Beijing on Iran war, Trump’s China trade plan, new AI arena: 7 US-China relations reads
From a new US maritime strategy to the Iran crisis, here are highlights from SCMP’s overseas correspondents in the first half of March 2026
1. Trump slams European allies, praises China and continues to justify Iran attack
US President Donald Trump used a White House meeting with the German Chancellor on March 3 to blast European allies, praise China, waffle on tariffs and argue that the attack he had launched against Iran days previously had prevented a nuclear war.
2. Trump’s 2026 trade agenda sharpens push for ‘managed’ US-China ties
Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda, announced this month, sharpened and – in some ways – reshaped Washington’s approach to Beijing, blending enforcement with a new emphasis on “managed” trade between the world’s two largest economies.
3. China urges Israel to end war in Iran as regional tensions escalate amid US-linked attack
Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi urged his Israeli counterpart to help bring about an immediate end to the war in Iran during a call days after the US and Israel launched a massive attack on Tehran.