bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Igor Patrick

A top adviser to US President Donald Trump said that Washington’s support for Argentina’s ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund hinges on President Javier Milei distancing himself from China, specifically by ending a currency swap agreement with Beijing.
Speaking at Miami Dade College on Thursday, Mauricio Claver Carone, Trump’s special envoy for Latin America, described Milei as “an ally” but stressed that Washington’s priority is to ensure any new IMF deal does not “reinforce China’s position” in Argentina.
“We want the famous credit line that Argentina has with China to end,” Claver Carone said, referring to the swap arrangement, which he labelled “extortionate”. He warned that as long as it remains in place, “China will always be able to extort Argentina.”
Currency swap agreements allow two countries to exchange currencies at a pre-agreed rate, providing one another with liquidity in times of need.
For Argentina, the swap line with China has been critical, as it enables the country’s central bank to access renminbi that can be converted into dollars, bolstering foreign reserves and, by extension, the Argentine government’s ability to repay creditors including the IMF.
With Argentina’s history of financial instability and limited access to international markets, the swap agreement with Beijing has acted as an essential financial backstop. Originally signed in 2009, it has been renewed and expanded several times.

The current agreement, renewed in June 2024 after months of uncertainty, is worth around US$5 billion and runs until July 2026. Without it, Buenos Aires would face even greater pressure on its reserves at a time when economic conditions remain precarious.
The South American country has been dealing for years with persistent fiscal deficits and heavy reliance on foreign debt, creating a cycle of inflation and currency devaluation. Inconsistent economic policies and political instability have further undermined investor confidence, preventing sustainable growth.
Claver Carone’s comments come at a critical moment for Milei’s government, which is negotiating a US$20 billion loan from the IMF under a new 10-year programme.
Already the IMF’s largest debtor, Argentina is urgently seeking fresh funds to stabilise its financial system, recapitalise its central bank and eventually lift its long-standing currency controls.
Earlier this week, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva signalled support for Milei’s request, describing Argentina’s petition for an initial disbursement as “reasonable” and saying the government had “earned it” due to its economic performance.
However, US backing is crucial, as Washington is the IMF’s largest shareholder and holds decisive influence over major decisions.
The Milei administration dispatched Economy Minister Luis Caputo and presidential secretary Karina Milei, the president’s sister, to Washington this week to rally support.
Their meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, yielded no concrete commitment, despite Milei’s strong personal alignment with Trump. Efforts to arrange a meeting with Claver Carone – considered a key figure within Trump’s inner circle – were also unsuccessful.
Complicating matters, Argentina was not spared from the baseline 10 per cent global import tariff announced by the White House on Wednesday.
Officials from Milei’s team are now in talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to seek tariff exemptions and negotiate a long-term commercial agreement.
But the chances for a comprehensive free trade agreement with Washington are remote, as Argentina’s membership in Mercosur prohibits the country from negotiating with the US outside the South American trading bloc, which also includes Brazil and Paraguay.
The Trump administration’s demand regarding the Chinese swap puts Milei in a bind. After campaigning on an anti-China platform – describing Beijing as an “assassin” state – Milei has softened his stance in office.

Facing mounting economic pressures, he endeavoured to improve relations with China, which culminated in a visit to Beijing by the then-foreign minister, Diana Mondino, during which she assured Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Argentina’s “friendly policy” towards China would remain unchanged.
Milei himself publicly praised China as “a very interesting commercial partner” and thanked Beijing for renewing the crucial currency swap agreement.
Patricio Giusto – director of the Sino-Argentine Observatory in Buenos Aires, and a vocal advocate for stronger ties between the two countries – said Claver Carone’s demand was unrealistic given Argentina’s financial constraints and geopolitical needs.
He argued that it made no sense for Argentina to seriously consider giving up the swap agreements, as neither the IMF nor Washington would be willing to replace the liquidity. Moreover, he warned, scrapping the deal would carry negative consequences for Argentina’s relationship with China.
“If there will be some kind of offering, some kind of financial programme, a specific financial programme for Argentina, it might happen,” Giusto said.
“But so far, I don’t think it’s feasible. I think it was just a political statement taking advantage of the delicate situation of Argentina.”
Giusto said the United States may be using negotiations between Buenos Aires and the International Monetary Fund to try to distance Argentine President Javier Milei from China.
Milei is scheduled to travel to China in May to attend the China-CELAC Forum, a gathering of most Latin American and Caribbean nations.
Argentine officials have said in private conversations that the trip is still on schedule, but Milei could change his plans because of the participation of leaders such as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, with whom he has frosty relations.


US pressures Argentina’s Milei to scrap currency swap accord with China

Argentina’s President Javier Milei delivers a speech during a ceremony to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands at the Cenotaph to the Fallen of the Malvinas War in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Left to right: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, and China’s Vice-President Han Zheng are seen at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington on 20 January 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE

An elderly man clashes with Argentine National Gendarmerie officers during a protest demanding an increase in pensions and against the government of President Javier Milei in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Photo: AFP 

News

China

Diplomacy

Economy, Trade & Business

Trump adviser says Washington would withhold support for Buenos Aires loan request to IMF if it reinforces China’s ‘position’ in Argentina


Trump adviser says Washington would withhold support for Buenos Aires loan request to IMF if it reinforces China’s ‘position’ in Argentina.


US pressures Argentina’s Milei to scrap currency swap accord with China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Trump adviser says Washington would withhold support for Buenos Aires loan request to IMF if it reinforces China’s ‘position’ in Argentina

Trump adviser says Washington would withhold support for Buenos Aires loan request to IMF if it reinforces China’s ‘position’ in Argentina