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☆ Xi shakes up China’s military in rethink of how to ‘fight and win’ future wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversees the inauguration of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army at a ceremony in Beijing on April 19, 2024. The Information Support Force will be led by top generals from the now-defunct SSF. These functions will now be supervised at his level and not through the Strategic Support Force, which served as a middleman,” Wuthnow said. Though US intelligence officials said the balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, Xi may not have been aware of the mission. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has scrapped the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force, a branch he founded in 2015.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Wu Qian, SSF, Bi Yi, Li Wei, Ju Qiansheng, Joel Wuthnow, ” Wuthnow, Joe Biden, didn’t, Xinhua News Agency James Char, Char Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Strategic Support Force, Support Force, PLA, China’s Defense, Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, Central Military Commission, Logistic Support Force, Information, Force, People's Liberation Army, Xinhua News, Information Support Force, Xinhua, Pentagon, National Defense University, Aerospace Systems Department, Network System Department, Xinhua News Agency, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, SSF’s Aerospace Systems Department, “, Communist Party, Taiwan Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Washington, United States, Singapore, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan

☆ The red flags that will tell us when China's actually ready to invade Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"I don't think they lack for anything that they need," Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia engagement at Defense Priorities, said of China's forces. Military forces are being deployed nearer to Taiwan than ever, effectively shortening Taiwan's reaction time. Stockpiling of China's rocket force, too, suggests it would have more than enough missiles and rockets to target Taiwan. One common concern is that as China's military exercises around Taiwan have grown in frequency and size, the line between exercise and potential attack is becoming blurred. Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty ImagesExperts, as well as US and Taiwan lawmakers and military officials, have long debated about the readiness of the People's Liberation Army as China's military is known.

Persons: —, Lyle Goldstein, Stringer China, Xi, Thomas Shugart, who's, Shugart, Goldstein, Mike Studeman, Xi Jinping, Dean Cheng, haven't, Cheng, Xie Huanchi, There's, Kyle Amonson, Dane Egli, Annabelle Chih, Getty Images Goldstein, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Business, Defense, REUTERS, Taiwan's, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, US Department of Defense, China Economic, Security, PLA, Patriot, US, Center, New, New American Security, Marine Corps, China Coast Guard, Scarborough, ROSA, Military, of Naval Intelligence, Pacific Command, US Institute of Peace, of, People, Getty Images, People's Liberation Army, CCP, Soviet, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Japan, US Coast Guard, Chinese Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Kyodo, Stills Locations: China, Taiwan, Asia, Liaoning, Beijing, New American, AFP, Hong Kong, Xinhua, DoD's China, Cuba, US, Tainan, Japan, Philippines

☆ The US relationship with China is entering a dangerous era. Time may be running out to save it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There was a risk, he said, that US-China relations could "return to a downward spiral." As such, the US-China relationship appears to have entered a dangerous period, and time may be running out to save it. The US has handed Ukraine billions in aid and military support to resist the invasion, with a new $61 billion bill passing this week. AdvertisementBlinken said he raised concerns about China's support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Blinken will have to overcome several hurdles for US-China relations to improve.

Persons: —, Antony Blinken's, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Xi, Joe Biden, Ali Wyne, Wang, Blinken, Ian Bremmer Organizations: Service, Business, US, West, International Crisis, Russia, Eurasia Group, Bloomberg Locations: China, Ukraine, loggerheads, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, US, Western Europe, Russia

☆ Intel used to dominate the U.S. chip industry. Now it's struggling to stay relevant
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

David Paul Morris | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe iPhone could have had an Intel chip inside. It would've made sense to use Intel chips, which ran on the best desktops at the time, including Apple's Macs. Braithwaite, who worked at Intel in the 1980s, said Intel's process engineers were the company's "crown jewels." Intel doesn't have a GPU competitor to Nvidia's AI accelerators, but it has an AI chip called Gaudi 3. For comparison, AMD expects about $2 billion in annual AI chip revenue.

