https://www.scmp.com/rss/4/feed The latest breaking news from China. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Wang Huiyao Wang Huiyao The European Commission is pressing China for progress by next month to address the widening EU-China trade imbalance, and raising the possibility of new protectionist trade policy. The deadline raises a question: how should China and its trading partners address perceived economic imbalances while sharing the benefits of Chinese industrial competitiveness? China’s merchandise trade surplus approached US$1.2 trillion last year even as other exporting economies press for controls. “Overcapacity”... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368293/chinas-industrial-strengths-must-also-benefit-its-trading-partners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368293/chinas-industrial-strengths-must-also-benefit-its-trading-partners?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:30:12 +0000 Dewey Sim,Ji Siqi,Vincent Chow Dewey Sim,Ji Siqi,Vincent Chow Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump delivered remarks at the White House on Thursday morning at the start of the second day of Xi’s closely watched state visit. Both leaders spoke warmly of their countries’ ties and pledged deeper cooperation in comments that sought to project an image of stability between the two sides. Trump said he and Xi would work together to build a “better future for both our countries” while Xi called for the two powers to “coexist in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368716/b-2-spirit-ai-cooperation-no-us-china-conflict-key-xi-trump-takeaways-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368716/b-2-spirit-ai-cooperation-no-us-china-conflict-key-xi-trump-takeaways-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:44:16 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier After weeks of frustration, delays and posturing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump met Thursday, holding talks on several irritants and announcing an ill-defined “new joint arrangement” as they kicked off the most consequential day of their high-stakes summit. The arrangement was “good news for businesses, ordinary people and the global economy”, Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua, without elaborating. “We must turn this vision into action,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368709/beyond-rose-garden-and-military-review-trump-and-xi-get-down-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368709/beyond-rose-garden-and-military-review-trump-and-xi-get-down-business?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:32:56 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our US and China bureaus. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. President Xi Jinping and China’s first lady Peng Liyuan arrived at the White House on Thursday, on Xi’s first trip to the US in nearly a decade, following US President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing in May. Trump... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368706/xi-begins-first-full-day-us-visit-meet-trump-white-house-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368706/xi-begins-first-full-day-us-visit-meet-trump-white-house-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:53:20 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s next aircraft carrier could be longer than the US Navy’s largest warship, according to new satellite images that offer fresh clues about how far from home Beijing intends to operate its fleet – and the logistics it will need to do so. Captured on September 4, the images show that work has begun on the bulbous bow of the carrier under construction at Dalian Shipyard in northeastern China, defence intelligence company Janes reported last week. Measurements from the stern to the projected... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368690/chinas-next-carrier-could-be-its-longest-what-are-beijings-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368690/chinas-next-carrier-could-be-its-longest-what-are-beijings-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:19 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Nayan Seth Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Nayan Seth A small group of Chinese CEOs holding US visas has arrived in Washington after travelling separately from President Xi Jinping’s official entourage, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. But with the clock ticking and the business optics of the Chinese leader’s White House visit hanging on the final twists of diplomatic negotiations, the executives are still waiting to find out whether they will secure a seat at Thursday’s state dinner for Xi. “Beijing’s security protocol is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368683/chinese-ceos-fly-us-own-await-invites-trumps-state-dinner-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368683/chinese-ceos-fly-us-own-await-invites-trumps-state-dinner-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:41:59 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Starkly contrasting receptions for the Japanese leader and the Chinese president in the United States have sparked debate over Washington’s treatment of Tokyo as an ally. Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York at the start of the working week, beginning a trip where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as the country’s prime minister. A photo taken on her arrival shows her waving across a relatively empty tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Footage... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368696/red-carpet-vs-empty-tarmac-xis-us-welcome-fuels-debate-over-takaichis-no-show-reception?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368696/red-carpet-vs-empty-tarmac-xis-us-welcome-fuels-debate-over-takaichis-no-show-reception?