U.S. Navy to call at Taiwan ports — a harder line on China from Trump? – China’s latest political and current affairs news

Since Donald Trump’s tweet of June 20 — “While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!” — the American president’s administration has been talking tough:

• Reuters reports that on June 27, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson personally announced the release of a report on human trafficking and forced labor, placing China on its list of the worst offenders. This was in contrast to his break from convention for secretary of state when on March 3 he did not present the American government’s annual report on global human rights problems, which never fails to criticize China.
• The Wall Street Journal says (paywall) that the Senate Armed Services Committee has approved reestablishing “regular ports of call by the U.S. Navy at Kaohsiung or any other suitable ports in Taiwan and permits U.S. Pacific Command to receive ports of call by Taiwan.” The Journal says that “if ratified by Congress, the new policy would roll back nearly 40 years of U.S. deference to China.”
• The Associated Press reports that the “Trump administration has blacklisted a small Chinese bank accused of illicit dealings with North Korea, escalating pressure to get Beijing to rein in its wayward ally.”
• The New York Times reports (paywall) that “White House officials and a group of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing for new laws intended in part to keep closer tabs on the surge of Chinese money into America.”

Trade agreements

• China willing to negotiate FTA with Mexico, says ambassador / Xinhua
  Nothing concrete has been agreed, but with Trump threatening to tear up NAFTA, the Mexicans are clearly looking at all their options.

THAAD in South Korea

• China, South Korea, Japan summit ‘postponed’ amid missile shield row / SCMP

Espionage

• Chinese state-run newspaper accuses Australia of spying / News.com.au
  The Global Times says “Australian spies closely monitor Chinese citizens,” and “eavesdrop on embassy.”

Liu Xiaobo

• China won’t let Liu Xiaobo, Nobel laureate, get cancer treatment abroad / NYT (paywall)
• Video apparently showing Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo’s prison life surfaces on YouTube / SCMP
  The video was published by the U.S.-based news and gossip site Boxun on its YouTube channel.

Trains

• A beautiful data animation shows the unprecedented development of China’s rail system / Quartz
  The growth of subways and train lines in China.