SYDNEY — Xi Jinping celebrates China’s battle against the coronavirus as a success. But in the United States and other wealthy democracies, the pandemic has driven negative views of China to new heights, a survey published Tuesday showed.

The illness, deaths and disruption caused by the coronavirus in those countries have intensified already strong public distrust of China, where the virus emerged late last year, the results from the Pew Research Center’s survey indicated.

“Unfavorable opinion has soared over the past year,” said the survey on views of China taken this year in 14 countries including Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Germany, Italy and other European nations. “Today, a majority in each of the surveyed countries has an unfavorable opinion of China.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exit-the-dragon-china-faces-heat-as-citizens-across-countries-increasingly-view-it-in-bad-light-333033">Also read|&nbsp;Exit the dragon: China faces heat as citizens across countries increasingly view it in bad light</a>

The results illustrate how much negative opinions of China have taken hold around the world in recent years. To China’s leaders, such wary attitudes could present obstacles for the Communist Party’s ambitions of expanding Beijing’s influence. The tide of public distrust could make cooperation harder even on issues where national interests align.

“Public opinion is a powerful constraint,” said Natasha Kassam, a former Australian diplomat who is a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, where she studies public opinion and foreign policy. “We can see in both Australia and the United States, for example, souring public opinion has served as a powerful driver for governments to be particularly vocal” about China.

The U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, was in Tokyo on Tuesday for meetings with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and India — all nations that have had icy relations with China. Pompeo is often condemned by Chinese officials as an ideological warrior bent on subduing Beijing.

In many Western countries, the coronavirus crisis appears to have deepened public unease about China and Xi, China’s proudly authoritarian leader. Across the 14 countries surveyed, an average of 61% of respondents said China had done a bad job of responding to the outbreak.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-40-nations-rebuke-chinas-human-rights-policies-in-xinjiang-tibet-333035">Also read|&nbsp;Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet</a>

In the United States, negative views about China increased by 13 percentage points compared to a similar survey last year. Close to three-quarters of 1,003 American respondents surveyed in June and July said they now had a somewhat or very unfavorable view of China.

Distrust of Xi’s international intentions reached new highs in every country surveyed, except for Japan and Spain. In the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and several Western European nations, roughly half of the respondents said they had “no confidence at all” in Xi.

“I think this sentiment is likely to persist because of longer-term trends in China toward growing repression,” said Jessica Chen Weiss, an associate professor of government at Cornell University who studies Chinese foreign policy. “As long as its order of priorities remains in place, it will be difficult for the Chinese Communist Party to really turn around the trends in public opinion overseas.”

The rise in disapproving opinions of China was starkest in Australia, which has been mired in diplomatic flare-ups with Beijing in recent months.

Australia has protested the detention in China of Cheng Lei, an Australian news anchor working for Chinese state-run television, and Yang Hengjun, an Australian businessman and writer born in China who is accused of espionage, charges that his supporters say are baseless.

The number of Australian respondents with negative views of China grew by 24 percentage points compared to a year ago, so that 81% said they saw China unfavorably. That was a drastic turn from 2017, when 64% of Australian respondents said they had a favorable view of China.

“Until two years ago, the Australian public very much saw China as an economic opportunity,” said Kassam, the Australian researcher. China’s response to the outbreak has only deepened skepticism in Australia, she said.

In interviews, several Sydney residents said that China could not be held entirely responsible for the global spread of the coronavirus but that the crisis had shown how exposed Australia, and the rest of the world, was to Chinese power.

“As far as I’m concerned, we should move away from China as quickly as possible. They’re too strong, and they can just outrun us,” said Edward Davis, a semiretired commercial lawyer. “We should do our best to trade with them, but we also need to diversify.”

At home, the Communist Party has tried to turn the coronavirus crisis into a political asset by assiduously censoring criticism of its early missteps in the outbreak and highlighting its later success in sharply reducing infections.

But abroad, the Chinese government’s sometimes-triumphant rhetoric and claims of selfless altruism during the crisis have grated in societies struggling to cope with outbreaks or lockdowns. European governments were irritated when China pressed European officials to praise China for medical supplies that it had sent, when Beijing had been muted about the help it provided in the first months of the pandemic. The combative language used by Chinese officials in international disputes has also irked many in Australia, Canada and other countries.

“Many Chinese people seem to have forgotten the first few scary weeks that we experienced, but other countries have not forgotten,” Shen Dingli, a professor of international relations at Fudan University in Shanghai, said by telephone. “It would be better if China had been more low-key and humble.”

The Chinese government has pushed back against the negative sentiment, asserting that it has been unfairly maligned by Western news outlets and politicians who want to escape responsibility for mishandling the crisis.

The Pew survey usually covers many more countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa, where the public often offers more upbeat views about China. But the pandemic made it impossible to organize safe and reliable face-to-face polling, reducing the international scope of the survey, said Laura Silver, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center. The survey was conducted by telephone, with calls lasting about 15 minutes.

Public opinion in countries closely aligned with Beijing was likely to remain favorable to China despite the pandemic, Kassam said. “I think China’s handling of COVID has not so much changed any minds, but entrenched existing perceptions.”

Chinese leaders may feel some consolation that many respondents in the Pew survey took an even dimmer view of how the United States has handled the pandemic. An average of 84% of the people surveyed across the 14 countries said the United States had done a bad job with the coronavirus.

“In the end, this is more damaging for America than for China,” said Shen, the scholar in Shanghai. “China cannot be used to explain away the 210,000 American people who have died from this.”

SYDNEY — Xi Jinping celebrates China’s battle against the coronavirus as a success. But in the United States and other wealthy democracies, the pandemic has driven negative views of China to new heights, a survey published Tuesday showed.

SYDNEY — Xi Jinping celebrates China’s battle against the coronavirus as a success. But in the United States and other wealthy democracies, the pandemic has driven negative views of China to new heights, a survey published Tuesday showed. The illness, deaths and disruption caused by the coronavirus in those countries have intensified already strong public distrust of China, where the virus emerged late last year, the results from the Pew Research Center’s survey indicated. “Unfavorable opinion has soared over the past year,” said the survey on views of China taken this year in 14 countries including Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Germany, Italy and other European nations. “Today, a majority in each of the surveyed countries has an unfavorable opinion of China.” Also read| Exit the dragon: China faces heat as citizens across countries increasingly view it in bad light The results illustrate how much negative opinions of China have taken hold around the world in recent years. To China’s leaders, such wary attitudes could present obstacles for the Communist Party’s ambitions of expanding Beijing’s influence. The tide of public distrust could make cooperation harder even on issues where national interests align. “Public opinion is a powerful constraint,” said Natasha Kassam, a former Australian diplomat who is a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, where she studies public opinion and foreign policy. “We can see in both Australia and the United States, for example, souring public opinion has served as a powerful driver for governments to be particularly vocal” about China. The U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, was in Tokyo on Tuesday for meetings with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and India — all nations that have had icy relations with China. Pompeo is often condemned by Chinese officials as an ideological warrior bent on subduing Beijing. In many Western countries, the coronavirus crisis appears to have deepened public unease about China and Xi, China’s proudly authoritarian leader. Across the 14 countries surveyed, an average of 61% of respondents said China had done a bad job of responding to the outbreak. Also read| Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet In the United States, negative views about China increased by 13 percentage points compared to a similar survey last year. Close to three-quarters of 1,003 American respondents surveyed in June and July said they now had a somewhat or very unfavorable view of China. Distrust of Xi’s international intentions reached new highs in every country surveyed, except for Japan and Spain. In the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and several Western European nations, roughly half of the respondents said they had “no confidence at all” in Xi. “I think this sentiment is likely to persist because of longer-term trends in China toward growing repression,” said Jessica Chen Weiss, an associate professor of government at Cornell University who studies Chinese foreign policy. “As long as its order of priorities remains in place, it will be difficult for the Chinese Communist Party to really turn around the trends in public opinion overseas.” The rise in disapproving opinions of China was starkest in Australia, which has been mired in diplomatic flare-ups with Beijing in recent months. Australia has protested the detention in China of Cheng Lei, an Australian news anchor working for Chinese state-run television, and Yang Hengjun, an Australian businessman and writer born in China who is accused of espionage, charges that his supporters say are baseless. The number of Australian respondents with negative views of China grew by 24 percentage points compared to a year ago, so that 81% said they saw China unfavorably. That was a drastic turn from 2017, when 64% of Australian respondents said they had a favorable view of China. “Until two years ago, the Australian public very much saw China as an economic opportunity,” said Kassam, the Australian researcher. China’s response to the outbreak has only deepened skepticism in Australia, she said. In interviews, several Sydney residents said that China could not be held entirely responsible for the global spread of the coronavirus but that the crisis had shown how exposed Australia, and the rest of the world, was to Chinese power. “As far as I’m concerned, we should move away from China as quickly as possible. They’re too strong, and they can just outrun us,” said Edward Davis, a semiretired commercial lawyer. “We should do our best to trade with them, but we also need to diversify.” At home, the Communist Party has tried to turn the coronavirus crisis into a political asset by assiduously censoring criticism of its early missteps in the outbreak and highlighting its later success in sharply reducing infections. But abroad, the Chinese government’s sometimes-triumphant rhetoric and claims of selfless altruism during the crisis have grated in societies struggling to cope with outbreaks or lockdowns. European governments were irritated when China pressed European officials to praise China for medical supplies that it had sent, when Beijing had been muted about the help it provided in the first months of the pandemic. The combative language used by Chinese officials in international disputes has also irked many in Australia, Canada and other countries. “Many Chinese people seem to have forgotten the first few scary weeks that we experienced, but other countries have not forgotten,” Shen Dingli, a professor of international relations at Fudan University in Shanghai, said by telephone. “It would be better if China had been more low-key and humble.” The Chinese government has pushed back against the negative sentiment, asserting that it has been unfairly maligned by Western news outlets and politicians who want to escape responsibility for mishandling the crisis. The Pew survey usually covers many more countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa, where the public often offers more upbeat views about China. But the pandemic made it impossible to organize safe and reliable face-to-face polling, reducing the international scope of the survey, said Laura Silver, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center. The survey was conducted by telephone, with calls lasting about 15 minutes. Public opinion in countries closely aligned with Beijing was likely to remain favorable to China despite the pandemic, Kassam said. “I think China’s handling of COVID has not so much changed any minds, but entrenched existing perceptions.” Chinese leaders may feel some consolation that many respondents in the Pew survey took an even dimmer view of how the United States has handled the pandemic. An average of 84% of the people surveyed across the 14 countries said the United States had done a bad job with the coronavirus. “In the end, this is more damaging for America than for China,” said Shen, the scholar in Shanghai. “China cannot be used to explain away the 210,000 American people who have died from this.”

