China Complains Trump's TikTok Ban Violates WTO Rules

A federal judge may have temporarily stopped the Trump Administration from unilaterally shutting down TikTok's business in the US, but the Trump Administration's battle with the company isn't over yet, though Bloomberg reported a few days ago that the TikTok issue will likely take a back seat until after Election Day, leaving the company free to operate as normal - at least for now.

But as Trump's trip to Walter Reed shakes up not just the campaign but the prospects for a stimulus deal and other items on the administration's agenda, Beijing is asserting that Trump's attempt to give China a taste of its own medicine - as some have described it - violates WTO rules.

Reuters reports that during a closed-door meeting at the WTO involving representatives from both China and the US, China's representative complained that Trump's heavy handed tactics violate WTO trade rules.

The fact that the White House hasn't produced any evidence that TikTok has transmitted private data on American users to Beijing - a claim that's central to the admin's argument for banning the app on "national security" grounds - shows that the administration is in the wrong.

A representative for China said at the closed-door meeting on Friday that the measures “are clearly inconsistent with WTO rules, restrict cross-border trading services and violate the basic principles and objectives of the multilateral trading system,” a trade official familiar with the matter, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The official said the delegate described the U.S. failure to provide concrete evidence of the reasons for its measures a “clear abuse” of rules.

The US representative at the meeting pushed back.

In the same meeting, the United States defended its actions, saying they are intended to mitigate national security risks, the trade official said. The government has previously said data from American users is being accessed by the Chinese government.

The office of the U.S. Trade Representative had no immediate comment. An official at the Chinese mission to the WTO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Chinese statement will not have any consequences on its own although China could launch an official legal complaint about it to the Geneva body.

While this doesn't necessarily mean that China will pursue another action against the US via the WTO if Trump doesn't drop his pursuit of TikTok, it's certainly a possibility. And it wouldn't be the first time China has manipulated the international trade body to Beijing's advantage.

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/china-complains-trumps-tiktok-ban-violates-wto-rules

China Threatens War (oct 07 2020) : Taiwan Deploys 50,000 Military strength to South China Sea

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•Oct 6, 2020

Dot Com News

https://youtu.be/hs-7aFlKZY4

Taiwan Presents Weapons Shopping List To US At Key Defense Industry Conference

Taiwan is set to present a veritable weapons shopping list to American officials during the annual US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference, which began Monday and is continuing Tuesday.

The conference is yet another event attracting the ire and watchful scrutiny of China, given it is representative of the growing military cooperation between Taipei and Washington, and goes back to 2002.

However, weapons sales will be a closed-door discussion issue. Among closed-door topics include “US defense cooperation with Taiwan, the defense procurement process and Taiwan’s defence and national security needs,” the council said according to South China Morning Post. It will also “provide opportunities to connect with others working on Taiwan defense and national security issues.”

Also sure to catch Beijing's notice following last month's ratcheting PLA aerial and sea drills around the island is the following statement on the conference agenda: “Taiwan’s deputy defense minister Chang Guan-chung is expected to brief the US side on the weaponry most needed and urgently sought by the island after seeing growing military intimidation from Beijing.”

Ahead of the conference Reuters pointed out last month the US is content to further build up 'Fortress Taiwan' while "needling China" - as it "plans to sell as many as seven major weapons systems, including mines, cruise missiles and drones to Taiwan, four people familiar with the discussions said, as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on China."

That prior extensive report previewed Taiwan's 'defense needs' - some of which are in various phases of passing US legal hurdles and discussions, according to Reuters :

Drones that can see over the horizon for surveillance and targeting, coupled with advanced missiles and coastal defenses that include smart mines and anti-submarine capabilities to impede a sea invasion…

A Lockheed Martin-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), essentially a truck-based rocket launcher, is among the weapons Taiwan wants, people familiar with the negotiations said.

at least four large sophisticated aerial drones to Taiwan for what could be about $600 million.

under discussion are land-based Boeing-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles to serve as a coastal defense against cruise missiles.

Other systems include "underwater sea mines and other capabilities to deter amphibious landing, or immediate attack," Taiwan's de facto ambassador here to United States said in July.

Anti-tank missile systems are also said to be under consideration, at a moment Chinese PLA naval and aerial drills near the island have been on the uptick. Beijing has repeatedly signaled that it considers reunification as a landmark mission and won't stand idly by as external forces intervene in what it sees as inter-China affairs.

For this week's US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference, no US official will need to visit the island given the talks are being done entirely by remote means due to the global pandemic.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/taiwan-present-us-weapons-shopping-list-key-defense-industry-conference

>>6237

Haven't seen it. Not a Tiktok follower.

Anons, have you seen it?