Persons: Pat Gelsinger, Seth Wenig, Gelsinger, Biden, Nicholas Braithwaite, Akshara Bassi, It's, Steve Jobs, David Paul Morris, Apple, Paul Otellini, Walter Isaacson's, Otellini, Isaacson, Jobs, Apple didn't, Apple —, TSMC, Mikako Kitagawa, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Braithwaite, Gordon Moore, Moore's, Brian Krzanich, 7nm —, TSMC didn't, Jensen Huang, Josh Edelson, OpenAI, Gaudi, Intel's, it's, Bassi, CNBC's Jon Fortt Organizations: Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Nvidia, Micro Computer, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Texas Instruments, AMD, Apple, Celesta, Meta, Microsoft, Getty, Samsung, Gartner, Asus, AFP, Semiconductor, Engineers, SAP Center, Afp, Companies, Blackwell, Habana Labs, Gaudi, FactSet, U.S Locations: New York, American, U.S, Chandler , Arizona, California, San Jose , California, Taiwan, Columbus , Ohio

☆ Xi Meets Blinken With Tough Issues on the Agenda
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Ana Swanson | Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Both China and the United States have said they were hoping for progress on a few smaller, pragmatic fronts, including improving communications between their militaries and easing travel between the countries. But they remain at a standstill on fundamental strategic issues, including trade policies and territorial conflicts in the South China Sea and over Taiwan. And with other disputes looming, both sides acknowledged the danger of the relationship sliding into further conflict. The Biden administration is deeply concerned that cheap Chinese exports are threatening U.S. jobs, and is worried about China’s support of Russia in the Ukrainian war. And China has accused the United States of working to encircle Chinese interests in the Pacific.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Xi Jinping, Biden Locations: Beijing, East Asia, East, Ukraine, China, United States, South, Taiwan, Russia, Pacific

They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95-billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Yuri Gripas, ” Ely Ratner, Xi, ” Kurt Campbell, Joseph Wu, ”, “, Samuel J, Paparo Jr, Mr, Paparo, Carl Vinson, Richard A, Brooks, Trump, Lloyd J, Austin III, Chen Jining, Jes Aznar, David H, Berger, Obama, Tony Mcdonough, United States —, Admiral Paparo, China’s “ revanchist, we’re Organizations: Australian, U.S, Marines, United, Pentagon, Corps, Mr, White House, White, The New York Times, American, Marine, Green, China’s, Liberation Army, Seoul SOUTH, Pacific Command, People’s Liberation Army, Agence France, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Defense, Communist Party, Tokyo Okinawa, U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, Philippines Luzon Partner, Australia Darwin Potential, NATO, Tomahawk Locations: Beijing, United States, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Shanghai, South China, South Korea, Guam, Washington, Manila, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Palau, West Papua, Seoul, Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong, GUAM philippines MALAYSIA INDONESIA JAPAN CHINA TAIWAN, philippines GUAM, INDONESIA Seoul, GUAM philippines, MALAYSIA INDONESIA, Philippine, Moscow, Tokyo, Ryukyu Islands, South, Philippines Luzon, Luzon, Spratly, Australia, Canberra, Singapore, Darwin, Australia’s, . North Carolina, Virginia, Perth, United Kingdom, Navy’s, America

☆ This little-known drone stock is poised to rally more than 56%, Raymond James says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is seeing its business thrive amid accelerating defense spending stemming from global conflicts, according to Raymond James. He also raised his price target by $7, or 35%, to $27, suggesting the stock could climb 56% from Thursday's close. "Kratos provides content on most of the major western air defense systems," Gesuale said in a report to clients after the market closed Thursday. At the same time, NATO's orders for Multiple Air Defense Systems, $11 billion of which require Kratos materials over several years, could also boost the stock, he added. KTOS YTD mountain Kratos shares over the past year.

Persons: Raymond James, Brian Gesuale, Kratos, Gesuale Organizations: Kratos Defense, Security, Air Defense, NATO, Arrow Systems, Multiple Air Defense Systems Locations: Thursday's, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, U.S

☆ Billions of dollars of Ukraine aid will be spent in the US. Here are the cities that could get a boost.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Senate passed a $95 billion spending package that included aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. AdvertisementOn April 23, the Senate passed a $95 billion spending package that included foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. In fact, an analysis of financial aid to Ukraine published in October by the website Breaking Defense found that a majority of the billions of dollars in Ukraine aid Congress had approved to date was ultimately spent in the US. The Ukraine aid is expected to be used to provide ammunition, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and other weapons, the Associated Press reported. The factory, which is expected to employ 150 people when it opens, is expected to benefit from foreign aid to Ukraine.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Defense, Ukraine —, Associated Press, Washington, BAE Systems, New York Times, Dynamics Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Pennsylvania , Alabama , Illinois, Florida, Washington, California , Arizona , Alabama, Texas, Russia, Gaza, China, York , Pennsylvania, Troy , Alabama, Peoria , Illinois, Aiken , South Carolina, Elgin , Oklahoma, Niceville , Florida, Endicott , New York, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Iowa, Dallas, Mesquite

