https://www.scmp.com/rss/513032/feed Khushboo Razdan is a senior correspondent based in Washington. Prior to this, she worked for the Post in New York. Before joining the team, she worked as a multimedia journalist in Beijing and New Delhi for over a decade. She is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan After avoiding much of the churn, firings and senior official turnover that marked his first term, US President Donald Trump on Thursday added to the string of high-profile departures in recent days, as bad news heaped more pressure on the White House. The administration announced that US Attorney General Pam Bondi was leaving to be replaced by her deputy, Todd Blanche, in an acting capacity. “We love Pam,” Trump wrote on social media. “She will be transitioning to a much-needed and important... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348858/trump-fires-pam-bondi-us-attorney-general-amid-epstein-files-furore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348858/trump-fires-pam-bondi-us-attorney-general-amid-epstein-files-furore?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:20:46 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Direct trade between China and the United States continues its shrinking trend, new US government data showed on Thursday, as the anniversary of “Liberation Day” highlights how last year’s tariff escalations deepened tensions between the two global powers. The figures come ahead of a planned leaders’ meeting in Beijing next month, where both sides are expected to explore ways to stabilise relations after a period of renewed economic strain, and just hours before he announced a fresh set of... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348857/trump-tariffs-cast-shadow-us-china-trade-shrinks-ahead-leaders-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348857/trump-tariffs-cast-shadow-us-china-trade-shrinks-ahead-leaders-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:25:26 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared the US‑Israel war against Iran had delivered “decisive, overwhelming victories”, even as he signalled that key military objectives were still “nearing completion” and that further strikes could inflict heavy damage on targets in the country. “We are going to hit them extremely hard. Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing,” he said in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348727/trump-declares-decisive-overwhelming-victory-iran-war-signals-end-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348727/trump-declares-decisive-overwhelming-victory-iran-war-signals-end-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:22:04 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A federal judge has revoked the US citizenship of a naturalised married couple from China after their 2021 convictions for stealing sensitive medical trade secrets and sharing them with China, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Tuesday. On March 30, federal Judge James E. Simmons Jr. of California’s Southern District ordered the denaturalisation of Li Chen and Yu Zhou, ruling their crimes showed a lack of the “good moral character” required for American citizenship. Chen and Zhou... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348592/couple-convicted-stealing-trade-secrets-china-loses-us-citizenship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348592/couple-convicted-stealing-trade-secrets-china-loses-us-citizenship?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:58:41 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Washington’s top trade negotiator suggested on Tuesday that, in a break from usual practice, members of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet will not visit Beijing ahead of the expected mid-May summit with President Xi Jinping to prepare or discuss deliverables. “I don’t think we’re going to need to do that,” Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television when asked about meeting his Chinese counterparts soon, ahead of the much-anticipated leaders’... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348590/trump-xi-summit-us-trade-chief-casts-doubt-pre-meeting-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348590/trump-xi-summit-us-trade-chief-casts-doubt-pre-meeting-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:19:16 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,Khushboo Razdan Shi Jiangtao,Khushboo Razdan China said on Tuesday it would enhance “strategic coordination” with Pakistan on the Iran crisis to promote dialogue and help end the conflict as Islamabad’s top diplomat Ishaq Dar arrived in Beijing. Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Dar to discuss ways to de-escalate regional tensions and to formally launch a joint five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East. Key points of the plan include a call for an immediate ceasefire, a halt to attacks on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348571/china-pledges-strategic-coordination-pakistan-help-end-us-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348571/china-pledges-strategic-coordination-pakistan-help-end-us-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:05:51 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan As US President Donald Trump heads to a delayed, high-stakes mid-May summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, he is already claiming victory, touting on Friday past trade talks with Xi as a win for American farmers, a crucial electoral bloc battered by his tariffs and the ongoing war with Iran. “Thanks to our trade deals, you’re now sending over US$40 billion in American soybeans to China,” Trump said on Friday, telling farmers and ranchers at the White House he personally secured the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348219/trump-pitches-china-trade-win-us-farmers-ahead-xi-meeting-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348219/trump-pitches-china-trade-win-us-farmers-ahead-xi-meeting-midterms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:21:27 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump denied on Thursday that he was desperate for a deal with Iran, swinging between threats and diplomacy, while presenting a series of “boats of oil” that reportedly made it through the blocked Strait of Hormuz as an Iranian “gift” – a reveal that he teased a day earlier. This comes as the war he and Israel launched against Iran approaches the one-month mark with little end in sight, driving oil prices up globally and further unsettling the global economy. “I read a story... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348058/trump-claims-iran-begging-make-deal-teases-new-aid-farmers-amid-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348058/trump-claims-iran-begging-make-deal-teases-new-aid-farmers-amid-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:59:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier After weeks of speculation and behind-the-scenes intrigue over the delayed summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, the White House announced on Wednesday new dates for the long-anticipated, high-stakes meeting. “I’m pleased to announce that President Trump’s … long-awaited meeting with President Xi in China will now take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. In a social media post, Trump described Xi as “the highly respected... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347914/xi-trump-summit-white-house-locks-new-dates-may?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347914/xi-trump-summit-white-house-locks-new-dates-may?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:46:14 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The United States will face a “critical shortage” of China expertise within a decade that threatens to leave policymakers struggling to manage Washington’s most consequential strategic relationship, a report said on Monday. As China experts retire and the number of Americans studying in China sharply declines, the resulting talent gap presents a “national security and an economic competitiveness” problem, warned the report by an expert working group of the Washington-based non-profit US-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3347644/us-faces-critical-shortage-china-expertise-within-decade-report-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3347644/us-faces-critical-shortage-china-expertise-within-decade-report-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:53:43 +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 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Allies of exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi are signalling a potential reset in Tehran’s ties with China and Russia, even as the 65-year-old increasingly positions himself as a central figure in Iran’s political future – a claim that contrasts with Washington’s more cautious stance. Speaking at a media briefing in Washington on Thursday, Pahlavi’s chief of staff, Cameron Khansarinia, dismissed Beijing’s mediation efforts in the ongoing conflict, arguing that the current Iranian leadership was... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3347224/peacock-thrones-gambit-irans-reza-pahlavi-plans-flip-script-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3347224/peacock-thrones-gambit-irans-reza-pahlavi-plans-flip-script-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:33:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary 60-day suspension of the Jones Act, the century-old law that mandates cargo moving between domestic ports be transported on vessels built, operated and staffed by American citizens or permanent residents. The move comes in response to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a key chokepoint – amid the escalating US-Israeli war against Iran, which has triggered the most severe global oil supply disruption in recent history. The waiver allows... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3347081/trump-issues-60-day-jones-act-waiver-amid-fuel-crunch-and-us-israel-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3347081/trump-issues-60-day-jones-act-waiver-amid-fuel-crunch-and-us-israel-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:25:53 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen China said Tuesday it remained “in communication” with the United States over President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, after Trump said he had requested a delay of about a month because of the ongoing war with Iran. “China and the US are in communication on the timing of President Trump’s visit to China,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said when asked to comment on Trump’s remarks about the much-anticipated visit. When pressed further about what dates were under discussion, Lin said he... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3346807/trump-pressures-china-over-hormuz-experts-see-possible-delay-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3346807/trump-pressures-china-over-hormuz-experts-see-possible-delay-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:30:00 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Khushboo Razdan,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Khushboo Razdan,Ji Siqi China and the United States will hold a new round of high-level trade talks in Paris at the end of next week, according to sources from both sides, as preparations press on for US President Donald Trump’s visit to China. Led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, the two delegations will meet in the French capital to discuss trade and investment deals – including on tariffs, investment, soybeans and rare earths – that would be presented as deliverables... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345336/china-and-us-hold-high-level-trade-talks-paris-trumps-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345336/china-and-us-hold-high-level-trade-talks-paris-trumps-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:25:27 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Khushboo Razdan Teresa Elena Frontado,Khushboo Razdan The United States and Israel’s military campaign against Iran entered a more volatile phase on Sunday, with Washington reporting its first casualties, Tehran widening retaliatory strikes across the region, and energy markets bracing for shock after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict – triggered by US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader and senior officials – is rapidly reshaping regional security calculations and global economic outlooks. Here are five key... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345060/5-takeaways-first-2-days-us-israel-war-against-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345060/5-takeaways-first-2-days-us-israel-war-against-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:25:23 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Teresa Elena Frontado Khushboo Razdan,Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump vowed to press ahead with a sweeping military campaign against Iran until US objectives are fully achieved, warning that additional American casualties were likely even as Washington intensified what he described as one of the largest offensives in modern history. “Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said in a video posted on social media, referring to the deaths of three US service members confirmed earlier by the US Central Command. “That’s the way... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3345054/pentagon-confirms-three-american-deaths-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3345054/pentagon-confirms-three-american-deaths-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:21:58 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin,Teresa Elena Frontado,Wendy Wu,Laura Zhou,Zhuang Pinghui Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin,Teresa Elena Frontado,Wendy Wu,Laura Zhou,Zhuang Pinghui Iran has confirmed the death of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US and Israeli air strikes on the weekend, raising questions for the next leader of a country in a region bracing for further attacks. US President Donald Trump called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history” and said the strikes delivered justice for Iranians, Americans and others “killed or mutilated” by him. As the US and Israeli attacks on Iran entered a second day, Tehran declared a seven-day public... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3344994/global-powers-divided-china-expresses-deep-concern-over-us-israel-strikes-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3344994/global-powers-divided-china-expresses-deep-concern-over-us-israel-strikes-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:48:19 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan In Washington, a city often in the spotlight for domestic and international politics, Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham views his instrument as a platform that can bridge cultures, transcend politics and connect people across borders. At 28, fresh from a landmark international competition victory, Sham is building a global career where his music often speaks louder than diplomacy. On Wednesday, just before stepping onto the stage at the US capital’s Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium for a Year of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344943/hong-kong-pianist-aristo-sham-brings-music-and-message-openness-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344943/hong-kong-pianist-aristo-sham-brings-music-and-message-openness-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:54:49 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A former fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, once entrusted with flying some of America’s most advanced combat aircraft, has been arrested for allegedly training pilots from China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) without authorisation, the US Department of Justice said. In a press release on Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that 65-year-old Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., also known by his call sign “Runner”, was taken into custody in Jeffersonville, Indiana,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344792/former-us-air-force-fighter-pilot-accused-secretly-training-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344792/former-us-air-force-fighter-pilot-accused-secretly-training-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:19:03 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin Just hours apart on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, two congressional hearings laid bare the United States’ calibrated yet deeply sceptical approach to China, with senior officials stressing the pursuit of stable ties without trust and highlighting alleged Chinese efforts to steal or circumvent US technology restrictions. The officials’ appearances before Congress reflected bipartisan concern and underscored persistent tensions over trade and advanced technologies such as semiconductors, ahead of US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344521/us-seeks-healthy-trade-relations-china-does-not-trust-it-lawmakers-clarify?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344521/us-seeks-healthy-trade-relations-china-does-not-trust-it-lawmakers-clarify?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:40 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen As US President Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing from March 31 to April 2, analysts say recent American policy reversals, including a Supreme Court ruling striking down broad tariffs, have shifted trade tensions into a phase of cautious stability rather than escalation. The legal setback has strengthened China’s negotiating position, bolstered by lowered effective tariffs, its leverage over critical minerals like rare earths, and a more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344388/us-tariff-ruling-points-steadier-us-china-ties-ahead-april-summit-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344388/us-tariff-ruling-points-steadier-us-china-ties-ahead-april-summit-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:49:08 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han,Xinmei Shen,Lucy Quaggin,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han,Xinmei Shen,Lucy Quaggin,Mark Magnier In a consequential decision with billions of dollars on the line, the US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a lower-court ruling striking down President Donald Trump’s tariffs, coming just as the White House confirmed his visit to Beijing from March 31 to April 2. The South China Morning Post had exclusively reported the trip dates last week. By invalidating tariffs imposed under emergency presidential powers, the decision removes a powerful tool the White House had used to pressure Beijing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3344180/us-supreme-court-rules-trumps-tariffs-unlawful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3344180/us-supreme-court-rules-trumps-tariffs-unlawful?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:06:49 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The US trade imbalance widened sharply in December 2025, highlighting continued challenges in America’s economic relationship with the world and with key economic competitor China, according to a release from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis on Thursday. For the full year 2025, the US recorded a goods and services trade deficit of US$901.5 billion, a modest decline of 0.2 per cent from 2024, one of the largest since 1960. The total goods and services deficit in 2024 was US$903.5 billion, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3344047/us-trade-deficit-widens-sharply-december-testing-trump-tariff-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3344047/us-trade-deficit-widens-sharply-december-testing-trump-tariff-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:03:54 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the UK’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, warning the deal could create strategic vulnerabilities amid concerns about China’s growing ties with Mauritius. The deal, finalised in 2025 between Britain and Mauritius, would see Britain transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease to maintain full operational control of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343944/trump-flip-flops-again-saying-uks-chagos-deal-would-be-big-mistake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343944/trump-flip-flops-again-saying-uks-chagos-deal-would-be-big-mistake?