July 27, 2020

Daily News Brief

July 27, 2020

Top of the Agenda

U.S. Consulate in China Closes Amid Diplomatic Row

Chinese officials took control (SCMP) of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu today, ending a thirty-five-year U.S. presence in the city. The U.S. flag was lowered, plaques and insignia removed, and American workers shuttled away after Beijing ordered the diplomatic outpost to close on Friday.

The Chinese foreign ministry called the shutdown a “legitimate and necessary response” (Guardian) to the U.S. closure of China’s consulate in Houston, Texas, over concerns about espionage and other illegal activity. Soaring tensions between the two global powers have raised fears that diplomatic ties are at a point of no return (NYT).

Analysis

“What the United States can and should try to do is shape China’s choices, to bring about a China that acts with a degree of restraint at home and abroad and that works with us to deal with regional challenges, such as North Korea and Afghanistan, and global challenges, such as nonproliferation and climate change,” CFR President Richard N. Haass writes in the Washington Post.

“The two countries are having a deep decoupling and it’s even possible for them to break diplomatic relations,” Fudan University’s Shen Dingli told the South China Morning Post. “It was impossible before because of globalisation but now the two countries are dramatically distancing from each other.”

This CFR timeline looks back on U.S. relations with China.

Pacific Rim

North Korea Declares Emergency Over Coronavirus

The country implemented a “maximum emergency system” after someone who had previously defected (Yonhap) to South Korea returned with coronavirus symptoms, according to state media. North Korea, which has not reported any coronavirus cases, implemented strict measures, including border closures, earlier this year to control the virus.

South and Central Asia

UN: Roughly 3,500 Afghan Civilians Killed or Injured in 2020

A UN report showed that 1,282 Afghan civilians were killed (TOLO) and another 2,176 injured in the first six months of 2020. The figures mark a 13 percent decrease in civilian casualties compared to the same period last year, though deaths and injuries caused by the Taliban and Afghan security forces have not decreased.

India: The country has the world’s fastest-growing coronavirus epidemic, with cases rising 20 percent (Hindustan Times) in the last week. Only Brazil and the United States have reported more cases. Despite efforts to increase testing, India has one of the world’s lowest testing rates.

Middle East and North Africa

Israel Warns Against Attacks on Its Territory

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon and Syria would be held responsible (Times of Israel) for attacks on Israel from within their borders. Israel also warned the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah not to retaliate for a July 20 air strike in which one of its fighters died.

Iran: The Swiss government announced the completion (Reuters) of the first transaction under the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA), a mechanism for delivering food and medicine to Iran without violating U.S. sanctions. More shipments are forthcoming, a Swiss official said.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Dozens Killed in West Darfur Massacre

Five hundred armed men killed more than sixty people (Middle East Eye) and injured nearly sixty others in an attack on the Masalit community in Sudan’s West Darfur, according to the United Nations. The incident sparked a mass protest, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok agreed to deploy army and police forces to secure the conflict-ridden region.

Somalia: Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire resigned (East African) after the country’s Parliament passed a no-confidence measure against him, saying he neglected to secure upcoming elections and carry out a constitutional review. Khaire, who helped reform the country’s military and restore Somalia’s international borrowing eligibility, called the motion unconstitutional.

Europe

Ukrainian Forces, Pro-Russia Separatists Begin Cease-Fire

A cease-fire between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels in conflict-ravaged Eastern Ukraine entered into effect today (DW). The agreement, which came after two dozen failed attempts, has earned support from European Union officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This CFR Backgrounder explains the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia: Putin announced that the country will arm its navy (Reuters) with hypersonic nuclear weapons and underwater nuclear drones, which are difficult to follow and apprehend.

Americas

Millions of Animals Trafficked From Brazil Each Year

Millions of animals are trafficked annually (Guardian) from Brazil, though lack of data leads to impunity for perpetrators, according to a report from the nonprofit Freeland Brasil. The wildlife trade poses a “serious risk of pandemics,” the report warned. Experts suspect that the new coronavirus originated in horseshoe bats.

This CFR InfoGuide explores biodiversity in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest.

Venezuela: The country’s chief prosecutor ordered an investigation after a man was shot and killed (Reuters), allegedly by a National Guard member, during a protest over gas shortages. U.S. sanctions and mismanagement of Venezuelan oil refineries have caused fuel scarcities.

United States

Republicans to Release Proposal for U.S. Stimulus Package

Senate Republicans are expected to unveil a set of bills (Bloomberg) that outline $1 trillion worth of coronavirus relief funding, including for new stimulus checks, school reopenings, and increased testing. Democrats have already dismissed the proposal as insufficient.

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