Beijing on Wednesday said the United States had ordered China to close its Houston consulate, terming it a "political provocation" that would further harm diplomatic relations.

The Chinese Consulate in Houston, opened in 1979, covers eight southern US states -- including Texas and Florida -- and has nearly one million people in the area registered at the consulate.

"China urges the US to immediately withdraw its wrong decision, or China will definitely take a proper and necessary response,"&nbsp;said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Wenbin said they were told on Tuesday the consulate would have to close.

"It is a political provocation unilaterally launched by the US side, which seriously violates international law... and the bilateral consular agreement between China and the US," Wang said.

He added that China "strongly condemns" the "outrageous and unjustified move which will sabotage China-US relations."

Firefighters and police were reportedly called to the consulate building on Tuesday evening on reports that documents were being burned in the building’s courtyard.

The move comes as tensions soar between the world's two biggest economies on a number of fronts.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump's administration has ramped up pressure on China on a wide range of issues, imposing sanctions on Chinese officials over policies in Tibet and Xinjiang.

The US has also downgraded relations with Hong Kong after China implemented a new security law which it says is in violation of its promises of autonomy for the territory.

Beijing on Wednesday said the United States had ordered China to close its Houston consulate, terming it a "political provocation" that would further harm diplomatic relations.

Beijing on Wednesday said the United States had ordered China to close its Houston consulate, terming it a "political provocation" that would further harm diplomatic relations. The Chinese Consulate in Houston, opened in 1979, covers eight southern US states -- including Texas and Florida -- and has nearly one million people in the area registered at the consulate. "China urges the US to immediately withdraw its wrong decision, or China will definitely take a proper and necessary response," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. Wenbin said they were told on Tuesday the consulate would have to close. "It is a political provocation unilaterally launched by the US side, which seriously violates international law... and the bilateral consular agreement between China and the US," Wang said. He added that China "strongly condemns" the "outrageous and unjustified move which will sabotage China-US relations." Firefighters and police were reportedly called to the consulate building on Tuesday evening on reports that documents were being burned in the building’s courtyard. The move comes as tensions soar between the world's two biggest economies on a number of fronts. US President Donald Trump's administration has ramped up pressure on China on a wide range of issues, imposing sanctions on Chinese officials over policies in Tibet and Xinjiang. The US has also downgraded relations with Hong Kong after China implemented a new security law which it says is in violation of its promises of autonomy for the territory.

China says US ordered closure of Houston consulate

The time has come for the world to push back against the challenge posed by the Chinese Communist Party, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said as he contended that the US "slept on this threat for too long."

Pompeo also said the Chinese government was aware of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus before they shared this information with the world.

"Countries not only in Southeast Asia but in Asia more broadly, in Europe, have come to understand the threat that the Chinese Communist Party presents. The United States slept on this for too long," Pompeo told Bill Hemmer of Fox News in an interview on Thursday.

"I think they all did too, and I think they're coming to a joint conclusion that it's time for the world to make sure that we get this right.

"For democracies and freedom-loving people around the world, it is an imperative that we push back against the challenge that the Chinese Communist Party presents to us all," Pompeo said.

He said that for 40 years, successive US administrations just looked the other way and allowed China to trample on America.

President Donald Trump said "no more," he said.

The US is going to have fair, reciprocal trade relationships; and it is going to demand that the Chinese Communist Party treat Americans the same way that the US treats people who go there, he said.

Hemmer asked Pompeo to comment on claims by Hong Kong-based virologist Dr Yan Li-Meng, who recently fled to the United States, that Beijing knew that the virus could spread between humans three weeks before that knowledge was made public.

Pompeo said that "the World Health Organisation itself was co-opted into the same effort to deny the world the knowledge it needed to respond to this threat, to this threat from the virus that emanated from Wuhan, China."

"This is a simple understanding, and President Trump is going to demand that it happens," he said.

"And of course, now too, we've seen the virus that started in Wuhan, China cost the globe hundreds of thousands of people and trillions and trillions of dollars, and I believe the world is going to unite to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for having covered this up when they could have prevented so much of this tragedy," said the top American diplomat.

The United States has been the worst-hit country with over 3.5 million coronavirus cases. The country has reported more than 137,000 deaths so far.

Pompeo refrained from responding to news reports that there could be a ban on US travel for Chinese party members and their families.

"We're working our way through, under the president's guidance, about how to think about pushing back against the Chinese Communist Party. You see it in trade, you see it in other economic activity, you see it in diplomatic engagement," he added.

"The rights that we have that the Declaration of Independence set forth, that are in our Constitution, are central to American foreign policy. We have to get that right. We have this deep tradition. It's under attack," he said in response to a question.&nbsp;

The time has come for the world to push back against the challenge posed by the Chinese Communist Party, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said as he contended that the US "slept on this threat for too long.

