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Javier Milei

The latest news on Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, including China-Argentina relations, plus politics in South America.

Born

22 Oct 1970

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

Photo illustration of Argentine peso notes and a US$100 bill in Buenos Aires. Photo: AFP

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Argentina targets US dollars hoarded under mattresses, eases tax evasion rules

The country wants Argentines to bank their dollars amid high inflation, with estimates of ‘mattress dollars’ totalling US$251 billion.

3 Jan 2026 - 9:17AM

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

10 Dec 2025 - 4:03PM

China-Latin America relations

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

6 Dec 2025 - 7:37AMvideocam

Honduras

Rivals in Honduras presidential race locked in a ‘technical tie’

Trump-backed Nasry Asfura leads Salvador Nasralla by a razor-thin margin as the election council begins a manual vote count.

2 Dec 2025 - 2:28PM

Honduran presidential candidates Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla were practically tied in the race. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Ex-Argentine leader warns against cutting China ties to improve US relations

Macri argues Argentina’s farm and commodity sales rely on China even as current president Javier Milei pursues broader deal with Washington.

22 Nov 2025 - 5:57AMvideocam

G20

White House denies reversing G20 boycott, hits out at South African leader

Cyril Ramaphosa said the US had a last-minute change of mind, but the White House had sharp words in response.

21 Nov 2025 - 3:06PM

United States

Bananas and beef: White House unveils Latin America trade deals

Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador have agreed to open their markets to US products in exchange for tariff relief on some items.

14 Nov 2025 - 7:38AM

Handlers shake hands at the livestock market in Canuelas, Argentina’s main cattle trading hub, in October. Photo: AP

Science

Will a key hearing restart the China-Argentina telescope stalled by politics?

Multimillion-dollar observatory thought to be the target of US pressure faces other concerns after customs hearing.

12 Nov 2025 - 9:23PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | How Anglo-American ideologues have exploited HK’s ‘free market’ success

If Hong Kong people can remove their colonial blinds, they would be able to see the economic detritus left around the world by Western ideology.

2 Nov 2025 - 11:14PM

Argentina

Argentina’s Milei vows more reforms after stunning midterm elections victory

Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office.

27 Oct 2025 - 4:09PM

Argentina’s President Javier Milei celebrates after the La Libertad Avanza party won the midterm elections. Photo: Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

Argentina formalises US$20 billion lifeline from Trump as Milei faces poll test

Despite the currency swap being formalised by Argentina’s central bank, Trump threatens to withdraw aid if Milei is defeated in the midterms.

21 Oct 2025 - 3:18AM

Donald Trump

Trump says could cut US aid to Argentina if Milei loses midterms

The US president’s administration has promised US$20 billion to prop up the Latin American country’s struggling economy.

15 Oct 2025 - 1:13PM

Brics

Opinion | Why New Zealand joining Brics makes sense in Trump’s ‘America-first’ era

Brics is a maturing economic and diplomatic powerhouse. Joining could help New Zealand spread its diplomatic wings and secure its future.

12 Oct 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

US launches US$20b financial lifeline for Argentina, buys pesos in rare move

US helps prop up Argentina’s faltering finances, and boost political ally President Javier Milei for midterm elections.

10 Oct 2025 - 1:13PM

Argentina’s President Javier Milei during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York in September. Photo: Reuters

China-Latin America relations

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

Buenos Aires updates grain standards to meet Chinese demand, shifting exports from once-dominant US suppliers.

6 Oct 2025 - 11:11PMvideocam

Government data showed China has become Argentina’s dominant sorghum buyer, taking nearly all shipments this year. Photo: Shutterstock

SCMP Highlights

Argentina soy exports to China soar, Singapore’s record population: 7 highlights

From National Day celebrations in Hong Kong to Singapore’s population hitting a record high, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

3 Oct 2025 - 1:11PM

US-China trade war

As Trump targets China in Argentina bailout offer, analysts fear ‘debt trap’

Washington’s offer involves replacing Argentina’s US$18 billion currency swap line with China for a US-backed arrangement.

