Links for Monday, September 19, 2022

Biden says U.S. will defend Taiwan, again
Biden says U.S. troops would defend Taiwan in event of attack by China / Washington Post (paywall)
Biden again says U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacks / BBC
U.S. troops will defend Taiwan if China attacks, Biden reaffirms / CNA
U.S. President reaffirms pledge to defend Taiwan from Chinese invasion / Radio Free Asia
Biden says U.S. would defend Taiwan against Chinese invasion / NPR
Russia and China agree to deepen defense cooperation, joint exercises / Reuters
‘Gigantic mistake’: Biden warned China’s Xi over aiding Russia / Al Jazeera
Biden says U.S. would defend Taiwan from ‘unprecedented attack’ / Bloomberg (paywall)
China blasts back at Biden’s vow to defend Taiwan from invasion / Politico

China and the Queen
Queen Elizabeth funeral invitation to China draws fire from U.K. lawmakers / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Chinese vice president’s attendance at Queen’s funeral ‘a positive signal’ for China-UK relations / Global Times

Starbucks is banking on many more stores in China
Starbucks plans 3000 new China stores despite sinking sales from COVID policies / WSJ (paywall)
“Starbucks plans to increase its China store count by 50% over the next three years, a vote of confidence in its largest market outside the U.S. despite Covid-19 lockdowns and weaker consumer spending that has damaged its sales. Starbucks set a China store target of 9,000 by 2025.”

All is normal for Tesla in China
Tesla says China sales channel expansion proceeding at normal pace / Reuters
“Tesla said on Monday that it is still expanding its sales channels in China at a normal pace, in response to a Reuters report saying it was considering closing some city cent[er] showrooms in its second largest market.”

China reports first case of monkeypox
Monkeypox: don’t touch foreigners, says China health chief, as first case reported / Guardian
CDC expert warns of potential monkeypox outbreak as first case hits mainland / Caixin (paywall)