As the diplomatic relationship between China and the US are taking a downward fall, the trade deals between the two nations are also getting affected.

After banning several Chinese companies from operating in the US, now the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has decided to&nbsp;to block imports of cotton and tomato products from western China's Xinjiang region.

However, the reason behind this decision is not the falling diplomatic relations but the inhumane actions from the Chinese side in the production. It has been alleged that the production of&nbsp;cotton and tomato products in the&nbsp;Xinjiang region is done through forced labour.

The announcement, which was to be made on Tuesday, has been postponed due to "scheduling issues". However, according to unofficial announcements and local reports, it has been reported the CBP is readying orders to stop the import of tomatoes, cotton, tomato paste,&nbsp;cotton yarn, textiles and apparel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-ahead-of-polls-trump-plans-to-withdraw-us-troops-from-iraq-afghanistan-326154">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: Ahead of polls, Trump plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan</a>

The decision has been taken after the United Nations claimed to have credible reports and proof that around one&nbsp;million Muslims have been detained in camps in the region, where they are put to work forcefully and are treated in an inhumane manner with very limited resources.

However, China, irrespective of the pressure imposed by the west, has denied all allegations and has continuously declared that the&nbsp;camps are vocational training centers needed to fight extremism.

"We have reasonable but not conclusive evidence that there is a risk of forced labour in supply chains related to cotton textiles and tomatoes coming out of Xinjiang," CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner Brenda Smith. "We will continue to work our investigations to fill in those gaps."

Although no official announcement has been made yet,&nbsp;the "Withhold Release Orders" allow the CBP to detain shipments based on suspicion of forced-labour involvement under long-standing US laws aimed at combating human trafficking, child labour and other human rights abuses.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-justice-department-seeks-to-defend-trump-in-e-jean-carroll-defamation-lawsuit-326113">Also read|&nbsp;US Justice Department seeks to defend Trump in E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit</a>

As per an order cited by a local news company, CBP has stated that the forced labour in the regionincludes&nbsp;"debt bondage, unfree movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working and living conditions."

The ban can have a negative effect on the US retail industry as China is one of the biggest cotton importer for the US as the Asian country&nbsp;produces about 20 per cent of the world's cotton and most of it comes from Xinjiang.

This is not the first time <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>'s administration has taken a step against the forced labour in&nbsp;Xinjiang region. Earlier, in March, the US lawmakers had proposed legislation that would require all goods coming from the&nbsp;Xinjiang region to specifically state that the products are not a result of the forced labour.

Later, in July, Washington issued an advisory warning companies operating businesses out of or with resources from Xinjiang, or with entities using Xinjiang labour. The lawmakers warned these companies that they&nbsp;could be exposed to "reputational, economic, and legal risks".

The ban would affect&nbsp;Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and apparel produced by Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co Ltd and Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co Ltd.

It will also block imports of products made at the Lop County Industrial Park as well as the Lop County No. 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center. Products such as hair extensions from the Lop County Meixin Hair Product Co. will also be banned. Additionally, tech-related products such as computer-parts made by the Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co Ltd, based in Anhui, China, will also face the ban.

As the diplomatic relationship between China and the US are taking a downward fall, the trade deals between the two nations are also getting affected. After banning several Chinese companies from operating in the US, now the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has decided to to block imports of cotton and tomato products from western China's Xinjiang region.

As the diplomatic relationship between China and the US are taking a downward fall, the trade deals between the two nations are also getting affected. After banning several Chinese companies from operating in the US, now the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has decided to to block imports of cotton and tomato products from western China's Xinjiang region. However, the reason behind this decision is not the falling diplomatic relations but the inhumane actions from the Chinese side in the production. It has been alleged that the production of cotton and tomato products in the Xinjiang region is done through forced labour. The announcement, which was to be made on Tuesday, has been postponed due to "scheduling issues". However, according to unofficial announcements and local reports, it has been reported the CBP is readying orders to stop the import of tomatoes, cotton, tomato paste, cotton yarn, textiles and apparel. Also read| US election 2020: Ahead of polls, Trump plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan The decision has been taken after the United Nations claimed to have credible reports and proof that around one million Muslims have been detained in camps in the region, where they are put to work forcefully and are treated in an inhumane manner with very limited resources. However, China, irrespective of the pressure imposed by the west, has denied all allegations and has continuously declared that the camps are vocational training centers needed to fight extremism. "We have reasonable but not conclusive evidence that there is a risk of forced labour in supply chains related to cotton textiles and tomatoes coming out of Xinjiang," CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner Brenda Smith. "We will continue to work our investigations to fill in those gaps." Although no official announcement has been made yet, the "Withhold Release Orders" allow the CBP to detain shipments based on suspicion of forced-labour involvement under long-standing US laws aimed at combating human trafficking, child labour and other human rights abuses. Also read| US Justice Department seeks to defend Trump in E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit As per an order cited by a local news company, CBP has stated that the forced labour in the regionincludes "debt bondage, unfree movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working and living conditions." The ban can have a negative effect on the US retail industry as China is one of the biggest cotton importer for the US as the Asian country produces about 20 per cent of the world's cotton and most of it comes from Xinjiang. This is not the first time Donald Trump's administration has taken a step against the forced labour in Xinjiang region. Earlier, in March, the US lawmakers had proposed legislation that would require all goods coming from the Xinjiang region to specifically state that the products are not a result of the forced labour. Later, in July, Washington issued an advisory warning companies operating businesses out of or with resources from Xinjiang, or with entities using Xinjiang labour. The lawmakers warned these companies that they could be exposed to "reputational, economic, and legal risks". The ban would affect Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and apparel produced by Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co Ltd and Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co Ltd. It will also block imports of products made at the Lop County Industrial Park as well as the Lop County No. 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center. Products such as hair extensions from the Lop County Meixin Hair Product Co. will also be banned. Additionally, tech-related products such as computer-parts made by the Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co Ltd, based in Anhui, China, will also face the ban.

US election 2020: Trump administration to ban imports from China over forced labour

The Trump administration is considering whether to add China`s top chipmaker SMIC to a trade blacklist, a Defense Department official said, as the United States escalates its crackdown on Chinese companies.

A Pentagon spokeswoman said the Defense Department was working with other agencies to determine whether to make the move against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, which would force U.S. suppliers to seek a difficult-to-obtain license before shipping to the company.

SMIC said in a statement on Saturday it was "in complete shock" over the news but was open to communication with U.S. government agencies in hopes of resolving any misunderstandings. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

Earlier this week, the Pentagon made a proposal to place SMIC on the entity list to the End User Committee, a panel led by the Commerce Department that also includes the State and Energy Departments and makes decisions about entity listings, a person familiar with the matter said. It was not clear whether the other agencies supported the plan.

The Trump administration has often used the entity list - which now includes more than 275 China-based firms - to hit key Chinese industries, from telecoms equipment giants Huawei Technologies and ZTE over sanction violations, to surveillance camera maker Hikvision over suppression of China`s Uighur minority.

SMIC is the largest Chinese chip manufacturer but is second-tier to rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the industry`s market leader. It has sought to build out foundries for the manufacture of computer chips that can compete with TSMC.

But it is also facing new restrictions from Commerce that require Huawei`s chip manufacturers to seek U.S. licenses before producing chips for the telecoms giant, if they rely on U.S. chipmaking technology. SMIC is one of Huawei`s manufacturers.

U.S. companies including Lam Research, KLA Corp and Applied Materials, which supply key chipmaking equipment, could be impacted by a potential entity listing, industry sources said.

While the Pentagon official did not outline the reasons for the action, SMIC`s relationship to the Chinese military is under scrutiny, another U.S. official and two former officials briefed on the matter said.

In Saturday`s statement, SMIC said it had no ties to the Chinese military.

The administration has increasingly trained its focus on Chinese companies that bolster Beijing`s military. Last month, the United States blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, its first such sanctions against Beijing over the disputed strategic waterway.

The Defense Department has released two lists of Chinese companies in the past few months that it claims are owned or controlled by the People`s Liberation Army. The designation gives President Donald Trump the authority to place them on an even tougher blacklist but so far no action has been taken.

The Trump administration is considering whether to add China`s top chipmaker SMIC to a trade blacklist, a Defense Department official said, as the United States escalates its crackdown on Chinese companies.

The Trump administration is considering whether to add China`s top chipmaker SMIC to a trade blacklist, a Defense Department official said, as the United States escalates its crackdown on Chinese companies. A Pentagon spokeswoman said the Defense Department was working with other agencies to determine whether to make the move against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, which would force U.S. suppliers to seek a difficult-to-obtain license before shipping to the company. SMIC said in a statement on Saturday it was "in complete shock" over the news but was open to communication with U.S. government agencies in hopes of resolving any misunderstandings. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier this week, the Pentagon made a proposal to place SMIC on the entity list to the End User Committee, a panel led by the Commerce Department that also includes the State and Energy Departments and makes decisions about entity listings, a person familiar with the matter said. It was not clear whether the other agencies supported the plan. The Trump administration has often used the entity list - which now includes more than 275 China-based firms - to hit key Chinese industries, from telecoms equipment giants Huawei Technologies and ZTE over sanction violations, to surveillance camera maker Hikvision over suppression of China`s Uighur minority. SMIC is the largest Chinese chip manufacturer but is second-tier to rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the industry`s market leader. It has sought to build out foundries for the manufacture of computer chips that can compete with TSMC. But it is also facing new restrictions from Commerce that require Huawei`s chip manufacturers to seek U.S. licenses before producing chips for the telecoms giant, if they rely on U.S. chipmaking technology. SMIC is one of Huawei`s manufacturers. U.S. companies including Lam Research, KLA Corp and Applied Materials, which supply key chipmaking equipment, could be impacted by a potential entity listing, industry sources said. While the Pentagon official did not outline the reasons for the action, SMIC`s relationship to the Chinese military is under scrutiny, another U.S. official and two former officials briefed on the matter said. In Saturday`s statement, SMIC said it had no ties to the Chinese military. The administration has increasingly trained its focus on Chinese companies that bolster Beijing`s military. Last month, the United States blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, its first such sanctions against Beijing over the disputed strategic waterway. The Defense Department has released two lists of Chinese companies in the past few months that it claims are owned or controlled by the People`s Liberation Army. The designation gives President Donald Trump the authority to place them on an even tougher blacklist but so far no action has been taken.

Trump administration weighs blacklisting China's chipmaker SMIC

The White House has asked U.S. government agencies for extensive details of any funding that seeks to counter China`s global influence and business practices, or supports Beijing, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

According to an Aug. 27 White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) document seen by Reuters, the OMB directed U.S. agencies to submit "cross-cutting data on federal funding that aids or supports China, or that directly or indirectly counters China`s unfair competition and malign activities and influence globally."

China denies it engages in unfair competitive practices.

The document, titled "Strategic Competition with China Crosscut," does not say how the information will be used other than that it will "inform policymakers" of the myriad ways U.S. government spending involves China.

The United States and China have grown antagonistic toward each other with disagreements that stretch from a two-year-old trade war, to the Trump administration blaming Beijing for a lack of transparency about the spread of COVID-19.

The sweeping budget data request will be used to help policymakers and notes all funding should "reflect strategic priorities" when responding to China.

Some U.S. programs and spending under review dates back a decade or more. The document directs federal agencies to respond by Sept. 21.

A spokesman for OMB confirmed the agency effort, telling Reuters that "to ensure that the United States remains strong and in a position of strength against rival nations like China, OMB has asked federal agencies for all funding meant to counter China, or which could aid China."

The memo includes instructions on how to submit both classified and unclassified U.S. spending details and seeks details of all U.S. government funding directed for spending inside China.

The White House document asks for data for all U.S. government funding used to "counter malign Chinese influence or behavior incongruent with American interests."

It cites as examples "funding for programming to counter the One Belt One Road (OBOR) or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); funding for military operations, equipment and infrastructure, the primary purpose of which is to deter aggressive Chinese behavior."

It also seeks details of "secondary" U.S. efforts on China like "marginal contributions which were necessary to maintain a U.S. lead over China in terms of voting power within key international organizations" and funding for other U.S. efforts.

