“From the Taiwan Strait to the Himalayas and beyond, the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in a clear and intensifying pattern of bullying its neighbors,” Mr. Pompeo said. Mr. Pompeo called it a reciprocal response to limits that Beijing imposed on American diplomats in China. Mr. Pompeo also urged universities to go a step further by disclosing and, in some cases, divesting from Chinese investments in endowment funds. As a result, the United States will not be among at least 172 countries that plan to partner in the development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine. Instead, the Trump administration has begun working independently with health organizations that are also part of the World Health Organization effort, including a $1.6 billion commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Source: International New York Times September 02, 2020 21:44 UTC