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:20:23 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage of Xi and Trump’s meeting in the US so far. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Big picture or big deals? What the Xi-Trump summit holds for China and the US With the balance of power shifting between the US and China, the success of this week’s summit hinges not on headline-grabbing deals, but on practical, cautious consensus under a new strategic stability framework, according to Chinese researchers. 2.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368686/xi-trump-summit-day-1-highlights-red-carpet-chinas-leader-rubio-defends-visit-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368686/xi-trump-summit-day-1-highlights-red-carpet-chinas-leader-rubio-defends-visit-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:50:07 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin American tenor Christopher Macchio will perform at the White House banquet for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first state visit to the United States in more than a decade. “An honour to return to Washington DC to perform for the State Dinner with Donald Trump (originally @realDonaldTrump) and President Xi,” Macchio said on social media, tagging the official accounts of Trump, the White House, and the Trump campaign. Often referred to as “America’s Tenor”, Macchio is a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368682/us-tenor-christopher-macchio-booked-xi-trump-state-dinner-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368682/us-tenor-christopher-macchio-booked-xi-trump-state-dinner-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:18:20 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China’s first lady Peng Liyuan has sparked online buzz over her English-language exchanges with the US first lady without an interpreter during her visit to Washington with President Xi Jinping this week. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and Peng at Joint Base Andrews in a rare diplomatic move. After Xi and Peng stepped off the plane, the two couples spoke with the help of interpreters. But as they walked along the red carpet, Peng and Melania... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368672/first-lady-peng-liyuans-english-takes-spotlight-exchange-melania-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368672/first-lady-peng-liyuans-english-takes-spotlight-exchange-melania-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:43:41 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US is his first to the country since 2023 and his eighth face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump. From informal walk-and-talks to a state dinner, Xi’s meetings across four American administrations show how personal rapport and official diplomacy reflect the growing complexity of US-China relations. Xi’s first US visit as president: a shirtsleeves summit In June 2013, just months after assuming the presidency, Xi travelled to the United States following... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368664/summits-all-diplomatic-seasons-how-us-has-set-stage-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368664/summits-all-diplomatic-seasons-how-us-has-set-stage-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:52:15 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China and the United States agreed to extend a trade-war truce by two months to January 10, as President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for a summit with US President Donald Trump. The short extension will let the US assess whether China is meeting trade commitments, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Wednesday following “unscheduled” extra talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng. China had sought to stretch the “Busan Agreement” pause until January 2029, when Trump’s term in... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368652/us-china-agree-two-month-trade-truce-extension-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368652/us-china-agree-two-month-trade-truce-extension-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:17:46 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China and the United States must prevent their AI competition from escalating into a cold war, a top Chinese policy adviser has warned, while asserting that a complete decoupling would be difficult. The remarks from Zheng Yongnian, a leading political scientist and dean of the school of public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, come ahead of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington, where artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be among the top items on the agenda. Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368543/american-ai-development-cannot-separate-itself-china-zheng-yongnian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368543/american-ai-development-cannot-separate-itself-china-zheng-yongnian?