The document also seeks data on U.S. government funding for programs whose primary purpose is to counter Chinese technological prowess in key sectors like 5G and wireless communications, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing, cyber and system security, advanced manufacturing and robotics, autonomous and electric vehicles, biotechnology, advanced energy, and space technologies.

The White House sought details of spending on technical assistance from U.S. government experts, bilateral funding for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research center and any other U.S. bilateral economic assistance programs.

It also seeks data on "HHS (Health and Human Services) funding for CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), NIH (National Institutes of Health) and other programming in China."

The request also seeks details on any spending that "would overall contribute to Chinese GDP or technical capacities, including to Chinese government or military entities, State-owned commercial or industrial entities and entities functionally directed by" Chinese government leadership as well as grants or credit provided by U.S. supported international organizations.

Agencies must submit data on 2019 and 2020 budgets enacted into law, the 2021 Trump budget proposal and 2022 agency budget requests.

The budget review is just the latest effort that could lead to more actions against China.

Last week the United States blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, the first such U.S. sanctions move against Beijing over the disputed strategic waterway.

The White House has asked U.S. government agencies for extensive details of any funding that seeks to counter China`s global influence and business practices, or supports Beijing, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The White House has asked U.S. government agencies for extensive details of any funding that seeks to counter China`s global influence and business practices, or supports Beijing, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing. According to an Aug. 27 White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) document seen by Reuters, the OMB directed U.S. agencies to submit "cross-cutting data on federal funding that aids or supports China, or that directly or indirectly counters China`s unfair competition and malign activities and influence globally." China denies it engages in unfair competitive practices. The document, titled "Strategic Competition with China Crosscut," does not say how the information will be used other than that it will "inform policymakers" of the myriad ways U.S. government spending involves China. The United States and China have grown antagonistic toward each other with disagreements that stretch from a two-year-old trade war, to the Trump administration blaming Beijing for a lack of transparency about the spread of COVID-19. The sweeping budget data request will be used to help policymakers and notes all funding should "reflect strategic priorities" when responding to China. Some U.S. programs and spending under review dates back a decade or more. The document directs federal agencies to respond by Sept. 21. A spokesman for OMB confirmed the agency effort, telling Reuters that "to ensure that the United States remains strong and in a position of strength against rival nations like China, OMB has asked federal agencies for all funding meant to counter China, or which could aid China." The memo includes instructions on how to submit both classified and unclassified U.S. spending details and seeks details of all U.S. government funding directed for spending inside China. The White House document asks for data for all U.S. government funding used to "counter malign Chinese influence or behavior incongruent with American interests." It cites as examples "funding for programming to counter the One Belt One Road (OBOR) or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); funding for military operations, equipment and infrastructure, the primary purpose of which is to deter aggressive Chinese behavior." It also seeks details of "secondary" U.S. efforts on China like "marginal contributions which were necessary to maintain a U.S. lead over China in terms of voting power within key international organizations" and funding for other U.S. efforts. The document also seeks data on U.S. government funding for programs whose primary purpose is to counter Chinese technological prowess in key sectors like 5G and wireless communications, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing, cyber and system security, advanced manufacturing and robotics, autonomous and electric vehicles, biotechnology, advanced energy, and space technologies. The White House sought details of spending on technical assistance from U.S. government experts, bilateral funding for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research center and any other U.S. bilateral economic assistance programs. It also seeks data on "HHS (Health and Human Services) funding for CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), NIH (National Institutes of Health) and other programming in China." The request also seeks details on any spending that "would overall contribute to Chinese GDP or technical capacities, including to Chinese government or military entities, State-owned commercial or industrial entities and entities functionally directed by" Chinese government leadership as well as grants or credit provided by U.S. supported international organizations. Agencies must submit data on 2019 and 2020 budgets enacted into law, the 2021 Trump budget proposal and 2022 agency budget requests. The budget review is just the latest effort that could lead to more actions against China. Last week the United States blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, the first such U.S. sanctions move against Beijing over the disputed strategic waterway.

White House asks US agencies to detail all China-related funding

The United States said on Wednesday it would require senior Chinese diplomats to get State Department approval before visiting U.S. university campuses or holding cultural events with more than 50 people outside mission grounds.

US announces fresh restrictions on Chinese diplomats

The U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Tuesday it has extended China tariff exclusions for a wide range of goods, including smart watches and certain medical masks, through the end of 2020, rather than renewing the previous one-year extensions.

U.S. extends some China tariff exclusions only through year end

An American warship sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the US Navy has said.

The US regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" in the area to challenge Chinese territorial claims.

The Thursday operation challenges Beijing's claims on the resource-rich waterway and prompting a warning from the Chinese military. This came a day after China fired ballistic missiles into the sea as part of ongoing live-fire exercises, inflaming already high tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The US Navy's Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the USS Mustin, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed Thursday "in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands to ensure critical shipping lanes in the area remain free and open".

To this end, the Chinese military on Friday accused the US ship of entering "China's territorial waters" near the islands "without authorisation".

Chinese forces tracked the warship and then warned it to leave, said military spokesman Li Huamin.

In recent years, China has aggressively pursued its territorial claims in the South China Sea, building small shoals and reefs into military bases with airstrips and port facilities.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan also have competing claims in the South China Sea, through which international trade worth trillions of dollars passes a year.

Tensions have risen this week in the area near the Paracel Islands -- called Xisha by Beijing -- where the Chinese military has been conducting exercises.

Beijing on Tuesday accused Washington of flying a U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone to disrupt the drills -- which included the ballistic missile launches. The Pentagon then accused China of destabilising the region and using the military for "unlawful maritime claims" in a statement criticising the exercises and the use of ballistic missiles in the drills.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-missile-tests-further-destabilizes-situation-in-south-china-sea-pentagon-323547">Also read |&nbsp;China's missile tests further destabilises situation in South China Sea: Pentagon</a>

The Chinese military on Friday said the US had "repeatedly provoked trouble in the South China Sea", urging it to "immediately stop such provocative actions".

An American warship sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the US Navy has said. The US regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" in the area to challenge Chinese territorial claims.

An American warship sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the US Navy has said. The US regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" in the area to challenge Chinese territorial claims. The Thursday operation challenges Beijing's claims on the resource-rich waterway and prompting a warning from the Chinese military. This came a day after China fired ballistic missiles into the sea as part of ongoing live-fire exercises, inflaming already high tensions between Washington and Beijing. The US Navy's Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the USS Mustin, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed Thursday "in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands to ensure critical shipping lanes in the area remain free and open". To this end, the Chinese military on Friday accused the US ship of entering "China's territorial waters" near the islands "without authorisation". Chinese forces tracked the warship and then warned it to leave, said military spokesman Li Huamin. In recent years, China has aggressively pursued its territorial claims in the South China Sea, building small shoals and reefs into military bases with airstrips and port facilities. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan also have competing claims in the South China Sea, through which international trade worth trillions of dollars passes a year. Tensions have risen this week in the area near the Paracel Islands -- called Xisha by Beijing -- where the Chinese military has been conducting exercises. Beijing on Tuesday accused Washington of flying a U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone to disrupt the drills -- which included the ballistic missile launches. The Pentagon then accused China of destabilising the region and using the military for "unlawful maritime claims" in a statement criticising the exercises and the use of ballistic missiles in the drills. Also read | China's missile tests further destabilises situation in South China Sea: Pentagon The Chinese military on Friday said the US had "repeatedly provoked trouble in the South China Sea", urging it to "immediately stop such provocative actions".

US warship sails near disputed islands in South China Sea

Taiwan paved the way for an eventual free trade deal with the United States on Friday by announcing an easing of restrictions on the import of U.S. beef and pork, as the island looks to boost ties with Washington at a time of tensions with China.

Taiwan has long sought a free trade agreement with the United States, its most important supporter on the international stage, but Washington has complained about barriers to access for U.S. pork and beef. Taiwan said that was for health grounds, especially with concerns over mad cow disease and additives.

Speaking at the presidential office in Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen said her government planned to allow the import of U.S. pork containing ractopamine, an additive that enhances leanness, and allow in U.S. beef older than 30 months old.

"The decision is in line with the country`s overall interests and the goals of the nation`s strategic development. It`s also a decision that could boost Taiwan-U.S. ties," she said.

"If we can take one crucial step forward on the issue of U.S. pork and beef, it will be an important start for Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation at all fronts."

While it may take a while to reach a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, Tsai said she had a positive attitude on the issue.

The United States is an "extremely important" trade partner for Taiwan, and the decision has nothing to do with the upcoming U.S. presidential election, she added.

Taiwan-U.S. trade last year was worth $85.5 billion, with the United States running a $23.1 billion deficit. Taiwan was the United States` 14th biggest export market in 2019.

The United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing as sovereign Chinese territory. China has been stepping up its military activities near Taiwan.

Export-dependent, tech powerhouse Taiwan has trade pacts already with Singapore and New Zealand, and has been pushing for an investment agreement with the European Union.

Taiwan paved the way for an eventual free trade deal with the United States on Friday by announcing an easing of restrictions on the import of U.S. beef and pork, as the island looks to boost ties with Washington at a time of tensions with China.

Taiwan paved the way for an eventual free trade deal with the United States on Friday by announcing an easing of restrictions on the import of U.S. beef and pork, as the island looks to boost ties with Washington at a time of tensions with China. Taiwan has long sought a free trade agreement with the United States, its most important supporter on the international stage, but Washington has complained about barriers to access for U.S. pork and beef. Taiwan said that was for health grounds, especially with concerns over mad cow disease and additives. Speaking at the presidential office in Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen said her government planned to allow the import of U.S. pork containing ractopamine, an additive that enhances leanness, and allow in U.S. beef older than 30 months old. "The decision is in line with the country`s overall interests and the goals of the nation`s strategic development. It`s also a decision that could boost Taiwan-U.S. ties," she said. "If we can take one crucial step forward on the issue of U.S. pork and beef, it will be an important start for Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation at all fronts." While it may take a while to reach a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, Tsai said she had a positive attitude on the issue. The United States is an "extremely important" trade partner for Taiwan, and the decision has nothing to do with the upcoming U.S. presidential election, she added. Taiwan-U.S. trade last year was worth $85.5 billion, with the United States running a $23.1 billion deficit. Taiwan was the United States` 14th biggest export market in 2019. The United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing as sovereign Chinese territory. China has been stepping up its military activities near Taiwan. Export-dependent, tech powerhouse Taiwan has trade pacts already with Singapore and New Zealand, and has been pushing for an investment agreement with the European Union.

Taiwan paves way for US trade deal by easing pork, beef imports

Top Chinese and US negotiators spoke on the phone Tuesday and agreed to "push forward" their phase one economic deal amid intense bilateral trade war since years. The proposal seems optimistic as both nations confirms holding a 'Constructive Dialogue'.

US-China trade talks back on track; Agree to push forward phase-1 deal

TikTok will file a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump's executive order that prohibits transactions with the popular short video app and its Chinese parent ByteDance, confirming an earlier report.

It was reported a day before that TikTok may&nbsp;challenge Trump's executive order as early as Monday.

Now, TikTok has confirmed this, issuing a statement that says it had tried to engage with the US administration for nearly a year, but faced "a lack of due process" and that the government paid no attention to the facts.

"To ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and users are treated fairly, we have no choice but to challenge the executive order through the judicial system," the company spokesperson said.

While TikTok is best known for its anodyne videos of people dancing and going viral among teenagers, US officials have expressed concerns that information on users could be passed on to China's government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-to-challenge-us-order-banning-transactions-with-its-chinese-parent-bytedance-322282">Also read |&nbsp;TikTok may&nbsp;challenge US order banning transactions with its Chinese parent ByteDance</a>

TikTok's legal challenge pertains to an executive order, which Trump issued on August 6. The said order directed the Secretary of Commerce to come up with a list of transactions involving ByteDance and its holdings that should be banned after 45 days.

The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to purge what it deems "untrusted" Chinese apps from US digital networks. Beyond TikTok, Trump has also issued an order that would prohibit transactions with Tencent Holding Ltd's WeChat.

