https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/525446/feed On 13 May 2026, US President Donald Trump began a three-day state visit to China in which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed a number of factors affecting their two countries. Beijing later confirmed that Xi would reciprocate with a US visit from September 23 to 25. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/series/3370678/navigating-china-us-power-play-shenzhen-apec?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/series/3370678/navigating-china-us-power-play-shenzhen-apec?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:33:32 +0000 William Zheng,Nayan Seth,Khushboo Razdan William Zheng,Nayan Seth,Khushboo Razdan Some senior American executives are lukewarm about attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and related business events in Shenzhen next month, according to people familiar with the matter. They cited limited scheduling details, few expected breakthroughs and a lack of opportunity for meaningful engagement. Beijing has invited multiple US business leaders – particularly those who joined President Donald Trump’s May trip to China and later attended the White House state dinner for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370574/china-keeps-extending-shenzhen-apec-deadline-why-are-us-execs-so-unenthused?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370574/china-keeps-extending-shenzhen-apec-deadline-why-are-us-execs-so-unenthused?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang Ivanka Trump’s appearance in a blue embroidered couture outfit during the welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last month has drawn attention to its designer and the growing international profile of Chinese bespoke fashion. The outfit was designed by Guo Pei, one of China’s best-known couturiers, who also created the spectacular yellow embroidered cape with a long train and fur trim worn by pop star Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala. Guo told the South China Morning... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370571/ivanka-trumps-guo-pei-dress-xi-visit-sparks-interest-chinese-haute-couture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370571/ivanka-trumps-guo-pei-dress-xi-visit-sparks-interest-chinese-haute-couture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Kurt Campbell is a veteran US diplomat and strategist who has played a leading role in shaping Washington’s approach to China and the Indo-Pacific for more than a decade. He served as the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs from 2021 to 2024 and as US deputy secretary of state from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2009 to 2013 and was a key architect of the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia”. Often... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370485/kurt-campbell-us-deterrence-quad-aukus-and-taiwan-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370485/kurt-campbell-us-deterrence-quad-aukus-and-taiwan-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Recent interactions involving the US and Taiwan are not expected to derail the current momentum in relations between Washington and mainland China, according to diplomatic analysts. Beijing was taking a pragmatic approach to navigating the complexities of the Taiwan issue, they said, but the fate of a US$14 billion arms package for the island remained a key concern. During President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the United States, Xi urged his hosts to “adhere to the correct position of opposing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370402/will-taiwan-issue-derail-washington-and-beijings-latest-reset-analysts-are-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370402/will-taiwan-issue-derail-washington-and-beijings-latest-reset-analysts-are-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim When China and the United States agreed in May to frame their relationship as a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”, the phrase left many observers trying to guess what it actually meant. Four months on, they have added an elaboration that offers further insight into the two sides’ respective priorities. After presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump met in Washington last month, the two sides pledged to build a “constructive relationship of strategic stability on the basis of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370323/what-are-concerns-and-priorities-behind-new-language-used-define-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370323/what-are-concerns-and-priorities-behind-new-language-used-define-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:00:09 +0000 William Zheng,Khushboo Razdan William Zheng,Khushboo Razdan US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may skip a meeting of Apec finance ministers in Hong Kong later this month to focus on preparing for President Donald Trump’s historic visit to Shenzhen in November, sources told the South China Morning Post. Bessent is expected to meet Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Shenzhen ahead of Trump’s visit – when Trump will again hold talks with President Xi Jinping – as the two sides look to secure a longer extension of the bilateral trade truce, which is due to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370295/bessent-may-skip-apec-hong-kong-focus-trumps-shenzhen-visit-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370295/bessent-may-skip-apec-hong-kong-focus-trumps-shenzhen-visit-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:00:21 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang Chinese President Xi Jinping was busy travelling abroad last month. In September, he paid a historic state visit to the United States, his first to the country in more than a decade. He also made his first visit to India in seven years, meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Brics summit. China will host the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, where Xi will meet US President Donald Trump for the third time this year. During the summit, Xi is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370259/xi-jinping-meets-foreign-leaders-tracker-september-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370259/xi-jinping-meets-foreign-leaders-tracker-september-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 02:39:33 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s policy towards Taiwan is increasingly tied to its relationship with