The time has come for the world to push back against the challenge posed by the Chinese Communist Party, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said as he contended that the US "slept on this threat for too long." Pompeo also said the Chinese government was aware of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus before they shared this information with the world. "Countries not only in Southeast Asia but in Asia more broadly, in Europe, have come to understand the threat that the Chinese Communist Party presents. The United States slept on this for too long," Pompeo told Bill Hemmer of Fox News in an interview on Thursday. "I think they all did too, and I think they're coming to a joint conclusion that it's time for the world to make sure that we get this right. "For democracies and freedom-loving people around the world, it is an imperative that we push back against the challenge that the Chinese Communist Party presents to us all," Pompeo said. He said that for 40 years, successive US administrations just looked the other way and allowed China to trample on America. President Donald Trump said "no more," he said. The US is going to have fair, reciprocal trade relationships; and it is going to demand that the Chinese Communist Party treat Americans the same way that the US treats people who go there, he said. Hemmer asked Pompeo to comment on claims by Hong Kong-based virologist Dr Yan Li-Meng, who recently fled to the United States, that Beijing knew that the virus could spread between humans three weeks before that knowledge was made public. Pompeo said that "the World Health Organisation itself was co-opted into the same effort to deny the world the knowledge it needed to respond to this threat, to this threat from the virus that emanated from Wuhan, China." "This is a simple understanding, and President Trump is going to demand that it happens," he said. "And of course, now too, we've seen the virus that started in Wuhan, China cost the globe hundreds of thousands of people and trillions and trillions of dollars, and I believe the world is going to unite to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for having covered this up when they could have prevented so much of this tragedy," said the top American diplomat. The United States has been the worst-hit country with over 3.5 million coronavirus cases. The country has reported more than 137,000 deaths so far. Pompeo refrained from responding to news reports that there could be a ban on US travel for Chinese party members and their families. "We're working our way through, under the president's guidance, about how to think about pushing back against the Chinese Communist Party. You see it in trade, you see it in other economic activity, you see it in diplomatic engagement," he added. "The rights that we have that the Declaration of Independence set forth, that are in our Constitution, are central to American foreign policy. We have to get that right. We have this deep tradition. It's under attack," he said in response to a question.

It's time to push back against challenge posed by China: Pompeo

China accused the United States of "gangster logic" on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered an end to Hong Kong's special status under US law in response to Beijing's imposition of new security legislation on the territory.

Beijing's Liaison Office in the Asian financial hub said the move would only damage US interests while having little impact on Hong Kong.

"Unreasonable meddling and shameless threats by the United States are typical gangster logic and bullying behaviour," the office said in a statement.

"No external force can block China's determination and confidence to maintain national sovereignty and security for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability."

The security law imposed by Beijing punishes what China broadly defines as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

Critics of the law fear it will crush the wide-ranging freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, while supporters say it will bring stability to the city after a year of sometimes violent anti-government protests.

Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to end preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong, allowing him to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on Chinese officials and financial institutions involved in the imposition of the law.

China has threatened to impose retaliatory sanctions of its own, and summoned the US ambassador to protest.

The Hong Kong government said on Wednesday it would support any action Beijing chose to take against the United States.

"It is hypocritical for the US to introduce measures to attack China by creating issues in (Hong Kong) under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy out of its own political considerations," the territory's Beijing-backed government said in a statement.

Four members of a pro-establishment party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, staged a protest at the US consulate on Thursday demanding the United States "stop interfering in Chinese internal affairs."

Trump has not ruled out sanctions on top Chinese officials to punish China for its handling of Hong Kong, a White House National Security Council spokesman said on Wednesday.

Among names being pushed by some China hawks is Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who has backed Beijing's implementation of the security law, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Separately Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law said on Wednesday he feels safe in London but described the extra-territorial reach of national security laws imposed by China as "scary", and urged Britain to do more to help.

China accused the United States of "gangster logic" on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered an end to Hong Kong's special status under US law in response to Beijing's imposition of new security legislation on the territory.

China accused the United States of "gangster logic" on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered an end to Hong Kong's special status under US law in response to Beijing's imposition of new security legislation on the territory. Beijing's Liaison Office in the Asian financial hub said the move would only damage US interests while having little impact on Hong Kong. "Unreasonable meddling and shameless threats by the United States are typical gangster logic and bullying behaviour," the office said in a statement. "No external force can block China's determination and confidence to maintain national sovereignty and security for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability." The security law imposed by Beijing punishes what China broadly defines as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. Critics of the law fear it will crush the wide-ranging freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, while supporters say it will bring stability to the city after a year of sometimes violent anti-government protests. Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to end preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong, allowing him to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on Chinese officials and financial institutions involved in the imposition of the law. China has threatened to impose retaliatory sanctions of its own, and summoned the US ambassador to protest. The Hong Kong government said on Wednesday it would support any action Beijing chose to take against the United States. "It is hypocritical for the US to introduce measures to attack China by creating issues in (Hong Kong) under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy out of its own political considerations," the territory's Beijing-backed government said in a statement. Four members of a pro-establishment party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, staged a protest at the US consulate on Thursday demanding the United States "stop interfering in Chinese internal affairs." Trump has not ruled out sanctions on top Chinese officials to punish China for its handling of Hong Kong, a White House National Security Council spokesman said on Wednesday. Among names being pushed by some China hawks is Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who has backed Beijing's implementation of the security law, according to a person familiar with the matter. Separately Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law said on Wednesday he feels safe in London but described the extra-territorial reach of national security laws imposed by China as "scary", and urged Britain to do more to help.

China slams US sanctions related to Hong Kong as 'gangster logic'

Beijing has said it would protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, citing the warning was "bad for the whole world."

The US has time and again cited complaints of abuse by the ruling Communist Party against ethnic Muslims including mass detention and forced labour. The warning also came amid mounting tension with Beijing over human rights, trade and Hong Kong. 
&nbsp; 
In retaliation, China's commerce ministry accused the US government of meddling in China’s affairs. It said Washington was misusing complaints about human rights to “suppress Chinese companies.”

“This is bad for China, bad for the United States and bad for the whole world,” said a ministry statement.

“China strongly urges the US to stop its bad acts,” the ministry said. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

The US warning -- issued on July 1 -- said companies that handle goods made by forced labour or supply technology that might be used in labour camps or for surveillance might face unspecified “reputational, economic and legal risks.”

Beijing has said it would protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, citing the warning was "bad for the whole world.

