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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

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

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

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Illustration: Henry Wong

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

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

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

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Illustration: Henry Wong
China’s soft power

Opinion | China wants to lead a multipolar world. Now it must show how

To translate its well-articulated vision into practice, Beijing must flesh out concrete mechanics, starting with institutional design.

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US-China relations

Xi, Trump and Putin may hold trilateral meeting at next Apec forum, Kremlin says

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US-China trade war

Congress advances new bill to give US edge in open-source AI race with China

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Britain

UK’s Burnham pledges to restore hope as he makes House of Commons debut as PM

His vow to ‘unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility’ was a marked contrast to his predecessor Starmer’s downbeat pronouncements.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks at the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. Photo: House of Commons via Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

US military carries out new strikes on Iranian targets as hostilities flare

Iran targets American interests in Gulf states after US forces attack Iranian air defence sites, radar systems and maritime assets.

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Canada

‘Stop trying to be tough’: Carney fires back at Trump in trade fight

Canadian prime minister urges Washington to end online taunts as bitter trade war shakes relations between the historically friendly neighbours.

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Germany

Germany blames Russia for attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport

Berlin says it will shut down a Russian consulate and take other actions, citing ‘hybrid attacks’ by Moscow.

Police officers search a field on the grounds of Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany in August after an attempted drone attack. Photo: dpa via AP
US-China trade war

In Focus | China, global trading partners watch closely as Trump takes on Canada

Ottawa’s resistance tests the limits of US pressure as countries weigh diversification, leverage and the reliability of Washington deals.

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United States

Trump’s North Korea hope, China’s rocket force: 7 global relations reads

From plans that could upend the US elections to Canada tariffs, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in August 2026.

The Philippines

UK-Philippines troop deal to boost Nato’s South China Sea reach

If finalised, the UK would be the fourth Nato member to reach a deal with the Philippines allowing troops to train on each other’s soil.

Troops from the Philippines, Britain, the US, Japan and South Korea take part in a military exercise in the Philippines in 2023. Photo: Philippine Marine Corps / Handout
Belt and Road Initiative

How China’s rail diplomacy could shield regional supply chains from shocks

China’s Kyrgyzstan rail pledge highlights wider drive to knit Asia together and strengthen trade links.

President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov sign a joint declaration on the development of the China-Kyrgyzstan partnership on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping calls on SCO members to team up for bigger global tech-security role

The world is at a crossroads and the group should shoulder its responsibility, Chinese president says at Bishkek summit.

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India

‘Aloof’ but engaged: what India’s SCO comeback reveals

New Delhi’s re-engagement with the China-led bloc serves as a reminder to the US that it has other options, analysts say.

US-China relations

Trump praises China for being ‘relatively inactive’ in Strait of Hormuz crisis

US president also says he has ‘a lot of respect’ for Chinese leader Xi Jinping and believes feeling is mutual as planned summit in US nears.

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US President Donald Trump answers a question from the media at the White House in Washington on Monday. Photo: AP Photo
India

Opinion | India’s conflicted stance on China is unlikely to bear economic fruit

New Delhi’s approach has gone from welcoming economic engagement with Beijing to containment to the latest calibrated reopening.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
China-Latin America relations

Chile fines Chinese mafia inmate after cocaine found at maximum-security prison

Prosecutors link the inmate to a Chinese criminal network targeted in a major police operation last year and a second raid in June.

Russia

Lithuania’s president says CIA chief’s Moscow trip ‘achieved its goals’

President Gitanas Nauseda says US briefed Baltic nation on John Ratcliffe’s unannounced visit that sparked global speculation.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

US targets China’s global trade surplus at G20 meeting ahead of Xi-Trump summit

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent raises concerns over China’s ‘excessive imbalances’ just weeks before crucial bilateral meeting.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, on Monday. Photo: Reuters
SCO

Xi, Putin vow to deepen strategic ties after meeting at SCO summit

Xi said relevant departments from both sides are implementing initiatives he and Putin discussed during Putin’s state visit to China in May.

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Pakistan

India rejects ruling on water-sharing treaty with Pakistan by Hague court

The court says India must uphold the treaty and curb work on a hydroelectric plant in Kashmir pending a neutral expert’s assessment.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Prediction markets have priced the Trump-Xi summit. Do the bets have any value?

Trump has announced a September 24 meeting, but Beijing has not. As prediction market bets multiply, they may begin to shape diplomacy.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
US-China relations

Data centre anger, Bill Gates’ AI warning: 7 US-China relations reads

From Ivy League China audits to Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’, highlights from our overseas correspondents in the second half of August 2026.

Bill Gates attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

Beijing pushes back on Washington’s attempt to rally G20 over trade imbalance

After US Treasury Secretary Bessent called for coordinated response from G20 towards China, Beijing urged consultation instead.

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China exports

As China-EU trade talk deadline nears, ex-Brussels official adopts bullish tone

The former president of the European Council says the two sides are approaching a common ground.

Defence

Israel and Greece sign US$3.5 billion defence deal, largest ever between the 2

Buyers favouring Israel's battle-tested weapons have helped push its defence exports to record highs.

Director-general of the Israel Ministry of Defence Amir Baram, and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras, shake hands as they sign a US$3.5 billion defence export agreement in Tel Aviv on Monday. Photo: Israel Defence Ministry/Reuters
China-Africa relations

Xi’s Cairo trip marks ‘best ties in history’ as Egypt seeks to balance West

Chinese president’s visit comes amid expanding Suez investment and joint air force exercises.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping will once again meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi when he arrives in Cairo this week following his trip to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Photo: Xinhua
United Nations

Countries must consider reparations for slave trade, UN committee says

At least 12.5 million Africans were ‌taken and sold between the 15th and 19th centuries, according to the committee.

Indonesia

Indonesia-US joint military drills with allies kick off with 4,700 soldiers

The exercises, which have been held for nearly two decades, will include special forces infiltration training and cyberdefence drills.

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