☆ Opinion | For the Sake of Democracy, Celebrate Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Frank Bruni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The music swells. I never expected the music to swell and the credits to roll with Mike Johnson’s face in the center of the frame. But before we move on to the next congressional melodrama, let’s make sure we’ve given Johnson his due. In an era this intensely and corrosively partisan, it’s especially important that we give warranted praise and appropriate thanks to people with whom we usually disagree. Tribalism discourages that, but a healthy democracy demands it.

Persons: We’ve, Mike Johnson’s, Johnson, he’d, that’s Marjorie Taylor Greene, — Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

☆ Choose between stability and ‘downward spiral’ China’s foreign minister tells Blinken during Beijing trip
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Beijing CNN —China and the US face a choice between stability and a “downward spiral,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told counterpart Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing, as the American diplomat kicked off a day of meetings with top Chinese officials. “Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? Or engage in rivalry and confrontation – or even slide into conflict, which would be a lose-lose for all?” he said, speaking through an interpreter. Wang’s comments come as Chinese officials bristle at actions Washington has taken in the name of national security, which Beijing sees as meant to suppress its development. Officials from both nations suggested ahead of the trip that the visit would be focused on managing the relationship and communicating concerns.

Persons: Wang Yi, Antony Blinken, China –, ” Wang, Blinken, ”, Washington, Joe Biden, Wang, ” Blinken, Biden, Xi Jinping, White, China’s, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Russia, Ukraine, Foreign Ministry, “, Communist Party, Taiwan Locations: Beijing, Beijing CNN — China, American, China, Russia, South, Taiwan, “, United States, Diaoyutai State, California, Moscow, Iran, East, Ukraine, Korean

☆ Biden, Seeking to Build on Fruitful Week, Will Announce Billions in Chip Grants
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Micron will use the grants to help construct two leading-edge chip manufacturing plants in New York and another facility in Idaho, Biden administration officials said before the president’s trip to Syracuse, N.Y., for the announcement. The federal government will also provide up to $7.5 billion in loans to Micron. The legislation gave the Commerce Department $39 billion to distribute as grants to incentivize chipmakers to construct and expand manufacturing plants across the United States. On Wednesday, he secured the endorsement of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, largely because of his bipartisan infrastructure package. He also is fresh off signing a $95.3 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of congressional gridlock, reaffirming a central focus of his foreign policy agenda.

Persons: Biden, incentivize, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Micron Technology, Micron, Commerce Department, Unions Locations: New York, Idaho, Syracuse, N.Y, United States, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is meeting officials in China this week as disputes over wars, trade, technology and security are testing the two countries’ efforts to stabilize the relationship. China is courting foreign investment to help its sluggish economy. At the same time, its leader, Xi Jinping, has been bolstering national security and expanding China’s military footprint around Taiwan and the South China Sea in ways that have alarmed its neighbors. Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi have held talks to prevent their countries’ disputes from spiraling into conflict, after relations sank to their lowest point in decades last year. But an array of challenges could make steadying the relationship difficult.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi Locations: China, United States, Taiwan, South

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, US funding for Israel, crisis in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

The US Senate has passed a $95 billion package that includes money for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The new legislation includes sanctions on Iran, the seizure of frozen Russian sovereign assets and a measure that could lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok. The bill next goes to President Joe Biden, who said he would sign it into law on Wednesday. “This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin,” Biden said. Here are the latest developments in the region:

Persons: Joe Biden, Putin, ” Biden Organizations: Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Iran

☆ Photos shine a light on Taiwan’s ‘betel nut beauties’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Emma Russell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

To meet her sales targets, the betel nut “must be delicious.” she told CNN in an email. A betel nut stall in Taipei. “I loved driving there because there were the betel nut girls,” she recalled in a phone interview. One of Han's subjects, Ju Ju, is pictured at a booth in the city of Taoyuan. But Ju Ju has since grown to value the stability of the job.