Trump also issued an executive order on August 14 that gave ByteDance 90 days to divest the US operations of TikTok.&nbsp;

To this end, ByteDance has been making progress in talks with potential acquirers, including Microsoft Corp and Oracle. Some of ByteDance's US investors could also join the winning bid. 
&nbsp;

TikTok will file a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump's executive order that prohibits transactions with the popular short video app and its Chinese parent ByteDance, confirming an earlier report.

TikTok will file a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump's executive order that prohibits transactions with the popular short video app and its Chinese parent ByteDance, confirming an earlier report. It was reported a day before that TikTok may challenge Trump's executive order as early as Monday. Now, TikTok has confirmed this, issuing a statement that says it had tried to engage with the US administration for nearly a year, but faced "a lack of due process" and that the government paid no attention to the facts. "To ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and users are treated fairly, we have no choice but to challenge the executive order through the judicial system," the company spokesperson said. While TikTok is best known for its anodyne videos of people dancing and going viral among teenagers, US officials have expressed concerns that information on users could be passed on to China's government. Also read | TikTok may challenge US order banning transactions with its Chinese parent ByteDance TikTok's legal challenge pertains to an executive order, which Trump issued on August 6. The said order directed the Secretary of Commerce to come up with a list of transactions involving ByteDance and its holdings that should be banned after 45 days. The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to purge what it deems "untrusted" Chinese apps from US digital networks. Beyond TikTok, Trump has also issued an order that would prohibit transactions with Tencent Holding Ltd's WeChat. Trump also issued an executive order on August 14 that gave ByteDance 90 days to divest the US operations of TikTok. To this end, ByteDance has been making progress in talks with potential acquirers, including Microsoft Corp and Oracle. Some of ByteDance's US investors could also join the winning bid.

TikTok confirms it will challenge Trump's executive order; issues statement

US President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of decoupling the American economy from China -- still a major purchaser of their goods.

In a video excerpt from a Fox News interview to be aired on Sunday, Trump initially said “we don’t have to” do business with China, and then later said about decoupling: “Well it’s something that if they don’t treat us right I would certainly, I would certainly do that.”

Trump entered into a high-stakes trade war with China before reaching a partial Phase 1 trade deal in January. Trump has since shut the door on Phase 2 negotiations, saying he was unhappy with Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

In June, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a decoupling of the American and Chinese economies will result if the companies are not allowed to compete on a fair and level basis in China’s economy.

US President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of decoupling the American economy from China -- still a major purchaser of their goods. In a video excerpt from a Fox News interview to be aired on Sunday, Trump initially said “we don’t have to” do business with China, and then later said about decoupling: “Well it’s something that if they don’t treat us right I would certainly, I would certainly do that.

US President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of decoupling the American economy from China -- still a major purchaser of their goods. In a video excerpt from a Fox News interview to be aired on Sunday, Trump initially said “we don’t have to” do business with China, and then later said about decoupling: “Well it’s something that if they don’t treat us right I would certainly, I would certainly do that.” Trump entered into a high-stakes trade war with China before reaching a partial Phase 1 trade deal in January. Trump has since shut the door on Phase 2 negotiations, saying he was unhappy with Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a decoupling of the American and Chinese economies will result if the companies are not allowed to compete on a fair and level basis in China’s economy.

Trump says could 'decouple' and not do business with China

US lawmakers have introduced a bill to change the way the federal government refers to the leader of China.&nbsp;

The 'Name the Enemy Act' would require that official US government documents instead refer to the head of state according to his or her role as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This implies the new bill stands to prohibit the use of the term “president”.

The Chinese leader, currently Xi Jinping, holds three official titles, none of which is “president”: head of state (guojia zhuxi, literally “state chairman”); chairman of the central military commission; and general secretary of the CCP.

Critics say "president" offers unwarranted legitimacy to an unelected leader.

“Addressing the head of state of the People’s Republic of China as a “president” grants the incorrect assumption that the people of the state, via democratic means, have readily legitimised the leader who rules them”, the legislation states.

The House bill would prohibit the use of federal funds for the “creation or dissemination” of official documents and communications that refer to the China’s leader as “president”.

The legislation comes as many top cabinet officials, led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have recently begun abandoning the term “president” in favour of “general secretary”.&nbsp;

Earlier in May, a White House report in May used Xi’s party title exclusively.

US lawmakers have introduced a bill to change the way the federal government refers to the leader of China. The 'Name the Enemy Act' would require that official US government documents instead refer to the head of state according to his or her role as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

US lawmakers have introduced a bill to change the way the federal government refers to the leader of China. The 'Name the Enemy Act' would require that official US government documents instead refer to the head of state according to his or her role as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This implies the new bill stands to prohibit the use of the term “president”. The Chinese leader, currently Xi Jinping, holds three official titles, none of which is “president”: head of state (guojia zhuxi, literally “state chairman”); chairman of the central military commission; and general secretary of the CCP. Critics say "president" offers unwarranted legitimacy to an unelected leader. “Addressing the head of state of the People’s Republic of China as a “president” grants the incorrect assumption that the people of the state, via democratic means, have readily legitimised the leader who rules them”, the legislation states. The House bill would prohibit the use of federal funds for the “creation or dissemination” of official documents and communications that refer to the China’s leader as “president”. The legislation comes as many top cabinet officials, led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have recently begun abandoning the term “president” in favour of “general secretary”. Earlier in May, a White House report in May used Xi’s party title exclusively.

President no more? US moves to ban Chinese leader Xi Jinping's title

The US State Department said it notified Hong Kong on Wednesday that Washington has suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with the semi-autonomous city following China's imposition of a sweeping national security law.

The ending of the agreements follows US President Donald Trump's order last month to end Hong Kong’s special status under US law to punish China for what he called “oppressive actions” against the former British colony.

The State Department said in a statement the agreements ended covered "the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships."

"These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose the National Security Law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

The Hong Kong government said the US decision to end the agreements showed "disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community".

"The HKSAR Government strongly objects to and deplores the US action, which is widely seen as a move to create troubles in the China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn," it said, referring to the city by its formal designation as a Special Administrative Region of China.

Trump signed an executive order last month that he said would end the preferential economic treatment for the city following the imposition of the draconian new security law.

The legislation punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and has drawn criticism from Western countries that worry the law will end the freedoms promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Beijing and the Hong Kong government have defended the law as necessary to restore order and preserve prosperity after months of at times violent anti-government protests last year.

Hong Kong has become another contentious issue between China and the United States, whose relations were already strained by differences over trade, China's claims in the South China Sea and its treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority.

US-China ties have deteriorated to their worst level in decades, analysts say.

Washington this month imposed sanctions on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and other current and former Hong Kong and mainland officials whom Washington accuses of curtailing political freedom in the financial hub.

The US government has also required goods made in the former British colony for export to the United States to be labeled as made in China after September 25. 
&nbsp;

The US State Department said it notified Hong Kong on Wednesday that Washington has suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with the semi-autonomous city following China's imposition of a sweeping national security law.

The US State Department said it notified Hong Kong on Wednesday that Washington has suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with the semi-autonomous city following China's imposition of a sweeping national security law. The ending of the agreements follows US President Donald Trump's order last month to end Hong Kong’s special status under US law to punish China for what he called “oppressive actions” against the former British colony. The State Department said in a statement the agreements ended covered "the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships." "These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose the National Security Law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. The Hong Kong government said the US decision to end the agreements showed "disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community". "The HKSAR Government strongly objects to and deplores the US action, which is widely seen as a move to create troubles in the China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn," it said, referring to the city by its formal designation as a Special Administrative Region of China. Trump signed an executive order last month that he said would end the preferential economic treatment for the city following the imposition of the draconian new security law. The legislation punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and has drawn criticism from Western countries that worry the law will end the freedoms promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing and the Hong Kong government have defended the law as necessary to restore order and preserve prosperity after months of at times violent anti-government protests last year. Hong Kong has become another contentious issue between China and the United States, whose relations were already strained by differences over trade, China's claims in the South China Sea and its treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority. US-China ties have deteriorated to their worst level in decades, analysts say. Washington this month imposed sanctions on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and other current and former Hong Kong and mainland officials whom Washington accuses of curtailing political freedom in the financial hub. The US government has also required goods made in the former British colony for export to the United States to be labeled as made in China after September 25.

US ends agreements with Hong Kong which says it is a 'pawn'

BIGO Technology, a smaller rival of embattled Chinese appmaker ByteDance, is shifting servers from Hong Kong to Singapore, out of the reach of a new national security law at a time when it is seeking to emphasise independence from its Chinese parent.

The move, which follows India's ban on the firm's apps during this year's flare-up in hostilities between New Delhi and Beijing, comes as the United States toughens scrutiny of Chinese-owned firms in one of its most promising markets.

President Donald Trump has said the United States could exert more pressure on China-owned companies after threatening to ban ByteDance's popular short-video app TikTok over concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles.

Bigo, whose equivalent app, Likee, and live streaming app, Bigo Live, compete with TikTok, has not been named by U.S. authorities, but a senior official of the firm told Reuters it hoped "not to be caught in the crossfire."

"The unfortunate thing is sometimes we can't control what other people think," Mike Ong, vice president of government relations, said in an interview at the firm's headquarters in the city state, where it was founded in 2014. 
Ong said the firm runs "totally independently" of JOYY, a U.S.-listed Chinese tech firm that bought it last year in a deal valuing Bigo at $2.1 billion. Bigo is an abbreviation of "Before I Get Old."

JOYY's chief executive, Chinese national David Li, is a co-founder and chairman of both companies.

Ong, who worked with Singapore's telecoms regulator before joining Bigo late last year, said it does not provide services in China, and has its own management, resources and infrastructure, including data centres.

With Hong Kong's new national security law giving Beijing authority to demand that companies turn over user data, Bigo, like other global tech firms, is moving its servers out of the semi-autonomous city.

"There's a certain apprehension with what's going on in Hong Kong," said Ong. "To be safe, we have decided to make sure that we relocate them (servers) to Singapore."

Bigo's biggest data centre capacity is in Singapore, along with other markets where it operates, such as India, the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

Still, despite its repeated assertions of independence and Singapore origins, India banned it, along with some Chinese apps, in June as presenting threats to the South Asian nation's "sovereignty and integrity", after a border clash with China.

India is among Bigo's biggest markets and the base of more than a fifth of its global staff of 5,000.

Bigo said it had appealed to both Singapore and Indian governments for help in the matter. Neither immediately responded to a request for comment.

Singapore is among the most popular locations for Chinese firms looking to expand overseas, since ethnic Chinese make up a majority of its population and Mandarin is widely spoken.

But even there, Bigo's situation exemplifies the growing challenges for firms in a world of increasingly polarised technology.

"The ownership of a company isn't decided by where the headquarters is, but who takes the majority share," said Xiaofeng Wang, an analyst with research firm Forrester.

If countries were to ban apps based on politics, companies would have few options even if they were separate entities from their parents with different brands, she added.

Asked if the company was looking at listing Bigo, diversifying its ownership or selling its U.S. business, Ong said it was weighing various scenarios, but declined to give details.

As the coronavirus pandemic forces people to stay home, Bigo has become a major growth driver for parent JOYY. Bigo Live has seen growth of more than 30% in monthly active users since the start of the year, with a corresponding figure of 50% for Likee.

Europe and North America are the firm's fastest growing markets, it said. 
&nbsp;

BIGO Technology, a smaller rival of embattled Chinese appmaker ByteDance, is shifting servers from Hong Kong to Singapore, out of the reach of a new national security law at a time when it is seeking to emphasise independence from its Chinese parent.

