Christmas tree troubles, new Pacific missile launch: 7 US-China relations reads

From a ruckus over Christmas trees to new drug trafficking arrests, here are highlights from our overseas correspondents in the first half of July 2026

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American Christmas tree growers are getting involved in the US-China trade war over fears for their profits this winter. Photo: Shutterstock

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 .
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

A growing number of US lawmakers see the tax code as a way to shift corporate America’s reliance on Chinese technology, framing economic ties as a national security risk.

Read the full story here .

2. Lindsey Graham’s death removes one of Washington’s most influential China hawks

Photo: AP
Photo: AP

The death of US Senator Lindsey Graham removed one of Washington’s most influential advocates of a hardline approach towards China at a moment when Republicans are debating how aggressively the United States should confront Beijing and project military power overseas.

Read the full story here .

3. US says China gave only hours’ warning before Pacific submarine missile launch

Photo: Xinhua
Photo: Xinhua

Washington criticised China for providing only a few hours’ notice ahead of its launch of a submarine-fired ballistic missile into the Pacific, saying Beijing’s actions fell short of standards followed by other major nuclear powers.