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SCMP Reporters

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi faced the press on Friday morning to lay out Beijing’s foreign policy direction.
This came as China faces an “increasingly complex and severe external environment”, according to this year’s government work report released on Wednesday.


More from our reporting:
– China has ‘enough tools’ to face economic headwinds amid Trump threats
– The China-US face-off: a visual guide to Xi and Trump’s key people
Reporting by Alyssa Chen, Meredith Chen, Shi Jiangtao, Dewey Sim, Orange Wang, Kawala Xie, Zhao Ziwen and Laura Zhou.


China may be stunned by Trump’s lack of caution and understanding: ex-diplomat Kerry Brown

Why Trump’s trade war could fuel China’s ascent as a global power

Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong says city remains ‘safest’ in ‘chaotic world’

China’s economic successes are reshaping the Western media narrative

Two Sessions 2025 (Lianghui)

‘Two sessions’ 2025: China hits out at US Pacific policy ‘failure’, tariffs war – as it happened

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi facing the press. Photo: AFP

News

China

Diplomacy

Foreign minister answers questions about strained US ties, the Ukraine war and China’s strategy in Middle East


Foreign minister answers questions about strained US ties, the Ukraine war and China’s strategy in Middle East.


Wang Yi

US-China relations

China-EU relations

China-Philippines relations

China-Asean relations

China-Russia relations

Belt and Road Initiative

South China Sea

Global South

China-Africa relations

China-Middle East relations

Ukraine war

US-China trade war

US-ally trade wars

Live

Reporters fill the conference room minutes after they are allowed to enter the National People’s Congress media centre.
There are more security officers on site compared to the economic officials’ press conference on Thursday, with around 10 in position at security check facilities.



A full house

China seems to be taking a cautious approach towards the US under Trump’s unconventional and unpredictable leadership.
President Xi Jinping spoke with Trump days before his inauguration in January.
A week later, Wang had his first phone conversation with his new American counterpart, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio is known for his hardline position on China and was sanctioned twice by Beijing in 2020.
Another phone call between the two leaders, which Trump suggested would happen last month, has yet to take place.



China-US ties under Trump

When it comes to trade, China appears to be standing firm against pressure from Trump.
After the US doubled its tariffs on Chinese imports on Tuesday, Beijing quickly responded with retaliatory tariffs on American food and farm products.
China also added 15 American companies, including the country’s largest drone maker, to its export control list.



US trade war

Ties between China and the European Union have deteriorated in recent years as the bloc has sought to reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains.
The EU’s concerns about human rights, Beijing’s alignment with Moscow and the bloc’s trade deficit with China have also contributed to strained ties.
The two sides have locked horns over trade disputes involving electric vehicles, brandy, pork products and other goods.



China and the EU

Despite their tensions, Beijing and Brussels appear to be recalibrating their policies towards each other in the wake of the US’ shift on Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a notable China hawk, said last month that the bloc might “find agreements” with Beijing in “an era of hyper-competitive and hyper-transactional geopolitics”.



A shake-up in ties?

Beijing’s partnership with Moscow – marked by record-high trade, close diplomatic coordination and military cooperation – has been under intense scrutiny by the West since the start of the Ukraine war three years ago.
Some have speculated that the recent US-Russia rapprochement could draw Moscow away from Beijing. But the two strategic partners projected a unified front last week when Xi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin talked over the phone on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Xi has reportedly accepted an invitation to attend Moscow’s May 9 celebration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Putin is expected to visit Beijing in late August or early September to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory against Japanese aggression and the end of World War II.



China and Russia

Southeast Asia has been high on Beijing’s diplomatic agenda.
Last year, China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were each other’s biggest trading partners for the fifth consecutive year.
However, territorial disputes in the South China Sea have been a thorny issue for China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
The retreat of the US into isolationism under Trump has also fuelled worries among many Southeast Asian countries, which have long looked to Washington to balance Chinese influence in the region.



Southeast Asia

China sees an opportunity to improve ties with its neighbours, especially those concerned about Washington’s commitment to its allies and partners under Trump’s “America first” policy.
China’s ties with India began to thaw in October after a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The militaries of the two countries have agreed to disengage troops patrolling along their disputed border.
Top diplomat Wang hosted India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, in Beijing in December.
Wang is also expected to fly to Japan for a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts later this month.



