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Marcos says attending UN climate change forum in Dec. also a chance to boost ties with UAE 

PCO PHOTO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. looks forward to attending a United Nations (UN)-led forum on climate change in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December.  

On Thursday, Mr. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change is a major consideration for his attendance at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP).  

“I hope to be able to attend because climate change is a primordial issue when it comes to the Philippines. So, I hope that we will be able to attend,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a Trade department event.  

On Wednesday, UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam, who is pushing for an improved Philippines-UAE relations in terms of environmental and economic areas, invited Mr. Marcos to attend the event.   

“Beyond the Conference of Parties is that we also want to fortify our ties with the UAE,” Mr. Marcos said.   

Last year, Greenpeace Philippines said as much as 80% of Manila could be submerged by 2030, potentially impacting 87% of its economic output.  

Mr. Marcos, who vowed to work towards a shift to green energy, has yet to declare a climate emergency, which would authorize the government to mobilize funds to step up climate mitigation efforts.  

The House of Representative made a declaration in 2019, but Greenpeace said last year that a “follow-through” from the National Government has yet to be seen.  

The world’s two biggest economies, the United States and China, have not declared a climate emergency. Similarly, only Singapore among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations has made a climate emergency declaration. 

UAE TIES
Mr. Marcos, meanwhile, said improving ties with the UAE is highly needed mainly because of the significant number of Filipinos working in the Middle East’s third largest economy.  

“And they have been very welcoming. They have treated our people very well,” he said. They have protected them, and they have allowed them to make a living in the UAE. 

Mr. Marcos, whose administration has been actively seeking partnerships with foreign entities, was accompanied by the UAE ambassador when he visited the victims of Mayon Volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes.   

The UAE has sent 51 tons of aid to families affected by Mayon’s latest unrest.   

Albay province declared a state of emergency last week due to Mayon’s eruption, which has already displaced 18,000 people.   

Mr. Marcos, speaking to reporters during the Thursday event, said that aside from cash assistance, affected residents might also be needing mental health support.  

“We have to identify the problem and address it. And if it takes cash, then that’s well and good. But sometimes it’s not cash,” he said, noting that the impacts of Mayon’s eruption on education should also be discussed.   

“These are other issues that are basically not quantifiable, but they are important. The issues of mental health of those children, even the parents, we need to think about because they are facing difficulties,” he said. “We have to give all the support that we can.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

News site Bulatlat questions anti-communist task force’s presence in court hearing 

BULATLAT FACEBOOK PAGE

A NEWS website on Thursday said there are obvious state efforts to silence alternative forms of media after lawyers from the country’s anti-communist task force represented the national security adviser in a lawsuit seeking to nullify a state order blocking 27 online sites.  

“This (presence of task force) goes to prove that the blocking of Bulatlat and 26 other websites are linked to the government’s reckless red-tagging,” Ronalyn V. Olea, Bulatlat editor-in-chief, told BusinessWorld in a Telegram message.   

The anti-communist task force’s media bureau did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.  

The national security adviser sits as vice chair of the task force.   

In July last year, the government sought to silence journalists critical of the administration by shutting down the websites of Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly, two alternative press publications.  

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued an order in June to block 26 websites that it claimed had links to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front. 

Bulatlat sued the telecommunication regulator a month later and sought an injunction against its order.  

The NTC order was issued upon the request of former National Security Advisor Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. 

The National Security Council sought to close these two outlets because of their alleged links to communist insurgency, a charge the editors and journalists denied.  

A Quezon City trial court in August stopped the government from blocking access to Bulatlat’s website, saying it violated press freedom.  

The case is being handled by a new judge after the NTC asked Presiding Judge Dolly Rose Bolante-Prado to inhibit from the case for allegedly showing bias in favor of Bulatlat.  

The state lawyers who appeared in court on Thursday were representing current National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año.  

Ms. Olea said the court has yet to decide on the motions for substitutions filed by Mr. Esperon’s lawyers, who did not show up in court on Thursday.   

The next hearing was set for Sept. 7. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Fire bureau rules out arson in Baguio City market blaze 

BAGUIO CIO

THE BUREAU of Fire Protection (BFP) has concluded that the fire that burned down the Baguio City public market on March 11 was an accident, putting an end to speculations that the blaze was intended to pave the way for the proposed privation of the facility.   

The final investigation report from the BFP head office says that the fire was triggered by the “embers of an unattended/discarded lighted cigarette that made contact with readily combustible materials at the bottom of the sack of clothes leading it to combust.”  

City Fire Marshal Marisol H. Odiver, in a report to Baguio Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong dated June 14, 2023, said the BFP report was based on physical evidence and witnesses, and followed standards and procedures of fire and arson investigation.  