BIGO Technology, a smaller rival of embattled Chinese appmaker ByteDance, is shifting servers from Hong Kong to Singapore, out of the reach of a new national security law at a time when it is seeking to emphasise independence from its Chinese parent. The move, which follows India's ban on the firm's apps during this year's flare-up in hostilities between New Delhi and Beijing, comes as the United States toughens scrutiny of Chinese-owned firms in one of its most promising markets. President Donald Trump has said the United States could exert more pressure on China-owned companies after threatening to ban ByteDance's popular short-video app TikTok over concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles. Bigo, whose equivalent app, Likee, and live streaming app, Bigo Live, compete with TikTok, has not been named by U.S. authorities, but a senior official of the firm told Reuters it hoped "not to be caught in the crossfire." "The unfortunate thing is sometimes we can't control what other people think," Mike Ong, vice president of government relations, said in an interview at the firm's headquarters in the city state, where it was founded in 2014. Ong said the firm runs "totally independently" of JOYY, a U.S.-listed Chinese tech firm that bought it last year in a deal valuing Bigo at $2.1 billion. Bigo is an abbreviation of "Before I Get Old." JOYY's chief executive, Chinese national David Li, is a co-founder and chairman of both companies. Ong, who worked with Singapore's telecoms regulator before joining Bigo late last year, said it does not provide services in China, and has its own management, resources and infrastructure, including data centres. With Hong Kong's new national security law giving Beijing authority to demand that companies turn over user data, Bigo, like other global tech firms, is moving its servers out of the semi-autonomous city. "There's a certain apprehension with what's going on in Hong Kong," said Ong. "To be safe, we have decided to make sure that we relocate them (servers) to Singapore." Bigo's biggest data centre capacity is in Singapore, along with other markets where it operates, such as India, the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Still, despite its repeated assertions of independence and Singapore origins, India banned it, along with some Chinese apps, in June as presenting threats to the South Asian nation's "sovereignty and integrity", after a border clash with China. India is among Bigo's biggest markets and the base of more than a fifth of its global staff of 5,000. Bigo said it had appealed to both Singapore and Indian governments for help in the matter. Neither immediately responded to a request for comment. Singapore is among the most popular locations for Chinese firms looking to expand overseas, since ethnic Chinese make up a majority of its population and Mandarin is widely spoken. But even there, Bigo's situation exemplifies the growing challenges for firms in a world of increasingly polarised technology. "The ownership of a company isn't decided by where the headquarters is, but who takes the majority share," said Xiaofeng Wang, an analyst with research firm Forrester. If countries were to ban apps based on politics, companies would have few options even if they were separate entities from their parents with different brands, she added. Asked if the company was looking at listing Bigo, diversifying its ownership or selling its U.S. business, Ong said it was weighing various scenarios, but declined to give details. As the coronavirus pandemic forces people to stay home, Bigo has become a major growth driver for parent JOYY. Bigo Live has seen growth of more than 30% in monthly active users since the start of the year, with a corresponding figure of 50% for Likee. Europe and North America are the firm's fastest growing markets, it said.

As US targets China tech, TikTok rival Bigo shifts servers from Hong Kong

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.

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"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

The US crackdown on Confucius Institutes demonises and stigmatises the normal functioning of the programme, China's foreign ministry said on Friday.

The institutes have been observing local laws, and China deplores the move, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news briefing.

The United States said on Thursday it was requiring the centre that manages the Chinese government-funded institutes in the US to register as a foreign mission.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement, labelled the Confucius Institute US Centre in Washington “an entity advancing Beijing’s global propaganda and malign influence campaign on US campuses and K-12 classrooms.”

Zhao Lijian added the institutes were open and transparent, adding that China reserved the right to take further action.

Pompeo said the goal of the move was to ensure American schools “can make informed choices about whether these CCP (Chinese Communist Party)-backed programs should be allowed to continue, and if so, in what fashion.”

Pompeo said the Trump administration had made it a priority to seek fair and reciprocal treatment from China and Beijing had enjoyed free and open access to US society while denying that same access to Americans and other foreigners in China.

Last year, the US State and Education Departments promised stricter monitoring of the institutes, which have been criticized in Congress and elsewhere as de facto propaganda arms of China’s Communist government.

In June, the State Department announced it would start treating four major Chinese media outlets as foreign embassies, calling them mouthpieces for Beijing.

US-China relations are at their lowest ebb in decades, with President Donald Trump taking a tough line on Beijing ahead of his November 3 re-election bid.

The world’s top two economies are at loggerheads on issues ranging from the handling of the coronavirus pandemic to China’s crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and what US officials say is rampant espionage activity to steal US business and military secrets.

According to the US non-profit organisation, the National Association of Scholars, there were 75 Confucius Institutes in the United States as of June, including 66 at colleges and universities.

The association contends that the institutes compromise academic freedom, defy Western norms of transparency, and are inappropriate on campuses. China rejects that criticism, calling it politicised and baseless.&nbsp;

The US crackdown on Confucius Institutes demonises and stigmatises the normal functioning of the programme, China's foreign ministry said on Friday. The institutes have been observing local laws, and China deplores the move, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news briefing.

The US crackdown on Confucius Institutes demonises and stigmatises the normal functioning of the programme, China's foreign ministry said on Friday. The institutes have been observing local laws, and China deplores the move, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news briefing. The United States said on Thursday it was requiring the centre that manages the Chinese government-funded institutes in the US to register as a foreign mission. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement, labelled the Confucius Institute US Centre in Washington “an entity advancing Beijing’s global propaganda and malign influence campaign on US campuses and K-12 classrooms.” Zhao Lijian added the institutes were open and transparent, adding that China reserved the right to take further action. Pompeo said the goal of the move was to ensure American schools “can make informed choices about whether these CCP (Chinese Communist Party)-backed programs should be allowed to continue, and if so, in what fashion.” Pompeo said the Trump administration had made it a priority to seek fair and reciprocal treatment from China and Beijing had enjoyed free and open access to US society while denying that same access to Americans and other foreigners in China. Last year, the US State and Education Departments promised stricter monitoring of the institutes, which have been criticized in Congress and elsewhere as de facto propaganda arms of China’s Communist government. In June, the State Department announced it would start treating four major Chinese media outlets as foreign embassies, calling them mouthpieces for Beijing. US-China relations are at their lowest ebb in decades, with President Donald Trump taking a tough line on Beijing ahead of his November 3 re-election bid. The world’s top two economies are at loggerheads on issues ranging from the handling of the coronavirus pandemic to China’s crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and what US officials say is rampant espionage activity to steal US business and military secrets. According to the US non-profit organisation, the National Association of Scholars, there were 75 Confucius Institutes in the United States as of June, including 66 at colleges and universities. The association contends that the institutes compromise academic freedom, defy Western norms of transparency, and are inappropriate on campuses. China rejects that criticism, calling it politicised and baseless.

US crackdown on Confucius Institutes demonises the programme, says China

A sharp escalation in tensions with the United States has stoked fears in China of a deepening financial war that could result in it being shut out of the global dollar system - a devastating prospect once considered far-fetched but now not impossible.

Chinese officials and economists have in recent months been unusually public in discussing worst-case scenarios under which China is blocked from dollar settlements, or Washington freezes or confiscates a portion of China's huge US debt holdings.

Those concerns have galvanised some in Beijing to revive calls to bolster the yuan's global clout as it looks to decrease reliance on the greenback.

Some economists even float the idea of settling exports of China-made COVID-19 vaccines in yuan, and are looking to bypass dollar settlement with a digital version of the currency.

"Yuan internationalisation was a good-to-have. It's now becoming a must-have," said Shuang Ding, head of Greater China economic research at Standard Chartered and a former economist at the People's Bank of China (PBOC).

The threat of Sino-US financial "decoupling" is becoming "clear and present", Ding said.

Although a complete separation of the world's two largest economies is unlikely, the Trump administration has been pushing for a partial decoupling in key areas related to trade, technology and financial activity.

Washington has unleashed a barrage of actions penalising China, including proposals to bar US listings of Chinese companies that fail to meet US accounting standards and bans on the Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat apps. Further tension is expected in the run-up to US elections on Nov. 3.

"A broad financial war has already started ... the most lethal tactics have yet to be used," Yu Yongding, an economist at the state-backed Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) who previously advised the PBOC, told Reuters.

Yu said the ultimate sanction would involve US seizures of China's US assets - Beijing holds over $1 trillion yuan in US government debt - which would be difficult to implement and a self-inflicted wound for Washington. 
But calling US leaders "extremists", Yu said a decoupling is not impossible, so China should make preparations.

HIGH STAKES

The stakes are high. Any move by Washington to cut China off from the dollar system or retaliation by Beijing to sell a big chunk of US debt could roil financial markets and hurt the global economy, analysts said.

Fang Xinghai, a senior securities regulator, said China is vulnerable to US sanctions and should make "early" and "real" preparations. "Such things have already happened to many Russian businesses and financial institutions," Fang told a June forum organised by Chinese media outlet Caixin.

Guan Tao, former director of the international payments department of China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange and now chief global economist at BOC International (China), also said Beijing should ready itself for decoupling.

"We have to mentally prepare that the United States could expel China from the dollar settlement system," he told Reuters.

In a report he co-authored last month, Guan called for increased use of China's yuan settlement system, Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, in global trade. Most of China's cross-border transactions are settled in dollars via the SWIFT system, which some say leaves it vulnerable.

RENEWED PUSH

After a five-year lull, Beijing is reviving its push to globalise the yuan.

The PBOC's Shanghai head office last month urged financial institutions to expand yuan trade and prioritise local currency use in direct investment.

Central bank chief Yi Gang said in remarks published on Sunday that yuan internationalisation is proceeding well, with cross-border settlements growing 36.7% in the first half of 2020 from a year earlier.

Still, internationalisation is hampered by China's own stringent capital controls. It could also face resistance from countries that have criticised China on matters ranging from the coronavirus to its clampdown on Hong Kong.

The yuan's share of global foreign exchange reserves surpassed 2% in the first quarter, Yi said. It also beat the Swiss franc in June to be the fifth most-used currency for international payments, with a share of 1.76%, according to SWIFT.

One way to accelerate cross-border settlement would be to price some exports in renminbi, such as a possible coronavirus vaccine, suggested Tommy Xie, head of Greater China research at OCBC Bank in Singapore.

Another is to use a proposed digital yuan in cross-border transactions on the back of currency swaps between central banks, bypassing systems such as SWIFT, said Ding Jianping, finance professor at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

China has fast-tracked plans to develop a sovereign digital currency, while the PBOC has been busy signing currency swap deals with foreign counterparts.

Shuang Ding of Standard Chartered said Beijing has no choice but to prepare for Washington's "nuclear option" of kicking China out of the dollar system.

"Beijing cannot afford to be thrown into disarray when sanctions indeed befall China," he said.

A sharp escalation in tensions with the United States has stoked fears in China of a deepening financial war that could result in it being shut out of the global dollar system - a devastating prospect once considered far-fetched but now not impossible.

