https://www.scmp.com/rss/511388/feed Alyssa joined the Post in 2023 as a reporter on China desk to cover diplomacy. Her interests lie in cross-strait relations and Sino-Japan relations. Previously, she was the Asia Correspondent for the Japan Times, and graduated from the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japan is considering plans to relax its rules on the sale of offensive weapons in a move that one Chinese analyst said may open the door to it exporting weapons to war zones and possibly to Taiwan. Currently, Japan can only export military equipment designated for five defensive purposes: rescue, transport, warning, surveillance or minesweeping. But a draft government document, reportedly seen by the news agency Kyodo, would scrap this rule and these categories. Kyodo said the new regulations... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349045/why-china-worried-japans-plans-change-rules-arms-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349045/why-china-worried-japans-plans-change-rules-arms-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:37:00 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Maritime tensions between China and the Philippines are likely to persist despite Manila’s call for energy cooperation, Chinese observers said after revived diplomatic talks on the weekend. Senior diplomats from the two countries met in the Chinese city of Quanzhou on Friday and Saturday for two rounds of talks, covering a range of issues from oil and gas cooperation in the South China Sea to renewable energy and coastguard communication. The foreign ministry consultations were held for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348303/why-revived-china-philippine-talks-wont-lead-energy-cooperation-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348303/why-revived-china-philippine-talks-wont-lead-energy-cooperation-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Laura Zhou,Alyssa Chen Laura Zhou,Alyssa Chen Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in May may offer some clues about the preferred US road map for ending the war with Iran, according to Chinese analysts, who said that if the conflict dragged on, it could play into Beijing’s hands. The US president delayed the visit, initially scheduled to start at the end of this month, to focus on the conflict, but said on Wednesday that he would visit Beijing on May 14 and 15. China has yet to confirm the dates and on Thursday foreign ministry spokesman... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348033/can-donald-trump-end-his-war-iran-time-rescheduled-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348033/can-donald-trump-end-his-war-iran-time-rescheduled-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen A senior Japanese official and the country’s military have expressed regret after a serving officer was arrested on suspicion of trespassing at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. Tokyo police have identified the 23-year-old suspect as Kodai Murata, a second lieutenant with the Ground Self-Defence Force (SDF), and said he was suspected of bringing an 18cm (7-inch) knife onto the embassy premises. No one was injured in the incident and a blade was found in shrubbery on the embassy grounds, Japanese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347833/senior-japanese-minister-expresses-regret-over-army-officers-arrest-chinese-embassy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347833/senior-japanese-minister-expresses-regret-over-army-officers-arrest-chinese-embassy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:15:48 +0000 Fan Chen,Mark Magnier,Alyssa Chen Fan Chen,Mark Magnier,Alyssa Chen US President Donald Trump teased on Tuesday that Iran had made an energy-related concession involving the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as “positive”, without providing details. “They gave us a present and the present arrived today, and it was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of ⁠money,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “It wasn’t nuclear, it was ‌oil-and gas-related, and it was a very nice thing they did.” This came as analysts expressed scepticism that backchannel... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347742/are-efforts-broker-peace-deal-between-iran-and-us-doomed-fail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347742/are-efforts-broker-peace-deal-between-iran-and-us-doomed-fail?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen With Tokyo expected to downgrade the description of ties with Beijing in its annual diplomatic report, mainland China says the Japanese prime minister’s “erroneous remarks on Taiwan” are at the root of their current tensions. On Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry said comments by Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi had sparked anger in China and breached a “red line”. Japan will describe China in its 2026 diplomatic blue book as an important neighbour, and the relationship as “strategic” and “mutually... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347740/tokyo-moves-downgrade-status-china-ties-beijing-moves-blame-japanese-pm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347740/tokyo-moves-downgrade-status-china-ties-beijing-moves-blame-japanese-pm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:59:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Mark Magnier,Zhuang Pinghui Alyssa Chen,Mark Magnier,Zhuang Pinghui US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US would halt military strikes on Iranian power plants for five days following discussions with Tehran, but Iranian officials quickly denied talks were ongoing, labelling them “fake news” designed to prop up financial markets. Trump said on social media that he had instructed the Department of Defence to “postpone any and all military strikes” against power and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, “subject to [the] success of ongoing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347612/trump-says-us-will-halt-military-strikes-iranian-power-plants-5-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347612/trump-says-us-will-halt-military-strikes-iranian-power-plants-5-days?