Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu met in Moscow to discuss their countries' close military cooperation, which includes the exchange of useful information and joint exercises. This marks Li's first overseas trip since taking on the role of Defense Minister last month, and follows the US' 2018 sanctions against him for transactions with Russia's state-controlled arms exporter. The meeting is seen as a sign of the strong relationship between Russia and China, which has been further strengthened since Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
Posts tagged as “China”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has announced that House Republicans will vote on their own debt ceiling bill to empower the U.S. to meet its obligations until 2024. The bill would save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make the U.S. less dependent upon China, and curb high inflation, but President Joe Biden has refused to negotiate policy conditions for extending the debt limit. McCarthy has criticized the President for not being “sensible” and finding an agreement, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of the vote will be and how it will affect the U.S. economy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow on Sunday, praising the “very productive” visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last month and noting that relations between Russia and China are developing well in all areas. Li Shangfu said that the relations between Moscow and Beijing “have very strong relations, that far surpass the military-political alliances of the Cold War.” The meeting is the latest sign of the deepening ties between Russia and China, which have increased their military cooperation in recent years.
The United States, Russia, and China have all called for an end to the violence in Sudan, where officials have reported dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. The UN has expressed its concern and urged all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue. The Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces have yet to agree to a ceasefire.
The U.S. Justice Department has charged 28 members and leaders of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, including three sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, with fentanyl trafficking, weapons and money laundering. The Chapitos are accused of fentanyl trafficking and money laundering, and more charges are expected to be filed in the future as part of the Justice Department's larger effort to combat the opioid crisis in the United States.
The U.S. Justice Department and Treasury Department have announced a major crackdown on the Sinaloa cartel, with charges filed against four sons of imprisoned drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and sanctions imposed against two Chinese companies and five people in China and Guatemala. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the charges are part of a larger effort to combat the trafficking of fentanyl coming north into the U.S. while also cracking down on the trafficking of guns going south into Mexico. The Biden administration has said it is committed to strengthening cooperation with Mexico to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has condemned China's recent military exercises around the island, warning that Beijing appears to be preparing for war. US and China have both sent warships to the region and the US has increased arms sales to Taiwan, while French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Europe to become a "third pole" independent of both Washington and Beijing. Wu expressed confidence in Taiwanese preparations, as the international community watches the situation closely.
China launched the Joint Sword drills on Saturday, a show of strength in response to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the US. The drills were smaller in scale than last August's live-fire military exercises, and are seen as a warning to Taiwan and the US. It remains to be seen how the US and Taiwan will respond to the drills, and whether China will continue to increase its military presence in the region.