https://www.scmp.com/rss/522568/feed Renmin University of China (RUC) is a prominent public research university located in Beijing, China. Established in 1937, it was the first modern university founded by the People’s Republic of China. RUC is a comprehensive institution primarily focused on humanities and social sciences, with strong offerings in economics, law, and journalism. Its mission involves cultural transmission, educating future elites, and contributing to China’s development. Recognised as a leading institution in its... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Orange Wang Orange Wang As the Strait of Hormuz crisis roils world energy markets, China and the US still have strong potential to work together to find solutions, according to a researcher with a Chinese think tank. Wang Lining – who heads the oil market department at the Economics and Technology Research Institute under state-run China National Petroleum Corporation – also said Washington’s change in direction on energy diplomacy was a “reminder” that Beijing could play a bigger role in global governance. Wang made... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348499/could-energy-crisis-prompt-us-and-china-sit-down-and-work-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348499/could-energy-crisis-prompt-us-and-china-sit-down-and-work-together?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang,Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Amber Wang,Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China soon after Donald Trump’s trip in May in a diplomatic double-header that would be the first time Beijing has hosted the leaders of the US and Russia in the same month outside a multilateral event. According to Chinese analysts, the back-to-back visits highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with both major powers amid rising global turbulence. Trump’s long-planned trip to Beijing was expected to take place from May 14 to 15, the White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348148/what-does-it-mean-china-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-visit-back-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348148/what-does-it-mean-china-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-visit-back-back?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China and the United States are trying to navigate their differences to ensure that they maintain a basic level of stability in their relationship, an academic conference in Beijing heard last week. At the forum held by Tsinghua University in Beijing on Friday, academics and former officials discussed the need to prevent open confrontation. US President Donald Trump’s planned visit – now postponed for “five or six weeks” as he focuses on his war with Iran – was seen as a key opportunity by many... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347855/are-us-and-china-looking-minimum-stability-after-going-through-rough-patch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347855/are-us-and-china-looking-minimum-stability-after-going-through-rough-patch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:19 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Potential US ground operations against Iran might constrain Tehran, but the prospects for reopening the Strait of Hormuz were “highly uncertain”, Chinese analysts said. They also cautioned that any such escalation was likely to result in heavy casualties, with one of them saying Iran “might even welcome” such close combat. US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a five-day halt to military strikes on Iranian power plants. He made the announcement on social media as the US’ 48-hour deadline... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347622/what-if-us-ground-forces-march-iran-chinese-experts-weigh-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347622/what-if-us-ground-forces-march-iran-chinese-experts-weigh-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:14 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen A report from a leading Beijing university has revived discussions about the “optimal size” of China’s foreign exchange reserves – with a focus on US Treasuries – calling for its world-leading forex holdings to be trimmed to a “moderately ample” level amid the drive to promote further international use of the yuan. The report, written by Sun Jiaqi from Renmin University’s International Monetary Institute and issued on March 13, examined possible ways forward and their implications for China,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347335/global-use-yuan-expands-questions-resurface-about-chinas-world-leading-forex-reserves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347335/global-use-yuan-expands-questions-resurface-about-chinas-world-leading-forex-reserves?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A food factory in China has been exposed for making popular chicken feet snacks using chemicals in unhygienic conditions. The factory soaked the chicken in harmful hydrogen peroxide, sparking public outrage and thrusting the country’s food safety record back under the spotlight. In the annual Consumers’ Right Day Show broadcast by state media CCTV on March 15, the Mingyang Food Company in Chengdu, in southwestern Sichuan province, was revealed to have serious food safety problems. According to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347051/china-food-scandals-factories-use-smelly-insoles-chemically-bleached-chicken-feet-make-snacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347051/china-food-scandals-factories-use-smelly-insoles-chemically-bleached-chicken-feet-make-snacks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan The phone call between the Dutch and Chinese foreign ministers was a first on a series of fronts. For the new Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, the call on March 13 was his first with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi since taking on the job a few weeks earlier. It was also the first between the two holders of the offices since China and the Netherlands became embroiled in a row over the control of Chinese-owned, Netherlands-based chipmaker Nexperia. Nexperia is a major component in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347424/china-and-netherlands-seek-pragmatic-reset-nexperia-row-rolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347424/china-and-netherlands-seek-pragmatic-reset-nexperia-row-rolls?