Taiwan's representative office in the U.S. invited to presidential inauguration; Taiwan media: first time since 1979 when Taiwan-US diplomatic relations broke off

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in at Capitol Hill in the early hours of Thursday morning HKT. The Taiwan Representative Office in the United States had not received an invitation to the inauguration ceremony until today (20th January), announcing that Representative Hsiao Bi-Khim was invited and will attend the inauguration. According to Taiwanese media, this is the first time Taiwan has been formally invited to attend the inauguration ceremony since the cessation of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the U.S. in 1979, a significant breakthrough for Taiwan.

The Central News Agency (CNA) reported that Taiwan's representative office in the U.S. issued a press release today stating that Hsiao has accepted the invitation from the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), the organiser of the 59th U.S. Presidential Inauguration. She will represent the Taiwan government at the inauguration ceremony of President Biden and Vice President Harris on the West Lawn of the U.S. Congress and congratulate them on behalf of the Taiwan government.

#US #Biden #Harris #Taiwan #USPresident

Source: Standnews #Jan20

https://bit.ly/3jeukFr

White House spokesman: Huawei is a "distrusted supplier" and will ensure that the U.S. and its allies do not use its equipment

U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Gina Raimondo refused to commit to continuing sanctions against Huawei during her Senate confirmation hearing, prompting speculation about whether newly-elected President Joe Biden is softening his policy towards Huawei. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a regular press conference that Huawei is a "distrusted vendor" and that the U.S. will ensure that neither local nor allied networks use the vendor's equipment.

As Raimondo did not commit to leaving Huawei on the sanctions blacklist, Republican Congressman Michael McCau, who did not participate in the confirmation hearings, then asked the Senate to suspend Raimondo's confirmation as Commerce Secretary. He also demanded the Biden administration to clarify whether Huawei would continue to be placed on the sanctions blacklist.

#Huawei #US #Biden #USSenate

Source: Stand News #Jan28

https://bit.ly/36Rk4hb

#Sanction
#US Human Rights Group Urges US State Secretary to Pressure China on HK Issue

On March 18, 2021, the US Secretary of State #AntonyBlinken met with Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first high-level meeting since President #Biden took office in January 2021.

A day before the high-level meeting, Francis Hui Wing-ting, founder of We The Hongkongers, a group of Hongkongers in the US, spoke to the media outside the White House alongside Tibetans and Uighurs.

Hui urged US representatives to put pressure on China's Human Rights issues in the meeting.

Hui talked about recent political oppressions in Hong Kong in the press conference, “all my friends in Hong Kong are either in prison or in exile.” She mentioned that the press conference would become evidence of her collusion with foreign powers under the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Hui pointed out that the US decision to further sanction 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials in the wake of the high-level meeting shows the US stance on Chinese affairs. She hoped Blinken to put further pressure on Chinese officials and to bring issues of Hong Kong, East Turkistan, Tibet and Taiwan onto the table in the meeting.

Source: Stand News; #Mar18
https://bit.ly/3tU9mzD

#HongKong #Taiwan #Tibetans #Uighurs #Uyghurs #EastTurkistan #HumanRights #Sanctions #FrancisHui #WeTheHongkongers #Blinken

Biden Administration Further Limits the Exportation of Components to Huawei. Global Times: Two Canadians Will Soon Stand Trial

 The Biden administration amended licences for companies to sell Huawei technology, further restricting companies from supplying items that can be used with 5G devices. Two sources quoted in Reuters said the change could distrust the exiting contract with Huawei. Global Times said trials of two Canadians on an espionage charge, Michael Kovrig and Michael Kovrig, would be closed soon. There are signs that the Huawei case cannot be solved through a diplomatic channel.

According to a Reuters report, the Biden administration has taken action this week, indicating Biden is stepping up their hard line against Huawei. US Department of Commerce Spokesperson and spokesperson of Huawei have both declined to comment. 
 
#Huawei #China #Canada #US #UnitedStates #Biden  
 
Source: The Stand News #Mar12

https://bit.ly/2PybRbV

Biden Says that Huawei is a “Distrustful Supplier” and Equipment Poses a National Security Threat

The spokesperson of the White House, Jen Psaki, indicated on Wednesday (27th January) that the Biden government would prevent the US telecommunications network from using equipment from “distrust-worthy suppliers”, such as the Chinese telecommunications equipment giant Huawei.

Psaki stated the telecommunication equipment of a “distrust-worthy supplier” will be a national security threat to the US and other allies. The US will make sure that the telecommunication network is not using equipment from those suppliers, and they will work with the allies to secure their cybersecurity. “Invest in the expansion of telecommunications equipment production by the credible US and allied companies”.