Cosying up to neighbours

China has earmarked over 64.5 billion yuan (US$8.89 billion) for “diplomatic endeavours” this year, signalling a proactive approach to deepening ties with the Global South and expanding the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s flagship plan to build trade and infrastructure links.
The belt and road strategy will continue to focus on investing in green industries, such as critical minerals, solar cells, batteries and electric vehicles.
In recent years, Beijing has been shifting away from mega-projects to prioritise what it calls “small and beautiful” projects focused on quality and sustainability.
However, pressure from the US has become a new challenge for the belt and road. Panama announced its withdrawal from the plan last month after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Central American country.



Belt and road

China has positioned itself as a firm supporter of multilateralism. As leader of the Global South, it has challenged the Western-led order through diplomatic engagement, economic investment and security cooperation.
Since the Ukraine war started, Beijing has worked with countries in the Global South – including Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa – to mediate peace, serving as an alternative to Europe-led negotiations.
Later this year, China will host the leaders’ summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Eurasian grouping made up of China, Russia and four Central Asian states. The group is focused on counterterrorism as well as political and economic cooperation.



Global South leader

Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins speaking during his press conference at the two sessions in Beijing.


Wang speaks

Wang opens by saying China has provided a source of stability in a turbulent international environment.



Stability

Wang says head-of-state diplomacy has made progress over the past year, and China’s development mode has garnered growing international support.
He says Chinese diplomacy has made “important developments” under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and injected “precious stability” amid chaos in the world.
“The international situation is still full of challenges, but China’s diplomacy remains unchanged,” he says.
“We will continue to safeguard fairness and justice, as well as world peace and stability.”



‘Precious stability’

The next question comes from Russia’s Tass new agency, which asks about Beijing’s relations with Moscow and how recent talks between Russia and the US might affect China.
Wang replies that no matter what the changes in the international environment, it won’t affect the friendly relations between China and Russia.
He adds that the two countries are a force for stability in the world and both will uphold the United Nations system and move the international order in a more fair and equitable direction.



Russia

Responding to a question about China’s diplomatic role amid global transformations and chaos, Wang says Beijing’s diplomacy will stand firm on the right side of history.
He adds that it will use China’s stability to help stabilise the world.
“We continue to expand our global partnership of equality, openness and cooperation and to write a new chapter of solidarity and self-reliance with the Global South,” Wang says.


Stability amid chaos

CNN asks about US President Trump and whether China can play a bigger global role – a question Wang calls “sharp”.
Wang says China stands firm on the side of international justice and resolutely opposes power politics and hegemony.
He says that a big country should honour its international obligations and fulfil its responsibilities.
Wang says China is happy to see more countries join the community of a shared future, and history proves that the only way to be a real winner is to care for everyone.
The South China Morning Post has launched a new infographic to help global readers map out the networks of key policymakers in both Washington and Beijing, offering an insight into the potential architects of tomorrow’s US-China relationship and international order.




Trump and China’s role

Indonesia’s state broadcaster asks about how members of the Global South should safeguard their interests.
Wang answers by saying that this grouping accounts for 40 per cent of the world economy and is a key force in maintaining peace internationally. He continues that the Global South should unite and increase its representation in world governance.
He also mentions the Brics block of developing countries, which he says has become the backbone for cooperation and an engine of growth.



A Bloomberg reporter asks about China’s role in the Ukraine war and under what circumstances Beijing would consider sending peacekeeping troops.
Wang says that China has been advocating for peace talks since the first day of the crisis. He says Beijing’s aim is to “create conditions for the resolution of the crisis”.
Since the war started in 2022, Beijing has put out multiple position papers calling for a ceasefire through peaceful negotiations, Wang says. He adds that it has also sent a special envoy to Europe and the Global South to promote peace talks.
China welcomes and supports “all efforts towards peace”, he says.
“We should also see that the root causes of this crisis are complex … but there’s no winner in conflict, and there is no loser in peace. The negotiation table should be the end of the conflict.”
He says China is willing to work with the international community, based on the willingness of the warring parties, to play its “constructive role” to help resolve the conflict.
Wang does not make an explicit call for European countries – including Ukraine – to be included in ceasefire negotiations.



China’s role in Ukraine war

State media outlet CGTN brings up artificial intelligence and the rise of the Chinese DeepSeek model while asking Wang for his views on tech competition between the US and China.
His answer is that China has made rapid progress in becoming a strong tech nation and is willing to share the results of its innovations with other countries.
He says there has been “unjustified external suppression” of China’s technological development but “when there are blockades, there are breakthroughs”.



US-China tech rivalry

Reuters asks how China will engage differently with the Trump administration compared to his first stint in the White House.
Wang says mutual respect is the basic principle for China-US relations.
“No country should fantasise that it can suppress China and maintain good relations with China,” he says.
“Such two-faced acts are not good for the stability of relations or building mutual trust.”
He says fentanyl is a domestic problem that the US should confront and address, and the US should reflect on its own approach in terms of its tariff measures.



Trump and ‘two-faced’ acts

Continuing his answer on US-China ties, Wang says: “If the US keeps containing China, we will resolutely counteract.”
He adds that US-China economic and trade ties are mutual. The two countries can be partners that contribute to each other’s success, Wang says.
Wang says China hopes the US can listen to the voice of the people and have an objective perception of China’s development while fostering positive and pragmatic cooperation and dialogue.



‘Resolutely counteract’

Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily asks about the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Wang announces China will be hosting its summit later this year in Tianjin and welcomes the group’s expansion from six members to 26. He describes it as the world’s largest regional cooperation organisation.
He adds that the key to its success is the spirit of mutual trust, respect for diverse civilisations and the pursuit of common development.



Turkey’s Anadolu news agency asks about the Middle East, and Gaza in particular, asking what role China will play in bringing peace and stability to the region.
His answer is that any forced change in Gaza’s status will only create more instability and if major countries really care they will promote humanitarian assistance.
“Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inalienable part of the Palestinian territory,” he adds and expresses support for Egypt’s peace plan.
Wang says the priority must be a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians to ensure they can live together in harmony.



Gaza conflict

Wang is asked about the roles of the United Nations and China in this difficult time.
“Unilateralism is on the rise and authoritarianism is rampant. The more urgent the challenge, the more important it is to safeguard the authority of the UN,” he says.
Wang says China opposes the “monopolising” of international affairs by a few countries. He adds that the voice of the Global South should be heard.
We must oppose double standards and the selective application of international law, he adds.
Wang says China will firmly uphold the central position of the UN.
He affirms that China does not intend to “start all over” when it comes to the global order, nor does it support any country in doing so.



The UN’s role

A Nigerian reporter asks how China can help improve Africa’s prosperity.
He responds by saying that “China-Africa relations have entered their best period in history”, adding: “Africa is the hotbed of hope for the 21st century, and there can be no modernisation of the world without modernisation of Africa.
“As the stability and development of Africa is a matter of common destiny for humankind, the world should listen to the voice of Africa and pay attention to its concerns.”
Wang also pledges to support the development of digitalisation and AI by supporting more than 1,000 projects on the continent.



African affairs

Phoenix TV asks about UN resolution 2758, which states that the People’s Republic of China is the sole holder of credentials and the “only legitimate” representative of China in the United Nations.
Wang says: “Taiwan has never been a country; it was not in the past, and it will never be in the future.”
“Allowing Taiwan independence undermines stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he says, adding that supporting Taiwan independence is “playing with fire”.


‘Taiwan has never been a country’

Next up is a question from the Associated Press of Pakistan which asks how China sees the situation in its neighbourhood.
Wang replies by describing Beijing as the “centre of stability and an engine of economic development” in Asia. He points to the fact that it has signed belt and road agreements with 25 neighbouring countries and is the largest trading partner for 18 nations.
He also expresses opposition to stationing medium-range US missiles in the region and says the continent should be a showcase for international cooperation.
He adds that Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy did not do anything for countries in the region and led to “more failure than success”.



Asia and belt and road

State-owned China Daily highlights a survey about different countries’ attitudes to China and the more favourable views expressed in Southeast Asia and the Global South compared with Europe and the US.
The response is that more foreigners are discovering and embracing the country, and Beijing welcomes people to witness the real China.



