US-China relations

three diplomats shake hands in front of an embassy building

‘Open lines of communication’ are crucial to improving relations with Beijing, Amb Nicholas Burns says

US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns was in the room this week when Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Amb. Burns spoke with The World’s Marco Werman about Taiwan, Ukraine and why US and Chinese military leaders have stopped talking to one another.

‘Open lines of communication’ are crucial to improving relations with Beijing, Amb Nicholas Burns says
US Army recruits in assumed position, wearing black t-shirts that have "ARMY" written across in bold yellow letters

The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue

The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue
A man holds a child as they watch a dance performance at the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi in western China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Leaked Xinjiang police files are a 'devastating' glimpse of abuses against Uyghur detainees in China, expert says

Leaked Xinjiang police files are a 'devastating' glimpse of abuses against Uyghur detainees in China, expert says
Mehray Mezensof with her husband Mirzat Taher

This Uyghur woman was separated from her husband by Chinese authorities. She hasn't given up hope.

This Uyghur woman was separated from her husband by Chinese authorities. She hasn't given up hope.
Activists shout slogans to mark anniversary of death of Chinese Nobel prize winner Liu Xiaobo outside a district court in Hong Kong, Monday, July 13, 2020. 

Protest projection: Part II

Protest projection: Part II
President Joe Biden meets virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington

US and Chinese presidents strike conciliatory tone during hourslong meeting

US and Chinese presidents hold virtual meeting to discuss strengthening ties. Also, the head of Ecuador's prison system and the country's armed forces chief resign over fresh gang violence that's left another 68 inmates dead. And, twin blasts in the Ugandan capital kill at least three people and injure dozens of others near parliament and the central police station.

US and Chinese presidents strike conciliatory tone during hourslong meeting
Screenshot of a soldier from the war epic "Battle at Lake Changjin"

Chinese blockbuster war film salutes China's military might and heroism

“Battle at Lake Changjin" glorifies the Chinese troops that defeated the Americans — a fact disputed by historians — in a decisive battle during the Korean War. Historic parallels between the Korean War and the 21st century stand-off between the US and China is a big reason for the film’s popularity.

Chinese blockbuster war film salutes China's military might and heroism
Visitors look at the Chinese military's KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft during 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China 2021, in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong province

Why China’s air force is provoking Taiwan

China's military flies a record 149 flights over international airspace, prompting Taiwanese defense forces to scramble in response. Also, Australia announces it will stop sending asylum-seekers for processing to Papua New Guinea by the end of the year. And, Germany agrees to extend compensation to thousands of Holocaust survivors.

Why China’s air force is provoking Taiwan
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley are shown sitting and facing each other.

Top Pentagon leaders in the hot seat over Afghanistan withdrawal

Top of The World: Top Pentagon officials are expected to face tough questions from Congress on Tuesday in their first public testimony since the US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan last month. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Watch the testimony streaming live here.

Top Pentagon leaders in the hot seat over Afghanistan withdrawal
Olaf Scholz is shown wearing a dark suit and standing inbetween two other top German politicians with all three waving their right hands.

Germany’s Social Democrats claim narrow election victory

Top of The World: Germany's center-left Social Democrats are claiming victory by a narrow margin in the country’s national election. And, Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, returned to China over the weekend after being arrested and held in Canada at the request of US authorities. Also, voters in Switzerland resoundingly passed a nationwide referendum on Sunday to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Germany’s Social Democrats claim narrow election victory
People walk by a map showing Evergrande development projects in China at an Evergrande new housing development in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. 

China's Evergrande crisis a ‘whole different situation’ than US’ 2008 housing collapse, analyst says

Real estate giant Evergrande, which faces over $300 million in debt, says it will pay interest due Thursday to bondholders in China, but gave no sign of plans to pay on a separate bond abroad. Jeremy Goldkorn, editor-in-chief of SupChina, joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss the situation.

China's Evergrande crisis a ‘whole different situation’ than US’ 2008 housing collapse, analyst says
In this photo provided by US Navy, the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) returns home to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam from a deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility

Aukus security pact sparks Chinese and French ire

China and France have condemned the new Aukus security pact between Australia, the UK and the US to build nuclear-powered submarines in the Indo-Pacific region. Also, French forces say they've killed the leader of ISIS in the Greater Sahara in Mali. And thousands of people protested the introduction of Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador on the nation's bicentennial.

Aukus security pact sparks Chinese and French ire
Several people are shown wearing face masks and walking on a college campus with a ornate brick tower in the distance.

Chinese students hit by US visa rejections amid tension

US officials say they believe thousands of Chinese students and researchers participate in programs that encourage them to transfer medical, computer and other sensitive information to China.

Chinese students hit by US visa rejections amid tension
Workers packing ice-skating shoes at a manufacturing factory in the ice and snow sports equipment industry park in Zhangjiakou, in northwestern China's Hebei province, Thursday, July 15, 2021. 

Empty shelves for the holidays? Chinese suppliers face ambiguous global supply chain amid pandemic restrictions

Every year around this time, factories in China are finishing up orders and sending them across the world to arrive in time for the holiday shopping season. But this year, they may run out of time.

Empty shelves for the holidays? Chinese suppliers face ambiguous global supply chain amid pandemic restrictions
A large auditorium is shown filled with people in color-coordinated clothing with Chinese President Xi Jinping projected on a large screen in the distance.

China chases 'rejuvenation' with control of tycoons, society

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the party to return to its "original mission" as China's economic, social and cultural leader and carry out the " rejuvenation of the great Chinese nation." To support its plans, Xi's government has launched anti-monopoly and data security crackdowns to tighten its control over internet giants that looked too big and potentially independent.

China chases 'rejuvenation' with control of tycoons, society