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Cao Jiaxuan
Reporter, China
Cao Jiaxuan joined the SCMP in 2025 and covers China’s diplomacy and foreign relations. She has an academic background in economics and international journalism and previously reported from Hong Kong on China's economic affairs.
Cao Jiaxuan joined the SCMP in 2025 and covers China’s diplomacy and foreign relations. She has an academic background in economics and international journalism and previously reported from Hong Kong on China's economic affairs.
Areas of Expertise:
Diplomacy, economy, markets
Languages Spoken:
Cantonese, English, Mandarin
Former diplomat warns ‘malpractice-like’ lack of preparation for meeting could hollow out potential for productive talks.
Meanwhile, China expresses ‘concern’ over America’s interception of Iranian-flagged cargo ship in Gulf of Oman.
The JS Ikazuchi’s passage through the waterway on Friday ‘harmed the feelings of the Chinese people’.
Pledge is a bid to ‘embed Japan at the centre of Southeast Asia’s energy security architecture’, observer notes, but questions its impact.
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Lack of mutual trust means a strategic miscalculation could trigger renewed conflict at any moment, analysts say.
Tehran’s lead negotiator hits out at Washington after Islamabad talks, while Vance says sticking point was lack of nuclear commitments.
US sends destroyers for mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran and US hold high-stakes talks in Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will lead first direct talks since Operation Epic Fury began.
The European powers are leading calls for de-escalation but analyst notes ‘the age of soft power as a substitute for hard capacity is over’.
Even though Donald Trump has postponed his trip to China, an academic forum heard that both sides still hoped to keep things on an even keel.
Wang Yi hails ‘positive signals’ from new Dutch minister as US pressure and EU de-risking leave The Hague juggling security and trade interests.
Tehran has signalled a willingness for Beijing to act as a mediator in its escalating war against US and Israel.
Any response from Beijing is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and humanitarian aid, according to analysts.
The former Soviet republics are leveraging diplomatic fallout from conflict to assert autonomy and balance major powers, observers say.
Foreign ministry urges US to ‘safeguard the stable development of China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’.
China believes that human primacy must be upheld in military applications of AI, defence ministry spokesman says.
Foreign minister’s comments come at closely watched press conference on ‘two sessions’ sidelines.
Beijing’s sweeping 2026-2030 plan lays out blueprint for navigating a complex and turbulent international environment.
Beijing is unlikely to abandon ‘balanced diplomacy’ in the region despite killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, analysts say.
The world must not return to the law of the jungle, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang tells France’s Jean-Noel Barrot.
Analysts say German chancellor’s talks in Beijing helped build rapport with Chinese leaders and halt confrontation.
After meeting Chinese leader, German chancellor calls for closer trade relations to unlock opportunities and drive economic prosperity.
The big question is whether a weaker hand for US president at coming Beijing summit will give any advantage to China.
Trade deficit is likely to be top priority for German chancellor on his first official visit to China since taking office.
There is no substitute for top-level engagement given the issues at stake, Nicholas Burns says.
Lack of Russian involvement in the mega-projects is seen as part of a broader structural shift as the region moves ‘closer to the world’.
United Nations chief has warned of financial collapse due to unpaid fees, a situation also said to reflect a shift in how US sees the body.
Analysts expect the deals with Washington and Brussels to give New Delhi leverage with Beijing and may even slow the thaw.
Beijing holds rare same-day talks with Kremlin and White House as powers face headwinds at home, energy uncertainties and nuclear pact’s end.
