Two weeks before President Donald Trump is scheduled to hash out critical US-China disputes in Beijing, he has set a new condition for the negotiations: help reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

MANILA, March 16 (Reuters) - The Philippines said on Monday it rejected Beijing's assertion of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, disputing a claim by China's embassy that a Filipino diplomat had once conceded the disputed Scarborough Shoal was not part of Philippine territory.

European allies broadly support building closer ties to China — and believe America's role as a global superpower is fading.

President casts doubt on visit with Chinese leader as officials from both countries lay groundwork for improved relations

By David Lawder PARIS, March 16 (Reuters) - Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials were due to conclude talks in Paris on Monday, with potential areas of agreement in agriculture, critical minerals and managed trade that could be taken up by U.

Chicago soybean futures slumped more than 2% on Monday — dropping below $12 a bushel — in the face of a potential delay of US trade talks with China, the world’s top buyer of the oilseed.

The first data release of the year, which gathers both January and February to smooth out lunar new year distortions, comes as China faces both energy-related and geopolitical challenges from the US war in Iran.

BEIJING, March 16 (Reuters) - Prices of China's new homes remained in contraction in February, official data showed on Monday, indicating the troubled property sector is still far from recovery. Home prices fell 0.

PARIS, March 15 (Reuters) - Top U.S. and Chinese economic ⁠officials ⁠held "remarkably stable" talks in Paris on Sunday ⁠that touched on potential areas of agreement in agriculture, critical minerals and managed trade for ​U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider in Beijing, two sources familiar with the talks said.

China imports 40 percent of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

By Liangping Gao, Yukun Zhang and Ryan Woo BEIJING, March 16 (Reuters) - Prices of China's new homes remained in contraction in February, official data showed on Monday, indicating the troubled property sector is still far from recovery even as the country's biggest cities registered some improvement.