Beijing has said it would protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, citing the warning was "bad for the whole world." The US has time and again cited complaints of abuse by the ruling Communist Party against ethnic Muslims including mass detention and forced labour. The warning also came amid mounting tension with Beijing over human rights, trade and Hong Kong. In retaliation, China's commerce ministry accused the US government of meddling in China’s affairs. It said Washington was misusing complaints about human rights to “suppress Chinese companies.” “This is bad for China, bad for the United States and bad for the whole world,” said a ministry statement. “China strongly urges the US to stop its bad acts,” the ministry said. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.” The US warning -- issued on July 1 -- said companies that handle goods made by forced labour or supply technology that might be used in labour camps or for surveillance might face unspecified “reputational, economic and legal risks.”

US Xinjiang warning ‘bad for the whole world’, says China

China's "very aggressive" actions against India, including the brutal attack on Indian soldiers in eastern Ladakh, and its moves in the South China Sea and Hong Kong give a "good insight" into how the ruling Communist Party of China is thinking these days, US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien has said.

The Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh since May 5. The tension escalated in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed during a violent face-off with Chinese soldiers.

"The Chinese have been very aggressive with India," O'Brien said on Tuesday alleging that during the recent clash they beat some of the Indians so badly they were disfigured and could not be identified.

"This is a dispute between India and China, but China has shown itself for what it was. Chinese troops ambushed the Indians. They beat 20 Indians to death. They beat them so badly with clubs with nails in them and wrapped with concertina -- barbed wire," O'Brien told Fox News Radio in an interview.

He was responding to a question on the recent Chinese aggressive behaviour against India in eastern Ladakh.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-interested-in-china-trade-talks-ends-hong-kong-preferential-status-313332">Also read |&nbsp;Trump not interested in China trade talks, ends Hong Kong preferential status</a>

Responding to a question on US-India bilateral relations, he said, India is a democracy and is a great friend of the United States.

Prime Minister Narendra "Modi and President (Donald) Trump have a super relationship," O'Brien said.

"In fact, it was the last foreign trip that I took with the president before the COVID crisis hit, was to India, and we had a great reception of the Indian people there. We have a lot in common with them, we speak English, we're democracies. We've got a growing, very strong relationship with India," O'Brien said.

"But China's action towards India, just like its actions in the South China Sea, just like what it's doing in Hong Kong, just like the bullying intimidation of Taiwan, really gives you a good insight into how the Communist Party of China is thinking these days," he said.

China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

"It's something to be very concerned about," O'Brien said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-revokes-controversial-order-that-would-have-seen-foreign-students-deported-313330">Also read |&nbsp;US revokes controversial order that would have seen foreign students deported</a>

On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected "most" of China's maritime claims in the South China Sea, the latest in the escalation between Washington and Beijing.

Last week, the Trump administration took action against Chinese officials for their involvement in human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, where Uyghur Muslims and other minority groups have been detained and tortured.

And two weeks ago, the administration announced visa restrictions on current and former Chinese officials who it says "were responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong's freedoms."

The Trump administration has been openly critical of Beijing's sweeping national security law aimed at limiting Hong Kong's autonomy and banning literature critical of the Chinese Communist Party.

Earlier in the day, Senator Bob Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alleged that China is seeking to redraw the map of Asia without regard to its neighbours.

"As India and China work to disengage along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), I remain deeply concerned by China's aggressive behaviour in territorial disputes," he said.

"From the 2017 Doklam standoff to the recent violence along the borders in Sikkim and Ladakh, to China's new claims to Bhutanese territory, Beijing has all too often sought to redraw the map of Asia without regard for its neighbours," he said.

The international community must be clear that such behaviour is unacceptable, he added.

Menendez, the top Democratic Senator from New Jersey, said that the US-India partnership, based on their shared commitment to democracy, is vital to uphold international law, international norms and the institutions that can peacefully and diplomatically resolve disputes and aggression.

"I am committed to working with the Indian government and the Indian-American community in New Jersey and throughout the United States to advance US-India cooperation," Menendez said.&nbsp;

China's "very aggressive" actions against India, including the brutal attack on Indian soldiers in eastern Ladakh, and its moves in the South China Sea and Hong Kong give a "good insight" into how the ruling Communist Party of China is thinking these days, US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien has said.

China's "very aggressive" actions against India, including the brutal attack on Indian soldiers in eastern Ladakh, and its moves in the South China Sea and Hong Kong give a "good insight" into how the ruling Communist Party of China is thinking these days, US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien has said. The Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh since May 5. The tension escalated in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed during a violent face-off with Chinese soldiers. "The Chinese have been very aggressive with India," O'Brien said on Tuesday alleging that during the recent clash they beat some of the Indians so badly they were disfigured and could not be identified. "This is a dispute between India and China, but China has shown itself for what it was. Chinese troops ambushed the Indians. They beat 20 Indians to death. They beat them so badly with clubs with nails in them and wrapped with concertina -- barbed wire," O'Brien told Fox News Radio in an interview. He was responding to a question on the recent Chinese aggressive behaviour against India in eastern Ladakh. Also read | Trump not interested in China trade talks, ends Hong Kong preferential status Responding to a question on US-India bilateral relations, he said, India is a democracy and is a great friend of the United States. Prime Minister Narendra "Modi and President (Donald) Trump have a super relationship," O'Brien said. "In fact, it was the last foreign trip that I took with the president before the COVID crisis hit, was to India, and we had a great reception of the Indian people there. We have a lot in common with them, we speak English, we're democracies. We've got a growing, very strong relationship with India," O'Brien said. "But China's action towards India, just like its actions in the South China Sea, just like what it's doing in Hong Kong, just like the bullying intimidation of Taiwan, really gives you a good insight into how the Communist Party of China is thinking these days," he said. China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. "It's something to be very concerned about," O'Brien said. Also read | US revokes controversial order that would have seen foreign students deported On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected "most" of China's maritime claims in the South China Sea, the latest in the escalation between Washington and Beijing. Last week, the Trump administration took action against Chinese officials for their involvement in human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, where Uyghur Muslims and other minority groups have been detained and tortured. And two weeks ago, the administration announced visa restrictions on current and former Chinese officials who it says "were responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong's freedoms." The Trump administration has been openly critical of Beijing's sweeping national security law aimed at limiting Hong Kong's autonomy and banning literature critical of the Chinese Communist Party. Earlier in the day, Senator Bob Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alleged that China is seeking to redraw the map of Asia without regard to its neighbours. "As India and China work to disengage along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), I remain deeply concerned by China's aggressive behaviour in territorial disputes," he said. "From the 2017 Doklam standoff to the recent violence along the borders in Sikkim and Ladakh, to China's new claims to Bhutanese territory, Beijing has all too often sought to redraw the map of Asia without regard for its neighbours," he said. The international community must be clear that such behaviour is unacceptable, he added. Menendez, the top Democratic Senator from New Jersey, said that the US-India partnership, based on their shared commitment to democracy, is vital to uphold international law, international norms and the institutions that can peacefully and diplomatically resolve disputes and aggression. "I am committed to working with the Indian government and the Indian-American community in New Jersey and throughout the United States to advance US-India cooperation," Menendez said.