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:57:33 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro As Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington for his much-anticipated summit with US President Donald Trump, it is clear which country emerged stronger from the tariff shock. Last month, China’s exports rose 25 per cent in annualised terms, causing the country’s trade surplus to swell to US$119 billion and putting it on track to exceed last year’s record of US$1.2 trillion. Moreover, China’s surplus with the US rose 44 per cent to US$29 billion, the widest gap since Trump returned to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368593/who-has-upper-hand-financial-markets-us-or-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368593/who-has-upper-hand-financial-markets-us-or-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:30:04 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang At Joint Base Andrews where Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for the visiting Chinese president, Xi Jinping appeared unfazed during a ceremonial flyover by a screeching US bomber while the US president visibly winced at the noise. As Xi arrived at the military base just outside Washington, he was greeted with a ceremony that included the US Air Force band playing the American and Chinese national anthems, a 21-gun salute, a guard of honour, a display of six F-16 and six F-22 fighter jets,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368621/xi-maintains-composure-during-us-military-flyover-historic-tarmac-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368621/xi-maintains-composure-during-us-military-flyover-historic-tarmac-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:43:39 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan US President Donald Trump’s choice of attire at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday drew online attention as he made a rare personal appearance to welcome Xi Jinping. Trump was on the tarmac to greet Xi on Wednesday evening as the Chinese president arrived in Washington for his first US state visit in more than a decade. But while temperatures at the airbase were around 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit), Trump was the only one wearing a dark overcoat and gloves as he and first lady Melania Trump... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368619/why-did-trump-wear-gloves-greet-chinas-xi-jinping-joint-base-andrews?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368619/why-did-trump-wear-gloves-greet-chinas-xi-jinping-joint-base-andrews?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:29:02 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Chinese medical scientists have shattered the brief window of time available to limit stroke damage, effectively shielding injured brain cells and dramatically improving the odds of a full recovery. Brain cells start dying within minutes of a clot blocking an artery, leading to facial droop, affected speech and in severe cases, paralysis or death. Emergency treatments, such as clot-busting drugs or surgery, must be given within a maximum of six hours. According to a study published by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368614/chinese-drug-loberamisal-extends-stroke-treatment-window-6-hours-2-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368614/chinese-drug-loberamisal-extends-stroke-treatment-window-6-hours-2-days?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:29:27 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen A video clip showing uniformed US military personnel on their hands and knees making last-minute adjustments to a red carpet has gone viral online, with critics pointing to the lavish welcome President Donald Trump rolled out for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews. The 12-second clip, which circulated widely on US social media, captured several service members hurriedly smoothing and cleaning the 30-metre (98-foot) carpet moments before Xi emerged from his... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368596/video-us-military-adjusting-red-carpet-chinas-xi-sparks-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368596/video-us-military-adjusting-red-carpet-chinas-xi-sparks-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:23:19 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang With the balance of power shifting between the US and China, the success of this week’s summit hinges not on headline-grabbing deals, but on practical, cautious consensus under a new strategic stability framework, according to Chinese researchers. Media outlets in China have given heavy coverage to President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States, highlighting its “historic, milestone significance”. It follows US President Donald Trump’s Beijing visit in May. Xi’s arrival in Washington on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368589/big-picture-or-big-deals-what-xi-trump-summit-holds-china-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368589/big-picture-or-big-deals-what-xi-trump-summit-holds-china-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:37:50 +0000 Lijia Zhang Lijia Zhang “Whoever wins with AI wins,” US President Donald Trump has declared, dismissing warnings about the risks of developing artificial intelligence too rapidly and citing rivalry with China. The technological competition is real. China has reason to fear becoming dependent on America for advanced chips and AI technology, particularly as Washington has repeatedly restricted its access to cutting-edge semiconductors. China, meanwhile, is directing enormous resources towards AI. Stanford University’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368285/chinas-top-priority-should-be-wages-not-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3368285/chinas-top-priority-should-be-wages-not-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik While major powers compete in militarised space races and state-led megaprojects, a group comprising a Russian astronaut trainer, Chinese science educators and Malaysian collaborators is laying the groundwork for an international youth space camp. Set to be held in Penang’s rainforest eco-park in late 2027 at the earliest, the week-long programme will gather youth from around the region to inspire future spacefarers, scientists and global citizens through physical exercises, immersion in space... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3367941/china-russia-space-camp-malaysia-opens-youth-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3367941/china-russia-space-camp-malaysia-opens-youth-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 01:00:06 +0000 Holly Chik,Lucy Quaggin Holly Chik,Lucy Quaggin Chinese President Xi Jinping was greeted on the tarmac by his American counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday – a rare gesture ahead of their summit. It is Xi’s first state visit to the United States in over a decade and the two leaders met each other at Joint Base Andrews just after 6pm, alongside their wives Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan. Here are the key takeaways. 1. Trade truce extended As Xi and Peng touched down in America, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368576/warm-welcome-trade-truce-extended-takeaways-xi-arrives-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368576/warm-welcome-trade-truce-extended-takeaways-xi-arrives-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:37:01 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan shared a light moment with Melania Trump on Wednesday as the two women renewed an acquaintance dating back to the Trumps’ first term in the White House. The first ladies smiled as they greeted each other at the foot of the aircraft stairs at Joint Base Andrews, where Peng arrived with President Xi Jinping for a visit to Washington. Walking behind their husbands along the red carpet, Peng gestured towards the honour guard, apparently remarking on the soldiers’... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368572/peng-liyuan-and-melania-trump-renew-acquaintance-xi-arrives-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368572/peng-liyuan-and-melania-trump-renew-acquaintance-xi-arrives-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:04:26 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow There are growing calls for Washington and Beijing to agree to slow down development of artificial intelligence. But even if they wanted to do so, how could they verify that the other side would do the same? A group of researchers and start-ups is developing technology intended to make this a possibility, without relying on trust alone. Their proposed tools would allow third parties and governments to check some claims about how AI models are being trained or used – possibly without needing... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3368570/can-us-and-china-verify-ai-deal-start-ups-are-starting-build-tools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3368570/can-us-and-china-verify-ai-deal-start-ups-are-starting-build-tools?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:34:38 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the US for a high-stakes summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved to restrict visas for those who “engage in or facilitate” birth tourism, a practice the Trump administration has increasingly accused China of. “By restricting visa issuance of those who both engage in and profit from this fraud, we are sending a clear message: the United States will not allow foreigners to exploit our immigration system and violate the sanctity of US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368569/us-restricts-visas-birth-tourism-ahead-xi-jinpings-summit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368569/us-restricts-visas-birth-tourism-ahead-xi-jinpings-summit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:50:26 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Chinese President Xi Jinping landed at Joint Base Andrews late Wednesday afternoon after a 15-hour flight where he was met on the tarmac by US President Donald Trump in an unusual move for a top American leader as the two sides extended a trade truce. The closely watched visit – Xi’s first summit in the United States in 11 years – comes as the two nations grapple with a host of thorny issues beneath the flowery language and statements of friendship, including artificial intelligence, critical... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368568/xi-lands-us-high-stakes-summit-trump-amid-deep-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368568/xi-lands-us-high-stakes-summit-trump-amid-deep-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:46:57 +0000 Ravi Kant Ravi Kant A country’s diaspora can be a symbol of its pride and power. A nation’s diaspora can help it build international value through success stories, promote its soft power through culture and contribute to its economic progress through remittances, investments and transfers of expertise. India and China have among the world’s largest diasporas. They also offer two very different models of how countries can leverage their diasporas. In India, before the 1991 reforms, people mostly saw those who left... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367636/china-leveraging-its-diaspora-boost-economy-unlike-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367636/china-leveraging-its-diaspora-boost-economy-unlike-india?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:30:06 +0000 SCMP SCMP This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our US and China bureaus. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. President Xi Jinping met US President Donald Trump at Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews airbase, in the first face-to-face talks between the Chinese and American leaders since Trump visited Beijing in May. On this first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368567/xi-begin-3-day-us-visit-rare-airport-welcome-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368567/xi-begin-3-day-us-visit-rare-airport-welcome-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:18:58 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump has been very eager to show off to Chinese leader Xi Jinping his new US$5 million White House helipad, his latest bid to stamp his image on Washington. While Xi might act impressed and compliment the US president on his latest building project – part of Trump’s bid to match Xi’s splendour-filled hosting four months ago in Beijing and show the Chinese that Americans can build infrastructure too – do not count on Xi actually trying it out with a chopper ride this week... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368565/donald-trump-built-us5-million-white-house-helipad-dont-expect-xi-jinping-use-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368565/donald-trump-built-us5-million-white-house-helipad-dont-expect-xi-jinping-use-it?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:07:15 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin A grand military welcome, a state dinner, tea at the White House and a tour of the National Archives: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington will see his American counterpart, Donald Trump, roll out the pomp and pageantry. The United States’ capital is bracing for high-level bilateral discussions served with a side of symbolic gestures, marking Xi’s first state visit to the country since 2015. But what exactly makes this a state visit, and how does it differ from other official... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368563/all-you-need-know-about-state-visit-white-house-rolls-out-red-carpet-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368563/all-you-need-know-about-state-visit-white-house-rolls-out-red-carpet-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:37:51 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Paraguayan President Santiago Pena told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that his country “is not neutral” on the Taiwan Strait, pledging support for the self-ruled island and calling for its “full and meaningful participation” in the UN system. Casting a conflict in the strait as a potentially far greater threat than the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Pena warned of “ominous clouds gathering over the Indo-Pacific” and of a conflict that would hit Japan, the rest of East and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368561/paraguays-president-urges-un-let-taiwan-calls-islands-exclusion-stain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368561/paraguays-president-urges-un-let-taiwan-calls-islands-exclusion-stain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:01:59 +0000 Han Li Han Li As Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his high-profile state visit to the US, Americans’ views of China remain negative but have improved in recent years, according to a new Pew Research Centre report. Using a “feeling thermometer” ranging from zero, the coldest rating, to 100, the warmest, Pew found that Americans gave China an average rating of 37, up from 28 in 2021. “The [Xi-Trump] meeting comes as Americans’ feelings about China have warmed in recent years, even though they remain cold... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3368560/american-views-china-improve-xi-trump-summit-pew-report-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3368560/american-views-china-improve-xi-trump-summit-pew-report-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:00:12 +0000 Nayan Seth,Teresa Elena Frontado Nayan Seth,Teresa Elena Frontado US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday that Washington and Beijing have agreed to extend the trade agreement reached in South Korea for just two months, as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington for a state visit. “We have agreed ⁠today that we will extend what ⁠we call the Busan Agreement,” Bessent said in an interview with Fox News, adding ‌the agreement ‌will be extended for two months until January 10. Bessent made the remarks hours after an unscheduled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368555/bessent-and-he-meet-again-tackle-some-unfinished-business-xi-summit-nears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368555/bessent-and-he-meet-again-tackle-some-unfinished-business-xi-summit-nears?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:52:53 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The US Air Force is shutting down a major research centre dedicated to open-source analysis of the Chinese military’s air, space, cyber and missile capabilities. The China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) said in a statement on Tuesday that Air University, the US Air Force institution under which it operates, had decided to close the institute, with all of its roles becoming unfunded from October 1. CASI said its employees would continue to work and get paid for now and that it expected to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368540/us-air-force-shut-down-research-centre-focusing-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368540/us-air-force-shut-down-research-centre-focusing-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen US President Donald Trump has made no secret of how little he agrees with his predecessor, Joe Biden, on many things. So, as Chinese President Xi Jinping is about to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, local time, there is one object that may offer a small moment of entertaining comparison between the two American leaders: Xi’s car. Xi is expected to bring his own ride – a custom-built Hongqi N701, the Chinese state limousine that has accompanied him on overseas trips since 2022. In a brief... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368511/xi-trump-summit-chinas-state-car-has-already-proved-match-us-beast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368511/xi-trump-summit-chinas-state-car-has-already-proved-match-us-beast?