Source: United States Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/21/2024 08:15 PM EDT
09/21/2024 07:51 PM EDT
Source: Tasmania Police
Serious crash at Bass Highway, Exton
Sunday, 22 September 2024 – 10:00 am.
Police and emergency services responded to reports of a serious three-vehicle traffic crash on the Bass Highway at Exton about 9.30pm last night.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a Black MG was travelling west on the Bass Highway when it veered into the east bound lane before colliding with a silver Mazda Tribute and causing a black Toyota 86 to collide with the rear of the Mazda.
The passenger of the MG was treated by paramedics at the scene for serious leg injuries before being taken to the Launceston General Hospital. They were later transferred to the Royal Hobart Hospital for further treatment.
The driver of the MG, the driver and passenger of the Toyota and the driver of the Mazda were all taken to the Launceston General Hospital with minor injuries.
The Bass Highway was closed for about two and a half hours to allow emergency services to examine the scene and conduct inquiries.
Police would like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is asked to contact Deloraine Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously. Please quote ESCAD:388-21092024.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LANZHOU, Sept. 21 — More than 800 representatives from 50 countries, regions and international organizations have gathered at the 7th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Saturday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China.
The expo will run for two days, featuring varied activities such as forums, cultural exhibitions and artistic performances to showcase China’s culture and promote dialogue on global cultural cooperation.
This is the third time that Shahbaz Khan, director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regional office for East Asia, has represented his organization at the event. He noted that Dunhuang has become a major stage for cultural exchange to revitalize the Silk Road.
Dialogue between civilizations has become increasingly important as the world faces diverse challenges to peace and sustainable development, he said.
Participants said that exchange and mutual learning between civilizations help boost mutual trust and inclusiveness among people of all countries, and promote world peace and development.
Fernando Lugris, Uruguayan ambassador to China, said that Uruguay was the first country in the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to sign a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China.
All parties should adhere to multilateralism to safeguard global peace, development, prosperity and modernization, he said, calling for strengthened cooperation within the framework of the BRI.
The expo was first held in 2016.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ISTANBUL, Sept. 21 — China and Türkiye explored avenues for deeper cooperation at a forum in Istanbul, as both nations seek to strengthen their strategic partnership.
The fifth China-Türkiye Communications Forum, held on Friday and attended by nearly 100 participants from various sectors, focused on reform and opening up to create new opportunities.
Liu Dawei, deputy director of China International Communications Group (CICG), highlighted the shared cultural heritage and development goals of the two “Global South” nations.
“We’re committed to enhancing China-Türkiye relations through cultural exchange,” Liu said.
Liu Shaobin, Chinese ambassador to Türkiye, pointed out that China has shown a strong and consistent willingness to expand its high-level openness. “This will create new opportunities for Türkiye,” Liu said, stressing China’s willingness to strengthen political trust and deepen cooperation.
Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Osman Boyraz emphasized his country’s strategic position linking Asia and Europe. “Türkiye and China will collaborate to deepen cooperation in trade, culture, and technology,” Boyraz said.
Sinan Koksal, head of brand and marketing at Turkuvaz Media Group, noted the forum’s role in fostering mutual understanding. He highlighted potential synergies between Türkiye’s Middle Corridor Project and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Experts at the forum agreed on the importance of sharing experiences in modernization and promoting dialogue across various fields.
The forum featured a Chinese book exhibition on governance and cooperation.
The forum was co-hosted by the CICG, the Chinese Embassy in Türkiye, the Chinese Consulate General in Istanbul, and Türkiye’s Turkuvaz Media Group.
Source: United Nations secretary general
H.E Ms. Mia Motley, Prime Minister of Barbados
H.E Mr. Nangolo Mbumba President of Namibia
President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Dear friends,
Thank you all for your work and contributions.
These Action Days have showcased the power of inclusive and networked multilateralism.
They have demonstrated the potential and power of partnership.
They have reminded us of the immense potential of collaboration – of what we can achieve when we come together, united in purpose, across sectors, generations, and continents.
And your diverse contributions reflect the richness of what can be achieved when everyone is brought to the table in an inclusive dialogue.
Yesterday, youth-led conversations forced us to face our collective responsibilities to deal with present challenges and in doing so, take action also to secure a brighter future.
They showed what meaningful youth engagement looks like in action; and underscored the indispensable role young people play in improving our world, and bringing and informing concrete solutions.
Today, we focused on the core issues to be resolved to allow financing to flow for sustainable development – climate finance, taxes, debt. We also addressed the need to take profit of the potential of technology while managing its risks, and to bring peace to a more complex and interconnected world.
The discussions throughout the day have explored innovative tax cooperation schemes, solutions to global debt challenges, options for the expansion of climate financing and for increased representation of developing countries in the global financial architecture.
The relevance of intergenerational approaches, dismantling patriarchal power structures and putting young people at the forefront of discussions about the future featured strongly in the conversations under the Peace and Security Pillar.
You have also spoken about putting an end to terrorism, protecting civilians in armed conflict, and addressing new and emerging threats, including in the digital sphere. And you have insisted that a secure future depends on our ability to build trust, solidarity, and collective action.
Finally, we heard how cutting-edge technology solutions like satellite internet, blockchain, and artificial intelligence are advancing the SDGs, yet much work needs to be done to bridge the digital divide. Personal stories from women and girls across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America demonstrate what is possible by scaling-up access and capacities around digital technologies.
All this while bearing in mind our responsibility toward future generations – the 10 billion people who will inhabit our planet by the end of this century.
What I can promise you is that we will carry your insights and ideas forward to the Summit of the Future – starting tomorrow.
Because your input is central to building a better world.
Friends,
Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.
The Secretary-General called for a more inclusive and networked multilateral system to increase our collective effectiveness.
This call was rooted in a recognition of how the world was changing:
In the fact that the power and the ideas to solve global problems lies in many different hands.
And in the fact that our world is in desperate need of transformation.
Changes that will allow us to accelerate action to deliver the promised of the Sustainable Development Goals.
To achieve the SDGs, countries will need to invest.
So we must wrestle with our financial architecture that is no longer fit for purpose.
We need to take this opportunity to pivot.
Since this process began, the United Nations has provided a platform for the broadest possible engagement, inclusion and collaboration.
And you have responded – putting forward ideas, announcements, initiatives and coalitions.
Countless civil society networks and groups, including the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders and the Impact Coalitions from the UN Civil Society Conference, have all been mobilized, heard, and have shaped outcome of the Summit of the Future.
All of you – and the constituencies you represent – have participated in every step of the process in different formats.
You have pushed for ambition in the three new texts we are hopeful Member States will soon adopt – the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations.
Over these past two days alone, over 8,000 individuals came to the UN Headquarters.
More than 60 events took place inside the UN with an additional 100 more across New York and a further 30 around the world.
In short: the UN made the call for inclusive multilateralism and you have delivered.
For that, I thank you sincerely.
And I ask you to keep it up.
We need your continued drive, engagement, commitment and pressure, to implement the new texts and hold us to account.
You have proven time and again that you are willing to work together with governments, the United Nations and all other actors to build a better world.
And it is essential that we continue: that we keep strengthening the dialogue between political decision-makers and the whole of civil society within the multilateral system.
This is vital to rebuilding trust and hope, and restoring legitimacy to international institutions, ensuring that global decisions reflect the concerns, values, and experiences of people worldwide.
And, above all, to demonstrating that multilateralism can deliver for everyone – everywhere – and it can leave no one behind, and to shape a better future.
Let’s keep working together to make that a reality.
Thank you.
***
Source: New Zealand Government
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says urgent action is being taken to restrict the sale of nitrous oxide and welcomes new advice from Medsafe highlighting tougher penalties if sold for recreational purposes.
“Nitrous oxide has several legitimate uses, but we also know it is increasingly being used as a recreational drug,” says Dr Reti.
“Smokefree enforcement officers have even reported seeing nitrous oxide products – nangs – for sale in vape stores. This is extremely concerning.
“Given the significant risks and the potential for long-term damage, and a number of overlapping portfolios in this area, last month I requested officials look at options on the Government’s behalf to address it.
“Last week, I received advice from the Ministry of Health about a change in approach that would clarify the law for suppliers and users of nitrous oxide. This will enable Police to prosecute the sale and use of nitrous oxide for recreational use.”
Whereas nitrous oxide had been considered under the Medicines Act 1981, Medsafe now advises that when it’s sold primarily for the purpose of inducing a psychoactive effect, the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 applies.
No products containing nitrous oxide have been approved for use under the Psychoactive Substances Act, making it illegal to sell nitrous oxide or products containing nitrous oxide for recreational use. A breach of this regulation is punishable by either prison time or a fine.
“The proliferation of nangs – particularly targeted at our young people – is a significant public health issue with potentially serious consequences.
“Police and health professionals have reported recreational use of nitrous oxide is on the rise, a trend seen in other countries like Australia and the UK.
“This reinforces the gravity of the situation and the need for swift action. This cannot continue.
“I have directed the Ministry of Health to monitor the effectiveness of this change and provide ongoing advice about whether further restrictions are necessary to keep New Zealanders safe,” Dr Reti says.
US Senate News:
Source: The White House
Scranton, Pennsylvania is a place that climbs into your heart and never leaves. It’s home. It’s that special place etched in your heart.
I was born there. Even after my family moved to Claymont, Delaware as my dad found work, we’d return to our old Green Ridge neighborhood in Scranton and spend time with our friends, Charlie Roth, Larry Orr, and Tommy Bell.
Tommy and I lived three blocks apart. We sat next to each other during grade school at St. Paul’s. From swinging on branches to running by the river, Tommy was the friend with the special heart, who would always lighten your heart. Over the next 70 years, he was the best friend at weddings, funerals, campaign rallies, and so many memories. You could always count on Tommy, and I hope he knew he could always count of me.
Tommy became an insurance agent. He served in the National Guard. He and his of wife of 51 years, Ellen, raised their four children in Scranton. They became my family.
In building their great American life, Tommy took genuine pride in the success of his family, community, and our nation. He returned love with boundless loyalty. He was a man of honor, decency, and grace. A man of utmost character.
Tommy embodied a simple truth about our nation. There is nothing ordinary about being an American. We are extraordinary. Tommy was extraordinary.
It’s as if William Butler Yeats had Tommy in mind when he wrote, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.”
Tommy Bell was such a friend. I will miss him dearly. Jill and I and our entire family send our prayers to Ellen, their children and grandchildren, and the entire Bell family.
May God bless Tommy Bell, a great American, and a good man.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Frederick Makamure Shava, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed the pressing need for addressing the climate crisis, including the adverse impact of El Niño in Zimbabwe and Southern Afric
Source: United Nations secretary general
Excellencies, Colleagues and friends,
It is a pleasure to join you today. And I thank the governments of Belgium, Ecuador and Sierra Leone, as well as the European Union, and the World Bank for co-sponsoring this important event. And for your invaluable partnership with Spotlight Initiative.
I am also immensely grateful to the Spotlight Initiative Global Civil Society Reference Group: for their co-sponsorship, for shaping the Initiative, and for holding us to account.