Distrust of China jumps to new highs in democratic nations

With multiple reports and claims about China releasing the novel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> into the whole world and with almost every country turning into an enemy, China has had enough.

The Chinese envoy&nbsp;Zhang Jun used the&nbsp;Security Council meeting on global governance to express the country's frustration. The conference was&nbsp;attended by several heads of state through videoconference.

"I must say, enough is enough! You have created enough troubles for the world already," Jun said.

Pointing out the rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US, he asked the US why has the country not been able to contain the spread of the virus like China. "The US has nearly seven million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?" he asked.

"If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves," he said hinting towards the US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Also read| US elections 2020: Trump applauds self's approach towards COVID; calls Biden's approach 'anti-science'</a>

The envoy taunted the US about it being "major power" — a phrase often used by&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;— and said, "The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power."

The remarks came two days after&nbsp;Donald Trump attacked China during his annual address in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which gained support from the UN, and angered the Asian country.

All the heads of the states were asked to send pre-recorded speeches to the UN, which did not give the Chinese leader Xi Jinping an opportunity to reply to&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;accusations in the UNGA address. However, China will be, as per reports, taking a slot on Tuesday to be able to reply to Trump's accusations about COVID-19.

Xi Jinping, in his address, focused on climate change and how to tackle it.&nbsp;Trump, on the other hand, demanded actions against China for spreading the "plague" which he terms as "China virus" — that helps him in the&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US elections</a>, scheduled for November 03.

With multiple reports and claims about China releasing the novel coronavirus into the whole world and with almost every country turning into an enemy, China has had enough.

With multiple reports and claims about China releasing the novel coronavirus into the whole world and with almost every country turning into an enemy, China has had enough. The Chinese envoy Zhang Jun used the Security Council meeting on global governance to express the country's frustration. The conference was attended by several heads of state through videoconference. "I must say, enough is enough! You have created enough troubles for the world already," Jun said. Pointing out the rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US, he asked the US why has the country not been able to contain the spread of the virus like China. "The US has nearly seven million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?" he asked. "If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves," he said hinting towards the US President Donald Trump. Also read| US elections 2020: Trump applauds self's approach towards COVID; calls Biden's approach 'anti-science' The envoy taunted the US about it being "major power" — a phrase often used by Donald Trump — and said, "The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power." The remarks came two days after Donald Trump attacked China during his annual address in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which gained support from the UN, and angered the Asian country. All the heads of the states were asked to send pre-recorded speeches to the UN, which did not give the Chinese leader Xi Jinping an opportunity to reply to Trump's accusations in the UNGA address. However, China will be, as per reports, taking a slot on Tuesday to be able to reply to Trump's accusations about COVID-19. Xi Jinping, in his address, focused on climate change and how to tackle it. Trump, on the other hand, demanded actions against China for spreading the "plague" which he terms as "China virus" — that helps him in the upcoming US elections, scheduled for November 03.

'Enough is enough': China lashes out at US during UN meeting

China's latest move comes days after Washington announced new restrictions on staff working for Beijing's foreign missions

Beijing to impose restrictions on all US diplomats in China

The US State Department on Wednesday said that the country revoked visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers under an order by President Donald Trump that accused some of them of espionage.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-announces-reduction-of-troops-in-iraq-to-end-endless-wars-326315" hreflang="en">United States announces reduction of troops in Iraq to end 'endless wars'</a>

After tensions with Beijing rose on several fronts, Trump, in a May 29 proclamation, declared that some Chinese nationals officially in the United States for study have stolen intellectual property and helped modernize China's military.

According to the State Department, more than 1,000 visas have been revoked since it began implementing the proclamation on June 1.

"The high-risk graduate students and research scholars made ineligible under this proclamation represent a small subset of the total number of Chinese students and scholars coming to the United States," a State Department spokeswoman said.

"We continue to welcome legitimate students and scholars from China who do not further the Chinese Communist Party's goals of military dominance," she said.

Alro read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-to-deny-pending-retroactive-us-biofuel-waivers-326323" hreflang="en">Trump administration to deny pending retroactive US biofuel waivers</a>

Citing privacy laws, the department declined to give details of people whose visas have been revoked.&nbsp;

In the 2018/19 session, nearly 370,000 students from China were enrolled at US universities. These were the most of any country, offering a lucrative source of income to institutions that are now facing growing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.

According to some Asian American activists, Trump's orders are creating a climate of suspicion on campuses, with students of Asian descent facing unfounded questions about their intentions. However, the American officials say that there has been a rise of espionage cases involving China in recent years.

The officials accuse China of seeking to steal university research into COVID-19, a reason cited for the Trump administration's closing China's consulate in Houston in June.

The US State Department on Wednesday said that the country revoked visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers under an order by President Donald Trump that accused some of them of espionage.

The US State Department on Wednesday said that the country revoked visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers under an order by President Donald Trump that accused some of them of espionage. Also read: United States announces reduction of troops in Iraq to end 'endless wars' After tensions with Beijing rose on several fronts, Trump, in a May 29 proclamation, declared that some Chinese nationals officially in the United States for study have stolen intellectual property and helped modernize China's military. According to the State Department, more than 1,000 visas have been revoked since it began implementing the proclamation on June 1. "The high-risk graduate students and research scholars made ineligible under this proclamation represent a small subset of the total number of Chinese students and scholars coming to the United States," a State Department spokeswoman said. "We continue to welcome legitimate students and scholars from China who do not further the Chinese Communist Party's goals of military dominance," she said. Alro read: Trump administration to deny pending retroactive US biofuel waivers Citing privacy laws, the department declined to give details of people whose visas have been revoked. In the 2018/19 session, nearly 370,000 students from China were enrolled at US universities. These were the most of any country, offering a lucrative source of income to institutions that are now facing growing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic. According to some Asian American activists, Trump's orders are creating a climate of suspicion on campuses, with students of Asian descent facing unfounded questions about their intentions. However, the American officials say that there has been a rise of espionage cases involving China in recent years. The officials accuse China of seeking to steal university research into COVID-19, a reason cited for the Trump administration's closing China's consulate in Houston in June.

Visas of over 1000 Chinese students revoked by US, claiming ties to military

China's embassy in London has angrily demanded that Twitter investigate what it says was a hack on its ambassador's official account, which "liked" a pornographic video.

The video remained on the "liked" section of Liu Xiaoming's account for over an hour on Wednesday, attracting a stream of comments and reactions before being taken down.