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Neurobiologist Ye Bing is returning to China after a long period in the United States, but he says his move is not linked to the suicide of another Chinese scholar at the same university or US policy under the Trump administration. Ye said his decision to join Nanjing University and leave the University of Michigan was not influenced by the death of Chinese scholar Wang Danhao on the same campus six months earlier – a day after Wang was interviewed by US Homeland Security officers. “This is a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368490/neurobiologist-ye-bing-says-his-return-china-not-spurred-michigan-campus-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368490/neurobiologist-ye-bing-says-his-return-china-not-spurred-michigan-campus-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Hours before President Xi Jinping’s aircraft lands at Joint Base Andrews, Washington is preparing for a scene that seemed unthinkable in recent years: his American counterpart waiting on the tarmac for the leader of a country that much of the US national security establishment regards as its foremost strategic adversary. While the Donald Trump administration is betting on warmth, deals and stability with Beijing, recent public surveys show that American anxiety over China has eased from its 2024... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368501/china-hawks-grumble-over-trumps-lavish-welcome-planned-xi-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368501/china-hawks-grumble-over-trumps-lavish-welcome-planned-xi-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ambassador to the United States has hailed President Xi Jinping’s coming state visit as a “historic milestone” for bilateral and international relations. Xie Feng’s remarks came just as Beijing unveiled stringent new regulations on fentanyl, in a clear move to build diplomatic momentum ahead of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington. Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, the “giant ship” of China-US relations would continue to “break waves and sail ahead” along a trajectory of “mutual... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368527/ahead-xis-historic-milestone-us-visit-fentanyl-goodwill-gesture-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368527/ahead-xis-historic-milestone-us-visit-fentanyl-goodwill-gesture-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:35:16 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Tesla CEO Elon Musk described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a great leader” and “very capable” during an interview with China’s state broadcaster on Wednesday, just hours before Xi left China for a summit with US President Donald Trump. “He seems like a great leader. Under his tenure, China has prospered immensely. I’ve seen it first hand,” Musk said in one of a series of videos posted on CCTV’s social media account. “And it’s also obvious to see just walking around the streets, the …... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368524/elon-musk-hails-xi-jinpings-leadership-and-chinese-ai-capabilities-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368524/elon-musk-hails-xi-jinpings-leadership-and-chinese-ai-capabilities-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:04:41 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China will probably decide against inviting business leaders to join President Xi Jinping on his trip to the United States this week as the two countries struggle to reach investment agreements. A lack of agreement about a planned bilateral Board of Investment and differences over potential Chinese investments in the US have put the business delegation in doubt, the South China Morning Post said, citing a person familiar with the situation. The Wall Street Journal reported the story earlier. The... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368513/china-ceos-likely-miss-xis-us-trip-amid-thin-summit-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368513/china-ceos-likely-miss-xis-us-trip-amid-thin-summit-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:26:59 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s industry minister is set to lead Anhui province, a key semiconductor hub, in the latest personnel reshuffle within the Communist Party. Li Lecheng, 61, has served as minister of industry and information technology since April 2025. State news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that Li had been appointed the party secretary of Anhui and a member of its standing committee, taking over both roles from Liang Yanshun. Liang, Anhui party chief since June 2024, retains his role as party... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368494/china-puts-industry-minister-charge-key-semiconductor-hub-anhui-province?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3368494/china-puts-industry-minister-charge-key-semiconductor-hub-anhui-province?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:14:03 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin China’s first lady Peng Liyuan is again stepping into the international limelight as she travels to Washington with President Xi Jinping this week. Xi and Peng were invited to visit the White House by Donald Trump in May, when the US leader was in Beijing. They are expected to arrive at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, local time, to begin their three-day visit. On Thursday, Xi and Peng will be welcomed at the White House with a State Floor arrival ceremony and a Rose Garden military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368510/chinas-first-lady-peng-liyuan-projects-glamour-and-soft-power-world-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368510/chinas-first-lady-peng-liyuan-projects-glamour-and-soft-power-world-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:02:32 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang The expulsion of two former leaders from the Chinese armed forces and Communist Party “eliminated a major hidden political danger”, China’s military mouthpiece said on