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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

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

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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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

videocam
5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

videocam
18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and government officials at the ceremony of the Nanking massacre memorial held at the government’s headquarters on December 13. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Legacy of war in Asia

Opinion | Amid historical tensions with Japan, Hong Kong must engage for the future

Remembering the pain of the Nanking massacre does not preclude engagement, but ensures lessons of the past strengthen our shared commitment to peace.

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China trade

With US focused on Venezuela, China has window to pressure Japan: analysts

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South Korea

Editorial | For South Korea to reset relations with China, it must withstand US pressure

US-Venezuela conflict

Venezuela releasing ‘significant number’ of prisoners in bid to ‘seek peace’

Journalists, lawyers and human rights activists – including citizens and foreigners – were among those freed.

Relatives of prisoners hug each other as they wait in front of El Rodeo jail in Caracas on Thursday. Photo: AFP
North Korea nuclear crisis

Opinion | Maduro’s fate in Venezuela hardens North Korea’s nuclear resolve

It confirms Pyongyang’s belief that leaders seen as thorns in the US side who lack nuclear weapons ultimately fall victim to US intervention.

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US-China relations

US will end China’s dominance of rare earths, Trump adviser Navarro predicts

The president’s trade aide says American innovation will ‘quickly wipe away’ Beijing’s ‘weaponisation’ of critical minerals.

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US-Venezuela conflict

US Senate rejects Trump’s Venezuela threats with war powers vote

The US president slammed the 5 Republicans who joined Democratic lawmakers to advance the resolution.

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People attend an anti-Trump protest over US action in Venezuela near the US embassy in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
France

France’s Macron slams US over Venezuela, Greenland actions

The French President condemned Washington’s isolationism after the capture of Venezuela’s leader and designs to take over the Danish territory.

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Ukraine war

Russia slams West’s ‘axis of war’ as Kyiv says US guarantees ‘essentially ready’

Moscow warns ‘axis of war’ peacekeepers potentially being deployed to Ukraine are targets, overshadowing Zelensky’s claim a US pact is almost ready.

Israel-Gaza war

‘Where is the ceasefire?’: Israeli gunfire kills 11-year-old in Gaza ‘safe zone’

Despite the agreement, Israel has killed 424 people since the ceasefire started nearly three months ago.

The body of 11-year-old Palestinian girl Hamsa Hosou, killed by Israeli fire in Jabalia, is brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Thursday. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Ankara anchor: Malaysia finds Turkey ‘reliable friend’ in stormy global waters

Trump’s tariffs and actions in Venezuela are causing the Global South to look for less mercurial partners, analysts say.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim exchange a signed agreement in Ankara on Wednesday. Photo: Turkish Presidency/Xinhua
Saudi Arabia

US allies Saudi Arabia, UAE risk a split in Middle East over competing visions

A ‘new order’ is emerging as Abu Dhabi-backed separatist allies clash with pro-Riyadh governments in the region.

Donald Trump

Trump pulls US out of dozens of international organisations, UN agencies

Many are groups and treaties the US president’s team has categorised as catering to diversity and ‘woke’ initiatives, such as climate talks.

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China-North Korea relations

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

Seoul’s calls for Chinese mediation seen to underscore Beijing’s central role in preserving stability between two Koreas.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
North Korea nuclear crisis

Opinion | As denuclearisation stalls, China will shape stability on Korean peninsula

South Korean leader’s Beijing visit makes clear need to manage inter-Korean tensions and establish stability en route to denuclearisation.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung takes a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping using a Xiaomi smartphone after a state dinner in Beijing, China, on January 5. Xi gave Lee the smartphone during their first summit talks in Gyeongju, South Korea, in November. Photo: EPA / Yonhap
Donald Trump

Trump plots to buy Greenland, as Nato ally Denmark seethes

The US president has repeatedly refused to rule out using force to seize the Arctic island, but his team says the first option is diplomacy.

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US-Venezuela conflict

US won’t rule out pressuring Venezuela to curb China, Russia ties

White House vows continued ‘American dominance in the western hemisphere’ as Trump claims Caracas will now buy ‘only American-made’ products.

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Canada

Canada’s Carney to meet Xi in China, as Trump tariffs hurt US ties

PM Mark Carney will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for trade and other talks in first such trip by a Canadian leader in nearly a decade.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the start of a meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
China-EU relations

Will Trump’s threats to Greenland help bring China and Europe closer together?

The US president has said control of the Danish territory is a national security issue, causing increased alarm among Copenhagen’s allies.

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US-Venezuela conflict

US to take control of Venezuela oil sales indefinitely after tanker seizures

Trump says Venezuela ‘stole’ US oil and vowed that proceeds from crude would be sold and controlled by him to benefit both countries.

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China trade

China initiates anti-dumping probe against Japan over key semiconductor chemical

Beijing’s investigation targets imports of dichlorosilane from Japan, alleging dumping that harms Chinese production, amid escalating bilateral and trade tensions.

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A worker is seen at a semiconductor factory in China’s Jiangsu province. Beijing has launched an anti-dumping investigation against Japan over a chemical used in chipmaking. Photo: AFP
China-South Korea relations

Lee’s bid for South Korea-China reset can only go so far

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s success in improving relations with China means little when it comes to the issue of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung takes a selfie including China’s President Xi Jinping. (Photo: AFP)
Kim Jong-un

Video | North Korean leader visits site of memorial for Ukraine dead

North Korean leader was also seen taking part in a tree-planting ceremony alongside his daughter Kim Ju-ae and wife Ri Sol-ju at the memorial museum site.

South China Sea

Opinion | Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea

The test is not claimants resolving their disputes but whether they preserve the infrastructure that keeps encounters from becoming a crisis.

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US-Venezuela conflict

‘Controlled by me’: Trump says Venezuela to send US up to 50 million barrels of oil

US president declares he will personally control oil proceeds to ‘benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States’.

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A local walks past a mural featuring oil pumps and wells in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Ukraine’s allies agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees in push to end war

UK and France could deploy troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire, but a big question mark hangs over Russia’s response.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) signs a declaration of intent along with France’s President Emmanuel Macron (centre) and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AFP
Greenland

Use of US military to acquire Greenland ‘always an option’, White House says

Trump’s preferred option might be to buy Greenland from Denmark, but the White House says military action is being considered.

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Donald Trump

Maduro copied my dance – but Melania hates it, Trump says

A US news report says the Venezuelan leader’s regular public dancing convinced White House officials it was time to act.

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