The U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies it said have been involved in supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, said, “China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law. (THE HINDU)
The Maldives’ hopes of staving off a debt crisis were given a lift on Friday after China agreed to strengthen trade and investment in its latest demonstration of support and influence in the Indian Ocean nation. Though details were limited, the two sides said it was “a framework for cooperation” aimed at “promoting the settlement of current account transactions and direct investments in local currencies.” (REUTERS)