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:19:43 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A bipartisan chorus of lawmakers and national security experts in Washington is calling on the administration of US President Donald Trump to convene a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue leaders’ summit ahead of Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in April. The push aims to project a unified front among Indo-Pacific democracies and prevent potential misunderstandings during high-stakes negotiations with Beijing. The Quad, an informal grouping that also includes Japan and... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3343854/bipartisan-push-grows-quad-summit-trumps-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3343854/bipartisan-push-grows-quad-summit-trumps-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:18:25 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Hasan Piker knew his first trip to China would provoke backlash. What he did not expect was how quickly the debate would collapse into a binary: propaganda or patriotism. The live-streamer, and one of the most influential political commentators on the left among young Americans, travelled to China last year and live-streamed his experiences to over 3 million followers across platforms, including Twitch and YouTube. Clips of his visit circulated widely, some carried by Chinese state-linked... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3343845/hasan-piker-talks-about-his-controversial-china-trip-and-thinking-chinese-thoughts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3343845/hasan-piker-talks-about-his-controversial-china-trip-and-thinking-chinese-thoughts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:30:31 +0000 Xinmei Shen,Khushboo Razdan,Vincent Chow Xinmei Shen,Khushboo Razdan,Vincent Chow In a move that escalates tensions between Beijing and Washington just weeks ahead of US President Donald Trump’s anticipated trip to Beijing, the Pentagon added a wide range of Chinese companies to a list of firms with alleged links to the military before withdrawing the document. Giants like Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu and BYD are among the firms added to the list. Alibaba is the parent company of the South China Morning Post. The updated designation also names firms spanning the biotech, AI,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343540/pentagon-adds-chinese-firms-military-list-then-withdraws-filing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343540/pentagon-adds-chinese-firms-military-list-then-withdraws-filing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:36:23 +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 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Senior diplomats from China and India met in New Delhi on Tuesday for what Beijing described as a new round of strategic dialogue, emphasising the need to view each other as partners rather than competitors amid shifting global dynamics. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hosted China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who was in the country for the Brics Sherpa Meeting from February 8 to 10. The two sides’ readouts of the meeting, however, revealed a persistent gap in how the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3343113/china-and-india-seek-reset-talks-old-fault-lines-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3343113/china-and-india-seek-reset-talks-old-fault-lines-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:16:30 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Just days after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held a two-hour phone call aimed at stabilising bilateral ties, the US confirmed it would play an active role at this year’s first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) senior officials’ meetings in Guangzhou, signalling intensified engagement with Beijing. The US State Department announced on Friday that a “team of experts”, led by senior US official Casey Mace and Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3342737/us-steps-apec-role-after-xi-trump-call-ties-china-show-signs-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3342737/us-steps-apec-role-after-xi-trump-call-ties-china-show-signs-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:10:15 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A senior US official on Thursday defended Washington’s new critical minerals push, telling the South China Morning Post that supply chain diversification is a national security measure, not an attempt to form an exclusive bloc as Beijing has claimed. Deputy State Department spokeswoman Mignon Houston, speaking a day after the launch of the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement, or Forge, described the US-led global coordination of strategic minerals as a “prudent step”. She sidestepped... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3342574/us-defends-new-minerals-alliance-rejecting-claims-it-targets-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3342574/us-defends-new-minerals-alliance-rejecting-claims-it-targets-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:15:54 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan In a direct challenge to Beijing’s decades-long grip on the hi-tech economy, the United States on Wednesday sought to rally more than 50 countries and the European Union around a landmark framework to loosen China’s control over the global critical minerals trade. “This morning, the Trump administration is proposing a concrete mechanism to return the global critical minerals market to a healthier, more competitive state,” US Vice-President J.D. Vance said in his opening remarks at the inaugural... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3342433/washington-pitches-critical-minerals-plan-allies-counter-beijings-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3342433/washington-pitches-critical-minerals-plan-allies-counter-beijings-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:23:06 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan China’s leader Xi Jinping spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone on Wednesday, just hours after a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Chinese readout, Xi told Trump that the Taiwan question was the “most important” issue in China-US relations, stressing that the island was Chinese territory and that Beijing would never allow it to be separated. Xi said China must safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged Washington to handle... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342409/hours-after-call-vladimir-putin-xi-jinping-talks-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342409/hours-after-call-vladimir-putin-xi-jinping-talks-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:46:59 +0000 Xinmei Shen,Khushboo Razdan Xinmei Shen,Khushboo Razdan The White House’s top trade official has accused Beijing of “weaponising” its dominance in critical minerals, pledging that the US will use pricing, tariffs, and industrial policy to ensure its entire critical minerals supply chain is in the hands of America and its allies. Speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Tuesday, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the US needed to mine, process and refine critical minerals, and called on its allies to do... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342305/top-us-trade-official-spells-out-plan-break-chinas-grip-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342305/top-us-trade-official-spells-out-plan-break-chinas-grip-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 02:13:26 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan After more than a year of haggling, US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a major trade deal between Washington and New Delhi that significantly de-escalates economic tensions between the two nations. A White House official confirmed to the South China Morning Post that the deal will remove the 25 per cent punitive Russia oil tariffs. Trump in a social media post earlier said that he held a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He [Modi] agreed to stop buying Russian Oil,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3342155/trump-lifts-russia-related-oil-tariffs-india-under-new-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3342155/trump-lifts-russia-related-oil-tariffs-india-under-new-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:12 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Seeking to blunt China’s dominance over critical minerals that underpin hi-tech manufacturing, the administration of US President Donald Trump is rolling out a slate of measures this week aimed at reducing US reliance on Beijing. A White House official confirmed to the South China Morning Post that Trump has launched a US$12 billion public-private initiative to build a large commercial stockpile of critical minerals titled “Project Vault”. The project is being billed as a strategic reserve... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3342151/trump-administration-unveil-12-billion-push-curb-chinas-grip-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3342151/trump-administration-unveil-12-billion-push-curb-chinas-grip-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:33:37 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Igor Patrick Khushboo Razdan,Igor Patrick Washington on Friday welcomed a Panamanian court ruling cancelling a contract held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two ports along the Panama Canal, a decision seen as a boost to the United States’ efforts to counter Chinese influence in the western hemisphere. The reaction came as Panama’s government sought to reassure workers and investors on the ground that trade and jobs would not be affected. “The United States is encouraged by the recent Panamanian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3341908/us-hails-panama-high-court-ruling-against-ck-hutchisons-ports-concession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3341908/us-hails-panama-high-court-ruling-against-ck-hutchisons-ports-concession?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:06:42 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A key US congressional panel on Thursday advanced four Taiwan-related bills aimed at strengthening the island’s energy security, communications resilience and diplomatic influence as lawmakers ramp up efforts to counter Beijing ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected visit to China in April. The move by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee reflects a broader trend in Congress, where support for Taiwan often exceeds the administration’s position. Thursday’s coordinated action on the bills... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341749/senate-bills-remind-trump-taiwan-remains-priority-key-xi-meeting-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341749/senate-bills-remind-trump-taiwan-remains-priority-key-xi-meeting-april?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:29:52 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan After a bruising 2025 that pushed him to the brink of bankruptcy, Arkansas soybean farmer Randall Shelby starts the new year worried that US farmers could once again be caught in the crossfire as tensions between Washington and Beijing threaten to escalate anew. This comes as US President Donald Trump addressed farmers on Tuesday in Iowa, the United States’ second-largest soybean producer, to try to convince them that he has their best interests at heart in advance of the November midterm... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3341313/us-soybean-farmers-fear-china-trade-blowback-trump-ramps-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3341313/us-soybean-farmers-fear-china-trade-blowback-trump-ramps-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions with Canada, Washington’s closest ally and second-largest trading partner, on Saturday by threatening to impose 100 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the United States. Canada fired back quickly, stressing that there is no pursuit of a free-trade agreement with China, framing recent moves as steps to resolve tariff disputes and bolster the Canadian economy, which was “under threat from abroad”. In a series of social media posts,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3341127/trump-threatens-canada-100-cent-tariff-over-possible-china-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3341127/trump-threatens-canada-100-cent-tariff-over-possible-china-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:23:14 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han A move to curb US President Donald Trump’s power to sell advanced AI chips to China moved a step closer on Wednesday when a Republican-led congressional panel joined hands with their Democratic counterparts, brushing aside objections from the White House and chip giant Nvidia. The action has put Representative Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on a collision course with Trump’s top AI adviser David Sacks and drawn sharp criticism from Maga-aligned... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340751/trumps-decision-sell-ai-chips-china-under-pressure-house-bill-against-deal-advances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340751/trumps-decision-sell-ai-chips-china-under-pressure-house-bill-against-deal-advances?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:14:09 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen There was moderate relief after US President Donald Trump walked back his threat to take Greenland by force on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, but also concern among critics and lawmakers that his speech was little more than a diversion at a time of significant global peril. Attendees watching in the Davos Congress Centre and millions tuned in around the world received a full dose of unfettered Trump as, during his 70-minute speech, he slammed Nato member Denmark for not... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3340748/trumps-freewheeling-davos-speech-draws-unease-allies-and-critics-alike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3340748/trumps-freewheeling-davos-speech-draws-unease-allies-and-critics-alike?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:44:53 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,Holly Chik Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,Holly Chik Following what he called a “very productive” meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States has established the framework for a future agreement concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region. “This solution, if finalised, will be a great one for the United States of America and all Nato nations,” Trump said on Wednesday, adding that, based on this understanding, he will not impose the tariffs originally scheduled for February... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340743/donald-trumps-davos-speech-greenland-plan-xi-friendship-chinas-smart-energy-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340743/donald-trumps-davos-speech-greenland-plan-xi-friendship-chinas-smart-energy-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:48:42 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Blending economic nationalism with geopolitical leverage, US President Donald Trump’s top trade official delivered a pointed message to Taiwan shortly after Washington announced an ambitious deal on Thursday to bring critical technology manufacturing, including semiconductors, back to the United States. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the massive reshoring initiative as not just a business transaction, but as a strategic imperative for Taiwan to maintain favour with the “America... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3340075/lutnick-warns-taiwan-keep-trump-happy-us500-billion-chip-deal-draws-china-rebuke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3340075/lutnick-warns-taiwan-keep-trump-happy-us500-billion-chip-deal-draws-china-rebuke?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:52:49 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump has put allies and trade partners on notice, invoking national security powers to ease China’s chokehold on critical minerals, warning global suppliers to negotiate agreements to secure reliable, diversified supplies for the US or face new trade barriers, including tariffs. In a proclamation signed on Wednesday, the “America first” president declared that the US’ reliance on foreign-processed critical minerals poses a national security threat. He directed US Trade... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339939/trump-sets-180-day-deadline-counter-chinas-control-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339939/trump-sets-180-day-deadline-counter-chinas-control-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:09:22 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The administration of US President Donald Trump is suspending the processing of immigrant visas, including family-based green cards, for applicants from dozens of countries, the US State Department has confirmed to the Post. “The State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries,” an official from the agency said on Wednesday. China is not included in the list, which has countries like Thailand, a US ally, and Brazil, a close neighbour in the western hemisphere, along with... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3339928/us-halts-visas-75-countries-china-not-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3339928/us-halts-visas-75-countries-china-not-list?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:57:23 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Khushboo Razdan Lucy Quaggin,Khushboo Razdan Australia’s former prime minister and a prominent China scholar, Kevin Rudd, will step down as ambassador to the United States a year ahead of schedule, a move some analysts say underscores a fundamental shift in how Canberra must navigate a Washington increasingly centred on the personal rapport with US President Donald Trump. The resignation follows a period of heightened friction between Rudd and Trump, punctuated by the “America first” leader’s blunt public declaration in October 2025 that... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339796/not-trump-compatible-china-expert-rudd-exits-australias-us-ambassador-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339796/not-trump-compatible-china-expert-rudd-exits-australias-us-ambassador-role?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:28:45 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump on Monday announced sweeping new tariffs targeting nations maintaining commercial ties with Iran. Effective immediately, the US would impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods and services imported from any country that “does business” with Iran, Trump said in a social media post. The US president characterised the order as “final and conclusive”. “Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339654/trump-says-countries-trade-iran-will-face-25-cent-tariffs-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339654/trump-says-countries-trade-iran-will-face-25-cent-tariffs-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:54:33 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan The US Commerce Department has revoked a plan to slap restrictions on Chinese drones, originally proposed to address national security concerns, the latest example of the Donald Trump administration avoiding actions that might fuel tensions ahead of a planned summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping this spring. “This decision underscores President Trump’s desire to sustain the trade framework that he and President Xi approved this past October and ensure a cordial meeting between the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339412/us-commerce-department-drops-plan-crack-down-chinese-drones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3339412/us-commerce-department-drops-plan-crack-down-chinese-drones?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:45:18 +0000