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Javier Milei

The latest news on Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, including China-Argentina relations, plus politics in South America.

Born

22 Oct 1970

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

Chilean President Gabriel Boric leaves the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago after his four-year term ended on Wednesday. Photo: Handout

China-Latin America relations

Amid China cable fallout, Chile’s president ends term, calls for unity

Undersea fibre-optic cable project linking Chile to Hong Kong enraged US, causing dispute that defined Gabriel Boric’s final weeks in office.

12 Mar 2026 - 5:08AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Trump offers Latin American leaders US missile strikes to hit drug cartels

8 Mar 2026 - 1:46AM

Israel-Gaza war

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ debuts with Gaza pledge as war threat looms elsewhere

20 Feb 2026 - 10:04AM

US-China relations

US seeks fair China competition, looks to realign Latin America ties

Scott Bessent says Washington wants to reduce security risks without decoupling from Beijing as it steps up engagement across Latin America.

11 Feb 2026 - 6:16AMvideocam

Scott Bessent has outlined Washington’s approach to managing economic risks with China while expanding engagement in Latin America. Photo: Getty Images

Donald Trump

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

9 Feb 2026 - 11:57AM

US-China relations

China confirms invite to Trump’s Gaza ‘peace board’ – won’t say if it will join

US President Donald Trump has invited dozens of leaders to join the body, but is reportedly demanding US$1 billion for permanent membership.

20 Jan 2026 - 9:55PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump wants nations to pay US$1 billion to stay on his Board of Peace

Critics are worried that the US president is trying to build an alternative – or rival – to the United Nations.

18 Jan 2026 - 12:19PM

US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday. Photo: AP

China-Latin America relations

Argentina’s Milei plans 2026 China trip despite US pressure on ties

Leader cites China as a key trade partner, underscoring a sharp shift from his 2023 campaign attacks to a more pragmatic stance.

13 Jan 2026 - 4:36AMvideocam

United States

US says Argentina has ‘fully repaid’ currency lifeline

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the loan is paid in full, netting millions in profit for the US while stabilising Javier Milei’s government.

10 Jan 2026 - 2:53AM

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Argentina targets US dollars hoarded under mattresses, eases tax evasion rules

The country wants Argentines to bank their dollars amid high inflation, with estimates of ‘mattress dollars’ totalling US$251 billion.

3 Jan 2026 - 9:17AM

Photo illustration of Argentine peso notes and a US$100 bill in Buenos Aires. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

The Venezuelan opposition figure, who has been in hiding for over a year, will have her daughter accept the award in Norway.

10 Dec 2025 - 4:03PM

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, in August 2024. Photo: AP

China-Latin America relations

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

Framework pledges to stop competitors from threatening the stability and political alignment of neighbouring countries in the region.

6 Dec 2025 - 7:37AMvideocam

Honduras

Rivals in Honduras presidential race locked in a ‘technical tie’

Trump-backed Nasry Asfura leads Salvador Nasralla by a razor-thin margin as the election council begins a manual vote count.

2 Dec 2025 - 2:28PM

US-China relations

Ex-Argentine leader warns against cutting China ties to improve US relations

Macri argues Argentina’s farm and commodity sales rely on China even as current president Javier Milei pursues broader deal with Washington.

22 Nov 2025 - 5:57AMvideocam

Argentina’s former president Mauricio Macri has warned the current Argentinian leadership not to cut ties with China just to curry favour with the US. Photo: AFP

G20

White House denies reversing G20 boycott, hits out at South African leader

Cyril Ramaphosa said the US had a last-minute change of mind, but the White House had sharp words in response.

21 Nov 2025 - 3:06PM

Banners displaying the faces of various G20 leaders displayed along a Johannesburg freeway. Photo: AP

United States

Bananas and beef: White House unveils Latin America trade deals

Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador have agreed to open their markets to US products in exchange for tariff relief on some items.

14 Nov 2025 - 7:38AM

Science

Will a key hearing restart the China-Argentina telescope stalled by politics?

Multimillion-dollar observatory thought to be the target of US pressure faces other concerns after customs hearing.

12 Nov 2025 - 9:23PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | How Anglo-American ideologues have exploited HK’s ‘free market’ success

If Hong Kong people can remove their colonial blinds, they would be able to see the economic detritus left around the world by Western ideology.

2 Nov 2025 - 11:14PM

A view of the Hong Kong government headquarters in Admiralty. Photo: Jelly Tse

Argentina

Argentina’s Milei vows more reforms after stunning midterm elections victory

Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office.

27 Oct 2025 - 4:09PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Argentina formalises US$20 billion lifeline from Trump as Milei faces poll test

Despite the currency swap being formalised by Argentina’s central bank, Trump threatens to withdraw aid if Milei is defeated in the midterms.

21 Oct 2025 - 3:18AM

Donald Trump

Trump says could cut US aid to Argentina if Milei loses midterms

The US president’s administration has promised US$20 billion to prop up the Latin American country’s struggling economy.

15 Oct 2025 - 1:13PM

US President Donald Trump welcomes Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Brics

Opinion | Why New Zealand joining Brics makes sense in Trump’s ‘America-first’ era

Brics is a maturing economic and diplomatic powerhouse. Joining could help New Zealand spread its diplomatic wings and secure its future.

12 Oct 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Brics leaders and other officials pose for a group photo during the latest summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7. Photo: Xinhua

Americas and the Caribbean

US launches US$20b financial lifeline for Argentina, buys pesos in rare move

US helps prop up Argentina’s faltering finances, and boost political ally President Javier Milei for midterm elections.

