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– On July 25-26, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman travelled to China for meetings with China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Vice-Minister Xie Feng.
– Vice-Minister Xie Feng said the U.S.-China relationship is in a stalemate and the fundamental reason for that designation is some Americans’ portrayals of China as an “imagined enemy.” China also specified a list of grievances and red line issues.
– Deputy Secretary Sherman’s visit previously encountered a stand-off as both sides disagreed on who she would meet with in Beijing.
– On July 27, Qin Gang, China’s yet-to-be-announced new ambassador to the U.S., is said to have left for Washington D.C.
– On July 20, the U.S. released a comment that “applauds” Taiwan’s agreement to open a Taiwanese representative office in Lithuania; the first in Europe with “Taiwan” in the name.
Associated News References:
“New Chinese ambassador Qin Gang heads to Washington, sources say,” Reuters, July 27 [Paywall]
“US-China relations: Beijing lays down red lines for first time in Sherman meeting,” South China Morning Post, July 26 [Paywall]
“Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Visit to the People’s Republic of China: Readout,” U.S. Department of State, July 26
“Xie Feng: The China-U.S. relationship is in a stalemate, fundamentally because some Americans portray China as an ‘imagined enemy,’” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, July 26
“US and China trade barbs after another high-level meeting but say they want to keep talking,” CNN, July 26
“US Builds Coordinated Approach on China as Top Officials Head to Asia,” Voice of America, July 21
“US backs Taiwan’s move to open de facto embassy in Lithuania,” South China Morning Post, July 20 [Paywall]
“China snubs senior US official in worsening diplomatic stand-off,” Financial Times, July 15 [Paywall]
“Biden administration looks to set up ‘red phone’ to China for emergency communications,” CNN, July 14
– On July 19, the U.S., joined by allies and partners including the EU, the UK and NATO, accused the Chinese government of using criminal contract hackers to conduct malicious cyber operations, including an attack on Microsoft Exchange this March.
– On the same day, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment alleging that four Chinese nationals affiliated with China’s Ministry of State Security were responsible for a hacking campaign against companies, universities and government entities in the U.S. and other countries between 2011 and 2018.
– On July 20, Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian called the U.S. cyber attack allegation “groundless accusations” born out of political goals.
– The Biden administration will reportedly engage in internal discussions on whether and how to sanction China for alleged cyber attacks.
Associated News References:
“Biden administration debating whether and how to sanction China for ransomware attacks,” CNN, July 20
“China calls US, UK cyber attack allegations ‘groundless and irresponsible,’” CityAM, July 20
“Four Chinese Nationals Working with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaign Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information, Including Infectious Disease Research,” U.S. Department of Justice, July 19
“The United States, Joined by Allies and Partners, Attributes Malicious Cyber Activity and Irresponsible State Behavior to the People’s Republic of China,” The White House, July 19
“Biden Goes After China’s Cyber Attackers,” DefenseOne, July 19
“US, NATO to ‘expose’ China for ‘malicious cyber activities,’” ABCNews, July 19
“US accuses China of masterminding cyber attacks worldwide,” Financial Times, July 19 [Paywall]
– The White House is considering a possible digital trade agreement with Indo-Pacific economies to counter China’s influence in the region.
– The U.S. Department of Treasury is said to have no plans to resume the formal high-level U.S.-China economic dialogue that existed under the Bush and Obama administrations.
– International use of the Chinese Yuan reached a record high for the last five years.
– Chinese regulators are contemplating serious penalties for Didi, the Chinese ride-hailing company that proceeded with its U.S. IPO despite the voiced data security concerns from Chinese regulators.
– On July 26, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said that Chinese companies listed in the U.S. must regularly disclose the risk that the Chinese government interferes in their business.
Associated News References:
“U.S.-listed Chinese companies must disclose government interference risks -SEC official,” Reuters, July 27 [Paywall]
“China Weighs Unprecedented Penalty for Didi After U.S. IPO,” Bloomberg, July 22 [Paywall]
“U.S.-China Trade Booms as If Virus, Tariffs Never Happened,” Bloomberg, July 21 [Paywall]
“China’s global yuan push regains momentum,” Nikkei Asia, July 20 [Paywall]
“U.S. Extends Trump-Era Halt to Economic Dialogue With China,” Bloomberg, July 14 [Paywall]
“Biden Team Weighs Digital Trade Deal to Counter China in Asia,” Bloomberg, July 12 [Paywall]
– On July 15, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom called on China to be more open and transparent with investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and to supply more raw data.
– On July 22, China’s National Health Commission Vice Minister Zeng Yixin said that China cannot accept the WHO’s plan to audit “relevant laboratories and research institutions” in Wuhan as a follow-up investigation into COVID-19’s origin. He also said that Beijing had submitted its own proposal on July 4 for a second-phase research..
– On July 23, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic urged all countries to work together on uncovering COVID-19’s origins. “This is not about politics, it’s not about a blame game,” he said.
– Simultaneously, some American lawmakers are calling for an investigation into whether the 2019 Military World Games in Wuhan was a COVID-19 superspreader event.