Former Trump government allegations that Huawei can monitor users, steal intellectual property rights, and violate sanctions. Huawei denies wrongdoings. Apart from putting Huawei on the trade blacklist, Trump also took the lead on lobbying allies to reject Huawei equipment when building a 5G network. Before the end of the Trump administration, the government still noticed many suppliers of Huawei, including chip manufacturer Intel, will revoke their supply license to Huawei.

Source: The Stand News #Jan27

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210128/GNU3TQJ5WNAO3HQ56XJBFXCMVA/

#Biden #WhiteHouse #Telecommunication #Huawei #NationalSecurity #NetworkSafety #Intel #UnitedStates #China

US Nominated Trade Representative Will Confront China and Helps the America Workers

The trade policy of the president-elected Biden towards China catches much attention. Katherine Tai, the nominated US trade representative, says that the new government will continue to confront China over its trade practice, as US face stiffening competition from a growing and ambitious China. Tai also states that she will help American workers after taking over the office to ensure they are protected by the trade agreements and enhance US jobs, not just ensure low-price import goods for consumers.

The fiercer competition from China

Tai gave a video speech at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) on Jan 12, which was the first time after Biden's nomination. She mentioned that the US was facing stiffening competition from China, whose economy is directed by central planners who are not subject to the pressures of political pluralism, democratic elections, or popular opinion.

Tai pointed out that whether it is dealing with China or to ensuring the implementation of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), American could only win when they were in unity. The new government will collaborate with bipartisan and allies.

#US #China #Mexico #Canada #NFTC #USMCA #KatherineTai #Biden #TradePolicy

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210113/FTLBNXDUEZAVHDSNZNXHQL2WMY/

Biden says he suggested to UK's Johnson a plan to rival China's Belt and Road

U.S. President Joe Biden said he suggested to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a phone call on Friday that democratic countries should have an infrastructure plan to rival China’s Belt and Road initiative.

“I suggested we should have, essentially, a similar initiative, pulling from the democratic states, helping those communities around the world that, in fact, need help,” Biden told reporters.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure scheme launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping involving development and investment initiatives that would stretch from East Asia to Europe.

Source: Reuters #Mar27

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-britain-biden-china-idUSKBN2BI32M

#Biden #UK #Johnson #China #BeltRoad

Will Japan Confront China? A Visit to Washington May Offer a Clue.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is the first foreign leader to be invited to the Biden White House, where he is likely to be pressed to more fully address Beijing’s threat to stability in the region.

TOKYO — As he visits Washington this week, it would seem as if Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan could take a victory lap.

Mr. Suga is the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House by President Biden, who has vowed to reinvigorate alliances. Japan already had the distinction last month of being the first international destination for the new U.S. secretaries of state and defense. And Mr. Suga will not have to contend with threats of higher tariffs or the need for constant flattery that drove Mr. Biden’s mercurial predecessor.

Source: Times #Apr14

#Japan #China #Biden #WhiteHouse #Beijing

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/world/asia/suga-biden-japan-washington.html

China’s Solar Dominance Presents Biden With an Ugly Dilemma

President Biden has repeatedly pledged to work with China on issues like climate change while challenging Beijing on human rights and unfair trade practices.

But those goals are now coming into conflict in the global solar sector, presenting the Biden administration with a tough choice as it looks to expand the use of solar power domestically to reduce the United States’ carbon dioxide emissions.

The dilemma stems from an uncomfortable reality: China dominates the global supply chain for solar power, producing the vast majority of the materials and parts for solar panels that the United States relies on for clean energy. And there is emerging evidence that some of China’s biggest solar companies have worked with the Chinese government to absorb minority workers in the far western region of Xinjiang, programs often seen as a red flag for potential forced labor and human rights abuses.

Source: NYTimes #Apr21

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/business/economy/china-biden-solar-panels.html

#China #Solar #Biden #UnitedStates

Nominated Trade Representative Will Resist China and Helps the US Local Workers

The trade policy of the president-elected Biden towards China catches much attention. Katherine Tai, the nominated US trade representative, says that the trade policy of the new government will continue to counter China. She describes that although China is increasing in ambition and economy, the US still faces increasing competition against China. Tai also states that she will assist the American workers after taking over the office to ensure they are protected by the trade agreement and to increase employment, not only just seeking low-price import goods for customers.

The accelerating fierce competition from China

Tai gave a video speech at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) on Jan 12, which was the first time after Biden's nomination. She mentioned that the US was facing accelerating competition from China, describing that China's economy was led by the CCP which was not affected by the political diversity, democratic election or the pressure from public opinion.

Tai pointed out that no matter it was to deal with China or to ensure the implementation of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), American could only win when they were in unity. The new government will collaborate with both parties and the foreign allies.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210113/FTLBNXDUEZAVHDSNZNXHQL2WMY/

#US #China #Mexico #Canada #NFTC #USMCA #KatherineTai #Biden #TradePolicy