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:50:29 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan As Washington steps up rhetoric and pressure on Cuba after its campaign in Iran, Beijing finds itself torn between geopolitical reality and ideological affinity. According to analysts, Beijing has few good options to counter US hegemony in Washington’s own backyard, and its response is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and modest humanitarian aid. They said any disruption to global stability ultimately harmed Beijing’s interests and did not see prolonged US military action... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346970/trump-ramps-pressure-cuba-china-has-very-limited-options?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346970/trump-ramps-pressure-cuba-china-has-very-limited-options?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +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 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings US President Donald Trump’s reported threat that he may postpone a long-awaited visit to China – unless Beijing helps unblock the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz – may put the current trade talks in Paris at risk by sidelining earlier priorities and potential deals, analysts say. As the US-Israeli war in Iran enters its third week and disrupts global energy markets, Trump has reportedly urged Beijing to send warships to help reopen the strait and ease oil shipments. About 20 per cent of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346784/why-trumps-push-china-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-may-hurt-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346784/why-trumps-push-china-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-may-hurt-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:30:11 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Observers in China have reacted cautiously to reports that Iran may allow oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if the trade is conducted in Chinese yuan, citing operational feasibility limits and security risks. While the plan could symbolically advance the use of the Chinese currency, its implementation would face security and feasibility challenges and could strain China-US ties, they warned. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes, has been largely shut... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346617/does-iran-have-yuan-hormuz-oil-trade-plan-why-analysts-china-are-urging-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346617/does-iran-have-yuan-hormuz-oil-trade-plan-why-analysts-china-are-urging-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:09:46 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China’s top diplomat has cast his country as “an irreplaceable mainstay” amid global upheaval, rejecting any suggestion of a US-China G2 duopoly for global co-leadership as a replay of disastrous great-power rivalries. Instead, against the backdrop of the escalating Iran conflict and Washington’s renewed trade wars, Wang Yi renewed Beijing’s call for a post-hegemonic order anchored in the United Nations, advocating an “equal and orderly multipolar world” that transcended bloc confrontation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345895/whats-wrong-g2-wang-yi-lays-out-chinas-case-against-great-power-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345895/whats-wrong-g2-wang-yi-lays-out-chinas-case-against-great-power-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:59:15 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The massive American military strikes on Iran could add a new layer of uncertainty to US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes trip to China at the end of the month, observers warn. They said that while the visit was expected to go ahead as planned, the escalating conflict in the Middle East could fuel fresh concerns in Beijing over Washington’s global assertiveness and ambitions. Large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iran since Saturday have killed senior Iranian figures including the supreme... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:06:00 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has concluded his first visit to China, hailing the “good cooperation” with Beijing as Berlin seeks to rebalance ties with its biggest trading partner amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration. Merz characterised the visit as “worthwhile”, noting that China would buy up to 120 additional aircraft from Airbus SE. The company operates two assembly lines in the northern port city of Tianjin that mainly produce A320 jets for Chinese carriers. In his... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:25:08 +0000 Frank Chen,Cao Jiaxuan Frank Chen,Cao Jiaxuan US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his signature tariff policy, Chinese analysts and exporters say. They said the court’s decision could weaken Trump’s negotiating position with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while potentially offering short-term good news for US-linked exporters in China. The White House confirmed Trump’s China visit on Friday, just as the US Supreme Court ruled the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344217/chinas-xi-set-host-weakened-trump-after-us-supreme-court-tariffs-setback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344217/chinas-xi-set-host-weakened-trump-after-us-supreme-court-tariffs-setback?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:03:27 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Agence France-Presse Cao Jiaxuan,Agence France-Presse German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China from Wednesday, shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the chancellor’s spokesman. “This date was proposed by the Chinese side,” spokesman Sebastian Hille said on Friday. “We consider this offer to come right at the beginning of the year to be a good omen.” Merz will leave Berlin on Tuesday for his first official China visit since he took office in May. He is expected to be welcomed in Beijing on Wednesday by Premier Li Qiang... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344174/germanys-merz-latest-european-leader-visit-china-amid-tensions-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344174/germanys-merz-latest-european-leader-visit-china-amid-tensions-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:25:32 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Central Asian governments are forging ahead with ambitious “smart city” mega-projects to tackle rapid population growth and ageing Soviet-era infrastructure. They are also pulling in much-needed foreign investment, and China’s strong visibility in these projects – while Russia is notably absent – is fuelling debate over whether the region is trying to reduce its economic dependence on Moscow. It comes as competition among major powers in Central Asia is intensifying, with the US-led C5+1... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343192/central-asia-builds-smart-cities-china-it-moving-away-russia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343192/central-asia-builds-smart-cities-china-it-moving-away-russia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Any coming high-level trade talks between Beijing and Washington will be in preparation for US President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April, analysts say, as both sides wish to keep a fragile trade truce intact, even though significant breakthroughs in the bilateral relationship remain up in the air. On Monday evening in the US, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent posted on social media that senior Treasury staff had travelled to China last week, “to strengthen channels of communication... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3343081/next-us-china-trade-talks-tipped-advance-trump-xi-summit-fragile-truce-holds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3343081/next-us-china-trade-talks-tipped-advance-trump-xi-summit-fragile-truce-holds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China is experiencing an extraordinary rise in “granfluencers,” or senior influencers, since 2019, as its growing ageing population embraces the online community. Major social media platforms in mainland China have seen a rapid increase in senior users in recent years. RedNote reported over 30 million active users aged 60 and older by 2024, a remarkable threefold increase in just two years. Collectively, these seniors contributed over 100 million posts to the platform. Similarly, Douyin, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342207/silver-surfers-how-china-granfluencers-steal-spotlight-taking-over-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342207/silver-surfers-how-china-granfluencers-steal-spotlight-taking-over-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan A deepening cash crunch at the United Nations has reignited debate over the future of multilateralism, with analysts warning that the crisis also reflects a more profound shift in how the United States views the world body. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week warned that the organisation was at risk of “imminent financial collapse” as unpaid contributions threatened programme delivery, with funds potentially running out by July. In a rare letter addressed to all 193 member states,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342614/un-grapples-cash-crisis-dont-expect-china-fill-gap-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342614/un-grapples-cash-crisis-dont-expect-china-fill-gap-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Orange Wang,Cao Jiaxuan Orange Wang,Cao Jiaxuan Chinese President Xi Jinping’s unprecedented back-to-back conversations with his US and Russian counterparts have shed new light on how the three powers are positioning themselves. The Chinese leader’s separate talks on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin also reveal their attempts to stabilise ties as they prepare for in-person summits and grapple with mounting headwinds at home. However, analysts expressed mixed views on whether – and how – China could... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342561/what-xis-calls-trump-and-putin-reveal-about-chinas-balancing-act?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342561/what-xis-calls-trump-and-putin-reveal-about-chinas-balancing-act?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:07:48 +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 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Interest in de-dollarisation has spiked in Chinese academic and policy circles, as Beijing grows increasingly wary of the United States’ potential to weaponise its currency. The surge has been most visible in the volume of research. A search by the South China Morning Post on China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), one of the country’s largest academic research databases, showed the number of papers on the subject more than doubled from 2023 to 2025 compared with the preceding three... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341876/trade-war-global-instability-push-de-dollarisation-chinas-academic-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341876/trade-war-global-instability-push-de-dollarisation-chinas-academic-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao In an era of ruptured global order, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s much-anticipated visit to China, scheduled for later this week, marks the culmination of London’s “re-engagement” strategy with Beijing, prioritising trade and growth amid escalating geopolitical risks, according to observers. The Chinese foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that Starmer would visit Beijing and Shanghai between January 28 and 31. Starmer’s government had expressed its desire for a stable and strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341324/keir-starmers-china-trip-test-labours-push-reset-bilateral-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341324/keir-starmers-china-trip-test-labours-push-reset-bilateral-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The