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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

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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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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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Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
The late Tung Chee-hwa at the first annual China-United States Exchange Foundation’s conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on December 3, 2014. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong

Opinion | How Hong Kong can keep the talking going when US-China officials don’t

Hong Kong can’t set the terms of the contest, but with Track 1.5 diplomacy, it can decide if it is the room in which competition is managed.

Britain

UK confirms Manchester to host G20 summit in 2027

2026 Xi-Trump summits

US, China need nuclear-style AI safeguards, congressman says before Xi summit

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Top US Democrat warns Trump not to waver on Taiwan as Xi heads to Washington

Jeanne Shaheen also said new law allowing tariffs on buyers of Russian oil ‘sends Beijing a message’ before this week’s summit in Washington.

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US Senator Jeanne Shaheen says she hopes US President Donald Trump “will not say anything that indicates a lack of support for Taiwan” during his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Scanpix via AP
Ukraine war

Zelensky and CIA chief meet during refuelling stop in Ireland

Sources say the pair met at Shannon Airport as the Ukrainian leader travelled to the UN meetings in New York.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

US, Japan and South Korea launch economic-security talks before Xi summit

Three allies target economic coercion and industrial overcapacity while reinforcing calls for stability across the Taiwan Strait.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump inaugurates helipad as major networks skip ceremony over ban

Broadcast boycott leaves the US president without pool cameras for his maiden flight from the new helipad.

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US President Donald Trump after cutting the ribbon. Photo: AFP
President Donald Trump used oversized gold scissors. Photo: AP
US President Donald Trump walks to Marine One. Photo: AFP
Marine One takes off from the new helipad. Photo: AFP
Marine One takes off from the new helipad. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong politics

President Xi Jinping calls on China, US youth to advance bilateral cooperation

In a reply to letter from students from US universities, Xi tells them to ‘shoulder the mission of the times’ ahead of state visit to Washington.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

First ladies step forward as Trump lays on rare honours for Xi

Three-day itinerary from September 23 to 25 will feature extensive ceremonial honours along with dedicated cultural exchanges and events.

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US-China relations

Survey finds increasing number of Americans favour engagement with China

Beijing seen as less of a threat in Chicago Council on Global Affairs survey, although a partisan divide exists.

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US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet China’s President Xi Jinping in Washington this week. A new poll shows more Americans favour engagement with China over containment. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Opinion | Success of Xi-Trump summit lies in what happens afterwards

The real value of the Washington meeting between the presidents of the US and China is whether its understandings survive the next bilateral dispute.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Rising toll of US-China trade, tech curbs in focus ahead of summit

Impacts of reciprocal restrictions eroding profits, disrupting supply chains and intensifying market competition are back in the spotlight.

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China-EU relations

Open Questions | ‘Trade is never free’: former WTO chief Pascal Lamy on the EU’s China challenge

He says Chinese authorities’ lack of interest in addressing structural macroeconomic imbalance a ‘huge problem’ for European Union.

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Pacific nations

Opinion | Pacific island states are trapped in Cold War 2.0

Geopolitically, it’s like a feudal hierarchy: small island nations as vassals, Australia and New Zealand as local lords and the US as king.

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A family photo during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau, on September 2. Photo: AAP via Reuters
Donald Trump

Trump and Mamdani set to meet in New York

Meeting marks first sit-down on the mayor’s turf following series of cordial exchanges between political opposites.

Zohran Mamdani and US President Donald Trump at the White House in November 2025. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

Ukraine’s Zelensky to meet Trump in New York

Planned meeting comes as Washington pushes for fresh, face-to-face peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

Greenland

UK’s Burnham congratulates Trump and Danish PM on Greenland deal

British prime minister praises deal to bolster Arctic defence after Trump threatened to take island by force.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

US announces AI dialogue with China, launches Board of Trade

Key outcomes released after eight-hour marathon meeting in New York.

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng arrives to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at JPMorgan Chase’s global corporate headquarters in New York on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Trump says his big arch would be a ‘military complex’ with drones and snipers

US president claims massive monument will store ammunition as critics call national security framing a legal pretext.

Canada

Macron, Carney pledge closer ties in Atlantic island meeting amid US strains

Ottawa has been seeking closer ties with the European Union amid an increasingly acrimonious trade war with the United States.

China trade

China elevates Li Chenggang to nation’s top international trade role

Appointment comes as Vice-Premier He Lifeng leads a delegation to the US ahead of expected Xi-Trump meeting.

Li Chenggang speaks during a press conference in Beijing on July 18, 2025. Photo: AFP
China-North Korea relations

Opinion | New North Korea-Russia bridge delivers a powerful message to China

The Yalu bridge remains unused years after completion – a reminder that despite economic reliance on Beijing, Pyongyang still decides where to invest its political attention.

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Illustration: Dennis Yip
Xi Jinping

Opinion | Middle powers don’t have to wait for a Trump-Xi-Putin summit

Rather than waiting for great powers to reshape the world, middle powers can find agency by deepening connections between hubs of cooperation.

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Malaysia

Anwar was on song in India. Will Malaysia reap the rewards?

The Malaysian PM’s rendition of a Bollywood ballad went viral, but his India trip was about more than just the music.

Mainland China

Opinion | What China really means when it says it’s being ‘strategic’

Rather than geopolitical manoeuvring or calculation, this diplomatic label aims to convey seriousness, patience and a willingness to work for mutual long-term benefit.

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President Xi Jinping (right) pose for a photo alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Brics leaders at the Brics summit in New Delhi, India, on September 12. Photo: Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Middle East

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital, after flames seen near Riyadh airport

The militants say they targeted ‘sensitive’ sites, along with an Aramco facility in the Red Sea city of Yanbu.

Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

How will Beijing receive the most senior Taiwan official at Apec events this year?

Hung Sun-han will be the first cabinet-level official under William Lai Ching-te to travel to mainland China.

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Vladimir Putin

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Far from being isolated, Moscow’s relationships across the non-Western world are a geopolitical constant the West cannot break.

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