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world news Diaranson 17 augustus 2022

China sets sanctions on Taiwan figures to punish US, island

(AP) — China imposed unclear what effect the sanc-
visa bans and other sanc- tions would have. China
tions Tuesday on Taiwan- has refused all contact with
ese political figures as it Taiwan’s government since
raises pressure on the self- shortly after the 2016 election
governing island and the of Tsai, who was overwhelm-
U.S. in response to succes- ingly reelected in 2020.
sive congressional visits.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry
The sanctions come a day af- tweeted its appreciation for
ter China announced more the most recent congressio-
military exercises in the seas nal visit, adding that “Author-
and skies surrounding Tai- itarian #China can’t dictate
wan because of what it called how democratic #Taiwan
“collusion and provocation makes friends, wins support,
between the U.S. and Tai- stays resilient & shines like a
wan.” There’s been no word beacon of freedom.”
on the timing and scale of the
Chinese exercises. Tsai’s pro-independence
Democratic Progressive Par-
They were announced the ty also controls the legisla-
same day a U.S. congressio- ture, and the vast majority of
nal delegation met with Tai- Taiwanese favor maintaining
wanese President Tsai Ing- the status quo of de facto in-
wen, and after a similar visit dependence amid strong eco-
by U.S. House Speaker Nan- missiles over the island and sanctions include Taiwan’s de The measures were designed nomic and social connections
cy Pelosi, the highest-level incursions by navy ships and facto ambassador to the U.S., to “resolutely punish” those between the sides.
member of the U.S. govern- warplanes across the midline Bi-khim Hsiao, and legisla- considered “diehard ele-
ment to visit Taiwan in 25 of the Taiwan Strait that has tors Ker Chien-ming, Koo ments” supporting Taiwan’s China accuses the U.S. of
years. The Chinese govern- long been a buffer between Li-hsiung, Tsai Chi-chang, independence, China’s of- encouraging the island’s in-
ment objects to Taiwan hav- the sides. Chen Jiau-hua and Wang ficial Xinhua News Agency dependence through the sale
ing any official contact with Ting-yu, along with activist said. of weapons and engagement
foreign governments because In Washington, U.S. State Lin Fei-fan. between U.S. politicians and
it considers Taiwan its own Department spokesperson Premier Su Tseng-chang, the island’s government.
territory, and its recent saber Ned Price told reporters that They will be barred from leader of the legislature You Washington says it does not
rattling has emphasized its China had overreacted with traveling to mainland China, Si-kun and Foreign Minis- support independence, has
threat to take the island by its “provocative and totally Hong Kong and Macao, and ter Joseph Wu were already no formal diplomatic ties
military force. unnecessary response to the from having any financial or on China’s sanctions list and with the island and maintains
congressional delegation that personal connections with will face more restrictions, that the two sides should
Pelosi’s visit was followed by visited Taiwan earlier this people and entities on the Xinhua said. settle their dispute peacefully
nearly two weeks of threaten- month.” mainland, according to the — but it is legally bound to
ing Chinese military exercis- ruling Communist Party’s China exercises no legal au- ensure the island can defend
es that included the firing of The targets of China’s latest Taiwan Work Office. thority over Taiwan and it’s itself against any attack.

Europe drought: German industry at risk as Rhine level falls

(AP) — Germany’s main industry lack of drivers. government to help closely monitor waves and droughts, more likely.
lobby group warned Tuesday that water levels and react early to poten-
factories may have to throttle “It’s only a question of time before tial transportation problems on Ger- Germany’s weather service has fore-
production or halt it completely facilities in the chemical and steel many’s waterways. cast heavy rain toward the end of the
because plunging water levels industry have to be switched off, pe- week that could provide some relief
on the Rhine River are making it troleum and construction materials Experts say climate change is mak- to river shipping companies.
harder to transport cargo. won’t reach their destination, and ing extreme weather, including heat-
high-capacity and heavy-goods trans-
The Rhine’s level at Emmerich, near ports can’t be carried out anymore,”
the Dutch border, dropped by a fur- he said, adding that this could lead
ther four centimeters (1.6 inches) in to supply bottlenecks and short-time
24 hours, hitting zero on the depth work might result.
gauge.
Loesch warned that energy supplies
Authorities say the shipping lane it- could also be further strained as ships
self still has a depth of almost 200 carrying coal and gasoline along the
centimeters (six feet, six inches), but Rhine are affected.
the record low measurement Tuesday
morning highlights the extreme lack Drivers in southern Germany already
of water caused by months of drought have to pay considerably more for
affecting much of Europe. fuel than those further north, accord-
ing to Germany’s biggest motor club.
“The ongoing drought and the low The ADAC said diesel was being sold
water levels threaten the supply secu- for under 1.82 euros ($1.84) per liter
rity of industry,” said Holger Loesch, in Hamburg, while in the southwest-
deputy head of the BDI business lob- ern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg it
by group. cost on average 1.97 euros.

Loesch said shifting cargo from riv- The BDI said droughts such as that
er to train or transport was difficult seen this year could become more
because of limited rail capacity and a frequent in the future, and urged the