Tag: Mike Pompeo

US acts against Pakistan, China for violations of religious freedom
9Dec By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

US acts against Pakistan, China for violations of religious freedom

Pakistan and China have been included in the list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) by the United States for engaging in or tolerating "systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom".The US State Department has highlighted both Pakistan and China as CPCs among the 10 countries for their failure to stem the persecution and discrimination of faith groups.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement, said Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have been designated as CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.He further informed that countries - Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia have bee...
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From aggressor to appeaser, China caught out in consulate reprisal game
6Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

From aggressor to appeaser, China caught out in consulate reprisal game

The Trump administration’s order to shutdown China's consulate in Houston caught Beijing by surprise.The United States claimed the Chinese mission had illegally transferred medical research, turned over information to Chinese institutions and coerced fugitive Chinese citizens to return home.Barrels of documents were burned in the courtyard of the consulate before four Chinese researchers were charged by the Department of Justice for allegedly lying about their links to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).China had 72 hours to decide how it would react. It used up nearly 48 in the hope of a diplomatic reversal. Beijing had to appear strong to placate nationalists at home but avoid provoking America into a deeper economic, diplomatic or even military confrontation that neither side is prepare
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Australia backs US in declaring Chinese claims over South China Sea ‘illegal’
5Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Australia backs US in declaring Chinese claims over South China Sea ‘illegal’

In a formal declaration to the United Nations, Australia has backed the United States in declaring Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as illegal, aligning itself more closely with Washington in the escalating row.Australia said there was "no legal basis" to several disputed Chinese claims in the sea including those related to the construction of artificial islands on small shoals and reefs."There is no legal basis for China to draw straight baselines connecting the outermost points of maritime features or 'island groups' in the South China Sea, including around the 'Four Sha' or 'continental' or 'outlying' archipelagos."Australia rejects China's claim to 'historic rights' or 'maritime rights and interests' as established in the 'long course of historical practice' in the S
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Chinese Consulate in Houston epicenter of espionage: Texas Congressman
4Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Chinese Consulate in Houston epicenter of espionage: Texas Congressman

Texas Congressman Michael McCaul has alleged that China’s Consulate General, which the US has ordered to close, is the epicenter of Beijing’s espionage in terms of stealing US’ bio-medical research.“We had three scientists at M.D Anderson that were fired due to allegations of espionage,” McCaul said.The Congressman said the Chinese are actively trying to steal the vaccine for COVID-19.“We also have vaccine research going on at the Texas Medical Centre. We know that they are actively trying to steal that vaccine so that they can claim to the world they have saved them from the very virus they are responsible for,” said McCaul.“…Just like in San Francisco case where you have a scientist under the PLA, their military, come in and now take refuge in that consulate is really unprecedented, but
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China engaged in massive illegal spying for years, claims US
2Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

China engaged in massive illegal spying for years, claims US

The People's Republic of China has engaged for years in massive illegal spying and influence operations throughout the United States against U.S. government officials and American citizens, US State Department Spokesperson said in a statement."As detailed by Secretary of State Pompeo, FBI Director Wray, and Attorney General Barr in public remarks, PRC officials have interfered in our domestic politics, stolen U.S. intellectual property, coerced our business leaders, threatened families of Chinese Americans residing in China, and more," the State Department spokesperson said.Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that his administration does not rule out closing additional Chinese diplomatic missions in the United States."As far as closing additional embassies, it's always possible. We tho...
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Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas
31Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas

In a scathing attack against China, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged "the entire world" to stand up to Beijing and slammed the Chinese leadership over the “cover-up” of the COVID-19 crisis, saying Beijing’s "exploitation of this disaster to further its own interest has been disgraceful".In a reference to India-China border standoff, Pompeo accused Beijing of bullying its neighbors and accused it of instigating a deadly confrontation with New Delhi in eastern Ladakh."We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order. You cannot go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to. You cannot threaten countries
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Tibetan govt-in exile hails US move to bar Chinese officials who restrict access to Tibet
25Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Tibetan govt-in exile hails US move to bar Chinese officials who restrict access to Tibet

Tibetan government-in-exile has praised the United States’ move to sanction visas of Chinese officials over restricted access to Tibet, saying that China needs to follow rules and regulations.“I think this is a very good step that America has taken because China needs to follow certain rules and regulations. What China has been doing in Tibet, Uighur, Mongolia is not appreciable. There is a lot of human right violations, religious freedoms are being trampled down and China is not heeding what the International community is saying,” the Tibetan government-in-exile’s spokesperson, TG Arya said.In July, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had announced visa restrictions under Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act on some Chinese officials determined to be “substantially involved in the formulation or
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“Untrustworthy Chinese Tech, Convinced Nations Not To Use Huawei”: Trump
24Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

“Untrustworthy Chinese Tech, Convinced Nations Not To Use Huawei”: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that Washington has confronted “untrustworthy” Chinese technology and has convinced many countries not to use Huawei-produced equipment because of its big security risk."We confronted untrustworthy Chinese technology and telecom providers. We convinced many countries not to use Huawei because it's a big security risk. Just today, the UK announced that they are not going to be using it," Trump said.The US had designated Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE Corp as national security threats, saying they have close ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and China’s military apparatus.After the US’ toughened stance on imposing sanctions against Chinese companies, the UK government announced its decision to ban British companies from buying Huawei-pro
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Indians have done their best to respond China’s aggressive actions: Pompeo on India-China border tension
19Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Indians have done their best to respond China’s aggressive actions: Pompeo on India-China border tension

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has hit out at China saying they took "incredibly aggressive action" in a recent clash with India over disputed borders.On the night of June 15, Chinese forces and Indian troops got caught in a bloody fight with rods and clubs, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, with some falling to their deaths in the waters of the Galwan River in the western Himalayas.Pompeo said that he has spoken to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar several time about it."I have spoken with Foreign Minister Jaishankar a number of times about this. The Chinese took incredibly aggressive action. The Indians have done their best to respond to that," Pompeo said.The US Secretary of State also criticized "General Secretary" Xi Jinping and said that the number of both ma...
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US sanctions Chinese government officials over treatment of Uygurs in Xinjiang
19Jul By Nectar GanNo Comments
Politics

US sanctions Chinese government officials over treatment of Uygurs in Xinjiang

The United States has imposed sanctions on three senior Chinese officials it deems responsible for human rights abuses targeting ethnic and religious minorities in the western part of the country.The sanctions specifically name XUAR party secretary Chen Quanguo and three other top officials of the region’s leadership, as well as other unidentified people.Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement: “The United States will not stand idly by as the Chinese Communist party carries out human rights abuses targeting Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang, to include forced labor, arbitrary mass detention, and forced population control, and attempts to erase their culture and Muslim faith.”Pompeo said the sanctions were authorized by a 2017 executive orde
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