"Some anti-China elements viciously attacked Ambassador Liu Xiaoming's Twitter account and employed despicable methods to deceive the public," a statement posted on the embassy's website said.

"The embassy has reported this to Twitter company and urged the latter to make thorough investigations and handle this matter seriously.

"The Embassy reserves the right to take further actions and hope that the public will not believe or spread such rumour."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Embassy Spokesperson issued the following statement: Recently, some anti-China elements viciously attacked Ambassador Liu Xiaoming's Twitter account and employed despicable methods to deceive the public. The Chinese Embassy strongly condemns such abominable behaviour. <a href="https://t.co/RnBfeZho7O">pic.twitter.com/RnBfeZho7O</a>
— Chinese Embassy in UK (@ChineseEmbinUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChineseEmbinUK/status/1303707219335294977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment.

Liu is known as one of China's most outspoken diplomats, using a pugnacious approach in media interviews and online to defend his government.

Twitter and pornography are officially banned in China, which the ruling Communist Party heavily censors.

However China's diplomats and journalists for the state-run media have in recent years set up Twitter accounts to promote and defend the government to foreigners.

Liu set up his Twitter account in October last year. He has more than 85,000 followers.&nbsp;

China's embassy in London has angrily demanded that Twitter investigate what it says was a hack on its ambassador's official account, which "liked" a pornographic video.

China's embassy in London has angrily demanded that Twitter investigate what it says was a hack on its ambassador's official account, which "liked" a pornographic video. The video remained on the "liked" section of Liu Xiaoming's account for over an hour on Wednesday, attracting a stream of comments and reactions before being taken down. "Some anti-China elements viciously attacked Ambassador Liu Xiaoming's Twitter account and employed despicable methods to deceive the public," a statement posted on the embassy's website said. "The embassy has reported this to Twitter company and urged the latter to make thorough investigations and handle this matter seriously. "The Embassy reserves the right to take further actions and hope that the public will not believe or spread such rumour." The Embassy Spokesperson issued the following statement: Recently, some anti-China elements viciously attacked Ambassador Liu Xiaoming's Twitter account and employed despicable methods to deceive the public. The Chinese Embassy strongly condemns such abominable behaviour. pic.twitter.com/RnBfeZho7O — Chinese Embassy in UK (@ChineseEmbinUK) September 9, 2020 × A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment. Liu is known as one of China's most outspoken diplomats, using a pugnacious approach in media interviews and online to defend his government. Twitter and pornography are officially banned in China, which the ruling Communist Party heavily censors. However China's diplomats and journalists for the state-run media have in recent years set up Twitter accounts to promote and defend the government to foreigners. Liu set up his Twitter account in October last year. He has more than 85,000 followers.

China says UK envoy's Twitter account hacked; asks Twitter to investigate

The Pentagon said the growth projection was based on factors including Beijing having enough material to double its nuclear weapons stockpile without new fissile material production.

Your Story: Pentagon concerned by China's Nuclear ambitions

A Chinese national has been arrested and charged with destroying a computer hard drive during an FBI investigation into the possible transfer of sensitive software to China.

The US Justice Department said on Friday that Guan Lei, a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, was arrested after he was seen throwing a damaged hard drive into a dumpster outside his apartment in July.

"Guan is being investigated for possibly transferring sensitive US software or technical data to China’s National University of Defense Technology" and falsely denying his association with the Chinese military on his visa application and in interviews with federal agents.

Guan made an initial court appearance on Friday and an arraignment was scheduled for September 17.

The felony offense of destruction of evidence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

A Chinese national has been arrested and charged with destroying a computer hard drive during an FBI investigation into the possible transfer of sensitive software to China.

A Chinese national has been arrested and charged with destroying a computer hard drive during an FBI investigation into the possible transfer of sensitive software to China. The US Justice Department said on Friday that Guan Lei, a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, was arrested after he was seen throwing a damaged hard drive into a dumpster outside his apartment in July. "Guan is being investigated for possibly transferring sensitive US software or technical data to China’s National University of Defense Technology" and falsely denying his association with the Chinese military on his visa application and in interviews with federal agents. Guan made an initial court appearance on Friday and an arraignment was scheduled for September 17. The felony offense of destruction of evidence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Chinese national arrested in US probe of possible transfer of software to Beijing

China launched two missiles into the South China Sea today in a warning to the United States, it has been reported.

China fires 2 missiles in warning to US

The effect of the new national-security law that China imposed on Hong Kong is extending far beyond the territory to American college campuses.

Your Story: American college campuses now in Beijing's reach

The US President Donald Trump, in another series of orders against the Chinese company ByteDance, has ordered ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok's operations in the US within 90 days.

Donald Trump has been trying to shut down ByteDance's popular short-video sharing app TikTok in the US for some time now. Trump believes the Chinese parents company is acting as an insider source for the Chinese intelligence.

“There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States,” Trump said in the order.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-in-talks-with-tiktok-to-discuss-possible-merging-reports-319139">Also read|&nbsp;Twitter in talks with TikTok to discuss possible merging: Reports</a>

Trump, earlier, had announced a ban on the very popular video sharing app, TikTok. However,&nbsp;Microsoft came to the rescue of the Chinese app, announcing a possibility of taking over TikTok's US operations. Twitter, too, followed the suit.&nbsp;

Later, Trump announced a 45-days notice to TikTok&nbsp;to either sell or face the ban, demanding significant portion of the sale go to the US Treasury. Trump, at that time, said he would support the sale of TikTok's US operations to Microsoft Corp if the US government got a “substantial portion” of the sales price but warned he will ban the service in the United States on September 15.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%3D%3D" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order... any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd," Trump had earlier warned ByteDance.

Since then, there has been no confirmation on whether or not Microsoft or Twitter would buy the US operations of TikTok from ByteDance.

More details on the 90-days order are awaited.

The US President Donald Trump, in another series of orders against the Chinese company ByteDance, has ordered ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok's operations in the US within 90 days.

The US President Donald Trump, in another series of orders against the Chinese company ByteDance, has ordered ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok's operations in the US within 90 days. Donald Trump has been trying to shut down ByteDance's popular short-video sharing app TikTok in the US for some time now. Trump believes the Chinese parents company is acting as an insider source for the Chinese intelligence. “There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance ... might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States,” Trump said in the order. Also read| Twitter in talks with TikTok to discuss possible merging: Reports Trump, earlier, had announced a ban on the very popular video sharing app, TikTok. However, Microsoft came to the rescue of the Chinese app, announcing a possibility of taking over TikTok's US operations. Twitter, too, followed the suit. Later, Trump announced a 45-days notice to TikTok to either sell or face the ban, demanding significant portion of the sale go to the US Treasury. Trump, at that time, said he would support the sale of TikTok's US operations to Microsoft Corp if the US government got a “substantial portion” of the sales price but warned he will ban the service in the United States on September 15. × "The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order... any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd," Trump had earlier warned ByteDance. Since then, there has been no confirmation on whether or not Microsoft or Twitter would buy the US operations of TikTok from ByteDance. More details on the 90-days order are awaited.

Trump claims to possess evidence against ByteDance; orders to divest interest in TikTok within 90 days

On July 21, several fire trucks were rushed to the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas after nearby residents reported smoke coming from the consulate building.

Within minutes, some Chinese diplomats were seen dumping papers in barrels set on fire which sparked controversies.

After these reports, the US government clarified&nbsp;that it has ordered China to shut the Houston consulate in 72 hours.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-orders-us-chengdu-consulate-shut-american-flag-lowered-at-consulate-us-china-316179">Also watch:&nbsp;China orders U.S Chengdu consulate shut | American flag lowered at consulate | US-China</a>

The US President claimed that the shutting down of the Chinese consulate was because of security reasons and he also hinted at more of such closures coming up.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-consulate-shutdowns-new-phase-of-us-china-conflict-316372/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Houston consulate was completely vacated within 72 hours i.e. on July 24.

After the US ordered closure of the Chinese consulate, China too ordered the US to shut down its consulate in Chengdu, China.&nbsp;American officials were asked to leave the facility and return home within 72 hours.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/american-flag-lowered-at-us-consulate-in-chengdu-316182">Also watch:&nbsp;American flag lowered at US consulate in Chengdu</a>

The deadline ended today (July 27) and the consulate was completely emptied out as the consulate staff was spotted leaving in huge buses. quickly after that, the Chinese officials surrounded the facility and the American flag outside the consulate building was also lowered. After this, all access to the consulate building was restricted.

The Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing has declared that it has officially taken over the premises.

Quickly after the consulate was emptied out, Chengdu became a venue of celebration. Crowds gathered and chanted of nationalism.

