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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

videocam
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
Giant panda Fu Shuang has a tuft of white fur on her head and likes to search for food, according to state media. Photo: Handout
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang touch down in the US under new loan deal

Chinese vets and keepers are on hand in Atlanta to help the animals settle into their new home at the city’s zoo.

Africa

South African police probe mining feud shooting, 27 dead as elections near

2026 Xi-Trump summits

From body language to ping-pong, decoding the symbolism during Xi-Trump meeting

US-China relations

Why Xi Jinping skipped the UN after his Trump summit

China touts multilateralism and growing soft power even as Beijing gives greater weight to its relationship with Washington.

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Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng addresses the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday. Photo: AP
Mainland China

Opinion | How China is seeking to transform the meaning of great power

By promoting a more just world order, Beijing hopes to exercise influence without making domination the organising principle of international relations.

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US-China relations

Why US chip controls took a back seat at the Xi-Trump summit

China’s growing semiconductor self-reliance may explain the relative calm, but looming US measures could put it to the test.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran says only diplomacy can end Hormuz crisis after Trump rejects deal

Tehran said the proposed pact would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and a pause in regional fighting.

A woman crosses a street near a giant anti-US billboard in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday. Photo: TNS
China-Latin America relations

Exclusive | China-based Brics bank set for hunger alliance lead role this year, Brazil says

Brazilian minister Wellington Dias tells SCMP a fund to cut borrowing costs for the poor may launch by December as US marginalises the G20.

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US-China relations

Why US deal on Greenland may narrow China’s Arctic space

New security accord could make western Arctic states warier of working with China and draw Beijing closer to Moscow, Chinese observers say.

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Hong Kong economy

Xi-Trump summit: Hong Kong’s Paul Chan predicts positive market response

Local business representatives expect that greater stability in bilateral ties may reinforce the city’s role as a connector between markets.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Donald Trump have wrapped up a summit in Washington. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Pakistan

Why Pakistan’s endless war on militants fails to break the cycle

Tactical wins and retaliatory strikes have not delivered peace, even as two separate insurgencies appear to be converging.

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People gather at site of a bomb attack in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on September 18. Photo: Xinhua
2026 Xi-Trump summits

China’s first lady Peng Liyuan shines during Xi-Trump summit: what you missed

From projecting soft power to her English capturing attention, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting on Peng Liyuan.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi-Trump atmospherics welcomed but mask structural rifts: analysts

That two economic and military giants are talking – and pledging to talk some more – suggests some period of relative stability with caveats.

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US-China relations

Opinion | The porcupine dilemma: why US-China diplomacy is about distance, not deals

Xi and Trump’s latest summit shows the need for cooperation even as deep differences continue to shape ties between the two powers.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump concluded a three-day summit on Friday. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Iran offers US plan to reopen Hormuz within 7 days

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the ball is now in Washington’s court, after setting out conditions for ending the war.

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An Iranian woman walks next to an anti-US billboard in Tehran on Monday. Photo: EPA
China-Latin America relations

Exclusive | China set to decide if Costa Rican or Guyanese becomes first woman UN chief

Rebeca Grynspan and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett lead a split Security Council as Beijing rules out Argentina's Rafael Grossi.

Japan

Japan says Trump voiced concern over weak yen in summit with PM Takaichi

The weak yen is driving up energy import costs that are already high due to the Iran war, fuelling concerns about an inflation overshoot.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

What summit? US TV blackout and midterms turmoil overshadow red-carpet treatment

Xi Jinping’s arrival was not covered by major American networks in protest over Donald Trump’s ban on three news groups.

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US White House correspondent Laura Barron-Lopez reports for MS Now near the White House, after reporters from CNN, Politico and MS Now were barred from the White House on Thursday despite a judge’s order calling for access to be restored immediately. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi ends Trump visit with vow to meet again in China this year – as it happened

Chinese president’s three-day visit ends with plans for two more face-to-face talks with Trump this year.

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Ukraine war

EU to release US$7.5 billion linked to Ukraine military aid

Money related to Ukraine had stuck in the fund for ⁠months, blocked by the previous Hungarian government under Viktor Orban.

Asean

Opinion | In a US-China world, Asean must do more than avoid choosing sides

Following the uneasy truce at the Xi-Trump summit, Asean must go beyond passive hedging and forge middle-power partnerships to secure its autonomy.

Illustration: Henry Wong
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump hails WWII ‘ally’ China as Xi tells of bonds ‘forged in blood and fire’

Both leaders repeatedly refer to joint fight against Japan in highlighting history of cooperation and need for common ground.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping raises a toast at the state dinner in the East Room of the White House on September 24. Photo: EPA-EFE
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi presses Trump to take the next step on Taiwan: oppose independence

The change would mean a shift in Washington’s long-standing position and affect American arms sales to the island, according to analysts.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

How China’s wartime cooperatives gave us ‘gung-ho’

Trump’s mention of a ‘Chinese phrase’ may have puzzled some, but the US Marine Corps adopted gung-ho from the name of wartime cooperatives.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi at White House, trade truce extension, Golden Week travel

This week: Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discuss AI and Taiwan in summit, the trade-war truce is prolonged until January, and China cracks down on fentanyl. Next week: Manufacturing PMI may show third month of contraction, RoboTechnik headlines four Hong Kong IPO debuts, holidaymakers take advantage of National Day golden week, and more.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump arrive for a White House state dinner. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump gives Xi a tour of his White House building projects, including ballroom

Viral video shows Donald Trump praising Chinese president as an ‘expert on stone’ during South Lawn walkthrough.

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US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping tour White House grounds after their meeting on Thursday. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

AI war, Taiwan and translation: SCMP answers your questions from Xi-Trump summit

China Editor Wendy Wu tackles reader queries in this live question-and-answer session, after the two leaders’ closely watched summit.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

From wine to ping-pong, Trump and Xi’s state dinner leans on historic symbolism

Trump invokes 1868 Burlingame Treaty to highlight deep roots of relationship; Xi speaks of WWII ‘friendship forged in blood and fire’.

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