Global views of China

When asked about China’s ties with the European Union, Wang says stable and healthy relations will help the two sides succeed.
Wang notes that this year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU ties.
“We believe that the most precious experience from this is mutual respect,” he says.
He notes that China-EU trade has climbed to US$780 billion.
China and the EU should step up strategic dialogue and mutual trust, he says.
“China still has confidence in Europe,” he says.
“We also believe that Europe can be a reliable partner. Both sides have the ability and wisdom to properly handle existing issues through friendly consultations.”



‘Confidence in Europe’

Kyodo News asks whether China can “positively respond” to Japan’s concerns about the seafood import ban imposed over the release of waste water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Wang replies that China will act in accordance with the law in responding to Japan’s concerns and points to recent effort to improve ties. China always “brings opportunities to Japan, not threats”, he adds.
But he also urges Tokyo to remember history and prevent a resurgence of militarism in the country.



Japan and seafood

A Brazilian reporter asks how China will respond to US pressure on Latin America, including Panama.
“The Latin American people want to build their own homes, not someone else’s backyard,” Wang says.
He notes that China will host the ministerial-level meeting for China and Latin America in the first half of this year.
An earlier version of this entry incorrectly stated that the ministerial-level meeting for China and Latin America would take place in Wuhan this year. Wang did not mention which Chinese city would host the meeting.


‘Not someone else’s backyard’

Shanghai-based Dragon TV asks about Beijing’s economic and diplomatic plans for the year.
The foreign minister replies that the economy has overcome the challenge of unilateral sanctions imposed by the US. He says the country’s confidence comes from its ultra-large market, its strong industrial base and innovation drive.
He also pledges to expand visa-free entry to the country and says China will make itself the primary choice for international cooperation.



Economic plans and international cooperation

A reporter from a Singaporean newspaper asks what the hindrances to a code of conduct for the South China Sea have been so far, and whether China-Philippine frictions make prospects for the code bleak.
Wang says the South China Sea situation is stable under the joint efforts of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Wang says the frictions between the Philippines and China are “shadow puppetry” driven by external forces.
He notes that a third reading of the code of conduct has concluded.
Previously, Asean and China aimed to finalise the South China Sea code of conduct – aimed at managing tensions and fostering cooperation in the disputed waterway – by 2026.
Wang says “infringement and provocation will backfire, and those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded”.



‘Shadow puppetry’ in the South China Sea

Beijing Daily asks about women’s rights and China’s role in promoting gender equality.
Wang replies by saying the country will host a global women’s summit in the second half of year.
He adds that the country has taken practical actions, such as helping developing countries implement more than 100 women’s and children’s health projects.


China to host women’s summit

Responding to a question about China-India relations, Wang says ties between the neighbours made a positive step forward in the past year.
Wang says the common task for China and India is to drive their own development and prosperity.
The countries should “support each other rather than consume each other”, and “cooperate closely rather than guard against each other”, he says.
He says the China-India border dispute should not define bilateral relations.
China and India should jointly promote the development of the Global South, Wang adds.



China and India

China News Service raises the issue of telecoms scams – an issue that has been prominent recently – and asks how Beijing will protect the interests of Chinese nationals overseas.
Wang says law enforcement has been targeting this issue and announces that all scamming sites in northern Myanmar have now been eliminated.



Targeting the scammers

And that’s the end of the press conference. Wang leaves the stage after speaking for about 90 minutes and answering 23 questions in total.
As well as discussing relations with the US, Europe and the Global South, Wang also answered questions from media outlets in Japan and India – two countries that saw warming ties with Beijing over the past 12 months.
There were no questions about the Korean peninsula or from South Korean media.



Wang wraps up

The South China Morning Post has launched a new infographic to help global readers map out the networks of key policymakers in both Washington and Beijing, offering an insight into the potential architects of tomorrow’s US-China relationship and international order.




China-US power players

Wang Yi sought to present China as a source of stability to the world amid what he called turbulent times in which “certainty is scarce”, saying Beijing would fight for peace and stability while staunchly defending its interests.
Read our six key takeaways from the press conference here.


‘Two sessions’ 2025: China hits out at US Pacific policy ‘failure’, tariffs war – as it happened

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Foreign minister answers questions about strained US ties, the Ukraine war and China’s strategy in Middle East

Foreign minister answers questions about strained US ties, the Ukraine war and China’s strategy in Middle East