China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has responded to U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, saying that China does not fear competition with the U.S. but is opposed to defining the entire relationship in terms of competition. She has called for the two countries to work together to promote a sound and stable development, as the U.S. has accused China of unfair trade practices and human rights violations.
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US intelligence officials have uncovered evidence of a Chinese military surveillance program, which includes a fleet of balloons and has conducted at least two dozen missions over five continents. Half a dozen of these flights have been within US airspace, and the US has requested a secure call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart to manage tensions and open dialogue. The US has expressed concern about the Chinese surveillance program and called for greater transparency from the Chinese government.
President Joe Biden is set to deliver his second State of the Union address Tuesday night, addressing the nation's economic anxiety, racial divisions, and foreign policy issues. He will focus on his plans for the economy, infrastructure, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic, while Republicans will be watching warily and sizing up Biden's fitness for a likely reelection bid. The speech is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. EST.
Disney+ has removed an episode of the popular animated show “The Simpsons” from its streaming service in Hong Kong due to its reference to “forced labor” in China. The episode follows the character Marge Simpson as she rides a Peloton-style bike with an instructor whose backdrop is the Great Wall of China and mentions “forced labor camps where children make smartphones”. The removal of the episode has raised concerns about censorship due to the country’s new national security law.
US military shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of the Carolinas, sparking a heated dispute between the two countries. China has accused the US of “indiscriminate use of force”, while the US maintains the balloon was being used for surveillance purposes. The incident has become a watershed moment in the world’s new superpower rivalry, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a planned trip to Beijing in response.
The Biden administration is offering a briefing to the top congressional leaders on classified documents found in the possession of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. The documents were found at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence, President Joe Biden’s Delaware home and former private office. Congress is concerned about the potential implications of the documents, and the briefing will provide them with more information.
The mystery of the massive white orb that was shot down by the U.S. Air Force over the Atlantic on live television Saturday has been solved - it was a Chinese civilian unmanned airship used mainly for meteorological research. China has expressed its disapproval of the U.S. action, describing it as an “overreaction” and “serious violation of international practice”, raising questions about the safety of civilian airships and the potential for similar incidents in the future.
A suspected Chinese surveillance balloon has caused a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and China, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone his trip to China. Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies believes the incident has reinforced concerns about China's ambitions, further straining the relationship between the two countries. The situation is being monitored closely and it is unclear when Blinken's trip will be rescheduled.