Beijing, according to former American officials who also warn that the war on Iran is weakening US military readiness for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. During a fireside chat in an annual symposium hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington on Wednesday, Brent Christensen, former director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said Washington’s policy towards the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3370204/washingtons-transactional-taiwan-policy-puts-indo-pacific-risk-ex-us-officials-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3370204/washingtons-transactional-taiwan-policy-puts-indo-pacific-risk-ex-us-officials-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:00:21 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma US President Donald Trump pressed Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during last month’s summit to end a deep freeze in relations with Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, the South China Morning Post reported. Trump raised Japan’s grievances over Chinese restrictions imposed following Takaichi’s comment in November that the Japanese military might intervene in the event of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, according to Thursday’s report, which cited people familiar with the discussions. Beijing regards Taiwan as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370186/trump-pushed-xi-end-japan-freeze-chinese-leader-unmoved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370186/trump-pushed-xi-end-japan-freeze-chinese-leader-unmoved?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:11:27 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang – https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370135/xi-trump-summit-outcomes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370135/xi-trump-summit-outcomes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:30:28 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Fan Chen Khushboo Razdan,Fan Chen Washington and Beijing may have signed an agreement built around “reciprocity”. But a more consequential question remains unresolved: does it mean equal status for Beijing? Countries without a seat at the table are watching that ambiguity closely. The spectacle of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington – the tarmac greeting, the flyovers, the state dinner – has been interpreted less as courtesy than as a statement of rank. Some argue that China is no longer being treated as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370028/g2-illusion-after-xi-trump-summit-china-wants-equality-while-us-seeks-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370028/g2-illusion-after-xi-trump-summit-china-wants-equality-while-us-seeks-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 02:30:06 +0000 Chow Chung-yan Chow Chung-yan This year’s Chinese National Day reception in Washington felt noticeably jollier than those I have attended in recent years. The mood was more relaxed and Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng’s opening speech was upbeat. He even joked about the panda ambassadors at his own expense. The cheerful tone followed President Xi Jinping’s short but successful state visit to the US, during which his counterpart, President Donald Trump, gave him an unprecedented high-level reception that would have flattered even... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3369893/beyond-summit-how-us-china-relations-could-still-unravel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3369893/beyond-summit-how-us-china-relations-could-still-unravel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Former Anthropic and OpenAI researcher Jacob Coxon said he was 90 per cent certain that China already had spies inside both US artificial intelligence (AI) companies, without providing evidence. Coxon made the allegation in an interview with entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David on the PBD Podcast, arguing that China could steal advances from leading US AI labs and quickly close any technological gap. “Right now, if we just stopped, they would try and catch up. But I think one really important thing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370108/china-already-has-spies-us-ai-labs-claims-ex-anthropic-researcher?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370108/china-already-has-spies-us-ai-labs-claims-ex-anthropic-researcher?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:39:15 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump pressed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to roll back China’s export curbs on Japan during their meeting in the US, urging talks between the Chinese and Japanese leaders as Tokyo seeks to manage mounting pressure from Beijing. People familiar with the discussions told the South China Morning Post that Xi also warned Trump about the growing risks of Japanese militarism during their sit-down in Washington last month. According to the people, while the issue was not one... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370064/trump-urged-xi-talk-takaichi-and-lift-export-curbs-japan-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370064/trump-urged-xi-talk-takaichi-and-lift-export-curbs-japan-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump talked tariffs, agricultural quotas and critical minerals at last month’s closely watched summit in Washington, an “elephant in the room” loomed over the discussion: China’s efforts to gradually diversify away from US dollar assets. Beijing has gradually been cutting its holdings of US Treasuries while pushing to expand the yuan’s global use and developing alternative financial architecture. While these issues may not have featured in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369918/after-cordial-xi-trump-summit-could-chinas-us-dollar-pivot-cause-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369918/after-cordial-xi-trump-summit-could-chinas-us-dollar-pivot-cause-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The latest meetings between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended, yet again, with little to show in the way of a breakthrough. What grabbed international headlines was the pageantry, from Trump’s unprecedented greeting of Xi on the tarmac to a personal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369758/trump-xi-meeting-mattered-more-was-first-apparent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369758/trump-xi-meeting-mattered-more-was-first-apparent?