US-China Relations in the Biden-Era: A Timeline

This text was initially posted on March 22, 2021, and final up to date on November 15, 2022.

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in because the 46^th president of the US, providing an opportunity to alter the course of US-China relations, which had hit a low level beneath the outgoing Trump administration.

The 4 years witnessed escalating commerce tensions culminating in a commerce warfare and sanctions on Chinese language know-how corporations.

Since Biden’s election, political and enterprise stakeholders have been paying shut consideration to the path of the brand new White Home administration’s coverage in direction of China.

Will the Biden administration be accommodating of China or reap the benefits of the brand new establishment established beneath his predecessor?

China Briefing beforehand monitored and documented main developments throughout the US-China commerce warfare within the Trump period.

Right here, we current a recent timeline that may monitor key developments affecting bilateral ties between the world’s two largest economies beneath the Biden administration.

US-China relations within the Biden-era

Day 664: November 15, 2022 – President Biden and President Xi Maintain First Face-to-Face Assembly as Leaders

On the afternoon of November 14, 2022, US President Joe Biden and Chinese language President Xi Jinping held their first face-to-face assembly since Biden took workplace in early 2021. The three-hour assembly held within the run-up to the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia was described by each side as “in-depth, candid and constructive”, in line with the official assembly readout on China’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs (MOFA) web site.

Either side referred to as for growing cooperation and dealing collectively on main points “akin to local weather change, world macroeconomic stability together with debt reduction, well being safety, and world meals safety”, in line with the official assembly readout revealed on the White Home web site.

Each presidents gave remarks on the assembly, which have been transcribed and revealed on the White Home web site. In his remarks, Biden said that “we share a accountability […] to indicate that China and the US can handle our variations, stop competitors from changing into something ever close to battle, and to search out methods to work collectively on pressing world points that require our mutual cooperation”. President Xi, in the meantime, said that “We have to discover the suitable path for the bilateral relationship going ahead and elevate the connection.”

The assembly touched upon key points referring to US-China bilateral relations, together with China’s financial improvement, Taiwan, and regional safety. The MOFA assembly readout states that China takes severely President Biden’s “five-noes” assertion. In keeping with Chinese language media experiences, the “five-noes” are guarantees made by President Biden that the US:

• Doesn’t search to alter China’s system;
• Doesn’t search to start out a chilly warfare with China;
• Doesn’t search to strengthen alliances towards China;
• Doesn’t assist “Taiwan independence”, “two Chinas”, or “One China, One Taiwan”, and has no intention of in search of battle with China; and
• Doesn’t intend to interrupt off ties with China, impede China’s financial improvement, or comprise China.

The MOFA readout additionally said that the Taiwan query is “the primary purple line that should not be crossed in China-U.S. relations.” The White Home readout states that the US’ stance on the “one China coverage has not modified”, however that “the US opposes any unilateral modifications to the established order by both facet, and the world has an curiosity within the upkeep of peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait.”

With regard to commerce and financial improvement, the Chinese language facet criticized US commerce insurance policies and warned towards decoupling, with the MOFA readout stating that “Beginning a commerce warfare or a know-how warfare, constructing partitions and boundaries, and pushing for decoupling and severing provide chains run counter to the rules of market economic system and undermine worldwide commerce guidelines.” The White Home readout, in the meantime, states that “President Biden defined that the US will proceed to compete vigorously with the PRC, together with by investing in sources of energy at dwelling and aligning efforts with allies and companions around the globe”, however that “this competitors mustn’t veer into battle” and “the US and China should handle the competitors responsibly and preserve open traces of communication.”

The White Home readout states that the 2 leaders have agreed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will go to China, which has been tentatively deliberate for early subsequent yr.

Day 663: November 14, 2022 – President Biden and President Xi Put together to Meet in Bali Forward of G20 Summit

President Xi Jinping will meet with President Joe Biden on Monday, November 14, forward of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, which is ready to start out on November 15. In keeping with media experiences, Biden will search to set “purple traces” for the US’ relationship with China, which for the US could embody sustaining freedom of navigation within the South China Sea and stopping a navy invasion of Taiwan. Biden has additionally beforehand said that he’ll search to take care of open traces of communication with China on necessary points.

All through the summit and the twenty ninth APEC Financial Leaders’ Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, which takes place from November 17 to 19, President Xi Jinping may also be holding conferences with French President Emmanuel Macron, Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Argentine President Alberto Fernández, amongst others.

Day 625 to 631: October 7 – 13, 2022: US Division of Commerce implements new export controls on superior computing and semiconductors to China. 

The US Division of Commerce has carried out sweeping new export controls that may require corporations to obtain a license to export US-made superior computing and semiconductor merchandise to China. In keeping with a launch issued by the Bureau of Trade and Safety. The discharge states that the aim of the export controls is to “shield U.S. nationwide safety and overseas coverage pursuits” and can “limit the Folks’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) capacity to each buy and manufacture sure high-end chips utilized in navy functions”.