China's aggressive actions against India give insight into how CPC thinking theses days: US NSA

China said Friday it will impose tit-for-tat measures on US institutions and individuals who "behave badly" on Xinjiang-related issues after Washington slapped sanctions on Chinese officials over a crackdown on Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in the region.

The Chinese response came after the US announced visa bans and an assets freeze on three officials, including Chen Quanquo, the Chinese Communist Party chief in Xinjiang and architect of Beijing's hardline policies against restive minorities.

"The US actions seriously interfere in China's internal affairs, seriously violate the basic norms of international relations, and seriously damage China-US relations," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a briefing.

"In response to the wrong actions of the US, China has decided to impose reciprocal measures against the relevant US institutions and individuals who behave badly on Xinjiang-related issues," Zhao said without providing details about the sanctions.

Witnesses and human rights groups say that China has rounded up more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in a vast brainwashing campaign aimed at forcibly homogenising minorities into the country's Han majority.

China counters that the facilities are benign vocational education centres where "students" learn Mandarin and job skills in an effort to eradicate extremism following a spate of deadly violence.

China said Friday it will impose tit-for-tat measures on US institutions and individuals who "behave badly" on Xinjiang-related issues after Washington slapped sanctions on Chinese officials over a crackdown on Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in the region.

China said Friday it will impose tit-for-tat measures on US institutions and individuals who "behave badly" on Xinjiang-related issues after Washington slapped sanctions on Chinese officials over a crackdown on Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in the region. The Chinese response came after the US announced visa bans and an assets freeze on three officials, including Chen Quanquo, the Chinese Communist Party chief in Xinjiang and architect of Beijing's hardline policies against restive minorities. "The US actions seriously interfere in China's internal affairs, seriously violate the basic norms of international relations, and seriously damage China-US relations," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a briefing. "In response to the wrong actions of the US, China has decided to impose reciprocal measures against the relevant US institutions and individuals who behave badly on Xinjiang-related issues," Zhao said without providing details about the sanctions. Witnesses and human rights groups say that China has rounded up more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in a vast brainwashing campaign aimed at forcibly homogenising minorities into the country's Han majority. China counters that the facilities are benign vocational education centres where "students" learn Mandarin and job skills in an effort to eradicate extremism following a spate of deadly violence.

China to hit US with 'reciprocal measures' over Xinjiang sanctions

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

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

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

China warns US against 'McCarthy-style paranoia'

Visa restrictions has been put by United States on the Chinese. According to these restrictions, current & former officials of Communist Party of China, not allowed inside the US.

Visa restrictions by US on the Chinese, current & former CCP officials not allowed inside US

The United States of America may restrict the operations of Chinese Media after putting ban on Chinese airlines. Watch this video to get complete details.

US to restrict Chinese Media operations after putting ban on Chinese airlines

The ties between Washington & Beijing are constantly getting strained, Do American firms in China looking to exit?

Ties between Washington & Beijing getting strained, American firms in China looking to exit?

The United States and China, the world's two largest economies, will see Saturday if they can find a breakthrough to exit a spiraling trade war as their presidents meet at a tense <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-russia-india-china-ric-agree-to-work-on-terrorism-disaster-relief-global-peace-180591">G20 summit.</a>

With markets watching nervously, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/g20-trump-meets-argentine-president-mauricio-macri-discuss-trade-military-ties-180467">US President Donald Trump </a>has described the Buenos Aires summit of the 20 leading economic powers as a deadline for China to meet his demands or risk even further pressure.

The summit itself, with leaders from France, Russia and Saudi Arabia among those attending, has been struggling to carve out any accord on fighting climate change while hot-button disputes such as Ukraine loom large.

Trump, who has already <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-g20-meeting-with-xi-trump-says-billions-of-dollar-pouring-into-us-due-to-tariffs-on-china-180279">slapped $250 billion in tariffs on China</a>, sounded upbeat about making progress with his counterpart Xi Jinping after weeks of dire warnings.

"We're working very hard. If we could make a deal, that would be good," Trump told reporters Friday as he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the first of the summit's two days.

"I think they want to, and I think we'd like to. And we'll see," Trump said.

Trump has thrown out the traditional US playbook on free trade since his shock 2016 election, vowing to protect forgotten workers and put "America First."

Xi has in turn cast himself as a defender of stable global capitalism, a startling transformation for the leader of a communist state whose entry into the World Trade Organization less than two decades ago was controversial.

In a speech to fellow G20 leaders, Xi said that the major economies "should firmly uphold free trade and the rules-based multilateral trading system."

But in a rhetorical olive branch to Trump, Xi pledged to do more to open up China's economy.

"China will continue to deepen market-oriented reform, protect property rights and intellectual property rights, encourage fair competition and do more to expand imports," he said.

