Biden’s Next Step on China: Daily Brief
Biden and Xi talk, but where’s the US plan on China’s human rights abuses?; the EU needs to address the immediate humanitarian crisis on its border; what India’s prime minister won’t say in his big tech speech; some good news but more bad news in Cambodia; and the sickening treatment of visitors to Qatar, host of the 2022 men’s World Cup.
US President Joe Biden met virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday, and among the topics of discussion was human rights. It’s good that the US side at least raised the issue, and the Biden administration deserves credit for – in the past – calling out Chinese government crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs; imposing sanctions and a business advisory on Hong Kong; and participating in joint statements at the UN condemning the Chinese government’s human rights violations. However, the US “readout” of yesterday's meeting didn’t mention crimes against humanity, and it’s not clear what the administration’s overall plan is. Here’s our advice in four words: hold Chinese officials accountable.
Speaking of folks needing a plan... EU leaders could certainly use one to help migrants trapped and dying on the Poland-Belarus border. Yes, the EU and its member states have been (rightly) outraged at Minsk for its abuse of migrants, and just yesterday, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels backed a stiffer set of sanctions against Belarus. But outrage and additional sanctions will not save the lives that are in danger right now. (Neither will teargas, Poland... Do you really need us to say that? Seriously?) So, EU leaders, blame those who started this, sure, and sanction those you want to sanction. But also - and most importantly: Save. Lives. Now.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, is set to give a major speech, along with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, at an event being billed as the, “world-first summit for emerging, critical, and cyber technologies.” Will Modi mention that India shuts down the internet more than any other country in the world - increasingly to silence peaceful protests and criticism of the government? Stay tuned online... If you still can...
The good news: Cambodian authorities released 26 political prisoners in the past week or so. The bad news: they did not drop the charges against them, making them subject to future arrest and imprisonment. The other bad news: more than 60 political prisoners remain locked up. Partial, showcase releases ahead of an international summit are not enough: they should all be immediately and unconditionally freed.
Thinking of travelling to Qatar for global men’s football’s biggest event, the World Cup, in 2022? You might want to watch this first...