China’s play for U.S. allies has a problem: As Germany’s leader showed, Europe’s grievances with Beijing may run deeper than its frustration with Trump. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, tried to sell Germany on a future less tied to the United States and anchored instead in Chinese markets and technology.

Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Trump's tariffs has strengthened China's hand ahead of the leaders summit in April, at a time when Beijing seeks U.S. concessions on Taiwan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Feb. 25, 2026.

Photo: VCG German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took a special test ride in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class on Thursday, personally experiencing the L2 Urban and Highway Navigation System, jointly developed by the German auto company and Chinese technology company Momenta.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing from March 31 to April 2, after a year of heightened trade tensions between the two countries.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trip will test his ability to address tensions between the countries, at a time of strain between Europe and Washington.

This article may be meeting you at a very Chinese time in your life.

BANGKOK (AP) — China on Tuesday restricted exports to 40 Japanese entities it says are contributing to Japan’s “remilitarization,” in the latest escalation of tensions with Tokyo.

During his first official visit to Beijing, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that a yawning trade imbalance between his country and China is "not healthy". Imports into Germany from China were more than double the value of those exported back last year, according to federal statistics.