A sharp escalation in tensions with the United States has stoked fears in China of a deepening financial war that could result in it being shut out of the global dollar system - a devastating prospect once considered far-fetched but now not impossible. Chinese officials and economists have in recent months been unusually public in discussing worst-case scenarios under which China is blocked from dollar settlements, or Washington freezes or confiscates a portion of China's huge US debt holdings. Those concerns have galvanised some in Beijing to revive calls to bolster the yuan's global clout as it looks to decrease reliance on the greenback. Some economists even float the idea of settling exports of China-made COVID-19 vaccines in yuan, and are looking to bypass dollar settlement with a digital version of the currency. "Yuan internationalisation was a good-to-have. It's now becoming a must-have," said Shuang Ding, head of Greater China economic research at Standard Chartered and a former economist at the People's Bank of China (PBOC). The threat of Sino-US financial "decoupling" is becoming "clear and present", Ding said. Although a complete separation of the world's two largest economies is unlikely, the Trump administration has been pushing for a partial decoupling in key areas related to trade, technology and financial activity. Washington has unleashed a barrage of actions penalising China, including proposals to bar US listings of Chinese companies that fail to meet US accounting standards and bans on the Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat apps. Further tension is expected in the run-up to US elections on Nov. 3. "A broad financial war has already started ... the most lethal tactics have yet to be used," Yu Yongding, an economist at the state-backed Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) who previously advised the PBOC, told Reuters. Yu said the ultimate sanction would involve US seizures of China's US assets - Beijing holds over $1 trillion yuan in US government debt - which would be difficult to implement and a self-inflicted wound for Washington. But calling US leaders "extremists", Yu said a decoupling is not impossible, so China should make preparations. HIGH STAKES The stakes are high. Any move by Washington to cut China off from the dollar system or retaliation by Beijing to sell a big chunk of US debt could roil financial markets and hurt the global economy, analysts said. Fang Xinghai, a senior securities regulator, said China is vulnerable to US sanctions and should make "early" and "real" preparations. "Such things have already happened to many Russian businesses and financial institutions," Fang told a June forum organised by Chinese media outlet Caixin. Guan Tao, former director of the international payments department of China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange and now chief global economist at BOC International (China), also said Beijing should ready itself for decoupling. "We have to mentally prepare that the United States could expel China from the dollar settlement system," he told Reuters. In a report he co-authored last month, Guan called for increased use of China's yuan settlement system, Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, in global trade. Most of China's cross-border transactions are settled in dollars via the SWIFT system, which some say leaves it vulnerable. RENEWED PUSH After a five-year lull, Beijing is reviving its push to globalise the yuan. The PBOC's Shanghai head office last month urged financial institutions to expand yuan trade and prioritise local currency use in direct investment. Central bank chief Yi Gang said in remarks published on Sunday that yuan internationalisation is proceeding well, with cross-border settlements growing 36.7% in the first half of 2020 from a year earlier. Still, internationalisation is hampered by China's own stringent capital controls. It could also face resistance from countries that have criticised China on matters ranging from the coronavirus to its clampdown on Hong Kong. The yuan's share of global foreign exchange reserves surpassed 2% in the first quarter, Yi said. It also beat the Swiss franc in June to be the fifth most-used currency for international payments, with a share of 1.76%, according to SWIFT. One way to accelerate cross-border settlement would be to price some exports in renminbi, such as a possible coronavirus vaccine, suggested Tommy Xie, head of Greater China research at OCBC Bank in Singapore. Another is to use a proposed digital yuan in cross-border transactions on the back of currency swaps between central banks, bypassing systems such as SWIFT, said Ding Jianping, finance professor at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. China has fast-tracked plans to develop a sovereign digital currency, while the PBOC has been busy signing currency swap deals with foreign counterparts. Shuang Ding of Standard Chartered said Beijing has no choice but to prepare for Washington's "nuclear option" of kicking China out of the dollar system. "Beijing cannot afford to be thrown into disarray when sanctions indeed befall China," he said.

In China, fears of financial Iron Curtain as US tensions rise

China has introduced “robotaxis” in the race to put autonomous vehicles on the road -- in hopes that a hired-car format can be the key to unlocking wide acceptance of the futuristic technology.

As China challenges US tech dominance, Chinese players such as Baidu, Alibaba-backed AutoX and ride-sharing king DiDi Chuxing recently launched autonomous taxi pilot projects in cities around the country.

Robotaxis or delivery services are considered ideal for accumulating the driving time and huge data cache needed for cars to "learn" and become safe enough.

Chinese consumers are now lining up for a spin in DiDi Chuxing's self-developed autonomous taxis at a Shanghai pilot project launched in June.

Test subjects use DiDi's mobile app to plot a ride through suburban roads in a Volvo fitted with a crown of tech hardware topped by a spinning radar device.

The vehicle confidently sets out, accelerating, braking, signalling and turning on its own in real traffic as a female voice calmly narrates: "Yielding for crosswalk"; "Your car has been disinfected".

Like any student driver, however, it still needs practice, as any impromptu deviation from the plotted route requires human intervention.

But Meng Xing, chief operating officer of DiDi's autonomous driving company, told AFP its AI system "is already smart enough to handle most of the situations", and safety drivers almost never need to touch the steering wheel or brakes.

AutoX's chief executive Xiao Jianxiong expects a "sizeable" deployment of the vehicles - without safety drivers - could take place in two to three years, with regulations and technology being the main obstacles.

Tech giant Baidu has plans for autonomous car testing bases in more than 10 Chinese cities including Beijing, with a 45-strong robotaxi fleet already on trial in central China's Changsha city, plying an area of around 130 square kilometres.

China has introduced “robotaxis” in the race to put autonomous vehicles on the road -- in hopes that a hired-car format can be the key to unlocking wide acceptance of the futuristic technology.

China has introduced “robotaxis” in the race to put autonomous vehicles on the road -- in hopes that a hired-car format can be the key to unlocking wide acceptance of the futuristic technology. As China challenges US tech dominance, Chinese players such as Baidu, Alibaba-backed AutoX and ride-sharing king DiDi Chuxing recently launched autonomous taxi pilot projects in cities around the country. Robotaxis or delivery services are considered ideal for accumulating the driving time and huge data cache needed for cars to "learn" and become safe enough. Chinese consumers are now lining up for a spin in DiDi Chuxing's self-developed autonomous taxis at a Shanghai pilot project launched in June. Test subjects use DiDi's mobile app to plot a ride through suburban roads in a Volvo fitted with a crown of tech hardware topped by a spinning radar device. The vehicle confidently sets out, accelerating, braking, signalling and turning on its own in real traffic as a female voice calmly narrates: "Yielding for crosswalk"; "Your car has been disinfected". Like any student driver, however, it still needs practice, as any impromptu deviation from the plotted route requires human intervention. But Meng Xing, chief operating officer of DiDi's autonomous driving company, told AFP its AI system "is already smart enough to handle most of the situations", and safety drivers almost never need to touch the steering wheel or brakes. AutoX's chief executive Xiao Jianxiong expects a "sizeable" deployment of the vehicles - without safety drivers - could take place in two to three years, with regulations and technology being the main obstacles. Tech giant Baidu has plans for autonomous car testing bases in more than 10 Chinese cities including Beijing, with a 45-strong robotaxi fleet already on trial in central China's Changsha city, plying an area of around 130 square kilometres.

China launches 'robotaxis' amid race against US tech dominance

China on Monday sanctioned 11 Americans, including senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, in retaliation for similar US moves against Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown in Hong Kong.

"China has decided to impose sanctions on some people that behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth and National Endowment for Democracy president Carl Gershman are also on the sanctions list.

The US on Friday froze the assets of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other senior Chinese officials.

It accused Lam and the other sanctioned officials of being "directly responsible for implementing Beijing's policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes."

This was considered to be the toughest US action on Hong Kong since China imposed a sweeping new security law on the territory.

The US Treasury directly accused&nbsp;Lam of "implementing Beijing's policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes".

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated over issues ranging from trade to Hong Kong and China`s handling of COVID-19.

The US has strongly criticised Hong Kong's national security law. China has defended its controversial law as necessary to stop foreign interference in Hong Kong and the often violent pro-democracy protests that took place last year.

Last month, China announced sanctions against Cruz, Rubio, Smith and other U.S. officials after Washington penalized senior Chinese officials over the treatment of Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region.

Beijing's latest measure also includes new sanctions against the heads of the US-based campaign groups Freedom House and Human Rights Watch. Both had were been subjected to sanctions in December in relation to Hong Kong.

It also imposed sanctions on the heads of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the International Republican Institute.

(with inputs from agencies)

China on Monday sanctioned 11 Americans, including senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, in retaliation for similar US moves against Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown in Hong Kong.

China on Monday sanctioned 11 Americans, including senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, in retaliation for similar US moves against Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown in Hong Kong. "China has decided to impose sanctions on some people that behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth and National Endowment for Democracy president Carl Gershman are also on the sanctions list. The US on Friday froze the assets of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other senior Chinese officials. It accused Lam and the other sanctioned officials of being "directly responsible for implementing Beijing's policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes." This was considered to be the toughest US action on Hong Kong since China imposed a sweeping new security law on the territory. The US Treasury directly accused Lam of "implementing Beijing's policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes". Relations between the two countries have deteriorated over issues ranging from trade to Hong Kong and China`s handling of COVID-19. The US has strongly criticised Hong Kong's national security law. China has defended its controversial law as necessary to stop foreign interference in Hong Kong and the often violent pro-democracy protests that took place last year. Last month, China announced sanctions against Cruz, Rubio, Smith and other U.S. officials after Washington penalized senior Chinese officials over the treatment of Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region. Beijing's latest measure also includes new sanctions against the heads of the US-based campaign groups Freedom House and Human Rights Watch. Both had were been subjected to sanctions in December in relation to Hong Kong. It also imposed sanctions on the heads of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the International Republican Institute. (with inputs from agencies)

China sanctions 11 Americans over 'bad' behaviour on Hong Kong-related issues

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Luo Huining, the head of China's Liaison Office, as well as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and other current and former officials that Washington accuses of curtailing political freedoms in the global financial hub.

The move ratchets up already strained tensions between the United States and China, more than a month after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation on Hong Kong that drew condemnation from Western governments and rights groups.

"The unscrupulous intentions of the US politicians to support the anti-China chaos in Hong Kong have been revealed, and their clowning actions are really ridiculous," the Liaison Office said in a statement.

"Intimidation and threats cannot frighten the Chinese people."

Luo, the most senior mainland political official based in the Chinese-controlled territory, said US sanctions on him indicated he was doing what he "should be doing for my country and Hong Kong", according to the statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pro-democracy-activist-nathan-law-hails-us-sanctions-on-hong-kongs-officials-over-crackdown-318989">Also read | Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law hails US sanctions on Hong Kong's officials over crackdown</a>

As well as Luo and Lam, the sanctions target Hong Kong police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor Stephen Lo; John Lee, Hong Kong`s secretary of security, and Teresa Cheng, the justice secretary. Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing, was also on the list.

The sanctions were imposed under an executive order US President Donald Trump signed last month to punish China for its moves against dissent in Hong Kong and are the latest action by his administration against Beijing in the run-up to his November re-election bid.

“The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy,” Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

The sanctions freeze any US asset of the officials and generally bar Americans from doing business with them.

Beijing imposed the law directly on Hong Kong just before midnight on June 30, circumventing the city's legislature, and the city's officials were not aware of the details of the law until it was implemented.

(with inputs from agencies)

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Luo Huining, the head of China's Liaison Office, as well as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and other current and former officials that Washington accuses of curtailing political freedoms in the global financial hub.

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Luo Huining, the head of China's Liaison Office, as well as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and other current and former officials that Washington accuses of curtailing political freedoms in the global financial hub. The move ratchets up already strained tensions between the United States and China, more than a month after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation on Hong Kong that drew condemnation from Western governments and rights groups. "The unscrupulous intentions of the US politicians to support the anti-China chaos in Hong Kong have been revealed, and their clowning actions are really ridiculous," the Liaison Office said in a statement. "Intimidation and threats cannot frighten the Chinese people." Luo, the most senior mainland political official based in the Chinese-controlled territory, said US sanctions on him indicated he was doing what he "should be doing for my country and Hong Kong", according to the statement. Also read | Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law hails US sanctions on Hong Kong's officials over crackdown As well as Luo and Lam, the sanctions target Hong Kong police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor Stephen Lo; John Lee, Hong Kong`s secretary of security, and Teresa Cheng, the justice secretary. Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing, was also on the list. The sanctions were imposed under an executive order US President Donald Trump signed last month to punish China for its moves against dissent in Hong Kong and are the latest action by his administration against Beijing in the run-up to his November re-election bid. “The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy,” Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in the statement. The sanctions freeze any US asset of the officials and generally bar Americans from doing business with them. Beijing imposed the law directly on Hong Kong just before midnight on June 30, circumventing the city's legislature, and the city's officials were not aware of the details of the law until it was implemented. (with inputs from agencies)

China says it opposes 'barbarous' Hong Kong sanctions by United States

The US intelligence has assessed that&nbsp;Russia, China and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election with Beijing&nbsp;"preferring" an outcome where President Donald Trump is not reelected in November and Moscow working to "denigrate" former Vice President Joe Biden's White House bid.

In an unusual public statement, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, said the three countries were using online disinformation and other means to try to influence voters, stir up disorder and undermine American voters' confidence in the democratic process.

Evanina said in a statement on Friday: "We assess that China prefers that President Trump -- whom Beijing sees as unpredictable -- does not win reelection."

Evanina's assessment comes two days after the release of a new report from the State Department that accused Russia of conducting a sophisticated disinformation and propaganda campaign, which uses a variety of approaches including Kremlin-aligned news sites to promote their agenda.

