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Diplomacy

Diplomacy
Latest news, features and analysis on global diplomatic relations, with a focus on China’s international ties – especially with the US, its Asian neighbours and the European Union.
Open Questions series

‘It’s not possible to contain China,’ former top US diplomat Kurt Campbell says

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘It’s not possible to contain China,’ former top US diplomat Kurt Campbell says

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6
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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13
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle at the prime minister’s office in Athens on Wednesday. Photo; Reuters
United States

Trump, Rubio weigh firing US ambassador to Greece: official

Decision on Kimberly Guilfoyle expected as State Department’s inspector general looks into reported questionable conduct.

China-India relations

Opinion | Despite a China-India thaw, military relations are stuck in 2020

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Donald Trump

Trump’s Russian diesel deal may be illegal, says prominent Republican senator

Ukraine war

Russia hits Ukraine power plants despite Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’ declaration

Zelensky reports attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv facilities hours after the US president announced an unconfirmed truce.

An unexploded warhead of a Russian ballistic missile in a residential area in Kyiv on October 10, 2026 after an interception. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Reuters
Cars burn after a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on October 11, 2026. Photo: AP
The trail of a missile during a Russian air strike on Kyiv on October 10, 2026. Photo: AFP
An injured man stands amid rubble after his house was hit by a Russian air strike in Ukraine's Kharkiv on October 11, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Poland

Poland detains suspect in alleged plot to attack PM and defence minister

Online activity leads security forces to arrest man in his 60s amid a heightened nationwide security alert.

North Korea

Denuclearising North Korea would ‘defy history’ as US, allies missed the boat

Security expert Jenny Town said Washington and others should abandon the goal and instead focus on arms limitations and crisis talks.

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Ukraine war

Trump demands Ukraine get new president, lashes out at Zelensky

A day after unveiling a diesel deal with Putin, Trump accused Kyiv of contributing to global fuel shortages by striking Russian refineries.

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Plumes of smoke rise from fires at an oil refinery following what the authorities say is a Ukrainian drone strike in Moscow, Russia, in September. Photo: Reuters
Israel-Gaza war

Palestinian leader Abbas postpones elections to September 2027

Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-2006, after which Hamas seized control of Gaza.

Ukraine war

Russian attacks kill 20 in Ukraine after Trump-Putin diesel deal

The diesel deal contrasted a sweeping Russia sanctions law Trump signed last month to clamp down on Russia’s oil and gas revenues.

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China-India relations

Opinion | Modi and Xi can’t bridge the India-China divide by themselves

Building trust requires tackling deep-seated misgivings among bureaucrats and citizens. Easing visa restrictions, facilitating dialogue and collaborating on shared goals are the places to start.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | What are the concerns and priorities behind new language defining China-US ties?

The two sides have now agreed to include principles such as ‘respect’ and ‘fairness and reciprocity’ that reflect their different priorities.

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Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s recent meeting in Washington expanded on the framework used to define US-China relations. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Key US port for China imports records best-ever quarter despite trade doubt

Port of Los Angeles, the US’ leading gateway for imports from China, had its busiest three-month period on record from July to September.

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US midterm elections 2026

Trump announces diesel deal with Russia ahead of US midterm elections next month

Shock move reverses years of US pressure on Moscow over Ukraine war, as the president seeks to lower spiralling fuel costs.

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US-China relations

Opinion | US-Japan-Poland strategic triangle can encourage a ‘peaceful war’

The catalyst for this new architecture of deterrence in an age of fragmented interdependence lies less in China than in Russia.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov on his right and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on his left at the Tsentr-2026 military exercises at the Chebarkulsky training ground in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia on October 2. Photo: Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Americas and the Caribbean

Flavio Bolsonaro says he would work with China and US as Brazil’s president

As leader, Bolsonaro would assume control of an economy that is heavily dependent on China – by far Brazil’s largest trading partner.

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Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro attends a meeting with elected governors, ahead of the run-off election in Brasilia, Brazil on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Hong Kong rejects US downgrade to lowest tier in human trafficking report

US cites declining prosecutions and failure to identify victims exploited in Hong Kong; city rejects downgrade as ‘entirely unfounded’.

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China-Philippines relations

Opinion | National security must not kill Philippines-China academic ties

Targeting educational exchanges in the name of security threatens an effective channel for Manila to understand and engage Beijing.

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US-China relations

US investigates 9 universities over alleged visa fraud, with focus on China

Stanford and Brown are among schools facing scrutiny over alleged visa abuse and Chinese influence on federally funded research.

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US Vice-President J.D. Vance speaks at a White House press conference on Thursday announcing investigations into nine universities over alleged visa fraud. Photo: EPA
US-China relations

US’ transactional Taiwan policy puts Indo-Pacific at risk, ex-officials warn

The United States has ‘not been in a weaker position in the western Pacific’ than now, former American commander says.

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India

India aims to anchor military ties with US as Indo-Pacific ‘resident power’

Despite trade tensions, a top US naval officer’s New Delhi visit signals that Washington remains keen to anchor India as a security partner.

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China-Japan relations

Trump pushed Xi on Japan ties, but Chinese leader unmoved

At their recent summit, the US president pressed his Chinese counterpart to end the freeze in ties with Japan, but it appears to be too soon for a thaw.

Photo: EPA/Pool
Malaysia

Anwar’s push to return Myanmar to Asean sparks criticism over reduced leverage

The Malaysian leader’s pledge to visiting President Min Aung Hlaing comes without securing ‘significant concessions’, critics say.

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing (left) shakes hands with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Thursday. Photo: EPA
China-Germany relations

Exclusive | German President Steinmeier targets China trip as Berlin sharpens trade stance

Trip coincides with Merz’s Asia tour as Berlin and Paris advocate new EU mechanism to exclude rule-breaking trade partners.

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US-China relations

‘China already has spies’ at US AI labs, former Anthropic researcher warns

Jacob Coxon alleges Beijing can close any technological gap with the US as it has ways to ‘steal our progress at any time and catch up’.

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Donald Trump

Trump says he deserves Nobel Peace Prize but has doubts he will get it

The US president has waged war with Iran and has yet to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia.

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US President Donald Trump receives the Fifa Peace Prize from FIFA President Giovanni Infantino in Washington in December 2025. Photo: EPA
European Union

Rubio touts US power, calls on Europe to emerge from ‘slumber’

The US secretary of state warned that Western civilisation is ‘at a crossroads’ between ‘national power’ and decline.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at Pnyx hill on Wednesday, with the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis seen in the background. Photo: TNS
Americas and the Caribbean

Maduro and wife to face new US charges over alleged torture of Americans

Venezuela’s former president and spouse jailed in New York on drug counts await expanded indictment.

US-China relations

US issues first outbound investment fine over Chinese robotics AI deal

Parent of Plug and Play Tech Centre fined US$200,000 for failing to report a roughly US$92,000 investment in Shanghai robotics AI firm.

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