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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’

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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

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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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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
The era of open oceans could be drawing to a close, says academic Di Dongsheng, who urges Beijing to prepare “for struggle in a coming contest over sea power and the security of shipping routes”. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

What China can do to secure trade routes in its coming high-seas struggle with US

Di Dongsheng argues it could take three decades for China to dominate access to ports, straits, canals and shipping lanes around the world.

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The Philippines

Philippines’ rising military pensions risk triggering budget ‘time bomb’

US-China relations

Bill Gates warns of AI’s impact, urges the US and China to cooperate

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US-China relations

US seizes Chinese hacking platforms targeting Nasa, Fed and Senate

Justice Department says QTFY targeted US critical infrastructure on behalf of China’s security ministry and military.

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China and the US have repeatedly traded accusations over cyberattacks and online espionage. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Latin America relations

US critical minerals proposals to Brazil go unanswered as China looms

A US diplomat says Brasilia has not responded to two overtures, even as a US-backed rare earth acquisition in Brazil nears completion.

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US-China relations

In a small Virginia town, distrust of Big Tech hampers Trump’s AI push

Controversy over first data centres in Danville typifies ongoing debate with concerns over secrecy, distrust and China’s influence.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

China vows payback for US Iran sanctions, testing stability ahead of summit

Beijing warns economic pressure will fail; semi-official Track 1.5 dialogue targets risk control before Chinese president visits US.

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As the US imposed fresh sanctions on Chinese entities, US Treasury said it had “mapped the networks, facilitators and financial channels that Iran uses to smuggle oil, evade sanctions and fund terror”. Photo: Xinhua
China-India relations

Before Xi’s India visit, China and India confirm 8 steps to ease border tensions

Sources and experts caution against overplaying expectations, saying offers on the table fall well short of a breakthrough or grand bargain.

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US-China trade war

How will US ‘D-Day’ threat against Iranian economy impact China’s oil supply?

As northern hemisphere prepares for winter, analysts say latest US sanctions would not deter China from purchasing Iranian oil.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US pulls China punches in Iran ‘economic D-Day’ sanctions

US measures targeting Iran-linked companies exclude major Chinese ones, probably to avoid the risk of jeopardising the fragile bilateral trade truce.

Photo: AFP
Global South

Opinion | China’s multilateral pitch is finding an audience

Beijing’s push for global cooperation is clearly self-interested, but even US allies in the West can see the benefits of multilateralism.

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President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on April 11, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

Trump pick Darline Graham wins election despite struggling over Taiwan question

The political newcomer wins Republican Senate nomination after failing to answer questions about South China Sea issues.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after war evacuations

US move signals lower risk of immediate regional escalation, though select missions will cap capacity at 75 to 85 per cent.

Africa

As I see it | Africa knows who its true friends are – and they’re not in Washington

China’s sustained engagement across the continent stands in stark contrast to a US approach driven purely by strategic utility.

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An engineer guides local staff members on backup power replacement for the communication system at Mtito Andei Station on the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya on July 23. Photo: Xinhua
United States

Canada hits US goods with tariffs of up to 50% as trade war escalates

Ottawa targets about US$20 billion in US products and unveils billions in assistance after negotiations with Washington collapse.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks about the trade dispute with the US in Levis, Quebec, on Monday. Photo: AFP
United States

Russia says CIA chief Ratcliffe did not meet Putin during Moscow visit

Unannounced trip marks the first known visit to the Russian capital by a US spy chief since 2021.

China-Latin America relations

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

ByteDance penalised for allegedly collecting data from 1 in 5 Brazilian children and failing to block minors from using TikTok.

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US-China trade war

What does the US-Canada trade dispute mean for China?

After Canada stood firm in negotiations, analysts say that Washington failed to gain ‘veto’ on Ottawa’s trade with other countries.

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Shipping containers are seen in the Port of Montreal in Quebec, on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Middle East

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

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US-China relations

‘Normal stability’: US-China Track 1.5 talks offer formula for ties

Senior party official Liu Haixing uses unofficial discussions to make the case for disagreements to remain ‘controllable’.

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United States

Opinion | For states, being part of everything doesn’t mean being part of nothing

The opposite of commitment is breach, not multiplicity. A nation’s reliability isn’t measured by how many treaties it signs.

The United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York on March 25. Governments increasingly face the same demand: prove the depth of your commitment by closing the door on everyone else. Photo: Zuma press wire / dpa
South Korea

South Korea pledges to help Trump revive talks with North Korea’s Kim

Trump’s recent olive branch to Kim and criticism ‌of Seoul have raised concerns of a strain on long-standing Asian alliances.

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US soldiers set up a floating bridge on a river at a military training field in Yeoncheon on Thursday during joint US-South Korean military exercises. Photo: Yonhap/AFP
Ukraine war

UK’s Burnham plans US trip to lobby Trump on Ukraine Patriot missiles

Following his first international visit to Kyiv, the new UK leader seeks a multi-nation deal to secure vital interceptors for Ukraine.

China-Latin America relations

US targets China’s telecoms grip in Venezuela with new sanctions carve-out

Move could test Huawei and ZTE’s long-standing foothold as Washington extends its China reach from oil to another strategic sector.

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Middle East

US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list in major diplomatic shift

Washington lifts decades-old designation, removing final barriers to foreign investment following Assad’s fall.

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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump meeting in Turkey. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

China vows to safeguard interests after ‘Economic D-Day’ sanctions over Iran ties

Washington warns Iran-linked entities face removal from US dollar system as Trump presses world leaders to cut financial ties.

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Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for China’s energy supplies. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Mainland China’s ship activity near Taiwan hits record for third month in a row

Beijing has ramped up its law-enforcement and survey operations around island since Tokyo and Manila announced boundary talks.

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China-Middle East relations

China and Jordan call for Strait of Hormuz to get back to normal

The two sides also criticised Israel’s ‘dangerous escalatory actions’ following King Abdullah’s meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

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