The BFP recommended that the case be considered “closed” without prejudice to reopening a probe should there be new pieces of evidence and/or witnesses.— Artemio A. Dumlao

Yulo takes the provisional lead in all-around of Singapore Asian AGC

CARLOS YULO — PHILIPPINE STAR/JUN MENDOZA

CARLOS Yulo flexed his world champion muscles as he zoomed to the provisional lead in the individual all-around qualification phase of the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships (AGC) in Singapore yesterday.

The diminutive juggernaut from Leveriza in Manila amassed 85.930 score in the individual all-around including a spectacular 15.066 in parallel bars and 14.966 in floor exercise.

The pair of scintillating efforts put one of Mr. Yulo’s feet into making the finals this weekend and claiming a spot to the World Championships slated Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 in Antwerp, Belgium.

But Mr. Yulo has to wait for the rest of the field to finish as his competition from China, Japan and other countries are still competing at press time.

The Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games double-gold winner was also impressive in vault where he posted a two-attempt average of 14.833 and scored 14.300 in still rings, 13.466 in high bar and 13.266 in pommel horse.

For the team event where Mr. Yulo had joined forces with Juancho Besana, John Ivan Cruz, Justin Ace de Leon and Jann Gwynn Timbang, the Filipinos were currently second with a 237.193 behind Chinese Taipei with a 238.226.

It was also good for the country that Japan and China have already qualified via their performances in Liverpool last year, giving the Filipinos stronger chances of making the cut. — Joey Villar

Obiena faces titans in Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway

EJ OBIENA — REUTERS

WHEN EJ Obiena breached the six-meter plateau for the first time in his life, the next step is to go after the pole-vault titans including the almighty world and Olympic champion Armand Duplantis.

The Filipino World No. 3 will have a chance to get the measure of the Swedish demigod and perhaps pull the rug from under him as they face off in the star-studded Diamond League’s Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway today.

The World Championship bronze medalist should come in euphoric following his momentous six-meter effort in ruling the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge that gained him entry as the 28th member of the heavenly six-meter club that included Duplantis and the legendary Sergey Bubka.

While slaying the sport’s dragon in Mr. Duplantis is easier said than done, Mr. Obiena knew he is capable of such a feat when the latter caught the former in a rare vulnerable form in September last year during a victorious effort in another Diamond League event in Brussels, Belgium.

If he had done it once, Mr. Obiena can do it again.

But Mr. Duplantis isn’t the only one Mr. Obiena is competing against as eight of the globe’s top 10 pole-vaulters, including No. 2 Christopher Nilsen and KC Lightfoot of the United States, No. 4 Renaud Lavillenie of France, No. 6 Sondre Guttormsen and No. 8 Pal Haugen Lillefosse of Norway, No. 7 Bo Kanda Lita Baehre of Germany, and No. 10 Ben Broeders of Belgium, have descended to the Norwegian capital.

Rounding out the powerful cast are World No. 12 Sam Kendricks of the US and another local bet Simen Guttormsen. — Joey Villar

Alex Eala graduates from Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain

ALEX EALA — FACEBOOK.COM/ALEXEALA

FILIPINA pride Alex Eala has graduated from the Rafael Nadal Academy (RNA) in Mallorca, Spain yesterday after a stellar run highlighted by a couple of titles both in the juniors and women’s professional circuit.

Ms. Eala spent five years as a full scholar in the prestigious academy of no less than the Spanish legend (Rafael) Nadal, who expressed his pride and excitement for the future of world tennis.

“To be where you are today is because of your effort. You have believed in yourselves. Now, you have achieved one of the first goals which is to graduate. I’m very proud of you,” said Mr. Nadal in his speech for RNA’s Class of 2023.

Ms. Eala, who turned 18 last month, started to create ripples in 2018 with RNA and since then has become one of the world’s rising tennis stars.

Under RNA with Mr. Nadal’s overall guidance, the lefty wunderkind won the junior doubles titles in the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open.

Last year, the Filipina etched history by ruling the US Open girls’ championships to become the first Filipina junior’ singles Grand Slam champion.

In multiple stretches, Ms. Eala also became the International Tennis Federation (ITF) No. 2 junior player before transitioning to the women’s pro circuit, where she has already won three titles in a young career.

Ms. Eala is now the No. 228 player in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

World No. 1 and back-to-back French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland, who was seated with Ms. Eala during the ceremony, also graced the RNA graduation as guest of honor and speaker.

“Thank you to Rafael and the RNA. I loved every minute of this experience,” said the 22-year-old star, who also had training stints with Ms. Eala in different tournaments. — JB Ulanday

Magnolia guns for fifth straight win against TNT

PBA.PH

Games Today
(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)
5 p.m. — Terrafirma vs NLEX
7:30 p.m. — Magnolia vs TNT

MAGNOLIA stakes its spotless mark and shoots for its fifth straight today (June 16) as it duels with TNT in the PBA On Tour at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Hotshots have been on a tear in the preseason meet, stamping their class on Blackwater, Converge, NLEX and Barangay Ginebra, and determined to carry on in the 7:30 p.m. tussle.

James Laput, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jed Mendoza have been stepping up and giving veterans Mark Barroca, Paul Lee and Jio Jalalon significant support in the Hotshots early run.

And Magnolia even gets added firepower with ace slotman Ian Sangalang finally back in action after getting sidelined by thyroid issues. Mr. Sangalang produced four points, four rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes of play in Magnolia’s 91-80 romp over the Gin Kings last Sunday.

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero refused to get carried away by this hot showing, maintaining it’s not a real gauge of their readiness for Season 48.

“We want to build,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said. “Build the confidence of the players, and their chemistry.”

The Tropang Giga have yet to hit the win column in two starts with its underpowered roster composed of second stringers and college players.

Meanwhile, NLEX (1-3) aims to make it two in a row in its 5 p.m. showdown with Terrafirma (1-3).

Off a 0-3 start, the Road Warriors finally found the breakthrough in a 112-95 verdict over Phoenix behind the triple-double outing of Sean Anthony and double-double numbers of trade acquisition Ben Adamos.

They’re up against a Dyip side out to rebound from its 95-121 defeat to Rain Or Shine last Sunday. — Olmin Leyba

Croatia reaches Nations League final after beating hosts Netherlands, 4-2

ROTTERDAM — Croatia scored twice in extra time to beat the Netherlands 4-2 in their Nations League semifinal in Rotterdam on Wednesday and advance to Sunday’s decider.

Croatia will play either Italy or Spain, who face off in the second semifinal in Enschede on Thursday, for a first major title as they continued their form from last year’s World Cup in Qatar, where they finished third.

Substitute Bruno Petkovic curled home a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty area eight minutes into extra time to put them on their way and Luka Modric made sure of Croatia’s triumph with a late penalty, their second of the game.

The Dutch, hosting the four-nation tournament, had forced extra time with a last-gasp equalizer to ensure it finished 2-2 after 90 minutes despite being largely outplayed in front of their home fans at the Feyenoord Stadium.

Donyell Malen handed the hosts a 34th-minute lead before Andrej Kramaric equalized from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half.

Croatia then went ahead through Mario Pasalic in the 73rd minute before Noa Lang side-footed the ball into the roof of the net to equalize six minutes into stoppage time.

The Netherlands’ first goal came against the run of play, but at the end of a swift series of passes that saw both quick feet and precise thinking.

Cody Gakpo set it up by winning possession and five passes later, Mats Wieffer teed up an unmarked Malen to fire home.

But it was the street-smarts of Croatia captain Mr. Modric that got them level, stealing the ball in the Dutch penalty area from Mr. Gakpo, whose instinctive reaction was to tug at the 37-year-old veteran who went tumbling to the ground to win a penalty.

Mr. Kramaric tucked it away comfortably, after which Luka Ivanusec played a pass into Mr. Pasalic, that he fired home on the turn despite a host of Dutch defenders around him to give Croatia a 2-1 lead.

But a desperate last attack saw the Dutch take advantage of Croatia’s failure to clear their lines with Lang perfectly placed to equalize and force the game into extra time.

Parity, however, did not last long. Mr. Modric’s pass put Mr. Petkovic through on goal and he curled the ball into the net with a shot worthy of winning any cup tie.

Mr. Modric completed the win with the late spotkick to seal another outstanding individual performance.

The Netherlands now have to play in the third-place playoff game against Thursday’s losers in Enschede on Sunday. The final is in Rotterdam later that day. — Reuters

Messi unlikely to play at ’26 WC

BEIJING — Argentina skipper Lionel Messi has said that “in principle” last year’s World Cup (WC) would be his fifth and final appearance at global soccer’s showpiece event.

The 35-year-old forward led his country to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar last December, saying throughout the tournament that he would not be playing at another edition.