Associated News References:
“Opinion: Congress is investigating whether the 2019 Military World Games in Wuhan was a covid-19 superspreader event,” The Washington Post, July 23
“‘It’s not a blame game’: WHO calls for all countries to help in Covid-19 origins hunt,” South China Morning Post, July 23
“China Rejects WHO Proposal for Second Phase of Covid-19 Origins Probe,” The Wall Street Journal, July 22 [Paywall]
“China’s government rejects WHO plan for COVID origins study,” Axios, July 22
“WHO Chief Calls for Better Cooperation from China on COVID-19 Origins,” Voice of America, July 15
– On July 14, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to ban the importation of all products from Xinjiang, China given forced labor and human rights concerns in the region.
– On July 16, the U.S. Department of State, Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security issued a joint advisory warning businesses about the “potential reputational, regulatory, financial, and, in certain instances, legal risks” associated with operating in Hong Kong.
– Chinese factories that supply Apple and Nike have ceased to employ workers from Xinjiang amidst growing pressure by Western governments to eliminate forced labor from their supply chain.
Associated News References:
“Industry does a 180 on Uyghur bill,” Politico, July 26
“Chinese Suppliers to Apple, Nike Shun Xinjiang Workers as U.S. Forced-Labor Ban Looms,” The Wall Street Journal, July 20 [Paywall]
“U.S. Warns Businesses Over Rising Risks in Hong Kong Under China Crackdown,” The Wall Street Journal, July 16 [Paywall]
“Risks and Considerations for Businesses Operating in Hong Kong,” Hong Kong Business Advisory, July 16
“Senate passes bill to ban all products from Xinjiang over China rights abuse,” Axios, July 15
“Nine Individuals Charged in Superseding Indictment with Conspiring to Act as Illegal Agents of the People’s Republic of China,” U.S. Department of Justice, July 22
“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Background and Issues for Congress,” U.S. Congressional Research Service, July 16
“China Set to Launch the World’s Largest Emissions-Trading Program,” The Wall Street Journal, July 14 [Paywall]
July 27 hosted by Hudson Institute
July 27 hosted by Wilson Center
July 27 hosted by German Marshall Fund of the United States
July 23 hosted by Wilson Center
July 22 hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations
July 22 hosted by the Heritage Foundation
July 21 hosted by the Wilson Center
July 20 hosted by Center for Strategic and International Studies
July 15 hosted by Hudson Institute
July 28 hosted by Center for Strategic and International Studies
July 29 co-hosted by Colombe Foundation, Foreign Policy for America, and WCAPS
July 29 hosted by The Heritage Foundation
July 29 hosted by The Heritage Foundation
July 29 hosted by Wilson Center
July 30 hosted by Center for Strategic and International Studies
August 2 hosted by Hudson Institute
August 3-4 hosted by Aspen Institute
August 4 hosted by Wilson Center
Co-hosted by the Institute for China-America Studies and Carter Center
On July 22, 2021, the Institute for China-America Studies (ICAS) and the Carter Center China Program hosted a public trilateral roundtable on the complex China-U.S.-Canada interactions in science and technology innovation titled “The Global Race for S&T Innovation Amidst East-West Tensions”. The roundtable, held virtually, was also part of the China-U.S.-Canada Trilateral Roundtable Discussion series. Dr. Hong Nong, Executive Director and Senior Fellow at ICAS, delivered the opening remarks and announced the launch of ICAS’ newest program – the ICAS Trade ’n Technology (TnT) Program. The roundtable was moderated by Dr. Liu Yawei, Director of the China Program at the Carter Center, and featured four speakers: Dr. Zhao Gang, a Deputy Director at the China Ministry of Science and Technology and National Development and Reform Commission; Dr. Denis Simon, Senior Advisor to the President for China Affairs at Duke University; Dr. Anton Malkin, Assistant Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen); and Mr. Sourabh Gupta, Senior Fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies.
The roundtable featured various perspectives on science and technology (S&T) innovation and competition from the Chinese, American, and Canadian angles…
Read the full summary and watch the video on our website.
Edited by Gordon Houlden, Scott N. Romaniuk and Nong Hong
August 24, 2021
This volume brings together international experts to provide fresh, accessible, even-handed perspectives on present and future geopolitical concerns in the South China Sea; one of the most strategically important and militarized maritime regions of the world.
The 18+ chapters in this volume encompass the interests and security strategies of each of the nations with a claim to ownership and jurisdiction in the Sea. Examining contexts including the region’s natural resources and China’s behaviour, the book also assesses the motivations and approaches of other states in Asia and further afield.
To our Readers,
On July 22, the Institute for China-America Studies officially released its Trade ‘n Technology (TnT) Program to chronicle and analyze the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China trade and technology affairs as they occur. This release was made in conjunction with not only the TnT Program’s first event but also the first TnT Dispatch, which is an informational, curated product built to inform readers of the most notable recent changes in U.S.-China trade and technology relations.
Stay tuned for further updates to our programs and additional publication and event releases in our Trade ‘n Technology program!
The ICAS Team
On Saturday, July 24, 2021 Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta was quoted by South China Morning Post on Wendy Sherman’s visit to China.
On Thursday, July 22, 2021 Senior Fellow Sourabh Gupta joined the discussion on rare earth and critical material rivalry between the U.S. and China on RT America’s News with Rick Sanchez.
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