Seven entities, hailing from Finland, Germany, India, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, have been included in the trade export control list….reports Asian Lite News
The U.S. Commerce Department expanded its government export control list by including 42 Chinese firms over their support of Russia’s military and defence industrial base, which includes supplying U.S.-origin integrated circuits.
Additionally, seven entities from various countries, including Finland, Germany, India, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, were added to this trade export control list.
The integrated circuits encompass microelectronics used by Russia for precision guidance systems in missiles and drones used in attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, as stated by the Commerce Department.
Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod stated, “Today’s additions to the Entity List send a clear message: if you supply the Russian defense sector with U.S.-origin technology, we will find out, and we will take action.”
China responded to this action by labeling it as “economic coercion and unilateral bullying.” China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement urging the United States to rectify its actions and cease its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies.
Meanwhile, the White House is planning for a November meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in San Francisco, The Washington Post reported.
The meeting comes as an attempt to stabilise relations between the two countries, according to senior administration officials.
“It’s pretty firm” that there will be a meeting, said one administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the engagement has not yet been announced formally. “We’re beginning the process” of planning, the official said.
A second senior administration official said that Biden looks forward to meeting Xi, but that “nothing has been confirmed yet”, The Washington Post reported.
The officials said that plans will become clearer after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi comes to Washington in the coming weeks.
“China and the US are in communication on bilateral engagement and exchange,” said Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, in an e-mail. “Both sides,” he said, “need to work in the same direction, clear obstacles and manage differences with concrete actions, and enhance dialogue and expand cooperation in good faith.”
As per The Washington Post, the in-person meeting would be the first between the leaders of the two largest economies since they met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November. There, both presidents emphasized the importance of face-to-face diplomacy and expressed hope they could get US-China relations back on track. (with inputs from agencies)
Schumer Slams China’s Response to Middle-East Conflict
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has criticised China’s response to the Hamas attack on Israel.
During his visit to Beijing, Schumer expressed his disappointment to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasising that China’s statement lacked “sympathy or support for Israel during these “challenging times.”
Schumer, leading a bipartisan delegation of six senators to China, urged China and its people to stand in solidarity with Israel and condemn the “cowardly and vicious attacks by Hamas.” This visit marks the first by U.S. lawmakers to China since 2019 and includes both Democrats and Republicans.
China had previously called on both sides to exercise restraint and end hostilities but had refrained from condemning Hamas’ surprise attack, which resulted in over 1,000 casualties on both sides. In their statement, China also reiterated its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as a fundamental solution to the issue.
The statement further emphasised the need for urgency in resuming peace talks, given the ongoing conflict. While China has historically supported the Palestinian cause, it has also strengthened ties with Israel to expand its role in trade, technology, and diplomacy.
In recent years, China has increased its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the reconciliation of Saudi Arabia and Iran and hosting Syrian President Bashar Assad during a visit to China.