Cambodia continues to work with China, the US and Britain on the case of Chen Zhi, the billionaire businessman accused of masterminding a vast network that scammed billions from victims around the world, according to a government minister in Phnom Penh. “We are collaborating with the US, China and also the UK,” said Chhay Sinarith, a senior minister who is also in charge of the country’s Committee for Combating Technology Crimes, in an interview with the South China Morning Post on Monday. Chen, who held multiple citizenships including Cambodia, was…
Day: February 9, 2026
China slashes wait times for loss-making tech firms seeking refinancing, fundraising
Stock exchanges in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing – the three major bourses in mainland China – announced a package of measures on Monday to fast-track fundraising for cutting-edge firms amid the country’s self-reliance push in tech. The three operators said they would shorten waiting periods for listed technology firms filing for refinancing or post-initial-public-offering (IPO) fundraising activities, cutting the refinancing interval to as little as six months, according to state news agency Xinhua. This applies to tech firms listed under unprofitable company rules and is down from the standard 18-month…
‘A free limo is hard to turn away’: how car diplomacy turbo charges politics in the Pacific
At a ceremony in January, a shiny black luxury sedan rolled into the leafy, rain-soaked ground of Fiji’s state house. It was a gift from China to the Pacific nation’s president, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who thanked Beijing for the “beautiful limousine”. The vehicle given was a Hongqi or “Red Flag” car, the same brand used by China’s leader, Xi Jinping, during military parades. It is an example of China’s “prestige diplomacy”, says Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the US-based Stimson Center. “This is more symbolic than substantive,”…
China’s cruise industry passes major milestone as Beijing eyes travel boom
China’s first home-grown large cruise ship has now handled 1 million passengers since its commercial debut two years ago, a sign of progress as Beijing strives to boost household spending on services and cultivate new growth drivers. The operator of the Adora Magic City announced the news via its website on Sunday, saying it aimed to propel the growth of China’s cruise economy and establish a “Chinese benchmark” for the global cruise industry. Construction of the company’s second domestically made cruise ship, the Adora Flora City, is over 90 per…
Will Taiwan meet submarine delivery deadline, unlock defence budget with Hai Kun tests?
Taiwan has conducted a series of shallow-water submerged tests of its indigenous submarine prototype over the past two weeks, marking a key step towards potential navy delivery as early as June. The Hai Kun, or Narwhal, is part of the island’s Indigenous Defence Submarine programme, a project widely seen as central to its efforts to boost asymmetric naval capabilities amid increasing military pressure from Beijing. Surface navigation tests began last year, with undersea trials and weapons testing originally slated for completion between September and October ahead of navy delivery in…
Did India get a good deal?
This article is an on-site version of the India Business Briefing newsletter. To receive it in your inbox regularly, sign up if you’re a premium subscriber, or upgrade your subscription here. Good morning. Was there a weekend? Didn’t quite feel like it. On Friday, as expected, the Reserve Bank of India announced its decision to keep interest rates unchanged for now. And early on Saturday morning, we got the first taste of what the trade deal with the US will look like. Let’s jump right in. Deal’s on At last, India…
China steps up dangerous air encounters near Taiwan
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Chinese politics & policy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Chinese fighter jets carried out unusually dangerous manoeuvres near Taiwanese F-16 aircraft during the “Justice Mission” military exercise that the People’s Liberation Army conducted around Taiwan in December. The manoeuvres included a J-16 fighter firing flares at a Taiwanese aircraft during the exercise, according to people familiar with the incidents and a Taiwanese defence ministry report shared with the US military. One person briefed on the incidents, which…
China, Japan dispute: what next for businesses after Takaichi’s election sweep?
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election victory has dimmed hopes that ties between Tokyo and Beijing will significantly improve in the near term, analysts and businesspeople said, though some expect tensions to stabilise over time. Her ruling coalition secured the win on Sunday, strengthening the hand of a leader who infuriated Beijing by outlining how Tokyo might respond to a mainland attack on Taiwan. Enterprises caught in the middle of the dispute would have to tread cautiously, even as Beijing weighed the risks of maximising pressure, analysts said. Advertisement…
US plans Big Tech carve-out from next wave of chip tariffs
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world Donald Trump’s administration intends to spare companies including Amazon, Google and Microsoft from forthcoming tariffs on chips as they race to build the data centres powering the AI boom. The commerce department is planning to provide US hyperscalers with tariff carve-outs, which would be tied to investment commitments made by Taiwan-based chip group Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), people familiar with the matter said. The exemption scheme underscores…
China becomes Brazil’s biggest vehicle exporter in January, surpassing Argentina
China surpassed Argentina in January to become Brazil’s largest exporter of vehicles, solidifying Chinese brands’ dominance in the region’s biggest car market and undercutting a long-standing Argentine trade advantage within Mercosur. According to industry figures reported by Autoweb on Monday, Chinese vehicles sent to Brazil reached 16,800 units in January, versus 13,400 from Argentina. It underscores the erosion of Argentina’s decades-long grip on Brazil’s import market, after China first led on a quarterly basis in early 2024. Advertisement Argentine cars are typically packed with a lot of Brazilian-made parts, while…