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world news Dialuna 8 augustus 2022

China cuts off vital US contacts over Pelosi Taiwan visit

(AP) — China cut off sible.” remained in port to avoid the
contacts with the United Chinese drills.
States on vital issues Fri- The White House spokes-
day — including military man blasted China’s “pro- On the Chinese coast across
matters and crucial cli- vocative” actions since Pe- from Taiwan, tourists gath-
mate cooperation — as losi’s trip to Taiwan, which ered to try to catch a glimpse
concerns rose that the China claims as part of its of military aircraft.
Communist government’s territory. But Kirby noted
hostile reaction to House that some channels of com- A minister at the Chinese
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s munication remain open be- Embassy in Washington, Jing
Taiwan visit could signal tween military officials in the Quan, told reporters that
a lasting, more aggressive two countries. He repeated Pelosi’s mission of support
approach toward its U.S. daily assurances that the U.S. for the democratic govern-
rival and the self-ruled is- had not changed its policy to- ment of Taiwan has had “a
land. ward the Communist main- severe impact on the politi-
land and the self-ruled island. cal foundation of China-U.S.
China’s move to freeze key relations, seriously infringed casional top-level contacts bumps to another interna-
lines of communication “Bottom line is we’re going upon China’s sovereignty toward other matters, includ- tional climate deal.
compounded the worsen- to continue our efforts to and (territorial) integrity and ing cutting climate-damaging
ing of relations from Pelosi’s keep opening lines of com- ... undermines peace and emissions. China and the United States
visit and from the Chinese munication that are protect- stability across the Taiwan are the world’s No. 1 and
response with military exer- ing our interests and our val- Straits.” A joint U.S.-China deal to No. 2 climate polluters, to-
cises off Taiwan, including ues,” Kirby said. He declined fight climate change struck gether producing nearly 40%
firing missiles that splashed to speak about any damage to Youtube video thumbnail by Xi and then-President of all fossil-fuel emissions.
down in surrounding waters. long-term relations between Long term, a significantly Barack Obama in November
China and the United States, more confrontational rela- of 2014 is credited as a turn- Ominously, experts in Chi-
After the White House sum- calling that a discussion for tionship between China and ing point that led to the land- na-U.S. relations warned that
moned China’s ambassador, later. the U.S. threatens an equilib- mark 2015 Paris agreement China’s diplomatic and mili-
Qin Gang, late Thursday to rium under which Presidents in which nearly every nation tary moves appeared to go
protest the military exercis- Taiwan has put its military on Joe Biden and Xi Jinping’s in the world pledged to try beyond retaliatory measures
es, White House spokesman alert and staged civil defense governments have sparred to curb emissions of heat- for the visit and could open a
John Kirby on Friday con- drills, but the overall mood on human rights, trade, com- trapping gases. Seven years new, more openly hostile era,
demned the decision to end remained calm on Friday. petition and countless other later during climate talks in and a more uncertain time
important dialogue with the Flights have been canceled or issues but avoided direct Glasgow, another U.S.-Chi- for Taiwan’s democratic gov-
United States as “irrespon- diverted and fishermen have conflict and maintained oc- na deal helped smooth over ernment.

3 more ships with grain depart Ukraine ports under UN deal

(AP) — Three more ships The ships bound for Ireland, bulk carriers and cargo ships oil that millions of impov- passage because of explosive
carrying thousands of tons the United Kingdom and loaded months ago but stuck erished people in Africa, the mines strewn in the Black
of corn left Ukrainian Turkey follow the first grain in ports since Russia invaded Middle East and parts of Asia Sea. The vessels set out with
ports Friday and traveled shipment to pass through the in late February. While the re- rely on for survival. over 58,000 tons of corn, but
mined waters toward in- Black Sea since the start of sumed shipments have raised that is still a fraction of the
spection of their delayed the war. The passage of that hopes of easing a global food However, the initial ship- 20 million tons of grains that
cargo, a sign that an in- vessel heading for Lebanon crisis, much of the backed-up ments are not expected to Ukraine says are trapped in
ternational deal to export earlier this week was the first cargo is for animal feed, not have a significant impact on the country’s silos and ports
grain held up since Rus- under the breakthrough deal for people to eat, experts say. the global price of corn, wheat and that must be shipped out
sia invaded Ukraine was brokered by Turkey and the and soybeans. For starters, to make space for this year’s
slowly progressing. But United Nations with Russia The Black Sea region is the exports under the deal are harvest.
major hurdles lie ahead to and Ukraine. dubbed the world’s breadbas- off to a slow, cautious start
get food to the countries ket, with Ukraine and Russia due to the threat of explosive Around 6 million tons of the
that need it most. The first vessels to leave are key global suppliers of wheat, mines floating off Ukraine’s trapped grain is wheat, but
among more than a dozen corn, barley and sunflower Black Sea coastline. just half of that is for human
consumption, Laborde said.
And while Ukraine is a major
exporter of wheat to develop- There is an expectation that
ing nations, there are other Ukraine could produce 30%
countries, such as the United to 40% less grain over the
States and Canada, with far next 12 months due to the
greater production levels that war, though other estimates
can affect global wheat prices. put that figure at 70%.
And they face the threat of
drought. Grain prices peaked after
Russia’s invasion, and while
“Ukraine is about 10% of the some have since come down
international trade in wheat, to their pre-war levels, they
but in terms of production are still higher than before
it is not even 5%,” said Da- the COVID-19 pandemic.
vid Laborde, an expert on Corn prices are 70% higher
agriculture and trade at the than at the end of February
International Food Policy 2020, said Jonathan Haines,
Research Institute in Wash- senior analyst at data and
ington. analytics firm Gro Intelli-
gence. He said wheat prices
The three ships departing are around 60% higher than
Friday were accompanied by in February 2020.
Ukrainian pilot ships for safe