The Point with Liu Xin

Donald Trump reportedly asked the EU to slap tariffs of up to 100% on China and India, as part of a joint effort to make Russia stop its military operations in Ukraine. Using tariffs as a bargaining chip for foreign policy is nothing new for Washington, but this latest proposal, if true, leaves Europe in a precarious position, as China is the EU's second largest trading partner, and vice versa. If the EU bows to this pressure, what could this mean for the bloc's economy, not to mention its sovereignty? What's behind the latest push by the White House?

The 12th China International Fair for Trade in Services opens on Wednesday in Beijing. Since its inception in 2012, the fair has grown into a global stage for showcasing new trends and technologies in the service sector. It now stands as a microcosm of China's push for openness and high-quality growth, and a window into how China's trade in services is gaining momentum. What can we expect during this year's fair? What does the focus on the service sector reveal about the direction of China's economy? What impact might this have on China and its trading partners?

On September 3, the V-Day parade took place in the center of Beijing. The event commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. What did the parade say about China's position in the world? What messages did China manage to convey? Why is it still important now to remember the hard-won victory and sacrifices made during the Second World War?

On August 31 and September 1, leaders from over 20 countries and 10 international organizations will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the Meeting of the Council of Heads of State and the "SCO Plus" Meeting. The summit will issue a Tianjin Declaration, mapping out the future of the world's largest regional organization. But it's more than just politics. On the grassroots level, people from SCO member countries are forging closer ties with one another. Why do these kinds of exchanges matter? How can members better leverage the opportunities arising therefrom, and especially for young people?

Eighty years ago, over 100 million people were killed or wounded in the World Anti-Fascist War. In the summer of 1945, 50 countries came together in San Francisco and agreed on an international treaty known as the UN Charter, which paved the way for the establishment of the United Nations later that year. This formed the political basis of a new international order, one that intended to enshrine the equal rights of all people and maintain peace. How has this order shaped the world we live in today? How are these ambitious goals faring now? And what might be undermining this hard-won order?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and the end of the Second World War. While the history of the European and American theaters of World War II is generally well understood, the Asian theater receives much less attention. Why is there an apparent blind-spot in people's collective consciousness? Exactly what happened in this part of the world? Why does it matter to revisit this episode in history now?

August 15 marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's announcement of its unconditional surrender in World War II. Yet many in Taiwan remain unaware of the war's true history. Three decades of curriculum changes have aimed to weaken ties with the Chinese mainland, but voices like that of veteran Chinese teacher Ou Kuei-chih are speaking out.

Zhang Bo, chair person and founder of Xizang Chuangbo Aviation Technology Co., Ltd, has decided to relocate to Xizang. Drawn by the region's unique geographical conditions that are ideal for advancing drone and unmanned aerial vehicle research, Zhang had to make the difficult decision of leaving his family behind. Yet, upon arriving, he found a welcoming new community that made him part of the local family.

What comes to mind when you hear the word "Rinpoche"? Perhaps a respected monk quietly reading sutras—but that's just a stereotype. Balog Rinpoche breaks the mold. A true multi-hyphenate, he founded a band that blends the Songs of Milarepa — a form of national intangible cultural heritage—with contemporary, secular music. He's also a Thangka painter and fluent in Tibetan, Mandarin, and English. He is also a living Buddha—a recognized reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism. What sets the modern-day living Buddha apart? How is Buddhism being preserved in China's Xizang Autonomous Region? How can ancient wisdom help us find balance in today's fast-paced world?

Norbu Dramdu is the Founder of Dreamer Education, a private institute for kids from kindergarten to high school in Lhasa. Being a passionate dreamer himself, he's been devoted to helping children in the region realize their dreams. What is his story? What fuels his passion? And what do his students say about him?

First rare earths, now energy imports from Russia? The U.S. seems to be sending mixed signals about its sincerity in trade talks with China. On July 29, 2025, the two sides wrapped up their two-day talks in Stockholm, Sweden, before the U.S. talked of imposing potential punitive tariffs of up to 500% on those who import energy from Russia. What's really going on? What progress have the latest Stockholm talks achieved in bilateral trade and for the world? What are we to expect next?

China's first-ever International Advanced Air Mobility Expo is taking place in Shanghai, showcasing the latest advancements in the industry from home and abroad. Why is China placing such importance on this emerging sector? What changes will the low-altitude economy bring to our daily lives? Will this sector be the next competing ground for major powers such as China, the US and European countries?

On July 15, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose over 10% tariffs on smaller countries, including many in Africa and the Caribbean. In sharp contrast, China reiterated just days ago that it will expand zero-tariff treatment to all African countries that have diplomatic ties with China. This is on top of the list of 43 least-developed countries that already enjoy this policy with China. What can we learn from the two very different approaches towards trade with African countries? What impact can we expect from China's zero-tariff policy for African countries?

This week, figures of economic growth for the first half of the year were released and the strength of China's economy beat expectations. GDP grew by 5.3%, foreign trade in goods increased by 2.7%, hitting a record high, while exports soared by over 7%. But Reuters reports a slowing economy instead. Why is Reuters painting black as white? Why has China not suffered from the second trade war launched by the U.S.? What's behind China's impressive growth picture?

