https://www.scmp.com/rss/525160/feed Cao Jiaxuan joined the SCMP in 2025 and covers China’s diplomacy and foreign relations. She has an academic background in economics and international journalism and previously reported from Hong Kong on China's economic affairs. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan The coming summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump offers a window to stabilise bilateral ties through trade deals, but former diplomats and business figures have urged the leaders to move beyond commerce during their talks. At a forum held by the Centre for China and Globalisation (CCG) in Beijing on Sunday, analysts and former officials called on the leaders to address issues such as healthcare, climate change, technological decoupling and AI... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351609/why-experts-say-trade-wins-arent-enough-xi-trump-summit-may?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351609/why-experts-say-trade-wins-arent-enough-xi-trump-summit-may?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:18 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Risks of conflict in the Gulf of Oman are rising after the US Navy fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, though analysts say both Washington and Tehran have shown a reluctance to prolong the war. US President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance opened fire on the Touska after its crew reportedly ignored repeated orders to halt. The incident, occurring in the strategic waters connecting the Persian Gulf to the open sea via the Strait of Hormuz, marks... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350738/what-does-us-and-irans-fight-talk-dynamic-mean-their-ceasefire-expires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350738/what-does-us-and-irans-fight-talk-dynamic-mean-their-ceasefire-expires?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:55:42 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Tensions in East Asia reached a fresh peak with a Japanese warship’s transit of the Taiwan Strait on a historically freighted date for China. According to the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi spent 14 hours navigating the sensitive waterway on Friday, the anniversary of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki or Treaty of Maguan, an unequal treaty that forced the then-ruling Qing dynasty administration to cede Taiwan to Japanese colonial rule. In a commentary on Saturday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350646/japans-treaty-day-taiwan-strait-warship-transit-new-flashpoint-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350646/japans-treaty-day-taiwan-strait-warship-transit-new-flashpoint-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:55:08 +0000 Fan Chen,Cao Jiaxuan Fan Chen,Cao Jiaxuan Japan has pledged US$10 billion to its Asian neighbours in energy support, in what analysts say is a strategic bid to counter China’s regional influence and position itself as a reliable partner as the Iran war upends global oil markets and supply chains. However, one observer argued that the move’s impact might be limited, given Japan’s inability to alter the ground realities in the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries’ instinct for strategic hedging over picking sides. Unveiled by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350353/can-japans-us10b-energy-shield-oust-chinas-influence-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350353/can-japans-us10b-energy-shield-oust-chinas-influence-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:02:15 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Negotiating teams from America and Iran could return to Islamabad as early as the end of this week, days after 21 hours of talks in the Pakistani capital ended without a deal, Reuters reported. US President Donald Trump on Monday said that “we’ve been called by the other side” and “they want to work a deal”. A limited or temporary settlement remained possible as the two sides were cautiously approaching a de-escalation despite a total deficit of trust, according to analysts. But they warned that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350077/will-next-round-us-iran-talks-bring-peace-or-more-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350077/will-next-round-us-iran-talks-bring-peace-or-more-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:21 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Orange Wang,Cao Jiaxuan Khushboo Razdan,Orange Wang,Cao Jiaxuan The United States and Iran did not reach a deal because Washington failed to win the other side’s trust, Tehran’s lead negotiator said on Sunday. In his first comments since the marathon round of talks in the Pakistani capital Islamabad broke up, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on social media: “We have the necessary good faith and will, but due to the experiences of the two previous wars, we have no trust in the opposing side. “The opposing side ultimately failed to gain the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349767/bad-news-vance-says-no-agreement-reached-after-marathon-talks-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349767/bad-news-vance-says-no-agreement-reached-after-marathon-talks-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:37:47 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Khushboo Razdan,Fan Chen Cao Jiaxuan,Khushboo Razdan,Fan Chen US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad stretched into the early hours of Sunday as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz sparked duelling claims from Washington and Tehran, underscoring the fragile balance between diplomacy and military escalation. A senior White House official confirmed the talks were still ongoing, with efforts to resolve the conflict extending over 15 hours. Earlier, the Iranian government said on social media that negotiations would continue despite persistent differences. As... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349706/us-iran-direct-talks-hours-away-first-strikes-began-6-weeks-ago?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349706/us-iran-direct-talks-hours-away-first-strikes-began-6-weeks-ago?