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 03:30:06 +0000 Nayan Seth,Han Li Nayan Seth,Han Li The United States has accused mainland China of hiring an American citizen of Chinese origin to surveil the family of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te, days after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington. The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Sunday arrested 34-year-old Zhang Wanying at Los Angeles International Airport, alleging that she attempted to flee the country and charged her with acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government. The FBI accused her of surveilling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369844/us-accuses-mainland-china-targeting-taiwan-leaders-family-surveillance-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369844/us-accuses-mainland-china-targeting-taiwan-leaders-family-surveillance-case?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:16:58 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Mainland Chinese prefer coercion over military force to settle the “reunification question” with Taiwan, and their opinion of the US remains low, although they favour engaging with Washington on trade and security. These are the results from the latest survey of mainland citizens, conducted between April 16 and June 26. This straddled the first summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing but came before the second one in Washington last month. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369842/mainland-chinese-favour-diplomacy-achieve-taiwan-reunification-caveats-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369842/mainland-chinese-favour-diplomacy-achieve-taiwan-reunification-caveats-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:14:15 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington in September was steeped in pageantry. The Chinese president received two 21-gun salutes in three days, watched a flyover by the powerful B-2 stealth bomber, and viewed the founding documents of American democracy at the National Archives. US President Donald Trump called his summit with Xi a “great meeting” and rated it a “12 out of 10”. Xi was also positive, saying “everything is done to the highest order of perfection, and there is thought in every... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369774/beijing-wanted-more-xis-washington-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369774/beijing-wanted-more-xis-washington-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:00:09 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado For more than eight decades, the remains of US fighter pilot Morton Sher lay unrecovered in China. A photograph of a memorial to him in a Hunan village eventually helped investigators find where his plane crashed in 1943. Sher was buried in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, in December 2025, a homecoming that offers a rare example of what US-China cooperation can achieve for families of missing servicemen. That cooperation has now drawn fresh attention. After the recent summit between... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3369832/us-search-missing-airmen-china-gains-new-attention-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3369832/us-search-missing-airmen-china-gains-new-attention-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:10:35 +0000 Orange Wang,Carol Yang Orange Wang,Carol Yang Zheng Yongnian is a political scientist in China and a government adviser. His academic work is mainly about contemporary China, particularly politics, the country’s transformation and its external relations. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. Many have offered a lukewarm assessment of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington, citing the lack of a breakthrough. What is your take? There are two primary views right now. One is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369686/zheng-yongnian-china-us-realism-and-battling-upper-hand-next-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369686/zheng-yongnian-china-us-realism-and-battling-upper-hand-next-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:00:17 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei For American and Chinese people interested in the outcome of the latest summit between China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, their conclusions could not be more different if they turn to the media and pundits for guidance. Chinese state media spared no superlative, echoing the official description of the summit as: forging the right way for the major powers to get along and writing a new chapter in ties. It played up the fact that Trump gave Xi the highest-level reception... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369358/how-g2-effect-trump-xi-summit-reverberating-through-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369358/how-g2-effect-trump-xi-summit-reverberating-through-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taipei’s dilemma over its history during World War II appeared to deepen as Beijing and Washington looked to the Flying Tigers as a source of connection and goodwill during last month’s Xi–Trump summit. US President Donald Trump’s description of China as an American ally during the war has raised concerns in Taiwan that what could have been a valuable historical connection with the United States ended up benefiting Beijing’s ties with Washington. The dilemma resurfaced after Trump and Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369692/taipeis-dilemma-over-history-deepens-xi-trump-praise-wwii-flying-tigers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369692/taipeis-dilemma-over-history-deepens-xi-trump-praise-wwii-flying-tigers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth US Republican Senator Steve Daines, a close aide to President Donald Trump and a key interlocutor between Washington and Beijing, has called on the two capitals to stay engaged and “not retreat” over differences on issues including rare earth supply chains. Daines told the South China Morning Post that both sides still had issues that predated Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last week and that they would continue working on them after the summit. “So that’s again why... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369505/no-retreat-key-trump-ally-urges-continued-us-china-engagement-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369505/no-retreat-key-trump-ally-urges-continued-us-china-engagement-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva named China as a possible partner in his critical minerals plans, three days before Sunday’s closely fought election. Lula told Flow, one of the country’s most-watched podcasts, on Thursday evening that Brazil should stop shipping out raw ore. “We want to transform them here in Brazil,” he said of the minerals. Asked whether China fit into his plans, Lula said it could be a partner “bringing technology to us”, as could the United States. “[Donald]... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369636/brazils-lula-hails-bold-chinese-investors-rival-pitches-rare-earths-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369636/brazils-lula-hails-bold-chinese-investors-rival-pitches-rare-earths-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:04:21 +0000 Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump is planning to attend the Asean summit next month, the South China Morning Post understands, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region. If the trip happens, Trump’s appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, expected to run from November 16-18 in Manila, will be his second consecutive appearance at the gathering during this term. Trump was in Kuala Lumpur for Asean last year and in Manila for the meeting in 2017. Sources told the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369624/donald-trump-planning-trip-philippines-asean-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369624/donald-trump-planning-trip-philippines-asean-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:38:46 +0000 Jianlu Bi Jianlu Bi Not so long ago, Washington’s approach to relations with Beijing was anchored by a single assertive phrase: dealing “from a position of strength”. It was rooted in a unipolar mindset: a belief that the United States could dictate terms, manage competition unilaterally and demand compliance from a distance. Yet, at their recent summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump formally established a new strategic framework: a “constructive strategic stability relationship based... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369233/how-us-went-position-strength-gung-ho-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369233/how-us-went-position-strength-gung-ho-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Orange Wang,Carol Yang Orange Wang,Carol Yang Zheng Yongnian is a political scientist in China and a government adviser. His academic work is mainly about contemporary China, particularly politics, the country’s transformation and its external relations. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. Many have offered a lukewarm assessment of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington, citing the lack of a breakthrough. What is your take? There are two primary views right now. One is nihilism, which holds that China and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369546/zheng-yongnian-what-expect-future-xi-trump-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369546/zheng-yongnian-what-expect-future-xi-trump-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:02:11 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. What did we actually learn from US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two days of diplomacy in Washington? Perhaps less than the ceremony suggested – but more than what first appeared to be the case. There were grand words, handshakes, a state dinner and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369433/outcome-trump-xi-summit-was-quieter-grand-bargain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369433/outcome-trump-xi-summit-was-quieter-grand-bargain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Thursday that there is no timeline yet for implementing the US-China Board of Trade, one of the key economic outcomes of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last week. Speaking on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Greer said the tariff reductions under the mechanism were “a policy outcome” and that the recommendations would have to go through a legal process before... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3369490/greer-says-no-specific-timeline-set-enforcing-us-china-board-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3369490/greer-says-no-specific-timeline-set-enforcing-us-china-board-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:54:03 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado Chinese President Xi Jinping has left Washington, but he still has a place at the White House. At least two, in fact. Two different photographs of Xi with US President Donald Trump feature on its walls: a handshake image that Trump showed his guest during last week’s state visit, and another beside a Palm Room doorway showing the presidents standing side by side. Journalist Jacqueline Alemany shared an image of the Palm Room display on social media, noting that photographs of Trump with Xi and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369485/xi-leaves-washington-keeps-least-two-places-white-house-walls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369485/xi-leaves-washington-keeps-least-two-places-white-house-walls?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:10:11 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trade, Taiwan and ‘strategic stability’: key Xi-Trump takeaways overall Here are the key takeaways from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s whirlwind 43-hour trip to the United States, his first state visit to the country in more than a decade, after US President Donald Trump pulled out all the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369255/xi-trump-meetings-takeaways-successes-and-fallout-7-us-china-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369255/xi-trump-meetings-takeaways-successes-and-fallout-7-us-china-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:00:21 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth The Chinese ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, has described the personal rapport and “mutual respect” between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump as the “most valuable strategic asset in our bilateral relations”. “Their personal connection and in-depth dialogue have helped keep China-US relations on course at critical moments,” Xie said during a speech on Wednesday marking National Day celebrations at the Chinese embassy in Washington. “Head-of-state diplomacy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369402/xi-trump-rapport-most-valuable-strategic-asset-us-china-ties-envoy-xie-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369402/xi-trump-rapport-most-valuable-strategic-asset-us-china-ties-envoy-xie-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 01:58:50 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he discussed the release of “political prisoners” in China with his counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Washington last week. “We talked, and I think we had some very, very important discussions. Hopefully fruitful discussions,” Trump told reporters in the White House. Families had stepped up pressure on the Trump administration to push Beijing to release their loved ones ahead of Xi’s three-day state visit. Trump was asked whether he had raised the cases... