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Brics

Brics
Brics (an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) refers to an association of 10 leading emerging markets. The other member states are Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
China’s President Xi Jinping inspecting the troops at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Mainland China

Opinion | As the world moves towards ‘fractalisation’, China could be the new leader

China has all the signs of world-topping national strength but whether other countries accept its leadership will depend on what’s on offer.

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India

Opinion | In AI, India’s choice needn’t be between a US leash or Chinese hook

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, September 2026

Yuan

In Focus | After cordial Xi-Trump summit, could China’s US dollar pivot cause tremors?

Beijing is building a financial safety net around the yuan while reducing exposure to US Treasuries – a strategy that could draw increasing scrutiny from Washington.

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illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Indonesia

Indonesia’s Prabowo appoints new foreign minister

Arrmanatha Nasir is a career diplomat who was Indonesia’s former permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

US-China relations

Open Questions | Scott Kennedy on China’s ‘slow tech dragon’ and 2 more Xi-Trump meetings

American adviser on Chinese business and economics highlights different phases of US-China relations over the past 50 years.

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United States

My Take | How Beijing is neutralising Washington’s sanctions machine

As alternative networks like China’s CIPS gain traction, the multilateral pushback is steadily eroding US financial dominance.

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Iranians walk past an anti-Trump billboard on a street in Tehran on September 23. In a speech at the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump asked aloud whether he should “annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly”. Photo: EPA
China-Latin America relations

Exclusive | China-based Brics bank set for hunger alliance lead role this year, Brazil says

Brazilian minister Wellington Dias tells SCMP a fund to cut borrowing costs for the poor may launch by December as US marginalises the G20.

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Pakistan

Opinion | Reporter’s note: two Delhis, one weekend – when the world came to dinner

The Indian capital was prepared for the 18th Brics summit like a house before company, if at times the cost of its finery fell unevenly.

Malaysia

Anwar was on song in India. Will Malaysia reap the rewards?

The Malaysian PM’s rendition of a Bollywood ballad went viral, but his India trip was about more than just the music.

A still from a social media video of Anwar Ibrahim singing in New Delhi while at the Brics summit. Photo: X/AnwarIbrahim
Diplomacy

Opinion | What China really means when it says it’s being ‘strategic’

Rather than geopolitical manoeuvring or calculation, this diplomatic label aims to convey seriousness, patience and a willingness to work for mutual long-term benefit.

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President Xi Jinping (right) pose for a photo alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Brics leaders at the Brics summit in New Delhi, India, on September 12. Photo: Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump signs bill targeting China’s Russia energy imports days before Xi’s US visit

US president gives backing to ‘Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ before next week’s Xi-Trump summit in Washington.

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Diplomacy

Letters | What Brics wants: a non-Western, not an anti-Western, world

Readers discuss the recent Brics summit, and former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa’s time in office.

US-China relations

China pushes back against US sanctions bill targeting Russia’s top energy buyers

Beijing braces as US House clears ‘Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ before next week’s Xi-Trump summit in Washington.

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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun says Beijing “opposes long-arm jurisdiction that has no basis in international law or the authorisation of the UN Security Council”. Photo: Kyodo
China-India relations

Will ‘transactional’ America assist India in a future border crisis with China?

India’s relations with US have frayed over trade and tariffs recently, but strong defence ties still remain between the two countries.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Brics summit venue in New Delhi on September 12. Photo: via Reuters
India

India scores Brics win with joint declaration despite divides

New Delhi ‘papered over’ differences to keep the bloc focused on trade and tech priorities, analysts say.

United States

Brics leaders act to hedge – not revolt – against US dollar dominance

As New Delhi summit closes, the bloc pushes for a louder voice within global institutions while building parallel machinery, analysts say.

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Currencies

Brics pivots to pragmatic de-dollarisation via payment links: analysts

Analysts say lack of movement towards a common currency reflects a more pragmatic approach to reducing reliance on US dollar.

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The venue for the Brics summit in New Delhi. Photo: AP
Artificial intelligence

Xi touts Brics cooperation on AI as US titans flag tech risks

China’s President Xi Jinping promoted an AI ‘community’ at a Brics summit, while US industry leaders backed the idea of slowing the technology’s development.

US, Israel war on Iran

Middle East diplomacy stalls as war spreads, Hormuz talks postponed

New attacks in Hormuz and Saudi Arabia as planned talks between Tehran and its neighbours are put off.

India

Brics summit ends with Xi’s AI offer, Modi’s warning on critical minerals

Bloc united on US curbs but Xi Jinping’s open-source AI pitch and India’s warning on weaponised tech reveal internal friction, analysts say.

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Xi Jinping pictured at Sunday’s session of the Brics summit in New Dellhi, India. Photo: AP
Middle East

Under Trump’s shadow, Brics takes step towards de-dollarisation

New Delhi Declaration pushes for cheaper and faster payments system and takes aim at sanctions and unilateral tariffs.

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Leaders of Brics member states pose for a photo in New Delhi on Saturday. From left to right: Brazil Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, United Arab Emirates’ Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Photo: Indian Foreign Ministry via AP
China-India relations

Xi tells Modi of China and India’s ‘responsibilities’ as Global South powers

Leaders meet on sidelines of Brics summit in New Delhi; Indian statement says they reaffirmed that ‘differences should not become disputes’.

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Mainland China

Brics members find common ground on AI, trade and de-dollarisation push

Xi Jinping also tells the event in New Delhi that the bloc should play a ‘due role’ in bringing peace to the Middle East.

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Russia

Internal splits threaten to slow Brics’ progress as bloc marks 20th anniversary

The grouping has emerged as a strong champion of the Global South, but analysts warned that major challenges still lie ahead.

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This year’s Brics summit is being hosted by India, one of the founder members. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Editorial | Brics summit could emerge as milestone in bloc’s unity

The expected meeting between the leaders of China and India on the sidelines of the multilateral summit bodes well for stability in Asia.

Security officers stand guard beside Brics summit banners bearing images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi, India, on September 11. Photo: AP
China-India relations

Xi in India, bank capital injections, EU-China trade

This week: Xi heads to India for Brics summit, state-owned banks and insurers get 360 billion yuan capital boost and China shows willingness to broker Trump-Kim summit. Next week: EU’s Von der Leyen delivers annual address as China trade deadline looms, defence officials attend Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Fed may raise interest rates, lanterns light up Hong Kong and more.

China-India relations

China’s Xi Jinping to make first trip to India in 7 years for Brics summit

The visit is yet another stop in a busy month of diplomacy for the president, who will be in Washington in a fortnight.

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