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:46:05 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,Fan Chen,Cao Jiaxuan Shi Jiangtao,Fan Chen,Cao Jiaxuan The Islamabad talks scheduled to begin on Saturday will represent the first direct US-Iran negotiations since the Pentagon launched Operation Epic Fury six weeks ago. Vice-President J.D. Vance will lead the US team, which will include Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to the White House. The Iranian delegation is expected to be led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Observers... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349683/who-are-araghchi-and-ghalibaf-iranian-duo-set-lead-us-ceasefire-talks-islamabad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349683/who-are-araghchi-and-ghalibaf-iranian-duo-set-lead-us-ceasefire-talks-islamabad?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:04:16 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan France and Germany have ramped up diplomatic efforts to contain the fallout from an escalating Middle East oil crisis, seeking to project European autonomy and distance themselves from the US-Israeli war on Iran. But as the conflict entered its second month, analysts said this was more about damage control than a leadership bid. They said while Berlin and Paris were at the forefront of calls for de-escalation they had limited room for manoeuvre given their security dependence on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349142/strait-hormuz-are-france-and-germany-just-out-manage-their-irrelevance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349142/strait-hormuz-are-france-and-germany-just-out-manage-their-irrelevance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +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 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,Orange Wang Cao Jiaxuan,Orange Wang As Tehran signalled that Beijing could serve as a diplomatic broker in its intensifying war with the United States and Israel, analysts cautioned that the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement of 2023 could prove “hard to replicate”. They also highlighted the difficulty of Washington accepting third-party mediation, after US President Donald Trump confirmed that a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing would be delayed by “five or six weeks” because of the armed conflict. Beijing has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347202/can-china-broker-peace-iran-again-2023-was-different-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347202/can-china-broker-peace-iran-again-2023-was-different-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +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 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Central Asian governments are leveraging the diplomatic fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran to assert their autonomy and reinforce their long-standing strategy of balancing major powers, according to analysts. For decades, the five former Soviet republics have been seen as Russia’s “backyard”. However, as the conflict in Iran deepens, these nations are moving to recalibrate their geopolitical ties, signalling a shift away from their role as a passive buffer zone for great powers. The shift... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346611/beyond-buffer-zone-how-iran-war-recalibrating-central-asian-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346611/beyond-buffer-zone-how-iran-war-recalibrating-central-asian-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:00:14 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Beijing on Friday warned Washington against making moves involving Hong Kong or Taiwan ahead of the expected visit by US President Donald Trump later this month. It condemned US calls for the release of jailed former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and reiterated opposition to American arms sales to Taiwan. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Lai “should be severely punished according to the law”, and accused external forces of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346526/beijing-warns-us-over-jimmy-lai-hong-kong-and-taiwan-arms-sales-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346526/beijing-warns-us-over-jimmy-lai-hong-kong-and-taiwan-arms-sales-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:30:43 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China’s military on Wednesday warned the United States against allowing artificial intelligence (AI) to “determine life and death” in warfare, as a dispute between the Pentagon and AI firm Anthropic highlighted growing tensions over military use of the technology. Speaking at a regular briefing in Beijing, defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said the “unrestricted application of AI by the military” could “erode ethical constraints and accountability in wars” and risk a “dangerous technological... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346254/china-warns-us-against-granting-ai-ability-determine-life-and-death-battlefield?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346254/china-warns-us-against-granting-ai-ability-determine-life-and-death-battlefield?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:01:09 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged European leaders to abandon bloc politics and instead “join the gym” of the China market to build muscle and competitiveness. Speaking to the press in Beijing on Sunday, Wang characterised China-Europe economic and trade ties as complementary advantages, saying that “a dynamic balance is entirely within reach amid growing ties”. “Building fences and barriers will only lead to self-isolation,” he cautioned. “We would be happy to see our European friends... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345900/leave-protectionist-attic-join-china-market-gym-wang-yi-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345900/leave-protectionist-attic-join-china-market-gym-wang-yi-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:11:30 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China on Thursday unveiled a draft blueprint of key projects for the 2026-2030 period, aimed at overcoming chokepoints to gain a steadier footing in the global tech race and its rivalry with the United States. The 15th five-year plan was released as China’s top legislature and political advisory body convened in Beijing for the annual “two sessions” meetings, a time when major economic priorities and policy directions are formally set. Here are the major takeaways from Beijing’s sweeping plan to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345767/inside-chinas-15th-5-year-plan-ai-fusion-and-defence-drive-next-frontier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345767/inside-chinas-15th-5-year-plan-ai-fusion-and-defence-drive-next-frontier?