“Given that the vast majority of births in China occur within marriage … the sharp decline in marriage registrations in 2024 is a clear indicator that the birth rate will continue to drop in 2025,” said He Yafu, an independent demographer based in southern China’s Guangdong province.
China’s demographic crisis is being compounded by its chronically low birth rate, a product of a declining number of women of childbearing age and a growing trend among young people to put off getting married and starting a family due a range of social and economic factors.
Despite government efforts to encourage couples to have more children, China’s population is widely expected to continue shrinking, creating a long-term policy challenge as the country grapples with a shrinking workforce and a rapidly ageing society.
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Safeguarding public health – Call for a total ban on flavoured tobacco and possession of alternative smoking products
By Advertising partner
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) and academics from The University of Hong Kong released new tobacco control surveys which show a higher rate of flavoured cigarette use among teenagers and women. Mr Henry TONG Sau-chai, COSH Chairman, said, “Menthol, fruit, and other tobacco flavours added by the tobacco industry are a significant factor that encourages teenagers and women to first try and then continue smoking. Flavoured tobacco does harm to our next generation by increasing addiction levels among young people, making it harder for them to quit.”
“In the long term, flavoured tobacco poses a major obstacle to decreasing the prevalence of smoking in Hong Kong and undoubtedly raises public health concerns.” Mr TONG said. “COSH urges the Government to institute a total ban on flavoured tobacco as soon as possible and to implement multiple short, medium, and long-term tobacco control measures to protect the health of Hong Kong residents by curbing this resurgent area of tobacco-related harm.”
Higher flavoured cigarette smoking rates in young adults and women
The Tobacco Control Policy-related Survey commissioned by COSH and conducted by The University of Hong Kong from January to May 2024 found that nearly half of current smokers use flavoured cigarettes, with higher rates among teenagers and women. Over 86 percent of female smokers aged 15-29 are using flavoured cigarettes, the highest among all age groups. Flavoured cigarettes have increased levels of addiction among young smokers, offering an easy lure for teenagers to fall into nicotine addiction. The survey found that nearly 40 percent (36.2 percent) of teenagers who use flavoured cigarettes are moderately to severely addicted, which is twice the rate of those using non-flavoured cigarettes (16.7 percent). The survey also indicated that young smokers of flavoured cigarettes are more likely to also be using alternative smoking products (including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) and waterpipes.
Professor Kelvin WANG Man-ping, Professor, The School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, said, “Teenagers and women are increasingly attracted to flavoured tobacco products, with preferences for particular flavours and brands. This phenomenon makes it more likely they will take up smoking, develop an addiction, and continue smoking as a habit. Certain flavourings (such as menthol, cocoa, sweeteners, etc.) used in flavoured cigarettes can promote the absorption of nicotine and enhance nicotine’s effects on the brain, thus exacerbating the addiction, leading smokers to smoke more frequently and for longer periods of time, and making it more difficult to quit the habit. According to the survey, over 70 percent of the public support banning flavoured tobacco products, and this percentage continues to rise – a clear indication of societal support for a ban on flavoured tobacco and of the urgent need for legislation.”
Flavoured tobacco leads to addiction in teenagers
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Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) and academics from The University of Hong Kong released new tobacco control surveys which show a higher rate of flavoured cigarette use among teenagers and women. Mr Henry TONG Sau-chai, COSH Chairman, said, “Menthol, fruit, and other tobacco flavours added by the tobacco industry are a significant factor that encourages teenagers and women to first try and then continue smoking. Flavoured tobacco does harm to our next generation by increasing addiction levels among young people, making it harder for them to quit.”
“In the long term, flavoured tobacco poses a major obstacle to decreasing the prevalence of smoking in Hong Kong and undoubtedly raises public health concerns.” Mr TONG said. “COSH urges the Government to institute a total ban on flavoured tobacco as soon as possible and to implement multiple short, medium, and long-term tobacco control measures to protect the health of Hong Kong residents by curbing this resurgent area of tobacco-related harm.”
