Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has defended the United States' actions to protect its national security in a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, citing the U.S.'s October announcement of sweeping export controls and China's recent measures to restrict the export of two metals used in chip manufacturing. Despite some friction, Yellen said the U.S. is committed to working with China to promote a more open, balanced, and mutually beneficial economic relationship.
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Vietnam has banned the movie “Barbie” from domestic distribution due to a scene featuring a map that shows China’s unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea. This ban is a reminder of the ongoing tensions between Vietnam and China over the South China Sea, as other films such as “The Great Wall” and “Kung Fu Panda 3” have been banned in the past.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is traveling to Beijing this week to improve U.S.-China relations, with the intention of deepening communication, avoiding miscommunication, and expanding collaboration. During her visit, Yellen will meet with Chinese officials, U.S. companies, and Chinese people, and will discuss macroeconomic and financial issues. This trip is seen as a continuation of the Biden administration's effort to thaw U.S.-China relations, and could potentially lead to improved communication and collaboration between the two countries.
Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has accused congressional Republicans of attempting to undermine the plea deal recently reached between President Biden's son and prosecutors by pushing forward what he described as "false allegations" from IRS whistleblowers. Lowell has called for an investigation into the timing of the agents' leaks and Biden's subsequent decision to release their statements, and the Biden administration has yet to comment on the accusations. It remains to be seen how the allegations will affect the plea agreement.
Miami Mayor and 2024 presidential candidate Francis Suarez has come under fire for his response to a question about human rights abuses against Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority ethnic group in China’s western region. Suarez's response of "What's a Uyghur?" has been met with criticism from human rights activists, prompting him to apologize and promise to make human rights a priority in his campaign. It remains to be seen how this incident will affect his chances in the upcoming election.
U.S. intelligence officials released a report on Friday rejecting some points raised by those who argue COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab. The report has angered some Republicans, who argue the Biden administration is withholding information, while intelligence officials argue China's obstruction has made it impossible to determine the origin. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner has noted that U.S. intelligence had "extraordinary detail" about the risk posed by the Wagner group, and that top congressional leaders had been briefed multiple times by the administration.
Andrei Rudenko, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, visited Beijing on Sunday to discuss "international and regional issues of common concern" with the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. This follows Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary Wagner Group, ordering his troops to march on Moscow before reaching a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been monitoring the events and engaging with the Russians. It is unclear what was discussed during Rudenko's visit, but it is likely that the two countries discussed the situation in Russia and the implications of the aborted rebellion.
Beijing is experiencing a rare heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 106 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, breaking the June record. The Nanjiao observatory in southern Beijing recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for a third consecutive day, and Tanghekou in Beijing’s northeast even reached 107 F. Authorities are urging people to limit their time outdoors as the heatwave is likely to continue in the coming days.