PLA Navy hospital ship Silk Road Ark arrived at the Uruguayan port of Montevideo last Tuesday for a four-day technical stop. The port call, as reported by China’s state news agency Xinhua, marked the first visit by a Chinese naval vessel to Uruguay – which sits between South America’s two biggest economies, Brazil and Argentina. Analysts said the inaugural visit signalled that Beijing’s efforts to expand its military exchanges in the western hemisphere were unaffected by America’s military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341146/what-does-chinas-first-naval-visit-uruguay-say-about-its-latin-american-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341146/what-does-chinas-first-naval-visit-uruguay-say-about-its-latin-american-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week, world leaders warned of an increasingly fractured global order and took veiled swipes at the United States. But they held back on directly criticising China, which experts said signalled a recalibration in their approach to Beijing as US President Donald Trump’s political unpredictability left allies on edge. Recent moves by the US president have been widely seen as assaults on the global order, including the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341058/trump-shakes-world-order-western-countries-recalibrate-approach-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341058/trump-shakes-world-order-western-countries-recalibrate-approach-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:00:12 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it all in a phone call to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, last week. With Tehran in turmoil and Washington threatening to intervene, Wang was holding Beijing’s long-standing line. “[China] opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one’s own will on others and opposes a return of the world to the law of the jungle,” he said, adding that Beijing was willing to play a “constructive role” in resolving differences... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340787/why-china-playing-long-game-iran-despite-trumps-fresh-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340787/why-china-playing-long-game-iran-despite-trumps-fresh-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Luna Sun Ralph Jennings,Luna Sun Chinese and US negotiators are expected to discuss stepping up trade in AI chips and farm products, as well as what to do later this year when their hard-fought 2025 truce expires – all before President Donald Trump visits China for the first time in his current term, analysts said on Wednesday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested on Tuesday that the pieces were in place for an April summit in Beijing between Trump and President Xi Jinping, as announced by the US leader in late... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340710/chips-soybeans-tariffs-whats-tap-us-china-talks-trumps-next-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340710/chips-soybeans-tariffs-whats-tap-us-china-talks-trumps-next-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu The US takeover of Venezuela has placed billions of dollars in Chinese oil-for-loan debts at risk, analysts say, though they expect Venezuelan crude to continue flowing to China as the new government seeks immediate revenue. The abduction of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by US forces has left Beijing’s outstanding exposure in the South American nation – estimated at about US$10 billion, according to the research lab AidData – in a state of limbo. An optimistic scenario would involve a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339138/chinas-massive-oil-loan-debts-risk-post-maduro-venezuela-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339138/chinas-massive-oil-loan-debts-risk-post-maduro-venezuela-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:59:49 +0000 Carol Yang,He Huifeng Carol Yang,He Huifeng The United States’ seizure of Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, has the potential to reshape the global oil market, as America gains effective control over a country with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, analysts said. While crude prices may rise marginally in the short term, the move could boost long-term supplies and tighten the US’ grip over the oil market at a time when its position was starting to look more vulnerable, they said. “Once the US gains control of the country,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338670/us-removal-maduro-has-potential-reshape-global-oil-market-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338670/us-removal-maduro-has-potential-reshape-global-oil-market-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:06:16 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese woman is facing a lawsuit after encouraging her pet dog to eat mutton rolls directly from a plate at a famous Beijing hotpot restaurant. The incident reportedly happened at a branch of Nanmen Hotpot, a Beijing-style hotpot restaurant brand, in the Chinese capital on December 16. A video posted by the dog-owning woman shows her encouraging her pet to eat directly from a plate. “Frankly speaking, I do not even know what the mutton rolls taste like because my dog has eaten them all. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337613/china-woman-films-dog-eating-plate-restaurant-shop-vows-sue-after-brief-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337613/china-woman-films-dog-eating-plate-restaurant-shop-vows-sue-after-brief-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:00:10 +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 Amber Wang,Seong Hyeon Choi,Yuanyue Dang Amber Wang,Seong Hyeon Choi,Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump’s new battleship plan, apparently aimed at deterring China, faces huge implementation hurdles and could cause Beijing to double down on its anti-ship weapons, according to analysts. Trump unveiled a new class of navy battleships on Monday. These “Trump-class” ships will be larger, faster and “100 times more powerful” than any previously built, according to the American leader, forming the centrepiece of what he called an expanded “Golden Fleet” aimed at cementing US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337739/golden-fleet-will-trumps-battleship-plan-deter-china-or-it-just-pipe-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337739/golden-fleet-will-trumps-battleship-plan-deter-china-or-it-just-pipe-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 22:00:16 +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 Amber Wang Amber Wang A recently leaked Pentagon report has projected heavy US losses should it intervene in a Taiwan conflict, highlighting Washington’s growing anxiety over Beijing’s rapidly improving capabilities, according to defence experts. In a classified assessment known as the Overmatch brief, the Pentagon has catalogued the People’s Liberation Army’s ability to destroy American fighter planes, large ships and satellites and identified the US military’s supply chain choke points, according to a December 8... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337188/pentagons-taiwan-war-games-reflect-us-anxiety-over-pla-power-defence-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337188/pentagons-taiwan-war-games-reflect-us-anxiety-over-pla-power-defence-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Zhao Ziwen,Sylvie Zhuang Zhao Ziwen,Sylvie Zhuang TikTok may have dodged a US ban but unresolved questions about its algorithm could remain a source of tension in the broader US-China relationship, according to analysts. ByteDance, the parent company of the social media site, signed a binding agreement this week to divest its US entity into a joint venture controlled by a consortium of American investors, ending years of legal and political uncertainties. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in an internal memo on Thursday that the deal effectively... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337118/tiktok-seals-us-deal-core-algorithm-could-still-rattle-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337118/tiktok-seals-us-deal-core-algorithm-could-still-rattle-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:00:18 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen As the United States undergoes a strategic shift in its global priorities, experts in China are pushing Beijing’s vision for a new world order – but they say the country must improve its messaging. Leading political scientist and government adviser Zheng Yongnian said China had two guiding principles: maintaining its agency while engaging with the world; and extending the ladder it climbed to help other nations ascend. Zheng made the remarks on Tuesday at the International Forum on Mutual... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336891/china-urged-win-hearts-and-minds-fill-global-leadership-void-us-retreats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336891/china-urged-win-hearts-and-minds-fill-global-leadership-void-us-retreats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:00:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing’s fresh imperative to “invest in people” – first raised in a proposal for the 15th five-year plan and reaffirmed at an agenda-setting policy meeting last week – reflects a rethink in economic strategy designed to stimulate domestic demand and improve social welfare, analysts said. China’s leaders vowed to “fully tap” the domestic economy’s potential at the annual central economic work conference held last week, which laid out their economic policy priorities for 2026. A readout from the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336651/chinas-new-invest-people-slogan-heralds-rethink-economic-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336651/chinas-new-invest-people-slogan-heralds-rethink-economic-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:00:13 +0000 Frank Chen,Kandy Wong Frank Chen,Kandy Wong It has been a turbulent year for the fraught US-China relationship. In the second story in this new series, we look back at the events of 2025, examining how the trade war tested policymakers and firms, forcing a rethink in business, strategy and supply chains. In April, when US President Donald Trump upended global trade by announcing “reciprocal tariffs” on almost all the country’s trading partners, officials in eastern China’s Ningbo – a national export hub – went on a wartime footing. Across... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336670/surviving-shocks-what-china-and-us-learned-2025s-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336670/surviving-shocks-what-china-and-us-learned-2025s-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:00:35 +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 Phoebe Zhang,Yuanyue Dang Phoebe Zhang,Yuanyue Dang The owner of a fireworks shop in central China died on Tuesday from drinking pesticide, just days after blowing up his business in protest at officials who closed it for “failing to meet air quality standards”, according to Chinese media reports. The owner, identified only by his surname Peng, had operated the business for three years in Chenzhou, Hunan province, and blew it up with explosives, according to mainland magazine China Newsweek. Shandong-based news outlet the Qilu Evening News... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335074/fireworks-shop-owner-dies-pesticide-after-reporting-officials-chinese-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335074/fireworks-shop-owner-dies-pesticide-after-reporting-officials-chinese-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:30:26 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao While Beijing has remained largely offstage during US President Donald Trump’s latest push to end the war in Ukraine, China still sees significant stakes in how any peace deal could reshape its strategic environment – from the global balance of power to post-war reconstruction opportunities, according to observers. A Trump-brokered peace plan to end the nearly four-year war, first reported last week, remains fluid, but the proposed settlement has reportedly been reduced to 19 points after the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334264/offstage-peace-talks-china-eyes-ukraine-rebuilding-strategic-entry-point?