china

China has refused requests by the World Health Organization to take part in an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. “We know that some national investigation is happening but at this stage we have not been invited to join,” Dr. Gauden Galea, WHO representative in China, told Sky News. “WHO is making requests of the …

The European Union’s foreign policy chief admitted Thursday that China “expressed their concerns” over an EU report on Chinese disinformation regarding coronavirus, after allegations that his team had watered down their initial findings “to appease the Chinese Communist Party.” Speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels, Josep Borrell denied that Beijing had coerced him to …

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee on Thursday urged Democrats leading the committee to investigate the Chinese government’s influence over the World Health Organization. Ranking member Jim Jordan along with five Republican ranking members on oversight subcommittees sent a letter to Democratic Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney calling on Democrats to investigate China’s sway over the WHO. …

Apple reported sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations Thursday, with Chief Executive Tim Cook saying China sales were “headed in the right direction” as that country reopens from the novel coronavirus. But Cook said it was impossible to forecast overall results for the current quarter because of uncertainty created by the virus. Few …

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a Thursday statement that the U.S. intelligence community “concurs” with scientific assessments that coronavirus “was not manmade or genetically modified.” “As we do in all crises, the Community’s experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security,” ODNI …

Foreign views of Chinese economic priorities are often trapped in the image of an export-led model; a statist system that imports inflation and exports deflation, hostage to foreign market access. But China’s exports in 2018 accounted for about 20 percent of GDP—a 16-percentage point drop from the 2006 peak, according to the World Bank. As …

The White House has ordered intelligence agencies to investigate whether China and the World Health Organization covered up the coronavirus outbreak in its initial stages, NBC reported on Wednesday. The Trump administration has sent a “tasking” order to the National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency, directing the bodies to compile data on the outbreak …

Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) is drafting legislation targeting Hollywood’s demonstrated willingness to self-censor in order to access the Chinese market. “The Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, Protecting Talkies Act” (SCRIPT Act) would block contracts between the Pentagon and film studios that edit their movies for Chinese audiences. “For too long, Hollywood has been complicit in …

The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday accused U.S. politicians of telling “barefaced lies” regarding China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, after President Trump suggested that the U.S. might seek damages from China because of the outbreak. “American politicians have repeatedly ignored the truth and have been telling barefaced lies,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said …

Amazon is reportedly buying heat-sensing cameras to monitor its workers’ temperatures during the coronavirus pandemic from a firm that has been blacklisted by the US for helping China detain and monitor the Uighurs and other Muslim minorities. Under the deal with China’s Zhejiang Dahua Technology, Amazon is paying $10 million for 1,500 cameras, according to …