Trump overhaul may aid Beijing, bad news for Chinese in Texas: 7 US-China relations reads
From a China-India alliance to Trump welcoming Chinese students, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in August 2025
1. Trump’s overhaul of State Department may play into Beijing’s hands for decades
The US effort to counter China’s growing global footprint is difficult enough. President Donald Trump’s radical State Department overhaul is not making it any easier and could play into Beijing’s hands for decades, according to lawmakers and past and current department officials.
2. As Trump welcomes Chinese students, schools cut ties under Republican pressure
While US President Donald Trump in August said he would allow 600,000 Chinese students into the United States, members of Congress in his Republican Party are increasingly moving to dismantle many of the long-standing partnerships that would make their arrival possible.
3. Hard to switch: why US farmers are embracing Chinese drones despite concerns
US farmers are increasingly relying on drones and other systems made by Chinese companies, despite Washington’s security fears. When David Bruntz, vice-president of the US Meat Export Federation, recently began looking for drones to monitor the cattle on his Nebraska ranch, he found that only one brand offered a “reasonably priced” solution: the Chinese tech giant DJI.