2 Oct 2025 - 11:43PMvideocam

US-China relations

Trump administration ties Argentina support to rollback of China credit line

Washington warns US$18 billion China swap endangers Argentina’s sovereignty and boosts Beijing’s sway in South America.

26 Sep 2025 - 2:43AM

Argentine President Javier Milei leaves the podium after speaking at the general debate of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. Photo: Zuma

New Zealand

China Eastern to open Shanghai-Buenos Aires route amid Latin America push

With only one transit stop, the state-owned carrier says the new connection will be the most straightforward one between China and Argentina.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:16AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Argentina’s president suffers crushing defeat in provincial vote

Defeat for Milei’s party in Argentina’s biggest province signals a potential shift in voter sentiment over his economic measures.

8 Sep 2025 - 2:06PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Argentina’s Milei rushed from campaign event as protesters throw rocks at car

Objects were seen flying over the president’s head as he stood in the back of a moving truck.

28 Aug 2025 - 12:51PM

Police shield Argentine President Javier Milei and his sister, Secretary General of the Presidency Karina Milei, from objects thrown at them during a campaign rally in Lomas de Zamora on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Brazil

Brazil’s Bolsonaro under 24-hour police watch over ‘flight risk’

Ex-president’s coup-plotting trial nears a verdict, with prosecutors pointing to a drafted asylum request as evidence he may try to flee.

27 Aug 2025 - 11:39AM

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro at his home while under house arrest. Photo: Reuters

Argentina

US moves to lift visa restrictions for Argentina in boost to right-wing ally

Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said the US would put Argentina on an ‘expedited path’ to enrolment in the Visa Waiver Program.

29 Jul 2025 - 6:28AM

US-China relations

China slams US envoy nominee for framing Argentina as great power ‘battlefield’

Remarks by Peter Lamelas, ambassador-designate to Buenos Aires, at confirmation hearing also draw sharp responses from Argentine officials.

25 Jul 2025 - 3:07AM

United States

Argentina eases visa requirements for Chinese nationals in new overture to Beijing

Move comes as President Milei seeks to shift foreign policy amid delayed US trade talks.

25 Jul 2025 - 2:11AM

Argentina is easing visa requirements for Chinese nationals. Image: Shutterstock

TV shows and streaming video

How Netflix hit The Eternaut brings real past horrors to the fore

The show has reopened historical wounds in Argentina at a moment of heightened anxiety about society under far-right President Javier Milei.

1 Jun 2025 - 8:45AM

An advertisement for Netflix’s new series The Eternaut is partially covered by posters of sci-fi comic author Hector Oesterheld and his daughters - who were forcibly disappeared in 1977 during Argentina’s military dictatorship - in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 6, 2025. Photo: AP

Americas and the Caribbean

Milei orders immigration crackdown to ‘make Argentina great again’

New order tightens rules for residency and citizenship, and makes it easier to eject foreigners who break the law.

15 May 2025 - 1:26PM

Pope Francis

Where will Trump sit during Pope Francis’ funeral? It’s complicated

Kings and presidents will be among the VIPs, but detailed rules and the whims of the French alphabet will determine who’s in the front row.

26 Apr 2025 - 7:38AM

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Javier Milei

Argentina targets US dollars hoarded under mattresses, eases tax evasion rules

The country wants Argentines to bank their dollars amid high inflation, with estimates of ‘mattress dollars’ totalling US$251 billion.

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

Rivals in Honduras presidential race locked in a ‘technical tie’

Trump-backed Nasry Asfura leads Salvador Nasralla by a razor-thin margin as the election council begins a manual vote count.

Ex-Argentine leader warns against cutting China ties to improve US relations

Macri argues Argentina’s farm and commodity sales rely on China even as current president Javier Milei pursues broader deal with Washington.