While US and China have been at a verbal war for months now, the events in the past week are hinting towards the&nbsp;possibility of a more dangerous phase of the US-China conflict.

On July 21, several fire trucks were rushed to the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas after nearby residents reported smoke coming from the consulate building. Within minutes, some Chinese diplomats were seen dumping papers in barrels set on fire which sparked controversies.

On July 21, several fire trucks were rushed to the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas after nearby residents reported smoke coming from the consulate building. Within minutes, some Chinese diplomats were seen dumping papers in barrels set on fire which sparked controversies. After these reports, the US government clarified that it has ordered China to shut the Houston consulate in 72 hours. Also watch: China orders U.S Chengdu consulate shut | American flag lowered at consulate | US-China The US President claimed that the shutting down of the Chinese consulate was because of security reasons and he also hinted at more of such closures coming up. × The Houston consulate was completely vacated within 72 hours i.e. on July 24. After the US ordered closure of the Chinese consulate, China too ordered the US to shut down its consulate in Chengdu, China. American officials were asked to leave the facility and return home within 72 hours. Also watch: American flag lowered at US consulate in Chengdu The deadline ended today (July 27) and the consulate was completely emptied out as the consulate staff was spotted leaving in huge buses. quickly after that, the Chinese officials surrounded the facility and the American flag outside the consulate building was also lowered. After this, all access to the consulate building was restricted. The Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing has declared that it has officially taken over the premises. Quickly after the consulate was emptied out, Chengdu became a venue of celebration. Crowds gathered and chanted of nationalism. While US and China have been at a verbal war for months now, the events in the past week are hinting towards the possibility of a more dangerous phase of the US-China conflict.

American flag lowered at Chengdu consulate after employees vacate building

Chinese authorities have taken the possession of closed US consulate on Chengdu on Monday, as per foreign ministry's statement. The consulate was ordered to shut last week in a tit-for-tat move after the US ordered closing the Houston consulate.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-rejects-trumps-proposal-to-let-russia-back-into-g7-foreign-minister-316152" hreflang="en">Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7: Foreign Minister</a>

"At 10am on July 27th, according to the Chinese side's request, the US consulate in Chengdu was closed. Afterwards, Chinese authorities entered through the front entrance and took it over," the Chinese ministry's public diplomacy office said in a statement on its official social media account.&nbsp;

On Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry decided to shut down the US consulate and said that "the United States launched a unilateral provocation by abruptly demanding that China close its consulate in Houston".

China's foreign ministry said the measure taken by it was the "legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the US".

The Chinese foreign ministry said that it "conforms with international law, the basic norms of international relations, and customary diplomatic practices."

"The current situation in China-US relations is not what China desires," it said, adding the US is responsible for it.

The Chinese spokesman said that some "people of the US consulate in Chengdu have engaged in activities that are incompatible with their status, interfering in China's internal affairs" while asserting that "China has repeatedly lodged representations, and the US side is well aware of it."

"The Chinese side has made specific requirements on the ceasing of all operations and activities by the US Consulate General in Chengdu, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy," Wang Wenbin said.

The US had ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston after what it called to "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information" amid reports of papers being burned inside the Chinese consulate compound, as the fire reportedly started US firefighter arrived on the scene but were prevented from entering the building.&nbsp;

The Chinese officials were ordered to vacate the consulate within 72 hours.

Chinese authorities have taken the possession of closed US consulate on Chengdu on Monday, as per foreign ministry's statement. The consulate was ordered to shut last week in a tit-for-tat move after the US ordered closing the Houston consulate.

Chinese authorities have taken the possession of closed US consulate on Chengdu on Monday, as per foreign ministry's statement. The consulate was ordered to shut last week in a tit-for-tat move after the US ordered closing the Houston consulate. Also read: Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7: Foreign Minister "At 10am on July 27th, according to the Chinese side's request, the US consulate in Chengdu was closed. Afterwards, Chinese authorities entered through the front entrance and took it over," the Chinese ministry's public diplomacy office said in a statement on its official social media account. On Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry decided to shut down the US consulate and said that "the United States launched a unilateral provocation by abruptly demanding that China close its consulate in Houston". China's foreign ministry said the measure taken by it was the "legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the US". The Chinese foreign ministry said that it "conforms with international law, the basic norms of international relations, and customary diplomatic practices." "The current situation in China-US relations is not what China desires," it said, adding the US is responsible for it. The Chinese spokesman said that some "people of the US consulate in Chengdu have engaged in activities that are incompatible with their status, interfering in China's internal affairs" while asserting that "China has repeatedly lodged representations, and the US side is well aware of it." "The Chinese side has made specific requirements on the ceasing of all operations and activities by the US Consulate General in Chengdu, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy," Wang Wenbin said. The US had ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston after what it called to "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information" amid reports of papers being burned inside the Chinese consulate compound, as the fire reportedly started US firefighter arrived on the scene but were prevented from entering the building. The Chinese officials were ordered to vacate the consulate within 72 hours.

Chinese authorities take possession of closed US consulate in Chengdu: Foreign Ministry

The central government of the People's Republic of China has ordered United States to close its consulate in Chengdu, as a countermeasure to the closure of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-houston-consulate-was-hub-of-spying-us-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-315582">Also read: 'China's Houston consulate was hub of spying': US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo</a>

According to reports Beijing was already preparing to close a US consulate in retaliation for the forced closure of the Chinese diplomatic facility in Houston.

The United States maintains five consulates on the Chinese mainland – in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Chengdu and Wuhan – as well as a consulate general for Hong Kong and Macau. 
 
On Wednesday (July 22), the United States had said it had given China 72 hours to close the consulate "to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information". 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-calls-for-free-world-to-triumph-over-chinas-new-tyranny-315562">Also read:&nbsp;Mike Pompeo calls for ‘free world’ to triumph over China's ‘new tyranny’</a>

China's embassy to the United States had described the move to close the Houston consulate as a "political provocation" and called on Washington to "immediately revoke" the decision.

Chinese state media had, in its editorials, also lambasted the move by the United States government to shut down China's consulate in Houston as an attempt to blame Beijing for American failures ahead of presidential elections in November.

Meanwhile, the FBI has arrested three Chinese nationals for visa fraud, while a fourth remains a fugitive staying at China's consulate in San Francisco.

Chengdu alternatively romanized as Chengtu, is a sub-provincial city which serves as the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan.

(With inputs from agencies)

The central government of the People's Republic of China has ordered United States to close its consulate in Chengdu, as a countermeasure to the closure of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday.

The central government of the People's Republic of China has ordered United States to close its consulate in Chengdu, as a countermeasure to the closure of the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. Also read: 'China's Houston consulate was hub of spying': US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo According to reports Beijing was already preparing to close a US consulate in retaliation for the forced closure of the Chinese diplomatic facility in Houston. The United States maintains five consulates on the Chinese mainland – in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Chengdu and Wuhan – as well as a consulate general for Hong Kong and Macau. On Wednesday (July 22), the United States had said it had given China 72 hours to close the consulate "to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information". Also read: Mike Pompeo calls for ‘free world’ to triumph over China's ‘new tyranny’ China's embassy to the United States had described the move to close the Houston consulate as a "political provocation" and called on Washington to "immediately revoke" the decision. Chinese state media had, in its editorials, also lambasted the move by the United States government to shut down China's consulate in Houston as an attempt to blame Beijing for American failures ahead of presidential elections in November. Meanwhile, the FBI has arrested three Chinese nationals for visa fraud, while a fourth remains a fugitive staying at China's consulate in San Francisco. Chengdu alternatively romanized as Chengtu, is a sub-provincial city which serves as the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan. (With inputs from agencies)

China orders US to close its consulate in Chengdu in response to Houston closure

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the China’s consulate in Houston was a hub of spying and Intellectual Property theft.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-calls-for-free-world-to-triumph-over-chinas-new-tyranny-315562">Also read:&nbsp;Mike Pompeo calls for ‘free world’ to triumph over China's ‘new tyranny’</a>

"Just this week we announced the closure of China’s consulate in Houston because it was a hub of spying and Intellectual Property theft. 2 weeks ago, we reversed 8 years of cheek turning with respect to international law in the South China Sea," Pompeo said in a California speech on China's threat to the world.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dead-britons-pompeo-slams-world-health-organization-says-chief-tedros-bought-by-china-315441">'Dead Britons': Pompeo slams WHO; says chief Tedros 'bought' by China</a>

"China ripped off our prized intellectual property and trade secrets costing millions of jobs across America" he said.

