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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

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

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

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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

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

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

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
The Trump administration wants stable relations with China but does not trust the country, a senior State Department ⁠official said. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

US warns of deep distrust even as officials seek stable China ties for summit

Congressional hearings reflect bipartisan concern and highlight persistent advanced tech market tension as key Trump-Xi summit looms.

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European Union

Opinion | EU has a key role to play in the new world order in the making

China-EU relations

EU too slow to act as China rewrites global trade rules, trade chief Sefcovic warns

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Ukraine war

Russia accuses Ukraine of seeking nuclear arms with help from UK and France

Russia says the western allies believe Ukraine could end the war on more favourable terms if it had a dirty bomb, an allegation Kyiv denies.

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Ukrainian soldiers and partner forces attend a commemoration service marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine at a British Army training camp in East Anglia, Britain, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Chinese drone maker DJI sues to challenge US import ban on new models

Washington has been cracking down on Chinese-made drones in recent ‌years, and the ban represents a significant escalation.

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Malaysia

‘Alpha male’ Nick Adams dropped as Trump’s Malaysia envoy nominee

His controversial nomination, opposed by Malaysians, was ‘returned to the president’ last month.

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Indonesia

Why Indonesia’s lead role in Gaza peacekeeping force carries high political risk

Jakarta has reiterated that it ‘will not conduct military operations’ after it agreed to assume the role of deputy commander of the force.

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US President Donald Trump, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and other leaders at the Board of Peace’s first meeting at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
France

France demands answers from US envoy for ignoring summons as feud deepens

Paris angry after Charles Kushner failed to show up to explain his remarks about the death of far-right activist Quentin Deranque.

India

India and Brazil set sights on US$30 billion trade milestone by 2030

The two founding Brics members are deepening links on rare earths, innovation and AI to diversify growth beyond the West.

Human rights in China

China versus the West? Wang Yi tells UN no country is ‘human rights teacher’

Beijing’s top diplomat says issue should not be ‘exploited to adorn democracy’ or to ‘whitewash hegemony’ as he advocates for Global South.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, via video link from Beijing on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
Japan

No takebacks: Japan wants US to stick to trade deal amid tariff turmoil

Japan could see extra tax burdens on some goods if Trump’s new 10 per cent tariffs were to be applied unilaterally, the trade minister said.

A container ship leaves a cargo terminal in Tokyo in April 2025. Photo: AP
China travel

‘Chinese everywhere’: why tourists ditch Tokyo for Seoul as Japan ties sour

Diplomatic row with Japan sent more Chinese travellers packing for Korea, filling its hotels over the nine-day holiday and offering relief to a sluggish domestic economy.

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China-South Korea relations

Seoul’s protest seen as reluctance to let US Forces Korea confront China

South Korean complaint highlights growing difficulty in balancing ties with both security ally US and top trading partner China: analyst.

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US-China relations

US tariff ruling points to steadier US–China ties before April summit: analysts

Court decision lowers effective duties, easing tensions and steering Xi-Trump talks towards stability rather than escalation.

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US President Donald Trump (left) meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. Photo: AP
China-Africa relations

Opinion | China’s zero-tariff offer to Africa is a game changer

In contrast to Western proposals that come with strings attached, China has turned its own market into the main instrument of partnership.

A volunteer grinds coffee beans with children during a hands-on experience session at the Ethiopian pavilion of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park in Changsha, Hunan province on August 30, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
US-China relations

China has ‘massively expanded’ its nuclear arsenal, claims US State Department

Beijing’s UN ambassador Shen Jian said China opposes the smearing of its nuclear policy and ‘would not engage in any nuclear arms race’.

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China-EU relations

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

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The Netherlands

New Dutch government under centrist Jetten takes power

Jetten pulled off a stunning election win in October to dethrone the far-right party led by firebrand politician Geert Wilders.

Ministers of the new three-party minority government pose with King Willem-Alexander (middle right, Prime Minster Rob Jetten (middle left) and Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgöz (front row right) on the steps of Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Video | South Korea asks Russian embassy to remove ‘Victory’ banner

The banner declares “Victory will be ours”, as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year.

US-China trade war

Trump tariff loss is win for Chinese exporters

Chinese manufacturers will no longer face higher tariffs than rivals elsewhere in the world after the US Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump.

The Philippines

Art as advocacy: Philippine mural contest adds to South China Sea messaging push

The government-backed drive is the latest in a series of creative campaigns aiming to shape public narrative around the maritime dispute.

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Members of the Philippine Navy take part in a collaborative colouring activity during the launch of the nationwide mural contest on February 10. Photo: Raissa Robles
US-China relations

China prioritises regional expertise over language fluency in academic shift

Some 450 regional studies centres have been set up across more than 180 institutions nationwide since Ministry of Education launched project.

Interest in the interdisciplinary field of regional studies has grown rapidly in China, according to official data. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
US-China trade war

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

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France

France to summon US ambassador over comments on activist killing

France’s foreign minister reacts to a US statement about the death of Quentin Deranque, rejecting ‘instrumentalisation of this tragedy’.

Hungary

Hungary spoils EU attempt at Russia sanctions package over oil flows

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, has long argued that Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for his economy.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban as he arrives to attend the European Council meeting in Brussels on December 18 last year. Photo: AFP
Middle East

US ambassador says Israel has right to much of Middle East, sparking uproar

Mike Huckabee’s comments were condemned by Arab and Muslim nations as ‘extremist rhetoric’.

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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is seen during an interview in Jerusalem in August 2025. Photo: AP
United States

Trump says raising US global tariff rate from 10 per cent to 15 per cent

The move comes a day after ⁠the ‌US Supreme Court ruled ‌against ‌the ‌tariffs Trump ⁠imposed under an ⁠economic emergency law.

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India

India, Brazil sign rare earths deal to build ‘resilient supply chains’

With China holding a near-monopoly on rare earths production, India and other countries are seeking alternative sources.

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