A recent report by the UN Population Fund reveals that the real fertility crisis facing the world is not underpopulation, but a crisis of reproductive agency. The report finds that one in five people around the world are unable to have the number of children they would want. This isn't due to a lack of desire for parenthood, but rather to the soaring costs of raising children, job insecurity, housing challenges, concerns over the state of the world, and the lack of a suitable partner. Why are so many young people unable to fulfill their family goals? How to empower young people to make informed, responsible decisions about the number, timing, and spacing of their children?

The 17th BRICS Summit is taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is attending the summit. This is the first summit after Indonesia joined as the 11th member in January, and Vietnam joined the cooperation mechanism as the tenth partner nation in June. How significant is this year's summit? How committed is China to the BRICS? What does the group's growing attraction mean for the long-underrepresented Global South?

The number of foreign visitors coming into China is skyrocketing: During the first half of the year, Beijing saw a year-on-year increase of 37%. Shanghai's Pudong International Airport alone saw a surge of 46% in foreign visits. What's fueling this rush in traveling to China? What can we expect going forward? What remain to be done to make China more accessible?

Last October, Hong Kong was once again ranked the world's freest economy. In June, the city's global competitiveness rose to the third place — the first time since 2019, according to international rankings. In the face of persistent narratives predicting Hong Kong's decline, what has the National Security Law actually brought to the city? What role has the law played in safeguarding "One Country, Two Systems"? What are the future challenges regarding the city's governance?

Are Chinese students still welcome in the United States? And what about vice versa? What is the situation like for foreign exchange students on both sides of the Pacific? How are the political ups and downs impacting wider people-to-people exchanges? Will things ever return to the way they once were?

The World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, often called Summer Davos, is taking place in Tianjin, a major coastal city in northern China. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the Opening Plenary and delivered an address. The President of Ecuador, Prime Ministers of Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, and Vietnam are attending, together with 1,700 representatives from over 90 countries and regions. As China contributes around 30% of global growth annually, what opportunities will deeper global engagement with its market and innovation ecosystem bring? Why has AI become the buzzword throughout the meeting?

The U.S. launched air strikes on Iran's key nuclear facilities over the weekend. What triggered President Trump to give the go-ahead? How will Iran respond? In what ways would the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz affect the world?

Have you noticed there has been more talk about a certain United Nations resolution numbered 2758? In the Taiwan press, it felt relentless. Resolution 2758 was passed at the 26th session of the UN General Assembly on Oct. 25, 1971. The resolution set the foundation of the UN position concerning Taiwan. What triggered this latest wave of media attention? What's their argument?

From Monday to Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, at the invitation of the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In the land of the Great Steppe, President Xi and his counterparts of five Central Asian countries are expected to further cement China-Central Asia cooperation. Exchanges between China and Central Asia date back at least two thousand years, to the days of the Ancient Silk Road. And with the Belt and Road Initiative, political trust has been enhanced and trade volume has skyrocketed. What does the summit mean for China-Central Asia ties? What results can we expect this time? What do stable China-Central Asia relations mean for the world?

Bilateral trade between China and the EU last year reached US$786 billion with investment rising to US$260 billion. Yet friction remains as the EU has moved to curb the access of Chinese medical device makers to public procurement contracts and imposed high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. This comes after the EU designated China as "a partner for cooperation, an economic competitor, and a systemic rival". How well will this approach play out? What are the expectations for China-EU trade relations going forward? How are U.S. protectionist policies impacting China-EU relations?

A framework was reached in principle for implementing the consensus reached between the two presidents over a recent phone call and the trade deal reached last month in Geneva. That appears to be the outcome of the latest round of talks between the world's two largest economies in London. Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping used the metaphor of "recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations", saying that the two sides should take the helm of the ship, set the right course, and steer clear of disturbances and disruptions as it sails forward. China is sincere and principled. Is the U.S. prepared to do the same?

China has been strengthening its maritime legislation framework for decades, building a robust set of domestic laws to provide a legal basis for its rights over relevant waters. How can international and domestic rule of law help bring peace in the South China Sea? Can we expect more cooperation to emerge between the claimant countries involved? As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Philippines relations, can the two sides seize the opportunity to improve ties?

On June 5th, the presidents of the world's two largest economies spoke on the phone. Both sides discussed trade issues, especially how to advance the agreement reached in Geneva on May 12th. The call also came amid repeated U.S. accusations that China has not followed through on its promises to relax controls over rare earths, minerals that are essential for hi-tech products. What did the two presidents talk about? What signals are they sending to the world? And what are we to expect going forward?

China extends visa-free entry to five Latin American and four Gulf countries, bringing the total to 47. Why the addition of Latin American and Gulf countries this time? What are the expectations from these regions, and what ripple effects could this policy have on business, trade, and tourism ties between China and these countries?

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will "aggressively revoke" visas from Chinese students, "including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." In his announcement on China, Rubio said the government will also "revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications" from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. This comes on the back of threats to limit the number of international students studying in American universities. Why are Chinese students particularly targeted? Are they the easy target in the ongoing feud between the White House and elite universities? How is this impacting the lives of young Chinese students?

