New Chinese students barred from Harvard, how birds conquered skies: SCMP daily highlights
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The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution's failure to address national security risks on campus.
Russia's fresh bid to revive a strategic triangle with China and India as a counterbalance to the Western-led international order faces headwinds given the deep-seated distrust between the two Asian powers, according to observers.
Fossils preserved in amber offer a unique opportunity to study soft structures, as objects stuck in the hardened tree resin remain trapped in time. Photo: AP/Science
Dinosaur feathers found trapped in Burmese amber have shed new light on the evolution of flight feathers, an essential step that allowed early birds to surpass their dinosaur relatives in conquering the skies, a Chinese study has found.
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South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must gear up well to make most of southbound drivers' arrival
cross-border arrangement allowing motorists from mainland China's Guangdong province to drive south into Hong Kong is finally getting into gear. By November, a daily quota of 100 vehicles could be allowed to enter via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme is an important step towards implementing the 2019 Greater Bay Area development blueprint. People on both sides of the border are expected to benefit, but the city must act quickly to prepare. Transport Minister Mable Chan said on Wednesday that the policy will promote commuting between Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area. Drivers from Guangdong who want to make such trips need to get their licences and cars checked as well as have appropriate insurance. Their single-entry permits will allow visits for several days, and they can drive and park freely in the city. Many hope increased southbound travel will inject vitality into sectors such as catering, retail and tourism. The city has been struggling with a drop in tourism compared to pre-pandemic levels and an exodus of locals heading in the opposite direction for dining and entertainment. Ocean Park is among the attractions welcoming a 'more direct and convenient route' for visitors. Hong Kong International Airport plans to expand its 'park-and-fly' facilities. But Hong Kong should also focus on how the move can help ensure a mutually beneficial future. A relatively larger number of Hong Kong motorists are already allowed north. Mainland drivers with the resources to head south are as likely to be forging business ties as enjoying shopping or fancy meals. The scheme is nearly a year behind schedule. Delays are understandable given the issues to be resolved, such as ensuring sufficient road capacity and immigration procedures. Access to road toll payments and electric vehicle charging will also be important since these systems are not completely compatible across the border.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Future of Science and Technology Agreement is a bellwether for US-China ties: Denis Simon
Denis Simon is one of the leading experts on US-China science and technology cooperation as well as China's innovation system. He has held senior roles including executive vice-chancellor at Duke Kunshan University and director of the US-China programme at Pennsylvania State University. He is teaching a graduate course on China science and technology policy at the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus . For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here Can you explain the core elements of the STA and its role in fostering scientific collaboration between the US and China? Why is it considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations, and what makes it so politically and strategically sensitive, especially in today's geopolitical climate? The US-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA), first signed in 1979 during the [Jimmy] Carter administration, is the foundational legal and diplomatic framework governing official S&T cooperation between the two nations. Its core elements include government-to-government cooperation via ministries, agencies, and labs; institutional and academic exchanges, supporting researcher mobility and joint projects; joint working groups on specific fields like health, agriculture, energy and environmental science; and mechanisms for sharing data, coordinating funding and protecting intellectual property. It is considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations because of its highly symbolic value as the first formal and peaceful engagement between the US and China after normalisation. At a time when diplomatic ties were still fragile, scientific cooperation provided politically 'safe' ground to build trust. Its overall impact has been immense – it made science diplomacy real. In the current geopolitical climate, the STA sits at the intersection of national security concerns (e.g., espionage, IP theft, cybersecurity), economic competitiveness (particularly in AI, life sciences, semiconductors) and techno-nationalism (growing on both sides). The very openness that once made the STA a success is now seen by some as a vulnerability. Current discussions of the STA evoke debates not just about science but about how much the US should engage with a so-called strategic competitor. During a delegation visit to Beijing in the mid-2000s, I was part of a round table where a US scientist shared breakthrough research in clean coal technology. The Chinese side responded with enthusiastic interest, proposing a joint pilot project. The US delegation, however, hesitated – concerned that the technology might be commercialised without reciprocal IP protection. The moment highlighted both the promise and peril of STA-enabled openness. Fortunately, an agreement called CERC (Clean Energy Research Centre) was signed and it contained a detailed addendum regarding the disposition of any new intellectual capital developed under the programme.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong needs to better understand and balance ‘one country, two systems'
Jiang Enzhu , the first head of the central government's liaison office in post-handover Hong Kong, famously likened understanding the city to reading a challenging book – one that demands serious attention and effort. At the time, his words served as a cautionary note to mainland officials. Now, Hong Kong having marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty, Jiang's analogy remains apt, though with a significant caveat. The city may still be a book that is difficult to decipher, but today's Chinese officials may not share Jiang's eagerness to truly grasp its complexities. The metaphor applies both ways: for many Hong Kong residents, the intricacies of Chinese politics have proven to be just as challenging to interpret. Fully appreciating this dynamic in cross-border relations is essential to understanding what has gone awry in Hong Kong and to contemplating its future. The stakes are high. The city stands at a critical juncture. The 'one country, two systems' principle guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and a capitalist system for 50 years. With just 22 years remaining, the city has come under increasing international scrutiny We can lay to rest an enduring myth from the early years: that physical proximity, coupled with the daily flow of people, goods and investment, would naturally foster deeper understanding between Hong Kong and the mainland. This assumption presumes that Hong Kong residents should possess a sophisticated grasp of Chinese politics, while Beijing should, in turn, appreciate Hong Kong's unique cultural and economic identity. The years have shown that reality is far more complex. Mutual understanding has arguably not deepened. If anything, misunderstandings, misjudgments and missteps by both sides have further complicated the relationship.
