https://www.scmp.com/rss/330603/feed Dewey Sim is a reporter for the China desk covering Beijing's foreign policy. He was previously writing about Singapore and Southeast Asia for the Post's Asia desk. A Singapore native, Dewey joined the Post in 2019 and is a graduate of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Dewey Sim,Cao Jiaxuan Dewey Sim,Cao Jiaxuan US President Donald Trump concluded a “landmark and historical” visit to China on Friday afternoon after Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted him at Zhongnanhai in the heart of Beijing and held small-group talks in the morning. Trees and roses The ancient trees and roses at Zhongnanhai drew Trump’s eye and sparked some light-hearted banter between the two leaders. As they strolled through the Chinese leaders’ compound, Xi pointed out ancient trees, some of them a few hundred years old. “They live... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353660/well-be-back-latest-takeaways-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353660/well-be-back-latest-takeaways-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 05:28:58 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Russian leader Vladimir Putin will visit Beijing next week, just days after President Xi Jinping wrapped up his closely watched summit with his American counterpart Donald Trump. Sources told the South China Morning Post that the one-day visit was expected to take place later next week, on May 20. They also said the trip was part of Moscow’s routine dealings with Beijing, with little expectation that there would be an elaborate parade or welcome. It will be the first time that China has hosted... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353648/russias-putin-heading-china-next-week-days-after-historic-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353648/russias-putin-heading-china-next-week-days-after-historic-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 04:29:05 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The US-China summit is “extremely important” to arrest the downward spiral of relations between the two countries, according to Li Cheng, a leading Chinese academic. But a summit would not be enough to change the overall structure of ties, which had been fraught for years, Li said on Thursday as US President Donald Trump began the first full day of his state visit to Beijing – the first by an American leader since 2017. The two presidents began the day with two hours of talks at the Great Hall... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353515/china-us-summit-remarkable-it-enough-change-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353515/china-us-summit-remarkable-it-enough-change-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 05:59:23 +0000 Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Chinese President Xi Jinping held closed-door talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump following an elaborate welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Here are some highlights from Thursday. Defining Ties Xi and Trump agreed to build a “constructive, strategically stable relationship”, a new term to define the framework of ties between the two countries. The new strategic position should be led by cooperation and “measured competition with healthy stability”, Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353500/xi-trump-summit-takeaways-so-far-first-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353500/xi-trump-summit-takeaways-so-far-first-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 03:59:54 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington hopes to convince Beijing to play a “more active role” in resolving the Iran crisis, a clear sign the issue will come into sharp focus when President Donald Trump holds his closely watched summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One, Rubio said the Iran war was a “huge source of instability” and “threatens to destabilise Asia more than any other part of the world because it’s heavily reliant on the straits for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353485/us-calls-china-play-active-role-ending-iran-war-despite-trump-rhetoric?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353485/us-calls-china-play-active-role-ending-iran-war-despite-trump-rhetoric?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 00:55:08 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China’s foreign minister Wang Yi on Tuesday urged Pakistan to ramp up mediation efforts in the Iran crisis, as the war threatens to overshadow US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing. In a call with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, Wang lauded Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating negotiations between Washington and Tehran and helping to extend the ceasefire. But he also called for Pakistan to “step up its mediation efforts to contribute to … the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353333/china-presses-pakistan-deepen-iran-mediation-ahead-trump-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353333/china-presses-pakistan-deepen-iran-mediation-ahead-trump-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 19:40:55 +0000 Dewey Sim,Orange Wang Dewey Sim,Orange Wang US President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to China from May 13 to 15 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, the foreign ministry in Beijing said on Monday. It will mark the first visit to China by an American president in almost nine years and comes at a time of heightened bilateral tensions over a range of issues, including trade, technology and defence. The timing also intersects with a precarious US-Iran ceasefire and a dual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that is driving up... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353075/china-confirms-dates-donald-trumps-state-visit-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353075/china-confirms-dates-donald-trumps-state-visit-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 01:04:29 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Chinese officials have signalled privately a growing willingness to retaliate against the United States, buoyed by confidence in their economic leverage as US President Donald Trump prepares to visit Beijing this week. Sources told the South China Morning Post that officials in Beijing had grown bolder since playing its rare earths card in October and were now less worried about tariffs. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353042/buoyed-rare-earths-china-approaches-trump-summit-fresh-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353042/buoyed-rare-earths-china-approaches-trump-summit-fresh-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called for stability with Beijing days before US President Donald Trump’s closely watched trip to China, saying the US was not out to reshape the Chinese economy but to rebalance trade. The trade chief told Fox News on Friday that while the world’s two largest economies “always had a really robust trading relationship … it’s been wildly unbalanced with China exporting just vast amounts of goods to the United States and largely blocking a lot of US imports... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352961/trump-trade-chief-says-us-wants-balanced-trade-not-change-chinas-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352961/trump-trade-chief-says-us-wants-balanced-trade-not-change-chinas-system?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 18:57:54 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Beijing’s study of the wars in Iran and Ukraine could sharpen its ability to wage information warfare against Americans during a Taiwan Strait conflict, exposing vulnerabilities in US preparedness, experts said on Wednesday. S. Clinton Hinote, a retired US Lieutenant General, said he was “impressed” with the propaganda coming out of Iran since the outbreak of the war in February, warning that Beijing would deploy similar tactics if conflict erupts over Taiwan. “That’s coming,” he told a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352811/chinas-use-propaganda-may-outwit-us-if-taiwan-conflict-arises-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352811/chinas-use-propaganda-may-outwit-us-if-taiwan-conflict-arises-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 17:00:29 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Dewey Sim Lucy Quaggin,Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected suggestions that China has challenged his administration over the Iran war, highlighting his “very good relationship” with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ahead of their planned summit next week. Speaking at a White House fitness event, Trump told reporters that when it comes to Iran, “we haven’t been challenged by China. They don’t challenge us,” adding that Xi “wouldn’t do that – I don’t think he’d do that because of me”. Iran is set to be on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352542/trump-dismisses-china-friction-over-iran-war-touts-xi-ties-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352542/trump-dismisses-china-friction-over-iran-war-touts-xi-ties-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 19:45:29 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday pressed China to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz even as he stressed that the US has “absolute control” over the strategic waterway. “Let’s see [China] step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” Bessent said in a Fox News interview. “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism and China has been buying 90 per cent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3352414/us-bessent-urges-china-help-open-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3352414/us-bessent-urges-china-help-open-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 17:42:44 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The United States on Friday announced fresh sanctions on entities and individuals it said were involved in trading Iranian petroleum, including a China-based oil terminal operator and a Chinese national, as it ramped up pressure on Tehran to end the conflict. The State Department said the operator, Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd, “imported tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil”. Also on the sanctions list are Li Xinchun, a Chinese national who is the president of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3352195/us-sanctions-china-based-operator-others-over-alleged-iran-oil-trade-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3352195/us-sanctions-china-based-operator-others-over-alleged-iran-oil-trade-links?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 19:08:21 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has built a state-driven campaign to harvest American data and weaponise it as a strategic asset that could prove critical in a conflict with the US, including over Taiwan, a key advisory committee to the US Congress heard. Experts told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Thursday that Washington was falling short in countering Beijing’s data-collection drive, one that could have far-reaching implications for American society and the economy, as well as US wartime... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352089/apps-autos-chinas-data-reach-sparks-us-espionage-and-sabotage-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352089/apps-autos-chinas-data-reach-sparks-us-espionage-and-sabotage-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:05:19 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, discussing the wars in Ukraine and Iran even as Washington pressed ahead with its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Trump told reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission ‌in the Oval Office that the conversation was “very good” and that the US was “going to come up with a solution relatively quickly” over its ongoing conflict with Iran. “He told me he’d like to be involved with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351913/trump-says-he-had-good-talk-putin-iran-and-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351913/trump-says-he-had-good-talk-putin-iran-and-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:53:41 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said the US and Nato were faced with a “marriage crisis” as frustrations mount on both sides of the Atlantic, urging Washington to stand with its allies or risk America’s fall. Francken, speaking at a think tank event in Washington on Tuesday, likened the strained transatlantic relationship, which has held for close to 80 years, to a “crisis”, saying “it’s very difficult”. “I’m convinced that we’re having a marriage crisis … There’s a lot of frustration on... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351763/us-and-nato-faced-frustrating-marriage-crisis-belgian-defence-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351763/us-and-nato-faced-frustrating-marriage-crisis-belgian-defence-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:00:50 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Lebanon’s social affairs minister has backed calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, but cautioned the process would take time before a “political settlement” could be reached, noting that the group is also a “community”. Haneen Sayed told a discussion in Washington on Monday that disarming Hezbollah – an Iran-backed militant group – was a demand of her government and its people, and that it “must happen”. “Of course, we understand that implementation is not easy. It’s not instant coffee. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351621/hezbollah-disarmament-must-happen-senior-lebanese-minister-tells-us-think-tank?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351621/hezbollah-disarmament-must-happen-senior-lebanese-minister-tells-us-think-tank?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:33:04 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Israel and Lebanon agreed on Thursday to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after a second round of negotiations between their envoys in Washington, despite reports of violations of the truce from both sides. US President Donald Trump announced the extension on social media, saying Washington “is going to work with Lebanon in order to protect itself from Hezbollah”. “The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS,” he wrote, calling the meeting “very historic” and... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351217/trump-meet-lebanon-and-israel-envoys-beirut-seeks-truce-extension?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351217/trump-meet-lebanon-and-israel-envoys-beirut-seeks-truce-extension?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:36:07 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The Philippines is trying to gradually establish “stable foundations” for its relations with China before tackling tougher problems such as the long-running South China Sea dispute, according to the country’s ambassador to Beijing. “We need a new equilibrium in our relations with China. Both sides [have agreed] to take incremental or baby steps towards that,” Jaime FlorCruz told the South China Morning Post. “That means a relationship that is stable, that is predictable, that is not subject to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350870/china-and-philippines-taking-baby-steps-towards-better-relations-manilas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350870/china-and-philippines-taking-baby-steps-towards-better-relations-manilas-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon appeared to be holding on Friday, a breakthrough that could provide critical relief to Washington’s strained temporary truce with Tehran Announcing the ceasefire, which came into effect at 5pm EST Thursday (5am Friday Hong Kong time), US President Donald Trump said it followed what he described as “excellent conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. “These two Leaders have agreed that in order... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350372/israel-and-lebanon-agree-10-day-ceasefire-us-pushes-broader-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350372/israel-and-lebanon-agree-10-day-ceasefire-us-pushes-broader-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:32:37 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The White House on Wednesday dismissed as untrue reports that the US had sought to extend a ceasefire with Iran, while confirming that discussions over a second round of in-person negotiations were under way after marathon talks in Islamabad last week ended without a breakthrough. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that discussions were under way about a further round of talks with Tehran but “nothing is official”, adding that the negotiations would “very likely” be held... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350225/iran-threatens-shut-down-red-sea-shipping-unless-us-lifts-naval-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350225/iran-threatens-shut-down-red-sea-shipping-unless-us-lifts-naval-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:04:31 +0000 Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors held rare face-to-face talks, facilitated by Washington, on Tuesday, with all sides agreeing to launch “direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue”. “Israel expressed its commitment to engage in direct negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and achieve a durable peace that will strengthen security, stability and prosperity in the region,” as per a readout issued by the US State Department. The statement said that Lebanon called for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350092/israel-lebanon-talks-rare-historic-moment-amid-hopes-conflict-resolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350092/israel-lebanon-talks-rare-historic-moment-amid-hopes-conflict-resolution?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:41:04 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim As US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping prepare to sit down in the coming weeks, negotiations on deliverables and scheduling have accelerated, including a possible visit to Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and a military parade, according to several people familiar with the planning process. The lead-up for such a consequential summit has been compressed and rather disjointed given the Middle East war and Trump’s preference for making last-minute decisions based on his “gut”. “This... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350079/trump-xi-summit-shaped-uncertainty-not-strategy-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350079/trump-xi-summit-shaped-uncertainty-not-strategy-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin,Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin,Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado The United States began a naval blockade on Iranian ports on Monday after US-Iran peace talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz failed over the weekend, but questions persist over how fully the measures can be enforced and what they will mean in practice. Despite concerns of escalation, Pakistan, which has acted as mediator in the peace negotiations, continued efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, including a phone call with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to support the fragile ceasefire and... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349946/us-moves-block-iranian-ports-iran-threatens-retaliatory-strikes-gulf-shipping-hubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349946/us-moves-block-iranian-ports-iran-threatens-retaliatory-strikes-gulf-shipping-hubs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:17:19 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Dewey Sim Yuanyue Dang,Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump on Friday pressed Iran to meet US demands, as Vice-President J.D. Vance travelled to Pakistan to lead high-stakes negotiations seen as a key effort to end the more than month-long Middle East conflict. The talks between the US and Iran, taking place during the agreed two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, are expected to begin on Saturday morning in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Clouding the talks were Iranian demands, namely a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3349714/us-presses-iran-talks-gear-pakistan-under-fragile-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3349714/us-presses-iran-talks-gear-pakistan-under-fragile-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:24:00 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin Khushboo Razdan,Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin Control of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central fault line in US-Iran negotiations, with US President Donald Trump appearing to recast an earlier off-the-cuff idea into a more formal proposal that seeks to bridge Tehran’s push for dominance and Washington’s insistence on open passage. Following his Tuesday announcement of a two-week ceasefire, Trump on Wednesday told the American Broadcasting Company that his administration may seek a “joint venture” with Iran to safeguard the global... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3349436/strait-hormuz-trump-iran-joint-venture-really-possible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3349436/strait-hormuz-trump-iran-joint-venture-really-possible?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:02:48 +0000 Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced “serious concerns” over China’s intensified inspections of Panama-flagged vessels, vowing that the US “stands firmly” with Panama amid the Latin American country’s escalating fallout with Beijing. Rubio said China’s recent actions “raise serious concerns about the use of economic tools to undermine the rule of law in Panama, a sovereign nation and vital partner for global commerce”. “Detentions, delays, or other impediments to the movement of vessels... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:34:46 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The US-Israel war on Iran has crippled exports of fertiliser from the Persian Gulf, raising the spectre of higher food prices if the conflict drags on. The disruption could hand China – the world’s largest fertiliser producer – greater political leverage over countries already locked in disputes with Beijing, though it is unlikely to weaponise exports, according to analysts. Global fertiliser prices have soared since Iran effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348573/why-spike-fertiliser-prices-could-boost-chinas-political-clout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348573/why-spike-fertiliser-prices-could-boost-chinas-political-clout?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang,Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Amber Wang,Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China soon after Donald Trump’s trip in May in a diplomatic double-header that would be the first time Beijing has hosted the leaders of the US and Russia in the same month outside a multilateral event. According to Chinese analysts, the back-to-back visits highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with both major powers amid rising global turbulence. Trump’s long-planned trip to Beijing was expected to take place from May 14 to 15, the White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348148/what-does-it-mean-china-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-visit-back-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348148/what-does-it-mean-china-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-visit-back-back?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Dewey Sim Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Dewey Sim The official line is straightforward: US President Donald Trump asked for a delay to his long-anticipated summit in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and it has been pushed back by “a month or so”. According to the White House, moving the meeting allows Trump to remain in the US and manage the escalating war with Iran, including urgent efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But beneath the surface, a more complex story emerges: months of growing frustrations, mismatched expectations,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347008/what-are-real-reasons-behind-change-date-trumps-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347008/what-are-real-reasons-behind-change-date-trumps-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Visits to China by foreign leaders are tightly choreographed and meticulously planned affairs, even by the usual standards of international diplomacy. But the chaotic nature of Donald Trump’s White House and his request to delay a planned visit to China in the wake of his decision to attack Iran are widely believed to be causing increasing frustration in Beijing. The South China Morning Post has previously reported that preparations for the visit had been dogged by problems, with the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347055/chaos-over-donald-trumps-china-trip-likely-further-test-beijings-patience-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347055/chaos-over-donald-trumps-china-trip-likely-further-test-beijings-patience-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China said on Monday it was still talking to the United States about President Donald Trump’s planned visit later this month, following his threat to delay the trip. Trump has been trying to pressure countries that rely heavily on oil from the Persian Gulf to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that Iran has effectively closed in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks. On Sunday, he told the Financial Times “it’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346770/china-were-still-talking-us-about-trump-trip-after-threat-delay-over-iran-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346770/china-were-still-talking-us-about-trump-trip-after-threat-delay-over-iran-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:33:48 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit China with President Donald Trump later this month after appearing to show little interest in previous invitations from Beijing, the South China Morning Post has learned. According to sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, Rubio had been invited to visit but had not been receptive until recently. Rubio’s attendance could smooth over some of the problems surrounding... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346383/sanctioned-rubio-take-part-trumps-china-trip-despite-previous-missed-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346383/sanctioned-rubio-take-part-trumps-china-trip-despite-previous-missed-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The US war against Iran may have handed Beijing some fresh rare-earths leverage over Washington, with roughly three weeks until US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to China. Washington’s heavy reliance on the Chinese minerals for its advanced weapon systems means China could dictate how long US strikes on Iran can go on, according to sources and analysts. Sources told the South China Morning Post, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, that Washington had only... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346123/could-chinas-rare-earth-supplies-dictate-how-long-us-strikes-iran-go?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346123/could-chinas-rare-earth-supplies-dictate-how-long-us-strikes-iran-go?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The United States and China could still have a “big year” in bilateral ties despite Washington’s ongoing strikes against Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday, suggesting a planned visit to China by US President Donald Trump remained on track. Uncertainty has been mounting over Trump’s planned meeting with President Xi Jinping – expected to start on March 31 – after US and Israeli forces last month launched major strikes on Iran, one of China’s key strategic partners and oil... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345888/trumps-china-trip-still-despite-iran-wang-yi-sees-potential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345888/trumps-china-trip-still-despite-iran-wang-yi-sees-potential?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Foreign Minister Wang Yi faced global media on Sunday morning to outline Beijing’s positions on key issues, ranging from the expanding crisis in Iran to China’s deepening dispute with Japan. The annual briefing, held as part of the annual “two sessions”, came as China sought to project its leadership and influence amid mounting global instability and manage its strategic rivalry with the US. This year, the top Chinese diplomat fielded 21 questions in a briefing that lasted nearly 90... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345852/takeaways-foreign-minister-wang-yi-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345852/takeaways-foreign-minister-wang-yi-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:38:36 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China is expanding its diplomatic budget by 9.3 per cent, the highest increase in three years, signalling Beijing’s plans to consolidate its geopolitical clout as instability mounts around the globe, according to analysts. The Ministry of Finance on Thursday proposed that 70.975 billion yuan (US$10.28 billion) be allocated for Beijing’s diplomatic spending in 2026, up 9.3 per cent from the previous year. It is the fifth consecutive year that China has increased its foreign affairs... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345590/china-boosts-diplomatic-budget-93-us-leaves-fiscal-void?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345590/china-boosts-diplomatic-budget-93-us-leaves-fiscal-void?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:11:24 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Iran is unlikely to dominate the agenda at this year’s national legislative sessions but it is likely to feature in policy discussions, according to observers. Analysts said the Middle East turmoil could prompt a broader rethink in some policy areas in Beijing, including a reassessment of its Middle East strategy and how it can safeguard its expanding overseas interests. The “two sessions”, the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body, get under way this week, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345295/will-iran-crisis-feature-foreign-policy-talks-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345295/will-iran-crisis-feature-foreign-policy-talks-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The massive American military strikes on Iran could add a new layer of uncertainty to US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes trip to China at the end of the month, observers warn. They said that while the visit was expected to go ahead as planned, the escalating conflict in the Middle East could fuel fresh concerns in Beijing over Washington’s global assertiveness and ambitions. Large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iran since Saturday have killed senior Iranian figures including the supreme... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:06:00 +0000 Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Beijing has called for all hands on deck to work out what ever-unpredictable US President Donald Trump might demand when he sits down with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a few weeks. Several sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said various Chinese government departments had been told to research and assess the US leader’s potential demands and come up with possible concessions Beijing could put on the table. According to the sources, the entities included China’s Ministry of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344862/china-scours-bargaining-chips-put-trump-xi-summit-table-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344862/china-scours-bargaining-chips-put-trump-xi-summit-table-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Dewey Sim,Zhao Ziwen Dewey Sim,Zhao Ziwen US President Donald Trump pushed a message of economic strength and global leadership in the first State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday night, seeking to rally voters ahead of the November midterm elections. In the nearly two-hour speech – the longest of its kind – the American leader made no direct mention of China, a move analysts said could be aimed at avoiding fresh friction with Beijing ahead of his visit. Trump’s administration is grappling with a range of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344594/donald-trump-touts-us-golden-age-avoids-direct-mention-china-ahead-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344594/donald-trump-touts-us-golden-age-avoids-direct-mention-china-ahead-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:12:31 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump delivered his first official State of Union address of his second term on Tuesday night, defending his policies and touting his administration’s biggest achievements since his return to the White House. In the longest speech of its kind, Trump spoke of a “golden age of America”, saying “America is respected again, perhaps like never before”. The American leader is grappling with a series of challenges, including rising economic woes, mounting foreign policy tensions and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344546/5-top-takeaways-us-president-donald-trumps-2026-state-union-address?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344546/5-top-takeaways-us-president-donald-trumps-2026-state-union-address?