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.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348939/time-war-chinese-museums-are-safe-haven-ancient-treasures-iran?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348926/beijing-hails-us-cooperation-ice-returns-suspected-drug-smuggler-china?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348843/how-trumps-plan-take-irans-kharg-island-could-come-unhinged?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348370/china-steps-north-korea-connections-regular-beijing-pyongyang-flights-resume?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348238/asean-countries-warned-against-exploiting-us-china-tensions-short-term-gain?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348123/end-win-lose-china-backed-mediation-body-makes-pitch-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347989/singapore-leader-sees-china-helping-small-groups-realise-big-results-asia?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3347429/chinas-infamous-aunt-mei-arrested-after-decade-long-hunt-child-trafficker?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347368/china-offers-us-olive-branch-fentanyl-raids-ahead-possible-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346910/why-japan-thinks-chinas-growing-cultural-clout-something-it-needs-counter?utm_source=rss_feed 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?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 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346476/whats-important-about-antelope-reef-south-china-seas-paracel-islands?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346313/how-china-can-win-friends-and-influencers-help-tell-countrys-story-well?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345870/how-will-iran-turmoil-affect-china-and-its-middle-east-ties-pan-guang-weighs?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345803/top-envoy-urges-china-russia-border-infrastructure-sanctions-stymie-transport?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/world/middle-east/article/3345551/iran-wars-impact-china-limited-mideast-scholar-pan-guang-says?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345464/china-vows-boost-economy-adhere-principles-ahead-two-sessions-and-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3344963/israel-launches-preemptive-strike-against-iran-saying-it-seeks-remove-threats?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344924/china-tells-citizens-get-out-iran-soon-possible-us-strike-fears-grow?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343762/why-china-being-urged-integrate-commercial-space-tech-military-systems?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343586/tokyo-releases-captain-chinese-fishing-boat-found-japanese-eez?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343525/beijing-and-tokyo-new-maritime-stand-after-japan-seizes-chinese-boat-holds-captain?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343335/philippines-rebukes-china-over-travel-ban-kalayaan-officials?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342546/diplomatic-u-turn-vilnius-rues-taiwan-de-facto-embassy-row-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342384/xi-tells-putin-china-russia-ties-are-right-trajectory?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342092/trumps-peace-board-no-match-un-and-possible-boon-china-analysts-find?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339910/could-iran-crisis-push-global-south-blocs-deepen-security-ties?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339069/why-china-may-want-avoid-direct-confrontation-us-after-venezuela-raid?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338689/venezuela-crisis-how-trumps-donroe-doctrine-could-challenge-chinas-latin-america-ties?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338384/can-beijing-and-washington-shield-their-planned-state-visits-taiwan-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to consolidate their ceasefire and restore exchanges after trilateral talks held in China. The three sides had “in-depth exchanges on working step by step through mutual efforts to resume normal exchanges, rebuild political mutual trust, improve Cambodia-Thailand relations and safeguard regional stability”, according to Beijing’s foreign ministry. The ministry issued the statement following a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Thai counterpart... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338056/cambodia-and-thailand-agree-resume-exchanges-after-three-way-meeting-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338056/cambodia-and-thailand-agree-resume-exchanges-after-three-way-meeting-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:59:53 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Vanessa Cai Khushboo Razdan,Vanessa Cai As 2025 draws to a close amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over new arms sales to Taiwan, analysts warn that the worsening atmosphere could weigh on the substance – if not the scheduling – of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China next year to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Washington’s announcement last week of a US$11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, the largest to date, has sharpened frictions at a sensitive moment, making it less likely that Beijing will... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337856/record-taiwan-arms-deal-casts-shadow-over-trumps-2026-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3337856/record-taiwan-arms-deal-casts-shadow-over-trumps-2026-beijing-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:46:59 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai The US needs a more nuanced understanding of China to avoid policy missteps that hamper efforts to build trust between the two countries, a leading international relations professor has warned. Many scholars tended to interpret China primarily through an American lens, using frameworks designed to make sense of US politics and society, Diao Daming, from Renmin University, told a seminar last week. “Some view China simply as another superpower, assuming it follows the same logic as the US and can... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337370/too-many-us-researchers-are-looking-china-through-american-lens-professor-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337370/too-many-us-researchers-are-looking-china-through-american-lens-professor-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:33:31 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai For more than half a century, giant pandas have helped serve as ambassadors for China around the world, but their time in Japan appears to be drawing to a close with the last two in the country set to return next month. Hopes of receiving new ones soon appear dim given the tensions between the two countries. Tokyo’s metropolitan government has reportedly been in talks with China about receiving new pandas, but there is no sign of agreement in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337150/bearly-any-time-left-japans-panda-lovers-row-china-threatens-loan-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337150/bearly-any-time-left-japans-panda-lovers-row-china-threatens-loan-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 06:00:14 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing has accused Manila of organising a “premeditated” provocation and dangerous manoeuvres near a disputed reef in the South China Sea, and Washington of making false statements that have escalated tensions in the region. Manila said Philippine fishing boats near Sabina Shoal had been targeted with water cannons by Chinese coastguard ships in an incident on Friday, while Beijing said Philippine personnel had threatened Chinese officers with knives. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336509/china-accuses-philippines-premeditated-provocations-near-sabina-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336509/china-accuses-philippines-premeditated-provocations-near-sabina-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:14:14 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Alcott Wei Vanessa Cai,Alcott Wei China and the Philippines have been involved in further stand-offs in the South China Sea, potentially undercutting efforts to put their relationship back on an even keel. China’s military said on Friday it had expelled several small Philippine aircraft from the waters over Scarborough Shoal, one of the main flashpoints between the two countries. The South China Sea reef, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is controlled by Beijing but also claimed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336197/differences-should-be-exception-rather-norm-china-and-philippines-marcos-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336197/differences-should-be-exception-rather-norm-china-and-philippines-marcos-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 07:26:10 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang A month after her comments on Taiwan set off a diplomatic firestorm with Beijing, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tokyo would “closely monitor” the situation and respond appropriately. Takaichi delivered these remarks during a Tuesday morning Diet session, while addressing a draft supplementary budget to fund her administration’s comprehensive economic package. On concerns about the economic impact from Beijing’s countermeasures – which have included a travel alert, a seafood import... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335713/tokyo-closely-monitoring-backlash-china-japanese-pm-tells-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335713/tokyo-closely-monitoring-backlash-china-japanese-pm-tells-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:14:24 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Competing priorities and US economic interests are likely to challenge Washington in its goal of “deterring a conflict over Taiwan” through an overwhelming military advantage, according to experts. The strategic goal was laid out in the White House’s latest National Security Strategy report released on Friday. While the report said the western hemisphere and domestic security were Washington’s top concerns, it also noted that “Taiwan provides direct access to the second island chain and splits... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335465/what-could-challenge-washingtons-latest-strategic-goal-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335465/what-could-challenge-washingtons-latest-strategic-goal-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Major Chinese airlines have extended their offer of full refunds for flights to Japan for another three months, as the heated diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo shows no signs of easing. On Friday, Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – the country’s largest state-owned carriers – along with several others, including Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Spring Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, issued statements allowing free ticket refunds or itinerary changes for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335410/major-chinese-airlines-extend-full-refund-offers-japan-bound-flights-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335410/major-chinese-airlines-extend-full-refund-offers-japan-bound-flights-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:50:29 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Tokyo is considering exporting a missile system to the Philippines as it seeks to ease its weapons-export restrictions, Japanese media reported – a move likely to draw criticism from Beijing. The missile system, dubbed Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile, is of the same type that Tokyo plans to deploy on Yonaguni, an island only 110 kilometres (68 miles) away from Taiwan. Beijing has blasted the deployment on Yonaguni as “extremely dangerous”. Kyodo News reported on Sunday that Japan has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334815/beijing-bristles-japan-weighs-missile-export-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334815/beijing-bristles-japan-weighs-missile-export-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:23:00 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai The diplomatic crisis over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan shows no sign of easing after two weeks, with mainland Chinese commentators predicting Beijing will continue to push for a retraction. However, that demand appears unlikely to be met in the short term, and one diplomatic analyst warned that the pressure tactics should aim to avoid a nationalist backlash within Japan and win support for Beijing’s position. The Chinese foreign ministry and state media stepped... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334394/why-beijing-unlikely-ease-pressure-japan-over-takaichis-comments-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334394/why-beijing-unlikely-ease-pressure-japan-over-takaichis-comments-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:03:09 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing intensified its pressure on Tokyo and demanded a clear declaration of its stance on the one-China principle as the two countries continued to clash on Wednesday over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. On Tuesday, the Japanese cabinet adopted a written response to a lawmaker’s question about Takaichi’s remarks, noting that they “do not change the government’s consistent position”. Such statements were “far from enough”, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334263/beijing-demands-clarity-japan-one-china-principle-diplomatic-row-escalates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334263/beijing-demands-clarity-japan-one-china-principle-diplomatic-row-escalates?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:07:13 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang Vanessa Cai,Orange Wang US President Donald Trump’s phone calls with both his Chinese and Japanese counterparts this week suggest Washington is engaged in a delicate balancing act over the Taiwan issue. These high-level communications are also intended as a message to Japan, and other US allies, that Taiwan is not a top priority for the Trump administration and should not disrupt the stabilisation of Sino-American ties, according to diplomatic observers. On Tuesday morning, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334139/trumps-calls-xi-and-takaichi-hint-he-wont-let-taiwan-derail-beijing-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334139/trumps-calls-xi-and-takaichi-hint-he-wont-let-taiwan-derail-beijing-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:57:13 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Footage of a Japanese diplomat appearing to bow to his Chinese counterpart following their talks in Beijing on Tuesday has prompted a complaint from Tokyo that it was not informed about media filming after the meeting. It comes amid a diplomatic feud between Beijing and Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. Tuesday’s meeting between China’s Asian affairs chief Liu Jinsong and his Japanese counterpart Masaaki Kanai ended without consensus. The video of Liu and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333530/tokyo-complains-over-video-diplomat-appearing-bow-chinese-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333530/tokyo-complains-over-video-diplomat-appearing-bow-chinese-official?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:14 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Fans of Japanese singer-songwriter Kokia were disappointed on Wednesday night when a “last-minute technical issue” forced the cancellation of a concert in Beijing. The organiser of the event apologised on Thursday for one of a series of Japanese cultural events that have been cancelled or delayed since China and Japan became embroiled in a diplomatic row this month. “This should have been announced earlier! People waited for an hour and a half, and many came from out of town,” one fan said,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333439/young-chinese-fans-fear-losing-access-japanese-pop-culture-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333439/young-chinese-fans-fear-losing-access-japanese-pop-culture-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:04:21 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Chinese tourists and students have expressed mixed reactions to Beijing’s travel and education advisories on Japan amid a spiralling diplomatic clash, with some downplaying the concerns as a peak travel season approaches. Tensions escalated following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks earlier this month that suggested Tokyo could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing has reacted with anger, including summoning the Japanese ambassador to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333125/chinas-travel-warnings-japan-evoke-mixed-reactions-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333125/chinas-travel-warnings-japan-evoke-mixed-reactions-home?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:01:44 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai As China’s global influence grows, the landscape of China studies is undergoing a profound transformation. Scholars both within China and internationally are confronting new challenges, from escalating geopolitical tensions and mutual distrust – especially between Washington and Beijing – to increasingly limited access, making research and academic collaboration more difficult than ever. Some have also urged a shift beyond Western-centric frameworks towards more field-based research and a truly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332865/why-china-studies-scholars-west-have-been-left-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332865/why-china-studies-scholars-west-have-been-left-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:00:23 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing has summoned the ambassador of Japan and lodged “solemn representations” in its latest protest against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s “provocative” comments on a Taiwan contingency. Sun Weidong, China’s foreign vice-minister, summoned ambassador Kenji Kanasugi on Thursday. He expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to Takaichi’s remarks, describing them as “egregiously wrong and highly dangerous”, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Sun said the Japanese leader’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332816/beijing-summons-japanese-ambassador-latest-protest-over-pm-takaichis-taiwan-comments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332816/beijing-summons-japanese-ambassador-latest-protest-over-pm-takaichis-taiwan-comments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:00:43 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Beijing has warned that any Japanese military involvement in the Taiwan Strait would be regarded as “an act of aggression” and vowed to strike back in response, marking the latest twist in a diplomatic spat over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry made the comments on Thursday – just days after Beijing lodged a protest over Takaichi’s remarks last week that Japan could deploy its military in the event of a cross-strait conflict. “If Japan... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332673/beijing-vows-strike-back-if-japan-uses-military-force-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332673/beijing-vows-strike-back-if-japan-uses-military-force-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:24:31 +0000