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:27:49 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China is expected to rebalance its ties with Israel as US-Israeli air strikes on Iran reshape the region’s security landscape, but analysts say it is unlikely to abandon its long-standing “balanced diplomacy” in the Middle East. The strikes began on Saturday after nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran reached a stalemate and tensions spiralled. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 86-year-old cleric who had dominated the Islamic Republic’s political system for nearly four... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345308/how-will-china-adjust-israel-ties-us-led-strikes-iran-reshape-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345308/how-will-china-adjust-israel-ties-us-led-strikes-iran-reshape-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China has called on European powers to help uphold the UN’s authority following the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran. In talks with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Paris to work with Beijing to promote de-escalation and safeguard “the basic norms of international relations”, according to China’s foreign ministry. “The international community must resist any violation of international law and reject double standards,” Wang said,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345306/china-and-france-agree-help-de-escalate-us-israeli-conflict-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345306/china-and-france-agree-help-de-escalate-us-israeli-conflict-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:36:29 +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 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China and Germany have pledged to elevate ties as they seek to rebalance relations amid global uncertainties. Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Beijing on Wednesday that he was “willing to work together with the chancellor to continuously advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany to new levels”. Merz echoed Xi’s call to strengthen bilateral relations, according to state broadcaster CCTV. “The more turbulent and complex... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344618/meeting-merz-xi-urges-efforts-advance-china-germany-ties-new-levels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344618/meeting-merz-xi-urges-efforts-advance-china-germany-ties-new-levels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:34:57 +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 Economic issues are expected to take centre stage at the US-China summit in April but regional security will also feature, according to former US ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns. Speaking via a video link to the Yale Centre Beijing on Tuesday, Burns said US President Donald Trump would be “right to focus on economic issues” during his trip to the Chinese capital for talks with President Xi Jinping. “And let us hope that they can sustain the truce in tariffs – the tariff wars – and sustain... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343223/what-will-headline-xi-trump-summit-former-us-envoy-weighs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343223/what-will-headline-xi-trump-summit-former-us-envoy-weighs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:00:08 +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 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 Fan Chen,Shi Jiangtao,Cao Jiaxuan Fan Chen,Shi Jiangtao,Cao Jiaxuan In the deepening shadow of US-China rivalry, India’s back-to-back trade pacts with the United States and the European Union mark a major tilt towards stronger economic ties with the West. While critical details – especially the scope of any reduction in Russian energy imports under the vague US agreement – remain unclear, experts predict the twin deals will give India leverage in its relationship with China and may slow the fragile thaw between New Delhi and Beijing. Meanwhile, New Delhi is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342600/could-indias-twin-trade-agreements-set-back-its-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342600/could-indias-twin-trade-agreements-set-back-its-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:17 +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 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China has accused the Philippines of “deliberately stoking maritime tensions” following reports Manila had warned it would stage military exercises across a large area of the disputed South China Sea for more than two months. The move represents the first external military challenge facing China after two senior generals were placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption, and could serve as a test of Beijing’s ability to handle such tests at a highly sensitive time. The Philippine civil... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341859/china-says-philippines-stoking-tensions-large-scale-scarborough-shoal-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341859/china-says-philippines-stoking-tensions-large-scale-scarborough-shoal-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:00:15 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Nearly three-quarters of Americans expect China to overtake the US in power and global influence at some point – if it has not done so already, according to a survey by a US foreign policy institute. Releasing the results of a national poll earlier this month, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said 47 per cent of the 1,500 adults surveyed agreed that China had already surpassed the United States or would do so within the next five years. A further 27 per cent said the shift would... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341712/do-americans-think-china-will-overtake-us-results-survey-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341712/do-americans-think-china-will-overtake-us-results-survey-are?