Excellencies, friends
A determination to put an end to violence against women and girls brings us together here today.
A brief look at the global news agenda shows the urgency of our task.
In recent weeks we have heard harrowing reports: of an Olympic athlete violently murdered in Kenya; a young doctor raped and killed at work in India; and a mother and her two daughters, assassinated in the UK, in their own home by a man wielding a crossbow.
These horrors have shocked the world.
But in reality they are just a tiny fraction of the violence women and girls face every day.
Every 11 minutes a woman is killed by a partner or family member. And a staggering one in three women and girls are deprived of their most basic human right: the right to live free from fear and violence. Our communities are robbed of their enormous potential and contributions as a result.
Today, I ask you to imagine what we could achieve in a world that was free of gender-based violence. A world where women and girls thrive as equal partners in every aspect of society. And then let’s ask ourselves: how can we get there?
We know we need stronger political leadership and greater investments to meet the scale and severity of the problem globally. And we know we need a whole-of-society approach that encompasses the social, cultural and environmental dimensions to effect sustainable change.
As a High-Impact Initiative of the United Nations, Spotlight Initiative is doing just that. The final evaluation of its first phase found that the Initiative achieved “notable results” and expanded national ownership, including by elevating civil society as decision-makers.
Its ambitious, comprehensive model drives progress across every SDG: The initiative has provided critical health services to nearly 100,000 women and girls in hard-to-reach communities in Mozambique; and supported 4,000 young people to return to school in Malawi. In Vanuatu, 5,000 women are now part of a collective that mitigates the impact of natural disasters and the climate crisis.
That is all while the Initiative has prevented 21 million women and girls from experiencing violence globally.
By convening the United Nations system, governments, civil society and the private sector the Initiative has been up to 90 per cent more effective at reducing violence than siloed interventions.
In its first phase, the overall conviction rate for gender-based violence doubled across 13 Spotlight Initiative countries. Close to 3 million women and girls accessed gender-based violence services, including medical care, legal services, counselling and long-term recovery services. And nearly 6 million men and boys were educated on positive masculinity, respectful family relationships and non-violent conflict resolution.
But Spotlight Initiative and other partners need more funding to do their work. They need flexible contributions that allow teams to respond and adapt, even as they deal with the increasing threats of instability, conflict, climate change and humanitarian crises.
When we launched the Spotlight Initiative in 2017, it was with the bold leadership and support of the European Union, which provided more than $500 million in seed funding. And partners including Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States have recently made welcome contributions. Now, we need to build on these investments to deliver on the Sustainable Development Agenda, including ending violence against women and girls.
So, today I ask for your support in funding our $1 billion investment goal. This will support the expansion of Spotlight Initiative’s comprehensive model to reach 60 countries by 2030, preventing violence for more than 70 million women and girls.
I urge all partners in the room and watching online around the world, to do everything in your power to end the scourge of gender-based violence.
Together, we can – and we must – create a world where every woman and girl lives in safety and dignity.
Thank you.
***
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HOHHOT, Sept. 21 — While durians from Thailand and Malaysia, bananas from the Philippines and passion fruit from Vietnam are well-received by Chinese consumers, a Chinese desert fruit is also making its way to Southeast Asian countries.
Cold-chain trucks shuttle in orchards in Horqin Sandy Land, a vast swathe of desertified area in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, to load and transport fresh crabapples, newly picked in local orchards, to coastal ports for export to southeast Asian countries.
Teng Dayong, a fruit farmer in Horqin Left Wing Middle Banner (county) in the city of Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, manages a 190-mu (about 12.67 hectares) crabapple orchard in this area.
He said his fruit trees are going to produce 2,000 kilograms of crabapples per mu this year, earning him a net income of 10,000 yuan (1,418 U.S. dollars) per mu.
“Nearly half of the fruit from my orchard has been ordered for export to Southeast Asia,” said Teng.
The little chubby red fruit grown in the inland area is transported by trucks to Chinese ports such as Dalian for marine shipping. It is expected to appear on the shelves of supermarkets in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand after ten days of cold-chain transport.
Horqin Sandy Land is one of China’s largest sandy areas, stretching over 77.6 million mu and straddling three Chinese provincial-level regions, namely Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Liaoning.
Aoserji, director of the forestry and grassland administration in the county, said that decades ago, locals had planted poplar trees to serve as shields against sand. However, these trees consumed a lot of water and offered poor economic benefits.
The forestry and grassland academy in Tongliao later developed a crabapple variety that serves both ecological and economic purposes, said Aoserji.
Nowadays, farmers are keen to grow the variety, which is sweet and nutritious, and cold-resistant and drought-tolerant, he explained.
Located in the hinterland of Horqin Sandy Land, the city of Tongliao now boasts 350,000 mu of crabapple trees, achieving an annual output of more than 100,000 tonnes, while the output value is close to 500 million yuan.
This year, fruit farmer Teng has partnered with a Malaysian Chinese to set up a fruit packing and export company. The partner, Zeny Yong, has ordered crabapples from Teng for several years.
Kailu County in Tongliao has recorded an export volume of more than 100 tonnes of crabapples a year, and exports this fruit to a number of countries including Thailand, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
The county has built a cold storage facility capable of storing 1,000 tonnes of this fruit, thereby keeping it fresh until April and May the following year for export.
Source: The White House
On September 21, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in Wilmington, Delaware, for the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit.
The Quad was established to be a global force for good. This year, the Quad is proudly executing tangible projects that benefit partner countries across the Indo-Pacific—including in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region. The Quad is working together at unprecedented scope and scale to deliver on Indo-Pacific partners’ priorities. Together, the Quad is leading ambitious projects to help partners address pandemics and disease; respond to natural disasters; strengthen their maritime domain awareness and maritime security; mobilize and build high-standard physical and digital infrastructure; invest in and benefit from critical and emerging technologies; confront the threat of climate change; bolster cyber security; and cultivate the next generation of technology leaders.
ENDURING PARTNERS FOR THE INDO-PACIFIC
Over the past four years, Quad Leaders have met six times, including twice virtually. Quad Foreign Ministers have met eight times, most recently in Tokyo in July. Quad country representatives convene on a regular basis, at all levels, to consult one another, exchange ideas to advance shared priorities, and deliver benefits for partners across the Indo-Pacific region. All Quad governments have institutionalized the Quad at all levels and across a diverse array of departments and agencies. Today, Quad Leaders announced new initiatives to solidify these habits of cooperation and to set up the Quad to endure for the long-term.
GLOBAL HEALTH & HEALTH SECURITY
In 2023, the Quad announced the Quad Health Security Partnership to strengthen coordination and collaboration in support of health security in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad Health Security Partnership is delivering on its commitments to strengthen the Indo-Pacific’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks of diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential, including through a set of new initiatives announced today.
Quad Cancer Moonshot
Pandemic Preparedness
Mpox
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF (HADR)
Twenty years ago, the Quad first came together to respond to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, surging humanitarian assistance to affected countries. In 2022, Quad Foreign Ministers signed the Guidelines for the Quad Partnership on HADR in the Indo-Pacific. In May 2024, following a tragic landslide in Papua New Guinea, Quad countries coordinated their response in accordance with these guidelines. The Quad collectively provided over $5 million in humanitarian assistance. Quad partners continue to support Papua New Guinea in its longer-term resiliency efforts. The Quad continues to deepen HADR coordination and support partners in the region in their longer-term resiliency efforts.
MARITIME SECURITY
Quad partners are working side-by-side with partners throughout the region to bolster maritime security, improve maritime domain awareness, and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Training
Indo-Pacific Logistics Network
Coast Guard Cooperation
QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE
The Quad is delivering quality, resilient infrastructure to the region to increase connectivity, build regional capacity, and meet critical needs.
Quad Ports of the Future Partnership
Quad Infrastructure Fellows
Undersea Cables and Digital Connectivity
CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
The Quad is working in lockstep to stay at the forefront of technology innovation, and remains committed to harnessing emerging technologies for the benefit of people across the Indo-Pacific, and deploying these technologies to facilitate economic prosperity, openness, and connectivity.
Open Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Biotechnology
Semiconductors
The Quad Investors Network
The Quad Investors Network (QUIN) is a nonprofit initiative launched at the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit. The QUIN aims to accelerate investments in critical and emerging technologies across the Indo-Pacific region, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, technologists, and public institutions from the Quad countries to support innovation that aligns with the Quad’s shared values and promotes economic growth, resilience, and regional stability. This year, the QUIN supported ten major strategic investments and partnerships across the Quad in the critical minerals, renewable energy, cybersecurity, and aerospace sectors.
CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY
The Quad recognizes the existential threat climate change poses to the world, the Indo-Pacific, and in particular island nations in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean region, and is taking ambitious steps to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, promote clean energy innovation and adoption, and support sustainable development.
Climate Adaptation
Clean Energy
CYBER SECURITY
The Quad is working together to build a more resilient, secure, and complementary cyber security environment for Quad countries and partners.
COUNTERING DISINFORMATION
The Quad is working together to foster a resilient information environment, including through its Countering Disinformation Working Group, by supporting media freedom and addressing foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, which undermines trust and sows discord in the international community.
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES
Quad countries are building enduring ties between their peoples. Stakeholders from Quad countries have participated in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchanges, on topics related to cyber security, workforce development for critical and emerging technologies, women in STEM, government transparency and accountability, combating disinformation, and regional maritime governance.
The Quad Fellowship
Additional People-to-People Initiatives
SPACE
The Quad recognizes the essential contribution of space-related applications and technologies in the Indo-Pacific. The four countries plan to continue delivering Earth Observation data and other space-related applications to assist nations across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen climate early warning systems and better manage the impacts of extreme weather events.
Space Situational Awareness Initiative
COUNTERING TERRORISM
The Quad hosted its first Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) in 2023 and will meet annually to discuss CT threats, Quad CT good practices, and ways the Quad can work together to mitigate acts of terrorism through information sharing, consequence management and strategic messaging. The Quad CTWG currently focuses on countering the use of unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices (CBRN), and the internet for terrorist purposes. The Quad CTWG discusses new CT lines of effort on which to collaborate, hosts technical workshops for establishing CT good practices, and explores ways to engage non-Quad members with Quad-established CT expertise.
###
Source: The White House
Today, the United States, Australia, India, and Japan are launching a groundbreaking effort to help end cancer as we know it in the Indo-Pacific, starting with cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease that continues to be a major health crisis in the region, and laying the groundwork to address other forms of cancer as well. This initiative is part of a broader set of announcements made at the Quad Leaders Summit.
The Quad Cancer Moonshot will serve to strengthen the overall cancer care ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific by improving health infrastructure, expanding research collaborations, building data systems, and providing greater support for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and care.
Cervical cancer, while preventable through vaccination and usually treatable if detected early, remains the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Indo-Pacific region. Fewer than one in 10 women in the Indo-Pacific have completed their human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series, and fewer than 10% have undergone recent screening. Many countries in the region face challenges related to healthcare access, limited resources, and disparities in vaccination rates. Through this initiative, Quad countries will work to address these gaps by promoting HPV vaccination, increasing access to screenings, and expanding treatment options and care in underserved areas.
