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

Meredith Chen

China and Spain should work closely to resist “the law of the jungle” and defend true multilateralism in a turbulent world caught in “a contest between justice and power”, Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in a meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting came after both sides strongly condemned the US-Israel military actions on Iran and criticised the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Sanchez, who landed in Beijing on Saturday for a five-day trip, is on his fourth visit to China in four years, as Madrid looks to strengthen bilateral ties with Beijing amid intensified tensions with Washington.

Xi’s remarks came as the US blockade of Iran’s ports was coming into effect, after hours of talks in Islamabad over the weekend failed to yield a deal to end the Israel-US war on Iran.
“Today’s world is in turmoil, caught in a contest between justice and power,” Xi was quoted as saying by state news broadcaster CCTV, without referring to the Middle East situation.
“How a country treats international law and the international order reflects its world view, its vision of order, its values and its sense of responsibility,” he said.
China and Spain are both “principled nations that uphold justice and are willing to stand on the right side of history”.
“We should strengthen communication, consolidate mutual trust, cooperate closely, oppose the world’s retrogression to the law of the jungle and jointly safeguard genuine multilateralism.”
China could play an “important” role in resolving the war in the Middle East, Sanchez told a news conference after his talks with Xi.
“The role China can play is important to finding a diplomatic means that will end this war and contribute to stability and peace,” he said, according to Agence France-Presse.
“All nations – especially those which are in dialogue and have not actively taken part in this illegal war – are not only welcome, but also absolutely necessary,” he added.
Sanchez has emerged as one of the leading critics from within the European Union of US and Israeli strikes against Iran, which began on February 28 and lasted for more than 40 days before Tehran and Washington reached a fragile two-week ceasefire.
In March, Spain – a Nato ally – denied the United States use of jointly operated military bases for the war on Iran and closed its airspace to planes involved in attacks, prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten trade cuts with Madrid.
Beijing has aligned itself with Madrid’s position, condemning the US-Israeli strikes as violations of international law and warning that trade should not be used “as a tool or a weapon”.
Trump made similar trade threats against Spain in October when Madrid refused to boost its defence spending.
In the Tuesday meeting, Xi said that amid global turbulence, China-Spain relations had moved steadily forward, forging a “partnership defined by strategic resolve”.
“A key lesson is that sound decisions must be made based on shared interests,” he said.
The two leaders also pledged to strengthen cooperation in trade, new energy and the intelligent economy.
According to CCTV, Sanchez told Xi that Spain opposed a “new Cold War” as well as “decoupling and supply chain disruption”, while supporting greater communication, understanding and cooperation between Europe and China.
He also expressed Spain’s willingness to “play an active and constructive role” in EU-China relations, stressing the responsibility to deepen cooperation “even when differences exist”, according to a statement from the Spanish prime minister’s office.
Before meeting Xi, Sanchez met representatives from 10 major Chinese companies and conveyed Spain’s commitment to projects that “create local jobs, strengthen our productive fabric and contribute to innovation and knowledge transfer”, he said on social media.
Sanchez’s visit also comes amid a broader diplomatic push by European countries towards Beijing, despite lingering security and trade tensions.
In the first three months of 2026, leaders from Ireland, Finland, Britain and Germany made trips to China, while a delegation of European Union lawmakers visited for the first time in eight years.


As the transatlantic alliance shows growing strains, Madrid has sought to position itself as a bridge between Beijing and the 27-member trading bloc of the EU.
Sanchez began his official visit on Monday, delivering a speech at Tsinghua University and receiving an honorary professorship from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Sanchez also visited the Beijing headquarters of tech company Xiaomi, meeting its founder Lei Jun and highlighting Spain’s growing role as a European hub for digital infrastructure, data centres and AI projects, according to the Spanish prime minister’s office.
Sanchez expressed Spain’s interest in exploring new high-level technological collaborations with Xiaomi, which already partners with leading Spanish firms in automotive and advanced manufacturing, it said.
In his speech to students at Tsinghua University, Sanchez acknowledged existing disagreements with China and advocated building on shared ground and past cooperation.
“Spain’s proposal is clear: to build a relationship based on mutual respect. A respect that allows us to cooperate in every way possible, to compete where necessary, and to manage our differences when they are unavoidable,” he said.
According to Sanchez, China should take a more substantial role on climate change, security, defence and the fight against inequality. Europe would also have to redouble its efforts as the US withdraws from leadership roles on many fronts, he added.
Sanchez previously visited China in April last year, September 2024, and March 2023. Spain’s King Felipe VI also made a state visit in November.
Sanchez also held talks on Tuesday with Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, China’s third-ranking official and the head of the legislature, respectively. The visit is set to last until Wednesday.
Aside from the formal talks, Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez were spotted visiting Beijing’s popular sites, from the Drum Tower and the Summer Palace to the scenic lakes of Shichahai.
China is Spain’s largest trading partner outside the European Union, with bilateral trade exceeding US$55 billion in 2025. However, the Spanish trade deficit with its Chinese partner also widened – to €42.3 billion (US$49.5 billion).
In his speech at Tsinghua on Monday, Sanchez said the situation was “unsustainable” and called on Beijing to open its market to European imports and help “correct the current trade deficit”.
Key trade disputes centred on Chinese electric vehicle subsidies and retaliatory tariffs on Spanish pork exports, which Beijing softened in December, lowering duties from a top rate of 62.4 per cent to up to 19.8 per cent.
Spain abstained in the EU’s 2024 vote to impose tariffs of up to 45 per cent on Chinese-made electric vehicles.


Xi calls on Spain to jointly resist ‘law of the jungle’ in a turbulent world

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

China’s President Xi Jinping and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

News

China

Diplomacy

Chinese leader meets visiting Spanish PM who is in Beijing looking to strengthen bilateral ties amid tensions with US


Chinese leader meets visiting Spanish PM who is in Beijing looking to strengthen bilateral ties amid tensions with US.


Xi calls on Spain to jointly resist ‘law of the jungle’ in a turbulent world

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese leader meets visiting Spanish PM who is in Beijing looking to strengthen bilateral ties amid tensions with US

Chinese leader meets visiting Spanish PM who is in Beijing looking to strengthen bilateral ties amid tensions with US