Politics

A 35-year CIA veteran explains what China's up to around Taiwan and what the US should do about it

Taiwanese soldiers carry a surface-to-air missile to a launcher during a military exercise at an air force base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, August 24, 2010. REUTERS/Nicky Loh Rising tensions between China and Taiwan, including increasing Chinese military activity, have US officials worried about a conflict. John Culver, a 35-year CIA officer and former national intelligence officer for East Asia, explains the risk of future conflict in the Taiwan Strait, how Taiwan is responding to rising ...
Tags: Military & Defense Contributors, Military & Defense, Politics Contributors, Politics, Brookings Institution, News Contributor, Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, CIA, InsiderAsia, CCP, KMT, PLA, ROC

The Latest: Michigan pushing for more vaccines amid spike

By The Associated Press DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to keep pushing the White House for more COVID-19 vaccines as the state experiences a spike in cases. The Democrat on Sunday told CBS’ “Face The Nation” that she plans to work with the White House but wants to do everything she can to get additional vaccine doses. President Joe Biden has said Washington will give Michigan more federal resources to support vaccinations and testing but not additional vaccines. Michigan has the ...
Tags: Uncategorized

The US is 'not focused on a boycott' of the 2022 Olympics in China amid human rights concerns, Blinken says

A Chinese flag flutters in front of the IOC headquarters during a protest by activists of the International Tibet Network against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on February 3, 2021 in Lausanne. Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images The United States is "not focused" on boycotting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Calls for nations, including the US, to boycott next year's games are growing. Tensions are rising between the US, its allies, and China over allegations of human rights violati...
Tags: News, Politics, International, China, Beijing Olympics, Antony Blinken, Uyghur Muslims

The US needs to use its vast cultural resources to crush China in the global influence game

President Joe Biden speaks at the White House on March 6, 2021. Samuel Corum/Getty Images As we did with the Soviet Union, the US needs to pioneer the global conversation against China. China's attempts to gain international influence have largely failed. The US needs to establish cultural centers across the globe to inspire American values and ideals. This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author. See more stories on Insider's business page. Why is ...
Tags: Washington, White House, China, US, America, Trends, Joe Biden, Beijing, West, United States, Louis Armstrong, Soviet Union, China China, China Times, Brett Bruen, Trump Administration

The Olympics committee hired a Chinese company that advertises using Xinjiang cotton to make staff uniforms for the Tokyo Games

A 2010 photo of farmers near Hami, Xinjiang, seen pouring sacks of cotton onto a truck. REUTERS China is accused of forcing Uyghur Muslims to work in manufacturing across the Xinjiang region. The US banned Xinjiang cotton imports in January, and major US companies have boycotted using it. Axios reported that Olympics organizers hired a firm that uses Xinjiang cotton to make Tokyo Games uniforms. See more stories on Insider's business page. The International Olympic Committee contracted...
Tags: Politics, China, US, Sports, Trends, Nike, Beijing, News UK, Tokyo, Xinjiang, Ioc, International Olympic Committee, Taobao, Uighur, Istanbul Turkey, Worker Rights Consortium

Biden says China is 'racing ahead' of the US in a fiery speech bashing Republicans who oppose his infrastructure plan

President Joe Biden has portrayed his infrastructure plan as a means of strengthening democracy and undermining autocracy. Alex Wong/Getty Images In a Wednesday speech, Biden framed investing in infrastructure as a matter of national security. He said that delaying doing so benefited China, and he bashed Republicans for opposing his plan. China is "counting on American democracy to be too slow ... to keep up the pace," he said. See more stories on Insider's business page. President Joe...
Tags: Politics, News, Republicans, China, US, America, Trends, Joe Biden, Infrastructure, Beijing, Gop, Washington Dc, State Department, Biden, Xinjiang, United States of America

Biden warns China is 'racing ahead' of the US in a fiery speech bashing Republicans who oppose his infrastructure plan

President Joe Biden has portrayed his infrastructure plan as a means of strengthening democracy and undermining autocracy. Alex Wong/Getty Images Biden framed investing in infrastructure as a matter of national security in a Wednesday speech. He warned that delaying doing so benefits China and bashed Republicans for opposing his plan. China is "counting on American democracy to be too slow, too limited, and too divided to keep up the pace," he said. See more stories on Insider's busine...
Tags: Politics, News, Republicans, China, US, America, Trends, Joe Biden, Infrastructure, Beijing, Gop, Washington Dc, State Department, Biden, Xinjiang, United States of America

White House says Beijing Winter Olympics boycott ‘not being discussed’

The Biden administration is not discussing a multi-nation boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing because of human rights violations by China, the White House said Wednesday, appearing to walk back statements by a State Department spokesman a day earlier. White House press secretary Jen Psaki’s comments came amid mounting calls, both domestically and internationally, to boycott the Beijing Games because of what a recent State Department report characterized as China’s “genocide and c...
Tags: Hong Kong, Usa, News, White House, China, Sports, Sport, World news, Beijing, Soccer, United States, Xi Jinping, Olympics, Muslim, State Department, Biden