Tensions gradually ease&nbsp;

Trump has accused China of rampant theft of US technology and demanded that the emerging power end its requirements that foreign companies team up with local partners.

In the run-up to November 6 congressional elections, Trump ramped up criticism and accused China of interfering domestically to hurt his Republican Party.

But tensions have eased since then, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assuring that the United States is not seeking a new Cold War and US and Chinese trade officials swapping a lengthy list of items up for discussion.

Trump's criticisms of China's trade policy enjoy wide support across the US political spectrum, but some fear that the president has bitten off more than he can chew with a go-it-alone campaign that could damage markets worldwide.

Trump counted a victory Friday for his brash trade stance as the United States, Canada and Mexico signed a new trade deal, a successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

While short of a complete rewrite of NAFTA once promised by Trump, he hailed the new United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement as an "incredible milestone."

He secured the support for the new agreement both of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico's incoming leftist president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The state-run China Daily said that the Pacific powers could strike a deal in Buenos Aires but warned the United States against pushing too hard on technology.

"Should there be any other aspirations, such as taking advantage of the trade spat to throttle Chinese growth, then an agreement is unlikely to be reached," the newspaper said in an editorial Friday.

"But a good deal means both sides walking away happy. The US should give its habitual winner-take-all approach to international relations the weekend off," it said.

Tensions fill summit&nbsp;

A substantive deal between the United States and China could mark a major feat for the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/international-trade-issues-to-be-first-priority-for-g20-summit-180429"> G20 summit,</a> where expectations for collective action have been low.

With Trump feuding with close US allies, two major summits this year -- the Group of Seven democracies and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum -- ended without once-routine statements.

A French source said that European leaders were trying to forge a statement on climate change even without the United States.&nbsp;

Trump has decided to pull the United States from the Paris accord on curbing carbon emissions, saying it is unfair, despite mounting evidence of the changing climate's dire effects.

Trump called off talks with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-exchanges-high-five-with-saudi-crown-prince-at-g20-summit-180624">Russian President Vladimir Putin </a>at the summit, officially due to outrage over Moscow's naval skirmishes with Ukraine.

But Trump is also under mounting pressure at home in an investigation over whether his presidential campaign colluded with Russia a topic sure to dominate his press conference shortly before he meets Xi over dinner.

&nbsp;

The United States and China, the world's two largest economies, will see Saturday if they can find a breakthrough to exit a spiraling trade war as their presidents meet at a tense G20 summit.

The United States and China, the world's two largest economies, will see Saturday if they can find a breakthrough to exit a spiraling trade war as their presidents meet at a tense G20 summit. With markets watching nervously, US President Donald Trump has described the Buenos Aires summit of the 20 leading economic powers as a deadline for China to meet his demands or risk even further pressure. The summit itself, with leaders from France, Russia and Saudi Arabia among those attending, has been struggling to carve out any accord on fighting climate change while hot-button disputes such as Ukraine loom large. Trump, who has already slapped $250 billion in tariffs on China, sounded upbeat about making progress with his counterpart Xi Jinping after weeks of dire warnings. "We're working very hard. If we could make a deal, that would be good," Trump told reporters Friday as he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the first of the summit's two days. "I think they want to, and I think we'd like to. And we'll see," Trump said. Trump has thrown out the traditional US playbook on free trade since his shock 2016 election, vowing to protect forgotten workers and put "America First." Xi has in turn cast himself as a defender of stable global capitalism, a startling transformation for the leader of a communist state whose entry into the World Trade Organization less than two decades ago was controversial. In a speech to fellow G20 leaders, Xi said that the major economies "should firmly uphold free trade and the rules-based multilateral trading system." But in a rhetorical olive branch to Trump, Xi pledged to do more to open up China's economy. "China will continue to deepen market-oriented reform, protect property rights and intellectual property rights, encourage fair competition and do more to expand imports," he said. Tensions gradually ease Trump has accused China of rampant theft of US technology and demanded that the emerging power end its requirements that foreign companies team up with local partners. In the run-up to November 6 congressional elections, Trump ramped up criticism and accused China of interfering domestically to hurt his Republican Party. But tensions have eased since then, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assuring that the United States is not seeking a new Cold War and US and Chinese trade officials swapping a lengthy list of items up for discussion. Trump's criticisms of China's trade policy enjoy wide support across the US political spectrum, but some fear that the president has bitten off more than he can chew with a go-it-alone campaign that could damage markets worldwide. Trump counted a victory Friday for his brash trade stance as the United States, Canada and Mexico signed a new trade deal, a successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement. While short of a complete rewrite of NAFTA once promised by Trump, he hailed the new United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement as an "incredible milestone." He secured the support for the new agreement both of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico's incoming leftist president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The state-run China Daily said that the Pacific powers could strike a deal in Buenos Aires but warned the United States against pushing too hard on technology. "Should there be any other aspirations, such as taking advantage of the trade spat to throttle Chinese growth, then an agreement is unlikely to be reached," the newspaper said in an editorial Friday. "But a good deal means both sides walking away happy. The US should give its habitual winner-take-all approach to international relations the weekend off," it said. Tensions fill summit A substantive deal between the United States and China could mark a major feat for the G20 summit, where expectations for collective action have been low. With Trump feuding with close US allies, two major summits this year -- the Group of Seven democracies and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum -- ended without once-routine statements. A French source said that European leaders were trying to forge a statement on climate change even without the United States. Trump has decided to pull the United States from the Paris accord on curbing carbon emissions, saying it is unfair, despite mounting evidence of the changing climate's dire effects. Trump called off talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit, officially due to outrage over Moscow's naval skirmishes with Ukraine. But Trump is also under mounting pressure at home in an investigation over whether his presidential campaign colluded with Russia a topic sure to dominate his press conference shortly before he meets Xi over dinner.