White House denies reversing G20 boycott, hits out at South African leader

Cyril Ramaphosa said the US had a last-minute change of mind, but the White House had sharp words in response.

Bananas and beef: White House unveils Latin America trade deals

Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador have agreed to open their markets to US products in exchange for tariff relief on some items.

Will a key hearing restart the China-Argentina telescope stalled by politics?

Multimillion-dollar observatory thought to be the target of US pressure faces other concerns after customs hearing.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | How Anglo-American ideologues have exploited HK’s ‘free market’ success

If Hong Kong people can remove their colonial blinds, they would be able to see the economic detritus left around the world by Western ideology.

Argentina’s Milei vows more reforms after stunning midterm elections victory

Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office.

Argentina formalises US$20 billion lifeline from Trump as Milei faces poll test

Despite the currency swap being formalised by Argentina’s central bank, Trump threatens to withdraw aid if Milei is defeated in the midterms.

Trump says could cut US aid to Argentina if Milei loses midterms

The US president’s administration has promised US$20 billion to prop up the Latin American country’s struggling economy.

Opinion | Why New Zealand joining Brics makes sense in Trump’s ‘America-first’ era

Brics is a maturing economic and diplomatic powerhouse. Joining could help New Zealand spread its diplomatic wings and secure its future.

US launches US$20b financial lifeline for Argentina, buys pesos in rare move

US helps prop up Argentina’s faltering finances, and boost political ally President Javier Milei for midterm elections.

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

Buenos Aires updates grain standards to meet Chinese demand, shifting exports from once-dominant US suppliers.

Argentina soy exports to China soar, Singapore’s record population: 7 highlights

From National Day celebrations in Hong Kong to Singapore’s population hitting a record high, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

As Trump targets China in Argentina bailout offer, analysts fear ‘debt trap’

Washington’s offer involves replacing Argentina’s US$18 billion currency swap line with China for a US-backed arrangement.

Trump administration ties Argentina support to rollback of China credit line

Washington warns US$18 billion China swap endangers Argentina’s sovereignty and boosts Beijing’s sway in South America.

China Eastern to open Shanghai-Buenos Aires route amid Latin America push

With only one transit stop, the state-owned carrier says the new connection will be the most straightforward one between China and Argentina.

Argentina’s president suffers crushing defeat in provincial vote

Defeat for Milei’s party in Argentina’s biggest province signals a potential shift in voter sentiment over his economic measures.

Argentina’s Milei rushed from campaign event as protesters throw rocks at car

Objects were seen flying over the president’s head as he stood in the back of a moving truck.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro under 24-hour police watch over ‘flight risk’

Ex-president’s coup-plotting trial nears a verdict, with prosecutors pointing to a drafted asylum request as evidence he may try to flee.

US moves to lift visa restrictions for Argentina in boost to right-wing ally

Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said the US would put Argentina on an ‘expedited path’ to enrolment in the Visa Waiver Program.

China slams US envoy nominee for framing Argentina as great power ‘battlefield’

Remarks by Peter Lamelas, ambassador-designate to Buenos Aires, at confirmation hearing also draw sharp responses from Argentine officials.

Argentina eases visa requirements for Chinese nationals in new overture to Beijing

Move comes as President Milei seeks to shift foreign policy amid delayed US trade talks.

How Netflix hit The Eternaut brings real past horrors to the fore

The show has reopened historical wounds in Argentina at a moment of heightened anxiety about society under far-right President Javier Milei.

Milei orders immigration crackdown to ‘make Argentina great again’

New order tightens rules for residency and citizenship, and makes it easier to eject foreigners who break the law.

Where will Trump sit during Pope Francis’ funeral? It’s complicated

Kings and presidents will be among the VIPs, but detailed rules and the whims of the French alphabet will determine who’s in the front row.

My Take | How Anglo-American ideologues have exploited HK’s ‘free market’ success