Mr. Messi was persuaded out of international retirement in 2016, however, and many of his compatriots were hoping he might be cajoled into going on to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“I think not. This was my last World Cup,” Mr. Messi told Titan Sports ahead of Argentina’s friendly against Australia in Beijing. — Reuters

Underestimated

Considering Nikola Jokic’s current status as the best of the best in the National Basketball Association, it’s fair to wonder why he lasted all the way until Pick No. 41 in the 2014 rookie draft. True, he has progressed by leaps and bounds since then, with a championship backstopped by three Maurice Podoloff (now Michael Jordan) and Bill Russell Trophies. On the other hand, the otherworldly talent he possesses should have already been obvious nine years ago; after all, it isn’t as if he suddenly became nimble and athletic.

To be sure, Jokic has been underestimated throughout his career. For instance, he was picked next to last in the 2023 All-Star Game. Shortly after, he was denied a third straight regular-season Most Valuable Player award; voters deemed Joel Embiid a more deserving recipient, never mind his superiority in terms of advanced metrics. To his credit, he has seen fit to ignore the apparent disrespect; he is comfortable in his own skin, marching to the beat of a different drum en route to success. And, if nothing else, he has used it as motivation to continue proving his worth.

The Nuggets, of course, know how fortunate they are to have Jokic leading their cause. They understand, keenly, that without him, they are mediocre at best. Which is why they are only too happy to have the competition continue underestimating him and, by extension, them. The fact that he doesn’t seem to care about individual accolades serves only to underscore his priorities. During media seasons, he constantly chucks by the wayside talk about his stats and ensuing MVP narratives. Heck, he even left his Finals MVP hardware on the table after it was handed to him. As he noted in his post-title interview. “It’s good. The job is done. We can go home now.”

Make no mistake, though. Jokic is fully aware of the gravity of his latest accomplishment. It doesn’t matter if the Nuggets’ playoff run consisted of matches against eighth, fourth, seventh, and eighth seeds. They played all who were in front of them, and they crushed all who were in front of them. And, in the process, he put up videogame numbers matched by a mere handful in the annals of pro hoops. That he did so in his own way and at his own pace further accentuated his position as first among equals.

So don’t be fooled by Jokic’s outwardly nonchalant disposition. He cares about what he does. “Basketball is not the main thing in my life, and is probably never going to be,” he argued last month. But even as family comes first for him, he is guided by a work ethic that compels him to be at his finest no matter what he does. Which is why, his statement notwithstanding, he went on a tear that showed all and sundry his place among the league elite: At the top, with no one coming close.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Lebanon’s crisis deepens as presidential vote collapses

BEIRUT — The powerful Hezbollah group and its allies thwarted a bid by their rivals to elect a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official as Lebanon’s president on Wednesday, sharpening sectarian tensions and further dimming prospects for preventing a collapse of the state.

Four years since Lebanon went into a financial meltdown that marks its worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war, parliament failed for a 12th time to elect someone to fill the post reserved for a Maronite Christian under the country’s sectarian system.

The standoff has opened a fresh sectarian fault line, pitting the Iran-backed, heavily armed Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah against Christian factions including its own ally, Gebran Bassil, who endorsed IMF official Jihad Azour for president.

Neither Mr. Azour nor Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Frangieh came close to winning the 86 votes needed to win in a first round vote. Mr. Azour, the IMF’s Middle East Director and an ex-finance minister, won the support of 59 of 128 lawmakers.

Mr. Frangieh secured 51.

Hezbollah and its allies then withdrew from the session, denying the two-thirds quorum required for a second vote in which 65 votes are enough for victory.

Shi’ite Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, did not schedule a new session. It leaves Lebanon with no immediate way of filling a post vacant since the term of the Hezbollah-allied President Michel Aoun ended in October.

Mr. Azour thanked lawmakers who backed him, saying he hoped the will expressed by “the majority of deputies” would be respected.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein al-Haj Hassan said the group was ready for dialogue but sticking by Frangieh, a friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

George Adwan, a Christian lawmaker with the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces party, said the vote was “a major victory” because it showed Mr. Azour close to 65 votes.

But with parliament fractured, analysts say the logjam may now require the type of foreign intervention that has resolved past crises in Lebanon, including the 1989 deal mediated in Saudi Arabia that ended the civil war.

Lebanese political sources have anticipated that a new detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran could play out in Lebanon, but say they have not yet sensed pressure as other issues — including the Yemen war — take precedence.

A newly-appointed French envoy is expected in Beirut next week in a mediation effort.

Washington is concerned by the stalemate and wants to see a president elected who can unlock International Monetary Fund support for Lebanon, but it is up to the country’s leaders to resolve the crisis, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

“We believe that Lebanon’s leaders and their elites must stop putting their own interests and ambitions above the people of their country,” Matthew Miller said at a press briefing.

SECTARIAN TENSIONS
“You can’t stay in this situation,” said Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center, noting forthcoming state decisions included agreeing a replacement for central bank governor Riad Salameh, who faces corruption charges which he denies. His term ends in July.

Lebanon has been without a fully empowered cabinet since parliamentary elections last year.

Hezbollah, designated a terrorist group by the United States, unleashed fierce rhetoric against Mr. Azour, describing him as a candidate of confrontation.

Lebanon’s Shi’ite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan dialled up the attacks without naming Mr. Azour, accusing him of being backed by Israel and saying “a president with an American stamp will not be allowed”.

Mr. Azour, 57, has said he wants national unity and reforms.

He was finance minister from 2005 to 2008, a period of political conflict pitting a government backed by the West and Saudi Arabia against Hezbollah-led opponents aligned with Damascus. That crisis culminated in conflict in 2008, with Hezbollah seizing much of Beirut.

The financial crisis was caused by decades of corruption and profligate spending by ruling politicians whose vested interests have obstructed any steps towards addressing it.

The cabinet passed a recovery roadmap in May 2022, despite objections by Hezbollah ministers. The IMF has criticized Lebanon for very slow progress in implementing reforms. — Reuters

US plays down chance of breakthrough from Blinken China visit after tense call

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Official White House — CAMERON SMITH VIA FLICKR

WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday played down expectations of any breakthrough from the first trip by a US Secretary of State to China in five years, after a tense call with China’s foreign minister ahead Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing next week.

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang urged the United States to stop meddling in its affairs and harming its security in a call with Mr. Blinken on Wednesday, and said it should respect China’s core concerns to arrest declining relations between the superpowers, China’s foreign ministry said.

Having postponed a February trip after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over US airspace, Mr. Blinken is set to become the highest ranking US government official to visit China since President Joseph R. Biden took office in January 2021.

US officials said Mr. Blinken would push to establish open communication channels to ensure competition with the Chinese does not spiral into conflict.

“We’re not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another,” Daniel Kritenbrink, the State Department’s top diplomat for East Asia, told reporters in a briefing call.

“We’re coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible,” he said.

Mr. Kritenbrink said he expected Mr. Blinken would “reiterate America’s abiding interest in the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” and also discuss the situation in Ukraine.

Mr. Blinken’s long-delayed visit is aimed at stabilizing relations between the world’s two largest economies and strategic rivals. Ties have deteriorated across the board and raised concerns they might one day clash militarily over the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which China claims as its own.

The two sides are also at odds over trade, US efforts to hold back China’s semiconductor industry and human rights issues.

Chinese state media said Mr. Blinken would visit on June 18 and 19. Mr. Kritenbrink said Mr. Blinken would hold a series of meetings with senior Chinese officials.

The two sides did not say which officials Mr. Blinken would meet. Asked at a regular briefing it he would meet President Xi Jinping, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said:

“I won’t speak to any potential meetings, other than to say we’ll have announcements about who he will be meeting with and when over the next few days.”

CRISIS COMMUNICATION
Sources familiar with the planning said Mr. Blinken had been expected to meet Mr. Xi on the canceled February trip.

A primary objective for Mr. Blinken will be “candid, direct and constructive” discussions with China, Mr. Kritenbrink said, but he cautioned about the prospect of progress.

“There will be a substantive and productive agenda that we’ll have before us, but, again, the objective is to focus on those top line goals, not necessarily to produce a long list of deliverables,” he said.

One alarming aspect of the sour ties has been Beijing’s reluctance to have open military-to-military dialogue with Washington, despite repeated US attempts.

White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell said in the same call that Washington has an interest in setting up crisis communication mechanisms to reduce conflict risk.

“I believe Secretary Blinken will advocate strongly that these lines of communication are necessary. They are how mature, strong militaries interact and the stakes are just too high to avoid these critical lines of communication,” he said.

US officials expect Mr. Blinken’s visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings, including possible trips by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, in the coming months. Mr. Campbell said “a series of visits in both directions” were expected “in the period ahead,” but did not elaborate.

US President Joseph R. Biden and Mr. Xi held their first face-to-face leadership talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November.

In three-and-a-half hours of talks, they covered topics including Taiwan and nuclear-armed North Korea, but the meeting ultimately failed to ease tensions.

The balloon episode and exchanges of visits by US and Taiwanese officials have magnified US-China tensions.

“Since the beginning of the year, Sino-US relations have encountered new difficulties and challenges, and the responsibility is clear,” Qin told Mr. Blinken, according to the Chinese foreign ministry’s readout.

The United States should “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop harming China’s sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition,” Qin Gang added. — Reuters

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