China, US showdown looms on trade at fractious G20

Wall Street rose on Friday as investors hoped for progress on trade in a critical US-China meeting over the weekend, and the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq posted their biggest weekly percentage gains in nearly seven years.

The Dow saw its largest weekly advance in two years. Investors were encouraged this week by comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and subsequent minutes from the central bank's latest meeting that suggested that the Fed will take a data-driven rather than ideological approach to future rate hikes.

All three major US&nbsp;indexes recorded modest monthly percentage gains for November.

A Chinese official said "consensus is steadily increasing" in trade negotiations between the US and China as the G20 meeting got underway in Buenos Aires, sparking hopes there would be a positive resolution in the ongoing tariff dispute between the world's two largest economies.

US President Donald Trump is set to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Saturday and the outcome could swing stocks for the rest of the year.

"The three key issues that people are really focusing on are how dovish is the Fed going to be going forward, how are trade relations with China going to play out, and what's going on in the oil markets," said Charlie Ripley, senior market strategist for Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis.

"But as we get better news, that's helped lift the markets," Ripley added. "That's why we're seeing a week like this week."

The Dow Jones Industrial Average.DJI&nbsp;rose 199.62 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 25,538.46, the S&amp;P 500 SPX&nbsp;gained 22.4 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 2,760.16 and the Nasdaq Composite IXIC added 57.45 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 7,330.54.

Of the 11 major sectors in the S&amp;P 500, all but energy SPNY&nbsp;ended the session in positive territory.

Energy stocks fell 0.2 per cent as crude prices LCOc1&nbsp;extended their slide.

But falling oil prices boosted airlines stocks. The Dow Jones Airlines index DJUSAR rose 2.8 per cent.

Shares of Marriott International Inc MAR.O sank 5.6 per cent after the hotel operator said hackers stole about 500 million records from its Starwood Hotels reservation system.

General Electric Co GEN&nbsp;shares slid 5.5 per cent following a Wall Street Journal report that former employees are being questioned by federal investigators about the company's failure to acknowledge its insurance business' worsening results over the years.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.17-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.24-to-1 ratio favoured advancers.

The S&amp;P 500 posted 28 new 52-week highs and 6 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 49 new highs and 90 new lows.

Volume on US exchanges was 8.39 billion shares, compared to the 7.63 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Wall Street rose on Friday as investors hoped for progress on trade in a critical US-China meeting over the weekend, and the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq posted their biggest weekly percentage gains in nearly seven years.

Wall Street rose on Friday as investors hoped for progress on trade in a critical US-China meeting over the weekend, and the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq posted their biggest weekly percentage gains in nearly seven years. The Dow saw its largest weekly advance in two years. Investors were encouraged this week by comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and subsequent minutes from the central bank's latest meeting that suggested that the Fed will take a data-driven rather than ideological approach to future rate hikes. All three major US indexes recorded modest monthly percentage gains for November. A Chinese official said "consensus is steadily increasing" in trade negotiations between the US and China as the G20 meeting got underway in Buenos Aires, sparking hopes there would be a positive resolution in the ongoing tariff dispute between the world's two largest economies. US President Donald Trump is set to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Saturday and the outcome could swing stocks for the rest of the year. "The three key issues that people are really focusing on are how dovish is the Fed going to be going forward, how are trade relations with China going to play out, and what's going on in the oil markets," said Charlie Ripley, senior market strategist for Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis. "But as we get better news, that's helped lift the markets," Ripley added. "That's why we're seeing a week like this week." The Dow Jones Industrial Average.DJI rose 199.62 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 25,538.46, the S&P 500 SPX gained 22.4 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 2,760.16 and the Nasdaq Composite IXIC added 57.45 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 7,330.54. Of the 11 major sectors in the S&P 500, all but energy SPNY ended the session in positive territory. Energy stocks fell 0.2 per cent as crude prices LCOc1 extended their slide. But falling oil prices boosted airlines stocks. The Dow Jones Airlines index DJUSAR rose 2.8 per cent. Shares of Marriott International Inc MAR.O sank 5.6 per cent after the hotel operator said hackers stole about 500 million records from its Starwood Hotels reservation system. General Electric Co GEN shares slid 5.5 per cent following a Wall Street Journal report that former employees are being questioned by federal investigators about the company's failure to acknowledge its insurance business' worsening results over the years. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.17-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.24-to-1 ratio favoured advancers. The S&P 500 posted 28 new 52-week highs and 6 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 49 new highs and 90 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 8.39 billion shares, compared to the 7.63 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Wall Street rises on trade hopes; S&P, Nasdaq post best weeks in seven years

White House strategist Steve Bannon argued forcefully in an interview published Wednesday that the United States is in an &quot;economic war&quot; with China, and the confrontation with nuclear-armed North Korea is just &quot;a sideshow.&quot;

&quot;To me the economic war with China is everything. And we have to be maniacally focused on that,&quot; he said in the interview with the American Prospect, a left-leaning website.

&quot;If we continue to lose it, we&#39;re five years away, I think, ten years at the most, of hitting an inflection point from which we&#39;ll never be able to recover,&quot; he said.

Bannon, an economic nationalist and former CEO of the extreme-right Breitbart news website, is reported to be on shaky ground with President Donald Trump, who gave him only a tepid endorsement this week.

But in a frank, freewheeling telephone interview with American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner, Bannon talked about the infighting in the White House, now engulfed in a storm over Trump&#39;s defensive response to deadly violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia.

&#39;Collection of clowns&#39;

Far from defending Trump, Bannon spoke with disdain about the white nationalist movement he helped cultivate as a former head of Breitbart.

&quot;Ethno-nationalism -- it&#39;s losers. It&#39;s a fringe element. I think the media plays it up too much, and we gotta help crush it, you know, uh, help crush it more,&quot; he was quoted as saying.

