Chinese student's Harvard speech, Hokkaido tremors spark quake worry: SCMP's 7 highlights
We have selected seven stories from the SCMP's coverage over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider
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Emotional remarks by a Chinese student who delivered this year's Harvard University commencement speech have sparked a debate in China about barriers to elite education.
Beijing has carried out at least three rounds of large-scale military drills near Taiwan since May 2024, and PLA warplanes continue to fly near the island on a daily basis. Photo: Weibo/PLA Eastern Theatre Command
The risks of a cross-strait military accident are on the rise as Beijing steps up pressure on Taiwan, a former Taiwanese defence official has warned, citing the lack of direct communication channels between the two sides.
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South China Morning Post
29 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's mediation centre could help solve territorial, sovereignty disputes
Hong Kong's new global mediation centre can help resolve territorial or sovereignty disputes if participants are willing to come to the table, the city's justice minister has said. Last month, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi presided over a landmark signing ceremony for the establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in the city. Thirty-three countries signed the agreement, with most coming from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. In a televised interview that aired on Saturday, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said it was possible that the centre could be asked to mediate on territorial or sovereignty-based issues. 'The larger principle is, as long as two countries that are in conflict are willing to bring up the issue for mediation, there is nothing that cannot be discussed. Anything could be mediated,' he said. But he noted there was an exception. The body's convention states that it should not provide mediation services to a state if it has issued a declaration refusing to take part in such processes for certain issues.
South China Morning Post
41 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan's latest security measures cut cross-strait travel, prompting pushback
Taiwanese authorities are moving to tighten security protocols on cross-strait travel by expanding oversight to include grass-roots public officials and newly hired staff members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The push, which mirrors similar but much harsher restrictions on the other side of the Taiwan Strait , comes amid fears that mainland Chinese intelligence has deeply infiltrated the Taiwanese political system. At the centre of a growing scandal is former DPP aide Huang Chu-jung, who is under investigation for allegedly using an encrypted messaging app developed on the mainland to leak classified information. Notably, the information in question involves the travel details of Taiwan's second most senior official at the time – now the island's leader – William Lai Ching-te , when he visited Paraguay in August 2023. Local media reported on Tuesday that prosecutors were alleging that Huang, who once worked for DPP New Taipei City Councillor Lee Yu-tien, also leaked travel plans from Lai's leadership campaign later the same year, compromising his personal security. Prosecutors said that through the app, which is not available on the market, Beijing obtained access to Lai's full daily itinerary – including unannounced meetings with political power brokers, business leaders, and local influencers. According to the prosecution case, the breaches extended beyond Lai's office. Other classified information alleged to have been funnelled to the mainland included deputy leader Hsiao Bi-khim's personal contact list and phone number.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
EU pushes for ‘independence' from China and US – but can it get there?
Advertisement Over the same period, the European Union has held out an olive branch to Beijing, seeking concessions on economic matters in exchange for better political ties. The consensus now in Brussels is that China has chosen not to grab it Sandwiched between two uncompromising superpowers, a growing number of European leaders are pushing for Europe to become a more self-reliant force. They want the bloc to free itself from dangerous dependencies on the US for defence and technology, on China for raw materials and cleantech goods, and on Russia for energy. 'A new international order will emerge in this decade,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week. 'If we do not want to simply accept the consequences this will have for Europe and the world, we must shape this new order. History does not forgive either dithering or delaying. Our mission is European independence.' Advertisement French President Emmanuel Macron – the biggest champion of strategic autonomy – agreed.
