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Diplomacy

Diplomacy
Latest news, features and analysis on global diplomatic relations, with a focus on China’s international ties – especially with the US, its Asian neighbours and the European Union.
Open Questions series

Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

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8
Illustration: Henry Wong

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
An Iran-flagged tugboat sails off Bandar Abbas on Monday. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

US’ Bessent urges China to help open Strait of Hormuz

Treasury chief says Beijing’s energy buys fund ‘top sponsor of terrorism’, urges action as US asserts ‘absolute control’ over waterway.

2026 Trump-Xi summit

Iran war could give Xi the upper hand in meeting with Trump: US experts

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Mainland China

Strait of Hormuz woes, US-Nato ‘crisis’: 7 global relations reads

Espionage

Austria expels 3 Russian diplomats over signals spying

Vienna, home to a large diplomatic presence, has long had a reputation as a den of spies.

The Russian embassy in Vienna. Photo: AP
North Korea

Pitch perfect diplomacy? North Korean footballers head to South Korea

The visit by Naegohyang Women’s FC to South Korea’s Suwon for a competitive match does not signal a thaw in inter-Korea ties, analysts say.

Singapore

Singapore, New Zealand ink world first deal to secure essential supplies

Both governments committed not to impose unnecessary export restrictions on crucial goods such as food, fuel and healthcare products.

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US-China relations

Opinion | China’s Manus block a show of strength ahead of Xi-Trump summit

Beijing’s manoeuvring highlights its resolve and suggests it feels it has the upper hand in negotiations ahead of Trump’s visit.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Germany

German chancellor plays down row with Trump in fallout from US troop withdrawal

Friedrich Merz denies his criticism of the Iran war triggered Trump to announce drawdown of 5,000 soldiers.

Japan

Takaichi bound for Australia to strengthen economic, security ties

The Prime Minister’s three-day visit will focus on defence, critical minerals and broader economic security as Japan takes a more assertive military stance.

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China-India relations

Why does China portray India as an elephant? Decoding politics of animal analogy

‘Diplomatic language is never neutral. When you adopt someone else’s framing, you partially legitimise their world view’: former ambassador.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, when speaking last year to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke of the “vision of the dragon and elephant dancing together”. But India has never embraced the metaphor imposed by its neighbour. Photo: Indian Press Information Bureau/AFP
US-China relations

Letters | China’s stance on Iran war has strengthened its global position

Readers discuss how the world perceives China, and the work to be done to prevent rape.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they meet, in Beijing, China, on September 2, 2025. Photo: Iran’s Presidential website/West Asia News Agency/Reuters
Japan

Asian Angle | Why Japan-China ties can benefit from promoting people-to-people exchanges

Filling the information gap through direct contact between the two peoples can help improve both countries’ public images and ease tensions.

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says he’s reviewing new Iran proposal to end war

The president also has floated a new plan to reopen the Hormuz, after the US warned shipping firms against paying Iran for safe passage.

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Germany

Trump-EU rift spurs Germany to boost military, add 75,000 soldiers

The German defence minister said the US withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany was expected, spurring Europe to improve its defences against Russia.

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An AH-64 Apache attack helicopter stands in front of a Galaxy C-5 transport plane at the US Air Base in Ramstein, western Germany, in 2017. Photo: AFP
Saudi Arabia

UAE’s Opec exit signals aim to accelerate foreign policy diversification

Iran’s attacks on Gulf states have forced Abu Dhabi to rethink its place within the Saudi Arabia-led diplomatic architecture, analysts say.

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Smoke rises in the Fujairah oil industry zone, UAE, on March 14, following an interception of a drone amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Common threats help Japan, South Korea overlook historical rows

Both appear willing to put past differences aside as they confront an assertive China, North Korea and an unpredictable US.

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India

Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition

The pact allows up to ‘five warships, 10 aircraft and 3,000 troops’ to be stationed in each other’s territory for five years.

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Japan

Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical minerals

Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as energy and artificial intelligence.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Friday. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Video | US seeks blanket overflight access to Indonesian airspace

Internal warnings reveal a government split over risks that blanket access for US warplanes could drag Indonesia into foreign conflicts.

United States

US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, fulfilling Trump threat

The move comes after German Chancellor Merz said the US was being ‘humiliated’ by Iran’s leadership.

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Taiwan

Why Beijing now wants its spies executed in Taiwan back in the spotlight

Mainland China is seeing a surge in interest over ‘invisible martyrs’ such as Wu Shi, a KMT defector who was executed in Taipei in 1950.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
2026 Trump-Xi summit

China’s UN envoy blasts US ‘bullying’ as sanctions widen before Trump-Xi talks

Curbs tied to Iran and a fragile ceasefire cast a shadow over the leaders’ planned Beijing summit as tensions between the powers mount.

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China’s UN envoy Fu Cong warns US sanctions on Chinese firms over Iran risk undermining ceasefire efforts and the rule of law in international affairs. Photo: Reuters
United States

Trump expands Cuba sanctions with global reach, targeting foreign banks and firms

New executive order allows US to penalise third-country actors, raising risks for international companies.

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US-China trade war

US sanctions China-based operator, others over alleged Iran oil trade links

State Department targets Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal for allegedly importing ‘tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil’.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says hostilities in Iran ‘terminated’ ahead of war powers deadline

Trump administration argues war in Iran has ended due to ceasefire, allowing White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.

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US President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters before boarding Marine One on Friday. Photo: pool via EPA
King Charles III

King Charles wins praise for deft handling of Trump on US state visit

The British monarch delivered a diplomatic masterclass on the trip, mixing praise for his host with subtle criticism.

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US President Donald Trump welcomes King Charles to the White House for a state dinner on Tuesday. Photo: TNS
Donald Trump

Trump to put 25% tariffs on EU cars, says bloc not complying with trade deal

The status of the pact was first put in doubt after the Supreme Court ruled the president lacked legal authority for his duties on EU goods.

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China-Latin America relations

Beijing backs Cuba, Chile reveals smuggling ring: Latin America relations reads

From a smuggling ring in Chile to rare earth wrangling in Brazil, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in March 2026.

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