First China-US military-level talks under Biden's presidency

Beijing, August 28

Advertisement

China and the US have held their first round of high-level military talks after President Joe Biden came to power in January this year during which the two sides discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan, a media report said on Saturday.

Deputy Director for the People’s Liberation Army Office for International Military Cooperation Major General Huang Xueping held a video-conference with his US counterpart Michael Chase last week, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said on Saturday, quoting Chinese military officials.

The US and China held their first high-level talks in March in Alaska after Biden assumed power, where Foreign Minister Wang Yi and top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi exchanged barbs with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

“The Chinese military has maintained a middle-level military-to-military communication channel via the defence attache in the US Embassy in Beijing, and (last week’s call) is the first time senior officers resumed talks,” the Chinese official said.

China had hoped to exchange intelligence about Afghanistan when Wang and China’s foreign policy chief Yang met US Secretary of State Blinken in Alaska in March because Beijing had realised how complicated and risky the situation would become if the US pulled out its troops from Afghanistan, the report said.

The Taliban swept into Kabul on August 15 after the government collapsed and embattled President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Since then, tens of thousands of people desperate to escape a country governed by the Taliban have been trying to flee or have already been evacuated.

“What China is concerned about is that the extremist forces, especially the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), will expand their power and influence amid the chaos in Afghanistan, which needs China, the US and other countries to work together to prevent it from happening,” the Chinese official said.

Observers say the Kabul blasts showed the ISIS-K could operate with impunity in Kabul under the Taliban control which would be a disquieting factor for Beijing banking on the Afghan militant group to rein in the Uighur Muslim militant group from Xinjiang. PTI

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thousands in Berlin protest Covid measures

UK prepares to vaccinate kids aged 12-15

Berlin, August 28

Thousands turned out in Berlin on Saturday to protest the government’s Covid measures, despite the ban on planned gatherings.The police banned nine planned demonstrations for Saturday, including one from the Stuttgart-based Querdenker movement, the most visible anti-lockdown movement in Germany.

A court ruled in favor of allowing one protest, planned for 500 people, on Saturday and Sunday. More than 2,000 police officers were stationed around the city to respond to those who showed up despite the ban.

Meanwhile, a counter-protest called the “Love Train,” complete with techno music, drew a large crowd. These demonstrators support government restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the British Government said it was preparing to vaccinate children aged 12-15 against the virus, even though the inoculation campaign has not yet been approved by the country’s vaccine advisers.

The Department of Health said it wanted “to be ready to hit the ground running” once approval came and be in a position to deliver shots in schools, when the new academic year starts.

The return of children to classrooms in September is expected to drive up Britain’s already high infection rate. Britain is currently giving vaccinations to people 16 and up as well as those between 12 and 15 with underlying health conditions or who live with vulnerable adults.

Britain’s medicines regulator has approved the use of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the 12-15 age group. But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has not signed off on shots for most adolescents that young. The US, Canada and several European countries are already vaccinating people at least 12 years old. -AP

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Afghans protest at Kabul bank, long ATM queues

Kabul, August 28

Hundreds of Afghans on Saturday protested outside a bank in Kabul as others formed long lines at cash machines. The protesters at New Kabul Bank included civil servants demanding their salaries, which they said had not been paid for the past three to six months.

They said even though banks had reopened three days ago, no one has been able to withdraw cash. ATM machines are still operating but withdrawals are limited to $200 every 24 hours, resulting in long lines.

Meanwhile, a UN agency warned that a worsening drought could leave millions in need of humanitarian aid.

The economic crisis could give Western nations leverage as they urge Afghanistan’s new rulers to form an inclusive government and allow people to leave after the planned withdrawal of all US troops on August 31. -AP