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:00:23 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Major powers must set an example as the world faces “multiple risks and challenges”, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing on Tuesday. “Major powers in particular must take the lead in promoting equality, the rule of law, cooperation and integrity,” Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. “China and Europe are partners, not rivals, with cooperation outweighing competition and consensus greater than differences,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341401/chinas-xi-jinping-says-major-powers-must-set-example-amid-worlds-risks-and-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341401/chinas-xi-jinping-says-major-powers-must-set-example-amid-worlds-risks-and-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:00:14 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan The foreign ministry in Beijing has urged citizens to avoid travelling to Japan ahead of Lunar New Year as the row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November comments about Taiwan rumbles on. A statement issued on Monday said: “With the Lunar New Year approaching, the foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Tokyo urge citizens to avoid travelling to Japan and advise those already there to stay alert to crime and disaster warnings. “In recent weeks, public security in Japan has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341284/china-issues-new-japan-travel-warning-row-over-takaichis-taiwan-comments-rumbles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341284/china-issues-new-japan-travel-warning-row-over-takaichis-taiwan-comments-rumbles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:31:50 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Finland’s prime minister begins a four-day visit to China on Sunday, heading a large business delegation on a trip designed to forge closer ties with Beijing amid pressure from coercive US policies. According to analysts, Petteri Orpo’s trip also highlights Beijing’s efforts to strengthen ties with individual European Union member states as a way to soften broader EU scrutiny over claims that China’s overcapacity is driving a huge trade imbalance. Observers expect cooperation to largely focus on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341111/finlands-leader-set-4-day-china-visit-europe-seeks-counter-trump-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341111/finlands-leader-set-4-day-china-visit-europe-seeks-counter-trump-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:00:11 +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 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Jing Quan, said Beijing and Manila were seeking a “road map” for the next phase of talks aimed at settling their long-running dispute in the South China Sea. Speaking at a media reception at the Chinese embassy on Tuesday, Jing said the South China Sea issue was only one part of China-Philippines relations, and the two countries “have the capability and wisdom to find ways to manage their differences”, according to an embassy statement. “The two sides have... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340849/beijing-and-philippines-working-road-map-south-china-sea-talks-ambassador-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340849/beijing-and-philippines-working-road-map-south-china-sea-talks-ambassador-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:35:57 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan A new Chinese emergency aid programme has delivered its first shipment of rice to Cuba, where food and fuel shortages are expected to worsen as a tightened US blockade halts Venezuelan shipments. Under the programme, China will send 30,000 tonnes of rice to the island nation, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The first shipment was handed over on Monday, while a second batch has arrived at the Port of Santiago de Cuba. Additional deliveries are expected to leave China soon. The aid... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340604/china-sends-emergency-food-aid-cuba-us-sanctions-worsen-shortages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340604/china-sends-emergency-food-aid-cuba-us-sanctions-worsen-shortages?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Jevans Nyabiage Cao Jiaxuan,Jevans Nyabiage Last week’s naval drills involving China, Russia, Iran and host country South Africa signalled a shift for Brics beyond its traditional focus on economic cooperation, analysts said, as the US noted it had closely monitored the exercise. However, observers also described the high-profile exercise as largely symbolic, calling it a diplomatic statement of intent rather than a step towards a formal military alliance. The “Will for Peace 2026” drills were launched at a port in Cape Town on January 9... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340269/did-china-russia-iran-joint-naval-drills-south-africa-mark-notable-brics-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340269/did-china-russia-iran-joint-naval-drills-south-africa-mark-notable-brics-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Last weekend’s US raid on Venezuela has shone a spotlight on the wider strategic concerns in play in South America, including the US-China rivalry in countries such as Peru. The country is a key hub for mineral exports to Asian markets, but it has tried to maintain a balance between Beijing and Washington. China has funded a strategically important port on Peru’s Pacific coast, but it has remained “broadly aligned” with US interests, according to analysts. Washington also regards it as part of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339392/can-peru-keep-both-china-and-us-onside-increasingly-volatile-environment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339392/can-peru-keep-both-china-and-us-onside-increasingly-volatile-environment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 03:54:35 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Lawrence Chung Cao Jiaxuan,Lawrence Chung US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Taiwan issue is “up to” Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stirred