There is a tiny sliver of daylight between Beijing and Moscow when it comes to talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but it’s just a sliver.
A Bloomberg report suggested that Chinese leader Xi Jinping might have asked his Russian counterpart not to spoil the Olympics with a military offensive in Ukraine. China called the report “a hoax and provocation.”
Team USA will compete in the Winter Olympics in China, but the Biden administration will not send any officials to Beijing in protest of human rights abuses, particularly in Xinjiang. China called the move a “blatant political provocation.”
Beijing is very unhappy with statements in the last two days from Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the future of the island nation that China sees as a breakaway province.
“Their first, second, and third audiences are in Beijing, and the U.S. is somewhere way down the list.” Bloomberg correspondent Peter Martin appeared on the Sinica Podcast to discuss his book on the history and purpose of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As senior diplomats from the U.S. and China prepare to meet in Alaska tomorrow, expectations are extremely low. Meanwhile, the U.S. sanctioned 24 officials for having undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy, and the EU reportedly approved sanctions in response to human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
China is not eager to appear friendly with the U.S., despite the change of leadership in Washington.
After months of vague accusations that Australia had broken “mutual trust” with China, Beijing has made explicit a list of grievances with the country.
Following Canada’s lead, Australia suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, citing a “fundamental change of circumstances” with the new national security law. Australia also offered extended visas to nearly 14,000 Hongkongers.
A screenshot of a fake news story delivered via text in March, which the New York Times reports that Chinese agents amplified. Image via Patch...