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:24:58 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Beijing has confirmed it remains in communication with Washington about a landmark visit by US President Donald Trump, who has requested to delay the trip by a month due to the US-Israel war on Iran. Chinese analysts characterised the delay as a strategic opportunity to ensure more substantive results. They also suggested the shift in timing was unlikely to derail the momentum towards stabilising ties between the two global powers. The White House previously announced that the trip – the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346923/why-trumps-china-trip-delay-could-open-door-more-substantive-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346923/why-trumps-china-trip-delay-could-open-door-more-substantive-results?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Orange Wang,Alyssa Chen Orange Wang,Alyssa Chen The US-Israeli war on Iran could prove difficult to end in the short term, with Israel expected to continue to “fan the flames”, Chinese experts have warned. However, they still believe that the intense back-and-forth attacks and high tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are unlikely to last. They also reject the notion that a prolonged Middle East conflict involving the United States would benefit Beijing. It has been 12 days since the US and Israel launched joint air strikes on Iran on February... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346263/why-war-iran-not-trumps-end-will-israel-fan-flames?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346263/why-war-iran-not-trumps-end-will-israel-fan-flames?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beijing could gain a strategic edge in the Taiwan Strait as US military assets are diverted to the Middle East, even though it remains committed to peaceful reunification, a prominent mainland expert on the Taiwan issue said on Tuesday. Li Yihu, dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Peking University and a deputy to China’s National People’s Congress, said Washington’s involvement in multiple conflicts, including the ongoing war in Iran, was straining its armed forces and diminishing its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346239/china-stands-gain-us-moving-military-assets-iran-war-cross-strait-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346239/china-stands-gain-us-moving-military-assets-iran-war-cross-strait-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:00:30 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China has signalled strong optimism for finalising negotiations with neighbouring Asian countries to seal a new institutional framework on contested South China Sea waterways. At China’s annual foreign policy press conference on Sunday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the negotiations as having entered a “critical phase” for talks on the South China Sea Code of Conduct – a proposed set of rules between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) aimed at easing tensions. “All... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345879/china-signals-high-hopes-south-china-sea-golden-rules-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345879/china-signals-high-hopes-south-china-sea-golden-rules-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:41:37 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China should build an underground network across its western region to protect key energy and defence facilities, securing long-term reserves while boosting national security and crisis resilience, energy experts have said. Zhang Shishu, chief technical expert at Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), a state-owned energy and infrastructure giant, called for critical facilities to be embedded deep beneath the Earth’s surface at a safer, less detectable level. In an article for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3345859/china-urged-build-underground-great-wall-defence-crisis-hit-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3345859/china-urged-build-underground-great-wall-defence-crisis-hit-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 08:00:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Nearly five decades ago, in 1978, a dozen or so professors from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) were on a mission to visit their American counterparts as well as research institutes and factories across the United States. The visit, said to be personally approved by then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, was designed to forge academic ties and led to sister-school agreements with four prestigious US universities, including the University of Michigan (UM). It was a pivotal moment in academic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345807/us-universities-retreat-china-partnerships-who-filling-academic-void?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345807/us-universities-retreat-china-partnerships-who-filling-academic-void?