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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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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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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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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
An archaeologist works at the No 3 Horse and Chariot Pit, one of a cluster of tombs belonging to noble families of the Zheng State, a vassal state during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, near the city of Xinzheng in central China’s Henan province, in November 2017. Photo: Xinhua
War and conflict

As I see it | Hegemony or balance of power? What the wars of ancient China teach us

A new book on the Spring and Autumn period and its experiments in conflict and diplomacy helps explain today’s global order.

US-China relations

Asian-American groups fear Trump’s escalating rhetoric will fuel racism in US

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Italy

Trump envoy met with protests in Venice as he arrives on superyacht

Donald Trump

Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, says he’ll add cost to tariffs

Smoke from Canadian fires has enveloped a swathe of the US, raising questions about conditions for Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey.

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The sun rises next to The Empire State Building through a cover of wildfire smoke on Friday. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran attack infrastructure, raising fears of escalation

Two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through a mined route south of Hormuz, Iranian media reported.

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US-China relations

Many allegations, little evidence: unpacking China election-interference records

Declassified US intelligence files showing millions of Americans’ voter information do not back Trump’s claims Beijing hacked 2020 election.

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US-China relations

US lets Hong Kong emergency expire but keeps preferential treatment restrictions

State Department says 2020 order remains in effect as city still lacks sufficient autonomy for different treatment from mainland China.

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Hong Kong is one of Asia's leading international financial centres. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

China slams ‘unfounded smears’ as Trump election claims threaten diplomatic thaw

Donald Trump alleges Beijing stole 220 million voter files, in a prime-time speech potentially clouding Xi Jinping’s planned US visit.

US-China relations

Trump’s election-interference claims spark fears among Chinese-Americans

US president’s prime-time address draws sharp backlash from immigrants who fear a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US pounds Iran as Tehran threatens to ‘crush’ Middle East infrastructure

American forces conducted strikes for a sixth straight night, and boarded a ship to enforce the US naval blockade.

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Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location, during what US Central Command says are strikes on Iran. Image: US CENTCOM via Reuters
United States

US to focus counterterrorism efforts on left-wing groups, Rubio says

Critics, however, fear that ‌designating groups as far-left terror organisations risks targeting lawful protests and political opponents.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the US Department of State on Thursday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

US to toughen up visa regulations for Chinese journalists, foreign students

Trump administration claims changes will combat visa fraud and strengthen national security, but legal experts condemn new proposals.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says Iran has freed a detained US woman

Dena Karari, a US-Iranian citizen, had been held since December 2024.

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran says Strait of Hormuz a ‘red line’, vows to fight till the end

Tehran warned of ‘existential war’ with America and threatened to block more energy exports from the Middle East.

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Video footage released on Monday shows what the US military says is a strike in Iran. Photo: US Central Command Public Affairs via AFP
South China Sea

Opinion | Path to South China Sea stability doesn’t run through US, UK or the EU

The statement by 14 countries is a geopolitical exercise, amplifying the flawed 2016 Hague arbitral ruling to try to drive a wedge between China and its neighbours.

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The China Coast Guard vessel Dong’an patrolling in the South China Sea on June 22. Photo: Xinhua
US-China relations

Trump intel pick to play ‘helpful’ role in agreeing economic strategy with China

Jay Clayton says US can still work together ‘on the world stage economically’ with Beijing despite the geopolitical challenges they face.

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China-EU relations

EU accuses China of seeking to reshape global order in stark new strategy paper

China trying to ‘reshape the global order in line with their interests’, EU says in some of bloc’s strongest official criticism of Beijing.

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US-China relations

Global views of China and Xi improve as perceptions of US decline: Pew survey

China’s image has recovered from pandemic lows while confidence in the US and its global leadership has weakened.

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Pew found China now holds a higher average favourability rating than the US among 20 countries tracked over time. Photo: Shutterstock
China trade

Giant Japanese trade group plans China visit amid tense economic ties

Delegation from prominent Japanese organisation seeks October talks in Beijing and Xian to repair business partnerships after geopolitical disputes snarled exchanges.

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US-China trade war

US must act quickly to counter China’s growing tech progress, lawmakers told

Analysts claim Washington needs to slow down Chinese momentum and speed up US technology advances now or fall well behind the Asian giant.

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South China Sea

How Beijing’s islands of control are reshaping the South China Sea

Ten years after the Hague’s tribunal ruling, Beijing’s island-building strategy has effectively eclipsed the 2016 decision, observers say.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Asean

Opinion | Cambodia aspires to shed its dependencies while staying connected

As it seeks connectivity, Phnom Penh must build diplomatic bridges with as much effort as it constructs ports and canals.

People arrive at the construction site of the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel in Kandal province, Cambodia, on August 5, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump scraps Hormuz toll plan but presses ahead with Iran blockade

In latest flip-flop, US president says Gulf investment deals will replace shipping fee, while restoring blockade targeting Iranian trade.

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Iran

Video | US strikes Iran again after UAE tankers hit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted US facilities in the region and two UAE tankers travelling through the strait.

Pacific nations

China sends a message to Pacific islands amid unease over missile test

Solomons prime minister has pledged to review China pact while advancing talks on a comprehensive treaty with Australia.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks in Beijing on Tuesday with Rick Houenipwela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Solomon Islands. Photo: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singapore

Tharman’s state visit signals ‘mature’ era for Singapore-Malaysia ties

Singapore’s president, in Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Malaysia’s king, says both nations need each other in a troubled world.

Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (right) and Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar inspect honour guards during a welcoming ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. Photo: Facebook/officialsultanibrahim
ICBMs

Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters

The reactions to Beijing’s ‘routine’ exercise put into focus a nuclear order that is rapidly fluctuating from Tehran to Tokyo.

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US-China relations

US National Science Foundation to ban projects with flagged Chinese institutions

Raising security fears, NSF moves from case-by-case approval to full ban on working with restricted entities and their employees.

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