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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

Susan Thornton on US-China ties, post-midterms and averting a new balloon crisis

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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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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

Susan Thornton on US-China ties, post-midterms and averting a new balloon crisis

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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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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
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: dpa
Ukraine war

Zelensky speaks to US envoys amid Trump spat after Russia warning to US

The Ukrainian president said ‘a lot depends on America’ and Ukraine was ready to work ‘constructively’ and ‘honestly’ with the US.

US-China relations

How land power could help US forces counter China in the Indo-Pacific

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Asean

Trump’s second Asean summit presence comes at a price for region

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Israel

Israeli settlers attack European diplomats, beat up French mayor in West Bank

Bernard Baudoux says masked assailants kicked him and hit him with iron bars as he joined Palestinian olive farmers.

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Masked people are seen at the site of an alleged attack on Western diplomats and officials in Taybeh on Saturday. Photo: Amit Orfali via Reuters
Japan

Asian Angle | Asean’s Myanmar peace push needs Japan’s ‘silent diplomacy’

Tokyo knows how to back an Asean-led process without taking ownership of it, as decades of regional mediation show.

Japan

Japan’s Takaichi sends offering to controversial Yasukuni war shrine

Takaichi, who routinely visited the Shinto shrine before becoming prime minister, has refrained from doing so since taking over the helm.

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China-EU relations

China warns EU not to ‘fantasise’ on trade approach after ‘kill switch’ threat

Latest flare-up suggests danger of trade war between two of the world’s three biggest economies has far from de-escalated.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a press conference at the end of the European Council summit in Brussels on Friday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

New details emerge in US probe of Chinese-American scientists over China ties

House committee on China releases results of investigations into some 30 scientists as chairman pushes for stricter research security rules.

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China-Latin America relations

Paraguay tech minister defies Beijing sanctions, vows to deepen Taiwan ties

Gustavo Villate, blacklisted alongside Belize’s foreign minister, suggests the move was retaliation for excluding Huawei and ZTE from 5G.

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US-China relations

Americans favour China more than Russia, but both near bottom of G20: Pew report

New study finds Americans have ‘very cold view’ of Russia, while their opinion of China remains more negative than positive.

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The flags of Russia and China fly in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

China pushes back as US lawmaker seeks blacklist of universities and tech labs

Beijing condemns targeting of institutions including Tsinghua University, as critics warn restrictions may undermine scientific cooperation.

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The Tsinghua University in Beijing. A US lawmaker wants to add the prestigious institution to a blacklist of Chinese research organisations. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

China bar exam row sinks Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia after just 5 days

The US president says he told his embattled spokeswoman, who has been on the job for a mere week: ‘I think you’re better off being happy’.

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Ukraine war

From hospital, Pope Leo pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city

The call suggests the pontiff, who is recovering from a lung cancer operation, is still hard at work.

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Nobel Prize

Opinion | Nobel Peace Prize: the message behind Navi Pillay’s win

With global institutions under attack and Trump’s power politics on the rise, the award is a firm rejection of the ‘might is right’ doctrine.

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Former UN high commissioner for human rights Navanethem Pillay at at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasil on November 12, 2009. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

‘Visit more often’: China responds to Trump press secretary’s toilet controversy

China extends open invitation to Zacharia ahead of US president’s expected visit to Shenzhen for Apec summit.

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US President Donald Trump is accompanied by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia as he speaks to reporters on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
South China Sea

Envoy says China could win conflict, Manila claims it’s a ‘thinly veiled threat’

Philippine President Marcos Jnr says comments by ambassador Jing Quan run counter to efforts to ease South China Sea stand-offs.

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South Korea

South Korea-US alliance losing ‘trust’ amid widening cracks in ties

Growing frictions bleed into the security partnership, just as North Korea ramps up missile tests and Trump floats meeting with Kim Jong-un.

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US-China relations

Opinion | Pageantry matters for US-China summits, even with modest results

While Hong Kong was absent from discussions, this year’s summits show that Beijing and Washington can manage ceremony, dialogue and pragmatic compromise.

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China’s first lady Peng Liyuan, President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump watch a military review in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on September 24. Photo: Getty Images
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Visa’s China approval a ‘direct outcome’ of Xi-Trump summit, Beijing says

Visa CEO among White House guests at state dinner honouring Chinese leader last month and also attended Trump’s visit to Beijing in May.

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US-China relations

Trump’s press secretary never passed bar exam, wrongly claims China has none

Katie Zacharia admits she failed California bar exam and questions China’s rise, saying the country does not even have ‘proper toilets’.

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Middle East

Yemen’s Houthis attack presidential palace in Aden with missiles

Prime minister survives deadly strike as Riyadh points the finger at Tehran over widening war.

Smoke billows from the presidential palace complex after a Houthi attack in Aden, Yemen, on Thursday. Photo: Social media via Reuters
China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU open to creating ‘kill switch’ weapon to kick Chinese firms out of market

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also floats safeguards as member states back two-track strategy to tackle China shock.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (centre) awaits the start of the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. Photo: dpa
Americas and the Caribbean

Shackled Maduro defies judge, calls US torture charges ‘false accusations’

Ousted Venezuelan leader and his wife Cilia Flores face expanded indictment alleging beatings, electric shocks and abuse of three Americans.

United States

Trump scraps plan to live-stream Fort Hood shooter’s execution by firing squad

US president says former US Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan’s execution will proceed, with victims’ immediate families allowed to attend.

US-China relations

Blast simulation, university probes, AI spies: 7 US-China relations reads

From Ivy League woes to OpenAI spy fears, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in the first half of October 2026.

Nuclear-capable missiles are paraded in Beijing in September 2025. Photo: Xinhua
US-China relations

Opinion | Young Americans are key for the US to better understand China

With fewer preconceptions, this could be the generation that breaks through the mistrust built up over decades.

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Illustration: Mario Cameira
US-China trade war

‘China shock 3.0’ to be driven by AI, biotech and robot exports, economist says

China is developing its own competitive AI hardware and software and plans to export them once domestic demand is met, expert claims.

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US-China relations

Hegseth calls US$1.5 trillion defence budget ‘critical’ to counter China

Pentagon chief warns US risks falling behind China in drones, robotics and AI without major investment in military capabilities.

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