Higher flavoured cigarette smoking rates in young adults and women
The Tobacco Control Policy-related Survey commissioned by COSH and conducted by The University of Hong Kong from January to May 2024 found that nearly half of current smokers use flavoured cigarettes, with higher rates among teenagers and women. Over 86 percent of female smokers aged 15-29 are using flavoured cigarettes, the highest among all age groups. Flavoured cigarettes have increased levels of addiction among young smokers, offering an easy lure for teenagers to fall into nicotine addiction. The survey found that nearly 40 percent (36.2 percent) of teenagers who use flavoured cigarettes are moderately to severely addicted, which is twice the rate of those using non-flavoured cigarettes (16.7 percent). The survey also indicated that young smokers of flavoured cigarettes are more likely to also be using alternative smoking products (including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) and waterpipes.
Professor Kelvin WANG Man-ping, Professor, The School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, said, “Teenagers and women are increasingly attracted to flavoured tobacco products, with preferences for particular flavours and brands. This phenomenon makes it more likely they will take up smoking, develop an addiction, and continue smoking as a habit. Certain flavourings (such as menthol, cocoa, sweeteners, etc.) used in flavoured cigarettes can promote the absorption of nicotine and enhance nicotine’s effects on the brain, thus exacerbating the addiction, leading smokers to smoke more frequently and for longer periods of time, and making it more difficult to quit the habit. According to the survey, over 70 percent of the public support banning flavoured tobacco products, and this percentage continues to rise – a clear indication of societal support for a ban on flavoured tobacco and of the urgent need for legislation.”
Flavoured tobacco leads to addiction in teenagers
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By Fran Lu
A Japanese cat miraculously survived for a month in the scorching summer heat after being abandoned by its owner in her flat.
The feline’s survival instincts have earned it the name Miracle.
A Japanese animal protection non-profit organisation, Animal Rescue Tanpopo, found Miracle in an empty flat in Osaka last August.
The flat’s floor was covered with empty alcohol cans, rubbish and leftover food.
Miracle survived by drinking water from the toilet and eating leftovers, Japanese news outlet Kansai Television reported.
The person in charge of the animal rescue group, Chiaki Honda, said she thought the cat was dead when she found it beside the toilet.The feisty feline was in a terrible state when it was found in the filthy flat. Photo: QQ.com
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Type 094 nuclear submarine is China’s ‘King of the South China Sea’ in bid for deterrence
By Amber Wang
Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the fifth of a series on Chinese weapons systems, we look at the country’s submarine developments.
In the depths of the South China Sea, a fully armed black giant glides through the waters – hidden yet ever prepared.
Its primary mission is to ensure any move towards nuclear aggression from China’s possible enemies – including the United States – is met with devastating consequences.
The presence of the Type 094 nuclear ballistic missile submarine marked a significant milestone, with the US defence department describing it as China’s “first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent”.
Beijing operates six of the submarines that are capable of firing JL-2 missiles, and possibly the more sophisticated JL-3 missiles that could strike US territory from Chinese shores.
The US and its allies closely monitor these giants, which have been observed conducting “near-continuous” patrols in the contested South China Sea. In June, one of the Chinese subs, which appeared to be the Type 094, made headlines when it surfaced unexpectedly in the Taiwan Strait – a rare and eye-catching event for such a secretive and strategic device.
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By Amber Wang
Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the fifth of a series on Chinese weapons systems, we look at the country’s submarine developments.
In the depths of the South China Sea, a fully armed black giant glides through the waters – hidden yet ever prepared.
Its primary mission is to ensure any move towards nuclear aggression from China’s possible enemies – including the United States – is met with devastating consequences.
The presence of the Type 094 nuclear ballistic missile submarine marked a significant milestone, with the US defence department describing it as China’s “first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent”.
Beijing operates six of the submarines that are capable of firing JL-2 missiles, and possibly the more sophisticated JL-3 missiles that could strike US territory from Chinese shores.
The US and its allies closely monitor these giants, which have been observed conducting “near-continuous” patrols in the contested South China Sea. In June, one of the Chinese subs, which appeared to be the Type 094, made headlines when it surfaced unexpectedly in the Taiwan Strait – a rare and eye-catching event for such a secretive and strategic device.
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