Beijing tensions: EU trade crackdown, Putin visit, Dutch warship incident
7 global relations reads from SCMP's May 2026 overseas correspondents
The South China Morning Post's overseas correspondents selected seven pivotal global relations stories from May 2026. The most significant development came from Brussels, where the European Commission agreed on a tough new approach to trade with China during a rare Beijing-focused debate. This trade-oriented orientation debate is seen internally as the starting gun for an intense period of China policy, with Beijing immediately vowing retaliation.
In another major diplomatic move, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for a visit aimed at deepening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, occurring just four days after the Chinese capital hosted US President Donald Trump. Additionally, China's military revealed it used measures including electronic interference to drive away a Dutch warship near the disputed Paracel Islands, accusing the Dutch navy of triggering 'miscalculation' in a rare public condemnation.
- EU's European Commission agreed on a tough new China trade policy, with Beijing vowing retaliation
- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing just 4 days after Donald Trump's visit
- China drove away a Dutch warship near the Paracel Islands using electronic interference
Why It Matters
These stories signal escalating geopolitical tensions between China, the EU, and the US in trade and military spheres.