State of Mankind

Pelosi to Visit Taiwan on Tuesday: Sources; Japanese Minister: China Uses ‘Logic of Brute Force’



China in Focus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to land in Taiwan on Tuesday. The potential trip is igniting tensions between the United States and China to a historical high—with Beijing threatening to take action. After passing both chambers of Congress, an over $200 billion spending bill is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk. Supporters say it will boost America’s semiconductor manufacturing. Critics say it’s a free giveaway for big corporations. The United States and Japan are pledging deeper cooperation in a few key industries. America’s ambassador to Japan says the move will help counter China. Australian officials are partly blaming China for inflation at home. They say it involves Beijing’s strict COVID-19 policy.