From a bloated UN to ‘red carpet’ visas for Chinese spies, here are highlights from our correspondents in the second half of April 2026
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenSCMPPublished: 10:30pm, 4 May 2026We 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. UN bloated, costly, but China fears to keep US involved, House committee toldPhoto: ReutersThe United Nations is bloated, costly, badly in need of reform, and too often works against US interests, but pulling out of the international organisation would see China expand its influence and leave Washington at a major disadvantage, according to testimony before a House oversight committee in April.
China became the United States’ “most consequential threat and competitor in space,” leveraging its capabilities “as a tool of diplomacy and influence”, as the two countries’ race to the moon intensifies.
As the race with China over artificial intelligence intensifies, US lawmakers unveiled a draft bill that would, for the first time, require the State Department to deliver a detailed assessment of Beijing’s artificial intelligence ambitions, including identifying “specific AI leaders”.