Altogether, our scientific experts assess that the Quad Cancer Moonshot will save hundreds of thousands of lives over the coming decades.
These steps build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s steadfast commitment to ending cancer as we know it. More than two years ago, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reignited the Cancer Moonshot with the goals of reducing the cancer death rate in the United States by at least half—preventing more than 4 million cancer deaths—by 2047, and improving the experience of people who are touched by cancer.
Cancer is a global challenge that requires collective action and cooperation beyond any single nation’s effort. By working together, the Quad aims to implement innovative strategies to prevent, detect, treat and alleviate the impact of cancer on patients and their families. Quad partners also intend to work, within respective national contexts, to collaborate in advancing research and development in the area of cancer and to increase private sector and non-governmental sector activities in support of reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the region. Today Quad countries are pleased to announce the following ambitious commitments from our governments and non-government contributors:
QUAD COUNTRIES
United States
Australia
India
Japan
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Collaboration with the private and non-profit sectors of all Quad countries is indispensable to the success of this initiative, as their collective innovation, resources, and commitment will be critical in advancing progress against cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. Quad countries are pleased to announce the following actions from non-government contributors:
Improving Access to Cancer Screening and Prevention
Improving Cancer Care Delivery
Increasing Capacity for Cancer Research, Infrastructure, and Training
Increasing Cancer Awareness and Education to Empower People
###
Source: China State Council Information Office
This photo taken on Sept. 21, 2024 shows a military parade in Tehran, capital of Iran. [Photo/Xinhua]
Iran on Saturday unveiled its latest homegrown precision strike long-range ballistic missile and kamikaze drone at a grand parade staged by the country’s armed forces, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The ballistic missile, dubbed Jahad, and the drone, named Shahed-136B, were displayed for the first time during the parade at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, in southern Tehran. The event marked the beginning of Sacred Defense Week, commemorating the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, according to the report.
The one-stage Jahad ballistic missile, powered by solid fuel, can strike targets up to 1,000 km away with pinpoint accuracy. It has been designed and developed by the Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), according to Fars.
The Shahed 136B drone, powered by a turbojet engine, can destroy targets over 2,500 km away, Fars said, adding the unmanned aerial vehicle has also been designed and manufactured by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a military parade in Tehran, capital of Iran, Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Speaking at the parade, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that Iran can defend itself and ensure peace and security in the West Asia region through unity, solidarity and cooperation with other Muslim states.
“Today, Iran’s defense and deterrence power has increased to such a level that no devil dares perpetrate any act of aggression against the country, or even thinks of it,” he was quoted as saying in a statement published on the website of his office.
Source: China State Council Information Office
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 500 million U.S. dollars loan for Indonesia to help the Southeast Asian country accelerate its energy transition agenda, the bank’s official said on Saturday.
ADB Country Director for Indonesia Jiro Tominaga said in a statement that the loan would support the development of Indonesia’s basic and collaborative policy that would be formulated to identify and address the complex challenges it faces in speeding up the transition into sustainable and clean energy.
“Indonesia is at a very important junction in its energy transition journey. It has rapid growth of power generation capacity that helps it overcome most of its electricity supply constraints. However, it has also made the country heavily dependent on fossil fuel-based power sources such as coal, gas and diesel,” Tominaga said.
Therefore, he said, the loan would be mainly used in efforts to build a strong policy and regulatory framework to facilitate the transition to clean energy, strengthen sector governance and financial sustainability, and ensure an equitable and inclusive transition.
Indonesia, one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of coal, is currently pursuing a reduction of carbon emissions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
A report on the investigation into a fire that killed 39 people in a commercial and residential building in east China’s Jiangxi Province in January was released on Saturday.
The report, which was recently reviewed and approved by an executive meeting of the State Council, has identified violations from multiple parties.
It determined that the building’s landlord had illegally undertaken rental operations in the building’s basement and a cold storage facility was under construction illegally when the fire broke out.
The report has also made public details of several other violations, including major defects found in the building’s fire prevention facilities, the presence of illegal educational training and hotel business operations, and the failure of relevant local authorities to perform their supervision and management duties.
The fire broke out at a complex in the city of Xinyu in Jiangxi on Jan. 24, killing 39 and injuring nine others, and causing direct economic losses valued at nearly 44 million yuan (about 6 million U.S. dollars), according to the report.
Ten people suspected of major liabilities in the case have been arrested, and 55 local public officials have been held accountable for their part in the incident, with most receiving the severe disciplinary action of dismissal from administrative duties.
Central authorities have also decided to issue intra-Party warnings to two vice governors of Jiangxi Province and one provincial-level official.
The investigation was approved by the State Council and carried out by a joint team led by the Ministry of Emergency Management.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 22) that according to the Beach Water Quality Forecast System of the Environmental Protection Department (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/beach_quality/forecast_system.html), the Beach Water Quality Forecast Index for Deep Water Bay Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island is 4, which means the predicted water quality at these beaches is “Very Poor” due to potential transient water quality fluctuations caused by heavy rain. The red flags have been hoisted, and beachgoers are advised not to enter the water to safeguard their health.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Eastern foot of Helan Mountain enters harvest season of wine grape
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
2024 World Manufacturing Convention held in Hefei
Source: Government of Japan – Prime Minister
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) joined colleagues and advocates to stand together in solidarity with Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and across America, and to demand accountability for the harmful and false narratives perpetuated by Republicans. Additionally, the Members announced the introduction of legislation to condemn the racism and bigotry Haitian immigrant communities have faced in the aftermath of the GOP’s disinformation campaign and to celebrate the humanity and contributions of the Haitian community.
“Immigrants, including Haitians, came to the United States in pursuit of the American dream. When family-owned businesses in Springfield, Ohio were struggling to fill positions and keep production running, Haitian immigrants stepped up. These are hardworking people who have greatly contributed to the economy and have revived Springfield after decades of turmoil,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “Politics should not divide our communities. It is our responsibility to protect our communities from hateful rhetoric and work to provide them with the resources they need to thrive.”
“On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the community of Springfield, Ohio, and others, who in recent days have felt targeted, and who are forced to live in fear because of a lie perpetuated by Donald Trump and JD Vance. This racist rhetoric and misinformation is dangerous and needs to come to an end. We are calling on all Americans to embrace fairness and unity and to reject the politics of division and fear,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford.
“At a time when the Haitian people are suffering through a series of devastating, catastrophic crises, it is utterly contemptible that America’s most powerful would capitalize on the pain of those seeking safety in this country to amplify their anti-immigrant rhetoric. From Springfield, Ohio, to New York’s 9th District, to every corner of this nation where Haitian immigrants reside, these dangerous, disproven lies have brought real harm to those only seeking better lives for themselves and their families,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.“The extreme forces spreading this disinformation demand more than our universal condemnation, but a moral and humanitarian promise that we will not abandon our Haitian American neighbors to their cruelty. I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues and our many like-minded allies to reject the hatred of powerful politicians, billionaires, and extreme activists. Make no mistake – we will always rise to protect the right of immigrants to this nation to find their own American Dream.”
“The flagrant lies about the Haitian community perpetuated and amplified by Trump and Vance are disgraceful, dehumanizing, and outright dangerous – and we must call them out,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus. “As Congresswoman for the third largest Haitian diaspora community in the country, I want our Haitian neighbors to know that we see them and we stand with them. I was proud to join my Haiti Caucus colleagues to condemn this hate and unveil a resolution to celebrate and affirm the dignity, humanity, and contributions of our Haitian families. Congressional intent is powerful, and Congress must pass it without delay.”
“The baseless and racist attacks against innocent Haitian migrants and Haitian Americans cannot go unchecked. These are lies that only seek to hurt Haitian people and help MAGA extremists divide our country so they can win an election. I am proud to introduce this resolution alongside Reps. Clarke, Pressley, and Cherfilus-McCormick to forcefully condemn these attacks and send a clear message that this rhetoric is disgusting, hateful, and wrong,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “The Haitian community is beautiful, diverse, and an important part of the fabric of our country. Every single member of Congress regardless of party should be able to stand firmly in support of our resolution to condemn any and all hate against the Haitian community.”
“The campaign to denigrate Haitians as unfit to be in America Is a campaign against all immigrants, against decency, and against persons of goodwill who wish to live peacefully in a diverse and culturally rich America. The hate-mongering has no other purpose than to divide and conquer by scaring people away from the voting booth. We won’t be deterred,” said Jocelyn McCalla, Senior Policy Advisor for the Haitian-American Foundation for Democracy.
“The recent threats against Haitians in Springfield highlight a disturbing trend toward division rather than unity. I call upon the officials in Ohio to provide support and protection for Haitians and to stand against hatred. We urge our allies to join us in this fight for justice and solidarity for all communities facing discrimination,” said Mary Estimé-Irvin, Chairwoman, National Haitian American Elected Officials Network.
“This narrative about Haitian migrants that we are seeing today is based on racist policies that saw the US government detain Black Haitians in Florida and Guantanamo Bay while at the same time admitting white Cubans into the US. The dehumanization of Black migrants is a constant thread in this country’s history – and today we see similar racial inequities with Ukrainians vs Black and brown migrants at the US southern border and within the country,” said Ronald Claude, BAJI’s Policy Director. “The question we must ask ourselves is why are Black migrants treated as a burden for this country while white migrants are welcomed?”
“The African Diaspora, including Haitian immigrant community has been instrumental in shaping America’s economic, cultural, and social landscape. We all stand in solidarity with their pain. Haitians contributed to the emancipation of African people. They continue to play a vital role in building a brighter future for our Springfield and our nation. We are urging all U.S political leaders to run their campaign with integrity, dignity and respect. It is critical that we continue to protect our democracy and the great values that America symbolizes,” said Princess Philomina Desmond, Chair, Virginia Africa Diaspora Caucus, Board Member, African Diaspora for Good Governance.
Click here to see photos from the press conference.
Click here for the full text of H.Res.1473 – To condemn racism and bigotry towards Haitian people, to celebrate the vast contributions of people of Haitian descent to the United States, to condemn the spread of misinformation, and to call on Americans to affirm our shared humanity.
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Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
KONA, Hawaii– U.S. Indo-Pacific Command concluded the 26th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) in Kona, Hawaii on Sept. 20, 2024.
The conference was hosted by Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and brought together representatives and senior-most military leaders from countries in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Europe, North America, and South America. They discussed regional security trends and identified areas for future cooperation.
Twenty-eight countries and multinational organizations were represented at the three-day conference titled “The Future Indo-Pacific: Building a Resilient and Interconnected Region.” Plenary sessions were led by a wide mix of practitioners and think tank experts, demonstrating the importance of diverse voices and perspectives for addressing the challenges and opportunities in the region. Sessions included lectures, panels and discussions on the following topics: safeguarding the international system; regional capacity building; emerging technology threats and opportunities; the evolving cybersecurity landscape; and the future Indo-Pacific.
Concurrently, USINDOPACOM’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader Fleet Master Chief David Isom led the senior enlisted leaders program, which fostered conversations about the impact and role of the enlisted force and the collective capacity of noncommissioned officers toward organizational effectiveness and mission success. Discussions focused on expanding opportunities for collaboration, increasing interoperability, and how to enable the commander’s intent while empowering agency, accountability and leadership at every level.