In a nutshell, Evanina's statement&nbsp;put two of the biggest American adversaries on opposite sides of the election: Russia for Trump and China for Biden.

"China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to China's interests, and deflect and counter criticism of China," Evanina added.

"We assess that Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former Vice President Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia 'establishment.' This is consistent with Moscow's public criticism of him when he was Vice President for his role in the Obama Administration's policies on Ukraine and its support for the anti-Putin opposition inside Russia."&nbsp;

According to CNN, Evanina also stated that Iran is seeking to "undermine US democratic institutions, President Trump, and to divide the country."

The statement from the top counterintelligence official is also the clearest the intelligence community has been in suggesting Russia prefers one candidate over the other in the 2020 race.

In response, Trump appeared reluctant to accept the intelligence community findings. He, when asked, said, "It could be. I mean it could be, very much."

"I think that the last person Russia wants to see in office is Donald Trump because nobody's been tougher on Russia -- ever," Trump said, adding later, "the last thing that Russia wants, and China wants, and Iran wants is for Donald Trump to win."

Evanina used "denigrate" to denote what Russia wanted. It is the word the intelligence community used in its 2017 assessment citing Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an "influence campaign" aimed at harming Hillary Clinton.

US intelligence officials presented information to lawmakers and presidential campaigns.

An official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told CNN that there's "no particular rank or order by which the threat actors are listed" in Evanina's statement.

The Biden and Trump campaigns responded to the news of Evanina's warning by volleying attacks at one another.

The Biden campaign's foreign policy adviser, Tony Blinken, accused Trump of having "publically and repeatedly invited, emboldened, and even tried to coerce foreign interference in American elections."

Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh claimed the administration has held Moscow accountable and is "tougher on Russia than any administration in history," also attacking Obama's former national security adviser Susan Rice, who is a potential running mate for Biden.

Many officials who oversee US election technology and outside security experts now worry less about hacking in the elections than about misinformation and logistics such as a shortage of poll workers and slowdowns at the US postal service.

The US intelligence has assessed that Russia, China and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election with Beijing "preferring" an outcome where President Donald Trump is not reelected in November and Moscow working to "denigrate" former Vice President Joe Biden's White House bid.

The US intelligence has assessed that Russia, China and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election with Beijing "preferring" an outcome where President Donald Trump is not reelected in November and Moscow working to "denigrate" former Vice President Joe Biden's White House bid. In an unusual public statement, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, said the three countries were using online disinformation and other means to try to influence voters, stir up disorder and undermine American voters' confidence in the democratic process. Evanina said in a statement on Friday: "We assess that China prefers that President Trump -- whom Beijing sees as unpredictable -- does not win reelection." Evanina's assessment comes two days after the release of a new report from the State Department that accused Russia of conducting a sophisticated disinformation and propaganda campaign, which uses a variety of approaches including Kremlin-aligned news sites to promote their agenda. In a nutshell, Evanina's statement put two of the biggest American adversaries on opposite sides of the election: Russia for Trump and China for Biden. "China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to China's interests, and deflect and counter criticism of China," Evanina added. "We assess that Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former Vice President Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia 'establishment.' This is consistent with Moscow's public criticism of him when he was Vice President for his role in the Obama Administration's policies on Ukraine and its support for the anti-Putin opposition inside Russia." According to CNN, Evanina also stated that Iran is seeking to "undermine US democratic institutions, President Trump, and to divide the country." The statement from the top counterintelligence official is also the clearest the intelligence community has been in suggesting Russia prefers one candidate over the other in the 2020 race. In response, Trump appeared reluctant to accept the intelligence community findings. He, when asked, said, "It could be. I mean it could be, very much." "I think that the last person Russia wants to see in office is Donald Trump because nobody's been tougher on Russia -- ever," Trump said, adding later, "the last thing that Russia wants, and China wants, and Iran wants is for Donald Trump to win." Evanina used "denigrate" to denote what Russia wanted. It is the word the intelligence community used in its 2017 assessment citing Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an "influence campaign" aimed at harming Hillary Clinton. US intelligence officials presented information to lawmakers and presidential campaigns. An official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told CNN that there's "no particular rank or order by which the threat actors are listed" in Evanina's statement. The Biden and Trump campaigns responded to the news of Evanina's warning by volleying attacks at one another. The Biden campaign's foreign policy adviser, Tony Blinken, accused Trump of having "publically and repeatedly invited, emboldened, and even tried to coerce foreign interference in American elections." Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh claimed the administration has held Moscow accountable and is "tougher on Russia than any administration in history," also attacking Obama's former national security adviser Susan Rice, who is a potential running mate for Biden. Many officials who oversee US election technology and outside security experts now worry less about hacking in the elections than about misinformation and logistics such as a shortage of poll workers and slowdowns at the US postal service.

China wants Trump to lose election, Russia working to insult Biden, US intel says

United States President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order to ensure that when it comes to essential medicines, the US buys American. This executive order will require that the US government agencies purchase all the essential medicines it needs from American sources.

India has said this could strategically benefit New Delhi as well.

Highlighting that "objective of the measures are targetted mainly at China", Indian government sources said the order signed by Trump on essential drugs "may benefit India strategically".

Addressing workers at the manufacturing plant in Ohio, Trump said, "As we’ve seen in this pandemic, the United States must produce essential equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals for ourselves. We cannot rely on China and other nations across the globe that could one day deny us products in a time of need. We can’t do it. We can’t do it. We have to be smart."

China is world's largest source of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) with India also importing vast quantity from the country.

Sources said, "The development of API and critical medicine manufacturing in the USA may be a strategic positive for India in terms of national security considerations and may provide non-China sources."

India and US have a substantial relationship when it comes to the pharma sector. Indian pharmaceutical companies like Cipla, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s etc are present in the US. India had also sent hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to US amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

United States President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order to ensure that when it comes to essential medicines, the US buys American. This executive order will require that the US government agencies purchase all the essential medicines it needs from American sources.

United States President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order to ensure that when it comes to essential medicines, the US buys American. This executive order will require that the US government agencies purchase all the essential medicines it needs from American sources. India has said this could strategically benefit New Delhi as well. Highlighting that "objective of the measures are targetted mainly at China", Indian government sources said the order signed by Trump on essential drugs "may benefit India strategically". Addressing workers at the manufacturing plant in Ohio, Trump said, "As we’ve seen in this pandemic, the United States must produce essential equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals for ourselves. We cannot rely on China and other nations across the globe that could one day deny us products in a time of need. We can’t do it. We can’t do it. We have to be smart." China is world's largest source of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) with India also importing vast quantity from the country. Sources said, "The development of API and critical medicine manufacturing in the USA may be a strategic positive for India in terms of national security considerations and may provide non-China sources." India and US have a substantial relationship when it comes to the pharma sector. Indian pharmaceutical companies like Cipla, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s etc are present in the US. India had also sent hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to US amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump signs order to ensure US buys American drugs; India hopes for a strategic benefit

The Trump administration is considering a proposal to crackdown on Chinese companies that are listed in the US and do not follow American audit requirements, according to a media report.

As per the proposal, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Chinese companies listed on American stock exchanges like New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ be subject to audit by US regulators or else they would be delisted.

To comply, Chinese auditors would have to share their work papers with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a specialised audit regulator overseen by the US government, the financial daily said.

Chinese firms that are not yet public, but which plan to do an initial public offering in the US, would have to comply before they can go public on NYSE or Nasdaq, and would not get until 2022 to follow the rules, the report said, quoting senior officials from the Department of Treasury and Securities and Exchange Commission.

"These recommendations are consistent with bipartisan congressional legislation and are centered on the importance of a level playing field," US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton was quoted as saying in the report.

Such a move comes after the US Senate passed a bipartisan legislation in May. As per the legislation, the Chinese companies that do not comply with these regulations in three years would be delisted.

The latest move of Trump Administration is part of its effort to crackdown on Chinese companies, the report said. 
President Donald Trump has given September 15 as the deadline to TikTok, the popular Chinese app, to sell it to an American owner or face its closer.

Last month, the US asked closer of Chinese consulate in Houston accusing it of being a spying hub.

In his remarks at a Whirlpool manufacturing plant in Ohio on Thursday, Trump said that his administration was bringing trade cases against China to crack down on its economic aggression.

In an op-ed in Roll Call, Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and John Joyce alleged that the Communist China Party (CCP) has increased its threats on the US through technology advances. As such, United States must push back by leading in innovation and bolstering telecommunications security.

"China's more recent technological power not only endangers America's national security, it also poses a serious threat to the human rights of Chinese citizens and freedom-loving people around the world. Communist governments do not tolerate any form of dissent, and Beijing routinely uses technology to surveil, silence and threaten its critics," they wrote.

"Huawei, another company with ties to the Chinese government, regularly comes under fire for its blatant disregard of human rights," they said.

The Trump administration is considering a proposal to crackdown on Chinese companies that are listed in the US and do not follow American audit requirements, according to a media report.

The Trump administration is considering a proposal to crackdown on Chinese companies that are listed in the US and do not follow American audit requirements, according to a media report. As per the proposal, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Chinese companies listed on American stock exchanges like New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ be subject to audit by US regulators or else they would be delisted. To comply, Chinese auditors would have to share their work papers with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a specialised audit regulator overseen by the US government, the financial daily said. Chinese firms that are not yet public, but which plan to do an initial public offering in the US, would have to comply before they can go public on NYSE or Nasdaq, and would not get until 2022 to follow the rules, the report said, quoting senior officials from the Department of Treasury and Securities and Exchange Commission. "These recommendations are consistent with bipartisan congressional legislation and are centered on the importance of a level playing field," US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton was quoted as saying in the report. Such a move comes after the US Senate passed a bipartisan legislation in May. As per the legislation, the Chinese companies that do not comply with these regulations in three years would be delisted. The latest move of Trump Administration is part of its effort to crackdown on Chinese companies, the report said. President Donald Trump has given September 15 as the deadline to TikTok, the popular Chinese app, to sell it to an American owner or face its closer. Last month, the US asked closer of Chinese consulate in Houston accusing it of being a spying hub. In his remarks at a Whirlpool manufacturing plant in Ohio on Thursday, Trump said that his administration was bringing trade cases against China to crack down on its economic aggression. In an op-ed in Roll Call, Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and John Joyce alleged that the Communist China Party (CCP) has increased its threats on the US through technology advances. As such, United States must push back by leading in innovation and bolstering telecommunications security. "China's more recent technological power not only endangers America's national security, it also poses a serious threat to the human rights of Chinese citizens and freedom-loving people around the world. Communist governments do not tolerate any form of dissent, and Beijing routinely uses technology to surveil, silence and threaten its critics," they wrote. "Huawei, another company with ties to the Chinese government, regularly comes under fire for its blatant disregard of human rights," they said.

Trump administration seeks crackdown on Chinese companies listed in US

The US seeks to end its reliance on China and other foreign nations for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, President Donald Trump has said. He on Thursday asserted that Beijing would have to pay the price for the wound it has inflicted on America and the world by spreading the deadly coronavirus.

Trump and leaders of several countries have accused China of not being transparent in reporting the deadly disease, leading to huge human casualties and economic crisis across the world.

China, however, has denied US' accusation of covering up the extent of its coronavirus outbreak and accused America of attempting to divert public attention by insinuating that the virus originated from a virology laboratory in Wuhan.

"What China did is a terrible thing. Whether it was incompetence or on purpose, it was a terrible thing that they did -- not only to the United States, but to the world. A terrible thing," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday before flying to Ohio to visit a Whirlpool manufacturing plant.

Hours later addressing workers at the manufacturing plant in Ohio, Trump alleged that the previous Obama-Biden administration was perfectly happy to let China win.

"Over the course of the next four years, we will bring our pharmaceutical and medical supply chains home and we will end reliance on China and other foreign nations," Trump said as he laid out his vision to bring millions more jobs and thousands more factories back to American shores.

"Today, to define our path forward, I am making our incredible workers six more promises that I will keep over the next four years. First and foremost, we will defeat the China virus," he said, adding that the strategy shelters those at highest risk while allowing those at lower risk to get safely back to work and school.

