Day: October 12, 2025

China exports accelerate as Xi and Trump raise stakes in trade war

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. China’s exports accelerated in September, showing the resilience of the country’s trade machine as tensions flared again with the US ahead of an expected meeting between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in South Korea this month. China’s exports in September rose 8.3 per cent in dollar terms year on year during the month, compared with analysts’ expectations of 6 per cent according to a Reuters poll, and 4.4 per…

Asian markets fall and gold soars as US-China trade tensions rise

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Asian markets slid and gold hit a fresh record on Monday morning after the US and China escalated a trade war over the weekend. US President Donald Trump threatened to slap 100 per cent tariffs on China after Beijing said it would expand export restrictions on rare earths, critical materials used in a range of technologies from semiconductors to batteries. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, among the best performing major…

China’s exports defy expectations in September under weight of trade war uncertainty

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China’s exports rebounded in September after hitting a six-month low in August, supported by recovering overseas demand and front-loading ahead of the “super golden week” holiday – though the latest flare-up with the United States over the weekend has renewed uncertainty over the economic outlook. Advertisement Outbound shipments rose 8.3 per cent year on year to US$328.6 billion last month, customs data showed on Monday. The figure was higher than August’s 4.4 per cent – which was the lowest growth since February – and surpassed the 5.65 per cent forecast…

Fathers can pass on benefits of exercise, Chinese study suggests

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Chinese scientists have found that the benefits of exercise can be inherited across generations, with a father’s level of activity influencing his children’s health and endurance. Advertisement The team found that mice could pass on the benefits of exercise – including improved muscle mass, lower body fat and stronger bones – through the genes. By contrast, the offspring of inactive mice performed worse in running and strength tests. “We demonstrate that offspring sired by exercise-trained fathers display intrinsic exercise adaptations and improved metabolic parameters compared with those sired by sedentary…

Japan opposition in talks to challenge Takaichi after coalition collapse

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Opposition parties in Japan are in talks to build a coalition to seize control of parliament and block the ruling party’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi, from becoming prime minister. The discussions about whether opposition parties can unite around an alternative candidate for prime minister follow the abrupt collapse on Friday of the 26-year-old coalition between the Liberal Democratic party and its junior partner, Komeito. The disintegration of the ruling bloc,…

Post signs pact with Indonesian business guild to hold events, dialogue

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The South China Morning Post has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or Kadin Indonesia, to establish a platform for dialogue between the business leaders of Indonesia and the Chinese mainland, including Hong Kong. Advertisement The Post, which has been covering China from Hong Kong since its first front page was published in November 1903, will leverage its editorial authority, convening power and international readership, while Kadin Indonesia will mobilise the nation’s business leadership and provide access to its network of enterprises. The…

Maths guru Shing-Tung Yau on what China needs for global leadership in science

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Shing-Tung Yau, one of the world’s most influential mathematicians, is chair of Tsinghua University’s Qiuzhen College, which is fast-tracking talented young students through a programme of his own design. Advertisement Born in the southern province of Guangdong and educated in Hong Kong and the US, the 76-year-old shared his ideas on science and education, key to China’s 15th five-year plan (2026-2030), which is expected to focus on the development of an innovation-driven economy. Speaking solely in a personal capacity, Yau shared his views on the importance of domestically groomed talent,…

FirstFT: China blames Trump and US for escalating trade tensions

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This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to get the newsletter delivered every weekday morning. Explore all of our newsletters here Good morning and welcome back to FirstFT Asia. In today’s newsletter: Beijing hits back at Trump Deadly clashes at Pakistan-Afghanistan border Reforms power China’s stock rally Australian farmers battle ‘superweeds’ Beijing has slammed Donald Trump’s plan to impose additional 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese exports and threatened new countermeasures as it blamed the US…

Why India is hedging its bets on another China charm offensive

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In a fast and furious year of devastating wars and high-stakes diplomacy, the historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands out as a potential harbinger of a new global order. Advertisement In his first visit to China in seven years, Modi agreed with Xi that Asia’s two powers should be “partners” rather than “rivals”, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. Modi stressed that “their differences should not turn into disputes” and expressed a commitment to the “fair, reasonable…