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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

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

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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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93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
US President Donald Trump raises his fist after a “Board of Peace” meeting at the World Economic Forum annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22. Photo: AFP
United States

Outside In | Gradually, then suddenly, the world is waking up to the US threat

Middle powers are pivoting to Beijing and hedging with new partners as China’s economic displacement of the US rapidly expands.

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Cambodia

Base instincts: why US warship visit won’t calm fears over Cambodian port

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US-China relations

Senate bills give clear message to Trump to back Taiwan as Xi meeting approaches

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US-Venezuela conflict

Venezuela approves oil industry overhaul as US eases some sanctions

Venezuela’s reform will enable additional foreign investment in the energy sector, a move expected to benefit the United States in particular.

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Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez holds up a copy of the new law. Photo: AP
Canada

Canada’s Eby slams separatists seeking US help: the word for that is ‘treason’

The British Columbia premier was responding to a report that Trump officials had meetings with an Alberta pro-independence group.

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Greenland

Greenland mayor issues warning after US flag stunt

German comedian Maxi Schafroth attempted to hoist the flag in Nuuk, then claimed to be a US official when confronted by angry locals.

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US-Venezuela conflict

Trump says he’s reopening Venezuelan airspace and Americans can visit soon

Even as the president suggested US citizens would be safe in Venezuela, the State Department kept in place its highest-level travel advisory.

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A passenger stands with his luggage at an airport near San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 3 after airspace was closed due to US strikes on Venezuela. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Trump says Putin agreed to not fire on Ukraine’s freezing capital for a week

Amid record-setting cold, the US president says he personally requested Russia halt energy strikes as peace talks prepare to resume.

China-UK relations

Britain’s Starmer hopes gift of Man United match ball scores with China’s Xi

Reviving a familiar playbook, the British leader uses football to seek diplomatic headway during an official visit to Beijing.

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US-China relations

Do Americans think China will overtake the US? The results are in

Washington think tank takes the public’s temperature on global power and influence.

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China’s biggest advantage over the US is technology, according to a poll of Americans. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

Opinion | Trump’s power politics is paving the way to a G2 world order with China

Trump’s actions signal an openness to G2, give China leverage with US allies and open the door for other powers to use coercive force.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Bangladesh

Not cricket? Political sticky wicket forces Bangladesh out of T20 World Cup

Bangladesh’s national election on February 12 has brought tensions among the South Asian neighbours to the forefront.

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Asean

How far can Asean engage Myanmar without legitimising military rule?

The bloc’s foreign ministers meet in Cebu amid concerns that diplomacy could slide into tacit acceptance of military rule.

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Xi Jinping

Video | UK PM starts China state visit ahead of Xi meeting

Trade and the economy to top British prime minister’s agenda as London navigates ‘re-engagement’ with Beijing, analysts say.

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US-China relations

Rise in Republicans wary of China as bipartisan unity declines, new survey says

Report found two-thirds of Republicans now likely to view Beijing as a threat to US, compared with 44 per cent of Democrats and Independents.

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A new report that highlights deepening political polarisation in the United States towards China attributes much of it to US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime. Photo: AP
Middle East

Trump warns Iran of ‘far worse’ attack as US warships approach

US president issues ultimatum for a nuclear deal as Iran vows to resist any American attack.

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US-Venezuela conflict

US’ Rubio says China profited from Venezuela’s collapse through cut-price oil

US secretary tells senators Beijing received discounted crude via opaque debt deals, saying Maduro’s removal was key to curbing influence.

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United States

US Treasury chief Bessent warns Canada on trade fights, slams EU-India deal

Official urges calm from Ottawa ahead of trade talks, says EU put trade ahead of Ukraine by easing pressure on India over Russian oil.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week in in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

Why Greenland’s rare earth riches cannot end US dependence on China’s minerals

Danish territory boasts vast critical mineral deposits – but mining and processing them extremely challenging, analyst says.

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China-UK relations

Opinion | With China visit, Starmer makes clear he’s putting Britain first

The prime minister’s visit to China is a declaration that the UK will no longer be a simple passenger in a contest defined in Washington and Beijing.

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China-Australia relations

China vows to step in if Australia moves to regain control of Darwin Port

Envoy Xiao Qian says Beijing ‘has the obligation to take measures’ if the port, leased to China for 99 years, is taken back.

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Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian says the Darwin Port issue should be “properly managed” to show that Australia welcomes Chinese investment. Photo: EPA-EFE
Donald Trump

As US carrier fleet sails near Iran, Trump faces ‘no easy levers’ against Tehran

Analysts evaluate the difficult options of a US air strike, killing of Iran’s top leaders, covert operations and counter-intelligence.

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The USS Abraham Lincoln (left) transits the Strait of Hormuz in 2019. A US naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier was deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the US said on Monday. Photo: AFP/ US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Pearson
China-EU relations

‘Mother of all trade deals’: EU pivots to India in historic trade shake-up

Brussels diversifies away from China and US risks, while the pact makes India a more attractive place for European firms to sell vehicles and fuel growth.

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Asean

Opinion | Why Southeast Asia should not fear Trump’s disruption

Instead of joining Trump’s neocolonial ‘Board of Peace’, Southeast Asian leaders should seize the chance to help rebuild a global order that is just and equitable.

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US-China relations

US-China cooperation backed by most Americans, new national survey reveals

C100 study finds bipartisan public support for dialogue despite Washington’s tougher stance on visas, research collaboration and tariffs.

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Despite some of US President Donald Trump’s populist rhetoric, a C100 study has found that Americans broadly support Washington and Beijing working more closely together. Photo: AP
Donald Trump

‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight than ever before. Here’s why

Scientists behind the ‘Doomsday Clock’ set it to 85 seconds to midnight, the theoretical point of annihilation.

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists members (from left) Jon B. Wolfsthal, Asha M. George and Steve Fetter reveal the Doomsday Clock set to 85 seconds to midnight in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Canada

Carney rolls eyes at Bessent, tells Trump he meant what he said at Davos

The PM denies walking back his remarks and says his country plans to diversify away from the US with a dozen new trade deals.

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US-China relations

TikTok cites glitch as California probes alleged Trump-critical censorship

Governor Gavin Newsom launches state review after reports of blocked posts, as TikTok blames a data-centre outage days after its US deal.

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