The export controls will have an effect on each US corporations and firms from a third-party nation that sells US-made gadgets to China. Furthermore, it additionally “restricts the power of U.S. individuals to assist the event, or manufacturing, of ICs [integrated circuits] at sure PRC-located semiconductor fabrication “amenities” and not using a license”.

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) since condemned the transfer, with a spokesperson for the physique stating that “The actions of the US facet not solely have an effect on the authentic rights and pursuits of Chinese language corporations but in addition injury the authentic enterprise pursuits of US export corporations” and added that “The US ought to instantly cease its wrongdoing and provides truthful remedy to corporations from everywhere in the world, together with Chinese language corporations”.

In response to the ruling, ASML Holding, a maker of apparatus for producing semiconductors, has informed US staff to cease servicing Chinese language prospects, in line with a report by Bloomberg. In the meantime, main Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has been granted a one-year license to proceed utilizing US-made parts for its operations in China.

Day 611: September 23, 2022 – China Overseas Minister meets with US counterpart at sidelines of UN Common Meeting.

China’s Overseas Minister Wang Yi met with US counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the 77th UN Common Meeting in New York on Friday. Their final assembly was on the sidelines of the G20 Overseas Minister’s Assembly on July 9. In keeping with a readout revealed on the Chinese language Ministry of Overseas Affairs web site, Wang Yi referred to as for “steering bilateral relations again on the monitor of regular improvement”, whereas the White Home readout said that Blinken “mentioned the necessity to preserve open traces of communication and responsibly handle the U.S.-PRC relationship”. Wang Yi additionally warned that the US ought to “cease hollowing out or distorting the one-China coverage”, ” cease interfering in China’s inner affairs or undermine China’s authentic pursuits”, and referred to as on the US to take away the extra tariffs imposed on China and “cease the unilateral sanctions on Chinese language companies”. In the meantime, Blinken said that the US is “dedicated to sustaining peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait, in keeping with [the] longstanding one China coverage”. Talking on the Russia-Ukraine battle, the secretary additionally warned China of “the implications if the PRC have been to offer assist to Moscow’s invasion of a sovereign state.”

Day 583: August 26, 2022 – US and China securities regulators attain settlement on auditing of US-listed Chinese language corporations.

The US’ Public Firm Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has reached an settlement with the China Securities Regulatory Fee (CSRC) and Ministry of Finance (MOF). The settlement marks step one in permitting the PBAOC to audit Chinese language corporations listed on US inventory exchanges, as required beneath the Holding Overseas Corporations Accountable Act (HFCAA). A protracted-standing deadlock between the 2 international locations’ regulatory our bodies has already led to a number of delistings as audit necessities beneath the HFCAA immediately clashed with China’s knowledge safety rules prohibiting inspections of Chinese language corporations by overseas international locations.

In keeping with a discover revealed on the CSRC web site, the settlement “establishes a supervision cooperation mechanism for the 2 sides to hold out every day inspections and legislation enforcement cooperation on accounting companies throughout the scope of mutual supervision” and “lays a basis for the following step to hold out equal and environment friendly cooperation between the 2 events”. In the meantime, Chair of the PCAOB Erica Y. Williams said that “On paper, the settlement signed in the present day grants the PCAOB full entry to the audit work papers, audit personnel, and different data we have to examine and examine any agency we select”.

The settlement has led to cautious optimism amongst buyers, with shares of main Chinese language tech shares rising 6 % after the announcement. Nonetheless, analysts have expressed skepticism over the viability of the settlement, as the 2 sides seem to have completely different understandings of the scope of the settlement. As an example, the PCAOB chair stated that, beneath the settlement, “The PCAOB has sole discretion to pick out the companies, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates – with out session with, nor enter from, Chinese language authorities.” In the meantime, in a media Q&A, the CSRC said that “The audit working papers and different paperwork that the US facet should evaluation will probably be retrieved and supplied with the help of the Chinese language regulatory company.” These contradictions point out that the implementation of the settlement will probably be troublesome, and additional cooperation is required to beat the deadlock. It’s subsequently seemingly that extra corporations will probably be required to delist earlier than a workable answer is discovered.

Day 580: August 23, 2022 – the US provides one other seven China entities to its export management record

On Tuesday, August 23, 2022, the US Commerce Division, by way of its Bureau of Trade and Safety (BIS), issued a closing rule that added seven Chinese language house, aerospace, and associated know-how entities to the Entity Record and severely restricted their entry to commodities, software program, and applied sciences topic to the Export Administration Regulation (EAR).

The seven entities newly added to the Entity Record are:

• China Aerospace Science and Know-how Company (CASC) ninth Academy 771 Analysis Institute;
• China Aerospace Science and Know-how Company (CASC) ninth Academy 772 Analysis Institute;
• China Academy of Area Know-how 502 Analysis Institute;
• China Academy of Area Know-how 513 Analysis Institute;
• China Electronics Know-how Group Company 43 Analysis Institute;
• China Electronics Know-how Group Company 58 Analysis Institute; and
• Zhuhai Orbita Management Programs.