Trump said he had signed a new executive order to ensure that when it comes to essential medicines, the US buys American. This executive order will require that the US government agencies purchase all the essential medicines it needs from American sources.

"As long as I am President of the United States, I will fight for you with every ounce of energy and strength that I have. I will be your voice. I will defend your jobs. I will stand up to foreign trade cheaters and violators," Trump said.

As seen in this pandemic, the United States must produce essential equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals for itself, he said.

The US seeks to end its reliance on China and other foreign nations for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, President Donald Trump has said. He on Thursday asserted that Beijing would have to pay the price for the wound it has inflicted on America and the world by spreading the deadly coronavirus.

The US seeks to end its reliance on China and other foreign nations for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, President Donald Trump has said. He on Thursday asserted that Beijing would have to pay the price for the wound it has inflicted on America and the world by spreading the deadly coronavirus. Trump and leaders of several countries have accused China of not being transparent in reporting the deadly disease, leading to huge human casualties and economic crisis across the world. China, however, has denied US' accusation of covering up the extent of its coronavirus outbreak and accused America of attempting to divert public attention by insinuating that the virus originated from a virology laboratory in Wuhan. "What China did is a terrible thing. Whether it was incompetence or on purpose, it was a terrible thing that they did -- not only to the United States, but to the world. A terrible thing," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday before flying to Ohio to visit a Whirlpool manufacturing plant. Hours later addressing workers at the manufacturing plant in Ohio, Trump alleged that the previous Obama-Biden administration was perfectly happy to let China win. "Over the course of the next four years, we will bring our pharmaceutical and medical supply chains home and we will end reliance on China and other foreign nations," Trump said as he laid out his vision to bring millions more jobs and thousands more factories back to American shores. "Today, to define our path forward, I am making our incredible workers six more promises that I will keep over the next four years. First and foremost, we will defeat the China virus," he said, adding that the strategy shelters those at highest risk while allowing those at lower risk to get safely back to work and school. Trump said he had signed a new executive order to ensure that when it comes to essential medicines, the US buys American. This executive order will require that the US government agencies purchase all the essential medicines it needs from American sources. "As long as I am President of the United States, I will fight for you with every ounce of energy and strength that I have. I will be your voice. I will defend your jobs. I will stand up to foreign trade cheaters and violators," Trump said. As seen in this pandemic, the United States must produce essential equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals for itself, he said.

US will end reliance on China, other nations for pharmaceuticals and medical supply: Trump

China has accused the United States of "arbitrary political manipulation and suppression" after US President Donald Trump ordered restrictions against the owners of messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok.

China's foreign ministry on Friday said it firmly opposes Trump's executive orders banning transactions with&nbsp;ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, and Tencent, owner of WeChat, starting in 45 days.

Beijing will defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing on Friday. He added&nbsp;the US move came at the expense of American users and companies.&nbsp;

Trump issued executive orders on Thursday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-executive-order-banning-transactions-with-tiktok-owner-after-45-days-318735">Also read |&nbsp;Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days</a>

The orders come as the Trump administration said this week it was stepping up efforts to purge “untrusted” Chinese apps from US digital networks and called the Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok and messenger app WeChat "significant threats."

Trump had earlier agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of the popular short-video app to Microsoft Corp. He had 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.

 
&nbsp;

China has accused the United States of "arbitrary political manipulation and suppression" after US President Donald Trump ordered restrictions against the owners of messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok.

China has accused the United States of "arbitrary political manipulation and suppression" after US President Donald Trump ordered restrictions against the owners of messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok. China's foreign ministry on Friday said it firmly opposes Trump's executive orders banning transactions with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, and Tencent, owner of WeChat, starting in 45 days. Beijing will defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing on Friday. He added the US move came at the expense of American users and companies. Trump issued executive orders on Thursday. Also read | Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days The orders come as the Trump administration said this week it was stepping up efforts to purge “untrusted” Chinese apps from US digital networks and called the Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok and messenger app WeChat "significant threats." Trump had earlier agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of the popular short-video app to Microsoft Corp. He had 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.

China accuses US of 'political manipulation' over TikTok, WeChat ban

The US has planned to expand its Clean Network programme to include China-made cellphone apps and cloud computing services that it claims are security risks.

Pompeo said America wants to ban untrusted Chinese apps from the app stores of US mobile carriers and phonemakers.

His announcement came two days after President Donald Trump askedd Chinese tech company ByteDance to sell its hugely popular TikTok app to an American company or see it shut down by mid-September.

"With parent companies based in China, apps like TikTok, WeChat, and others are significant threats to the personal data of American citizens, not to mention tools for CCP content censorship," he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

But he added that the US also wants to block American-made apps from being pre-installed, or made available for download, on Chinese-made phones and wireless equipment from global giant Huawei and other makers.

Pompeo added the US government would seek to limit the ability of Chinese service providers to collect, store and process sensitive data in the United States.

He cited specifically Chinese tech giants Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent.

Washington says TikTok gleans massive amounts of personal data from hundreds of millions of users, which could be passed on to Chinese intelligence.

The targetting of app usage and cloud services expands the 5G Clean Path programme the State Department unveiled on April 29.

At its core, the programme is a multi-country initiative to prevent Huawei and other Chinese telecom suppliers from dominating next-generation or 5G wireless telecom services.

The United States says Huawei technology could open the door for Chinese intelligence to easily tap communications in other countries. To this end, the US government has banned Huawei equipment and strongly discouraged authorities and businesses around the country from using it.

The US has planned to expand its Clean Network programme to include China-made cellphone apps and cloud computing services that it claims are security risks. Pompeo said America wants to ban untrusted Chinese apps from the app stores of US mobile carriers and phonemakers.

The US has planned to expand its Clean Network programme to include China-made cellphone apps and cloud computing services that it claims are security risks. Pompeo said America wants to ban untrusted Chinese apps from the app stores of US mobile carriers and phonemakers. His announcement came two days after President Donald Trump askedd Chinese tech company ByteDance to sell its hugely popular TikTok app to an American company or see it shut down by mid-September. "With parent companies based in China, apps like TikTok, WeChat, and others are significant threats to the personal data of American citizens, not to mention tools for CCP content censorship," he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. But he added that the US also wants to block American-made apps from being pre-installed, or made available for download, on Chinese-made phones and wireless equipment from global giant Huawei and other makers. Pompeo added the US government would seek to limit the ability of Chinese service providers to collect, store and process sensitive data in the United States. He cited specifically Chinese tech giants Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent. Washington says TikTok gleans massive amounts of personal data from hundreds of millions of users, which could be passed on to Chinese intelligence. The targetting of app usage and cloud services expands the 5G Clean Path programme the State Department unveiled on April 29. At its core, the programme is a multi-country initiative to prevent Huawei and other Chinese telecom suppliers from dominating next-generation or 5G wireless telecom services. The United States says Huawei technology could open the door for Chinese intelligence to easily tap communications in other countries. To this end, the US government has banned Huawei equipment and strongly discouraged authorities and businesses around the country from using it.

US plans to eliminate Chinese applications from US app stores

The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) has asked the Indian government to be cautious about unsolicited mail packages containing seeds. This comes in the wake of several people in the USA and Canada receiving such packages in the past week.&nbsp;

K Keshavulu, vice president of ISTA, has issued the high alert in Hyderabad, as it considered to be the seed capital of the country.

State authorities, farmers and seed companies have hence been asked to be vigilant of this brushing scam.&nbsp;

It's feared that these seed packets may spread crop diseases.

Enquiries by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that such seed packets were coming from China.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-identifies-mystery-seeds-from-china-as-tomato-pips-317760">Also read |&nbsp;US identifies 'mystery seeds' from China as tomato pips</a>

The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) has asked the Indian government to be cautious about unsolicited mail packages containing seeds. This comes in the wake of several people in the USA and Canada receiving such packages in the past week.

The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) has asked the Indian government to be cautious about unsolicited mail packages containing seeds. This comes in the wake of several people in the USA and Canada receiving such packages in the past week. K Keshavulu, vice president of ISTA, has issued the high alert in Hyderabad, as it considered to be the seed capital of the country. State authorities, farmers and seed companies have hence been asked to be vigilant of this brushing scam. It's feared that these seed packets may spread crop diseases. Enquiries by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that such seed packets were coming from China. Also read | US identifies 'mystery seeds' from China as tomato pips

International body warns Indian government against planting unsolicited seeds

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a powerful Chinese company and two officials for what it said were human rights abuses against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.

The move intensifies its economic pressure on China’s Xinjiang province.

This comes a week after US President Donald Trump closed the Chinese consulate in Houston, prompting Beijing to shutter the America consulate in Chengdu.

The US Treasury Department said in a statement it blacklisted the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, also known as XPCC, along with Sun Jinlong, former party secretary of XPCC, and Peng Jiarui, XPCC’s deputy party secretary and commander, over accusations they are connected to serious human rights abuse against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

China, however, denies mistreatment of the minority group and says the camps holding many Uighurs provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism.

Washington’s action freezes any US assets of the company and officials; generally prohibits Americans from dealing with them; and bars Sun Jinlong and Peng Jiarui from traveling to the United States.

The Treasury also issued a license, authorising certain wind-down and divestment transactions and activities related to blocked XPCC subsidiaries until Sept. 30.

Washington recently imposed sanctions on the autonomous region of Xinjiang’s Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, the highest-ranking Chinese official to be targetted, blacklisting the member of China’s powerful Politburo and current first party secretary of the XPCC, as well as other officials and the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau.

XPCC is a quasi-military group created in 1954. It was initially made up of demobilised soldiers who spent time in military training while developing farms on the region’s arid land.

Civilian members from eastern China later joined the corps, which now numbers 3.11 million people, or more than 12% of the region’s population. It is almost entirely made up of Han Chinese in a region that is home to the Muslim Uighur people.

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a powerful Chinese company and two officials for what it said were human rights abuses against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a powerful Chinese company and two officials for what it said were human rights abuses against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities. The move intensifies its economic pressure on China’s Xinjiang province. This comes a week after US President Donald Trump closed the Chinese consulate in Houston, prompting Beijing to shutter the America consulate in Chengdu. The US Treasury Department said in a statement it blacklisted the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, also known as XPCC, along with Sun Jinlong, former party secretary of XPCC, and Peng Jiarui, XPCC’s deputy party secretary and commander, over accusations they are connected to serious human rights abuse against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. China, however, denies mistreatment of the minority group and says the camps holding many Uighurs provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism. Washington’s action freezes any US assets of the company and officials; generally prohibits Americans from dealing with them; and bars Sun Jinlong and Peng Jiarui from traveling to the United States. The Treasury also issued a license, authorising certain wind-down and divestment transactions and activities related to blocked XPCC subsidiaries until Sept. 30. Washington recently imposed sanctions on the autonomous region of Xinjiang’s Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, the highest-ranking Chinese official to be targetted, blacklisting the member of China’s powerful Politburo and current first party secretary of the XPCC, as well as other officials and the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau. XPCC is a quasi-military group created in 1954. It was initially made up of demobilised soldiers who spent time in military training while developing farms on the region’s arid land. Civilian members from eastern China later joined the corps, which now numbers 3.11 million people, or more than 12% of the region’s population. It is almost entirely made up of Han Chinese in a region that is home to the Muslim Uighur people.

US imposes human rights sanctions on Chinese company, individuals

China has rejected charges that hackers linked to its government targetted biotech firm Moderna Inc, a leading US-based coronavirus vaccine research developer, to steal data.

"The accusations are baseless and without evidence, and China does not need to and does not engage in technology theft," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing.

A US security official tracking Chinese hacking activity had earlier accused of China of theft.

Last week, the US Justice Department made public an indictment of two Chinese nationals accused of spying on the United States, including three unnamed US-based targets involved in medical research to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment stated that the Chinese hackers "conducted reconnaissance" against the computer network of a Massachusetts biotech firm known to be working on a coronavirus vaccine in January.

Moderna, which is based in Massachusetts and announced its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in January, confirmed to Reuters that the company had been in contact with the FBI.