Talking about the China's army he said that we know that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is not a normal army. Its purpose is to uphold the absolute rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elites, and expand a Chinese empire, not to protect the Chinese people.

"So our Department of Defense has ramped up its efforts, freedom of navigation operations throughout the East &amp; South China Seas &amp; the Taiwan Strait as well. We created the Space Force to help deter Chinese from aggression on the final frontier," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the China’s consulate in Houston was a hub of spying and Intellectual Property theft. Also read: Mike Pompeo calls for ‘free world’ to triumph over China's ‘new tyranny’ "Just this week we announced the closure of China’s consulate in Houston because it was a hub of spying and Intellectual Property theft.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the China’s consulate in Houston was a hub of spying and Intellectual Property theft. Also read: Mike Pompeo calls for ‘free world’ to triumph over China's ‘new tyranny’ "Just this week we announced the closure of China’s consulate in Houston because it was a hub of spying and Intellectual Property theft. 2 weeks ago, we reversed 8 years of cheek turning with respect to international law in the South China Sea," Pompeo said in a California speech on China's threat to the world. Also read: 'Dead Britons': Pompeo slams WHO; says chief Tedros 'bought' by China "China ripped off our prized intellectual property and trade secrets costing millions of jobs across America" he said. Talking about the China's army he said that we know that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is not a normal army. Its purpose is to uphold the absolute rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elites, and expand a Chinese empire, not to protect the Chinese people. "So our Department of Defense has ramped up its efforts, freedom of navigation operations throughout the East & South China Seas & the Taiwan Strait as well. We created the Space Force to help deter Chinese from aggression on the final frontier," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

'China's Houston consulate was hub of spying': US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo

The United States has asked China to close its Houston embassy because Washington claims the move will "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information." China has been given 72 hours to wind up its operations.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that China was stealing intellectual property.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A video captured by our crew outside the Consulate General of China in Houston shows people hosing down what appear to be flaming open containers in the courtyard of the property. 
DETAILS: <a href="https://t.co/2cOeKoap96">https://t.co/2cOeKoap96</a> <a href="https://t.co/ToQitHjy2T">pic.twitter.com/ToQitHjy2T</a>
— KPRC2Tulsi (@KPRC2Tulsi) <a href="https://twitter.com/KPRC2Tulsi/status/1285787738243989504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

A video of&nbsp;men destroying papers in the courtyard of the Houston consulate has been circulating on social media since Tuesday.&nbsp;

While the authenticity of the video cannot be guaranteed, emergency services&nbsp;were called to the consulate building. The Houston police said they did notice smoke, but were not allowed to enter the consulate.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
About 8:25 pm on Tuesday, our officers responded to a meet the firefighter call to the China Consulate General in Houston building at 3417 Montrose Blvd. 
 
Smoke was observed in an outside courtyard area. Officers were not granted access to enter the building. 1/2
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1285826800434774016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The incident happened on the same day as the&nbsp;US authorities also accused China of sponsoring hackers who were targeting the US labs. Within 24 hours, China was told to close its Houston consulate.

Beijing has called the accusations of intellectual theft "malicious slander". The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the order to close the consulate undermines the already deteriorating US-China relations.

Wang Wenbin, spokesman of&nbsp;China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The US side required China to close the consulate general in Houston, that seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations, seriously violates the related regulations in the bilateral consular agreement between China and the United States, and severely undermines China-US relations."

The Houston consulate was China's first consulate general in the US. China has&nbsp;four more consulates in the US, including&nbsp;the embassy in Washington DC.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-decoding-us-china-consulate-wars-315551/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China's Foreign Ministry now claims that its Washington embassy has received death threats.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As a result of smears &amp; hatred fanned up by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> gov, the Chinese embassy has received <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bomb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bomb</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DeathThreats?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DeathThreats</a>.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpokespersonCHN/status/1285970001199915008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Chinese consulate in San Francisco too is under scrutiny. The FBI claims that a Chinese researcher accused of visa fraud has been taking refuge in the building.

The US President Donald Trump has said that the US may ask China to close more consulates. "As far as closing additional embassies, it's always possible. You see what's going on, we thought there was a fire in the one that we did close and everybody said 'there's a fire, there's a fire'. And I guess they were burning documents are burning papers and I wonder what that was all about," he said.

According to Chinese media reports, Beijing may retaliate by asking the US to close its Wuhan consulate. China's main media outlet, Global Times, even put up a poll on which US&nbsp;consulate China could close.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chinese foreign ministry condemned the US for closing Chinese Consulate General in Houston and urged the US to immediately correct its mistakes. Otherwise, China will make a legitimate and necessary response. Which US consulate general in China is most likely to be closed?
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1285849456613617664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However,&nbsp;the interesting thing that Twitter has been banned in China, so the whole point of voting becomes kind of obsolete.

The United States has asked China to close its Houston embassy because Washington claims the move will "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information.

The United States has asked China to close its Houston embassy because Washington claims the move will "protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information." China has been given 72 hours to wind up its operations. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that China was stealing intellectual property. A video captured by our crew outside the Consulate General of China in Houston shows people hosing down what appear to be flaming open containers in the courtyard of the property. DETAILS: https://t.co/2cOeKoap96 pic.twitter.com/ToQitHjy2T — KPRC2Tulsi (@KPRC2Tulsi) July 22, 2020 × A video of men destroying papers in the courtyard of the Houston consulate has been circulating on social media since Tuesday. While the authenticity of the video cannot be guaranteed, emergency services were called to the consulate building. The Houston police said they did notice smoke, but were not allowed to enter the consulate. About 8:25 pm on Tuesday, our officers responded to a meet the firefighter call to the China Consulate General in Houston building at 3417 Montrose Blvd. Smoke was observed in an outside courtyard area. Officers were not granted access to enter the building. 1/2 — Houston Police (@houstonpolice) July 22, 2020 × The incident happened on the same day as the US authorities also accused China of sponsoring hackers who were targeting the US labs. Within 24 hours, China was told to close its Houston consulate. Beijing has called the accusations of intellectual theft "malicious slander". The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the order to close the consulate undermines the already deteriorating US-China relations. Wang Wenbin, spokesman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The US side required China to close the consulate general in Houston, that seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations, seriously violates the related regulations in the bilateral consular agreement between China and the United States, and severely undermines China-US relations." The Houston consulate was China's first consulate general in the US. China has four more consulates in the US, including the embassy in Washington DC. China's Foreign Ministry now claims that its Washington embassy has received death threats. As a result of smears & hatred fanned up by the #US gov, the Chinese embassy has received #bomb & #DeathThreats. — Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) July 22, 2020 × The Chinese consulate in San Francisco too is under scrutiny. The FBI claims that a Chinese researcher accused of visa fraud has been taking refuge in the building. The US President Donald Trump has said that the US may ask China to close more consulates. "As far as closing additional embassies, it's always possible. You see what's going on, we thought there was a fire in the one that we did close and everybody said 'there's a fire, there's a fire'. And I guess they were burning documents are burning papers and I wonder what that was all about," he said. According to Chinese media reports, Beijing may retaliate by asking the US to close its Wuhan consulate. China's main media outlet, Global Times, even put up a poll on which US consulate China could close. Chinese foreign ministry condemned the US for closing Chinese Consulate General in Houston and urged the US to immediately correct its mistakes. Otherwise, China will make a legitimate and necessary response. Which US consulate general in China is most likely to be closed? — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 22, 2020 × However, the interesting thing that Twitter has been banned in China, so the whole point of voting becomes kind of obsolete.

After Houston, China may ask US to close Wuhan consulate: Reports

Winnie the Pooh scares&nbsp;Chinese President&nbsp;more than democracy and social unrest. It gives the Chinese president nightmares.

'Pooh' is a nickname for Xi Jinping and the President has used every possible tool&nbsp;to bury this reference, but it continues to pop up every now and then. The latest to toy around with Xi's fear was Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State.

He tweeted this photo with the caption "Mercer and all her favourite toys".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mercer and all of her favorite toys! 🐶 <a href="https://t.co/bGal0ui6E2">pic.twitter.com/bGal0ui6E2</a>
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1283197610757632001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Mercer is Pompeo's dog, and among her toys lay Winnie the Pooh. The joke was in the face and netizens could not get enough of it. They cheered Pompeo's sense of humour, and someone even mentioned "Winnie the flu".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-chinas-president-xi-jinping-fears-winnie-the-pooh-313823">Also read:&nbsp;Why China's President Xi Jinping fears 'Winnie the Pooh'</a>

Pompeo was asked about it in a recent interview "Was this a Winnie the pooh-gate?" The secretary of state appeared oblivious.

