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United States government

United States government
The latest news and top stories on the United States government. A Washington DC-based federal governmental body, the United States government is dedicated to serving its citizens by establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility and promoting general welfare. Its main areas of focus include domestic and foreign policy, national security and economic stability.
A banner showing a photo of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein with Donald Trump hangs in Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, California, on August 2, 2025. Photo: Reuters
United States

As I see it | Epstein files reveal the underbelly of Western elites

If such are the people who run the world of business and politics, we are all doomed.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | American allies are finally hedging against American risk

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US-Cuba relations

Cuba confirms ‘communications’ with US as Trump moves to block oil

Donald Trump

Iran plans nuclear talks with US as Trump warns of ‘bad things’

Facing threats of potential US military action, Tehran agrees to a Friday meeting in Istanbul on its nuclear programme.

Protesters at an anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in support of the Iranian government, outside the US consulate in Istanbul on Sunday. Photo: AP
United States

Trump lifts Russia-related oil tariffs on India under new trade deal

Under the pact, India’s tariffs have been reduced from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.

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Banking & finance

‘America First’ Fed? Why China economists doubt Trump’s pick can boost US dollar

Kevin Warsh unlikely to deliver long-term rebound while central bank independence still at risk, analysts say.

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SCMP Highlights

Korean travel boom in China, PLA tightens fuel rules: 5 weekend reads you missed

From China’s visa-free access drawing Koreans to Hong Kong’s seat belt law U-turn, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

A food seller prepares dishes at a restaurant in Shanghai on January 21. Photo: AFP
United States

My Take | How to prevent war with China: return Taiwan to the mainland

Beijing has a far more legitimate claim over Taiwan than the US and Israel have over any strip of land in the western hemisphere and Palestine.

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Greenland

Letters | What an image of Trump and a penguin reveals about the White House

Readers discuss an elementary error by the US administration, a high-profile free solo climb, and phone addiction.

China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

From violent incidents to US missiles in Luzon, a ‘perilous new normal’ and vanishing red lines threaten to derail the Code of Conduct.

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A China Coast Guard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the Philippines’ BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Philippine-occupied Thitu island, locally called Pagasa island, in the disputed the South China Sea on October 12, 2025. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP
Asean

Asian Angle | ‘Old order is not coming back’: Trump’s US, not China, threatens status quo

American unpredictability is pushing countries to hedge more proactively – and, ironically, soften existing tensions with China.

A protester interrupts US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) as he testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images
Banking & finance

Opinion | Central banks are propelling a 21st century global gold rush

The world must choose between believing in the authority of central banks to decide the worth of fiat currencies or trusting in gold as a store of value.

US-China relations

WTO faults US in dispute brought by China over clean energy subsidies

Large tax credits under Biden’s landmark climate law are inconsistent with WTO agreements and should be withdrawn, a panel ruled.

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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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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
US-China relations

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

Thursday’s bills send signal to White House that US partnership with Taipei must not be forgotten as Trump threatens Cuba tariffs.

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US President Donald Trump was reminded that Taipei still merits support after a US congressional panel advanced four Taiwan-related bills on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Opinion | How the world can design a new trade architecture

Even as the US overhauls world trade norms, China’s quiet but influential role in redefining globalisation is impossible to ignore.

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.

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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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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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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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A Boeing EA-18G Growler on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean on January 21. Photo: US Navy via AP
China-Latin America relations

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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-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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US-China relations

Exclusive | US envoy says Boeing deal progress among optimistic signs of better China ties

David Perdue gives closed-door speech to business leaders on first Hong Kong visit since taking over as American envoy to Beijing.

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America’s ambassador to China, David Perdue, speaks at the Goldman Sachs Global Macro Conference Asia-Pacific on Tuesday. Photo: Handout
US-China trade war

World leaders flock to Beijing in search of trade deals

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be the fifth world leader to visit China this month, as nations seek to increase trade and hedge their reliance on the US.

Photo: AP
China-Japan relations

Ties will collapse if US forces are hit in Taiwan and Tokyo won’t act: Takaichi

‘We would respond strictly within the limits of the law,’ Japanese PM says, elaborating on remarks that angered Beijing in November.

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European Union

Opinion | Trump has laid bare the ‘Scramble for Europe’

Faced with an aggressive Trump administration, an unapologetic Russia and a rising China, European efforts towards strategic autonomy may be too little, too late.

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