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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

Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

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6
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

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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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5
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
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and her Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, shake hands at the end a joint press announcement at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

Malaysia rises as Asean ‘middle power’ through new Japan LNG deal

Petronas’ 20-year agreement to supply JERA with LNG shows how Malaysia is using its natural resources to strengthen ties, analysts say.

US-China relations

Chinese propagandists stoking dissent over Trump tariffs, data centres: OpenAI

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United States

Trump says US might not renew trade deal with Mexico and Canada

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US-China relations

How will the Pentagon’s expanded blacklist of Chinese firms affect Xi’s US visit?

Washington’s latest move tests fragile ‘stability’ reached at leadership summit in Beijing and highlights intense competition, analysts say.

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Chinese robotics company Unitree, whose G1 Humanoid Robot was displayed during London Tech Week on Monday, has been added to the Pentagon's updated list of Chinese military-linked companies. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

US firms pay price for Trump’s China tariffs, export controls, study finds

US-China Business Council survey points to lost sales for American companies, with few signs of reshoring.

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China-EU relations

Opinion | EU threat of trade war against China is a strategic farce

The EU is mistaken in believing it still has economic leverage. A trade war will not save an economy in decline.

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Singapore

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to visit Russia, first since Ukraine war sanctions

Ties between Singapore and Russia nosedived after the city state imposed sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong listens to the keynote speech at the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue security summit in Singapore last month. Photo: Reuters
United States

US trade court to Trump administration: speed up tariff refunds

US judge urges faster refunds of billions of dollars in revenue from tariffs that were ‌collected and later deemed illegal by Supreme Court.

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US-China relations

Trump urged to press Xi on Chinese money laundering tied to Mexican cartels

Congressional hearing witnesses encourage US president to tackle alleged fentanyl supply chain crisis linked to Chinese money laundering.

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US-China relations

Trump has an understanding with Xi. His own administration doesn’t like it

US president’s warmer tone towards Beijing has raised hopes in China, but US tariffs, export curbs and lawmakers tell a different story.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iran as Tehran targets bases in Bahrain and Jordan

US helicopter crew rescued near Oman, but Trump’s decision to retaliate adds new strain to already fragile peace efforts.

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US Apache helicopters flying over the Strait of Hormuz on April 17. Photo: US Central Command via AFP
China-North Korea relations

Has Xi Jinping’s North Korea visit helped cement China’s vital role?

The Chinese leader’s meetings with Kim Jong-un may have helped underline that Pyongyang cannot do without Beijing’s economic support.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Is Trump calling the shots on Israel, or just pretending to?

The US president says he’s losing patience with Israel’s prime minister. Analysts say he’s just playing to the crowd.

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US-China relations

Pentagon blacklists China tech giants as US competition expands

Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Unitree were among Chinese companies added to a US military blacklist as competition between the nations expands further into technology.

Photo: Xinhua
Asean

As Putin courts Southeast Asia, does ‘Russia need Asean more’?

Southeast Asia needs energy. Russia needs friends. Next week’s summit in Kazan could offer opportunities for both sides.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a virtual Asean meeting via videoconference in 2021. Photo: Sputnik/ Kremlin/AP
Mainland China

Opinion | As the Quad loses its anchor, China has a chance to act

As the relevance of anti-China groupings such as the Quad and Aukus fades, Beijing and its neighbours have more room for dialogue.

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Donald Trump

Trump’s forced-labour tariffs put Southeast Asia in the firing line

Washington’s proposed tariffs of 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent could push regional countries to accelerate economic integration.

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South Korea

‘Attacker would need to say sorry’: South Korea’s Lee rejects Japan defence ties

President Lee Jae Myung says Tokyo must offer a genuine apology before a military logistics pact can move forward.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung looks on as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a joint press conference in Andong, South Korea, on May 19. Photo: Kyodo
US, Israel war on Iran

Israel and Iran hold fire after exchange, but warn of escalation if provoked

Middle East foes lift immediate safety restrictions while actively preparing for the next wave of retaliation.

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US-China relations

Nationals from China, India among 17 new US denaturalisation cases

Chinese-born Georgia resident among 17 people accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealing serious crimes.

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Americas and the Caribbean

US sanctions over 100 Nicaraguan officials and relatives after activist death

Marco Rubio announces sweeping visa restrictions, pointing to the death of imprisoned Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera.

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega with his wife and co-president Rosario Murillo. Photo: AP
US-China relations

US adds Alibaba, BYD, other Chinese tech champions to military company blacklist

Trump administration has designated top China firms as ‘Chinese military companies’ operating in the United States.

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E-commerce giant Alibaba has been added to a list of entities that the US says are linked to China’s military. Photo: AP
United States

Opinion | US’ 250th anniversary celebrations will put its decline on display

US President Donald Trump’s plans for the country’s 250th anniversary don’t seem to project what makes the American experiment worth honouring.

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China trade

Tungsten and eyelashes: N Korea-China trade hits 9-year high as Xi hails ties

On his state visit to Pyongyang, President Xi eyes infrastructure, agriculture and tech gains as cross-border rail restarts, while high volumes of hair and tungsten fuel China’s imports.

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Ukraine war

European powers back Zelensky’s call for summit with Putin

UK, France and Germany endorse face-to-face ceasefire talks, but the Kremlin has so far ruled out a meeting.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Photo: Reuters
India

Opinion | As Asia’s strategic landscape evolves, what is the Quad’s purpose?

Countries like India can’t afford to let ties with China be defined by a grouping focused on reacting to one power and lacking a broader positive vision.

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Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attend a joint press conference following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on May 26. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

US considers ‘buying’ Chagos Islands from Mauritius

Reported proposal outlines direct deal with Mauritius after the US criticised the UK’s plan to cede sovereignty.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran, Israel halt attacks after first exchange of fire since April truce

US President Donald Trump had said the two nations must ‘immediately stop shooting’.

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