However, the tweet was far from innocent.&nbsp;It is in line with Pompeo's scathing attacks on China. The Secretary of State has been towing a rather hard line on Beijing. He has been criticising China daily and way more than the US President Donald Trump.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-mike-pompeo-mocks-xi-jinping-with-winnie-the-pooh-313859/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Pompeo has said, "We have a Chinese Communist Party that is putting freedom and democracy at risk by their expanionist, imperialist, authoritarian behavior."

He has also said,&nbsp;"This is a regime that failed to disclose information they had about a virus." and&nbsp;"We want them to respect the rule of law.

The Secretary of State has also talked about the world uniting against China.&nbsp;"I think we are watching the world unite to come to understand the threat from the chinese communist party." and&nbsp;"We will support countries all across the world who recognize that china has violated their legal territorial claims as well - or maritime claims."

The Chinese Communist Party fears its own people more than anything else including Winnie the Pooh.

Mike Pompeo has been leading the US&nbsp;attack on China. On Thursday, he said that the world will make China pay for the pandemic.

On July 14, Pompeo urged free elections in Hong Kong and&nbsp;even congratulated Hong Kong's democrats for a successful primary.

On July 09, he hit out at China for its aggression in Ladakh.&nbsp;He has previously called China a 'rogue actor' for the Galwan provocation. On July 1, Pompeo lauded India's ban on 59 Chinese apps.

The US Secretary of state has also criticised China for its economic exploitation of Africa and&nbsp;Pompeo has spoken about reviewing the US troop deployment to counter China in the Himalayan region.

He has also claimed that the US will assist all countries that are resisting Chinese annexation in the South China sea. Pompeo has also been campaigning to ban TikTok in the US.

So, what really scares Xi Jinping is democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh&nbsp;and Mike Pompeo.

Winnie the Pooh scares Chinese President more than democracy and social unrest. It gives the Chinese president nightmares. 'Pooh' is a nickname for Xi Jinping and the President has used every possible tool to bury this reference, but it continues to pop up every now and then.

Winnie the Pooh scares Chinese President more than democracy and social unrest. It gives the Chinese president nightmares. 'Pooh' is a nickname for Xi Jinping and the President has used every possible tool to bury this reference, but it continues to pop up every now and then. The latest to toy around with Xi's fear was Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State. He tweeted this photo with the caption "Mercer and all her favourite toys". Mercer and all of her favorite toys! 🐶 pic.twitter.com/bGal0ui6E2 — Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) July 15, 2020 × Mercer is Pompeo's dog, and among her toys lay Winnie the Pooh. The joke was in the face and netizens could not get enough of it. They cheered Pompeo's sense of humour, and someone even mentioned "Winnie the flu". Also read: Why China's President Xi Jinping fears 'Winnie the Pooh' Pompeo was asked about it in a recent interview "Was this a Winnie the pooh-gate?" The secretary of state appeared oblivious. However, the tweet was far from innocent. It is in line with Pompeo's scathing attacks on China. The Secretary of State has been towing a rather hard line on Beijing. He has been criticising China daily and way more than the US President Donald Trump. Pompeo has said, "We have a Chinese Communist Party that is putting freedom and democracy at risk by their expanionist, imperialist, authoritarian behavior." He has also said, "This is a regime that failed to disclose information they had about a virus." and "We want them to respect the rule of law. The Secretary of State has also talked about the world uniting against China. "I think we are watching the world unite to come to understand the threat from the chinese communist party." and "We will support countries all across the world who recognize that china has violated their legal territorial claims as well - or maritime claims." The Chinese Communist Party fears its own people more than anything else including Winnie the Pooh. Mike Pompeo has been leading the US attack on China. On Thursday, he said that the world will make China pay for the pandemic. On July 14, Pompeo urged free elections in Hong Kong and even congratulated Hong Kong's democrats for a successful primary. On July 09, he hit out at China for its aggression in Ladakh. He has previously called China a 'rogue actor' for the Galwan provocation. On July 1, Pompeo lauded India's ban on 59 Chinese apps. The US Secretary of state has also criticised China for its economic exploitation of Africa and Pompeo has spoken about reviewing the US troop deployment to counter China in the Himalayan region. He has also claimed that the US will assist all countries that are resisting Chinese annexation in the South China sea. Pompeo has also been campaigning to ban TikTok in the US. So, what really scares Xi Jinping is democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh and Mike Pompeo.

What really scares Xi Jinping: Democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh and Mike Pompeo

China's top diplomat Thursday warned the United States against "McCarthy-style paranoia" as tensions rise between the two superpowers.

Beijing and Washington have been sparring over a slew of issues, from a new national security law in Hong Kong to trade and US criticism of China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The current US policy toward China is based on strategic misjudgements... and McCarthy-style paranoia," China's foreign minister Wang Yi said, referring to US senator Joseph McCarthy, who led an anti-communist crusade in his country in the 1950s.

In a pre-recorded speech to a China-US think tank forum, at which former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger also spoke, Wang warned that "artificially creating various China threats may eventually lead to self-fulfilling prophecies."

The comments come weeks after Wang said relations with the United States were "on the brink of a new Cold War", fuelled in part by tensions over the coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump has accused Beijing of a lack of transparency, and pushed the unproven theory that the virus may have leaked from a Chinese maximum-security laboratory.

"The United States should immediately stop politicising the epidemic... and work with China to promote global cooperation on fighting the virus," Wang said.

But Wang said China is still willing to resume dialogue at all levels to resolve differences.

"China and the United States should not seek to transform each other, but should jointly explore ways for peaceful coexistence of different systems," he said.&nbsp;

China's top diplomat Thursday warned the United States against "McCarthy-style paranoia" as tensions rise between the two superpowers. Beijing and Washington have been sparring over a slew of issues, from a new national security law in Hong Kong to trade and US criticism of China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

China's top diplomat Thursday warned the United States against "McCarthy-style paranoia" as tensions rise between the two superpowers. Beijing and Washington have been sparring over a slew of issues, from a new national security law in Hong Kong to trade and US criticism of China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. "The current US policy toward China is based on strategic misjudgements... and McCarthy-style paranoia," China's foreign minister Wang Yi said, referring to US senator Joseph McCarthy, who led an anti-communist crusade in his country in the 1950s. In a pre-recorded speech to a China-US think tank forum, at which former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger also spoke, Wang warned that "artificially creating various China threats may eventually lead to self-fulfilling prophecies." The comments come weeks after Wang said relations with the United States were "on the brink of a new Cold War", fuelled in part by tensions over the coronavirus pandemic. US President Donald Trump has accused Beijing of a lack of transparency, and pushed the unproven theory that the virus may have leaked from a Chinese maximum-security laboratory. "The United States should immediately stop politicising the epidemic... and work with China to promote global cooperation on fighting the virus," Wang said. But Wang said China is still willing to resume dialogue at all levels to resolve differences. "China and the United States should not seek to transform each other, but should jointly explore ways for peaceful coexistence of different systems," he said.

China warns US against 'McCarthy-style paranoia'

The United States is answering China's growing military aggression with a buildup in the Indo-Pacific. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how the American military is a global fighting force.

Gravitas: America's answer to Chinese military aggression

Calling China's military aggression against India a threat, The United States is reviewing its global troop deployment. Meanwhile, The Global Times has spilled the beans on Chinese casualties in the border clash with India. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how the pressure on China and its military is building.

Gravitas: How Global Times punctured China's 'no causalities' claim

As per the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report by the US, the&nbsp;Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the state-owned companies are making their employees work in&nbsp;&nbsp;"horrendous conditions" on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, revealed that, according to the report, China is in Tier-3 category (lowest ranking).

"Our Trafficking in Persons Report calls out a group of nations with a state-sponsored pattern of forced labour. Among them is China, where the CCP and its state-owned enterprises often forcing citizens to work in horrendous conditions on Belt and Road project," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-plans-to-shift-army-to-face-chinese-threat-to-india-and-southeast-asia-mike-pompeo-308641">Also read|&nbsp;US plans to shift army to face Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asia: Mike Pompeo</a>

However, this is not the first time that China has been retained to Tier-3 category. China has been placed in Tier-3 category since 2017, as the US report believes that China&nbsp;"does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so".

"Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including by prosecuting and convicting some traffickers and by continuing to cooperate with international authorities to address forced and fraudulent marriages in the PRC, a key trafficking vulnerability for foreign women and girls," the report said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/book-trouble-trumps-niece-ready-to-release-tell-all-book-about-trump-family-308659">Also read|&nbsp;Book trouble: Trump's niece ready to release tell-all book about Trump family</a>

The report claims that despite these efforts, what is more troublesome is the forced labour that has been undergoing, especially with the help of the mass detention camps where reportedly millions of&nbsp;Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz and other Muslims have been detained in Xinjiang.

