Category: State Department

US Allows Voluntary Departure of Some Consulate Staff, Family Amid Unrest in Kazakhstan

The United States has allowed the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from the consulate general in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the State Department said on Friday, amid the nationwide unrest that has killed dozens of protesters. “U.S. citizens in Kazakhstan should be aware that violent protests may severely impact the U.S. Embassy’s…


State Department Warns Americans Traveling Abroad to ‘Make Contingency Plans’

The U.S. State Department on late Thursday warned Americans who are traveling outside the country to “make contingency plans” amid restrictions associated with rising COVID-19 cases worldwide. “U.S. citizens who do choose to travel internationally should make contingency plans, as they may have to remain in a foreign country longer than originally planned, which will…


US Expresses ‘Ironclad Solidarity’ With Lithuania Facing Chinese Economic Coercion

Washington stressed “ironclad U.S. solidarity” with Lithuania to push back against Beijing’s backlash—diplomatically and economically—amid a souring bilateral relation. The Baltic nation’s regional and economic stability is facing challenges from the Chinese regime for allowing self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its runaway province, to open a de facto embassy in its capital Vilnius. The…


US Warns Banks As It Sanctions More Chinese Officials Stifling Hong Kong’s Democracy

Washington named five already-sanctioned Chinese officials for reducing Hong Kong’s autonomy in a report and warned that foreign financial institutions doing business with them would be punished too. The Dec. 20 report identified the five as Chen Dong, He Jing, Lu Xinning, Tan Tienui, and Yin Zonghua, all deputy directors at China’s Hong Kong liaison…


Staffer Sues State Department Over Alleged ‘Havana Syndrome’ He Experienced in China

A State Department officer has filed a lawsuit against the department over what he alleged was retaliation and disability discrimination after he reported experiencing in China a series of symptoms he says is the mysterious “Havana Syndrome.” The federal suit from Mark Lenzi, who worked as a security engineering officer under the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) within…


US Backs Women’s Tennis Association in Boycotting China Over Peng Shuai

The State Department said it’s standing with the Women’s Tennis Association in taking on Beijing over Peng Shuai, China’s top tennis player who disappeared for weeks after she publicly denounced a retired senior Chinese official for sexually assaulting her. The WTA on Dec. 1 moved to halt all matches in mainland China and Hong Kong…


State Department Building International Network to Counter Domestic Terrorism

The State Department’s counterterrorism bureau has launched an intelligence-sharing initiative with governments of other countries to combat domestic terrorism—a system likened to the department’s international coordination against groups like Hezbollah. Chris Landberg, the State Department’s acting principal deputy coordinator for the counterterrorism bureau, told lawmakers about this program at a Nov. 17 House Foreign Affairs…


Blinken Orders State Department Reviews of Afghanistan Evacuation, Relocation Efforts

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that he has ordered internal reviews of the U.S. evacuation and relocation efforts from Afghanistan. The United States withdrew from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, ending a two decade war that began in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. President Joe Biden refused to extend…


US Calls for Taiwan’s ‘Meaningful Participation’ in UN System

The United States has called for all member states of the United Nations (U.N.) to support Taiwan’s “robust, meaningful participation” in the system, saying the world has much to learn from the self-ruled island’s “democratic success story.” “As the international community faces an unprecedented number of complex and global issues, it is critical for all…


US Suspends $700 Million in Aid to Sudan After Military Takeover

The U.S. State Department on Monday paused $700 million in emergency aid to Sudan that was intended to support the country’s democratic transition, after members of Sudan’s military ousted the civilian-led transitional government. “The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored and represents the will of the people,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said during…