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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 1 March 2022
As tensions simmer, China demands U.S. action to improve ties

BEIJING (AP) — China's top tee on U.S.-China Relations
diplomat called on the U.S. and a former U.S. treasury
Monday to take steps to secretary.
improve ties, as tensions The Shanghai Communi-
simmer over Taiwan, trade que dwelled extensively on
and other issues. the status of Taiwan, which
Foreign Minister Wang Yi's split from the mainland
remarks Monday were de- amid civil war in 1949 and
livered virtually to a forum has never been governed
marking the 50th anniver- by the communist People's
sary of the Shanghai Com- Republic of China. Follow-
munique signed during the ing the 1979 break in ties
icebreaking 1972 visit to with Taiwan, the U.S. Con-
China by President Richard gress passed legislation as-
Nixon. suring that the U.S. would
That trip led seven years ensure Taiwan could de-
later to the U.S. and China fend itself and treat threats
establishing diplomatic re- to the island as issues of
lations, upon which the U.S. "major concern."
cut formal ties with Taiwan, Taiwan continues to be the
which China claims as its In this image made from video, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers an address during a main irritant in U.S.-China
own territory to be brought forum marking the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique signed during the icebreaking relations, particularly as
under its control by force if 1972 visit to China by President Richard Nixon in Shanghai, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. successive U.S. administra-
necessary. Associated Press tions have approved arms
Wang urged Washington sales to the island and in-
to "reinstate a reasonable China has been particular- their mutual distrust of the 11-1 vote on a U.N. Secu- creased high-level con-
and pragmatic China pol- ly irked by U.S. Secretary of Soviet Union. rity Council resolution de- tacts with the democrati-
icy" and work with China to State Antony Blinken's char- In the decades since, Chi- manding that Moscow im- cally elected government
put their relations on track. acterization of ties as "com- na has grown increasingly mediately stop its attack in Taipei.
He reiterated China's com- petitive when it should be, close to Moscow, while on Ukraine. On Monday, On Saturday, China's De-
plaints that the U.S. was not collaborative when it can U.S.-Russia tensions have the Foreign Ministry said the fense Ministry protested as
upholding its commitments be, adversarial when it must soared over the war in imposition of sanctions on provocative the passage
but didn't mention any be," saying the sides should Ukraine. Russia would "disrupt the of the guided-missile de-
specific steps China would be cooperating across the Chinese leader Xi Jinping process of political settle- stroyer USS Ralph Johnson
take. board, in spite of their sharp met with Russian President ment." through the Taiwan Strait.
The sides need to view their differences. Vladimir Putin in Beijing ear- "China must decide where The Strait is in international
relations "in the broader "The United States should lier this month and China to stand and understand waters and the U.S. Navy
perspective, with a more truly see China as a part- has refused to either con- that bilateral relations with said the ship's passage
inclusive attitude, and ner in the course of de- demn or endorse Russia's the U.S. will only become "demonstrates the United
choose dialogue over con- velopment, rather than actions, despite its insis- more strained in the ab- States' commitment to a
frontation, cooperation an adversary, and power tence on upholding nation- sence of a clear choice free and open Indo-Pacif-
over conflict, openness games," Wang said. al sovereignty above all. to stand with international ic. The United States mili-
over seclusion, and inte- Rapprochement between China, along with India law," said forum participant tary flies, sails and operates
gration over decoupling," Washington and Beijing in and the United Arab Emir- Jacob Lew, chair of the in- anywhere international law
Wang said. 1972 was largely drive by ates, abstained in Friday's fluential National Commit- allows."q

Clashes at Jerusalem flashpoint, dozens hurt, detained

salem's Old City, a frequent It was not immediately ning of April.
flashpoint from which ten- clear what sparked Mon- Muslim religious officers
sions rapidly escalated in day's clashes. The area administering the Al-Aqsa
the past. around the Damascus Mosque area estimated
Palestinian medics said 33 Gate has been a scene of that about 90,000 worship-
Palestinians were injured, confrontations in the past, pers attended Monday's
including an 11-year-old including during last year's holiday. The raised platform
girl hit in the face by a stun holy month of Ramadan is revered by Jews as the
grenade. Police detained when devout Muslims fast Temple Mount, site of their
20 Palestinians and said from dawn to dusk. biblical temple. The com-
four police officers were At the time, police prevent- pound's Western Wall is the
also hurt. ed Palestinians from gath- holiest site where Jews can
The confrontation erupted ering at Damascus Gate af- pray.
at the Damascus Gate as ter breaking their daily fast, The Old City is located in
large crowds streamed as was customary. Nightly east Jerusalem, which was
through the arched pas- clashes erupted, with ten- captured by Israel in the
Israeli police officers detain a Palestinian man next to Damas-
cus Gate just outside Jerusalem's Old City, Monday, Feb. 28, sage toward the Old City's sions rapidly spreading and 1967 Mideast war, along
2022. Al-Aqsa Mosque com- triggering a two-week war with the West Bank. Some
Associated Press pound, Islam's third holiest between Israel and Gaza's 700,000 Israeli settlers live
shrine. Worshippers marked militant Hamas rulers. Ra- in the two areas. The Pales-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli water canons Monday to what Muslim faithful believe madan, a time of height- tinians seek both areas as
police fired stun grenades, disperse Palestinian stone- is Prophet Mohammad's as- ened religious fervor, is to parts of a future indepen-
rubber bullets and waste- throwers at a gate to Jeru- cension to heaven. start this year at the begin- dent state.q