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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

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

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

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

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

videocam
7
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

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15
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
People spend time at a beach as commercial vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Wednesday. Photo: ISNA via AP
US, Israel war on Iran

Iran seeks to bar US and Israeli ships in Hormuz deal with Oman

Tehran pushes for strict transit bans and fees in draft waterway pact as Trump claims negotiations are ‘moving along good’.

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US-China relations

Trump signs new orders targeting birthright citizenship and ‘birth tourism’

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US-China relations

US presses China over alleged scam bosses despite growing police cooperation

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China-Latin America relations

Argentina extends US$19 billion China currency swap despite US pressure

Buenos Aires locks in the yuan line until 2031, months after the US Treasury Department offered a rival facility.

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Argentine President Javier Milei campaigned on a pledge never to do business with communist governments, but later sought Beijing’s help to extend the currency swap. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

China buys at least 10 more cargoes of US soybeans, traders say

These are the latest in a flurry of purchases ahead of President Xi Jinping’s expected US visit in September.

China-Latin America relations

US sanctions Cuba’s military representative in Beijing over China procurement

Measures target officials and firms accused of obtaining military equipment from China and Russia for Cuba’s armed forces.

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US-China relations

Will latest trade ‘speed bump’ slow China-US ties, or even stop Xi-Trump summit?

As Beijing and Washington trade curbs, analysts say only major action or breach of the other’s core interests can prevent summit.

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US President Donald Trump met China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May. They are expected to meet again in the US in September, despite recent China-US friction on several fronts. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Copy that: why Beijing is investigating imported office equipment

Among Beijing’s countermeasures in response to the latest US sanctions, an investigation into imported printers and photocopiers stands out.

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Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong must be realistic and flexible in re-engaging with the US

A more stable US-Hong Kong relationship need not come at the expense of domestic security or ties with the Global South or the mainland.

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US-China trade war

China adds US sanctions, drone curbs in trade tit-for-tat

Beijing tightens curbs on unmanned aerial vehicle exports after US robotics import ban, sanctions firms for aiding measures targeting Xinjiang.

A Chinese-made drone takes to the skies over the US state of New Jersey. Photo: Reuters
Asean

Why the UK is doubling down on Asean ties amid European reset

Observers say the move to engage Asean is less a policy reset than continuity in Britain’s post-Brexit engagement with the bloc.

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UK Foreign Minister Ed Miliband (left) speaks during the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with the United Kingdom in Metro Manila, the Philippines, on July 22. Photo: EPA
US, Israel war on Iran

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

With Iran holding firm to its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump faces one of two choices: capitulate or risk a ‘forever war’, experts say.

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US-China trade war

China’s retaliation against US shows depth of its trade war strategy: analysts

Beijing’s latest export controls and sanctions against American companies show its ‘countermeasures framework and toolkit have come of age’.

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China-Latin America relations

Brazil to become regular borrower in China, treasury official says

Brasilia cannot guarantee debut will happen this year, but wants it repeated to give companies a yuan benchmark to aim for.

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Brazil intends to sell yuan bonds in China every year, a senior Brazilian treasury official said on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

China competition looms large in 2027 US defence bill

Taiwan, AI and supply chains headline House and Senate proposals as lawmakers broaden efforts to counter Beijing on multiple fronts.

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The South China Sea remains a central focus of US military planning as Washington expands efforts to counter China. Photo: US Navy
US, Israel war on Iran

Iran nears Hormuz deal with Oman, conditions reopening on US actions

Tehran agrees to joint route with neighbour across strait, taking effective control of traffic without Washington’s input.

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US-China relations

US hawks push Trump on multibillion-dollar Taiwan arms deal ahead of Xi summit

Observers say US leader may be ‘miscalculating’ if he attempts to use the US$14 billion package to ramp up pressure on Beijing.

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US-China relations

Seasoned seeds as bio-weapons? Chinese netizens mock US targeting of food brands

The latest batch of Washington’s import restrictions – targeting snack firms – is creating quite a stir among China’s social media users.

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An internet user views the Synear Food webpage on his computer in the background with the company logo displayed on his phone. The company has been blacklisted by Washington for allegedly using forced labour. Photo: Getty Images
Israel

Netanyahu says Israel didn’t agree to US-backed Gaza plan

The Israeli leader has received guarantees that the Israeli army would only need to leave its current positions in Gaza after Hamas disarms.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s Prabowo eyes North Korea trip. But no one’s invited him

While a visit could boost Indonesia’s diplomatic clout, it also threatens to raise another outcry about Prabowo’s frequent flights.

US-China trade war

Beijing decries ‘bullying’ US tech curbs that ensnare Chinese firms and products

State mouthpiece warns that Washington’s bans on green energy and advanced manufacturing will backfire, while defending China’s open-source AI models.

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A humanoid robot serves as a guide for visitors at the Space Museum of the Harbin Institute of Technology in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. Photo: Xinhua
China-EU relations

What would a German audit for Chinese supply chain dependencies find?

Although many analysts deem the search long overdue, they warn that German leverage would be both hard to implement and short-lived.

Officials in Berlin are concerned about Germany losing its industrial base to Chinese competition. Photo: Getty Images
Myanmar

Myanmar president heads to Thailand amid civil war at home

Thailand’s acknowledgement of Min Aung Hlaing’s legitimacy stems from a ‘straight up pragmatism’, analysts say.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Indian ship sinks in Red Sea after attack near Yemen

Yemeni officials blamed the Iran-backed Houthis, while New Delhi condemned the ‘unprovoked’ aggression.

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China-Latin America relations

Bachelet-led panel urges Latin America not to choose sides in US-China rivalry

ECLAC commission says the region should leverage critical minerals but recognises limits imposed by US security dominance.

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From left, former Colombian president Ivan Duque, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and ECLAC executive secretary Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs present the commission’s report in Santiago. Photo: ECLAC
US-China relations

Trump ex-lawyer advances in attorney general bid after Republican deal

Senate panel clears path for nomination as acting AG confirms US$1.8 billion fund for president’s allies is scrapped.

Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general will now proceed to the full Senate, where it will likely face further intense skepticism from Democrats. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

How Taiwan is preparing for a PLA sea blockade in its biggest war games

Taipei to move weapons production, prepare for internet outages and adopt US ‘back briefs’ during Han Kuang drills.

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China-Latin America relations

Cuban spy-base allegations, new Trump tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From global soybean market updates to China’s best trade partners, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in July 2026.

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