NATO’s most senior military officer, Chair of the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, also attended the conference, deepening cooperation between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners following July’s NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. The high-level engagement and ongoing dialogue helps build situational awareness of security developments in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, and broaden perspectives on common global security challenges, such as maritime domain security, cyber defense, and the security impacts of climate change.
During the conference, Paparo hosted and participated in bilateral and multilateral meetings to reinforce existing relationships, address security concerns and understanding of regional challenges, and underscore unified commitment to protecting shared interests across the Indo-Pacific. Paparo met with senior military leaders from: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Fiji, India, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, NATO, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
Paparo also met with Gen. Wu Yanan, the commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command, where he underscored the importance of sustained lines of communication between the U.S. military and the PLA to reduce the risk of misperception or miscalculation. The meeting follows a video-teleconference call between Paparo and Wu earlier this month, and advances the commitment made during the bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China held in November 2023 to resume high-level military-to-military communication.
The CHODs conference contributes to a free and open Indo-Pacific by building on and strengthening relationships to enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and a consistent operational framework while underscoring international commitment to protecting shared interests across the region.
Source: The White House
8:50 A.M. EDT
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, guys, for being here. Today, we have the fourth Quad Leaders Summit, fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit, and the first time that President Biden has actually hosted leaders in his hometown and, literally, at his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
You guys have heard the President say many times that all politics is personal, all diplomacy is personal. And developing personal relationships has been core to his approach to foreign policy as President.
So, opening his home to the leaders of India, Japan, and Australia is a way of him showing, not just saying, that these leaders matter to him, that the Quad matters to him as a significant foreign policy priority. And institutionalizing and deepening and elevating the Quad has been one of the things that he’s going to be very proud of when he leaves office and passes the baton to the next President of the United States.
When President Biden came in, within the early months, he held a Quad — a virtual summit, and it was the first time the leaders of the Quad had actually met in any format. And what the President wanted to do was not just have this be something where leaders convened occasionally, but actually a vehicle for driving deepening cooperation and integration across the region.
And so, if you look at the last three and a half years, whether it’s on the response to COVID-19 or humanitarian response across the region, or issues like cyber and cyber capacity-building across the region, there’s a range of significant achievements the Quad has already had. And today, the Quad leaders will announce a number of further steps forward.
There’ll be the announcement of the Quad Cancer Moonshot, which we’re very excited about, with all four countries coming to the table with resources and capacities to help drive towards the cures to deadly cancers. And there’ll be more to say on that later today.
There’s the expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, which is a mouthful, but is really about integrating new technologies and new capabilities, not just for Quad members, but for countries in Southeast Asia and the rest of the region, for them to understand their maritime domains so they can better manage and regulate them and ensure their security and also ensure that they are delivering economic benefits to the people of the relevant countries.
There will be — we’ll have an announcement of the expansion of the Quad fellows, which will now not just be fellows from the four countries, but fellows from Southeast Asia as well.
We’ll announce the pre-positioning of relief supplies across the region and the ability for Quad countries to react more rapidly in the case of humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
And the Quad will announce its first-ever coast guard mission together as well, which will show the joint capabilities of the four countries in terms of their ability — in terms of their coast guards.
So, there’s a number of other things that you’ll see in the fact sheet as well, but this just shows the breadth and range of ways in which the Quad is becoming a feature of the architecture of the Indo-Pacific. And we hope and expect that that will deepen in the years ahead.
And the reason I think we can have some confidence in that is there’s genuine bipartisan support for the Quad. It’s something that really transcends party lines. And, in fact, over the last 24 hours, we’ve had the announcement of a bipartisan, bicameral Quad Caucus, something I never quite thought I would see, but Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate actually standing up a caucus to support this, this platform, because of the importance that Congress places on it and what it can deliver.
The last thing I would say is that when you look at the Quad and AUKUS and the Camp David trilateral and our engagement with the Pacific Islands in ASEAN, one thing that has been a hallmark of the President’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific has been to move from the traditional hub-and-spoke model, rooted largely in bilateral alliances and bilateral partnerships, to a latticework approach with multiple institutions, overlapping partnerships, different configurations that all add up to genuinely new architecture for the Indo-Pacific, and the Quad is a critical part of that.
And I think it leaves the United States in a stronger position, with a more dense and capable and dynamic set of partnerships, and with relationships not just between us and our partners, but among our partners, that allow us to deliver greater results and achieve more stability and security and drive towards the ultimate objective, which is a free and open Indo-Pacific.
So let me stop there, and happy to take your questions.
Q Jake, just (inaudible), you didn’t mention China directly in the joint leaders’ statement. What sort of language should we expect directed at the PRC?
MR. SULLIVAN: The Quad isn’t really about any other country. It’s not directed at another country. It’s directed at problem solving and standing up for a set of common principles and a common vision for the region.
So, I don’t think you should expect to see a focus on any particular country, including the PRC, in the Quad leaders’ statement. That’s been the pattern since the beginning, because the nature and purpose of this institution is really about the kinds of things I just described. It’s about delivering vaccines, delivering cyber capacity, delivering coast guard capacity, delivering humanitarian assistance, delivering science and technology progress. So that’s what we’re going to continue to focus on, and that’s what you’ll see in the fact sheet — the joint leaders’ statement.
Q But, Jake, as you add more security features to this partnership, you know, is there a risk, a possibility that China, which has already expressed concerns about encirclement related to the Quad, begins to have objections to this cooperation?
MR. SULLIVAN: Look, I’ll let the PRC speak for itself, and obviously it does speak for itself about a number of different initiatives the United States has taken in the Indo-Pacific. We’re just going to prove year on year everything that I just said, which is really that the thrust and purpose of the institution writ large and the security features of it are about a positive agenda to enhance security, not just for Quad countries but for other regional partners.
So, it’s hard for me to see how and why the PRC should object to the four countries, for example, doing a coast guard mission together, or doing cyber trainings for Southeast Asia together, or taking steps with respect to maritime domain awareness. These do not, to me, indicate any form of aggression or assertive behavior. They’re fundamentally constructive and positive, and that’s where we’re going to continue to position the Quad.
Q Can you speak a little bit to the President’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi and what, if anything, he’ll say about what he wants to do vis-à-vis China and Russia (inaudible)?
MR. SULLIVAN: I won’t go too deep into the details of what he will say on those issues, which are obviously sensitive and will obviously be critical priorities in the bilateral meeting.
I will just say this: that the United States has been clear about our view that Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine flouted every norm and principle of international law, that countries like India should step up and support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that every country everywhere should refrain from supplying inputs to Russia’s war machine for it to be able to continue to prosecute this brutal war. So they will talk about that.
The President will also h
ear from Prime Minister Modi about his trip to Ukraine, which was an important and indeed historic trip, and it will be the opportunity for the two of them to talk about their respective views of the way forward.
And then, with respect to China, you know, they will talk about how they see China’s actions in the region, where China is headed. And that’s not just true in the security domain, but the economic and technology domain as well. And we’ll work to try to coordinate approaches to the extent that that makes sense for both countries.
Q In the past month or so, there’s been a lot of (inaudible) China (inaudible). There’s been lots of (inaudible) still in the offing. Can you speak to, like, how the President himself is reviewing the culmination, I guess, of the administration’s China strategy leading up to this? And should we consider this Quad sort of part of that puzzle, (inaudible)?
MR. SULLIVAN: I think you should consider this Quad and all of our other actions part of an effort to strengthen the capacity of the United States to defend our interests, support our allies and partners, advance problem solving on critical common challenges, and generally put ourself in a more robust, competitive position writ large.
But I don’t think you should see it again as being directed at China. And I think this is American foreign policy, in a way at its historic best, which innovation partnerships designed to enhance stability, designed to deliver results, and connected to other partnerships that are going the same thing.
And I think, kind of, over-cranking the emphasis on any one country is missing what I think the central thrust and purpose of these kinds of institutions, including the Quad, are all about.
Q You mentioned at the top the personal nature of this visit. And the White House is using the terminology “personal meeting” rather than the usual “bilateral meeting.” Can you give us a sense of how these meetings are different, what we might expect? For example, Prime Minister Albanese yesterday, did he get a tour of the house? See the Corvette? Were there family members present? Can you can you give us a flavor of that?
MR. SULLIVAN: He did get a bit of a tour of the house. I don’t think he saw the Corvette, though. I can’t confirm that for sure, because the two of them sort of went off by themselves for a bit, and I haven’t had a chance to speak to the President about what exactly the Prime Minister saw.
There weren’t other family members there. It was really a sort of one-on-one opportunity for President Biden and the Prime Minister to sit and talk. And then, a few of us joined them, obviously, for part of the meeting when it turned to substance.
It was just — honestly, the vibe of it was sort of two guys, one at the other guy’s home, talking in broad strokes about where they see the state of the world, about — you know, swapping some stories from their respective political careers, you know, talking about the history of the U.S.-Australia alliance.
It just kind of had a feeling like if you had someone come over for a cup of coffee or a meal. You know, that kind of feeling was much more present than, like, a stiff bilateral. And the President told everybody, “Take off your jackets. Get comfortable,” which we all obliged.
So, yeah, I’m very bad at answering questions like that, but that’s my best shot at it.
Q Well, if I may, on Sudan, a United Nations panel of experts has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying arms to the RSF in breach of the weapons embargo on Darfur. MBZ, I guess, is coming to the White House this week. Will the President raise those allegations directly with the leader of the United Arab Emirates?
MR. SULLIVAN: I’ll let the President talk to Sheikh Mohamed privately about Sudan. I think it would be more effective to do that.
What I will say is we are concerned about a number of countries and the steps they are taking to perpetuate rather than resolve the conflict. And I will also say that Sudan will certainly be on the agenda, and the President will be as direct and candid with Sheikh Mohamed as he is with every leader. And then, after the fact, we’ll share what we feel we can.
And the reason why I’m not, sort of, laying it out all in public right now is: Our ultimate objective is to get the entire conflict in Sudan on a different track than the tragic and horrific track it is on right now. And I think that requires some intense but sensitive diplomatic conversations with a number of players. That’s what the President is intending to do writ large. And as I said, Sudan will certainly be part of the agenda with the UAE President on Monday.
Q Jake, so (inaudible) President will Japan Prime Minister Kishida. Do you expect him to talk about that deal between U.S. Steel and Japan Nippon Steel? And does (inaudible) oppose that deal and try to stop it?
MR. SULLIVAN: I cannot say yet whether that particular deal will come up in the conversation today. There are obviously huge priorities in terms of current events and geopolitical trends and economic and technology cooperation. So, I’m not sure that it will come up. And the President has spoken to this issue before, but the matter really is, at the moment, in a official process while the transaction is studied by the relevant authorities and the relevant agencies, the U.S. government.
And so, you know, the President will obviously allow that process to run its course because that’s what’s required under the law. And then we will see what happens.
Q Prime Minister Kishida will step down soon. You going to talk about his contribution, achievement, but what do you expect from the new Japanese prime minister?