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China’s international clout and economic stability are rebalancing Beijing’s relations with Europe, putting more focus on cooperation and less on rivalry, according to a former Chinese envoy. “With European leaders coming to China one after another, they are coming with their own considerations: hoping to strengthen bilateral relations in the new context and find ways to benefit from China’s continued development,” said Wu Ken, China’s ambassador to Germany from 2019 to 2024. On the sidelines of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345754/rivals-partners-china-and-europe-are-retooling-ties-adviser-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345754/rivals-partners-china-and-europe-are-retooling-ties-adviser-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into deeper turmoil, have received qualified support from some countries and condemnation from others. China – which confirmed the death of one Chinese national in Iran and the evacuation of its 3,000 citizens from the country – partnered with Russia on Saturday to hold an emergency session of the UN Security Council and condemned the military action. In a call on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345253/whats-behind-chinas-careful-response-its-ally-iran-after-us-israel-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345253/whats-behind-chinas-careful-response-its-ally-iran-after-us-israel-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:36:38 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China and the Philippines may soon start joint coastguard patrols in the South China Sea after years of tensions over the disputed waters, according to a Philippine senator. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate’s foreign relations committee, met Chinese ambassador Jing Quan on Monday, and said afterwards that the two countries’ coastguards were expected to sign a memorandum of agreement by the end of March. He added that rather than “having disputes there … there will be cooperation”, such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344626/can-china-and-philippines-replace-disputes-cooperation-after-years-tension?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344626/can-china-and-philippines-replace-disputes-cooperation-after-years-tension?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:26:30 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen While K-pop has conquered almost every corner of the globe, South Korea’s entertainment industry remains largely locked out of the Chinese market due to a geopolitical chill that has lingered for a decade. China unofficially banned South Korean entertainment products in 2016 after Seoul deployed the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD) despite Beijing’s objections. K-pop concerts were cancelled, South Korean dramas disappeared from Chinese streaming platforms, and South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344205/k-pops-big-freeze-are-cracks-chinas-cultural-blockade-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344205/k-pops-big-freeze-are-cracks-chinas-cultural-blockade-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen A spy thriller backed by a Chinese intelligence agency has become one of the biggest box office hits of the Lunar New Year. Scare Out, directed by Zhang Yimou, who is best known internationally for films such as Raise the Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers, was produced under the direct supervision of the Ministry of State Security, which said the film was based on real-life cases. The film features a tense game of cat and mouse as counter-espionage agents track down a researcher who leaked... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344033/chinese-state-sponsored-spy-thriller-comes-cold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344033/chinese-state-sponsored-spy-thriller-comes-cold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:50:17 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide victory in Sunday’s snap election has raised concern in China that she may seek to change the country’s pacifist constitution. Beijing would regard any change to the constitution, which renounces the use of force to settle international disputes, as a threat to regional stability and is likely to react strongly to any changes. Takaichi has previously signalled she wanted to change Article 9 of the constitution, imposed after Japan’s defeat in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342964/why-china-worried-japan-election-may-prompt-change-pacifist-constitution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342964/why-china-worried-japan-election-may-prompt-change-pacifist-constitution?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:00:26 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The recent court ruling giving the United States a win in a tussle for control of the Panama Canal is expected to prove an important “test case” for how China responds to the challenge to its interests and influence across Latin America. Analysts said there were a range of tools it could use, including diplomatic pressure on Panama, using its economic might to seek support from friendly countries and backing a legal challenge to the ruling. Last week, Panama’s Supreme Court voided a 25-year... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342545/how-can-china-react-panama-canal-ruling-boosts-us-push-counter-its-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342545/how-can-china-react-panama-canal-ruling-boosts-us-push-counter-its-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:00:22 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China ramped up its South China Sea patrols in 2025, maintaining an “unprecedented” nearly year-round presence at contested sites like Scarborough Shoal to assert maritime claims, according to a new US-based think tank report. An analysis published on Thursday by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) – a research programme affiliated with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies – showed a substantial increase in China’s patrol presence as well as a broadening of its patrol... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341822/chinas-presence-scarborough-shoal-south-china-sea-unprecedented-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341822/chinas-presence-scarborough-shoal-south-china-sea-unprecedented-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:14:41 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beijing has pledged to step in if Canberra commits to regaining control of a strategic port in northern Australia that is leased to a Chinese firm. Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said on Wednesday that Beijing “has the obligation to take measures” to protect the legitimate rights of Chinese companies overseas if the port of Darwin were taken back through a forced sale, according to Australian media reports. During last year’s successful re-election campaign, Australian Prime Minister... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341574/china-will-step-if-australia-moves-regain-control-darwin-port-envoy-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341574/china-will-step-if-australia-moves-regain-control-darwin-port-envoy-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:00:39 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japan’s alliance with the United States would collapse if Tokyo turned a blind eye as US forces were attacked in joint operations in Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday. “If something serious happens there, we would have to go to rescue the Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan. In that situation, there may be cases where Japan and the US take joint action,” Takaichi said in her latest elaboration of Japan’s potential military involvement in case of a Taiwan... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341359/takaichi-says-ties-will-collapse-if-us-forces-are-hit-taiwan-and-tokyo-does-nothing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341359/takaichi-says-ties-will-collapse-if-us-forces-are-hit-taiwan-and-tokyo-does-nothing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:01:23 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The sudden removal of China’s two most senior generals is believed to be a stark warning underscoring President Xi Jinping’s zero-tolerance focus on Communist Party discipline and political purity ahead of two landmark events next year. Beijing announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and China’s top uniformed officer, was under investigation for serious disciplinary violations, as was Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC’s Joint Staff... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341173/why-chinas-rapid-ousting-2-top-generals-sharp-warning-party-purity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341173/why-chinas-rapid-ousting-2-top-generals-sharp-warning-party-purity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is betting that her strong public approval ratings will translate into a decisive majority in next month’s elections, but her bid could face a challenge from surging right-wing factions and a newly formed political party. A failure to secure a majority in the parliament’s lower house would severely undermine Takaichi’s ability to steer a tougher course on China. But irrespective of the election outcome, repairing relations with China would take well beyond... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340660/why-japan-pms-election-bet-will-not-repair-damaged-bilateral-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340660/why-japan-pms-election-bet-will-not-repair-damaged-bilateral-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:58:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen America’s military action in Venezuela and President Donald Trump’s talk of owning Greenland are stoking concerns that the United States is dismantling the rules-based global order. But this could also be a diplomatic opening for China as it tries to portray itself, in contrast, as a more responsible and stabilising power. Analysts said while this aligned with Beijing’s push to strengthen ties with its neighbours – a strategic move as its rivalry with Washington has intensified – concrete... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340181/how-us-actions-venezuela-and-beyond-could-spell-opportunity-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340181/how-us-actions-venezuela-and-beyond-could-spell-opportunity-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim,Alyssa Chen Dewey Sim,Alyssa Chen China and Canada have embarked on a new strategic partnership, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in the Chinese capital on Friday as he announced a series of deals and suggested that Beijing was a “more predictable” partner than Washington. After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Carney, whose four-day visit to China ends on Saturday, said the two countries made “significant progress” on key issues during a “historic and productive two days”. He said bilateral ties had been... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340103/carney-calls-china-canada-relationship-adapts-new-global-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340103/carney-calls-china-canada-relationship-adapts-new-global-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:44:38 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Dewey Sim Alyssa Chen,Dewey Sim China and Canada are at a “new starting point” and the two countries should deepen cooperation to protect multilateralism and free trade. That was the message Premier Li Qiang had for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Beijing on Thursday, on the second day of a four-day state visit to China. “Standing at a new starting point, China is willing to work with Canada to uphold the strategic partnership, strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance political mutual trust, respect each other’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340048/china-and-canada-new-starting-point-mark-carney-breaks-ice-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340048/china-and-canada-new-starting-point-mark-carney-breaks-ice-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:54:18 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The leaders of South Korea and China wrapped up a summit this week with both underlining support for one of Beijing’s diplomatic priorities but making no tangible progress on North Korea, Seoul’s main concern. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday for a high-stakes summit held just over nine weeks after their first meeting. During the trip, Lee declared 2026 as the year for the “full restoration of South Korea-China relations” and Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339434/north-korea-elephant-room-when-xi-met-lee-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339434/north-korea-elephant-room-when-xi-met-lee-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Premier Li Qiang called for multilateralism and free trade in his meeting with visiting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday and said China would promote cooperation in emerging fields such as high-end manufacturing, new energy and artificial intelligence (AI). Li said China aimed to expand “the breadth and depth of cooperation” to achieve more practical outcomes and was willing to expand market access and integration, according to Beijing’s account of the meeting. “We stand ready to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338952/li-qiang-and-lee-jae-myung-back-free-trade-and-multilateralism-during-beijing-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338952/li-qiang-and-lee-jae-myung-back-free-trade-and-multilateralism-during-beijing-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:19:31 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China and South Korea had a shared responsibility for regional stability and should make the “correct strategic choice”, President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung on Monday, as Seoul seeks to turn the page on recent tensions in their relationship. Xi said the international landscape was becoming increasingly turbulent and complex as changes on a scale “unseen in a century are rapidly unfolding across the world”, according to state broadcaster CCTV. As beneficiaries of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338817/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-south-korea-make-correct-strategic-choices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338817/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-south-korea-make-correct-strategic-choices?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:41:48 +0000 Fan Chen,Alyssa Chen Fan Chen,Alyssa Chen South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will make a state visit to China next week as the two countries try to find a way through their intense economic rivalry to improve ties. The trip will make Lee the first sitting South Korean president to travel to China since 2019, and will include a three-day stop in Beijing from Sunday, a presidential official in Seoul said on Tuesday. Lee will meet President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital before heading to Shanghai and then back to Seoul. The talks... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338188/south-koreas-lee-jae-myung-visit-china-economic-and-nuclear-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338188/south-koreas-lee-jae-myung-visit-china-economic-and-nuclear-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:26:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Lee Jae-myung is set to become the first sitting South Korean president to travel to China since 2019 with a visit scheduled for early January. Analysts said Lee was expected to engage Beijing on security issues, including North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and the enforcement of international sanctions, while seeking to build on his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. Neither side has confirmed the visit, but preparations are under way, highlighted by a recent strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337847/south-korean-president-set-visit-china-next-month-north-korea-high-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337847/south-korean-president-set-visit-china-next-month-north-korea-high-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 04:00:11 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The escalating tensions between China and Japan have highlighted what some observers see as a deeper problem – the lack of stable communication channels. The row started earlier this month when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a conflict in the Taiwan Strait might be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan that would justify a military deployment. Beijing’s retaliation came swiftly, including warnings against travel to Japan and blocks on seafood imports and film releases. Tokyo has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333931/how-latest-china-japan-row-highlights-lack-communication-channels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333931/how-latest-china-japan-row-highlights-lack-communication-channels?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:26:52 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Talks between the Chinese and South Korean leaders have renewed diplomatic momentum, but what happens next could hinge on how Seoul balances its relations with Washington, according to analysts. Chinese President Xi Jinping – on his first visit to South Korea in 11 years – met his counterpart Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju last Saturday, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. A lighthearted exchange before their state banquet drew media attention. After Xi presented Lee... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331860/can-china-and-south-korea-build-their-diplomatic-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331860/can-china-and-south-korea-build-their-diplomatic-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:07:28 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and the fight against online scams in his first sit-down talks with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung. They met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday. The one-hour meeting was followed by a state dinner, after which Xi concluded his three-day state visit to South Korea – his first since 2014. It was the first one-on-one meeting... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331173/chinas-xi-and-south-koreas-lee-discuss-practical-cooperation-denuclearisation-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331173/chinas-xi-and-south-koreas-lee-discuss-practical-cooperation-denuclearisation-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 08:39:26 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Conflicts and disagreements should not define Beijing’s ties with Tokyo, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his first sit-down meeting with the new Japanese prime minister on Friday. The 30-minute discussion with Sanae Takaichi, who was formally sworn into office last week, took place on the sidelines of the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. “The two countries should properly manage differences by focusing on the bigger picture, seeking common... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331118/chinas-xi-jinping-tells-new-japanese-pm-conflicts-should-not-define-their-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331118/chinas-xi-jinping-tells-new-japanese-pm-conflicts-should-not-define-their-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:50:37 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen With smiles, firm handshakes and warm gestures, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump set a cordial, friendly tone before their historic summit. More than an hour and a half later, they emerged from their first face-to-face encounter in six years with the same genial manner. In front of reporters before the meeting in Busan, South Korea, a grinning Trump said “Good to see you again” as the two leaders shook hands. “Me too,” Xi replied through an interpreter. Trump... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330929/charm-whispers-and-pats-back-xi-and-trump-break-summit-ice-loads-warmth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330929/charm-whispers-and-pats-back-xi-and-trump-break-summit-ice-loads-warmth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:19:06 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Highly anticipated talks between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Apec summit are set for Thursday in Busan, South Korea – some 85km (53 miles) from the forum’s main events in Gyeongju – and security considerations could explain why as the two seek to make headway on issues that have strained ties. On Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry announced that Xi and Trump would meet in Busan to “exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest”. Foreign ministry... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330734/why-xi-and-trump-are-set-talk-busan-away-south-koreas-apec-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330734/why-xi-and-trump-are-set-talk-busan-away-south-koreas-apec-events?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:26:13 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen For the first time in more than a decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit South Korea next week, travelling to the historic city of Gyeongju for talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as well as to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. While the trip carries limited expectations for immediate breakthroughs, it is seen as a carefully calibrated step towards resetting strained China-South Korea ties, according to experts. Xi’s last visit in 2014, at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330223/beyond-apec-xis-south-korea-visit-signals-symbolic-restart-strained-ties-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330223/beyond-apec-xis-south-korea-visit-signals-symbolic-restart-strained-ties-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 03:00:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japan’s unstable political landscape is expected to cast doubt over its diplomatic commitments and could hinder progress in its trilateral summit with China and South Korea, analysts have observed. Uncertainties are mounting as the path to the Japanese premiership for recently elected Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi has been complicated by the abrupt exit of the LDP’s junior coalition partner, Komeito. Takaichi, aiming to be Japan’s first female prime minister, remains short of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329281/turbulent-japanese-politics-could-stall-progress-china-and-south-korea-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329281/turbulent-japanese-politics-could-stall-progress-china-and-south-korea-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The Chinese transport authorities are preparing for a major travel rush as millions take to the roads and railways at the end of the national “golden week” holiday. The annual holiday, which ends on Wednesday, is one of the busiest times of the year for travel. On Monday, the Ministry of Public Security noted that a significant increase in return traffic flow was expected on Tuesday, especially in four megacity clusters: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328044/china-braced-travel-rush-millions-head-home-end-golden-week-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328044/china-braced-travel-rush-millions-head-home-end-golden-week-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China and India have finalised a schedule to resume direct flights, with the first trips set to restart later this month as both countries cautiously ease bilateral tensions amid increasingly turbulent geopolitical headwinds. The flights will be subject to the approvals of the designated carriers based on commercial demand and “operational criteria”, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. India’s largest airline, IndiGo, said on Thursday that it would resume flights to China on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327782/china-india-direct-flights-resume-both-sides-move-cautiously-repair-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327782/china-india-direct-flights-resume-both-sides-move-cautiously-repair-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:13:55 