Wednesday. The party expelled Zhang Youxia, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and fellow former CMC member Liu Zhenli for factionalism and disloyalty, state media reported on Monday. The CMC is the country’s top military authority and is chaired by President Xi Jinping. “The serious investigation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368484/pla-chiefs-downfall-eliminated-political-danger-military-mouthpiece-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368484/pla-chiefs-downfall-eliminated-political-danger-military-mouthpiece-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:01:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. J-50 design team reveals leapfrog tech for China’s next-gen stealth fighters China’s next-generation combat aircraft will be able to fly by themselves if a pilot loses consciousness, navigate without satellite signals and operate in self-reorganising large drone formations. 2. Chinese scientists develop oil... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368449/chinas-stealth-fighters-critical-minerals-lithium-waste-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368449/chinas-stealth-fighters-critical-minerals-lithium-waste-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:30:05 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi North Korea could be using missile tests to take its denuclearisation off the US-China summit agenda and drive home its demands for recognition as a nuclear power as a prerequisite for talks with Washington, according to analysts. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, which, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, were detected three hours apart, with the first flying about 450km (280 miles), while the second travelled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:06 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen With Chinese President Xi Jinping expected in Washington this week, attention is turning to the aircraft that will carry him and how it stacks up against America’s presidential plane. The aircraft carrying China’s leader, often referred to in state media and official statements as a zhuan ji, or special plane, remains far less known to the world than Air Force One, despite both countries using Boeing 747s for presidential travel. For a head of state, a presidential aircraft is more than a means... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368451/how-does-xi-jinpings-special-plane-compare-air-force-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368451/how-does-xi-jinpings-special-plane-compare-air-force-one?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Nayan Seth,Ji Siqi Nayan Seth,Ji Siqi Differences between Washington and Beijing over potential investment announcements have created roadblocks for a Chinese business delegation expected to accompany President Xi Jinping on his state visit to the US, according to sources. The window for travel is narrowing by the hour for these Chinese business leaders. Xi left China on Wednesday afternoon Beijing time for his first state visit to the US in more than a decade. He is accompanied by first lady Peng Liyuan, chief of staff Cai Qi, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368444/fissures-over-us-investments-stall-plans-chinese-business-leaders-join-xi-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368444/fissures-over-us-investments-stall-plans-chinese-business-leaders-join-xi-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:40:13 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong China has just taken a quiet but critical step in space-based electronic warfare. A Lijian-1 Y18 rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China at noon on Sunday, carrying nine satellites. Among them were three Diting-01 satellites, which successfully entered their planned orbit. The trio is named after Diting, a beast from Chinese mythology that crouches beneath the desk of Ksitigarbha, the bodhisattva of the underworld, and can identify all things simply by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368432/china-launches-its-first-commercial-radio-tracking-satellites-electronic-warfare-leap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368432/china-launches-its-first-commercial-radio-tracking-satellites-electronic-warfare-leap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Paul Buck Paul Buck In June, Chinese regulators approved the world’s first CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumour cancers, developed by a drug company based in Shanghai. One month later, at a hospital in the city, a New Zealander with advanced cancer of the stomach and small intestine became the first international patient to receive the breakthrough treatment. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, to give it its full name, is a cutting-edge treatment that, until then, had only been approved to treat blood... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3368352/chinas-cancer-breakthrough-car-t-cell-therapy-shows-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3368352/chinas-cancer-breakthrough-car-t-cell-therapy-shows-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:45:04 +0000 Fan Chen,Orange Wang Fan Chen,Orange Wang When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the fifth part of a series, Fan Chen and Orange Wang look at the negotiating chips and areas where progress might be made. There will be some powerful bargaining chips on the table when Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet in Washington this week. Both sides have economic and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368375/can-xi-and-trump-use-their-leverage-actually-make-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368375/can-xi-and-trump-use-their-leverage-actually-make-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:00:06 +0000