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 subscribing.
1. How are US tariffs affecting China’s export hubs? Answer: it’s complicated
As the trade war between the world’s two largest economies drags on, the impact is already showing: China’s exports to the United States were down 15.5 per cent year on year in the first eight months of 2025.
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But US tariffs are not affecting China equally. Some provinces have recorded steep drops in US exports; others have continued to see shipments soar – in some cases by as much as 265 per cent.
2. Ahead of call with China’s Xi, Trump touches on TikTok and extending trade truce
US President Donald Trump on Thursday hinted at the possible extension of a trade truce with China and at facilitating a deal for TikTok’s continued operation in America, as the market eagerly awaits any signs of progress in an anticipated phone call between the two countries’ leaders today.
3. How deadly is CJ-1000, world’s first hypersonic plane killer? PLA gives hint
Amid the roar of China’s military parade on September 3, a few trucks rolled through Tiananmen Square with camouflaged loads tagged “CJ-1000”. The trucks were hauling surface-launched hypersonic cruise missiles also known as Long Sword-1000s – weapons designed for ultra-long-range strikes on “system-node targets on the ground, at sea or in the air”, according to Chinese state media.
4. Trump vows US push to reclaim key Afghan air base, ties it to China
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration was moving to retake control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, claiming that such a move was necessary because of the facility’s proximity to nuclear weapons sites in China.
5. Asian-American businesses are being decimated by Trump tariffs, lawmakers warn
Businesses owned by Asian-Americans are struggling with mounting costs as a result of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with some potentially being forced to shut down, a group of Democratic lawmakers warned on Thursday as they urged the administration to reverse the duties.
6. How Southeast Asia showed its support for China and sent a message to the US
Top leaders from the region attended this month’s military parade in Beijing in a “reminder” to Washington that they have alternatives.
7. Available for free: China releases global data for prime fishing grounds
Chinese scientists have developed a detection algorithm for special oceanic features that serve as biodiversity hotspots, offering a possible breakthrough to help fishermen and researchers find prime fishing grounds.