Persons: Mong Shuan, Mong, Constanze Han, “, ”, we’d, Han, Han “, ’ ”, Susan Meiselas, Xiao Hong, Ju, Ju Ju, —, Constanze Organizations: CNN, Mong, ”, island’s Ministry of Health, Welfare Locations: Taiwan, Asia, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and New York, America, New England, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Constanze

☆ Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok: Here's what that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Wednesday that would ban TikTok if its not sold within the year. The measure is folded into a law that says the United States will provide aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. TikTok representatives have already responded. "This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court," the company wrote in a Wednesday statement on X following Biden's signing. "This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans."

Persons: Joe Biden Locations: United States, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan

☆ Biden signs Israel, Ukraine, TikTok bill into law
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US President Joe Biden speaks after signing the foreign aid bill at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2024. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed into law measures to provide aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as force Chinese TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell the social media platform. It should have been easier and it should've gotten there sooner," Biden said Wednesday after signing the bill. Biden had signaled his intention to sign the bill into law after the House passed the proposal on Saturday. The law earmarks roughly $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and $8 billion for security in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Joe Biden, should've, Biden, TikTok Organizations: White, Capitol, Senate Locations: Washington ,, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, America, U.S

☆ Senate passes bill that could ban TikTok in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Madison Hall | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Senate just passed a TikTok "ban" as part of a larger foreign aid bill. Once Biden signs it into law, ByteDance will have 270 days to sell TikTok. Trump tried to institute a similar ban via executive order, but it was struck down by in court. AdvertisementThe Senate passed a multifaceted bill Tuesday evening that would effectively ban TikTok from the US app store once President Joe Biden signs it, as he has signaled he will. Tucked into the foreign aid bills was text forcing TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media service to an American one or face a ban.

Persons: Biden, ByteDance, Trump, —, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Gaza, American

The top US diplomat landed in Shanghai where he is expected to meet local officials and business leaders, and he will then travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials. “We are in a different place than we were a year ago when the bilateral relationship was at an historic low point,” a senior State Department official said. “Russia is no longer kind of on its back foot,” a second senior State Department official said. Blinken will make the case that China should weigh in “more directly” with Iran to be less provocative in the region, the second senior State Department official said. “In both cases the Chinese have taken some early steps,” said the second senior State Department official, adding that there is still “much more” that needs to be done on both fronts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Janet Yellen, Biden, Xi, ”, “, ” Blinken, Matthew Miller, Leah Millis, China’s, ” Xi, Blinken, ” Miller, it’s, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, David Lin Organizations: CNN, State Department, Ukraine, US, Foreign Ministry, of, People, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Beijing, Party, Taiwan, Communist, Taiwan Relations, White Locations: China, Ukraine, Shanghai, Beijing, California, Russia, Moscow, Italy, “ Russia, ”, Europe, United States, South China, Philippine, Washington, Philippines, South, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, East, Iran

☆ These 18 senators voted against Ukraine and Israel aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Senate passed a bill to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan — and force a sale of TikTok. Republicans opposed the Ukraine aid, while some Democrats took issue with Israel aid. Republicans generally voted against the package because of their long-standing opposition to Ukraine aid, while Democrats opposed the bill over the lack of conditions on Israel aid. AdvertisementThat included a vote on a nearly $61 billion Ukraine aid bill, a more than $26 billion Israel aid bill, Taiwan aid, and a bill that combined an amended version of a previously approved TikTok bill that was combined with a bill allowing the US to seize Russian assets to pay for Ukraine aid. Related stories37 House Democrats voted against Israel aid, while 112 House Republicans voted against Ukraine aid.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Bernie Sanders, Vermont Jeff Merkley, Oregon Peter Welch of Organizations: Service, Republicans, Ukraine, Democratic, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Vermont, Oregon, Oregon Peter Welch of Vermont

This month, President Biden threw one of the most lavish state dinners in Washington’s recent memory. Celebrities and billionaires flocked to the White House to dine in honor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, posing for photos in front of an elaborate display of Japanese fans. The spectacle was part of a carefully orchestrated series of events to showcase the renewed U.S.-Japan relationship — and the notable transformation of the United States’ security alliances in Asia. Over the past several years, Washington has built a series of multilateral security arrangements like these in the Asia-Pacific region. Although U.S. officials claim that the recent mobilization of allies and partners is not aimed at China, don’t believe it.