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen A rare meeting of top US military leaders in Quantico this week sparked heated discussion on the other side of the Pacific, with Chinese media and online commenters pointing to chaos and political division. Hundreds of US generals, admirals and other senior enlisted military leaders were summoned abruptly from around the world – without advance notice of the agenda – for Tuesday’s meeting led by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, who spoke for 45 minutes, stressed the importance of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327655/maga-loyalty-test-chinese-weigh-hegseth-and-trumps-address-military-top-brass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327655/maga-loyalty-test-chinese-weigh-hegseth-and-trumps-address-military-top-brass?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:15:00 +0000 Alyssa Chen,William Zheng,Zhao Ziwen Alyssa Chen,William Zheng,Zhao Ziwen The American federal government has been effectively shut down since Wednesday after the US Congress failed to pass a bipartisan funding bill, a development that could erode the country’s image and sap the morale of its team dealing with China, according to analysts. The shutdown happened because Congress could not pass either a Democratic-backed proposal aimed at extending healthcare subsidies due to expire soon or a Republican-supported stopgap measure that would have funded the government for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327540/us-image-and-morale-china-facing-team-could-suffer-after-government-shutdown-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327540/us-image-and-morale-china-facing-team-could-suffer-after-government-shutdown-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:30:07 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beneath the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean lie small, black, potato-sized treasures – polymetallic nodules rich in valuable metals and rare earth elements – waiting to be unearthed. Strewn across the sea floor of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the coveted nodules and other forms of ocean deposits are gaining widespread attention. Yet for all their vast potential, deep-sea mining remains off-limits for now. The obstacle is not merely technological feasibility but a lack of legal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327260/why-china-struggles-us-plunges-deep-sea-mining-valuable-metals-and-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327260/why-china-struggles-us-plunges-deep-sea-mining-valuable-metals-and-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Competition, a struggling job market and immigration fears are fuelling criticism in China of the country’s new K visa programme, a scheme designed to attract foreign STEM talent. Unveiled in August and set to launch on Wednesday, the programme attracted an unexpected public backlash this week, with many voicing concerns about its potential impact on local employment and immigration. Public policy analysts said greater transparency, clearer messaging and strict oversight were needed to address... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327415/chinas-new-k-visa-meant-lure-foreign-stem-talent-instead-its-drawn-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327415/chinas-new-k-visa-meant-lure-foreign-stem-talent-instead-its-drawn-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beijing on Monday slammed US calls for its allies to impose tariffs on China over its oil trade with Russia, warning of swift retaliation if its interests are undermined. “China will take resolute countermeasures to protect its sovereignty, security, and development interests if its legitimate rights and interests are harmed,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during a regular press conference on Monday. He added that Beijing strongly rejected the imposition of illegal unilateral... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325629/china-vows-retaliation-us-tariff-threats-over-its-russian-oil-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325629/china-vows-retaliation-us-tariff-threats-over-its-russian-oil-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:40:50 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Calls this week between top American and Chinese officials are believed to have laid some of the groundwork for a visit to China by US President Donald Trump, possibly in early November. The trip could take place either before or after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, which gets under way late next month. Trade negotiations are expected to be a key part of the summit, which could take place shortly before a temporary tariff war truce expires on November 10. The White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325240/trump-trail-diplomacy-and-possible-trip-china-resolve-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325240/trump-trail-diplomacy-and-possible-trip-china-resolve-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Following two days in Tianjin for a regional bloc summit and another day of meetings with top Chinese leaders, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stood on the rostrum at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to witness a spectacular military parade. His appearance underscored Malaysia’s alignment with China’s push for a multipolar global order. Over the past week, China has showcased its growing diplomatic clout and military strength, culminating in Wednesday’s parade, which followed the two-day annual... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324221/malaysias-anwar-signals-support-chinas-global-vision-during-4-day-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324221/malaysias-anwar-signals-support-chinas-global-vision-during-4-day-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:02:33 +0000