The report has urged China to put an end to the forced labour.&nbsp;"Cease the use of harassment, threats and illegal discriminatory immigration policies as measures to coerce the return to Xinjiang and subsequent forced labor of ethnic and religious minorities living abroad," it stated.

The TIP report is divided into Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-2 watchlist, and Tier-3. Countries whose governments fully meet the TVPA`s (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking are categorised as Tier-1.

Countries categorised under Tier-3 get access to only limited resources from the US.

(With inputs from agencies)

As per the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report by the US, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the state-owned companies are making their employees work in "horrendous conditions" on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.

As per the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report by the US, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the state-owned companies are making their employees work in "horrendous conditions" on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, revealed that, according to the report, China is in Tier-3 category (lowest ranking). "Our Trafficking in Persons Report calls out a group of nations with a state-sponsored pattern of forced labour. Among them is China, where the CCP and its state-owned enterprises often forcing citizens to work in horrendous conditions on Belt and Road project," he said. Also read| US plans to shift army to face Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asia: Mike Pompeo However, this is not the first time that China has been retained to Tier-3 category. China has been placed in Tier-3 category since 2017, as the US report believes that China "does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so". "Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including by prosecuting and convicting some traffickers and by continuing to cooperate with international authorities to address forced and fraudulent marriages in the PRC, a key trafficking vulnerability for foreign women and girls," the report said. Also read| Book trouble: Trump's niece ready to release tell-all book about Trump family The report claims that despite these efforts, what is more troublesome is the forced labour that has been undergoing, especially with the help of the mass detention camps where reportedly millions of Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz and other Muslims have been detained in Xinjiang. The report has urged China to put an end to the forced labour. "Cease the use of harassment, threats and illegal discriminatory immigration policies as measures to coerce the return to Xinjiang and subsequent forced labor of ethnic and religious minorities living abroad," it stated. The TIP report is divided into Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-2 watchlist, and Tier-3. Countries whose governments fully meet the TVPA`s (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking are categorised as Tier-1. Countries categorised under Tier-3 get access to only limited resources from the US. (With inputs from agencies)

China guilty of forced labour under 'horrendous conditions' on BRI project: US Report

The US Chamber of Commerce&nbsp;has asked Beijing to step up its purchases of US goods and services&nbsp;as agreed under a Phase 1 trade deal, despite delays caused by the coronavirus.

The Chamber also&nbsp;emphasised the importance of&nbsp;functional US-China ties amid the pandemic, and the ongoing verbal spat between the two countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-no-formal-plans-to-mediate-between-india-and-china-says-us-306871">Also watch|&nbsp;WION Dispatch: 'No formal plans to mediate between India and China', says US</a>

Talking about the hiccups caused due to the pandemic, the Chamber stressed that the there is still hope, and has urged the two countries to&nbsp;initiate regular talks on implementation of purchases, intellectual property reforms and other issues covered by the trade deal.

“Implementation is critical. COVID-19 has unquestionably slowed progress for both governments, and it will be critical for the pace of implementation of purchases to accelerate markedly," it said in a statement after a virtual meeting of top US and Chinese business leaders.

The meeting was a regular first annual meeting out of the two that is&nbsp;convened each year by the Chamber and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a Beijing-based think tank. The meeting&nbsp;focused on the Phase 1 trade deal that took effect in February, and supply chain challenges.

<a href="wionews.com/world/china-has-no-intention-to-interfere-in-us-election-306764">Also read|&nbsp;China has no intention to interfere in US election</a>

The recent spat between the two countries has raised an alarm for existing trade deal, under which&nbsp;China agreed to buy $200 billion more in U.S. goods and services over two years.

The Chamber has urged both economies to work in peace as&nbsp;China’s 1.4 billion consumers represent the fastest growing market for US companies, and US-origin companies also face challenges doing business with China.

The US Chamber of Commerce has asked Beijing to step up its purchases of US goods and services as agreed under a Phase 1 trade deal, despite delays caused by the coronavirus.

The US Chamber of Commerce has asked Beijing to step up its purchases of US goods and services as agreed under a Phase 1 trade deal, despite delays caused by the coronavirus. The Chamber also emphasised the importance of functional US-China ties amid the pandemic, and the ongoing verbal spat between the two countries. Also watch| WION Dispatch: 'No formal plans to mediate between India and China', says US Talking about the hiccups caused due to the pandemic, the Chamber stressed that the there is still hope, and has urged the two countries to initiate regular talks on implementation of purchases, intellectual property reforms and other issues covered by the trade deal. “Implementation is critical. COVID-19 has unquestionably slowed progress for both governments, and it will be critical for the pace of implementation of purchases to accelerate markedly," it said in a statement after a virtual meeting of top US and Chinese business leaders. The meeting was a regular first annual meeting out of the two that is convened each year by the Chamber and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a Beijing-based think tank. The meeting focused on the Phase 1 trade deal that took effect in February, and supply chain challenges. Also read| China has no intention to interfere in US election The recent spat between the two countries has raised an alarm for existing trade deal, under which China agreed to buy $200 billion more in U.S. goods and services over two years. The Chamber has urged both economies to work in peace as China’s 1.4 billion consumers represent the fastest growing market for US companies, and US-origin companies also face challenges doing business with China.

Step up your purchases of US goods: US Chamber of Commerce tells Beijing

China is using telecoms giant Huawei to try to drive a wedge between Britain and the United States, Republican senator Tom Cotton told British lawmakers on Tuesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-poses-for-cameras-with-bible-in-hand-amid-riots-302684" hreflang="en">US President Trump poses for cameras with bible in hand amid riots</a>

Cotton is one of several members of the U.S. Congress who have sought to put pressure on Britain to reverse its January decision to give China's Huawei a limited role in building Britain's 5G networks.

"It is my hope that the special relationship remains strong although I fear China is attempting to drive a hi-tech wedge between us using Huawei," Cotton told the British parliament's defence committee.

The United States has raised security concerns about Huawei equipment, saying it could be used to steal Western secrets, and has warned that allies that use it in their networks risked being cut off from valuable intelligence sharing. Huawei has repeatedly denied the U.S. allegations.

Huawei Vice President Victor Zhang said: "It's clear that market position, rather than security concerns, is what underpins America's attack on Huawei. The committee was given no evidence to substantiate security allegations."

Britain has said Huawei's involvement will be capped at 35% and it will be excluded from the network's sensitive core.

Last month, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that, in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had asked officials to plan to reduce China's involvement in British 5G infrastructure to zero by 2023.

"I do hope that as the government refines its decision, that if it doesn’t reverse it outright, it will mitigate it and minimise the use of Huawei technology, put it on a shorter time frame," Cotton said.

"I would welcome that decision to go to zero by 2023 and I would urge you to try and do so even sooner."

Since Britain's decision on Huawei, relations between London and Beijing have grown tense over the situation in Hong Kong.

On Tuesday, Britain said Beijing should step back from introducing a national security law in Hong Kong which it said was in breach of the 1984 agreement marking the handover of its former colony to China.

China is using telecoms giant Huawei to try to drive a wedge between Britain and the United States, Republican senator Tom Cotton told British lawmakers on Tuesday.

China is using telecoms giant Huawei to try to drive a wedge between Britain and the United States, Republican senator Tom Cotton told British lawmakers on Tuesday. Also read: US President Trump poses for cameras with bible in hand amid riots Cotton is one of several members of the U.S. Congress who have sought to put pressure on Britain to reverse its January decision to give China's Huawei a limited role in building Britain's 5G networks. "It is my hope that the special relationship remains strong although I fear China is attempting to drive a hi-tech wedge between us using Huawei," Cotton told the British parliament's defence committee. The United States has raised security concerns about Huawei equipment, saying it could be used to steal Western secrets, and has warned that allies that use it in their networks risked being cut off from valuable intelligence sharing. Huawei has repeatedly denied the U.S. allegations. Huawei Vice President Victor Zhang said: "It's clear that market position, rather than security concerns, is what underpins America's attack on Huawei. The committee was given no evidence to substantiate security allegations." Britain has said Huawei's involvement will be capped at 35% and it will be excluded from the network's sensitive core. Last month, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that, in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had asked officials to plan to reduce China's involvement in British 5G infrastructure to zero by 2023. "I do hope that as the government refines its decision, that if it doesn’t reverse it outright, it will mitigate it and minimise the use of Huawei technology, put it on a shorter time frame," Cotton said. "I would welcome that decision to go to zero by 2023 and I would urge you to try and do so even sooner." Since Britain's decision on Huawei, relations between London and Beijing have grown tense over the situation in Hong Kong. On Tuesday, Britain said Beijing should step back from introducing a national security law in Hong Kong which it said was in breach of the 1984 agreement marking the handover of its former colony to China.