MR. SULLIVAN: One thing that I do expect, whoever the new Japanese prime minister is, is continued investment in and support for the U.S.-Japan alliance as the cornerstone peace of security in the Indo-Pacific. And I expect that because the overwhelming majority of the Japanese people support that and because this alliance is bigger than any one leader on either side, in Japan or the United States.
So I have confidence that the strong bond and partnership between our two countries will continue no matter who takes the helm, although I will say Prime Minister Kishida should be saluted, and President Biden will salute him, as a very significant contributor to the high-water mark we’ve reached in the U.S.-Japan alliance at this point and in Japan’s global leadership role.
So, it will obviously be different because Prime Minister Kishida is a unique individual, but one thing that we think will remain the same is the strong alliance between the United States and Japan.
Q Just on the Nippon deal, very quickly: Some proponents of that deal are interpreting last week’s extension as a sign that the President is having second thoughts. What would you say to them?
MR. SULLIVAN: I can’t speak to that because I think nobody should overread what happened last week as a substantive expression of views, rather as a matter of process to ensure that the transaction gets the full review that’s appropriate in a case like this, as I said, from the relevant authorities and agencies. And the President really does want to let that play out.
Q You mentioned that it’s not about one country, but of course, China comes to mind over time. As just recently, they announced sanctions against American companies. They’re selling weapons to Taiwan. Taiwan is getting money from the United States to be able to defend themselves. And the incidents in the past few weeks in (inaudible) has been escalating, not only with Taiwan with China, but also Philippines.
During this meeting, is that top of mind
, or is this something that you want to address? Because, I mean, you mentioned the coast guard event shouldn’t be questioned by the Chinese; it’s just an event that they’re going to do as a group. But from their point of view, they’re talking about it and condemning these types of actions. Should we worry about China moving forward or being more aggressive as the world is focused on Lebanon, the Middle East, Ukraine?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, first of all, it’s true that the front pages of newspapers are filled with stories about the Middle East rather than the Indo-Pacific right now. But the United States of America is focused in both places. And there’s probably no better proof point than the fact that we’re sitting here right now, on a Quad Summit day, meeting with leaders of the Indo-Pacific, even as we continue to closely monitor events in the Middle East.
So, if you look at the work that we have done over the last four years, the intense engagement with allies and partners, the work on — this latticework that I described, the efforts to strengthen our own industrial and innovation base, the measures we’ve taken to protect our sensitive technologies, we feel like we are in a very strong position to stand up for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. And obviously, we are concerned about actions that China has taken, and we speak out about those actions quite directly and candidly.
But we are also putting the United States and our allies and partners in a position to effectively defend our interests and to defend the rules of the road that have kept the peace in the Indo-Pacific for a long time. We’re going to continue to do that.
The other thing I would say is that each of the four members of the Quad has their own approach to the PRC. There’s not going to be some “Quad approach” to the PRC. But of course, in the course of the conversation today, the four leaders will have the opportunity to talk about all of the developments in the Indo-Pacific, and obviously the PRC is part of that.
So, it will be one of the issues or one of the topics that come up among many.
Q If I may, on Venezuela — because Venezuela is close to China right now, and it’s one of the allies, but also Russia and Iran. So we know four Americans are detained in the past few days. The situation is getting just harder and harder to get to an agreement. We are expecting a meeting at the United Nations to talk about Venezuela, led by Uruguay and other countries. Do you see any possibility of moving forward in this subject? We understand the U.S. have supported the talks. Is it a possibility to go back to Qatar? Is Qatar in the table again?
MR. SULLIVAN: We continue to talk to Qatar, who wants to play a constructive role in engaging the Maduro regime, the opposition, the United States, other players. At the moment, there’s not much traction on talks, and what we’re instead continuing to see are negative steps by the Maduro regime in the aftermath of an election where we have been very clear our judgment is that Edmundo Gonzalez received the most votes.
So, we’ll continue to work, particularly with countries in the region, to try to develop a common approach forward to support democracy and a democratic transition in Venezuela. But I will say that at the moment there is not a substantial diplomatic opportunity to make progress, and we’re going to
have to keep looking for one.
Q Jake, on the Middle East, the Lebanese are saying at least 31 were killed in that bombing of a building that apparently targeted at least one Hezbollah commander. Has the U.S. figured out who exactly was targeted and killed?
MR. SULLIVAN: The Israelis have announced, and I believe Hezbollah itself has confirmed, some of the people who were killed in that strike. And I will let Israel and Hezbollah speak to it, because obviously we don’t have an independent capacity at this point to confirm. But I believe a fair amount of that is out in the public domain at this point.
Q If at least one of those was one of those responsible for organizing the barracks bombing back in the ‘80s, how significant would that be that he’s now dead?
MR. SULLIVAN: That individual has American blood on his hands and has a Rewards for Justice price on his head. And he is somebody who the United States promised long ago we would do everything we could to see brought to justice.
And anytime a terrorist who has murdered Americans is brought to justice, we believe that that is a good outcome. But again, I’m not in a position this morning, until I have the opportunity to talk again to my Israeli counterparts today, to formally confirm anything; just to say, you know, 1983 seems like a long time ago, but for a lot of families, a lot of people, it was — they’re still living with it every day.
Q One other. Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich have been in Washington in recent days, mostly to visit with lawmakers. Is there any plan for them to meet with the President?
MR. SULLIVAN: I guess not. The President met with both of them, obviously, when they came back to the States. So there wasn’t — we didn’t have a plan for them to sit down this past week or this coming week in Washington. But, you know, I’m sure he would be happy to see them again at some point.
Q There’s a report that I got (inaudible) disagree with about U.S. officials conceding that there won’t be a deal during the President’s term. What is your assessment of that?
MR. SULLIVAN: I think that’s crazy. I mean —
Q So, it was correct that you’d (inaudible). (Laughter.) (Inaudible) disagree with it, that yes —
MR. SULLIVAN: This is not me sitting here saying, “Hey, there will be a deal.” One can’t know. And I’ve — you’ve heard me repeatedly use this George Mitchell line of “700 days of failure, one day of success.” But this is diplomacy. Every day, you get up and you try to drive towards a deal that brings about a ceasefire, the return of hostages, surge of humanitarian assistance, and ultimately the end of the war. We’re doing that today. We’re going to do that tomorrow. We’re going to do that every day.
And I do still believe there is a path to get there. It has been a winding path, a frustrating path, but we are still on that path, and we hope to reach the destination. But we’re also mindful of the fact and very clear-eyed about the fact that there’s still obstacles in the way; we’re going to do our best to clear them. And I can’t make any predictions about what’s going to happen, but what I can certainly say is we are not conceding that, period.
Q But we’ve been waiting a while in terms of a new bridging proposal. Is that right? So when is — when do you expect to put that on the table?
MR. SULLIVAN: I can’t tell you that because we’re not at a point right now where I can — where we’re prepared to put something on the table. We’re continuing to work with Qatar and Egypt. They’re talking to Hamas. We’re talking to Israel. The Qataris and Egyptians are talking to Israel. And when we feel ready to take another step, we’ll take another step.
Q What’s the holdup?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, at the moment, we don’t feel like we’re in a position, if we put something down today, to get both sides to say yes to it. Could that change over the course of the coming days? It could. You know — yeah, I’ll leave it at that for now.
Q Jake, in terms of the events of last week in Lebanon, do you have any assessments what that has done to the operational capabilities of Hezbollah? And what is your current level of concern that what you’ve been trying to prevent the last, you know, 11-plus months could st
art off as (inaudible)?
MR. SULLIVAN: It stands to reason that Lebanese Hezbollah’s capabilities have taken a hit. How significant a hit, how that translates to their ability to represent a threat to Israel, I think we still need some more assessment to reach more guidance on.
The risk of escalation is real; it has been since October 7th. There are moments where it is more acute than others. I think we are in one of those moments where it is more acute.
But I would take a step back and make an observation that I don’t think gets sufficient attention in the reporting on this dynamic, which is that Hezbollah started this whole thing. Hamas attacks on October 7th, this vicious massacre. And then, as Nasrallah just said in his speech this week, the way he put it, Nasrallah opened the Northern Front.
Israel didn’t start just randomly attacking into Lebanon. Hezbollah and its allies in — its terrorist allies in Lebanon started attacking Israel. And tens of thousands of Israeli citizens had to leave their homes. That led to an exchange of fire, and then Lebanese citizens had to leave their homes. And we’ve been in that dynamic ever since.
So, that’s an important structural factor that I think, kind of, gets set aside in the commentary and the coverage of the current circumstance.
That being said, the United States’ position is we would like to see calm on the northern border and a durable solution that allows the people on both sides of that border to return to their homes. We are driving at that. Amos Hochstein was recently back in the region to work towards that. I’ve spoken with my Israeli counterparts just in the last couple of days to see how we find a way forward on that.
And so, while the risk of escalation is real, we actually believe there is also a distinct avenue to getting to a cessation of hostilities and a durable solution that makes people on both sides of the border feel secure, and we’re going to do everything that we can to bring that about.
Q And can I just (inaudible) — when you say the risk of escalation is real, are you saying the IDF flattening tower blocks in Beirut is not an escalation?
MR. SULLIVAN: I think the question he was asking — the heart of his question was: could we get into a wider war that we have been trying to avoid for the last 11 months. I think that’s what the question was.
Q Then I’ll ask the question.
MR. SULLIVAN: I was answering (inaudible).
Q I’ll ask the question then: Was the IDF strike an escalation, in your view?
MR. SULLIVAN: Look, when I talk about escalation, I mean where does this take us from the point of view of, “Are we going to end up in a wider war.” We’re not there yet. I hope we do not get there.
When you pose a question, “Was this strike escalation? Was that strike escalation?” the United States is not going to score-keep like that. There’s a number of different ways to look at this strike. The chief way I personally look at it goes back to the discussion we were having before, which is it was a strike against a senior terrorist who has both Israeli and American lives on his hands.
So we could pick any moment, any set of rockets launched by Hezbollah, any set of strikes by Israel, and say, “Is this an escalation? Is that an escalation?” and so forth. I think it’s not a particularly useful exercise. For us, the most useful exercise is to try to drive both parties to a place where we get an agreed and durable outcome that can end the cycle and keep us from ending up in the larger war that, as we were just talking about, we’ve worked so hard to (inaudible).
Q Is there any announcement that we should expect next week about Haiti? (Inaudible) report that says that even though we have now the Kenya team there and the security forces, 80 percent of Port-au-Prince is run by gangs. Things are not getting better for the people. Violence keep growing. And of course, we don’t have elections or plan of a government soon.
MR. SULLIVAN: Look, things are not where we would like them to be in Haiti, but I think it is not correct to say that things have not gotten better from a low point when flights were shut down, the port was shut down, it looked like the entire government was going to be run out of the country.
We have improved the situation from that low point, but the progress we have made has been slower and more uneven than we’d like it to be. Our goal is to continue to enhance the Multilateral Security Support Mission and ultimately work with the United Nations to make sure that it gets institutionalized.
But I don’t know that we have any particular announcements next week. Rather, our goal is to use the U.N. General Assembly to get more resources, more contributions, and a common vision around building step by step on what we’ve put in place so that we can improve the situation beyond where it is right now.
