54 h. ago EU pushes for ‘independence’ from China and US – but can it achieve it?

For more than four months, Europe has been one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite punchbags, absorbing bruising blows on trade, security and social issues. Over the same period, the European Union has held out an olive branch to Beijing, seeking concessions on economic matters in exchange for better political ties. The consensus now in Brussels is that China has chosen not to grab it. Sandwiched between two uncompromising superpowers, a growing number of European leaders are pushing for...

Politics

54 h. ago EU pushes for ‘independence’ from China and US – but can it get there?

For more than four months, Europe has been one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite punchbags, absorbing bruising blows on trade, security and social issues. Over the same period, the European Union has held out an olive branch to Beijing, seeking concessions on economic matters in exchange for better political ties. The consensus now in Brussels is that China has chosen not to grab it. Sandwiched between two uncompromising superpowers, a growing number of European leaders are pushing for...

Politics

61 h. ago Trump moves to block foreign drone makers from selling new models in US

US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders meant to rebuild America’s drone industry, tighten airspace security and boost military readiness, potentially squeezing Chinese manufacturers like DJI and Autel Robotics out of the market. “Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies,” Trump stated in one of the orders, warning that foreign-made drones were “endangering the public” and compromising critical infrastructure. The orders also call for federal...

Politics

65 h. ago Trump’s top economic officials to meet with China counterparts in London next week

US President Donald Trump’s top economic officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts on Monday. “I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting in London on Monday, June 9, 2025, with Representatives of China, with reference to the Trade Deal,” Trump said on social media. “The meeting should go very well. Thank you for your attention to this...

Politics

65 h. ago Trump says his top economic officials will meet with China counterparts in London next week

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his top economic officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts next week to discuss trade, just days after he conducted a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting in London on Monday, June 9, 2025, with Representatives of China, with reference...

Politics

65 h. ago Trump says US economic officials to meet China counterparts in London next week

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his top economic officials will meet with their Chinese counterparts next week to discuss trade, just days after he conducted a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and also reiterated that Beijing agreed to restart exports of critical minerals. “I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting...

Politics

3 d. ago Caught in a bad bromance: Trump and Musk go for the throat – what just happened?

Hours after US President Donald Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday night and shared optimistic remarks about the call on social media, a public feud escalated between him and his biggest political donor. Elon Musk, once Trump’s most high-profile donor and self-proclaimed “first buddy”, lambasted the “big beautiful bill” earlier this week – one of Trump’s key domestic policy initiatives that was recently passed by the House – lighting the fuse on a public fight that quickly...

Politics

3 d. ago As costs of Trump’s chaos become clear, expect him to shift the blame

Perhaps this is a good moment for an audit of US President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” (Maga) acolytes’ efforts to reshape the world as we have known it for over seven decades. That means reviewing the 130-or-so days since his inauguration, during which he has seeded the storm, and looking towards the 500-or-so days up to next year’s US midterm elections, during which he is set to reap the whirlwind. One clear certainty is that we face a period of unrelenting uncertainty,...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump’s Harvard ban, how early birds conquered the skies: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump orders immediate ban on new Chinese and other foreign students at Harvard The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus. 2. Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust...

Politics

3 d. ago China’s ‘milestone’ engine, battery scientist leaves US: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump orders immediate ban on new Chinese and other foreign students at Harvard The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus. 2. Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust...

Science

4 d. ago Pakistan’s bitcoin reserve plan aims to turn energy surplus into tech investment

Following in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump’s administration, Pakistan plans to create a sovereign bitcoin reserve powered by unused electricity in a bold bid to monetise its energy oversupply and attract foreign tech investors. Analysts warn that the high-risk strategy could strain Pakistan’s fragile power grid, raise red flags with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and expose Islamabad to cryptocurrency market volatility. However, some argue it could also help diversify the...

Science

4 d. ago Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust issues

Russia’s fresh bid to revive a strategic triangle with China and India as a counterbalance to the Western-led international order faces headwinds given the deep-seated distrust between the two Asian powers, according to observers. However, United States President Donald Trump and his aggressive and unpredictable policies could be the catalyst to bring the three together, one analyst says. The assessment was made as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov objected to what he described as Nato’s...

Politics

4 d. ago Australia’s Albanese to meet China’s Xi in Beijing this summer: source

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to become the latest world leader to travel to Beijing for trade talks, as countries around the world scramble to navigate the turbulence unleashed by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The Australian leader is expected to arrive in the Chinese capital in July or August, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Post on condition of anonymity, with the European Union also scheduled to hold a crunch summit with China during the...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump orders immediate ban on new Chinese and other foreign students at Harvard

The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus. In a proclamation on Wednesday night, Trump said he would immediately block the Ivy League school from enrolling new international students or exchange visitors, while also ordering the State Department to review whether current foreign enrolments should have their visas revoked. The sweeping...

Politics

4 d. ago China vows to protect students in face of ban on new foreign students at Harvard

China has pledged to “firmly safeguard” the interests of its students following US President Donald Trump’s ban on international enrolment at Harvard University. Citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus, Trump announced in a proclamation on Wednesday night that he would immediately block the Ivy League school from enrolling new international students or exchange visitors, while also ordering the State Department to review whether current foreign enrolments...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump social media post casts uncertainty on possible call with Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump said that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping was “extremely hard to make a deal with”, casting uncertainty over a possible phone call between the two leaders that the White House has said was expected this week. “I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform at around 2.17am local time on Wednesday. When asked about Trump’s comments, Chinese foreign...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump says 'extremely hard' to make a deal with China's President Xi Jinping as trade talks stall

Trump says 'extremely hard' to make a deal with China's President Xi Jinping as trade talks stall  CNBC

Politics

5 d. ago EU industry could grind to a halt over China’s rare earth restrictions

Chinese government restrictions on the export of rare earth elements have forced some European companies to halt production using the highly sought-after minerals essential for making smartphones and electric vehicles. The measures announced by Beijing on April 4 were seen as retaliation against US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”, but European industry now warns it is being caught in the crossfire. The EU Chamber of Commerce in China has held several meetings with China’s Ministry...

Politics

5 d. ago ‘Getting seriously worse’: EU firms sound alarm over China’s rare earth curbs

Chinese government restrictions on the export of rare earth elements have forced some European companies to halt production using the highly sought-after minerals essential for making smartphones and electric vehicles. The measures announced by Beijing on April 4 were seen as retaliation against US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”, but European industry now warns it is being caught in the crossfire. The EU Chamber of Commerce in China has held several meetings with China’s Ministry...

Events

5 d. ago Trump likely to speak with China's president this week, White House says

Trump likely to speak with China's president this week, White House says  CBS News

Politics