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334264/offstage-peace-talks-china-eyes-ukraine-rebuilding-strategic-entry-point?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim When it deemed remarks on Taiwan by Japan’s new prime minister as provocative, China did not just issue a diplomatic rebuke to Tokyo; it deployed an economic arsenal, and what began as a bilateral spat has since spiralled into a full-blown crisis. China last week warned its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, with major Chinese airlines offering full refunds for flights there. On Wednesday, Beijing said it would suspend Japanese seafood imports. It is not the first time China has wielded its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333562/risks-china-faces-it-deploys-economic-arsenal-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333562/risks-china-faces-it-deploys-economic-arsenal-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:30:16 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Soybeans are more than just a crop – they have become a litmus test of Beijing’s evolving food security strategy and sit at the heart of the US-China trade war. As a crucial source of animal feed and cooking oil, soybeans have remained a flashpoint throughout the ebbs and flows of the two nations’ trade disputes, from the tariff war during US President Donald Trump’s first term to the current one. Less well known is China’s transformation from soybean exporter to the world’s leading importer.... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333382/chinas-soybean-revolution-change-rewrote-global-trade-and-tested-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333382/chinas-soybean-revolution-change-rewrote-global-trade-and-tested-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Supporters erupted in joy last week as Zohran Mamdani won a commanding victory in the New York mayoral race, becoming the first Muslim elected to lead the US financial capital. The young politician’s complex identity as an African-born person of South Asian heritage, his political positions and the broader implications of his win have resonated far beyond New York. In China, his victory quickly became a talking point, both online and among scholars. According to Chinese observers, the rise of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332871/zohran-mamdanis-new-york-win-stirs-hope-and-uncertainty-china-over-future-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332871/zohran-mamdanis-new-york-win-stirs-hope-and-uncertainty-china-over-future-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:00:12 +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 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As China and the Netherlands prepare to hold talks next week over the Nexperia chipmaker dispute, Beijing has the patience to resolve the issue through multiple rounds of negotiations to ensure the case remains isolated, analysts said. On Thursday, Dutch Economy Minister Vincent Karremans said a senior government delegation would visit Beijing “to continue our efforts to find a mutually agreeable solution”. The Dutch government took the unusual step of seizing control of Nexperia from its... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332847/china-signals-patience-nexperia-row-escalation-seen-possible-talks-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332847/china-signals-patience-nexperia-row-escalation-seen-possible-talks-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:30:19 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,William Zheng Phoebe Zhang,William Zheng Beijing was irritated by a rare speech in Brussels by Taiwan’s No 2 leader, Hsiao Bi-khim, but is likely to be measured in its response, according to analysts. On Friday, Hsiao delivered a speech titled “Taiwan: A Trusted Partner in a Volatile World” at an event held by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) inside the European Parliament complex. IPAC comprises members of legislatures from 43 countries and the European Parliament promoting hawkish policies towards Beijing. During her... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332509/beijing-irked-taiwan-no-2s-brussels-speech-measured-response-likely-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332509/beijing-irked-taiwan-no-2s-brussels-speech-measured-response-likely-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:05:07 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Germany needs to think long term and come up with a strategic vision to revive mutual trust with China following a series of diplomatic “bumps” this year, according to international relations observers. The relationship faced a setback last month when German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed his first trip to China. A German foreign ministry official said the visit was called off after Beijing confirmed only one of his requested meetings. Cui Hongjian, director of the European studies... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331885/where-now-germanys-ties-china-start-long-term-vision-academic-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331885/where-now-germanys-ties-china-start-long-term-vision-academic-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 10:00:25 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Beijing’s decision to allow group travel to Canada to resume for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a surge in interest in visiting the country among Chinese consumers, with Chinese travel platforms recording a jump in related searches. China announced it was ending the group tour ban in early November, just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in South Korea and called for relations between the two countries to get “back onto the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331957/canada-travel-searches-spike-china-group-tours-resume-interest-surged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331957/canada-travel-searches-spike-china-group-tours-resume-interest-surged?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:00:09 +0000