&quot;These guys are a collection of clowns.&quot;

Bannon also was dismissive of Trump&#39;s vow to bring down &quot;fire and fury&quot; on North Korea if it continued to threaten the United States with missiles and nuclear weapons.

&quot;There&#39;s no military solution [to North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear threats], forget it,&quot; he said. &quot;Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that ten million people in Seoul don&#39;t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don&#39;t know what you&#39;re talking about, there&#39;s no military solution here, they got us.&quot;

According to Kuttner&#39;s account, Bannon described his fight within the administration to take a harder line against China&#39;s trade practices, and not fall into the trap of hoping China would play the role of honest broker in restraining North Korea.

&quot;We&#39;re at economic war with China,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s in all their literature. They&#39;re not shy about saying what they&#39;re doing.&quot;

&quot;One of us is going to be a hegemon in 25 or 30 years and it&#39;s gonna be them if we go down this path. On Korea, they&rsquo;re just tapping us along. It&#39;s just a sideshow.&quot;

Of his adversaries in the State Department and Defense who want to enlist China&#39;s help Bannon said &quot;they&#39;re wetting themselves.&quot;

&quot;We gotta do this. The president&#39;s default position is to do it, but the apparatus is going crazy. Don&#39;t get me wrong. It&#39;s like, every day.&quot;

Bannon also was dismissive of Trump's vow to bring down 'fire and fury' on North Korea if it continued to threaten the United States with missiles and nuclear weapons

White House strategist Steve Bannon argued forcefully in an interview published Wednesday that the United States is in an "economic war" with China, and the confrontation with nuclear-armed North Korea is just "a sideshow." "To me the economic war with China is everything. And we have to be maniacally focused on that," he said in the interview with the American Prospect, a left-leaning website. "If we continue to lose it, we're five years away, I think, ten years at the most, of hitting an inflection point from which we'll never be able to recover," he said. Bannon, an economic nationalist and former CEO of the extreme-right Breitbart news website, is reported to be on shaky ground with President Donald Trump, who gave him only a tepid endorsement this week. But in a frank, freewheeling telephone interview with American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner, Bannon talked about the infighting in the White House, now engulfed in a storm over Trump's defensive response to deadly violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia. 'Collection of clowns' Far from defending Trump, Bannon spoke with disdain about the white nationalist movement he helped cultivate as a former head of Breitbart. "Ethno-nationalism -- it's losers. It's a fringe element. I think the media plays it up too much, and we gotta help crush it, you know, uh, help crush it more," he was quoted as saying. "These guys are a collection of clowns." Bannon also was dismissive of Trump's vow to bring down "fire and fury" on North Korea if it continued to threaten the United States with missiles and nuclear weapons. "There's no military solution [to North Korea’s nuclear threats], forget it," he said. "Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that ten million people in Seoul don't die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don't know what you're talking about, there's no military solution here, they got us." According to Kuttner's account, Bannon described his fight within the administration to take a harder line against China's trade practices, and not fall into the trap of hoping China would play the role of honest broker in restraining North Korea. "We're at economic war with China," he said. "It's in all their literature. They're not shy about saying what they're doing." "One of us is going to be a hegemon in 25 or 30 years and it's gonna be them if we go down this path. On Korea, they’re just tapping us along. It's just a sideshow." Of his adversaries in the State Department and Defense who want to enlist China's help Bannon said "they're wetting themselves." "We gotta do this. The president's default position is to do it, but the apparatus is going crazy. Don't get me wrong. It's like, every day."

US in economic war with China: Trump strategist Steve Bannon

US President Barack Obama met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House on Wednesday, despite a warning from China that it would damage diplomatic relations. 
 
The meeting came at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over Beijing&rsquo;s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in East Asia.&nbsp; 
 
Obama&#39;s fourth White House meeting with the Dalai Lama in the past eight years took place in the White House residence, instead of the Oval Office where the president normally meets world leaders. 
 
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the choice of the residence emphasized the &quot;personal nature of their meeting&quot;. 
 
He said Obama thanked the Dalai Lama for his condolences for the victims of Sunday&#39;s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 
 
Earnest added that Obama had in the past spoken of his &quot;warm personal feelings&quot; for the Dalai Lama, appreciation of his teachings and belief &quot;in preserving Tibet&#39;s unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions&quot;. 
 
At the same time, Earnest said the US position of considering Tibet part of China had not changed. 
 
In an interview with Fox News later on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said he and Obama talked about the current situation in Tibet. 
 
He denied he was seeking independence and that it was in Tibet&#39;s interests to remain part of China, &quot;provided we should have full right for preservation of our own culture, or rich Buddhist knowledge, knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, these things&quot;. 
 
The Dalai Lama also noted in the interview that Chinese President Xi Jinping had said Buddhism was an important part of Chinese culture. 
 
&quot;So this is something new, for a leader of a Communist party, you see, mentioning some positive things about leader of Buddhism, wonderful.&quot; 
 
&#39;The Tibet card&#39; 
 
China&#39;s foreign ministry said earlier it had lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over the planned meeting, saying it would damage Chinese-US ties. 
 
China considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the meeting would encourage &quot;separatist forces&quot;. He urged Washington to abide by its promises to recognise that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence. 
 
A commentary on China&#39;s official news agency, Xinhua, accused Washington of breaking its promise not to support Tibet&#39;s independence by going ahead with the meeting. It said that had &quot;seriously jeopardized China-US relations, and deeply hurt the Chinese people&#39;s feelings&quot;. 
 
&quot;Supporting Tibet&#39;s independence is a clear interference in China&#39;s internal affairs and is in gross violation of the norms of international relations. Playing the &#39;Tibet card&#39; shows the US government is overdrawing its political credit and international prestige.&quot; 
 
When Obama last met the Dalai Lama at the White House in 2014, he angered China by vowing &quot;strong support&quot; for Tibetans&#39; human rights. 
 
