https://www.scmp.com/rss/514957/feed Vanessa Cai is a reporter for the China desk, based in Shanghai. Previously she worked for Caixin Global in Beijing and Shanghai-based news outlet Sixth Tone. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Wu Xinbo is the dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai and a leading Chinese researcher on the US. In this interview, he analyses how shifts in US foreign policy are changing the relationship between the two countries. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, how do you assess US foreign policy and the future direction of its relations... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359456/wu-xinbo-why-trumps-america-first-foreign-policy-may-be-driving-chinas-rise https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359456/wu-xinbo-why-trumps-america-first-foreign-policy-may-be-driving-chinas-rise Sun, 05 Jul 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Wu Xinbo is the dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai and a leading Chinese researcher on the US. In this interview, he analyses how shifts in US foreign policy are changing the relationship between the two countries. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, how do you assess US foreign policy and the future direction of its relations with China? Simply put, US... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359161/sun-setting-us-dominance-world-scholar-wu-xinbo-says https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359161/sun-setting-us-dominance-world-scholar-wu-xinbo-says Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:11:35 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai As the lights dimmed in the Shanghai theatre, the string quartet struck up once more for the encore. Tina Zhang was fully drawn into the psychological thriller, but it was not until after the show that she found out that the musical was originally from South Korea. Zhang, 39, saw the official Chinese adaptation of Interview for the first time last year. “The logic was tight, the plot was well-structured and interwoven, and it was genuinely engaging,” she said. Over the past few years, a number... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3358591/why-are-chinese-audiences-going-korean-musicals-rather-western-shows https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3358591/why-are-chinese-audiences-going-korean-musicals-rather-western-shows Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Israel’s efforts to phase out American military aid signal the decline of US alliances under the demands of Washington’s “America first” position, according to a prominent Chinese international relations analyst. Zhu Zhaoyi, executive director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Peking University HSBC Business School, wrote in a commentary published on Monday that factors such as rising financial pressures had fuelled an “America first” approach that demanded Washington’s allies shoulder... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357333/how-israels-exit-us-aid-signals-wider-decline-washingtons-alliances https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357333/how-israels-exit-us-aid-signals-wider-decline-washingtons-alliances Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:18:45 +0000 Laura Zhou,Vanessa Cai Laura Zhou,Vanessa Cai The announcement of an impending Iran deal could not have been a better birthday gift for President Donald Trump – but celebrations could be short-lived if fragile details of the agreement fail to hold. Obstacles will not be easy to overcome, Chinese observers say. Any lasting framework must navigate uncertainties around the fate of Iran’s nuclear programme under its new regime, the mechanisms of sanction relief for Tehran and a rattled Israel, which has vowed to remove what Prime Minister... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357188/trump-may-get-birthday-gift-iran-deal-party-may-be-messy-and-short-lived https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357188/trump-may-get-birthday-gift-iran-deal-party-may-be-messy-and-short-lived Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:07:32 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing has warned of a resolute response to the Pentagon’s newly expanded blacklist of Chinese companies, accusing Washington of using national security as a pretext to curb the development of Chinese firms. The warning came after the US Defence Department released its updated Section 1260H list on Monday as required by American law, expanding the roster to 188 entities, up from 134 last year. The list names what the department says are “Chinese military companies” operating, directly or... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357010/china-accuses-us-power-abuse-expanded-blacklist-chinese-firms https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357010/china-accuses-us-power-abuse-expanded-blacklist-chinese-firms Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Laura Zhou,Vanessa Cai Laura Zhou,Vanessa Cai A diplomatic feud between Beijing and Tokyo appears to have spilled over to the arts, with what looks like an unofficial boycott on Japanese film, music and books. China has slapped official restrictions on tourism and trade with Japan since the row erupted in November, but so far there has been no official ban on the cultural sector. However, the Shanghai International Film Festival, which begins this Friday, does not have any Japanese films on its line-up for the first time in 20 years. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356318/has-diplomatic-feud-prompted-china-press-pause-japanese-film-and-music https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356318/has-diplomatic-feud-prompted-china-press-pause-japanese-film-and-music Mon, 08 Jun 2026 06:17:15 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai President Donald Trump’s foreign policy direction could have lasting effects on America’s alliances and global leadership, and it could also speed up the shift to a multipolar world where China plays a bigger role. That is according to Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the university on Tuesday, Wu said the Trump administration was “reshaping US foreign policy” – and it could be a turning point for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355142/america-250-how-trumps-foreign-policy-redefining-us-story https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355142/america-250-how-trumps-foreign-policy-redefining-us-story Thu, 28 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Laura Zhou,Vanessa Cai Laura Zhou,Vanessa Cai Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit this week offered China another opportunity to showcase its diplomatic weight after hosting US President Donald Trump. But behind the display of solidarity and trust, the packed trip appeared to yield few concrete gains for Moscow – notably no deals on the closely watched Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. Still, Chinese observers said the trip reflected the shared push by Beijing and Moscow for a multipolar world order, even as economic and strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354422/china-and-russia-unite-world-order-putin-departs-without-concrete-gains https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354422/china-and-russia-unite-world-order-putin-departs-without-concrete-gains Thu, 21 May 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China has rolled out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 25th visit to the country, underscoring a frequency of head-of-state diplomacy that far outpaces its engagement with the United States. Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a two-day state visit, less than a week after US President Donald Trump wrapped up his own closely watched trip to China. This marks the first time China has hosted the leaders of Russia and the US in the same month outside a multilateral... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354134/red-carpet-putin-why-china-russia-ties-outpace-beijings-engagement-washington https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354134/red-carpet-putin-why-china-russia-ties-outpace-beijings-engagement-washington Wed, 20 May 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A Chinese-made tiger’s head bag carried by Elon Musk’s young son in Beijing has prompted a wave of interest online. Musk’s six-year-old son X Æ A-Xii, dressed in a Chinese style silk jacket, was pictured carrying the brown shoulder bag with a tiger’s face when he visited the Great Hall of the People with his father in Beijing. The photo quickly went viral on Chinese social media. The Tesla boss was part of a delegation accompanying US President Donald Trump on his visit to Beijing, which ended... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353755/eye-tiger-how-elon-musks-sons-bag-became-hit-chinese-public https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353755/eye-tiger-how-elon-musks-sons-bag-became-hit-chinese-public Fri, 15 May 2026 12:34:39 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai The chandeliers glittered at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday night when Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump raised a toast to a “fantastic” summit. “It was a fantastic day, and in particular, I want to thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome ... and for so graciously hosting us on this very historic state visit,” Trump said, nearly nine years after his first presidential trip to the Chinese capital. The banquet capped a day that yielded a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353605/toast-tastes-and-tech-selfie-crowned-us-china-summit https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353605/toast-tastes-and-tech-selfie-crowned-us-china-summit Thu, 14 May 2026 14:17:36 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing should adopt a more assertive approach to global cognitive warfare, Chinese scholars said, calling for more action amid a great power rivalry. The appeal was made by Wang Wen, dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University, and Ding Zhuang, an associate research fellow at the institute, who said in a paper last week that China should improve its cognitive warfare system with strengthened “cognitive sovereignty”. “It is necessary to move beyond the traditional,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352785/china-urged-forge-spear-cognitive-warfare-amid-great-power-rivalry https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352785/china-urged-forge-spear-cognitive-warfare-amid-great-power-rivalry Thu, 07 May 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his visiting Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi voiced support for a new Gulf security framework during talks in Beijing on Wednesday, as Wang called for a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Countries in the Gulf and Middle East “should take their future into their own hands”, the top Chinese diplomat said, adding that China backed “the establishment of a regional peace and security framework led by regional countries”. “Regarding the strait issue, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352590/chinese-fm-wang-yi-calls-swift-reopening-strait-hormuz https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352590/chinese-fm-wang-yi-calls-swift-reopening-strait-hormuz Wed, 06 May 2026 07:33:23 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s diplomatic strategy has undergone a conspicuous shift, with Beijing conducting far fewer overseas state visits, opting instead to welcome a steady stream of foreign leaders to the capital. According to data compiled by the South China Morning Post, Beijing is placing greater emphasis on neighbourhood diplomacy and engagement with European middle powers. The changing dynamic reflects Beijing’s shift towards favouring high-level multilateralism, in a sign of growing confidence and an... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352060/see-you-beijing-big-shift-xis-travel-plans-and-what-it-means-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352060/see-you-beijing-big-shift-xis-travel-plans-and-what-it-means-china Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave a global cartel of major oil-exporting countries is seen to reflect a widening fracture within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The UAE announced on Tuesday that it would leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and the wider Opec+ alliance, effective on Friday. The country joined the group in 1971, though one of its emirates – Abu Dhabi – joined in 1967. The UAE’s Ministry of Infrastructure said in a statement that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351896/uaes-exit-opec-could-bring-even-bigger-trouble-chinese-expert https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351896/uaes-exit-opec-could-bring-even-bigger-trouble-chinese-expert Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China has pledged to help Myanmar’s new government to engage more with multilateral platforms and eradicate telecoms scam operations. Capping a five-day trip to Southeast Asia on the weekend, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s junta leader-turned-president, on Saturday that China “firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”. “This year marks the first year of Myanmar’s new government. Both sides should seize... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351479/china-backs-myanmars-push-ease-diplomatic-isolation-stamp-out-telecoms-scams https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351479/china-backs-myanmars-push-ease-diplomatic-isolation-stamp-out-telecoms-scams Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:37:26 +0000 Orange Wang,Vanessa Cai Orange Wang,Vanessa Cai As the United States and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, Pakistan’s strongman military chief is emerging as a major diplomatic player on the international stage. When announcing the truce, both US President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed appreciation for the diplomatic efforts of Asim Munir. Munir, who last year became Pakistan’s first ever chief of defence forces, is widely seen as the most powerful man in the country. According to one prominent Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349427/iran-deal-pakistans-strongman-munir-cements-his-role-global-diplomacy https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349427/iran-deal-pakistans-strongman-munir-cements-his-role-global-diplomacy Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:18:22 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to North Korea on Thursday for a two-day visit, according to the foreign ministry in Beijing. The visit, at the invitation of the North Korean foreign ministry, will be Wang’s first trip to North Korea since early September 2019, when he travelled to Pyongyang for three days. Earlier this year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un cemented his leadership at the latest congress of the country’s ruling party. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349369/chinese-top-envoy-wang-yi-set-north-korea-trip-first-pyongyang-visit-2019 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349369/chinese-top-envoy-wang-yi-set-north-korea-trip-first-pyongyang-visit-2019 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:18:53 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai From glimmering floral-patterned glassware to the vivid colours of intricately designed Persian carpets, artefacts from Iran have captivated visitors to a museum in northern China, where they have avoided the risks of damage in the war waged by the US and Israel. The relics, on display at the Inner Mongolia Museum in the regional capital Hohhot since December, have drawn growing attention since the start of the conflict in the Middle East and highlighted a cultural exchange that has been quietly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348939/time-war-chinese-museums-are-safe-haven-ancient-treasures-iran https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348939/time-war-chinese-museums-are-safe-haven-ancient-treasures-iran Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A Chinese fugitive suspected of drug-related crimes has been repatriated from the United States and handed to police in China, the first such case in years, according to state media. The suspect was returned to China by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) via cooperation channels between the two countries, based on information provided by Chinese narcotics control authorities, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday, citing the Ministry of Public Security. The Chinese national,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348926/beijing-hails-us-cooperation-ice-returns-suspected-drug-smuggler-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348926/beijing-hails-us-cooperation-ice-returns-suspected-drug-smuggler-china Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Vanessa Cai,William Zheng Vanessa Cai,William Zheng Donald Trump’s threat to seize Kharg Island – a key Iranian oil hub – could be a risky proposition, analysts say, given its strategic location in the Persian Gulf. The small coral island lying about 33km (21 miles) offshore handles around 90 per cent of Iran’s crude shipments. It also sits close to missile and drone ranges stationed on the Iranian mainland and about 660km (410 miles) from the now heavily fortified Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration has been considering deploying troops... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348843/how-trumps-plan-take-irans-kharg-island-could-come-unhinged https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348843/how-trumps-plan-take-irans-kharg-island-could-come-unhinged Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:28:37 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s flagship airline resumed direct flight services to Pyongyang on Monday, a symbolic and logistical development that marks warming bilateral ties and comes just weeks after passenger train services were restored for the first time in six years. The Air China flight arrived at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on Monday morning. China’s ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, and other embassy diplomats welcomed passengers at the airport, according to Chinese state news agency... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348370/china-steps-north-korea-connections-regular-beijing-pyongyang-flights-resume https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348370/china-steps-north-korea-connections-regular-beijing-pyongyang-flights-resume Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:09:20 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A prominent Chinese political scientist has cautioned Southeast Asian countries against leveraging China-US tensions for short-term benefits, saying this strategy could backfire. Speaking on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on Friday, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the school of public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said that in the context of South China Sea sovereignty disputes, the key challenge lay in how countries interpreted the China-US rivalry. “Many countries... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348238/asean-countries-warned-against-exploiting-us-china-tensions-short-term-gain https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348238/asean-countries-warned-against-exploiting-us-china-tensions-short-term-gain Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai The head of the recently launched International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) has hailed its process as a flexible and pragmatic way to resolve commercial and state-level disputes involving long-term investment. Speaking on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on Thursday, Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, IOMed’s secretary general, said mediation offered “the innate flexibility to create an infinite number of ways to resolve the dispute”, unlike arbitration and litigation that were marked by “a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348123/end-win-lose-china-backed-mediation-body-makes-pitch-boao-forum https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348123/end-win-lose-china-backed-mediation-body-makes-pitch-boao-forum Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China could lead the way in Asia in forging new pathways for plurilateral cooperation, Singapore’s prime minister has said, calling for smaller groups of like-minded countries to work together to address challenges in multilateralism. Delivering a keynote address at the Boao Forum for Asia on Thursday, Lawrence Wong also said Beijing could spearhead areas such as AI governance and play a greater role in promoting economic prosperity across Asia, noting Singapore was willing to collaborate with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347989/singapore-leader-sees-china-helping-small-groups-realise-big-results-asia https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347989/singapore-leader-sees-china-helping-small-groups-realise-big-results-asia Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:44 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A shadowy go-between known as “Aunt Mei” allegedly involved in a notorious child trafficking case has been arrested, according to police in southern China. Police in the city of Guangzhou said the woman, surnamed Xie, had been identified last year, and the case was still under investigation, state media reported on Saturday. The reports did not specify when the arrest was made. For years, police were aware an intermediary had been involved in the trafficking case, but Aunt Mei remained at large... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3347429/chinas-infamous-aunt-mei-arrested-after-decade-long-hunt-child-trafficker https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3347429/chinas-infamous-aunt-mei-arrested-after-decade-long-hunt-child-trafficker Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:16:58 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China this week announced a major crackdown on fentanyl precursors, a move widely seen as a gesture of goodwill ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit. But analysts warned that while this might address one major US grievance, it remained to be seen whether the United States would reciprocate and help the two sides move on to tackling other serious disputes, such as tariffs. The crackdown in the central province of Hubei started in December and included a raid on a company in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347368/china-offers-us-olive-branch-fentanyl-raids-ahead-possible-trump-visit https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347368/china-offers-us-olive-branch-fentanyl-raids-ahead-possible-trump-visit Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:27:39 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China and Japan’s long-standing rivalry has deep historic roots, and relations between the two have