•Tensions are high, and the White House has tried to delay the Taiwan Policy Act that aims to upgrade ties with the island by designating it as a major non-Nato ally
•Observers say the bill ‘would overturn Sino-US relations’ and could prompt a stronger response from Beijing than House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taipei
Taiwan bill looms, and it could pose ‘direct challenge’ for US-China ties
Tag: Climate Change
Biden steered America into conflict with Ukraine, Taiwan. Iran could be next.
by Trita Parsi
The last thing America needs right now is a three-front foreign crisis. Yet here we are.
Americans are tired, at odds with themselves and in no shape to handle more foreign entanglements — much less the three-front catastrophe looming before us. Yet here we are, with the U.S. potentially facing a drawn-out war in Ukraine that risks escalating into a direct U.S.-Russia confrontation, the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal that may lead to war with the Persian Gulf power and now an unnecessary crisis with Beijing over Taiwan, triggered by Nancy Pelosi’s ill-advised trip to Taipei.
Biden steered America into conflict with Ukraine, Taiwan. Iran could be next.
China cuts ties with US on critical issues
Beijing has severed communication with Washington in several areas in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan
China cuts ties with US on critical issues
H/T: THE NEW DARK AGE
Related:
Beijing Cancels U.S.-China Military Bilateral Efforts
China’s cancelation of the three military-to-military cooperation could have national security consequences given it reduces the level of engagement between the United States and China. To that end, the China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT) have been in place since early 2005, designed to provide senior level dialogue in support of the China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA). The MMCA, in place since 1998, is meant to reduce the likelihood of an inadvertent incident at sea.
…
With the cancelation of the DPCT and MMCA, the likelihood of an incident similar to that which took place in April 2001, when a U.S. EP-3E Aries II aircraft collided with a Chinese aircraft. The EP-3 was able to make an emergency landing on China’s Hainan Island. The 24 crew members were taken into custody and eventually released some 10 days later. It would not be until July 2001 when the dismantled EP3 was flown out of China.
…
The ability for Defense Secretary Austin to communicate directly with the PRC Minister of National Defense, General Wei Fenghe remains in place. Indeed, in June 2022, Austin and Wei held one-on-one discussions in Singapore where they discussed improving crisis management. Those discussions have clearly been overtaken by events of the day. In addition, “The Secretary reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Strait, opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, and called on the PRC to refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan,” according to the Department of Defense readout in the meeting.
An Old Joke For The Current Times
Napoleon, who, due to the prayers of endless amount of pious Frenchmen, ends up in Heaven, is watching from above the successes of Zelensky, and is getting more and more anxious and jealous.
An Old Joke For The Current Times
Opinion: Most third parties have failed. Here’s why ours won’t.
Manchin’s Climate Reversal Comes With Major Caveat: Expanding Oil and Gas
Conservative coal baron Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) announced on Wednesday that he has come to an agreement with Democratic leaders for a reconciliation bill with key climate, prescription drug price and tax reforms — with a major caveat to expand oil and gas exploration.
Manchin’s Climate Reversal Comes With Major Caveat: Expanding Oil and Gas
Related:
Senate Dems reach draft deal to extend ACA premiums, lower drug costs
Also included in the Inflation Reduction Act — a bid to lower drug prices. Medicare will be allowed to negotiate the prices of some 10 pharmaceutical drugs in 2026, 15 more drugs in 2027 and 2028 and 20 more in 2029. In addition to price negotiation, the bill also imposes penalizing rebates on pharmaceutical manufacturers who hike drug costs above the rate of inflation starting next year.
32 Years After US Disabilities Act, No Plans to Ratify UN Treaty It Inspired
32 Years After US Disabilities Act, No Plans to Ratify UN Treaty It Inspired
The administration says it supports “disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action” around the world.
Links to:
USAID Announces Commitments at the Global Disability Summit:
In keeping with the “Year of Action” for disability-inclusive democracy stemming from the Summit for Democracy, USAID will support the empowerment of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations to be active participants in civic engagement and the political and public life of their countries.
USAID is weaponizing disability rights for regime change!
Biden administration weighs declaring monkeypox a health emergency + Break Out the Condoms to Fight Monkeypox
Biden administration weighs declaring monkeypox a health emergency
Related:
Doctors treating monkeypox complain of ‘daunting’ paperwork, obstacles
D.C. shifts monkeypox vaccine policy to focus on first dose
Break Out the Condoms to Fight Monkeypox (archived if you can read behind the advertisements)*
But we should also remember that we have never vaccinated our way out of any pandemic. In the West, measles, scarlet fever, and other childhood diseases stopped killing kids decades before vaccines—our preferred tool of mass salvation—arrived in the late 1950s. Smallpox was similarly largely controlled by the turn of the 20th century through public health measures.
We need to stop subordinating people to the virus. A single approach of surveillance, isolation, contact tracing, and vaccination worked very well for smallpox, which relied exclusively on a human host, could be diagnosed at 10 paces, and was prevented with a single vaccination. But even that approach relied not only on tests and vaccines but also, most of all, on trust—to be tested and vaccinated. Candor is a prerequisite for trust.
*Just a little deception behind the headline. Still touting vaccines (Jynneos), as a solution, though! Just use condoms, for prevention, and prescribe antivirals (TPOXX), for treatment, if needed!
On this day, 24 July 2009, 3,000 steel workers in Tonghua, China rioted and beat an executive to death when threatened with privatization and job losses.
Jianlong Steel Holding Company official Chen Guojun, who earned over 3 million yuan the previous year, planned to take over the majority state-owned Tonghua Iron and Steel Group. He announced plans to cut the number of workers from 30,000 down to around 5,000, with those made redundant receiving around 200 yuan in compensation. The firm was still profitable, but the planned restructuring was aimed at increasing profits further amidst a global economic downturn.
Outraged, the workers shut down production and rioted, beating Chen, blocking roads and smashing police cars to prevent police and ambulances from reaching him.
The sale was subsequently scrapped.
On this day, 24 July 2009, 3,000 steel workers in Tonghua, China rioted and beat an executive to death when threatened with privatisation and job losses.
More:
Progressive push to curb war armaments crashes; pro-labor proposals win
WASHINGTON—Progressive plans to cut the Pentagon’s annual spending spree crashed and burned in Congress last week. Pro-labor proposals won, however by a party-line vote.
Progressive push to curb war armaments crashes; pro-labor proposals win
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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