https://www.scmp.com/rss/523733/feed The latest news and top stories on India’s Ministry of External Affairs. A New Delhi-based governmental body, India’s Ministry of External Affairs is dedicated to formulating and implementing the nation’s foreign policy. Its main areas of focus include managing diplomatic relations, representing India on the global stage and safeguarding the welfare of Indian citizens abroad. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Carol Yang Carol Yang As heightened conflict in the Middle East disrupts global shipping, China and Russia are considering deeper cooperation on logistics – including use of the Arctic shipping route – to secure a more resilient supply chain. At the inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum held in Moscow on Monday, officials and business leaders discussed bolstering transport and infrastructure ties, calling such cooperation essential as geopolitical tensions reshape global supply chains, Chinese state news... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346894/china-russia-discuss-boosting-transport-links-middle-east-conflict-disrupts-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346894/china-russia-discuss-boosting-transport-links-middle-east-conflict-disrupts-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg India’s government dismissed a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel made by Jeffrey Epstein in an email in 2017. The US Justice Department released 3 million pages of material related to the late financier, a convicted sex offender, on Friday. In an email addressed to a Y. Jabor in July 2017, Epstein referred to Modi’s trip to Israel, saying the Indian prime minister “took advice. and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president. They had met a few weeks... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3341980/india-calls-modis-israel-visit-mention-epstein-email-trashy-ruminations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3341980/india-calls-modis-israel-visit-mention-epstein-email-trashy-ruminations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 05:34:36 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen China will closely monitor developments in Greenland as it seeks to become an important player in Arctic affairs. Still, Beijing is unlikely to respond with any major action in the near future to counter US President Donald Trump’s bid to annex the island, analysts said. “The Arctic is certainly a central matter for policy for China, and they know it’s going to be important in the future, especially with climate change,” said Eurasia Group’s China practice head, David Meale. In his escalated... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340914/china-quietly-track-greenland-developments-curb-arctic-ambitions-now-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340914/china-quietly-track-greenland-developments-curb-arctic-ambitions-now-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:01:33 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji US President Donald Trump’s backing for a Senate bill that would allow tariffs of up to 500 per cent on goods from countries buying Russian oil has raised the prospect of a near-freeze in trade between India and its largest export market, as New Delhi continues to absorb steep US duties imposed last year. Trump last week gave the green light to the proposal, which targets any country that continues to buy Russian oil, petroleum products or uranium, a move seen as part of Washington’s effort to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339920/trumps-500-tariff-push-raises-risk-india-us-trade-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339920/trumps-500-tariff-push-raises-risk-india-us-trade-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Dhaka’s already strained relationship with New Delhi has come under fresh pressure after a Bangladeshi opposition leader threatened to shelter separatists targeting India’s sensitive northeast region in retaliation for what he claimed to be election interference. Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), warned at a rally in Dhaka on Monday that he would carry out the move if Bangladesh believed India was trying to influence its election in February. “If... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336823/bangladeshi-politicians-threat-targeting-indias-northeast-deepens-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336823/bangladeshi-politicians-threat-targeting-indias-northeast-deepens-row?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:00:12 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The Hong Kong Bar Association’s head has called on the public and foreign governments to review the judgment against former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying before forming their opinions, saying such verdicts can spark controversy due to differing values. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet reaffirmed that Hong Kong’s judicial independence and the rule of law were “alive and strong”. “In many jurisdictions, whether near or far from Hong Kong, a lot of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336741/hong-kong-bar-chief-urges-critics-review-jimmy-lai-verdict-judging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336741/hong-kong-bar-chief-urges-critics-review-jimmy-lai-verdict-judging?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:06:32 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Beijing’s push to advance the domestic chip industry will remain unchanged regardless of whether it allows Chinese companies to buy Nvidia’s H200, analysts said. Days after US President Donald Trump announced Washington would permit Nvidia to ship the chips to approved Chinese customers – on the condition that 25 per cent be “paid” to the United States – Beijing has yet to publicly state whether it will approve purchases. So far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued the only official... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336100/china-may-tap-nvidias-h200-ai-gains-domestic-chip-strategy-here-stay-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336100/china-may-tap-nvidias-h200-ai-gains-domestic-chip-strategy-here-stay-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:00:18 +0000 C. Uday Bhaskar C. Uday Bhaskar Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit to New Delhi last week, for the 23rd Russia-India Summit, was heavy on optics, symbolism and multilayered signals, while tangible outcomes were relatively modest. First and foremost, Putin signalled to the West that Russia is not isolated, despite the US-led criticism of the war his government has unleashed against Ukraine since 2022. In an unusual departure from customary diplomatic practice, three European ambassadors to India – from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3335866/putins-visit-india-reveals-anxieties-changing-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3335866/putins-visit-india-reveals-anxieties-changing-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Beijing has dismissed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s latest remarks on Taiwan as “prevarication”, warning that it “absolutely does not accept” her continued refusal to retract comments made in early November. On Wednesday, Takaichi appeared to attempt to dial down weeks of tensions when she told a parliamentary questioning session that Tokyo’s “fundamental position regarding Taiwan remains unchanged from that stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, and there has been no change... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335213/beijing-absolutely-does-not-accept-japanese-leaders-seeming-taiwan-climbdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335213/beijing-absolutely-does-not-accept-japanese-leaders-seeming-taiwan-climbdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:07:52 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Beijing has rejected claims that Chinese authorities detained and harassed an Indian national born in a disputed border region, after the traveller alleged that she was held for more than 18 hours while transiting through Shanghai. On Sunday, a woman who identified herself as Pem Wang Thongdok said on social media that she had been “held” against her will at a Shanghai airport on Friday. She said she had been travelling from London to Japan via Shanghai. According to the post, Chinese border... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334121/china-denies-harassing-indian-woman-born-disputed-border-region-over-invalid-passport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334121/china-denies-harassing-indian-woman-born-disputed-border-region-over-invalid-passport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:25:32 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press India’s top-ranked male tennis player has received a Chinese visa for an Australian Open wild-card playoff tournament beginning on November 24 in Chengdu after first being denied one. Sumit Nagal took to social media on Tuesday to ask the Chinese ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, and the Chinese embassy to intervene on his behalf. In a second social media post late on Thursday, Nagal thanked the Chinese ambassador and India’s ministry of external affairs, among others, after receiving the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3332828/indias-no-1-player-gets-chinese-visa-grand-slam-tennis-qualifier-after-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3332828/indias-no-1-player-gets-chinese-visa-grand-slam-tennis-qualifier-after-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:00:08 +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 Willa Wu Willa Wu China remains a secure investment destination despite recent geopolitical tensions, Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has told diplomats and business chambers at a high-profile meeting, while highlighting the city’s strategic role in building international ties. Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong, on Wednesday met about 60 envoys, commerce chamber representatives and members of the global media for a one-hour sharing session on the Communist... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332452/china-solid-investment-option-despite-global-rifts-beijing-official-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332452/china-solid-investment-option-despite-global-rifts-beijing-official-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 06:55:36 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US President Donald Trump has said he will visit India at the urging of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the latest sign of a possible thaw in a trade dispute that has soured the two countries’ relationship. “He’s a friend of mine, and we speak, and he wants me to go there, and we’ll figure that out, I’ll go,” Trump told reporters on Thursday, calling Modi a “great man”. Trump said the visit “could be” next year but otherwise declined to provide a timeline for a trip. “I do not have anything on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332023/trump-says-he-will-visit-indias-modi-despite-tariff-tiff-hes-friend-mine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332023/trump-says-he-will-visit-indias-modi-despite-tariff-tiff-hes-friend-mine?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 05:07:45 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Peru’s government on Monday announced the country was severing diplomatic relations with Mexico over the asylum claim of former Peruvian prime minister Betssy Chavez, who was under investigation for rebellion. Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela told reporters that Mexico’s decision to grant Chavez asylum at its embassy in Peru’s capital, Lima, constituted an “unfriendly act” that added to the existing tensions between the two countries. The office of Peru’s President Jose Jeri in a statement... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3331435/peru-cuts-diplomatic-ties-mexico-over-asylum-claim-former-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3331435/peru-cuts-diplomatic-ties-mexico-over-asylum-claim-former-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:35:17 +0000 Igor Patrick,Khushboo Razdan Igor Patrick,Khushboo Razdan Despite repeated pledges of support, China has yet to commit a specific financial contribution to the tropical forest-protection investment fund that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is banking on, as Cop30 opens this week in Belem, northern Brazil. The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) is a Brazil-led multilateral mechanism designed to reward tropical nations for keeping forests standing rather than clearing them. Operating as a permanent endowment, it will blend sovereign... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3331394/china-praises-brazils-forest-fund-holds-back-cash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3331394/china-praises-brazils-forest-fund-holds-back-cash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 19:34:31 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him India would stop buying Russian oil, while warning that New Delhi would continue paying “massive” tariffs if it did not do so. “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Asked about India’s assertion that it was not aware of any conversation between Modi and Trump, Trump replied: “But if they... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3329609/trump-warns-india-massive-tariffs-will-remain-unless-it-ends-russian-oil-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3329609/trump-warns-india-massive-tariffs-will-remain-unless-it-ends-russian-oil-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 02:44:11 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an up to fifty-fold increase in the cost of skilled worker permits under the H-1B visa programme has rattled India’s tech industry, which has provided highly qualified manpower and services to American enterprises for decades. On Friday, Washington announced that the H-1B fee would be raised to US$100,000, from a range of US$2,000 to US$5,000 previously, based on the manpower strength of the company applying for the visa. The H-1B is a three-year... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326587/indias-tech-sector-fears-impact-trumps-us100000-h-1b-visa-us-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326587/indias-tech-sector-fears-impact-trumps-us100000-h-1b-visa-us-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:10:44 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India for the first time in three years to discuss the latest round of border talks, the Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed. During the trip from August 18 to 20, the top Chinese diplomat will serve as the “special representative of the China-India boundary question” in the 24th round of border talks “at the invitation of the Indian side”, according to a Saturday statement from the ministry. This series of negotiations aims to address long-standing border... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322094/chinas-top-diplomat-wang-yi-visit-india-first-time-3-years-border-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322094/chinas-top-diplomat-wang-yi-visit-india-first-time-3-years-border-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:53:38 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Oil markets are bracing for lower prices despite US President Donald Trump’s threat of punitive tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, including India and China, with higher output from global producers set to compensate for any potential supply drop from Russia. The broad Opec+ group, comprising oil-producing nations taking part in initiatives by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, agreed on Sunday to raise production by 547,000 barrels per day for September. Concerns have mounted... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321252/will-oil-prices-fall-despite-trumps-tariff-threat-over-russian-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321252/will-oil-prices-fall-despite-trumps-tariff-threat-over-russian-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:57:07 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju An abrupt decision by US President Donald Trump to double tariffs on Indian goods has triggered what analysts describe as a “total mistrust” in bilateral ties and sent a “muddled strategic signal” about Washington’s foreign policy priorities. The move – an additional 25‑percentage‑point tariff on Indian exports, doubling duties to 50 per cent – was issued in an executive order on Wednesday to penalise India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which Washington argues is helping fund Moscow’s war... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321146/trumps-50-tariff-sows-total-mistrust-between-us-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321146/trumps-50-tariff-sows-total-mistrust-between-us-india?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Hours after slapping a punitive 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports over its continued purchase of Russian oil despite his repeated warnings, US President Donald Trump signalled on Wednesday that China could be next. “Could happen,” Trump responded when asked if he had similar plans to enact more tariffs on China. The “America first” leader said that there will be “a lot more” secondary sanctions, noting that India was “very close to China in terms of the purchase of oil from Russia”. “It’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3320998/trump-penalises-india-additional-25-tariff-escalating-tensions-over-russian-oil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3320998/trump-penalises-india-additional-25-tariff-escalating-tensions-over-russian-oil?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:35:59 +0000