The rule shall take impact from August 24, 2022.

With this motion, the Commerce Division may have roughly 600 Chinese language entities on the Entity Record – greater than 110 of which have been added for the reason that begin of the Biden Administration.

Day 562: August 5, 2022 – China cancels and suspends a number of US-China talks and areas of cooperation, sanctions Nancy Pelosi.

In a discover revealed on August 5, the Overseas Ministry introduced it has canceled and suspended eight talks and areas of cooperation with the US: The China-U.S. Theater Commanders Speak, China-US Protection Coverage Coordination Talks (DPCT), China-US Navy Maritime Consultative Settlement (MMCA) conferences, China-US cooperation on the repatriation of unlawful immigrants, China-US cooperation on authorized help in prison issues, China-US cooperation towards transnational crimes, China-US counternarcotics cooperation, and China-US talks on local weather change. The announcement got here shortly after a call on the identical day to sanction Nancy Pelosi and her instant relations, though no particulars on the character of the sanctions have been revealed. The measures have been carried out in direct response to Speaker of the US Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s go to to Taiwan, which was “in disregard of China’s sturdy opposition and severe representations”, in line with the Overseas Ministry.

Day 559: August 2, 2022 – Speaker Pelosi arrives in Taiwan prompting navy drills.

Taiwanese media have confirmed that Speaker of the US Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi arrived at Songshan Airport in Taipei simply after 10:40 pm native time. She is scheduled to fulfill with Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, in what would be the highest-level US official to go to the island in 25 years. In a Washington Submit op-ed that went stay shortly after her aircraft landed, Pelosi wrote that “our congressional delegation’s go to ought to be seen as an unequivocal assertion that America stands with Taiwan” however that it “on no account contradicts the long-standing one-China coverage, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances.” Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Japanese Theater Command, stated in an announcement that the Chinese language Folks’s Liberation Military (PLA) will conduct a collection of joint navy operations within the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan, together with joint air and sea workout routines within the sea and airspaces of the northern, southwestern, and southeastern Taiwan islands, firing long-range stay ammunition within the Taiwan Strait, and organizing regular-guided hearth exams within the island’s jap waters. He additionally said that the response was “a solemn deterrent towards the current main escalation of the unfavourable actions by the US on the Taiwan subject”.

Day 554: July 28, 2022 – Biden and Xi maintain two-hour name.

On Thursday, President Biden and President Xi held a two-hour name, by which they mentioned cooperation between the 2 international locations and points surrounding Taiwan and Ukraine, amongst different issues. The decision was the primary direct contact between the leaders since their final name on March 18. In keeping with the Chinese language readout of the assembly, Xi Jinping informed Biden that “China and the US ought to preserve communication on main points akin to macroeconomic coverage coordination, sustaining the steadiness of world industrial and provide chains, and safeguarding world vitality and meals safety.” The White Home readout wrote that “The decision was part of the Biden Administration’s efforts to take care of and deepen traces of communication between the US and the PRC and responsibly handle our variations and work collectively the place our pursuits align.” On Taiwan, President Xi stated that the US mustn’t “play with hearth” and that the US ought to abide by the One China Coverage and implement the three Sino-US joint communiques. The White Home readout, in the meantime, said that “President Biden underscored that the US coverage has not modified and that the US strongly opposes unilateral efforts to alter the established order or undermine peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait.” The decision comes forward of a deliberate go to by Speaker of the US Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan subsequent month, which has triggered a powerful response from China. It’s as but unsure whether or not the go to will go forward.

Day 546: July 20, 2022 – Biden says he’ll maintain assembly with Xi by the tip of July. 

President Biden informed reporters on Wednesday, July 20 that he intends to fulfill with President Xi “throughout the subsequent 10 days”, as China-US relations develop more and more tense. If it goes forward as deliberate, the assembly would be the first the 2 have held in 4 months. On the identical day, Chinese language Ambassador to the US Qin Gang, talking on the Aspen Safety Discussion board in Colorado, criticized the US’ more and more shut ties with Taiwan, stating that “The US is […] blurring out the “One China’ coverage”. Officers from the Biden administration have repeatedly stated that the US’ stance on the One China coverage has not modified. Talking at a routine press briefing a day earlier, Overseas Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian additionally criticized a deliberate journey by Speaker of the US Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan subsequent month, saying that “We firmly oppose any type of official interplay between the US and the Taiwan area” and that “China will take sturdy and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity” ought to the go to go forward and the US proceed “creating elements that would result in tensions within the Taiwan Strait”.

Day 517: June 21, 2022 – US ban on Xinjiang imports takes impact.

The Uyghur Pressured Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which was handed in December 2021, takes impact in the present day. The UFLPA bans the import of merchandise made partly or wholly in Xinjiang except the US Customs and Border Safety company can certify that the merchandise should not made with compelled labor.

The high-priority sectors for enforcement of the UFLPA are cotton, tomatoes, and polysilicon. Which means that trend and textiles will probably be one of many hardest-hit sectors.

When requested in regards to the subject of compelled labor in Xinjiang at a press briefing on June 15, 2022, Overseas Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated that “Such acts of presumption of guilt runs counter to the fundamental authorized precept of presumption of innocence” and that “the allegation of “compelled labor” is nothing however a pretext utilized by the US facet in an effort to hunt political manipulation for the sheer objective of destabilizing Xinjiang and containing China’s improvement”.

Day 509: June 13, 2022 – US safety advisor and high Chinese language diplomat meet in Luxembourg.

US Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan and high Chinese language diplomat Yang Jiechi met in Luxembourg, the place that they had a “candid, in-depth and constructive communication and exchanges on China-U.S. relations and different problems with frequent concern”, in line with a readout revealed on the Overseas Ministry of the PRC (FMPRC) web site. It was the second in-person assembly and the third dialogue that the 2 have held in 2022. In keeping with the FMPRC readout, the 2 reiterated acquainted speaking factors, with Yang mentioning that US President Joe Biden had assured China that the US doesn’t assist Taiwan independence and isn’t in search of to start out a Chilly Battle with China. He additionally said that “China firmly opposes the definition of China-U.S. relations by competitors”, in reference to a speech by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Might 26, by which he asserted that the 2 international locations have been in political competitors with each other to safe the long run. The readout of the assembly on the White Home web site was temporary, however said that “Mr. Sullivan underscored the significance of sustaining open traces of communication to handle competitors between our two international locations.”

Day 490: Might 25, 2022 – Chinese language and US local weather envoys vow to cooperate on local weather points.

On Tuesday, Might 24, 2022, Chinese language local weather envoy Xie Zhenhua met with US counterpart John Kerry on the 2022 World Financial Discussion board (WEF) in Davos to debate cooperation on tackling local weather change. The 2 envoys discovered frequent floor on the difficulty, with each envoys calling for extra pressing motion. John Kerry said that “Emissions went up in 2021 by 6%, whereas coal utilization expanded by 9%. That is unacceptable” whereas Xie Zhenhua referred to as for extra to be executed to fulfill pledges, stating that “Motion, now, is important”  and “Now we have to show our pledges into concrete actions”. John Kerry additionally said that the 2 international locations have been near agreeing on the construction of a gaggle from each international locations to cut back greenhouse fuel emissions. John Kerry additionally urged doing extra to help one another in assembly local weather pledges, saying that “Perhaps we can assist with know-how […] to assist China transfer sooner. Perhaps China may assist us higher perceive some issues we may do higher.”

Handed in December 2020, the HFCAA permits the SEC to ban the buying and selling of the securities of overseas corporations listed on US inventory exchanges if the corporate is discovered to be unable to undergo an audit by the Public Firm Accounting Oversight Board (PBAOC) as a consequence of laws of their nation of origin. The HFCAA additionally requires corporations to declare whether or not they’re owned by a overseas authorities.

Chinese language legislation prohibits corporations from disclosing audits to the PBAOC, leaving US-listed Chinese language corporations caught within the crossfire of clashing US and Chinese language laws.

The 5 corporations on the record are:

• BeiGene
• Yum China
• Zai Lab
• ACM Analysis
• HUTCHMED

Beneath the HFCAA, corporations will probably be delisted in the event that they fail to submit an audit for 3 years in a row, that means that the above-listed corporations is not going to be delisted till 2024.

In response to the announcement, the China Securities Regulatory Fee (CSRC) said, “We respect overseas regulators strengthening the supervising accounting companies […] however firmly oppose some powers’ use of the politicization of securities supervision.”

Nonetheless, Chinese language regulators have since indicated they’ll work with US regulators to resolve the problems surrounding the audit of US-listed Chinese language corporations. In a gathering of the Monetary Stability and Improvement Committee (FSDC) on March 16, Vice Premier Liu He stated that the US and Chinese language regulatory businesses have maintained “good communication” and are engaged on forming a particular cooperation plan.

Day 381: February 5, 2022 – US Home of Representatives passes America Competes Act

The US Home of Representatives handed the America Competes Act, an in depth piece of laws that goals to strengthen the US’s aggressive edge over China. Amongst different points, the invoice outlines provisions for the US to strengthen ties with Taiwan, additional implement sanctions on officers accused of committing atrocities in Xinjiang province, and improve scrutiny and evaluation of Chinese language corporations which have “contributed to the repression of spiritual and ethnic minorities throughout the PRC”.

The laws handed with a vote of 222-210, with the vote cut up principally alongside celebration traces. An analogous invoice referred to as the US Innovation and Competitors Act was handed by the Senate in June 2021 with a lot increased bipartisan assist. The Home and the Senate will now deliberate the 2 payments earlier than a closing invoice could be reconciled and despatched to the president to signal into legislation. Authorities insiders and analysts have stated that the invoice is unlikely to go in its present type as a result of inclusion of partisan points, akin to allocation of funds for local weather change, and it’s more likely to endure a collection of revisions earlier than being despatched to the Senate.

Day 175: July 14, 2021 – US Senate passes invoice to ban all merchandise from Xinjiang

The US Senate handed laws to ban all items imported from China’s Xinjiang area. The Uyghur Pressured Labor Prevention Act would create a “rebuttable presumption” assuming that items from Xinjiang are manufactured by compelled labor, except confirmed in any other case.

The invoice should additionally go the Home of Representatives earlier than it may be despatched to the White Home for US President Joe Biden to signal into legislation. It’s not clear when it can take impact.

Day 170: July 9, 2021 – US provides 23 Chinese language corporations to financial blacklist

The Division of Commerce’s Bureau of Trade and Safety (BIS) of the US added 34 entities to the Entity Record, together with 23 Chinese language corporations and entities – 14 over their position in alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, 5 for his or her ties to China’s navy, and one other 4 for doing companies with different companies that have been sanctioned by the US.

The companies suspected of being “implicated in human rights violations and abuses” in Xinjiang embody Xinjiang Beidou Tongchuang Data Know-how Co, China Academy of Electronics and Data Know-how, Suzhou Keda Know-how Co, Xinjiang Lianhai Chuangzhi Data Know-how Co, Shenzhen Cobber Data Know-how Co, Xinjiang Crusing Data Know-how, Beijing Geling Shentong Data Know-how, Shenzhen Hua’antai Clever Know-how Co, and Chengdu Xiwu Safety System Alliance Co.

These corporations and entities added to the Entity Record are required to use for licenses from the Commerce Division and face powerful scrutiny once they search permission to obtain gadgets from American suppliers.

Day 154: June 23, 2021 – US bans imports of photo voltaic panel materials from Xinjiang

The US Commerce Division ordered a ban on US imports of a key photo voltaic panel materials from Chinese language-based Hoshine Silicon Trade Co., Ltd. over compelled labor allegations, in line with Reuters.

The ban additionally curtailed US provider relationships with 5 Chinese language corporations – Hoshine Silicon Trade Co., Ltd.; Xinjiang Daqo New Enevery, a unit of Daqo New Vitality Company; Xinjiang East Hope non-ferrous Metals, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based manufacturing large East Hope Group; Xinjiang GCL New Vitality Materials, a part of GCL New Vitality Holdings; and the paramilitary Xinjiang Manufacturing and Building Corps (XPCC).

A few of the corporations listed by the US Commerce Division are main producers of monocrystalline silicon and polysilicon which can be utilized in photo voltaic panel manufacturing.

Day 145: June 14, 2021 – NATO shifts focus to China, declaring it a worldwide safety problem

Following the G7 Summit, the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) leaders declared that China presents a worldwide safety threat, at their annual summit in Brussels. The historically Russia-focused navy alliance for the primary time shifted its focus to China, asserting the necessity to reply to Beijing’s rising energy.

The ultimate communiqué, signed off by leaders of the 30-member alliance, asserts that China’s “said ambitions and assertive conduct current systemic challenges to the rules-based worldwide order”. The newly handed NATO 2030 technique calls for that the alliance member states spend extra sources on coping with China’s rising world affect.

As a response, China warned NATO that it’ll not sit again within the face of any challenges. A press release posted Tuesday on the web site of China’s mission to the European Union stated that Beijing didn’t pose a “systemic problem” to any nation and added NATO mustn’t exaggerate China’s navy energy.

Day 144, June 13, 2021 – G7 leaders criticized China on Xinjiang and Hong Kong

Throughout the three-day summit of the Group of Seven (G7), the leaders of the rich democracies criticized Beijing over human rights in its Xinjiang area, referred to as for Hong Kong to maintain a excessive diploma of autonomy, and demanded a full investigation of the origins of the coronavirus in China.

The G7 communique stated: “with regard to China, and competitors within the world economic system, we are going to proceed to seek the advice of on collective approaches to difficult non-market insurance policies and practices which undermine the truthful and clear operation of the worldwide economic system.”

In response, China’s embassy within the UK accused the G7 of “baseless accusations”. “Cease slandering China, cease interfering in China’s inner affairs, and cease harming China’s pursuits,” a spokesman stated on Monday.

Day 142: June 11, 2021 – China’s high diplomat Yang and US Secretary of State Blinken maintain cellphone dialog

On Friday, China’s high diplomat, Yang Jiechi, held a cellphone name with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken underscored US considerations over points in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan and pressured the necessity for a second part investigation into the origins of COVID-19. He additionally raised a number of instances of US and Canadian residents topic to detention and exit bans in China, in line with an announcement from the Workplace of the Spokesperson of the White Home.

In flip, Yang urged the US to abide by the one-China precept, in line with an announcement from China’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs. He criticized Washington DC for interfering in China’s inner affairs, slandering China over COVID-19, and pushing “pseudo-multilateralism” by forming anti-China cliques.

Regardless of disagreements over the above points, Blinken put ahead an expanded record of areas for US-China cooperation, together with the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, “shared world challenges” introduced by Iran and Burma, and the local weather disaster.

Day 141: June 10, 2021 – China passes a brand new legislation to counter US and EU sanctions

China’s nationwide legislature, the Nationwide Folks’s Congress (NPC), authorized the Anti-Overseas Sanctions Legislation. The brand new legislation provides authorized basis for China to counter US and EU sanctions over commerce, know-how, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang.

In keeping with the legislation, people or entities concerned in making or implementing discriminatory measures towards Chinese language residents or entities could possibly be placed on an anti-sanctions record. These on the record could also be denied entry into China or be expelled from the nation. Their belongings inside China could also be seized, detained, or frozen. They could possibly be prohibited or restricted from doing enterprise or different actions there. Chinese language authorities even have the facility to take countermeasures towards different people or organizations with particular ties to blacklisted people or entities.

Day 141: June 10, 2021 – China and US maintain a 3rd speak on commerce and funding in two weeks

China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao spoke with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo over the cellphone. The decision adopted two related discussions between Chinese language Vice Premier Liu He and US Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

A press release from China’s Commerce Ministry stated that each side “had a candid and pragmatic change of views on related points and mutual considerations within the China-US enterprise area.”

Day 140: June 9, 2021 – Biden drops Trump try and ban TikTok and WeChat, however the scrutiny will proceed

US President Joe Biden withdrew a collection of Trump-era government orders that sought to ban new downloads of China-owned apps WeChat and TikTok. To exchange the Trump-era ban, Biden signed new orders calling for the Commerce Division to launch nationwide safety opinions of apps with hyperlinks to overseas adversaries, together with China.

Day 139: June 8, 2021 – US Senate passes the Innovation and Competitors Act of 2021 to compete with China

The US Senate voted 68-32 to approve a sweeping piece of laws, named the US Innovation and Competitors Act of 2021, meant to spice up the nation’s capacity to compete with Chinese language know-how.

The invoice would make investments greater than US$250 billion into American semiconductor manufacturing, boosting the Nationwide Science Basis, creating regional know-how hubs, and spurring 5G innovation.

The Senate’s motion highlights a uncommon bipartisan consensus in Congress on the US technique for responding to China’s rise.

Day 134: June 3, 2021 – Biden expands Trump-era ban on American funding into Chinese language companies

US President Joe Biden issued a brand new government order barring American funding into Chinese language companies with purported ties to protection or surveillance know-how sectors.

The brand new order expands on an earlier Trump-era blacklist and hits 59 Chinese language companies, together with the communications large Huawei. Lots of the newly focused corporations are subsidiaries and associates of main state-owned corporations and companies named on the sooner blacklist.

American buyers will probably be banned from shopping for or promoting publicly traded securities in focused corporations, starting August 2, 2021, when the brand new order takes impact.

Day 132: June 1, 2021 – Chinese language and US financial chiefs Liu He and Janet Yellen maintain digital talks

Chinese language Vice Premier Liu He and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held a video assembly over financial ties, the second between senior officers from each side prior to now week. The readouts of the assembly have been just like that of the final one between Liu He and US Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai.

China’s state-run Xinhua Information Company reported the 2 sides exchanged views on the macroeconomic scenario and on the cooperation between the US and China. In keeping with Xinhua, “the 2 sides believed that the China-U.S. financial relations are crucial”.

The US Commerce Consultant Workplace (USTR) launched its personal assertion as properly: “Treasury Secretary Yellen mentioned the Biden Administration’s plans to assist a continued sturdy financial restoration and the significance of cooperating on areas which can be in US pursuits, whereas on the identical time frankly tackling problems with concern.”

Day 126: Might 26, 2021 – China, US maintain first commerce speak since Biden took workplace

Chinese language Vice Premier Liu He spoke by cellphone with US Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai, making it the primary such dialog on commerce between the 2 sides since President Joe Biden took workplace.

“In a spirit of mutual equality and mutual respect, the 2 sides performed candid, pragmatic, and constructive exchanges,” China’s Ministry of Commerce stated in an announcement, “The 2 sides agreed that the event of bilateral commerce is essential.”

The US Commerce Consultant Workplace (USTR) stated in its assertion that Tai had “mentioned the guiding rules of the Biden-Harris Administration’s worker-centered commerce coverage and her ongoing evaluation of the U.S.-China commerce relationship, whereas additionally elevating problems with concern.”

Day 92: April 21, 2021 – US Senate Overseas Relations Committee approves the Strategic Competitors Act of 2021, signaling bipartisan consensus on China Technique

The US Senate Overseas Relations Committee has authorized the Strategic Competitors Act of 2021, signaling bipartisan consensus on orienting US coverage in direction of being extra aggressive in efforts to counter China.

The Strategic Competitors Act of 2021 was amended to offer extra help to Africa and Latin America to counter China’s monetary help to those international locations, grant higher funding for US know-how industries, and strengthen the US Worldwide Improvement Finance Corp to compete towards the China Improvement Financial institution, which has performed an instrumental position in Beijing’s signature Belt and Street Initiative.

The invoice is anticipated to go the Senate and Home of Representatives as a consequence of broad bipartisan assist.

Day 87: April 16, 2021 – US and Japan pledge to strengthen alliance to counter China’ rise

US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga dedicated to working collectively to tackle the challenges from China, at a joint information desire within the White Home Rose Backyard.

The 2 leaders addressed an array of geopolitical points in a joint announcement, together with “the significance of peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait”. In one other swipe at China, the US and Japan introduced to take a position collectively in areas akin to 5G, synthetic intelligence, quantum computing, genomics, and semiconductor provide chains.

The Chinese language embassy in Washington expressed “sturdy concern” and “agency opposition” to the joint assertion, saying China will firmly safeguard its nationwide sovereignty, safety, and improvement pursuits.

Day 87: April 16, 2021 – US and China announce joint assertion addressing the local weather disaster

US Particular Presidential Envoy for Local weather John Kerry and China Particular Envoy for Local weather Change Xie Zhenhua met in Shanghai on April 15 and 16, 2021 and introduced a joint assertion.

In keeping with the assertion, the 2 sides will cooperate with one another and with different international locations to “sort out the local weather disaster”. The 2 sides may also “cooperate to advertise a profitable COP 26 in Glasgow, aiming to finish the implementation preparations for the Paris Settlement”.

The assertion was launched after John Kerry’s three-day go to to Shanghai, which was the primary official journey to China by a Biden Administration official.

Day 79: April 8, 2021 – US senators introduces the Strategic Competitors Act of 2021, in search of to counter China

The US Senate Overseas Relations Committee’s Democratic Chairman, Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), and the Republican Senator of Idaho, Jim Risch, launched a bipartisan settlement entitled the Strategic Competitors Act of 2021. The practically 300-page Act seeks to counter the increasing world affect of China.

The invoice set out the next coverage purpose: to “maintain its [US] world management position” and asserted that the Chinese language authorities has been leveraging its political, diplomatic, financial, navy, technological, and ideological energy to compete with the US on the worldwide stage.

If enacted, the invoice would place extra sanctions on Chinese language officers accused of alleged human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, authorize funds to “promote democracy” in Hong Kong, and void all restrictions on US officers’ interplay with Taiwanese counterparts. It should additionally set up a program to assist Indo-Pacific international locations develop infrastructure to counter China’s Belt and Street Initiative (BRI) and would increase the scope of the Committee on Overseas Funding within the US (CFIUS) to watch relationships between Chinese language and American academic establishments.

Day 79: April 8, 2021 – US blacklists seven Chinese language supercomputing entities

The US Commerce Division added seven Chinese language supercomputing entities to its Entity Record, citing actions opposite to the nationwide safety or overseas coverage pursuits of the US.

The seven entities are Tianjin Phytium Data Know-how, Shanghai Excessive-Efficiency Built-in Circuit Design Middle, Sunway Microelectronics, the Nationwide Supercomputing Middle Jinan, the Nationwide Supercomputing Middle Shenzhen, the Nationwide Supercomputing Middle Wuxi, and the Nationwide Supercomputing Middle Zhengzhou.

American corporations are barred from doing enterprise with corporations on the entity record with out first acquiring a US authorities license.

Day 62: March 22, 2021 – EU, US, UK, and Canada sanctions China over alleged Xinjiang human rights subject

The EU sanctioned 4 Chinese language people, together with a high safety director, for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Comparable steps have been adopted by the US, UK, and Canada. The US, on the identical day, sanctioned two Chinese language authorities officers in reference to what they referred to as the “severe” human rights abuses towards ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

In retaliation, China sanctioned again 10 EU residents and 4 entities. The tit-for-tat sanctions put EU-China Complete Settlement on Investments (“CAI”) unsure.

Companies are caught within the geopolitical crossfire. Some main Western attire manufacturers like H&M, Nike, Adidas, and Burberry confronted backlash and boycotts in China as a consequence of their said considerations over the alleged use of compelled labor in Xinjiang.

Day 58-60: March 18-20, 2021 – US and China maintain the primary high-level assembly in Alaska

The US and China concluded their first high-level face-to-face assembly in Anchorage, Alaska.

After one session of heated arguments in entrance of reporters and two classes of closed-door discussions, the Secretary of the US Antony Blinken and Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan and their Chinese language counterparts China’s high overseas affairs official Yang Jiechi and Overseas Minister Wang Yi ended their two-day assembly – with out releasing a joint assertion.

Throughout the first day’s open session, each side leveled sharp rebukes of the opposite’s insurance policies for over an hour. Blinken stated in his opening remarks that the US would focus on its “deep considerations with actions by China, together with in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyberattacks on the US, financial coercion towards our allies.”

Yang Jiechi accused the US of being “condescending” in its tone and retorted that the US had been misusing its navy and monetary may and abusing the notion of nationwide safety to hinder commerce flows and incite anti-China sentiment.

After the assembly, the 2 sides individually launched bulletins, by which they each recognized restricted areas of cooperation and coordination with respect to local weather change and geopolitical points associated to Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, whereas acknowledging “elementary” disagreements relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan points.

Day 57, March 17, 2021 – US telecom regulator strikes towards Chinese language telecom companies over nationwide safety considerations

US telecom regulator the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) introduced the launch of a continuing to find out whether or not to strip the native enterprise license from China Unicom Americas in addition to Pacific Networks and its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet, citing nationwide safety considerations.

Final December, the FCC opened an analogous continuing to start revoking the authorization of China Telecom, the biggest state-owned Chinese language telecommunication firm, which has had US authorization for practically 20 years.

Day 57, March 17, 2021 – US sanctions 24 Mainland China and Hong Kong officers forward of Alaska talks

The US sanctions a further 24 Chinese language and Hong Kong officers over Beijing’s coverage in Hong Kong. Overseas monetary establishments that knowingly conduct vital transactions with the listed people will probably be topic to the US sanctions.

The sanctions announcement was made throughout a go to by the US State Secretary Antony Blinken and Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin to Japan and South Korea.

Day 52: March 12, 2021 – 5 Chinese language corporations together with Huawei are backlisted by US telecom regulator

5 Chinese language corporations – Huawei Applied sciences Co., ZTE Corp., Hytera Communications Corp., Hikvision Digital Know-how Co., and Dahua Know-how Co. – have been named to a brand new blacklist revealed by the US Federal Communications Fee (FCC) on nationwide safety grounds beneath a 2019 legislation.

This makes the FCC the newest regulator to take care of such an inventory. Different businesses with related lists embody the US Division of Commerce and the Division of Protection. Every record carries completely different implications, although they’re all designed to steer buyers, suppliers, and prospects away from the businesses – generally forcibly.

Day 51: March 11, 2021 – US and China to carry their first high-level assembly since Biden’s inauguration

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet with China’s most senior overseas coverage official, Yang Jiechi, and Overseas Minister Wang Yi in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18, in line with the US State Division. The assembly will happen following Secretary Blinken’s go to to Tokyo and Seoul.

The talks are to be a one-off, as per blunt statements from US officers, following which there will probably be expectations upon Beijing to decide on the trajectory of engagement.

Day 50: March 10, 2021 – The US extends tariff exclusion on Chinese language medical merchandise

The Biden administration is extending tariff exclusions on about 99 classes of medical merchandise from China till September 30, 2021 – to help the battle towards COVID-19, in line with the discover launched by the Workplace of the United State Commerce Consultant (USTR).

The exclusion covers a variety of things from medical masks and gloves to blood stress cuff sleeves and X-ray tables. The sooner tariff exclusion extension on these medical merchandise beneath Trump administration’s ‘Part 301’ tariffs was set to lapse on March 31, 2021.

Day 22: February 10, 2021 – President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden break the ice with cellphone name

On the eve of the Lunar New Yr, the US President Joe Biden and his Chinese language counterpart Xi Jinping had the primary cellphone name since Biden took workplace.

Whereas each leaders prolonged competition greetings to the opposite, the US facet emphasised considerations raised on financial practices, human rights, and Taiwan, whereas China centered on mutual respect, cooperation, and dialogue.

Day 17: February 5, 2021 – Prime US and China diplomats speak over cellphone for the primary time since Biden takes workplace

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with China’s high overseas coverage official, Yang Jiechi, of their first high-level dialog since President Joe Biden took workplace.

Blinken pressured on human rights and the continued navy coup in Myanmar, whereas Yang referred to as for Washington to cease interfering in China’s inner affairs and respect China’s sovereignty.

Day 2: January 21, 2021 – China sanctions Pompeo and different Trump administration officers

China introduced a sanction towards 28 Trump administration officers, together with the previous Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, accusing them of interfering in its inner affairs. The sanction would ban the officers and their households from getting into China and place restrictions on corporations related to them.

Day 1: January 20, 2021 – Joe Biden will get sworn in as the following US president

Newly sworn in, US President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural deal with and signed a flurry of government orders on his first day in workplace. Biden prioritized points like COVID-19 virus, local weather change, and inequality and racism.

In coping with China, Biden signaled he was in no rush to depart from the Trump administration’s insurance policies. The identical day, Biden’s aides, together with the nominee for Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the nominee for Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, indicated that the president deliberate to take a multilateral strategy by enlisting the assist of Western allies to maximise Washington’s leverage on Beijing.

This timeline was first revealed on March 17, 2021 and can present rolling updates.