fresh concerns about the United States’ defence commitment among some on the island. Responding to Trump’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China’s territory and that the Taiwan question was purely China’s internal affair. Mao said that resolving the Taiwan issue was a matter for the Chinese people alone and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339252/taiwan-xi-jinping-and-nothing-venezuela-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339252/taiwan-xi-jinping-and-nothing-venezuela-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 02:12:06 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Major powers should take the lead in respecting the development path of other nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday, in a veiled swipe at the United States for raiding Venezuela and capturing its president, Nicolas Maduro. The remarks from Xi, which build on Beijing’s earlier criticism of US strikes on Venezuela, came during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Beijing. “The world today is undergoing changes and turbulence not seen in a century, with unilateral... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338729/xi-jinping-makes-veiled-swipe-us-hegemony-undermining-international-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338729/xi-jinping-makes-veiled-swipe-us-hegemony-undermining-international-order?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:02:53 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China’s top diplomat has accused the United States of acting like the world’s policeman and condemned US military strikes on Venezuela as a serious violation of international law and sovereignty. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks on Sunday during high-level talks in Beijing with Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan. Wang said the international landscape was becoming increasingly volatile, marked by growing unilateralism and what he described as bullying... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338723/chinas-wang-yi-accuses-us-playing-international-policeman-venezuela?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338723/chinas-wang-yi-accuses-us-playing-international-policeman-venezuela?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:20:19 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China needs to adapt to a more competitive global environment driven by market power, technological innovation and institutional leverage, according to analysts at a leading Beijing-based think tank. These pillars were more critical than conventional military dominance or strengthening territorial control in the great power rivalry, particularly as Beijing sought to project itself as a stabiliser in an increasingly fractured international order, the analysts added. In an article this week, Fu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338443/new-world-order-market-power-trumps-military-might-can-china-compete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338443/new-world-order-market-power-trumps-military-might-can-china-compete?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday called for a new paradigm for engagement with the United States, emphasising the need for stable, cooperative ties while firmly defending what he described as China’s core interests, particularly Taiwan. During a speech in Beijing, the foreign minister also accused Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of “openly challenging” Chinese territorial sovereignty after she suggested last month that a potential Taiwan conflict could threaten Japan’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338174/china-and-us-need-new-ways-engage-push-stable-cooperative-ties-wang-yi-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338174/china-and-us-need-new-ways-engage-push-stable-cooperative-ties-wang-yi-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:07:07 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China has protested to Panama over the removal on the weekend of a monument to the Chinese community, calling on Panamanian authorities to investigate the incident. The Chinese-Panamanian Friendship Park has reportedly been in need of repair and the demolition was deemed by Beijing as “hurting the broad interests of China-Panama friendship”. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday that China was “seriously dissatisfied” with Arraijan authorities for the demolition of the park... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338051/china-protests-panama-over-destruction-memorial-chinese-labourers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338051/china-protests-panama-over-destruction-memorial-chinese-labourers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China has opened a new shopping centre on Woody Island in the disputed Paracel Islands, bolstering its civilian presence on the strategically vital South China Sea outpost. The Sansha City Commercial Centre opened to business on Thursday, according to the local government. The over 6,000 square metre (64,600 sq ft) complex is the latest addition to China’s civilian infrastructure on what it calls Yongxing Island, following its first hardware store last year and a hotpot restaurant in 2023. Woody... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337811/china-opens-shopping-centre-woody-island-disputed-paracels-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337811/china-opens-shopping-centre-woody-island-disputed-paracels-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Western sanctions had not weakened ties between Beijing and Moscow but instead fostered closer dialogue and higher levels of mutual trust, Russia’s ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said on Tuesday. Addressing a forum at Renmin University of China in Beijing, Morgulov portrayed the deepening partnership as a response to efforts aimed at constraining both countries’ technological development and distorting fair competition. China and Russia had expanded cooperation in an “extremely complex”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337608/china-russia-partnership-stronger-ever-despite-western-sanctions-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337608/china-russia-partnership-stronger-ever-despite-western-sanctions-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:00:32 +0000