State Department

China fires back at US over environment, South China Sea

7:01 pm September 28, 2020

Beijing: US-China friction flared again Monday, with Beijing firing back at accusations by Washington that it is a leading cause of global environmental damage and has reneged on its promise not to militarise the South China Sea. A document issued last week by the State Department cited China’s record on issues from greenhouse gas emissions to air and water and soil […]

Pompeo says China's policies on Muslims amount to 'genocide'

Pompeo speaks with NATO chief about Mediterranean tensions

11:48 pm September 27, 2020

Athens: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is due to arrive in Greece on an official visit early Monday, has had a conversation on tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “Pleased to speak today with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg to discuss de-escalation of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterate the importance of NATO Alliance unity,” Pompeo tweeted while en […]

Pompeo shattering precedent, sparking fury with RNC speech

11:15 pm August 24, 2020

Washington: Mike Pompeo‘s planned speech to the Republican National Convention this week has sparked a fury of criticism for breaking decades of precedent for sitting secretaries of state avoiding overt partisan political activity. Despite State Department assurances that Pompeo will be speaking in his personal capacity and won’t violate prohibitions on federal employees participating in public political events on […]

US suspends extradition and tax agreements with Hong Kong

11:47 pm August 19, 2020

Washington: The Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong covering extradition and tax exemptions. The State Department announced it had taken the steps as part of the administration’s response to China’s imposition of strict national security laws over the former British territory. President Donald Trump already had determined that Hong Kong was no longer eligible for the […]

Pompeo opens anti-China, anti-Russia tour in Czech Republic

8:28 pm August 11, 2020

Prague: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the Czech Republic at the start of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe expected to focus on threats to the region posed by Russia and China. Amid post-election violence and concerns about significant democratic backsliding in nearby Belarus, Pompeo plans to use his visit to push his hosts to counter Russian and Chinese […]