The US is talking to allies about boycotting 2022 Beijing Olympics over genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang

A Chinese flag flutters in front of the IOC headquarters during a protest by activists of the International Tibet Network against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on Februay 3, 2021 in Lausanne. Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images The US and its allies are discussing a possible boycott of the 2020 Beijing Olympics. "It is something that we certainly wish to discuss," the State Department said on Tuesday. China is facing growing backlash over what's widely considered to be genocide against ...
Tags: Politics, UK, News, China, US, Sports, International, Trends, Eu, Beijing, Canada, Olympics, Alaska, New York Times, International criminal court, Moscow

China made a 'La La Land'-inspired propaganda musical about the life of Uyghur Muslims, which omits all mention of mass surveillance and oppression

A still from the 2021 Chinese propaganda musical "The Wings of Songs." The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China The state-produced "The Wings of Songs" released in China on March 28. It shows Uyghur Muslims living peacefully alongside Han Chinese people. In reality, Uyghurs are heavily monitored and detained in their homeland of Xinjiang. See more stories on Insider's business page. China released a propaganda musical that purportedly depicts the life ...
Tags: Politics, China, US, Trends, Beijing, Canada, Netherlands, News UK, Un, The New York Times, Xinjiang, Times, Uighur, Istanbul Turkey, Agence France Presse, Murad Sezer Reuters

The Nuclear Military-Industrial Complex

For the Symposium on Martin J. Sherwin, Gambling with Armageddon: Nuclear Roulette from Hiroshima to the Cuban Missile Crisis (Knopf, 2020). Jeremi Suri If nuclear weapons were the most threatening disease of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest near-death experience. Martin Sherwin’s new book, Gambling with Armageddon, offers an alarming autopsy: “Crisis management was in the mix, but the indispensable ingredient was luck. Very good luck” (5).             Sherwin...
Tags: Navy, North Korea, France, White House, China, Russia, India, Israel, Time, America, Turkey, Beijing, Britain, United States, Pakistan, Middle East

China's foreign ministry took a victory lap after the BBC moved its correspondent out of the country, claiming he was 'smearing' them

BBC China correspondent John Sudworth. BBC News/YouTube China said the BBC correspondent who left the country wrote "fake news with ideological prejudice." John Sudworth had examined the origins of COVID-19 and China's treatment of Uyghurs. The BBC said Sudworth's work "exposed truths" that China "did not want the world to know." See more stories on Insider's business page. China took a victory lap after the BBC moved its correspondent out of the country, claiming he was "smear...
Tags: Politics, Human Rights, China, Trends, Bbc, Taiwan, Speed, Beijing, News UK, Xinjiang, Uighur, Chinese Foreign Ministry, BBC World News, Hua Chunying, John Sudworth, CGTN

China accuses the US of 'political manipulation' after 14 countries allege Beijing hid data on the origins of COVID-19

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. Getty Images China on Wednesday accused the US of politicizing the COVID-19 pandemic. The US and 13 other countries criticized China over a lack of transparency on the disease's origins. The criticism was linked to a new WHO report that came out this week. See more stories on Insider's business page. China on Wednesday accused the US of "political manipulation" as Beijing faces criticism over a World Health Organization report o...
Tags: Politics, Science, News, White House, China, US, Trends, Joe Biden, Beijing, Who, World Health Organization, Un, Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Hua Chunying

The BBC moved its China correspondent to Taiwan after Beijing attacked him for reporting on the Uyghurs

BBC China correspondent John Sudworth. BBC News/YouTube The BBC said John Sudworth, its China correspondent, has relocated to Taiwan. It came after China attacked both the reporter and broadcaster for its coverage of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. China also banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country in February. See more stories on Insider's business page. The BBC said on Wednesday that it had relocated its China correspondent to Taiwan, a move that came after Chinese government...
Tags: Politics, UK, China, Trends, Bbc, BBC News, Taiwan, Speed, Beijing, News UK, Shanghai, John, Xinjiang, BBC World News, Global Times, Xinjiang China

Historic visit to Taiwan by a US ambassador draws 'red line' warning from China

Palau President Surangel Whipps, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and US Ambassador to Palau John Hennessey-Niland at a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan, March 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang The US ambassador to Palau joined the Palauan presidential delegation visiting Taipei this week. It is the first visit by a US envoy since the US switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979. See more stories on Insider's business page. Beijing has warned Washington not to cross its "red line"...
Tags: Politics, Washington, China, US, Trends, Taiwan, Beijing, US Senate, Pentagon, State Department, Biden, Taipei, Donald Trump, Pacific, Taipei Taiwan, Huang