Moderna's vaccine candidate is one of the earliest and biggest bets by the Trump administration to fight the pandemic. The federal government is supporting development of the company's vaccine with nearly half a billion dollars and helping Moderna launch a clinical trial of up to 30,000 people beginning this month.

China is also racing to develop a vaccine, bringing together its state, military and private sectors to combat a disease that has killed over 660,000 people worldwide.

(with inputs from agencies)

China has rejected charges that hackers linked to its government targetted biotech firm Moderna Inc, a leading US-based coronavirus vaccine research developer, to steal data.

China has rejected charges that hackers linked to its government targetted biotech firm Moderna Inc, a leading US-based coronavirus vaccine research developer, to steal data. "The accusations are baseless and without evidence, and China does not need to and does not engage in technology theft," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing. A US security official tracking Chinese hacking activity had earlier accused of China of theft. Last week, the US Justice Department made public an indictment of two Chinese nationals accused of spying on the United States, including three unnamed US-based targets involved in medical research to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment stated that the Chinese hackers "conducted reconnaissance" against the computer network of a Massachusetts biotech firm known to be working on a coronavirus vaccine in January. Moderna, which is based in Massachusetts and announced its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in January, confirmed to Reuters that the company had been in contact with the FBI. Moderna's vaccine candidate is one of the earliest and biggest bets by the Trump administration to fight the pandemic. The federal government is supporting development of the company's vaccine with nearly half a billion dollars and helping Moderna launch a clinical trial of up to 30,000 people beginning this month. China is also racing to develop a vaccine, bringing together its state, military and private sectors to combat a disease that has killed over 660,000 people worldwide. (with inputs from agencies)

China dismisses accusations of hacking attempt on US vaccine developer Moderna

China's Huawei has overtaken Samsung to become the number-one smartphone seller worldwide in the second quarter, industry tracker Canalys said Thursday.

Huawei shipped 55.8 million devices in the April-June period, trumping Samsung's 53.7 million, according to data from research firm Canalys.

The Chinese company has felt the heat of US sanctions that have disrupted its business overseas, but the latest numbers show its rising dominance in its home market.

The findings marked the first quarter in nine years that a company other than Samsung or Apple has led the market, Canalys said.

More than 70 per cent of Huawei smartphones are now sold in the country, where Samsung has a very small share of the market.

Samsung said on Thursday it expects smartphone demand to pick up in the second half of the year.

Huawei -- the world's top producer of telecoms networking equipment -- has become a pivotal issue in the geopolitical standoff between Beijing and Washington, which claims the firm poses a significant cybersecurity threat.&nbsp;

Washington has essentially barred Huawei from the US market and waged a global campaign to isolate the company.

The British government bowed to growing US pressure and pledged earlier this month to remove Huawei from its 5G network by 2027.

Australia and Japan have also taken steps to block or restrict the Chinese company's participation in their 5G rollouts, and European telecoms operators including Norway's Telenor and Sweden's Telia have passed over Huawei as a supplier.

The US has also requested the extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on fraud charges, further damaging relations between China and Canada, where she is under house arrest.

Meng, the Chinese telecom giant's chief financial officer, was arrested on a US warrant in December 2018 during a stopover in Vancouver and has been fighting extradition ever since.

(with inputs from agencies)

China's Huawei has overtaken Samsung to become the number-one smartphone seller worldwide in the second quarter, industry tracker Canalys said Thursday. Huawei shipped 55.

China's Huawei has overtaken Samsung to become the number-one smartphone seller worldwide in the second quarter, industry tracker Canalys said Thursday. Huawei shipped 55.8 million devices in the April-June period, trumping Samsung's 53.7 million, according to data from research firm Canalys. The Chinese company has felt the heat of US sanctions that have disrupted its business overseas, but the latest numbers show its rising dominance in its home market. The findings marked the first quarter in nine years that a company other than Samsung or Apple has led the market, Canalys said. More than 70 per cent of Huawei smartphones are now sold in the country, where Samsung has a very small share of the market. Samsung said on Thursday it expects smartphone demand to pick up in the second half of the year. Huawei -- the world's top producer of telecoms networking equipment -- has become a pivotal issue in the geopolitical standoff between Beijing and Washington, which claims the firm poses a significant cybersecurity threat. Washington has essentially barred Huawei from the US market and waged a global campaign to isolate the company. The British government bowed to growing US pressure and pledged earlier this month to remove Huawei from its 5G network by 2027. Australia and Japan have also taken steps to block or restrict the Chinese company's participation in their 5G rollouts, and European telecoms operators including Norway's Telenor and Sweden's Telia have passed over Huawei as a supplier. The US has also requested the extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on fraud charges, further damaging relations between China and Canada, where she is under house arrest. Meng, the Chinese telecom giant's chief financial officer, was arrested on a US warrant in December 2018 during a stopover in Vancouver and has been fighting extradition ever since. (with inputs from agencies)

China's Huawei overtakes Samsung as top smartphone seller

Australia is to set up a U.S.-funded military fuel reserve in the city of Darwin, authorities said on Thursday, a show of stronger co-operation between the allies who both face increasing tension with China.

The chief minister of Australia`s Northern Territory, of which Darwin is the capital, confirmed the plan was part of a wider agreement between the allies to boost defence ties following high-level talks in Washington.

"What I am allowed to say is it will be thumpingly large, but the U.S. government will be spending the money to see it built," said a spokeswoman for the chief minister, Michael Gunner.

The agreement "recognises the Territory as one of the nation`s most strategically important defence locations ... and we stand ready to do more", the spokeswoman said.

Darwin, an isolated city of 130,000 people, is closer to some Asian capitals than to the Australian capital of Canberra.

The city has hosted a contingent of 1,250 U.S. Marines since 2011, under former President Barack Obama`s pivot to Asia following China`s increased assertiveness in the region.

A 2015 decision to grant a 99-year lease over the city`s port to China`s Landbridge Group Co, meanwhile, raised some eyebrows in the United States, which objects to China`s extensive claims in the South China Sea.

Jian Zhang, a Chinese foreign policy expert at University of New South Wales, said the fuel reserve facility in Australia would be useful for the United States in the event of any conflict with China.

"Australia, as an alternative place for stockpiles of equipment and fuel reserves, is quite logical because the U.S. bases in southeast Asia and the U.S. bases in northeast Asia are most likely to be affected," Jian said.

Australia is to set up a U.S.-funded military fuel reserve in the city of Darwin, authorities said on Thursday, a show of stronger co-operation between the allies who both face increasing tension with China.

Australia is to set up a U.S.-funded military fuel reserve in the city of Darwin, authorities said on Thursday, a show of stronger co-operation between the allies who both face increasing tension with China. The chief minister of Australia`s Northern Territory, of which Darwin is the capital, confirmed the plan was part of a wider agreement between the allies to boost defence ties following high-level talks in Washington. "What I am allowed to say is it will be thumpingly large, but the U.S. government will be spending the money to see it built," said a spokeswoman for the chief minister, Michael Gunner. The agreement "recognises the Territory as one of the nation`s most strategically important defence locations ... and we stand ready to do more", the spokeswoman said. Darwin, an isolated city of 130,000 people, is closer to some Asian capitals than to the Australian capital of Canberra. The city has hosted a contingent of 1,250 U.S. Marines since 2011, under former President Barack Obama`s pivot to Asia following China`s increased assertiveness in the region. A 2015 decision to grant a 99-year lease over the city`s port to China`s Landbridge Group Co, meanwhile, raised some eyebrows in the United States, which objects to China`s extensive claims in the South China Sea. Jian Zhang, a Chinese foreign policy expert at University of New South Wales, said the fuel reserve facility in Australia would be useful for the United States in the event of any conflict with China. "Australia, as an alternative place for stockpiles of equipment and fuel reserves, is quite logical because the U.S. bases in southeast Asia and the U.S. bases in northeast Asia are most likely to be affected," Jian said.

Australia to get US-funded military fuel reserve as relations with China cool

China under President Xi Jinping has become more aggressive and bullish, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday, asserting that such a behavior is unlikely to last long.

Indian-American Nikki Haley, in an interview to Fox News, said the Chinese were quiet and strategic during her tenure at the UN. They moved and made sure that they were trying to get positions in certain areas, and trying to get things done behind closed doors, she said.

"Then once President Xi kind of named himself king, they got very aggressive. They got very bullish. They started to kind of point their fingers in countries'' faces saying, you''d better vote with us. They started to be very aggressive at the UN in wanting positions and wanting to have leadership roles. And they started talking down to everyone," Ms Haley alleged.

With their Belt and Road initiative, the Chinese started really trying to buy up these infrastructures or partnering with smaller countries on infrastructure projects, she said.

"But yet they go in, they wouldn't assimilate with the countries. The countries didn''t like their attitude when they were coming in. Now we look at it, it's getting more aggressive in tone," said Haley, who resigned as UN ambassador in 2018 after nearly two years in the post.

"But this can't last. You know, any country that is not letting its people be free, there will be a time when the people rebel. So right now they''re continuing to push, they''re continuing to put pressure on Hong Kong, as we''ve seen. We''re starting to see the pressure go to Taiwan, the South China Sea, in India. All of this is them playing kind of a king of the mountain scenario," Haley said.

She said the US needs to "let them know we''re on to them, we need to actually follow through on the intellectual property measures that were in that trade deal that we had and hold them accountable."

"We need to make sure we continue to let them know we''re building up our military so that they know not to mess with us. We need to make sure that our American companies understand that when you do business in China, you are required to work with the Chinese military. That is a national security threat to America. And we really need to have those conversations with those Americans," Ms Haley said in response to a question.

Supporting President Donald Trump's decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston, Ms Haley alleged that these consulates have been "spy centres" for a long time.

"I mean there's no question that they had some illegal activity going on in those consulates. So I was thrilled to see them close down the one in Houston, which was known to be kind of the epicentre of where all of this was going on. And I think, you know, when you have Chinese officials being hidden at consulates, it goes to show you''re doing something wrong," she said.

China under President Xi Jinping has become more aggressive and bullish, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday, asserting that such a behavior is unlikely to last long.

China under President Xi Jinping has become more aggressive and bullish, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday, asserting that such a behavior is unlikely to last long. Indian-American Nikki Haley, in an interview to Fox News, said the Chinese were quiet and strategic during her tenure at the UN. They moved and made sure that they were trying to get positions in certain areas, and trying to get things done behind closed doors, she said. "Then once President Xi kind of named himself king, they got very aggressive. They got very bullish. They started to kind of point their fingers in countries'' faces saying, you''d better vote with us. They started to be very aggressive at the UN in wanting positions and wanting to have leadership roles. And they started talking down to everyone," Ms Haley alleged. With their Belt and Road initiative, the Chinese started really trying to buy up these infrastructures or partnering with smaller countries on infrastructure projects, she said. "But yet they go in, they wouldn't assimilate with the countries. The countries didn''t like their attitude when they were coming in. Now we look at it, it's getting more aggressive in tone," said Haley, who resigned as UN ambassador in 2018 after nearly two years in the post. "But this can't last. You know, any country that is not letting its people be free, there will be a time when the people rebel. So right now they''re continuing to push, they''re continuing to put pressure on Hong Kong, as we''ve seen. We''re starting to see the pressure go to Taiwan, the South China Sea, in India. All of this is them playing kind of a king of the mountain scenario," Haley said. She said the US needs to "let them know we''re on to them, we need to actually follow through on the intellectual property measures that were in that trade deal that we had and hold them accountable." "We need to make sure we continue to let them know we''re building up our military so that they know not to mess with us. We need to make sure that our American companies understand that when you do business in China, you are required to work with the Chinese military. That is a national security threat to America. And we really need to have those conversations with those Americans," Ms Haley said in response to a question. Supporting President Donald Trump's decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston, Ms Haley alleged that these consulates have been "spy centres" for a long time. "I mean there's no question that they had some illegal activity going on in those consulates. So I was thrilled to see them close down the one in Houston, which was known to be kind of the epicentre of where all of this was going on. And I think, you know, when you have Chinese officials being hidden at consulates, it goes to show you''re doing something wrong," she said.

'China under Xi has become bullish,' says ex-US envoy Nikki Haley: Report

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