Trump plays nice in call with Xi
In the last 24 hours, the U.S. has become the country with the most officially diagnosed and reported cases of COVID-19.
Donald Trump made a call to Xรญ Jรฌnpรญng ไน ่ฟๅนณ last night, and afterward sent an amicable tweet:
Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China. Discussed in great detail the CoronaVirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet. China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!
Trump also reiteratedย yesterday that he doesnโt intend to use the term โChinese virusโ again: When he was โasked about the change in language Thursdayโฆ[Trump said] that the virus did come from China, but โI don’t have to say it, if they feel so strongly about it,โโย per NBC.
The rest of the Trump administrationย continues to take a less conciliatory tack toward China, judging by these stories:
- U.S. officials push for expelling suspected Chinese spies at media outletsย / NYT (porous paywall)
- U.S. moving forward with rule to limit chips to Huaweiย / WSJ (paywall)
Trump also signed a law supporting Taiwan, called the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act, which, among other things, โrequires the Trump administration to reward third countriesย that have strengthened or upgraded relations with Taiwan,โ per the Financial Times. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (่ก่ฑๆ Cร i Yฤซngwรฉn) tweeted her thanks, as the Chinese Foreign Ministry threatened that the U.S. would โinevitably encounter a resolute strike back by China,โ per Reuters.
More on the Trump-Xi phone call and U.S.-China relations:
- Xi urges joint China-US action against COVID-19 in phone call with Trumpย / China Daily
- ไน ่ฟๅนณๅ็พๅฝๆป็ป็นๆๆฎ้็ต่ฏย / Xinhua
- China and US promise to cooperate in fight against coronavirus โ but how long will it last?ย / SCMP
- U.S. nears rule-change to restrict Huawei’s global chip supplyย / Reuters
- Chinaโs expulsion of American journalists also affects Chinese staff โ and the future of reporting in Chinaย / Columbia Journal Review
- Morgan Stanley receives approvals for majority stakes in China venturesย / Reuters
โLucas Niewenhuis
