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Current Affairs

Trump-Xi summit worries, tariffs tested, diaspora drama: 7 US-China relations reads

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to…

By Samantha Johnson / April 16, 2026
We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

The lead-up for the consequential Trump-Xi summit has been compressed and rather disjointed given the Middle East war and Trump’s preference for making last-minute decisions based on his “gut”. One source told the South China Morning Post: “You have the most predictable president and the least predictable president. God knows what will come out.”

Read the full story here.

2. As Xi-Trump summit approaches, tariffs continue to choke direct trade

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

Direct trade between China and the United States has continued its shrinking trend, new US government data showed, as the anniversary of “Liberation Day” highlighted how last year’s tariff escalations deepened tensions between the two global powers.

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Read the full story here.

3. How Chinese-American playwright is telling ‘new wave of stories’ about diaspora

Photo: Handout
Photo: Handout

Alex Lin is part of a new generation of Chinese-American voices seeking to articulate their own experiences, ones that often differ radically from those who came before. Her plays offer a window into contemporary American life, while paying homage to how earlier generations have shaped the future.

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