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

Mark Magnier

Frank Tang

Washington initiated the phone call between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, Beijing has clarified, describing the conversation as “positive”.
“According to my understanding, the call was initiated by the US side, and the atmosphere of the conversation was positive, friendly and constructive,” Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a regular press conference on Tuesday.
Communication between the two heads of state on issues of shared concern was important for the stable development of China-US relations, she said.
Following the phone call, Trump stated on social media on Monday that he would visit China in April at the invitation of Xi.
“Our relationship with China is extremely strong!” Trump posted following the Monday morning call US time, a follow-up to their “highly successful” meeting in South Korea on October 30.
“Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate. Now we can set our sights on the big picture,” he wrote.
Trump added that he would host Xi for a state visit in the US later in 2026 following his April trip to the Chinese capital.
“We agreed that it is important that we communicate often, which I look forward to doing,” Trump added, citing Monday’s “very good” call with Xi that covered bilateral relations, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia, fentanyl, soybeans and other farm products.
“We have done a good, and very important, deal for our Great Farmers – and it will only get better,” the American president added with his characteristic bravado.
The telephone call follows a series of fast-changing geopolitical developments in recent weeks.


Beijing has got into an escalating row with Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan, and the US has announced a 28-point peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2022.
Xi clarified Beijing’s official position on the Taiwan issue, emphasising that the reincorporation of Taiwan was a key feature of global relations forged over the past 80 years.
According to the Chinese embassy, “President Xi outlined China’s principled position on the Taiwan question” and “underscored that Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order”, a reference to World War II.
“The two presidents also discussed the Ukraine crisis,” it said.
“President Xi emphasised China’s support for all efforts that are conducive to peace, and expressed the hope that the various sides would narrow their differences, reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement at an early date and resolve the crisis at its root.”
A senior Trump administration official confirmed that the call took place but did not detail which side initiated it. The Wall Street Journal reported that it was held at Beijing’s initiative.
According to Beijing’s embassy account, “President Trump noted that President Xi is a great leader” and “the US understands how important the Taiwan question is to China”.




US-China ties ‘generally’ improved since last meeting
The two presidents met in South Korea in late October, their first in-person sit-down since 2019, during which the two countries reached a one-year tariff and export control truce.
The Chinese government said on Monday that bilateral relations had “generally” moved in a steady and positive direction since Xi and Trump had reached “many important common understandings” in Busan.
“We recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-US relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily, thus sending a positive message to the world,” the embassy noted.
Taiwan remains Beijing’s most serious “red line”, and the issue hit the headlines anew after Japan’s newly elected leader said a conflict in the Taiwan Strait might be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan that would justify a military deployment.
Beijing reacted swiftly, expressing its strong displeasure through diplomatic channels and issuing warnings against travel to Japan as well as blocking seafood imports and film releases from its neighbour.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. But Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

Xi also hailed the “overall stable” China-US relations after their summit in South Korea.
“Both sides should maintain this momentum, adhere to the correct direction and uphold an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit, and lengthen the list of cooperation areas and shorten the list of issues,” Xi was quoted as saying.
“We should strive for more positive progress and open up new space for cooperation in China-US relations.”
How Japan-China tension affects ties with US, South Korea
The escalating tension between China and Japan has sent shock waves through northeast Asia. Tokyo has repeatedly said it was open to talks even as Beijing met those efforts with a cold shoulder.
The spat has also affected the two countries’ relations with South Korea as Beijing signalled its displeasure by postponing a three-way meeting between their culture ministers. It also slapped down a proposal from Japan for a summit involving the three countries in January, according to Kyodo News.
Hours after Trump spoke to Xi on Monday, he had a call with Takaichi, with the Japanese prime minister later stating there was “close cooperation” between Tokyo and Washington.
Trump’s position towards Taiwan has been somewhat less clear than former US presidents, including immediate predecessor Joe Biden, who said explicitly that Washington would defend Taiwan from an attack by Beijing.
Biden’s comments were a break with the long-standing US policy of strategic ambiguity, namely the idea that Washington would not commit either way.
Trump’s transactional nature and the pressure he has exerted on US allies to pay more for their own defence has left questions around his stance and raised fears that he could take steps to weaken or “sell out” Taiwan in return for a major trade deal.


Is Beijing ‘feeling out’ Trump over Taiwan policy?
Analysts said on Monday that Beijing might be probing Trump, perhaps to better assess his Taiwan policy, amid hope that he would pressure Takaichi to back off and potentially weaken the US-Japan alliance.
“I suspect it’s mostly about feeling out Trump on the Japan-Taiwan issue,” said Jeremy Chan, a senior analyst with Eurasia Group, adding that the Xi-Trump meeting in Busan was focused on economics with little evidence that security issues were discussed.
But Beijing is also walking a fine line. Even as it pressures Tokyo and, to a lesser extent, Washington on the security front, it does not want to derail the uneasy US-China truce made over rare earths, tariffs and other sensitive issues in late October.
“China has an interest in isolating Japan as much as possible over this issue, and keeping Trump on the sidelines is obviously important to that effort,” Chan said.
“The silence from Trump and his senior national security folks on this issue is notable.”
“Japan must be feeling a bit unnerved,” Chan added.
“China is likely to seek to reassure Trump so that he will stay on the sidelines of an issue that he frankly doesn’t care too much about.”


Beijing says US initiated Trump-Xi call, which was ‘positive, friendly and constructive’

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the telephone on Monday. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in South Korea in late October, their first in-person sit-down since 2019. Photo: Reuters

News

China

Diplomacy

Politics

Trump hails ‘extremely strong’ relationship with Beijing after call covering bilateral relations, Taiwan, Ukraine, fentanyl and agriculture


Trump hails ‘extremely strong’ relationship with Beijing after call covering bilateral relations, Taiwan, Ukraine, fentanyl and agriculture.


Beijing says US initiated Trump-Xi call, which was ‘positive, friendly and constructive’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Trump hails ‘extremely strong’ relationship with Beijing after call covering bilateral relations, Taiwan, Ukraine, fentanyl and agriculture

Trump hails ‘extremely strong’ relationship with Beijing after call covering bilateral relations, Taiwan, Ukraine, fentanyl and agriculture