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369396/trump-claims-he-discussed-release-political-prisoners-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369396/trump-claims-he-discussed-release-political-prisoners-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:13:15 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday proposed a new global framework to tackle excess steel production capacity on the sidelines of the ongoing Group of 20 Trade Ministers’ meeting, just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States. “The United States has taken robust measures, and it probably makes sense for other countries to do that too,” Greer said after a meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Well,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369393/us-targets-chinas-steel-capacity-g20-days-after-xis-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369393/us-targets-chinas-steel-capacity-g20-days-after-xis-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:30:34 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan A decades-long effort by Beijing and Washington to recover the remains of US servicemen missing in China since World War II has resurfaced in the wake of the summit between the nations’ leaders. The commitment was included in an eight-point list of outcomes from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit last week, alongside other agreements covering issues including artificial intelligence and trade. According to a statement issued by China’s foreign ministry after the summit, the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369361/why-did-trump-and-xi-seal-deal-world-war-ii-soldiers-missing-remains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369361/why-did-trump-and-xi-seal-deal-world-war-ii-soldiers-missing-remains?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li For years, Chinese manufacturers have viewed Southeast Asia as a way to reduce exposure to higher US duties on goods made in China. But a new round of tariff cuts proposed by Washington and Beijing could weaken that incentive for some products, potentially changing the economics of the strategy. Under the new US-China Board of Trade, more than 90 per cent of Chinese products on a list of goods worth US$30 billion – mostly everyday consumer items, such as toys and household goods – would return... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369373/has-us-china-tariff-deal-eroded-southeast-asias-tariff-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369373/has-us-china-tariff-deal-eroded-southeast-asias-tariff-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:11:54 +0000 William Zheng,Alyssa Chen William Zheng,Alyssa Chen Chinese President Xi Jinping projected a message of confidence about the country’s ability to overcome challenges during his annual National Day address, issuing a rallying call for robust economic growth and more certainty amid geopolitical complications. Xi’s address, delivered at a state reception in Beijing on Wednesday evening to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, was his first to the nation following his state visit to the US last week. It came weeks ahead... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369370/xi-projects-confidence-national-day-speech-rallying-call-economic-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369370/xi-projects-confidence-national-day-speech-rallying-call-economic-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:46:50 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage of the Xi-Trump summit. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Why Xi Jinping skipped the UN after his Trump summit Han Zheng, China’s vice-president, called on “major countries” to respect the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern nations and bring about a two-state solution for the “Palestinian question” on Saturday at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in an implicit dig at the US and Israel. 2. ‘Right... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369360/taiwan-takaichi-geopolitical-fallout-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369360/taiwan-takaichi-geopolitical-fallout-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Disagreement over how to prevent conflicts could explain why Chinese and US accounts characterised discussions at last week’s summit so differently, analysts said. Speaking at a White House arrival ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two militaries should maintain regular dialogue and “improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention”. In a statement issued after the summit, China’s foreign ministry said the countries’ militaries had agreed “to conclude a memorandum of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369359/did-beijing-and-washington-agree-crisis-prevention-deal-or-not?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369359/did-beijing-and-washington-agree-crisis-prevention-deal-or-not?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:01:04 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The two-month extension of the US-China trade truce remains fragile despite last week’s summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with modest economic concessions leaving deeper disputes unresolved, Asia Society Policy Institute analysts said on Tuesday. “In my view, this truce is very fragile,” said Wendy Cutler, an Asia Society Policy Institute vice-president and former acting deputy US trade representative. “I think they’re testing each other.” Xi’s three-day state visit to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369263/us-china-trade-truce-remains-fragile-after-xi-trump-summit-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369263/us-china-trade-truce-remains-fragile-after-xi-trump-summit-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:30:21 +0000 Han Li Han Li Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit to Washington is over, but China watchers in Congress and the US-China policy community are still parsing a wide range of outcomes, with two more leadership summits expected before the end of the year. The talks between Xi and US President Donald Trump produced a series of joint announcements, including an extension of the US-China trade truce, investment commitments, an agreement to continue an AI dialogue and high-level engagement, as well... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369261/hold-status-quo-us-congress-members-review-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369261/hold-status-quo-us-congress-members-review-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:01:52 +0000 Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim As American billionaires gathered at the White House to honour Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan last Thursday, a group of Chinese business leaders spent the evening on the sidelines. They had travelled to the US capital to join the state dinner. But their invitations never arrived. For weeks, their participation was the subject of intense discussion between Washington and Beijing. While it was under consideration until the summit’s final hours, they were ultimately excluded... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369238/xi-trump-summit-drew-chinese-ceos-so-why-couldnt-they-get-seat-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369238/xi-trump-summit-drew-chinese-ceos-so-why-couldnt-they-get-seat-table?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:00:05 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not want to work with China on addressing artificial intelligence (AI) risks, arguing that cooperation could undermine America’s lead in the fast-moving technology, as he announced a voluntary accord signed by the leaders of six major US tech companies to address growing concerns surrounding the technology. “Whoever wins superintelligence wins. You’re gonna have a winner and a loser, and you’re probably not gonna have a second place,” Trump said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369254/trump-rejects-calls-work-china-ai-safety-despite-xi-summit-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369254/trump-rejects-calls-work-china-ai-safety-despite-xi-summit-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:32:03 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang JPMorgan Chase, the world’s top bank by market capitalisation, plans to expand hiring and technology investment across mainland China and Hong Kong and is looking to take advantage of the city’s strengthening capital markets as well as its platform for serving companies operating in and out of the Chinese market, according to senior executives. CEO Jamie Dimon said the banking giant’s China-related business, measured by factors including client volume, has grown sharply over the past decade –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369009/why-jpmorgan-expanding-china-ceo-dimon-sees-another-decade-sharp-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369009/why-jpmorgan-expanding-china-ceo-dimon-sees-another-decade-sharp-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:05 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US and China need to improve communication, work together more closely and more fully embrace technology to stem risks associated with artificial intelligence, the founder of Nvidia said on Monday. “We should recognise that we’re competitors, and competitors are still able to collaborate,” said Jensen Huang, head of the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of about US$5.5 trillion. “This is such an important and consequential technology. It has the incredible... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369150/important-and-consequential-nvidias-jensen-huang-us-china-ai-race-risk-management?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369150/important-and-consequential-nvidias-jensen-huang-us-china-ai-race-risk-management?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:20:17 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. A pat on the back, ties in matching purple, a three-course state dinner and an ocean of handshakes and smiles: the vibes between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump at the White House last week couldn’t have been better. Beyond the widely covered 479-member... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369041/core-message-trump-xi-summit-couldnt-be-clearer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369041/core-message-trump-xi-summit-couldnt-be-clearer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 03:30:06 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China plans to complete a geological map of Mars by the end of 2028, as its space rivalry with the United States intensifies. Hou Zengqian, chief scientist of China’s next Mars mission known as Tianwen-3, on Monday said the map would cover the entire surface of the red planet and it aimed to be the global standard for the Martian geological ages. State news agency Xinhua reported that the map would be the first AI-driven geological map of Mars and would be an important part of preparations for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3369127/china-reveals-plan-map-entire-surface-mars-2028-amid-race-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3369127/china-reveals-plan-map-entire-surface-mars-2028-amid-race-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:20:42 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang Jamie Dimon’s recent whirlwind visit to Hong Kong followed a similar script: a schedule packed with meetings involving the entrepreneurs and business leaders connecting China with global markets. But it was his increasingly visible stance on global issues that appeared to extend his career beyond market strategy and financial industry leadership as CEO of JPMorgan Chase. His preoccupation with economic growth and world affairs drew particular attention in Hong Kong last week, shortly before... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369097/jpmorgans-jamie-dimon-how-growth-can-untangle-us-china-strife-thorny-global-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369097/jpmorgans-jamie-dimon-how-growth-can-untangle-us-china-strife-thorny-global-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:00:17 +0000