MODERATOR: We have time for about two more questions.
Q Just a follow-up. And how can that happen? I know Colombia wanted to help, but, like, it’s not an actual mission like (inaudible) it was the U.N. (inaudible) — is this a security group, and the U.S. is leading the efforts. So how the countries will get involved, and how can they operate? Like, Mexico cannot (inaudible) officers —
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, a number of countries have pledged contributions, including police units, former police units. And so, the first thing that can happen is we can turn those pledges into reality, and then we can work bilaterally with countries like Mexico and Colombia on their legal requirements to try to satisfy them so that they could, in fact, (inaudible).
Q To put a pin, though, you know, the discussion about China, you know, before, in the lead-up to this, administration officials at the podium were telegraphing that there could be talk about aggressive PRC military action on fair trade practices, tensions over the Taiwan Strait. You know, preview that there’s going to be discussion of North Korea. I know you said that the Quad is not about one country, but to China and to many people, it looks like it’s focusing on China. So I’m curious to what your response to me, to folks that say you’re trying to have it both ways on China.
MR. SULLIVAN: I guess what I would say, and I think I said this before, is the leaders are going to talk about all of the significant developments and dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Everything you just mentioned fits into that category. So we don’t take issues off the table to discuss or speak about.
But my point is that the purpose of the Quad is not to come together around China or any other country. It’s to come together around how to construct a free and open Indo-Pacific. And actions and policies that disrupt or undermine that are certainly not just of interest, but are going to be a matter of discussion for Quad members.
But the way I square the circle is to say these issues are on the agenda because they relate to a free and open Indo-Pacific, but China is not the focus of the Quad, and the Quad is not about one country. It is about a larger vision that we’re (inaudible).
MODERATOR: All right, thanks, everyone.
9:26 A.M. EDT
US Senate News:
Source: The White House
8:50 A.M. EDT MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, guys, for being here. Today, we have the fourth Quad Leaders Summit, fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit, and the first time that President Biden has actually hosted leaders in his hometown and, literally, at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. You guys have heard the President say many times that all politics is personal, all diplomacy is personal. And developing personal relationships has been core to his approach to foreign policy as President. So, opening his home to the leaders of India, Japan, and Australia is a way of him showing, not just saying, that these leaders matter to him, that the Quad matters to him as a significant foreign policy priority. And institutionalizing and deepening and elevating the Quad has been one of the things that he’s going to be very proud of when he leaves office and passes the baton to the next President of the United States. When President Biden came in, within the early months, he held a Quad — a virtual summit, and it was the first time the leaders of the Quad had actually met in any format. And what the President wanted to do was not just have this be something where leaders convened occasionally, but actually a vehicle for driving deepening cooperation and integration across the region. And so, if you look at the last three and a half years, whether it’s on the response to COVID-19 or humanitarian response across the region, or issues like cyber and cyber capacity-building across the region, there’s a range of significant achievements the Quad has already had. And today, the Quad leaders will announce a number of further steps forward. There’ll be the announcement of the Quad Cancer Moonshot, which we’re very excited about, with all four countries coming to the table with resources and capacities to help drive towards the cures to deadly cancers. And there’ll be more to say on that later today. There’s the expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, which is a mouthful, but is really about integrating new technologies and new capabilities, not just for Quad members, but for countries in Southeast Asia and the rest of the region, for them to understand their maritime domains so they can better manage and regulate them and ensure their security and also ensure that they are delivering economic benefits to the people of the relevant countries. There will be — we’ll have an announcement of the expansion of the Quad fellows, which will now not just be fellows from the four countries, but fellows from Southeast Asia as well. We’ll announce the pre-positioning of relief supplies across the region and the ability for Quad countries to react more rapidly in the case of humanitarian crises and natural disasters. And the Quad will announce its first-ever coast guard mission together as well, which will show the joint capabilities of the four countries in terms of their ability — in terms of their coast guards. So, there’s a number of other things that you’ll see in the fact sheet as well, but this just shows the breadth and range of ways in which the Quad is becoming a feature of the architecture of the Indo-Pacific. And we hope and expect that that will deepen in the years ahead. And the reason I think we can have some confidence in that is there’s genuine bipartisan support for the Quad. It’s something that really transcends party lines. And, in fact, over the last 24 hours, we’ve had the announcement of a bipartisan, bicameral Quad Caucus, something I never quite thought I would see, but Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate actually standing up a caucus to support this, this platform, because of the importance that Congress places on it and what it can deliver. The last thing I would say is that when you look at the Quad and AUKUS and the Camp David trilateral and our engagement with the Pacific Islands in ASEAN, one thing that has been a hallmark of the President’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific has been to move from the traditional hub-and-spoke model, rooted largely in bilateral alliances and bilateral partnerships, to a latticework approach with multiple institutions, overlapping partnerships, different configurations that all add up to genuinely new architecture for the Indo-Pacific, and the Quad is a critical part of that. And I think it leaves the United States in a stronger position, with a more dense and capable and dynamic set of partnerships, and with relationships not just between us and our partners, but among our partners, that allow us to deliver greater results and achieve more stability and security and drive towards the ultimate objective, which is a free and open Indo-Pacific. So let me stop there, and happy to take your questions. Q Jake, just (inaudible), you didn’t mention China directly in the joint leaders’ statement. What sort of language should we expect directed at the PRC? MR. SULLIVAN: The Quad isn’t really about any other country. It’s not directed at another country. It’s directed at problem solving and standing up for a set of common principles and a common vision for the region. So, I don’t think you should expect to see a focus on any particular country, including the PRC, in the Quad leaders’ statement. That’s been the pattern since the beginning, because the nature and purpose of this institution is really about the kinds of things I just described. It’s about delivering vaccines, delivering cyber capacity, delivering coast guard capacity, delivering humanitarian assistance, delivering science and technology progress. So that’s what we’re going to continue to focus on, and that’s what you’ll see in the fact sheet — the joint leaders’ statement. Q But, Jake, as you add more security features to this partnership, you know, is there a risk, a possibility that China, which has already expressed concerns about encirclement related to the Quad, begins to have objections to this cooperation? MR. SULLIVAN: Look, I’ll let the PRC speak for itself, and obviously it does speak for itself about a number of different initiatives the United States has taken in the Indo-Pacific. We’re just going to prove year on year everything that I just said, which is really that the thrust and purpose of the institution writ large and the security features of it are about a positive agenda to enhance security, not just for Quad countries but for other regional partners. So, it’s hard for me to see how and why the PRC should object to the four countries, for example, doing a coast guard mission together, or doing cyber trainings for Southeast Asia together, or taking steps with respect to maritime domain awareness. These do not, to me, indicate any form of aggression or assertive behavior. They’re fundamentally constructive and positive, and that’s where we’re going to continue to position the Quad. Q Can you speak a little bit to the President’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi and what, if anything, he’ll say about what he wants to do vis-à-vis China and Russia (inaudible)? MR. SULLIVAN: I won’t go too deep into the details of what he will say on those issues, which are obviously sensitive and will obviously be critical priorities in the bilateral meeting. I will just say this: that the United States has been clear about our view that Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine flouted every norm and principle of international law, that countries like India should step up and support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that every country everywhere should refrain from supplying inputs to Russia’s war machine for it to be able to continue to prosecute this brutal war. So they will talk about that. The President will also hear from Prime Minister Modi about his trip to Ukraine, which was an important and indeed historic trip, and it will be the opportunity for the two of them to talk about their respective views of the way forward. And then, with respect to China, you kn
ow, they will talk about how they see China’s actions in the region, where China is headed. And that’s not just true in the security domain, but the economic and technology domain as well. And we’ll work to try to coordinate approaches to the extent that that makes sense for both countries. Q In the past month or so, there’s been a lot of (inaudible) China (inaudible). There’s been lots of (inaudible) still in the offing. Can you speak to, like, how the President himself is reviewing the culmination, I guess, of the administration’s China strategy leading up to this? And should we consider this Quad sort of part of that puzzle, (inaudible)? MR. SULLIVAN: I think you should consider this Quad and all of our other actions part of an effort to strengthen the capacity of the United States to defend our interests, support our allies and partners, advance problem solving on critical common challenges, and generally put ourself in a more robust, competitive position writ large. But I don’t think you should see it again as being directed at China. And I think this is American foreign policy, in a way at its historic best, which innovation partnerships designed to enhance stability, designed to deliver results, and connected to other partnerships that are going the same thing. And I think, kind of, over-cranking the emphasis on any one country is missing what I think the central thrust and purpose of these kinds of institutions, including the Quad, are all about. Q You mentioned at the top the personal nature of this visit. And the White House is using the terminology “personal meeting” rather than the usual “bilateral meeting.” Can you give us a sense of how these meetings are different, what we might expect? For example, Prime Minister Albanese yesterday, did he get a tour of the house? See the Corvette? Were there family members present? Can you can you give us a flavor of that? MR. SULLIVAN: He did get a bit of a tour of the house. I don’t think he saw the Corvette, though. I can’t confirm that for sure, because the two of them sort of went off by themselves for a bit, and I haven’t had a chance to speak to the President about what exactly the Prime Minister saw. There weren’t other family members there. It was really a sort of one-on-one opportunity for President Biden and the Prime Minister to sit and talk. And then, a few of us joined them, obviously, for part of the meeting when it turned to substance. It was just — honestly, the vibe of it was sort of two guys, one at the other guy’s home, talking in broad strokes about where they see the state of the world, about — you know, swapping some stories from their respective political careers, you know, talking about the history of the U.S.-Australia alliance. It just kind of had a feeling like if you had someone come over for a cup of coffee or a meal. You know, that kind of feeling was much more present than, like, a stiff bilateral. And the President told everybody, “Take off your jackets. Get comfortable,” which we all obliged. So, yeah, I’m very bad at answering questions like that, but that’s my best shot at it. Q Well, if I may, on Sudan, a United Nations panel of experts has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying arms to the RSF in breach of the weapons embargo on Darfur. MBZ, I guess, is coming to the White House this week. Will the President raise those allegations directly with the leader of the United Arab Emirates? MR. SULLIVAN: I’ll let the President talk to Sheikh Mohamed privately about Sudan. I think it would be more effective to do that. What I will say is we are concerned about a number of countries and the steps they are taking to perpetuate rather than resolve the conflict. And I will also say that Sudan will certainly be on the agenda, and the President will be as direct and candid with Sheikh Mohamed as he is with every leader. And then, after the fact, we’ll share what we feel we can. And the reason why I’m not, sort of, laying it out all in public right now is: Our ultimate objective is to get the entire conflict in Sudan on a different track than the tragic and horrific track it is on right now. And I think that requires some intense but sensitive diplomatic conversations with a number of players. That’s what the President is intending to do writ large. And as I said, Sudan will certainly be part of the agenda with the UAE President on Monday. Q Jake, so (inaudible) President will Japan Prime Minister Kishida. Do you expect him to talk about that deal between U.S. Steel and Japan Nippon Steel? And does (inaudible) oppose that deal and try to stop it? MR. SULLIVAN: I cannot say yet whether that particular deal will come up in the conversation today. There are obviously huge priorities in terms of current events and geopolitical trends and economic and technology cooperation. So, I’m not sure that it will come up. And the President has spoken to this issue before, but the matter really is, at the moment, in a official process while the transaction is studied by the relevant authorities and the relevant agencies, the U.S. government. And so, you know, the President will obviously allow that process to run its course because that’s what’s required under the law. And then we will see what happens. Q Prime Minister Kishida will step down soon. You going to talk about his contribution, achievement, but what do you expect from the new Japanese prime minister? MR. SULLIVAN: One thing that I do expect, whoever the new Japanese prime minister is, is continued investment in and support for the U.S.-Japan alliance as the cornerstone peace of security in the Indo-Pacific. And I expect that because the overwhelming majority of the Japanese people support that and because this alliance is bigger than any one leader on either side, in Japan or the United States. So I have confidence that the strong bond and partnership between our two countries will continue no matter who takes the helm, although I will say Prime Minister Kishida should be saluted, and President Biden will salute him, as a very significant contributor to the high-water mark we’ve reached in the U.S.-Japan alliance at this point and in Japan’s global leadership role. So, it will obviously be different because Prime Minister Kishida is a unique individual, but one thing that we think will remain the same is the strong alliance between the United States and Japan. Q Just on the Nippon deal, very quickly: Some proponents of that deal are interpreting last week’s extension as a sign that the President is having second thoughts. What would you say to them? MR. SULLIVAN: I can’t speak to that because I think nobody should overread what happened last week as a substantive expression of views, rather as a matter of process to ensure that the transaction gets the full review that’s appropriate in a case like this, as I said, from the relevant authorities and agencies. And the President really does want to let that play out. Q You mentioned that it’s not about one country, but of course, China comes to mind over time. As just recently, they announced sanctions against American companies. They’re selling weapons to Taiwan. Taiwan is getting money from the United States to be able to defend themselves. And the incidents in the past few weeks in (inaudible) has been escalating, not only with Taiwan with China, but also Philippines. During this meeting, is that top of mind, or is this something that you want to address? Because, I mean, you mentioned the coast guard event shouldn’t be questioned by the Chinese; it’s just an event that they’re going to do as a group. But from their point of view, they’re talking about it and condemning these types of actions. Should we worry about China moving forward or being more aggressive as the world is focused on Lebanon, the Middle East, Ukraine? MR. SULLIVAN: Well, first of all, it’s true that the front pages of news
