Advertisement
Advertisement
-
TOPIC

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

Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

videocam
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

videocam
5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

videocam
18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

videocam
93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

videocam
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

videocam
5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

videocam
18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

videocam
93
Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
rwt4r
Donald Trump

Video | Pentagon confirms 3 American deaths in Iran war

US President Donald Trump vows to ‘avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow’.

US, Israel war on Iran

5 takeaways from the first 2 days of US-Israel war against Iran

videocam
8
US-China relations

Editorial | China now holds more cards ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

China shipbuilding

Exclusive | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
China-Japan relations

Opinion | Japan’s rightward shift puts it on a collision course with China

Any attempt by the Takaichi administration to revise the constitution and re-arm the country will ignite fierce opposition from Beijing.

videocam
European Union

Belgium special forces seize Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker

The European Union has blacklisted hundreds of vessels in a bid to sap Moscow’s war chest.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Philippines

Indonesia is getting an aircraft carrier. The Philippines isn’t. Does it matter?

Indonesia wants to project power. The Philippines wants to deny it. In the South China Sea, one approach may matter more than the other.

The Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi pictured in 2016. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

What to know about Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

A US-Israeli military strike has ended the rule of the cleric who ordered the country’s bloodiest crackdown in decades.

videocam
7
Middle East

Burgers, then war: Trump’s bluffs before Iran strikes

The US president gave mixed signals about whether the attack was coming, but his weekend Mar-a-Lago trip may have been the big giveaway.

videocam
United States

Opinion | Why China steers clear of the West’s transactional diplomacy

Strains in transatlantic ties show the limits of quid pro quo diplomacy – and the appeal of Beijing’s relationship-first approach.

videocam
4
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Munich Security Conference on February 14 in Munich, southern Germany. Photo: Pool / AFP
Donald Trump

Trump gambles his Iran attack will save flailing Maga agenda

Faced with affordability concerns and plunging approval ratings at home, the US president is waging a war he once promised never to start.

videocam
A person wearing an old military uniform and holding an anti-Trump sign takes part in a “March 4 Democracy” protest in Washington on Saturday. Photo: AFP
War and conflict

Opinion | US-Israeli strike on Iran signals new phase of global escalation

This is deterrence fatigue: escalation thresholds weakened by repeated testing and retaliation. The risk is not only war but systemic strain.

videocam
Pakistan

‘Managed escalation’: Pakistan-Taliban stand-off enters dangerous new phase

With positions entrenched, mediation efforts by regional powers are unlikely to deliver a swift breakthrough, observers say.

videocam
Pakistan

Afghanistan’s Taliban open to talks with Pakistan as ‘open war’ continues

The attacks by Pakistan come as it continues to allege that the Taliban harbours militants seeking to overthrow the Islamabad government.

An Afghan security force member takes part in a military operation against Pakistan in Khost, Afghanistan, on Friday. Photo: Xinhua
Myanmar

Why China’s Myanmar dilemma still persists, 5 years and 1 election later

Old concerns about stability and security linger as other big players vie for sway over Myanmar’s rare earth bounty and strategic location.

videocam
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Americas and the Caribbean

Trump says US discussing ‘friendly takeover’ of Cuba: ‘they’re in big trouble’

‘They have no money, they have no oil, they have no food,’ the president says, as the US puts pressure on the Communist-run island.

11
Middle East

Trump says ‘not happy’ with Iran talks, US staff leave Israel over war risks

Other countries, including China, Germany and the UK, have issued warnings or relocated their citizens.

10
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
India

India in limbo over Russian oil imports as talks with US on trade deal continues

Washington has previously tied lower tariffs on Indian exports to the US to New Delhi’s commitment to curb its purchases of Russian oil.

videocam
Tanks belonging to Transneft, a Russian state-owned company that operates the country’s oil pipelines, at an oil terminal in Ust-Luga. Photo: dpa
North Korea

Video | North Korea holds military parade to mark ruling Workers’ Party Congress

Analysts say the event reflects a continued emphasis on military strength as a driving force for national development under Kim Jong Un’s leadership.

Afghanistan

Video | Pakistan declares ‘open war’ with Taliban

Air strikes came hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops in what the Taliban government said was retaliation.

European Union

Opinion | Europe is ready for strategic autonomy, but at what cost?

The EU post-war project left Europe lagging behind the US and China. Now, without American protection, the continent must reclaim its edge.

videocam
4
Illustration: Craig Stephens
United States

Melania Trump to lead UN Security Council session, White House says

First lady will make history by chairing meeting titled ‘Children, Technology and Education in Conflict’ in New York on Monday.

videocam
15
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the premiere of her movie Melania on January 29, 2026, in Washington. Photo: AP Photo
China-Germany relations

Editorial | Merz’s Beijing trip shows that Germany realises it needs to work with China

Stable bilateral and China-EU relations can only be positive for global stability and sustainable development in an era of turbulence.

Middle East

US presses Syria to shift from Chinese telecoms systems

Washington warned Damascus, which is considering buying Chinese telecoms technology, to buy from US or allied states.

Los Angeles protests

Canada cannot replace US with China, Carney’s Conservative rival says

Pierre Poilievre outlined his vision for Canada’s relationship with the US after the prime minister’s recent outreach to Beijing.

9
Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on Thursday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
US-China relations

China, Russia should join US in new nuclear arms control deal: Rubio

Secretary of State says US and China now have ‘strategic stability’ in their long-fractious relationship as crucial Trump-Xi summit nears.

videocam
12
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters following meetings with Caribbean Community leaders, at Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Middle East

US and Iran wrap up talks without a deal as war risks persist

Oman’s mediator cites ‘significant progress’ in Geneva, but a massive US naval build-up keeps the Middle East on edge.

5
US-China relations

Xi-Trump talk plans rattled by chaotic US team: ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’

Analysts warn thin US coordination and rushed timelines risk weak deliverables and surprises ahead of high-stakes Beijing meeting.

videocam
47
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement