International Relations
Asia welcomes US vaccine donations amid cold storage worries
Health officials and experts in Asia have welcomed U.S. plans to share 500 million more doses of the Pfizer vaccine with the developing world, but some say it would take more than donations alone to address huge vaccination gaps that threaten to prolong the pandemic
AP source: US to buy 500M Pfizer vaccines to share globally
The U.S. will buy 500 million more doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to share through the COVAX alliance for donation to 92 lower income countries and the African Union over the next year
Hostage advocates concerned by US pullout from Afghanistan
A new report says advocates for Americans held hostage overseas are concerned the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan could make it harder to bring home captives from the country
Japan, Australia share China concerns, raise defense ties
Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and Australia have agreed to strengthen their security ties as China becomes more assertive in pressing its claims to contested areas in the Asia-Pacific region
China denounces US bill aimed at boosting competitiveness
Beijing is denouncing a U.S. bill aimed at boosting U.S. technology in the face of growing competition from China and others, calling it a thinly veiled attack on China's political system and an attempt to constrain its development
China hosts Southeast Asian ministers as it competes with US
China is hosting foreign ministers from 10 Southeast Asian nations amid heightened competition between Beijing and Washington for influence in the region
Hong Kong vigil organizer arrested on Tiananmen anniversary
Police in Hong Kong have arrested an organizer of the annual candlelight vigil remembering the deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown and warned people not to attend the banned event as authorities mute China’s last pro-democracy voices
China urges closer Afghanistan ties as US withdrawal looms
China is urging closer security and economic cooperation with Afghanistan in an apparent effort to bolster its influence in the region as the U.S. and its allies prepare to withdraw their forces from the country
China defends Cambodia relations after US expresses concern
China says its relationship with Cambodia has made positive contributions to regional peace and stability, after the U.S. expressed concerns about the presence of the Chinese military in the country
China says trade envoy talks with US treasury secretary
China’s government says its chief trade envoy has talked with Treasury Secretary Janet Yelle, but it gave no indication when negotiations on ending their tariff war might resume