Persons: Biden, Fumio Kishida, Jeff Bezos, Paul Simon, —, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Kishida Organizations: United Locations: Japan, U.S, United States, Asia, Philippines, China, Washington, Pacific, South China, Taiwan Strait

☆ The US and China are engaging more. But that doesn't mean they trust each other more, an analyst said.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US and China's engagements don't mean they trust each other more, said Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But just because they're talking more doesn't mean that they actually trust each other more, an analyst said on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited China, seeking cooperation in areas beneficial to both countries. Advertisement"It's always better to have more engagement, more conversations — especially when you don't trust each other," Bremmer said.

Persons: Ian Bremmer, —, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, there's, Bremmer, Janet Yellen, Lloyd Austin, State Anthony Blinken, William Lai — Organizations: Service, Eurasia Group, Bloomberg, APEC, Defense, State Locations: Eurasia, Ian Bremmer . Washington, China, Taiwan, San Francisco, US, Washington, Taiwan —, Beijing

☆ TikTok’s Pro-China Tilt
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just a few months ago, it seemed unlikely that the U.S. government would force ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell it. The platform is popular, and Congress rarely passes legislation aimed at a single company. If ByteDance does not sell TikTok within 12 months, it will be banned in the United States. TikTok is also owned by a company based in the leading global rival of the United States. And that rival, especially under President Xi Jinping, treats private companies as extensions of the state.

Persons: TikTok, ByteDance, Biden, Xi Jinping, ” Christopher Wray Locations: Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, United States

Israel welcomed a U.S. aid package signed by President Biden on Wednesday that will send about $15 billion in military aid to Israel, increasing American support for its closest Middle East ally despite strains in their relationship over Israel’s prosecution of the war in the Gaza Strip. “Our alliance is ironclad,” Israel Katz, the country’s foreign minister, said in a statement thanking Mr. Biden for signing the legislation. It was part of a long-stalled $95.3 billion in aid that had faced vehement opposition from some Republicans over its support for Ukraine, which is also part of the legislation, as is Taiwan. The aid for Israel includes more than $5 billion to replenish three of the country’s defense systems: Iron Dome, which intercepts rockets that fly in high arcs; David’s Sling, which shoots down drones, missiles and rockets; and Iron Beam, which was designed to use laser beams to destroy incoming projectiles. It also includes $1 billion to enhance the production and development of artillery and munitions and $2.4 billion for American military operations in the U.S. Central Command region, which includes the Middle East as well as parts of South Asia and East Africa.

Persons: Israel, Biden, ” Israel Katz, Mr Organizations: Ukraine, U.S . Central Command Locations: Israel, East, Gaza, Taiwan, South Asia, East Africa

☆ ‘A Good Day for World Peace’: Biden Signs Aid Bill for Ukraine and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden signed a $95.3 billion package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Wednesday, reaffirming U.S. support for Kyiv in the fight against Russia’s military assault after months of congressional gridlock put the centerpiece of the White House’s foreign policy in jeopardy. “It’s a good day for world peace,” Mr. Biden said from the State Dining Room of the White House. “It’s going to make America safer, it’s going to make the world safer, and it continues America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it.”The Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve the package on Tuesday night, a sign of bipartisan support after increasingly divisive politics raised questions on Capitol Hill and among U.S. allies over whether the United States would continue to back Kyiv. The 79-to-18 vote provided Mr. Biden another legislative accomplishment to point to, even in the face of an obstructionist House. Within minutes of the vote, Mr. Biden said he would sign the bill into law “so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.”

Persons: Biden, gridlock, “, ” Mr, “ It’s, ” Organizations: Kyiv, White, Capitol Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, America, U.S, United States, Kyiv

☆ Blinken Goes to China With Potential Trouble on Horizon
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will arrive in China on Wednesday to try to preserve the recent and delicate stabilization of ties between the United States and China, as tensions over trade, territorial disputes and national security threaten to derail relations again. Even as Mr. Blinken’s plane approached Shanghai, the challenges ahead were apparent. The political season in the United States also looms as a complication. With the presidential election nearing, Democrats and Republicans are vying to appear tougher on China. And if former President Donald Trump is re-elected, he could reverse Beijing’s and Washington’s efforts to steady the relationship.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Blinken’s, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: U.S . Senate, Republicans, State Department Locations: China, United States, Shanghai, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, South China

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