Category: blinken

Blinken May Visit China Soon as Biden Admin Seeks Talks With Beijing

The United States’ highest-ranking diplomat will visit China just months after a Chinese spy balloon invaded U.S. territorial airspace, according to two reports. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s alleged visit to communist China comes after months of pleas by the Biden administration for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reestablish normal communications. Blinken was originally…


Chinese Jet Intercepts US Spy Plane: Video

A video shows a Chinese fighter jet passing right in front of a U.S. plane’s nose. The United States is calling it an “unnecessarily aggressive” maneuver by the Chinese jet during an intercept over the South China Sea. China is fighting back, saying the United States intruded on their space. This comes as China’s defense…


Rep. McCaul Presses Blinken for Answers on Reported Pause of China Sanctions

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is demanding details from the State Department over its reported decision to withhold actions aimed at confronting threats from communist China. In a letter made public on May 24, McCaul cited a recent Reuters report saying the State Department “held back human rights-related sanctions, export controls,…


Blinken Asks WHO to Invite Taiwan to Observe World Health Assembly

The United States is urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva, stressing its importance to “the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, ‘health for all’ approach to international health cooperation.” “Taiwan’s distinct capabilities and approaches—including its significant public health expertise, democratic governance, and…


Senate Eyes New Competition Bill to Counter China

Senate Democrats are announcing an upcoming bill to counter China. Its goals are to stop the United States from serving as financial lifeblood for Beijing; shoring up America’s key industries; and showing commitment to Taiwan. But there’s even more to the story. A China competition bill passed last year is facing strong pushback. Topics in…


Blinken Denies Role in Open Letter That Called Hunter Biden Laptop Story Russian Disinfo

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denied playing any part in the letter signed by more than 50 former intelligence officials that sought to discredit the Hunter Biden laptop story as a Russian disinformation campaign. “One of the great benefits of this job is that I don’t do politics and don’t engage in it,” Blinken…


Blinken Announces 72-Hour Ceasefire in Sudan

The ongoing violent conflict in Sudan between the army and a paramilitary group will be paused temporarily after both sides agreed to a three-day ceasefire, the U.S. State Department said on April 24. The nationwide ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will begin at midnight local time and follows “intense negotiations over the…


US, Vietnam Pledge to Boost Ties as Blinken Visits Hanoi

HANOI—Fifty years after the last U.S. combat troops left South Vietnam, Secretary of State Antony Blinken looked Saturday to strengthen America’s ties with its old foes in Hanoi as it seeks to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Blinken and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pledged to boost relations to new levels as…


US Kicks Off Annual Nuclear Command Exercise

China is keeping its presence around Taiwan, despite officially declaring its live-fire drills over after three days. This comes as the United States and the Philippines hold their largest joint drills nearby. Meanwhile, the U.S. strategic command is kicking off its annual nuclear command and control exercises, known as Global Thunder. Topics in this episode:…


Blinken to Travel to UK, Ireland, Vietnam, Japan This Week: State Department

WASHINGTON—Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to accompany President Joe Biden on his visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland this week before traveling to Vietnam and Japan, the State Department said on Monday. Biden will visit the UK and Ireland from Tuesday to Friday. Blinken will go on to Hanoi, where he will hold…