US-China relations

China pips the US if Asean is forced to choose, but analysts warn against reading it like a sports result

Sentiments in the region over the two major powers flip again in Iseas-Yusof Ishak’s annual South-east Asia survey

Concerns about climate change signal heightened public awareness of the economic, social and environmental impact of extreme weather events.

Climate risks, great power rivalry the top concerns for South-east Asian nations: survey

Countries are finding it increasingly difficult to balance between the US and China

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Apec summit, in Busan, South Korea on Oct 30, 2025.

US trade war with China in focus ahead of Trump-Xi summit in May

Trump's trip comes just a year after Washington rolled out sweeping and at times erratic global tariffs.

The bill would also introduce new controls that affect both foreign and US firms, such as Applied Materials.   

US lawmakers propose crackdown on chip tool sales to China

[HONG KONG] US lawmakers unveiled legislation that seeks to crack down on exports of chipmaking tools to China, especially from allies including the Netherlands and Japan, in a bipartisan effort to he...

Donald Trump has sought China's help in pressuring Teheran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but Beijing has so far declined.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Beijing bound: What the Trump-Xi summit in May reveals about a world in flux

Underlying all issues is the broader contest for global influence

Trump has already imposed an across-the-board 10% levy as a stopgap measure, effectively lowering the rate on Chinese goods for now.

Trump reschedules China visit for Xi talks to May 14-15 after Iran war delay

The US president has vowed to rebuild that tariff wall through other authorities

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping leaving a bilateral meeting in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025.
NEWS ANALYSIS

Delay in Trump’s China visit gives both sides time to hammer out trade deal

The US president’s request to delay his trip to China came just hours after officials from both sides met in Paris for trade talks

A garment factory in Ho Chi Minh City. Targets of the US probes include Vietnam, which had the largest trade surplus with the US in January.

US tariff turmoil: Will partners in Asia and Europe break away from their 2025 deals?

For economies already hit by the war in Iran, America’s new ‘unfair trade practices probes’ spell only more trouble

Trump has sought to raise pressure on other economies to provide resources to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the safe passage of tankers and other vessels.

Trump says he asked China to delay Xi summit due to Iran war

The decision to put off the summit may not be a major disappointment for Beijing

US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet for three days from Mar 31 to Apr 2.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Deals over principles: Trump’s China gambit in the shadow of Iran

Can the two great powers arrive at an agreement at the upcoming bilateral summit in Beijing?