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 04:50:52 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim South Korea last week protested to the US over a rare stand-off between American and Chinese fighter jets in the Yellow Sea, according to media reports. Analysts said the move signalled Seoul was reluctant to see US forces stationed in South Korea more actively confront Beijing. According to a Yonhap News Agency report on Saturday citing unnamed military sources, South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back lodged a complaint with General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea (USFK),... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344369/seouls-protest-over-stand-seen-reluctance-let-us-forces-korea-confront-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344369/seouls-protest-over-stand-seen-reluctance-let-us-forces-korea-confront-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:00:15 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Meredith Chen,Dewey Sim Seong Hyeon Choi,Meredith Chen,Dewey Sim Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi highlighted what she called Chinese “coercion” as she delivered her first parliamentary speech since her party’s landslide victory about two weeks ago, while also calling for continued communication with Beijing. Analysts say this indicates Tokyo will prioritise its ties with Washington but also attempt to maintain pragmatic engagement with Beijing as a strategic hedge. Takaichi said on Friday that Beijing’s growing “coercion” was driving the island nation... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344178/japans-takaichi-targets-chinese-coercion-us-ties-first-speech-after-landslide-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344178/japans-takaichi-targets-chinese-coercion-us-ties-first-speech-after-landslide-win?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:00:51 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has joined Russia in congratulating North Korea on the conclave of its ruling party, hailing economic achievements under the leadership of Kim Jong-un and pledging to work with Pyongyang to promote regional peace. According to state news agency Xinhua, the Central Committee of China’s Communist Party sent a congratulatory message to Pyongyang on Thursday, asserting that the ruling Workers’ Party had in recent years helped to develop the North Korean economy and improve the lives of its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344118/china-applauds-north-korea-party-conclave-new-historical-period-ties-xinhua?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344118/china-applauds-north-korea-party-conclave-new-historical-period-ties-xinhua?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China’s envoy to the United Nations, Fu Cong, has warned that any military involvement by Japan in the Taiwan issue would amount to aggression against Beijing, which would “retaliate resolutely”. Fu told a UN meeting on Wednesday that Tokyo had publicly tied the question of the island’s defence to what it called an existential crisis and that Japan was “attempting to intervene militarily in the Taiwan issue under the guise of collective self-defence”. But those were “fallacies” that betrayed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343985/tokyo-defence-involvement-taiwan-would-amount-aggression-against-beijing-un-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343985/tokyo-defence-involvement-taiwan-would-amount-aggression-against-beijing-un-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The Ministry of Emergency Management has warned officials of the urgent need to prevent a repeat of the fireworks explosion that killed eight people in Jiangsu province, eastern China, on Sunday, the start of the country’s nine-day Lunar New Year holiday. The ministry convened an emergency meeting following the blast at a fireworks shop in Dongan village in Donghai county, which happened after a villager “improperly set off fireworks near the store”. According to state broadcaster CCTV, two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343684/8-dead-fireworks-shop-blast-start-chinas-lunar-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343684/8-dead-fireworks-shop-blast-start-chinas-lunar-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 04:16:00 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Last week, US ambassador to Poland Tom Rose cut off contact with his host country’s parliamentary speaker over what he described as “outrageous and unprovoked insults” against President Donald Trump. Washington would “not permit anyone to harm US-Polish relations nor disrespect” the president, Rose warned, without specifying the insults. However, lower house speaker Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, a left-wing Polish politician, had earlier criticised Trump’s policies and said he would not support an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/diplomacy/article/3343426/trump-style-diplomacy-could-win-friends-china-harm-us-ties-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/diplomacy/article/3343426/trump-style-diplomacy-could-win-friends-china-harm-us-ties-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen,Dewey Sim,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen,Dewey Sim,Mark Magnier China has confirmed that discussions were under way about US President Donald Trump’s planned visit in April, when sources said the two sides were expected to extend their current trade truce by up to one year. Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesman, said President Xi Jinping had repeated an invitation to Trump to visit when the pair spoke by phone last week. “The two sides are in communication on this,” Lin added, stressing the importance of talks between the two heads of state. The two reached... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343240/trump-and-xi-expected-extend-trade-truce-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343240/trump-and-xi-expected-extend-trade-truce-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:43:33 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Beijing has denounced Norway’s latest security assessment labelling China as a threat, dismissing the report as “sheer speculation and imagination” while accusing Oslo of holding a “misguided” view that risked damage to ties. In an online statement posted on Saturday, the Chinese embassy in Norway said the reports “once again fabricate the so-called ‘China threat’ narrative out of sheer speculation and imagination, replete with cliches and not worthy of refutation”. “The China-related content is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342771/china-slams-threat-label-norway-security-report-sheer-speculation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342771/china-slams-threat-label-norway-security-report-sheer-speculation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:30:09 +0000