Chinese President Xi Jinping would be making “a very serious mistake” if he ordered an invasion of Taiwan, says U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We are committed to making sure that Taiwan has the means to defend itself,” he says. “That commitment is not going away. And at the same time, I think it would be a very serious mistake for anyone to try to disrupt by force the existing status quo.” [node:read-more:link]
In a 12,400-page communique at the end of their two-day summit in London, foreign ministers from Canada and the other G-7 countries included an anodyne critique of China and Russia, both of which rejected the characterizations. Potentially setting the tone for a G-7 leaders meeting in June, they reiterated concerns about Beijing’s human rights record and expansionism and Moscow’s aggression in eastern Europe. [node:read-more:link]
The global COVID-19 campaign is often compared with military warfare and two partners in the Washington-based McKinsey Global Institute say the analogy can be useful in trying to come to grips with the pandemic’s consequences. “The economic cycle in which we suddenly find ourselves . . . resembles the fully immersed experience of a mass mobilization, wartime economy,” they write. “While some European countries and parts of the United States are now starting to loosen lockdown measures, the duration of this ‘war’ . . . [node:read-more:link]
The Venezuelan military says it is preparing to protect five tankers expected to deliver Iranian gasoline despite U.S. sanctions on both countries. The minister of defence, Gen Vladimir Padrino López, says the tankers will be “welcomed” into Venezuela’s 370-kilometre offshore economic management zone. [node:read-more:link]
China has orbited the final satellite in its 35-platform BeiDou-3 navigation system, which means it no longer relies on the U.S.-managed Global Positioning System used by militaries and civilians worldwide. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. has imposed new export controls on military and some high-technology products destined for Hong Kong. The administration decided several weeks ago that the former British colony no longer had sufficient autonomy as Beijing consolidated its hold. [node:read-more:link]
Twenty major Chinese companies have been identified by the U.S. Department of Defense as being either owned or supported by the Chinese military. The list includes several telecom giants, including Huawei, and could be the basis for U.S. sanctions. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. has imposed new export controls on military and some high-technology products destined for Hong Kong. The administration decided several weeks ago that the former British colony no longer had sufficient autonomy as Beijing consolidated its hold. [node:read-more:link]
In response to China’s increasing crackdown on Hong Kong, the Canadian government has suspended an extradition treaty with the former British colony and is restricting exports of sensitive goods. “This process demonstrated disregard for Hong Kong's basic law and the high degree of autonomy promised for Hong Kong under the 'one country, two systems' framework,” Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne said 03 July. “Hong Kong's role as a global hub was built on that foundation. Without it, Canada is forced to reassess existing agreements.” [node:read-more:link]
With a U.S.government-wide ban looming on contractors' use of Chinese telecommunications equipment, industry lobbies are pressing the administration for more time to adjust. The National Defense Industrial Association and the Professional Services Council want the 13 August deadline delayed by a year, saying the government should be focusing on recovering from the economic impact of COVID-19. [node:read-more:link]
An interim U.S. ban on federal agencies contracting with entities which use equipment from Chinese telecommunications and surveillance companies could cost the government $11 billion in its first year, according information in the 14 July Federal Register. Beginning 13 August, government contracting officers, who can issue waivers in emergencies, will required bidders to confirm compliance with the new rule. [node:read-more:link]
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to reimpose a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminum is nothing more than back-stabbing. “I just have to say how disappointed I am with President Trump,” Ford said 7 August. “In times like this, who tries to go after your closest ally, your closest trading partner, your number one customer in the entire world? Who would do this? Well, President Trump did this.” [node:read-more:link]
Ellen Lord, the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment, is soliciting detailed feedback on how a new interim supply chain rules change the way the private sector does business with the government. A specific concern is how all departments agencies are now prohibited, as of 13 August, from contracting with any company doing business with five Chinese entities. [node:read-more:link]
A San Francisco consultancy under contract to the Department of Defense says U.S. industry's reliance on goods and services from countries such as China shows reshoring the industry’s may be easier said than done. Researchers at Govini analyzed data from more than 1,000 vendors to show how products from foreign countries has increased by 420 per cent since 2010, particularly in the packaged software and IT services. [node:read-more:link]
Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne and European Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell have reaffirmed their transatlantic commitment to tackle COVID-19 as well and other challenges. In a statement issued 10 September, they said that, among other things, they fully support the World Health Organization’s pandemic work, continue to cooperate in identifying and responding to foreign threats such as state-sponsored disinformation, and remain committed to the Paris Agreement climate goals. [node:read-more:link]