10 Oct 2025 - 1:13PM

China-Latin America relations

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

Buenos Aires updates grain standards to meet Chinese demand, shifting exports from once-dominant US suppliers.

6 Oct 2025 - 11:11PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Argentina soy exports to China soar, Singapore’s record population: 7 highlights

From National Day celebrations in Hong Kong to Singapore’s population hitting a record high, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

3 Oct 2025 - 1:11PM

People cycle along a track backdropped with the city skyline in Singapore in June. The city state crossed the 6 million population threshold in 2024. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

As Trump targets China in Argentina bailout offer, analysts fear ‘debt trap’

Washington’s offer involves replacing Argentina’s US$18 billion currency swap line with China for a US-backed arrangement.

2 Oct 2025 - 11:43PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Argentina’s President Javier Milei as they meet during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City on September 23. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Trump administration ties Argentina support to rollback of China credit line

Washington warns US$18 billion China swap endangers Argentina’s sovereignty and boosts Beijing’s sway in South America.

26 Sep 2025 - 2:43AM

New Zealand

China Eastern to open Shanghai-Buenos Aires route amid Latin America push

With only one transit stop, the state-owned carrier says the new connection will be the most straightforward one between China and Argentina.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:16AMvideocam

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Javier Milei

Amid China cable fallout, Chile’s president ends term, calls for unity

Undersea fibre-optic cable project linking Chile to Hong Kong enraged US, causing dispute that defined Gabriel Boric’s final weeks in office.

Trump offers Latin American leaders US missile strikes to hit drug cartels

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ debuts with Gaza pledge as war threat looms elsewhere

US seeks fair China competition, looks to realign Latin America ties

Scott Bessent says Washington wants to reduce security risks without decoupling from Beijing as it steps up engagement across Latin America.

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

China confirms invite to Trump’s Gaza ‘peace board’ – won’t say if it will join

US President Donald Trump has invited dozens of leaders to join the body, but is reportedly demanding US$1 billion for permanent membership.

Trump wants nations to pay US$1 billion to stay on his Board of Peace

Critics are worried that the US president is trying to build an alternative – or rival – to the United Nations.

Argentina’s Milei plans 2026 China trip despite US pressure on ties

Leader cites China as a key trade partner, underscoring a sharp shift from his 2023 campaign attacks to a more pragmatic stance.

US says Argentina has ‘fully repaid’ currency lifeline

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the loan is paid in full, netting millions in profit for the US while stabilising Javier Milei’s government.

Argentina targets US dollars hoarded under mattresses, eases tax evasion rules

The country wants Argentines to bank their dollars amid high inflation, with estimates of ‘mattress dollars’ totalling US$251 billion.

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

The Venezuelan opposition figure, who has been in hiding for over a year, will have her daughter accept the award in Norway.

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

Framework pledges to stop competitors from threatening the stability and political alignment of neighbouring countries in the region.

Rivals in Honduras presidential race locked in a ‘technical tie’

Trump-backed Nasry Asfura leads Salvador Nasralla by a razor-thin margin as the election council begins a manual vote count.

Ex-Argentine leader warns against cutting China ties to improve US relations

Macri argues Argentina’s farm and commodity sales rely on China even as current president Javier Milei pursues broader deal with Washington.

White House denies reversing G20 boycott, hits out at South African leader

Cyril Ramaphosa said the US had a last-minute change of mind, but the White House had sharp words in response.

Bananas and beef: White House unveils Latin America trade deals

Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador have agreed to open their markets to US products in exchange for tariff relief on some items.

Will a key hearing restart the China-Argentina telescope stalled by politics?

Multimillion-dollar observatory thought to be the target of US pressure faces other concerns after customs hearing.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | How Anglo-American ideologues have exploited HK’s ‘free market’ success

If Hong Kong people can remove their colonial blinds, they would be able to see the economic detritus left around the world by Western ideology.

Argentina’s Milei vows more reforms after stunning midterm elections victory

Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office.

Argentina formalises US$20 billion lifeline from Trump as Milei faces poll test

Despite the currency swap being formalised by Argentina’s central bank, Trump threatens to withdraw aid if Milei is defeated in the midterms.

Trump says could cut US aid to Argentina if Milei loses midterms

The US president’s administration has promised US$20 billion to prop up the Latin American country’s struggling economy.

Opinion | Why New Zealand joining Brics makes sense in Trump’s ‘America-first’ era

Brics is a maturing economic and diplomatic powerhouse. Joining could help New Zealand spread its diplomatic wings and secure its future.

US launches US$20b financial lifeline for Argentina, buys pesos in rare move

US helps prop up Argentina’s faltering finances, and boost political ally President Javier Milei for midterm elections.

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

Buenos Aires updates grain standards to meet Chinese demand, shifting exports from once-dominant US suppliers.

Argentina soy exports to China soar, Singapore’s record population: 7 highlights

From National Day celebrations in Hong Kong to Singapore’s population hitting a record high, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

As Trump targets China in Argentina bailout offer, analysts fear ‘debt trap’

Washington’s offer involves replacing Argentina’s US$18 billion currency swap line with China for a US-backed arrangement.

Trump administration ties Argentina support to rollback of China credit line

Washington warns US$18 billion China swap endangers Argentina’s sovereignty and boosts Beijing’s sway in South America.

China Eastern to open Shanghai-Buenos Aires route amid Latin America push

With only one transit stop, the state-owned carrier says the new connection will be the most straightforward one between China and Argentina.

My Take | How Anglo-American ideologues have exploited HK’s ‘free market’ success