taken a significant turn for the worse in recent months. This article, the first in a three-part series, looks at how both countries are trying to turn soft power to their advantage in the battle to shape international opinion. Read the second part here. The rise of China’s soft power has been fuelled by global successes in fields ranging from gaming and films to consumer brands and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346910/why-japan-thinks-chinas-growing-cultural-clout-something-it-needs-counter https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346910/why-japan-thinks-chinas-growing-cultural-clout-something-it-needs-counter Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +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 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346923/why-trumps-china-trip-delay-could-open-door-more-substantive-results Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai In January, the US-based magazine Newsweek reported that China had started dredging sand on an obscure feature in the Paracel Islands, the disputed archipelago known as Xisha by the Chinese and Hoang Sa in Vietnam. More recent satellite images suggest that China has significantly expanded its reclamation, with the once-submerged Antelope Reef appearing to have a substantially larger surface area. The reef, one of more than 30 islands that make up the Paracels in the South China Sea, is claimed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346476/whats-important-about-antelope-reef-south-china-seas-paracel-islands https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346476/whats-important-about-antelope-reef-south-china-seas-paracel-islands Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:59:20 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Tourists, international students and foreign employees of Chinese companies could serve as grass-roots ambassadors, helping China’s story to resonate with audiences worldwide, according to one of the country’s leading political advisers. Zhang Bo, a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University who is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the suggestion on the sidelines of the annual “two sessions” meeting. Speaking to the South China Morning Post,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346313/how-china-can-win-friends-and-influencers-help-tell-countrys-story-well https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346313/how-china-can-win-friends-and-influencers-help-tell-countrys-story-well Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Professor Pan Guang has spent decades focused on Jewish studies, the Middle East and its ties with China. Among his many roles, Pan is founding director of a research centre on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. Amid recent events in Iran, how do you assess the impact on China? Will China’s “petroyuan” settlement encounter problems, and what of the risks to the Belt and Road Initiative’s infrastructure assets? Overall, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345870/how-will-iran-turmoil-affect-china-and-its-middle-east-ties-pan-guang-weighs https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345870/how-will-iran-turmoil-affect-china-and-its-middle-east-ties-pan-guang-weighs Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:18 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s top envoy to Russia has urged more transport infrastructure along the countries’ shared border to cut logistics costs and address challenges. Zhang Hanhui, Beijing’s ambassador to Moscow, said on Thursday that the two countries could explore cross-border transport corridors as major maritime logistics had been affected by sanctions. “I have suggested to the Russian side that more convenient crossings should be built along the China-Russia border, such as cross-river bridges,” Zhang said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345803/top-envoy-urges-china-russia-border-infrastructure-sanctions-stymie-transport https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345803/top-envoy-urges-china-russia-border-infrastructure-sanctions-stymie-transport Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Professor Pan Guang has spent decades focused on Jewish studies, the Middle East and its ties with China. Among his many roles, Pan is founding director of a research centre on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. Amid recent events in Iran, how do you assess the impact on China? Will China’s “petroyuan” settlement encounter problems, and what of the risks to the Belt and Road... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/world/middle-east/article/3345551/iran-wars-impact-china-limited-mideast-scholar-pan-guang-says https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/world/middle-east/article/3345551/iran-wars-impact-china-limited-mideast-scholar-pan-guang-says Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:37:36 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China will focus on economic resilience as lawmakers gather in Beijing for the country’s annual legislative session – just days before US President Donald Trump touches down in the Chinese capital. Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the National People’s Congress, outlined the NPC’s agenda on Wednesday, taking the opportunity to also stress that China will not compromise on core principles in dealing with the United States. The NPC will run for eight days from Thursday, and during the gathering, China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345464/china-vows-boost-economy-adhere-principles-ahead-two-sessions-and-trump-visit https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345464/china-vows-boost-economy-adhere-principles-ahead-two-sessions-and-trump-visit Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:03:01 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Laura Zhou,Josephine Ma,Alcott Wei,Dannie Peng Vanessa Cai,Laura Zhou,Josephine Ma,Alcott Wei,Dannie Peng Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to overthrow their government after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran early on Saturday in what the US president described as “major combat operations”. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally … obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the region or the world and attack... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3344963/israel-launches-preemptive-strike-against-iran-saying-it-seeks-remove-threats https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3344963/israel-launches-preemptive-strike-against-iran-saying-it-seeks-remove-threats Sat, 28 Feb 2026 06:46:02 +0000 Victoria Bela,Vanessa Cai Victoria Bela,Vanessa Cai Beijing has urged Chinese nationals in Iran to take security precautions as the risk of US air strikes grows, with no sign of a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme. In an advisory early on Saturday, China’s embassy in Tehran said there were “external security risks that have risen significantly” and Chinese nationals in Iran should “closely monitor changes in the security situation and strengthen their safety awareness”. Hours earlier, the foreign ministry in Beijing used similar language when it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344924/china-tells-citizens-get-out-iran-soon-possible-us-strike-fears-grow https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344924/china-tells-citizens-get-out-iran-soon-possible-us-strike-fears-grow Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:51:23 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China has been urged to build dual-use satellite application systems to increase the military use of commercial technology. The appeal by researchers from a university affiliated with the Central Military Commission – China’s highest command body – comes as space technology developed by private firms is increasingly being used for military purposes. For example, the US military has stepped up its use of technology from Elon Musk’s Starlink network and other commercial satellite companies,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343762/why-china-being-urged-integrate-commercial-space-tech-military-systems https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343762/why-china-being-urged-integrate-commercial-space-tech-military-systems Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:10:46 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Japan has released the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that Tokyo says tried to flee an inspection while in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Japan’s fisheries agency said the captain was released before 8pm on Friday after China submitted documents guaranteeing payment of bail, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday. The agency said the boat, the Qiong Dong Yu, was seized inside Japan’s EEZ off its southwestern Nagasaki prefecture on Thursday. It was ordered to stop for an inspection... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343586/tokyo-releases-captain-chinese-fishing-boat-found-japanese-eez https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343586/tokyo-releases-captain-chinese-fishing-boat-found-japanese-eez Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:29 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing has urged Tokyo to protect its crew members’ rights after Japan said it had seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain. Japanese authorities said the incident occurred on Thursday inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off its southwestern Nagasaki prefecture after the Chinese vessel allegedly tried to flee an inspection. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday that the Chinese government had consistently required the country’s fishermen to operate... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343525/beijing-and-tokyo-new-maritime-stand-after-japan-seizes-chinese-boat-holds-captain https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343525/beijing-and-tokyo-new-maritime-stand-after-japan-seizes-chinese-boat-holds-captain Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:05:18 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing has defended its travel ban on more than a dozen Philippine municipal officials that Manila said could harm ties between the two countries, after a diplomatic spat took yet another retaliatory turn. Angelica Escalona, spokeswoman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday that while Beijing had the right to ban the officials from entering China, its decision to do so was not helpful. “While preventing the entry of foreign nationals into their territory is a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343335/philippines-rebukes-china-over-travel-ban-kalayaan-officials https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343335/philippines-rebukes-china-over-travel-ban-kalayaan-officials Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:51 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Lithuania “jumped in front of the train and lost” on its decision over Taipei’s de facto embassy, the country’s prime minister said, as Vilnius became the latest European capital to seek to recalibrate ties with Beijing. In an interview with the Baltic News Service on Tuesday, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said Vilnius made a mistake in allowing the opening of a Taiwanese representative office in the capital in 2021. The move enraged Beijing, which saw the use of “Taiwanese” – rather... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342546/diplomatic-u-turn-vilnius-rues-taiwan-de-facto-embassy-row-beijing https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342546/diplomatic-u-turn-vilnius-rues-taiwan-de-facto-embassy-row-beijing Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:11:32 +0000 Dewey Sim,Vanessa Cai Dewey Sim,Vanessa Cai Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Beijing and Moscow should work together for global stability and that a “grand plan” was needed to develop ties between the two nations. The video call was the first meeting between Xi and Putin this year as both sides seek to ramp up strategic alignment amid rising global geopolitical tensions. The talks were held as Russia’s New START Treaty with the United States – a nuclear arms agreement signed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342384/xi-tells-putin-china-russia-ties-are-right-trajectory https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342384/xi-tells-putin-china-russia-ties-are-right-trajectory Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:03:51 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is unlikely to pose a credible challenge to the United Nations, analysts say. They also warn that legal ambiguity, as well as doubts over credibility and funding, make the initiative’s long-term viability uncertain. Beijing was likely to respond cautiously but might also see some advantages if Washington’s attention was diverted elsewhere, leading to China potentially taking on a more proactive role in some regional security matters, they said. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342092/trumps-peace-board-no-match-un-and-possible-boon-china-analysts-find https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342092/trumps-peace-board-no-match-un-and-possible-boon-china-analysts-find Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Zhao Ziwen,Vanessa Cai Zhao Ziwen,Vanessa Cai As the US considers taking military action over a crackdown on unrest in Iran, there has been no official response from either the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or Brics. Iran is a member of the two Beijing-backed forums for the Global South, and analysts said remaining silent on the situation could be damaging for them. But according to one expert, the Iran crisis could also lead to an expansion of security and strategic cooperation within the two blocs. US President Donald Trump has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339910/could-iran-crisis-push-global-south-blocs-deepen-security-ties https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339910/could-iran-crisis-push-global-south-blocs-deepen-security-ties Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:00:20 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China is expected to avoid direct confrontation with the United States following the assault on Venezuela, but analysts said Beijing might try to capitalise on the unease created among Latin American countries to deepen economic and diplomatic ties. Beijing had already been expanding its influence in the region through investments and trade, but these interests now face a direct challenge from Washington’s increasing assertiveness, with President Donald Trump saying the US is now “in charge” of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339069/why-china-may-want-avoid-direct-confrontation-us-after-venezuela-raid https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339069/why-china-may-want-avoid-direct-confrontation-us-after-venezuela-raid Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s influence in Latin America may be significantly tested by the US revival of the Monroe Doctrine, as Washington’s attack on Venezuela is set to have a chilling effect on the region’s engagement with Beijing, analysts warn. In a surprise precision operation on Saturday, the US military struck Venezuela, captured its leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and placed them in detention in New York. Without giving a timetable for elections, US President Donald Trump said the US would run... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338689/venezuela-crisis-how-trumps-donroe-doctrine-could-challenge-chinas-latin-america-ties https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338689/venezuela-crisis-how-trumps-donroe-doctrine-could-challenge-chinas-latin-america-ties Sun, 04 Jan 2026 15:01:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Meredith Chen Vanessa Cai,Meredith Chen Tensions over the Taiwan Strait are likely to persist in 2026, but analysts expect Washington and Beijing to manage risks to ensure that reciprocal state visits planned for the new year are not derailed. Beijing launched massive live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday, less than a fortnight after Washington announced its largest-ever arms sale to the self-ruled island. The People’s Liberation Army said the drills served as a warning to “independence forces” and against external... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338384/can-beijing-and-washington-shield-their-planned-state-visits-taiwan-tensions https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338384/can-beijing-and-washington-shield-their-planned-state-visits-taiwan-tensions Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Nearly two months after Japan’s new prime minister enraged Beijing with her remarks on Taiwan, the issue is not going away. Sanae Takaichi set off a diplomatic firestorm in November when she suggested that Japan could justify a military response if Beijing attacked Taiwan. Beijing hit back with diplomatic, economic and military pressure in a campaign analysts said reflected concerns about Japan’s assertiveness on regional security and closer ties with the US and other allies. Tensions are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:00:11 +0000