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, said in the Fox News interview that China would eventually have to become more open. 
 
&quot;So ... Chinese people, including leaders, I think are getting some new experiences, so things will change,&quot; he said, adding there was no future in maintaining such tight social control. 
 
&#39;Trust, frienship essential&#39; 
 
The Dalai Lama said in an interview that the disputes between China and its neighbours in the South China Sea should be resolved through dialogue. 
 
He said China faced no threat from other Asian countries and as a big and ancient nation should pursue reconciliation and friendship. &ldquo;Long term, it&rsquo;s in China&rsquo;s own interests,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Trust and friendship with neighbouring countries is essential; including the United States also.&rdquo; 
 
On Wednesday, a Chinese observation ship shadowed the US aircraft carrier John C. Stennis in the Western Pacific, the carrier&#39;s commander said, as it joined warships from Japan and India for drills close to waters Beijing considers its backyard. 
 
Japan and the United States worry that China is extending its influence into the Western Pacific with submarines and surface vessels as it pushes territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea, expanding and building on islands. 
 
China has been angered by what it views as provocative US military patrols close to the islands. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation. 
 
On Tuesday, Beijing also warned Washington to stick to its &ldquo;one-China&rdquo; policy over Taiwan ahead of an overseas trip by Taipei&rsquo;s new president, Tsai Ing-wen, who will transit though Miami from June 24 to 25 and Los Angeles from June 30 to July 1 on her way to and from Panama and Paraguay. 
 
A US State Department spokeswoman, Anna Richey-Allen, said the visit would be &ldquo;private and unofficial&rdquo; and the transits handled in accordance with the &ldquo;unofficial nature of the (US) relationship with Taiwan&rdquo;. 
 
&ldquo;There is no change to the US &lsquo;One-China&rsquo; policy,&rdquo; she said, adding that Tsai would be greeted as a courtesy in Miami and Los Angeles by officials of the American Institute in Taiwan, a de facto embassy that handles US relations with Taiwan. 
(Reuters)

Comes as Japan and the US worry that Beijing is pushing territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea

US President Barack Obama met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House on Wednesday, despite a warning from China that it would damage diplomatic relations. The meeting came at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over Beijing’s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in East Asia. Obama's fourth White House meeting with the Dalai Lama in the past eight years took place in the White House residence, instead of the Oval Office where the president normally meets world leaders. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the choice of the residence emphasized the "personal nature of their meeting". He said Obama thanked the Dalai Lama for his condolences for the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Earnest added that Obama had in the past spoken of his "warm personal feelings" for the Dalai Lama, appreciation of his teachings and belief "in preserving Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions". At the same time, Earnest said the US position of considering Tibet part of China had not changed. In an interview with Fox News later on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said he and Obama talked about the current situation in Tibet. He denied he was seeking independence and that it was in Tibet's interests to remain part of China, "provided we should have full right for preservation of our own culture, or rich Buddhist knowledge, knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, these things". The Dalai Lama also noted in the interview that Chinese President Xi Jinping had said Buddhism was an important part of Chinese culture. "So this is something new, for a leader of a Communist party, you see, mentioning some positive things about leader of Buddhism, wonderful." 'The Tibet card' China's foreign ministry said earlier it had lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over the planned meeting, saying it would damage Chinese-US ties. China considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the meeting would encourage "separatist forces". He urged Washington to abide by its promises to recognise that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence. A commentary on China's official news agency, Xinhua, accused Washington of breaking its promise not to support Tibet's independence by going ahead with the meeting. It said that had "seriously jeopardized China-US relations, and deeply hurt the Chinese people's feelings". "Supporting Tibet's independence is a clear interference in China's internal affairs and is in gross violation of the norms of international relations. Playing the 'Tibet card' shows the US government is overdrawing its political credit and international prestige." When Obama last met the Dalai Lama at the White House in 2014, he angered China by vowing "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights. The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, said in the Fox News interview that China would eventually have to become more open. "So ... Chinese people, including leaders, I think are getting some new experiences, so things will change," he said, adding there was no future in maintaining such tight social control. 'Trust, frienship essential' The Dalai Lama said in an interview that the disputes between China and its neighbours in the South China Sea should be resolved through dialogue. He said China faced no threat from other Asian countries and as a big and ancient nation should pursue reconciliation and friendship. “Long term, it’s in China’s own interests,” he said. “Trust and friendship with neighbouring countries is essential; including the United States also.” On Wednesday, a Chinese observation ship shadowed the US aircraft carrier John C. Stennis in the Western Pacific, the carrier's commander said, as it joined warships from Japan and India for drills close to waters Beijing considers its backyard. Japan and the United States worry that China is extending its influence into the Western Pacific with submarines and surface vessels as it pushes territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea, expanding and building on islands. China has been angered by what it views as provocative US military patrols close to the islands. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation. On Tuesday, Beijing also warned Washington to stick to its “one-China” policy over Taiwan ahead of an overseas trip by Taipei’s new president, Tsai Ing-wen, who will transit though Miami from June 24 to 25 and Los Angeles from June 30 to July 1 on her way to and from Panama and Paraguay. A US State Department spokeswoman, Anna Richey-Allen, said the visit would be “private and unofficial” and the transits handled in accordance with the “unofficial nature of the (US) relationship with Taiwan”. “There is no change to the US ‘One-China’ policy,” she said, adding that Tsai would be greeted as a courtesy in Miami and Los Angeles by officials of the American Institute in Taiwan, a de facto embassy that handles US relations with Taiwan. (Reuters)

Obama meets 'dangerous separatist' Dalai Lama despite warning from China