China is using Huawei to drive a wedge in the UK-US special relationship: Senator

A bill has passed in the US Senate, that could force state owned Chinese companies to delist from American stock exchanges. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how the US is escalating its fight with China.

Gravitas: Will the US force Chinese companies to delist from its exchanges?

The U.S. govt has criticised China for crippling Pakistan's economy. The flashpoint is the corruption shrouded in the China-Pakistan economic corridor. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: U.S-China clash over Pak's debt crisis

After China's Luckin coffee chain lied about financial transactions, the U.S. govt is planning to impose tougher regulations for Chinese companies listed in U.S. stock exchanges. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you the story.

Gravitas: U.S. plans to delist Chinese companies

Any foreign chipmakers producing chips from designs by Huawei and its affiliates with the use of American design tools or equipment will have to apply for a license from the U.S. Commerce Department

US: New rules to deter chip exports to Huawei

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said on Friday he was “very torn” about whether to end the so-called Phase 1 US-China trade deal, just hours after top trade officials from both countries pledged to press ahead with implementing it despite coronavirus economic wreckage.

In an overnight phone call, US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He set aside rapidly deteriorating US-China relations and discussed progress since the deal took effect in mid-February.

<img alt="Liu He" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2149e888-6a14-4643-b4e6-e0e7ef111ab5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/RTS2V0GD.jpg" /> 
China's Vice Premier Liu He gestures to the media between US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (L) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin before the two countries' trade negotiations in Washington

The two Trump cabinet officials said in a joint statement that both sides “agreed that in spite of the current global health emergency, both countries fully expect to meet their obligations under the agreement in a timely manner.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-accuses-china-and-russia-of-coordinating-to-spread-virus-conspiracies-297550" hreflang="en">US accuses China and Russia of coordinating to spread virus conspiracies</a>

China’s Commerce Ministry said the two sides agreed to improve the atmosphere for implementation of the Phase 1 deal, which calls for Beijing to boost its purchases of American farm and manufactured goods, energy and services by $200 billion over two years compared to a 2017 baseline.

The deal brought a partial truce to an 18-month trade war between the world’s two largest economies that heaped US&nbsp;tariffs on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports.

Trump, who has blamed China’s early handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019 for causing thousands of deaths and millions of job losses in the United States, has threatened to terminate the trade deal if China fails to meet its purchase commitments. He said on Wednesday that he will assess that effort within the next week.

China has rejected the Trump administration’s assertions that there was evidence the new coronavirus came from a Wuhan laboratory and scientists have said it appears to have developed in nature.

Early on Friday, just before the US. Labor Department announced that a staggering 20.5 million US&nbsp;jobs were lost in April, Trump told a news channel that he was “having a very hard time with China.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-fuels-historic-us-job-losses-eu-wants-borders-kept-shut-297548">Coronavirus fuels historic US job losses, EU wants borders kept shut</a>

While he was initially “very excited” about the trade deal’s signing in January, the pandemic since then had changed his views about it.

“Look, I feel differently than I did. I was the most - I was very tough with China,” Trump said.

Asked if he was “breaking up” the Phase 1 trade deal, Trump said: “I’m very - I’m very torn as to - I have not decided yet, if you want to know the truth.”

Trump and some members of his administration have threatened punitive action against Beijing, including possible tariffs and shifting supply chains away from China.

While China has made some purchases of US&nbsp;farm goods, some observers say these are running far behind the pace needed to meet the first-year goal of a $77 billion increase as China’s economy is just now beginning to recover from shutdowns imposed during the pandemic.

Beijing’s new plans to implement tougher protections for intellectual property as part of the trade deal have met with mixed reviews.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was “very torn” about whether to end the so-called Phase 1 US-China trade deal, just hours after top trade officials from both countries pledged to press ahead with implementing it despite coronavirus economic wreckage.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was “very torn” about whether to end the so-called Phase 1 US-China trade deal, just hours after top trade officials from both countries pledged to press ahead with implementing it despite coronavirus economic wreckage. In an overnight phone call, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He set aside rapidly deteriorating US-China relations and discussed progress since the deal took effect in mid-February. China's Vice Premier Liu He gestures to the media between US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (L) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin before the two countries' trade negotiations in Washington The two Trump cabinet officials said in a joint statement that both sides “agreed that in spite of the current global health emergency, both countries fully expect to meet their obligations under the agreement in a timely manner.” Also read: US accuses China and Russia of coordinating to spread virus conspiracies China’s Commerce Ministry said the two sides agreed to improve the atmosphere for implementation of the Phase 1 deal, which calls for Beijing to boost its purchases of American farm and manufactured goods, energy and services by $200 billion over two years compared to a 2017 baseline. The deal brought a partial truce to an 18-month trade war between the world’s two largest economies that heaped US tariffs on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports. Trump, who has blamed China’s early handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019 for causing thousands of deaths and millions of job losses in the United States, has threatened to terminate the trade deal if China fails to meet its purchase commitments. He said on Wednesday that he will assess that effort within the next week. China has rejected the Trump administration’s assertions that there was evidence the new coronavirus came from a Wuhan laboratory and scientists have said it appears to have developed in nature. Early on Friday, just before the US. Labor Department announced that a staggering 20.5 million US jobs were lost in April, Trump told a news channel that he was “having a very hard time with China.” Also read: Coronavirus fuels historic US job losses, EU wants borders kept shut While he was initially “very excited” about the trade deal’s signing in January, the pandemic since then had changed his views about it. “Look, I feel differently than I did. I was the most - I was very tough with China,” Trump said. Asked if he was “breaking up” the Phase 1 trade deal, Trump said: “I’m very - I’m very torn as to - I have not decided yet, if you want to know the truth.” Trump and some members of his administration have threatened punitive action against Beijing, including possible tariffs and shifting supply chains away from China. While China has made some purchases of US farm goods, some observers say these are running far behind the pace needed to meet the first-year goal of a $77 billion increase as China’s economy is just now beginning to recover from shutdowns imposed during the pandemic. Beijing’s new plans to implement tougher protections for intellectual property as part of the trade deal have met with mixed reviews.

Trump 'torn' over US-China trade deal as officials push to fulfill its terms

The US Communications regulator has threatened to bar four Chinese telecom operators. Will Chinese telecom firms be forced to shutdown in the United States?

Gravitas: Coronavirus Impact? US threatens to block Chinese telecom companies

The U.S. has arrested three academics on charges of spying. They have been accused of snooping for China. America is now calling China an economic and national security threat.

Gravitas: Are academics the new spies for China in the US?

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly denounced the United States' recent blacklisting of some of its top artificial intelligence start-ups, calling it an "interference in China's domestic affairs".

The US&nbsp;Commerce Department said in a filing the "entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups."

"We urge the US&nbsp;to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw the relevant decisions, and stop interfering with China's internal affairs. China will take firm and strong actions to firmly protect its interests of sovereignty, safety and development," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a briefing in Beijing.

The blacklisting targets 20 Chinese public security bureaus and eight companies including video surveillance firm Hikvision, as well as leaders in facial recognition technology SenseTime Group Ltd and Megvii Technology Ltd.

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly denounced the United States' recent blacklisting of some of its top artificial intelligence start-ups, calling it an "interference in China's domestic affairs".

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly denounced the United States' recent blacklisting of some of its top artificial intelligence start-ups, calling it an "interference in China's domestic affairs". The US Commerce Department said in a filing the "entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups." "We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw the relevant decisions, and stop interfering with China's internal affairs. China will take firm and strong actions to firmly protect its interests of sovereignty, safety and development," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a briefing in Beijing. The blacklisting targets 20 Chinese public security bureaus and eight companies including video surveillance firm Hikvision, as well as leaders in facial recognition technology SenseTime Group Ltd and Megvii Technology Ltd.

Stop interfering in our internal affairs, says China after US blacklists companies

Washington's attempt to politicize the China-U.S. trade issue by interfering in China's domestic affairs is not helping to resolve the dispute, as Beijing has said time and again that it won't budge on an issue of principle, according to a China Media Group (CMG) commentary published on Tuesday.

Politicizing China-U.S. trade issue won't help resolve dispute

china-us-1

China Us, News on China Us, stories on China Us, articles on China Us, China Us stories at Wion, China Us news, China Us latest news

china us-1