papers are filled with stories about the Middle East rather than the Indo-Pacific right now. But the United States of America is focused in both places. And there’s probably no better proof point than the fact that we’re sitting here right now, on a Quad Summit day, meeting with leaders of the Indo-Pacific, even as we continue to closely monitor events in the Middle East. So, if you look at the work that we have done over the last four years, the intense engagement with allies and partners, the work on — this latticework that I described, the efforts to strengthen our own industrial and innovation base, the measures we’ve taken to protect our sensitive technologies, we feel like we are in a very strong position to stand up for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. And obviously, we are concerned about actions that China has taken, and we speak out about those actions quite directly and candidly. But we are also putting the United States and our allies and partners in a position to effectively defend our interests and to defend the rules of the road that have kept the peace in the Indo-Pacific for a long time. We’re going to continue to do that. The other thing I would say is that each of the four members of the Quad has their own approach to the PRC. There’s not going to be some “Quad approach” to the PRC. But of course, in the course of the conversation today, the four leaders will have the opportunity to talk about all of the developments in the Indo-Pacific, and obviously the PRC is part of that. So, it will be one of the issues or one of the topics that come up among many. Q If I may, on Venezuela — because Venezuela is close to China right now, and it’s one of the allies, but also Russia and Iran. So we know four Americans are detained in the past few days. The situation is getting just harder and harder to get to an agreement. We are expecting a meeting at the United Nations to talk about Venezuela, led by Uruguay and other countries. Do you see any possibility of moving forward in this subject? We understand the U.S. have supported the talks. Is it a possibility to go back to Qatar? Is Qatar in the table again? MR. SULLIVAN: We continue to talk to Qatar, who wants to play a constructive role in engaging the Maduro regime, the opposition, the United States, other players. At the moment, there’s not much traction on talks, and what we’re instead continuing to see are negative steps by the Maduro regime in the aftermath of an election where we have been very clear our judgment is that Edmundo Gonzalez received the most votes. So, we’ll continue to work, particularly with countries in the region, to try to develop a common approach forward to support democracy and a democratic transition in Venezuela. But I will say that at the moment there is not a substantial diplomatic opportunity to make progress, and we’re going tohave to keep looking for one. Q Jake, on the Middle East, the Lebanese are saying at least 31 were killed in that bombing of a building that apparently targeted at least one Hezbollah commander. Has the U.S. figured out who exactly was targeted and killed? MR. SULLIVAN: The Israelis have announced, and I believe Hezbollah itself has confirmed, some of the people who were killed in that strike. And I will let Israel and Hezbollah speak to it, because obviously we don’t have an independent capacity at this point to confirm. But I believe a fair amount of that is out in the public domain at this point. Q If at least one of those was one of those responsible for organizing the barracks bombing back in the ‘80s, how significant would that be that he’s now dead? MR. SULLIVAN: That individual has American blood on his hands and has a Rewards for Justice price on his head. And he is somebody who the United States promised long ago we would do everything we could to see brought to justice. And anytime a terrorist who has murdered Americans is brought to justice, we believe that that is a good outcome. But again, I’m not in a position this morning, until I have the opportunity to talk again to my Israeli counterparts today, to formally confirm anything; just to say, you know, 1983 seems like a long time ago, but for a lot of families, a lot of people, it was — they’re still living with it every day. Q One other. Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich have been in Washington in recent days, mostly to visit with lawmakers. Is there any plan for them to meet with the President? MR. SULLIVAN: I guess not. The President met with both of them, obviously, when they came back to the States. So there wasn’t — we didn’t have a plan for them to sit down this past week or this coming week in Washington. But, you know, I’m sure he would be happy to see them again at some point. Q There’s a report that I got (inaudible) disagree with about U.S. officials conceding that there won’t be a deal during the President’s term. What is your assessment of that? MR. SULLIVAN: I think that’s crazy. I mean — Q So, it was correct that you’d (inaudible). (Laughter.) (Inaudible) disagree with it, that yes — MR. SULLIVAN: This is not me sitting here saying, “Hey, there will be a deal.” One can’t know. And I’ve — you’ve heard me repeatedly use this George Mitchell line of “700 days of failure, one day of success.” But this is diplomacy. Every day, you get up and you try to drive towards a deal that brings about a ceasefire, the return of hostages, surge of humanitarian assistance, and ultimately the end of the war. We’re doing that today. We’re going to do that tomorrow. We’re going to do that every day. And I do still believe there is a path to get there. It has been a winding path, a frustrating path, but we are still on that path, and we hope to reach the destination. But we’re also mindful of the fact and very clear-eyed about the fact that there’s still obstacles in the way; we’re going to do our best to clear them. And I can’t make any predictions about what’s going to happen, but what I can certainly say is we are not conceding that, period. Q But we’ve been waiting a while in terms of a new bridging proposal. Is that right? So when is — when do you expect to put that on the table? MR. SULLIVAN: I can’t tell you that because we’re not at a point right now where I can — where we’re prepared to put something on the table. We’re continuing to work with Qatar and Egypt. They’re talking to Hamas. We’re talking to Israel. The Qataris and Egyptians are talking to Israel. And when we feel ready to take another step, we’ll take another step. Q What’s the holdup? MR. SULLIVAN: Well, at the moment, we don’t feel like we’re in a position, if we put something down today, to get both sides to say yes to it. Could that change over the course of the coming days? It could. You know — yeah, I’ll leave it at that for now. Q Jake, in terms of the events of last week in Lebanon, do you have any assessments what that has done to the operational capabilities of Hezbollah? And what is your current level of concern that what you’ve been trying to prevent the last, you know, 11-plus months could start off as (inaudible)? MR. SULLIVAN: It stands to reason that Lebanese Hezbollah’s capabilities have taken a hit. How significant a hit, how that translates to their ability to represent a threat to Israel, I think we still need some more assessment to reach more guidance on. The risk of escalation is real; it has been since October 7th. There are moments where it is more acute than others. I think we are in one of those moments where it is more acute. But I would take a step back and make an observation that I don’t think gets sufficient attention in the reporting on this dynamic, which is that Hezbollah started this whole thing. Hamas attacks on October 7th, this vicious massacre. And then, as Nasrallah just said in his speech this we
ek, the way he put it, Nasrallah opened the Northern Front. Israel didn’t start just randomly attacking into Lebanon. Hezbollah and its allies in — its terrorist allies in Lebanon started attacking Israel. And tens of thousands of Israeli citizens had to leave their homes. That led to an exchange of fire, and then Lebanese citizens had to leave their homes. And we’ve been in that dynamic ever since. So, that’s an important structural factor that I think, kind of, gets set aside in the commentary and the coverage of the current circumstance. That being said, the United States’ position is we would like to see calm on the northern border and a durable solution that allows the people on both sides of that border to return to their homes. We are driving at that. Amos Hochstein was recently back in the region to work towards that. I’ve spoken with my Israeli counterparts just in the last couple of days to see how we find a way forward on that. And so, while the risk of escalation is real, we actually believe there is also a distinct avenue to getting to a cessation of hostilities and a durable solution that makes people on both sides of the border feel secure, and we’re going to do everything that we can to bring that about. Q And can I just (inaudible) — when you say the risk of escalation is real, are you saying the IDF flattening tower blocks in Beirut is not an escalation? MR. SULLIVAN: I think the question he was asking — the heart of his question was: could we get into a wider war that we have been trying to avoid for the last 11 months. I think that’s what the question was. Q Then I’ll ask the question. MR. SULLIVAN: I was answering (inaudible). Q I’ll ask the question then: Was the IDF strike an escalation, in your view? MR. SULLIVAN: Look, when I talk about escalation, I mean where does this take us from the point of view of, “Are we going to end up in a wider war.” We’re not there yet. I hope we do not get there. When you pose a question, “Was this strike escalation? Was that strike escalation?” the United States is not going to score-keep like that. There’s a number of different ways to look at this strike. The chief way I personally look at it goes back to the discussion we were having before, which is it was a strike against a senior terrorist who has both Israeli and American lives on his hands. So we could pick any moment, any set of rockets launched by Hezbollah, any set of strikes by Israel, and say, “Is this an escalation? Is that an escalation?” and so forth. I think it’s not a particularly useful exercise. For us, the most useful exercise is to try to drive both parties to a place where we get an agreed and durable outcome that can end the cycle and keep us from ending up in the larger war that, as we were just talking about, we’ve worked so hard to (inaudible). Q Is there any announcement that we should expect next week about Haiti? (Inaudible) report that says that even though we have now the Kenya team there and the security forces, 80 percent of Port-au-Prince is run by gangs. Things are not getting better for the people. Violence keep growing. And of course, we don’t have elections or plan of a government soon. MR. SULLIVAN: Look, things are not where we would like them to be in Haiti, but I think it is not correct to say that things have not gotten better from a low point when flights were shut down, the port was shut down, it looked like the entire government was going to be run out of the country. We have improved the situation from that low point, but the progress we have made has been slower and more uneven than we’d like it to be. Our goal is to continue to enhance the Multilateral Security Support Mission and ultimately work with the United Nations to make sure that it gets institutionalized. But I don’t know that we have any particular announcements next week. Rather, our goal is to use the U.N. General Assembly to get more resources, more contributions, and a common vision around building step by step on what we’ve put in place so that we can improve the situation beyond where it is right now. MODERATOR: We have time for about two more questions. Q Just a follow-up. And how can that happen? I know Colombia wanted to help, but, like, it’s not an actual mission like (inaudible) it was the U.N. (inaudible) — is this a security group, and the U.S. is leading the efforts. So how the countries will get involved, and how can they operate? Like, Mexico cannot (inaudible) officers — MR. SULLIVAN: Well, a number of countries have pledged contributions, including police units, former police units. And so, the first thing that can happen is we can turn those pledges into reality, and then we can work bilaterally with countries like Mexico and Colombia on their legal requirements to try to satisfy them so that they could, in fact, (inaudible). Q To put a pin, though, you know, the discussion about China, you know, before, in the lead-up to this, administration officials at the podium were telegraphing that there could be talk about aggressive PRC military action on fair trade practices, tensions over the Taiwan Strait. You know, preview that there’s going to be discussion of North Korea. I know you said that the Quad is not about one country, but to China and to many people, it looks like it’s focusing on China. So I’m curious to what your response to me, to folks that say you’re trying to have it both ways on China. MR. SULLIVAN: I guess what I would say, and I think I said this before, is the leaders are going to talk about all of the significant developments and dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Everything you just mentioned fits into that category. So we don’t take issues off the table to discuss or speak about. But my point is that the purpose of the Quad is not to come together around China or any other country. It’s to come together around how to construct a free and open Indo-Pacific. And actions and policies that disrupt or undermine that are certainly not just of interest, but are going to be a matter of discussion for Quad members. But the way I square the circle is to say these issues are on the agenda because they relate to a free and open Indo-Pacific, but China is not the focus of the Quad, and the Quad is not about one country. It is about a larger vision that we’re (inaudible). MODERATOR: All right, thanks, everyone. 9:26 A.M. EDT
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
China’s space station has gained initial results in the field of space medicine that will contribute to future manned lunar landings and other deep space exploration missions, according to the Second Frontier Forum of Space Medicine that opened on Saturday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in east China.
