One day after a State Department spokesperson warned that the ongoing Speaker of the House battle could eventually raise concerns related to the United States’ national security, a White House spokesperson offered a less alarming narrative. “I don’t want to speculate about how long things would go before there would be some deeper concern about…

State Department spokesman Ned Price has said the continued absence of a House speaker could have national security implications. “Well, of course over time those concerns—concerns on the part of the members themselves, or the members-elect themselves—will be compounded,” Price said during a press briefing on Jan. 5. “The first few days of any congressional term…

The United States has condemned a Hong Kong court decision to sentence pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to prison, a move that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime has characterized as an attempt to “whitewash criminals.” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price on Sunday urged Chinese authorities “to respect freedom of expression, including for the…

The United States is warning China of consequences if it aids Russia in the war with Ukraine. While the nature of these consequences has not been made clear, officials have said that the United States will initiate a response in the event of Chinese aid to Russia’s war effort. “Should [China] provide military or other…

U.S. State Department Ned Price on Feb. 23 criticized China and Russia for seeking to create a new “profoundly illiberal” world order, with the current Russian aggression against Ukraine being a part of that. Price pointed to the two nations’ joint statement released earlier this month as evidence for their desire of achieving such a…

A well-known Chinese rights activist and lawyer has been formally arrested by the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau, just two days after his terminally ill wife passed away in the United States. Yang Maodong—also known by the pen name Guo Feixiong—was officially arrested on Jan. 12 after being secretly detained and held for allegedly “inciting subversion…

The United States urged China to grant media freedom at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, starting in three months, a State Department spokesperson said Nov. 4. “We urge PRC officials not to limit freedom of movement and access for journalists and to ensure that they remain safe and able to report freely, including at…

The U.S. State Department on Monday paused $700 million in emergency aid to Sudan that was intended to support the country’s democratic transition, after members of Sudan’s military ousted the civilian-led transitional government. “The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored and represents the will of the people,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said during…

The United States during talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar over the weekend agreed to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Afghan people, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Price said an inter-agency delegation traveled to Doha to meet with senior Taliban representatives on Oct. 9 and 10, marking the first…

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday morning, State Department said, after department spokesperson Ned Price tested positive for the disease and is quarantining. “After experiencing symptoms for the first time this morning, I tested positive for COVID-19 shortly thereafter, & will now quarantine for the next 10 days,”…