The ASEAN-GCC-China Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27th in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability". As this year's ASEAN chair, Malaysia has highlighted its goal of forging and expanding economic partnerships beyond its borders as one of its main priorities. What drives the three parties to embrace each other? What's on the agenda of the summit, and how might this new platform bring fresh dynamics into Asia—and potentially the world?

On May 12th, the Bureau of Industry and Security under the U.S. Commerce Department issued “guidance", stating that using Huawei's most advanced AI chips "anywhere in the world" may violate U.S. export controls. China immediately condemned the move, vowing to take resolute measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. Days later, the U.S. removed the line about "anywhere in the world," but still warns "all persons and companies in the U.S. and abroad" against using "PRC-produced" advanced chips. What does this latest "land grab" mean for businesses and the AI sector around the world? Will it succeed in containing China's development or has that train already left the station? How can companies respond to Washington's latest threats and intimidation?

U.S. buyers jumped on the phone to call their Chinese suppliers as soon as news reached them from Geneva. Demand for goods from China was so high that it led to a shipping container shortage, a sharp reversal from the situation just days ago. Following the high-stakes meetings in Geneva, tariffs came down significantly, and a 90-day pause was set while the two sides are expected to conduct high-level consultations under a joint mechanism. Going forward, will sharp pendulum swings be the new normal? How will the trade and economic talks unfold between the two sides?

The Cannes Film Festival is set to screen two Xizang-related films peddling separatism under the guise of spirituality and ethics. Are these films what they claim to be? Who are the people behind these productions? Have they actually been to Tibet or Xizang and seen it with their own eyes? What do those who live in Xizang today say about their lives, those who have no voice in the star-studded halls and alleyways of the French Riviera?

On May 7, China unveiled a 10-point policy package aimed at enhancing market confidence, boosting long-term liquidity and supporting innovation-driven growth. The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, cut its policy rate and reduced the reserve requirement ratio. Additional measures were announced to shore up technological innovation, consumer services and businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs. Now, China's economy grew by 5.4% during the first quarter of this year and value-added industrial output expanded 6.5% year on year. Retail sales also grew by 4.6% in the first quarter. Against the better-than-expected quarterly figures, why is China rolling out these measures? How will they affect the economy in the short to mid-term? And how have markets reacted so far?

During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia, the two sides issued a joint statement to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, bringing bilateral ties to the highest point in history. What does this mean for the two countries and the world at large?

China-EU relations have stood the test of time, with the two sides marking 50 years of diplomatic relations on May 6th. What shared values underpin this close relationship and where is it heading?

The 47th U.S. President's trade and tariff war against China has domestic retailers warning of empty shelves and economists predicting a U.S. recession before the end of the year. Internationally, China is seen as a more stable partner and a force for good in the world than the United States. How have the first 100 days of the Trump administration impacted bilateral ties? How will the trade fallout unfold in the short term? And how might changes in the comparative standings of the United States and China potentially shape the international landscape?

China, Russia, and Iran support the International Atomic Energy Agency in playing a constructive role in resolving issues pertaining to Iran's nuclear program. A joint meeting between senior diplomats from the three countries and the head of the IAEA sent that message on Thursday. What's the significance of the joint meeting in Vienna? What came out of the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to Beijing? What can we expect from the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S.?

Higher inflation and lower growth. That's the outlook from the IMF's sobering World Economic Outlook for 2025. The report forecasts half a percentage point lower global growth for 2025, compared to January estimates, before Donald Trump returned to the White House. This is the clearest indication to date of the damage his tariff gambit is having on the global economy. In response to reports of the U.S. using tariff relief to coerce countries into distancing themselves from China, the Ministry of Commerce has warned that China will take resolute countermeasures against countries that choose to do so. How to reverse the damage to the global economy before it's too late? Who should make the first move to de-escalate the tariff standoff between the world's two largest economies?

On this special edition of The Point, we are taken back to a pivotal moment in global diplomacy: October 25, 1971, when the United Nations passed Resolution 2758, recognizing the People's Republic of China as the sole lawful representative of China at the UN. Joining us today is a unique eyewitness to history: Charles Liu, founder and chairman of HAO Capital, and founding director of the Center for China and the World at the City University of Macao. Born in Taiwan, he stood at the UN headquarters as the resolution passed. Hear his reflections on that defining day and his response to those now questioning its legacy.

President Xi Jinping is in Malaysia now, as part of his state visits to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Cambodia. On the trip, China looks to strengthen economic ties, boost connectivity and deepen regional cooperation and integration. How does China's neighborhood diplomacy align with the concept of building a community of shared future with neighboring countries? What steps are China and ASEAN countries taking to defend the global multilateral trading order, especially given Washington's recent tariff blitz?

In response to earlier U.S. tariffs announced last week, China retaliated with its own set of measures, including reciprocal tariffs, rare earth export controls, and market stability actions. China has also deployed its economic heavyweights - the central bank, sovereign wealth funds, and financial regulators - into the fray. What other tools does China have up its sleeve? How will China respond to Trump's latest tariff escalation? What chances are there now of a negotiated settlement?