A WHO investigation into the coronavirus' origins points the finger at animals in Chinese wildlife farms

A worker in protective GEAR directs members of the World Health Organization team at the airport in Wuhan, China, January 14, 2021. AP Photo/Ng Han Guan The coronavirus likely jumped from animals to people, possibly at wildlife farms, the WHO found. The AP obtained the WHO's forthcoming report about its investigation into the virus' origins in China. The report says it's "extremely unlikely" the virus leaked from a lab. See more stories on Insider's business page. A new Wor...
Tags: Health, Science, News, White House, China, US, Trends, Ap, Cnn, Beijing, Who, World Health Organization, Associated Press, Npr, Donald Trump, Anthony Fauci

America must remain vigilant about China’s global ambitions

Let’s not ignore the red flags: China wants to rule the world. Cyberattacks, aggressive naval movements in the South China Sea, and destabilizing nearby nations — the Chinese government has been keener than ever to replace the United States as the most superior force on the face of the Earth. Right before U.S. officials met with the Chinese envoys in Alaska last week, a hacking group linked to the Chinese government attacked thousands of businesses, government offices, and schools in the U.S. vi...
Tags: Obama, Congress, California, Opinion, White House, China, Defense, America, Eu, Sport, Iran, Earth, Afghanistan, Beijing, Soccer, United States

Defiant Johnson tells China: ‘I stand behind sanctioned MPs’

Politicians facing Beijing ban for views on Uighurs are welcomed to Rose GardenBoris Johnson has made an orchestrated gesture of defiance to Beijing, and of support for its critics, by on Saturday meeting a cross-party group of MPs and peers sanctioned by China for their stance on human rights abuses in Xinjiang.Barely a month ago, the prime minister declared himself “fervently Sinophile”, determined to pursue trade and investment deals with Beijing “whatever the occasional political difficultie...
Tags: Politics, China, UK News, World news, Beijing, Asia Pacific, Boris Johnson, Iain Duncan Smith, Johnson, Xinjiang, Helena Kennedy, Rose GardenBoris Johnson

Biden can't afford to laugh-off Kim Jong Un's provocations

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the launch of a Hwasong-12 missile in this undated photo released by North Korea on September 16, 2017. KCNA via REUTERS President Joe Biden seemed to laugh off North Korea's latest missile tests over the weekend. With that attitude, Biden may miss a chance at diplomacy, leading to more back and forth tension-creating events by both sides in the months ahead. See more stories on Insider's business page. We can fill a book full of troubling ad...
Tags: Asia, South Korea, Politics, Opinion, Washington, North Korea, China, US, Trends, Joe Biden, Beijing, Moon, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Biden, Seoul

Nikki Haley says Biden doesn't criticize China by sharing clip from news conference where the president ripped into Xi Jinping

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Matt York/AP Photo Nikki Haley on Thursday accused Biden of thinking it's unnecessary to criticize China. This came after a news conference where Biden said Xi doesn't have a democratic "bone in his body." Haley criticized Biden's stance on China while sharing a clip from the same news conference. See more stories on Insider's business page. Nikki Haley on Thursday accused President Joe Biden of being weak on China by sharing a selective...
Tags: Hong Kong, Politics, News, China, US, America, Trends, Joe Biden, Beijing, Xi Jinping, Alaska, United Nations, Biden, Xinjiang, Donald Trump, Trump

The Guardian view on China, Xinjiang and sanctions: the gloves are off | Editorial

Beijing wants to silence critics of its treatment of Uighurs. But the impact will be broaderChina’s response to criticisms of horrifying human rights violations in Xinjiang is clear and calculated. Its aims are threefold. First, the sanctions imposed upon individuals and institutions in the EU and UK are direct retaliation for those imposed upon China over its treatment of Uighurs. That does not mean they are like-for-like: the EU and UK measures targeted officials responsible for human rights a...
Tags: Europe, Business, Politics, UK, China, Religion, US, International Trade, Eu, European Union, UK News, World news, US news, Beijing, Asia Pacific, US politics

Biden's diplomacy looks a lot like Trump's, and it comes with the same dangers

US and Chinese officials had a tense first meeting since Biden's inauguration in Anchorage, Alaska. President Joe Biden has dealt with US foes much in the way President Donald Trump did. That aggressive, uncompromising approach harms US economic standing and puts useful diplomacy out of reach. Bonnie Kristian is a fellow at Defense Priorities. See more stories on Insider's business page. There was a "strong smell of gunpowder and drama" at US-China talks in Alaska last week, said...
Tags: Politics, Vladimir Putin, Opinion, Washington, North Korea, China, Russia, US, America, Trends, Joe Biden, US foreign policy, Iran, Beijing, United States, Alaska

Biden says China wants to become the most wealthy, powerful country but it's 'not gonna happen on my watch'

Then Vice President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a 2012 meeting in California. China now has the lead in 5G infrastructure, but experts say don't count Silicon Valley out yet. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Biden said that he won't let China become the world's most powerful, wealthy country. He said the competition between the US and China is a fight between democracy and autocracy. "We have to prove that democracy works." See more stories on Insider&...
Tags: Politics, Usa, News, Democracy, Washington, China, Russia, US, Trends, Cold War, Joe Biden, Beijing, Xi Jinping, Silicon Valley, Biden, Frederic J Brown

The future of war and defence in Europe

We face a critical challenge: unless Europeans do far more for their own defence, Americans will be unable to defend them; but there can be no credible future defence of Europe without America!The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift of power from West to East, revealing a host of vulnerabilities in Europe’s defences and making major war in Europe again a possibility. The lessons of history? From D-Day to the creation and development of NATO, the importance of sufficient and legitimate mi...
Tags: Europe, Books, Politics, Featured, China, Russia, US, America, Eu, Iran, War, Beijing, West, United States, Defence policy, Nato

Biden says he's 'proud' of his secretary of state for confronting China's top diplomat in a heated debate

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confronted China on human rights abuses in the first high-level talks between the US and China under the Biden administration. Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images Biden on Friday expressed pride in Blinken for confronting Chinese diplomats in Alaska. Blinken and China's top diplomat engaged in a lengthy verbal spat on Thursday. The secretary of state called out China for human rights abuses and defended America's record. See more stories on Insider'...
Tags: Hong Kong, Politics, News, China, US, America, Trends, Atlanta, Joe Biden, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Xi Jinping, Alaska, Associated Press, State Department

10 Things in Politics: AOC's road ahead

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Good morning! Welcome back to 10 Things in Politics. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox each day. Send your tips and suggestions to [email protected] or tweet me @BrentGriffiths. Here's what you need to know:AOC says fans worried about her future need to quit pining for the "one" and get working themselvesAtlanta officer says "everything is on the table" after backlash to oth...
Tags: Transportation, Hong Kong, Politics, Cdc, Washington, Senate, White House, China, US, America, Barack Obama, Newsletter, Trends, Atlanta, Georgia, Indiana

10 Things in Politics: White House links Trump anti-Asian rhetoric to violence

Law enforcement outside a massage parlor where a person was shot and killed on March 16, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images Good morning! Welcome back to 10 Things in Politics. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox each day. Send your tips and suggestions to [email protected] or tweet me @BrentGriffiths. Here's what you need to know:Top Democrats blame Trump and others for the spike in crimes against Asian Americans.These are the 14 Rep...
Tags: Amazon, Politics, Texas, Washington, Senate, White House, China, US, America, Trends, Atlanta, Georgia, Nasa, Beijing, Pennsylvania, Gop

How a Crimea-like crisis could easily unfold on islands in the South China Sea

The Pratas Islands, known as the Dongsha Islands in Chinese, in July 2008. Alberto Buzzola/LightRocket via Getty Images Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea prompted much international outrage but little meaningful action. Today, a similar scenario could easily unfold in the South China Sea. In this case, China would be the aggressor, while Taiwan's Dongsha Islands, which Beijing also claims, are the potential targets. See more stories on Insider's business page. Russia's 201...
Tags: Asia, Hong Kong, Europe, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Obama, Opinion, Washington, China, Russia, US, Barack Obama, Trends, European Union, Joe Biden, Ukraine

Biden gives Taiwan a boost with submarine technology it can't build on its own

Taiwanese submarines at a navy base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, March 21, 2017. Reuters Taiwan's plans to build its own submarine fleet received a boost after the US approved the sale of the sensitive equipment. The US has been reluctant to sell advanced defense technology to Taipei, but Biden appears to be continuing Trump's approach. See more stories on Insider's business page. Taiwan's programme to build its own submarine fleet has received a boost after the US approved the sa...
Tags: South Korea, Japan, Washington, White House, China, US, Trends, Joe Biden, Taiwan, Beijing, Asia Pacific, Alaska, State Department, Biden, Taipei, Donald Trump

Boris Johnson's defence plans leave the threat from China 'unchecked' warns Conservative MP

British MP Tobias Ellwood walks outside the Houses of the Parliament in London, Britain August 28, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls REUTERS/Henry Nicholls Tobias Ellwood, chair of the UK's defence committee, said the UK's new foreign policy roadmap failed to address the growing threat of China. 'China will be delighted that yet again they can continue exploiting our weak rules-based order,' he said. Ellwood also condemned Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab's comments that Brita...
Tags: Hong Kong, Politics, UK, London, News, China, Nazis, Russia, Trends, Beijing, Britain, Xi Jinping, Ministry Of Defence, Boris Johnson, Parliament, Johnson