During the two-day forum, experts and scholars will exchange cutting-edge theories and share development trends in space medicine, and discuss major topics such as extraterrestrial survival insurance for astronauts on deep space exploration missions.
“The technical support of space medicine is an indispensable part of the application and development stage of China’s space station, and of the implementation of a manned lunar landing mission, both of which have ushered in new opportunities for the development of space medicine,” Yang Liwei, deputy chief designer of China’s manned space program and China’s first taikonaut, said at the opening ceremony.
Space medicine plays an important role in promoting public health. It provides theoretical support and a technical platform for research on cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, human aging, and drug protection and screening.
“We will continue to improve our in-orbit protection capabilities and build technical reserves for manned deep space exploration missions,” said Li Yinghui, a researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Houthi followers take part in the parade to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the group’s seizure of the capital Sanaa at Al Sabeen Square in Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Hundreds of followers of the Yemeni Houthi group took part in a parade on Saturday commemorating the tenth anniversary of the group’s seizure of the capital Sanaa.
The event, organized by the Houthis, comes as Yemen’s conflict enters its second decade since the Houthis stormed Sanaa on Sept. 21, 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile.
Participants of the parade, wearing uniforms, carrying weapons and placards, and waving flags of Yemen and Palestine, gathered at Al Sabeen Square in central Sanaa.
The Houthis now control most of the northern areas, including Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port of Hodeidah. The internationally recognized Yemeni government, led by the Presidential Leadership Council since April 2022, mainly controls the southern and eastern regions, with Aden serving as the temporary capital.
The decade-long civil war has taken a catastrophic toll on the Arab country. UN agencies estimate that by the end of 2021, the conflict had directly and indirectly caused 377,000 deaths. The UN has declared the Yemen situation “the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.”
Currently, about 21.6 million people — two-thirds of Yemen’s population — rely on humanitarian aid.
Over the past decade, multiple international efforts to promote peace in Yemen have yielded limited success. A notable ceasefire agreement in April 2022 lasted six months before expiring, though both sides have largely maintained a “de facto ceasefire” since then.
Source: China State Council Information Office
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced on Saturday evening the formation of his government with 39 members coming from center and right-wing parties.
Among the 17 ministers, seven come from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance and three from Barnier’s conservative party The Republicans (Les Republicains).
Jean-Noel Barrot was nominated to replace Stephane Sejourne as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The 41-year-old Barrot was an economist and served as Minister Delegate for Europe in the former government.
Bruno Retailleau was appointed to be the Minister of Interior, which the French daily Le Figaro considered as a “symbol of firmness” to restore public order in France.
Retailleau, a member of the Barnier’s party, promised, on his social media platform X account, to “restore order to ensure harmony” and reaffirmed his support for the police.
The position of Minister of Economy and Finance was given to Antoine Armand who is only 33 years old.
He now has to help Barnier submit France’s 2025 budget draft bill to the National Assembly while trying to keep France’s debt under control as mandated by the European Union.
However, the list of members of the new government lacks candidates from the left-wing and far-ring wing parties, two relative winners of the snap legislative elections.
Barnier’s government immediately received criticism from left-wing parties. The leader of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure denounced Barnier’s decision to form a center-right government, saying that his decision “gives the finger” to democracy.
Leader of the far-left-wing party, La France Insoumise, the main party of the left-wing parties alliance during the latest legislative elections, Jean-Luc Melanchon, said that the government was formed with “losers of the legislative elections.”
The government “has neither legitimacy nor a future. It will be necessary to get rid of it as soon as possible,” he said on his X account.
The left-wing parties already vowed to launch a vote of no confidence against the government in the National Assembly where they do not hold an absolute majority. They need to count on the far-right wing party, the National Rally’s support.
As for the far-ring wing party, the National Rally (RN), its former leader Marine Le Pen expressed her disappointment over the new government.
On her X account, she said that Barnier’s government was “transitional” and called for a “major change.”
For her, the government announced on Saturday evening was rather a reshuffled former government than a newly formed one.
Macron nominated on Sept. 5 Barnier, former Brexit negotiator, as the new prime minister.
Barnier has announced that he intended to address “the challenges, the anger, the suffering, and the sense of abandonment and injustice” that the country is currently experiencing.
After forming a government, Barnier’s urgent mission now remains to complete a draft budget for 2025 before Oct. 1 and submit it for voting in the National Assembly.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli attack in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes in Lebanon on Saturday evening, targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and other installations, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“Dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft are currently striking terrorist targets and rocket launchers to remove the threat to Israeli civilians,” IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.
The strikes followed reports of Hezbollah’s preparations for significant rocket attacks on Israel, with Lebanese media releasing footage of large explosions.
Hagari announced new restrictions for civilians in northern Israel, extending from Haifa northward, as regional fighting intensifies. “We ask you to follow the Home Front Command guidelines,” Hagari stated. “It is possible that in the immediate time frame, rockets and other threats may be launched at Israel.”
The new guidelines, effective from 20:30 local time (1730 GMT), include limiting gatherings to 30 people outdoors and 300 indoors, permitting work only in protected spaces, and allowing educational activities to continue where safe spaces are available.
Northern Israeli cities near the Lebanese border such as Haifa, Akko, and Nahariya have reportedly closed the beaches.
These restrictions affect the Lower and Upper Galilee, Haifa Bay, Central Galilee, and parts of the Israeli-occupied southern Golan Heights.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Palestinians mourn for the victims after an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in the Zeitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City, on Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
At least 22 Palestinians were killed and 30 others wounded on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in southern Gaza City, Gaza-based health authorities said.
The school was in the Zeitoun neighborhood and most of the casualties were children and women, the health authorities said in a brief statement.
An Israeli warplane bombed the school with at least one missile, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua.
In a press statement, the Hamas-run government media office in Gaza accused the Israeli army of committing a “horrific massacre” by bombing a school housing thousands of displaced people south of Gaza City.
The statement held the Israeli army and the U.S. administration fully responsible for the continuation of the crime, and called on the international community to compel Israel to stop its crime.
A Palestinian girl sits outside a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in the Zeitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City, on Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Meanwhile, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a press statement that Air Force warplanes, with intelligence guidance, struck Hamas militants operating in a command and control complex in a school in Gaza City.
The complex was used by Hamas militants to plan and carry out “terrorist” operations against Israel and its forces, according to Adraee.
Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 41,391, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement Saturday.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Israel launched a series of airstrikes on towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon on Saturday afternoon, prompting Hezbollah’s retaliatory bombing at northern Israel, according to Lebanese military sources.
The sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out about 50 airstrikes in less than half an hour, more intense than previous airstrikes, targeting “Hezbollah sites and the outskirts of dozens of towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon.”
Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced in separate statements that in response to the Israeli airstrikes, the group has attacked several bases and sites in northern Israel.
“The Islamic Resistance fighters targeted on Saturday the Northern Command’s air defense missile system at Berea Barracks with Katyusha rockets,” and “bombed the headquarters for reconnaissance force of Golani Brigade 631 at Ramot Naftali Barracks with a salvo of Katyusha rockets and attacked the Jal al-Alam Israeli site, located between the towns of Alma Al-Shaab and Naqoura, with artillery shells,” it said.
Tension along the Israel-Lebanon border has escalated sharply following communication device explosions across Lebanon earlier this week that killed 37 and injured 2,931, as well as an Israeli airstrike on Friday targeting a building in the Jamous area in the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed at least 31 and injured 66.
These developments marked the latest escalation of ongoing conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border that began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel’s retaliatory artillery fire and airstrikes into southeastern Lebanon. The conflict has already caused heavy casualties and displaced tens of thousands on both sides.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Russia will not participate in a possible second peace summit on Ukraine, as it is unrelated to resolving the conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.
Zakharova made the remarks in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan for a second peace summit in November, where he intended to invite Russian representatives.
“Russian representatives have not participated in any meetings under the so-called Burgenstock Process and do not plan to do so. This process has nothing to do with genuine conflict resolution,” she said on the ministry’s website.
The summit aims to promote the unworkable Zelensky formula as the sole basis for resolving the conflict, seeking international support and using it as a platform to issue Russia an ultimatum for surrender, she added.
Zakharova reiterated that Russia does not reject a diplomatic resolution to the crisis and remains open to discussions on serious proposals that reflect the situation on the ground, evolving geopolitical realities and the initiative proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14.
“Without Russia and without taking its interests into account, achieving a fair and sustainable resolution is impossible,” she said.
Zakharova criticized Kiev and Western nations for focusing on war rather than peace, citing recent Ukrainian attacks on the Kursk region and requests for long-range NATO weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory.