WH seeks data on US funding linked to Beijing

WASHINGTON: The White House has asked US government agencies for extensive details of any funding that seeks to counter China’s global influence and business practices, or supports China, amid tensions between Washington and Beijing.

According to an August 27 White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) document seen by Reuters, the OMB directed US agencies to submit “cross-cutting data on federal funding that aids or supports China, or that directly or indirectly counters China’s unfair competition and malign activities and influence globally”. China denies it engages in unfair competitive practices.

The document, titled Strategic Competition with China Crosscut, does not say how the information will be used other than that it will “inform policymakers” of the myriad ways US government spending involves China. The two countries are at loggerheads over a trade war, Trump administration’s blaming of Beijing for a lack of transparency about the spread of Covid-19, China’s imposition of a security law for Hong Kong and Washington’s military cooperation with Taiwan. The budget data request will be used to help policymakers, and notes all funding should “reflect strategic priorities” when responding to China.

UN experts decry HK law in open letter to China

GENEVA/BEIJING: UN human rights experts have told China that the security law for Hong Kong “infringes on certain fundamental rights” and voiced concerns it could be used to prosecute political activists in the former British colony.

In a rare joint letter made public on Friday, 48 hours after it was sent to the Chinese government, they also said provisions of the new law appear to undermine the independence of Hong Kong’s judges and lawyers, and the right to freedom of expression. “This is the first comprehensive UN assessment of the law,” Fionnuala Ni Aolain, UN special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism, said.

China issued a fierce rebuke. “Some people disregard the facts and maliciously slander China’s human rights situation... and crudely interfere in China’s internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.