Senior Administration officials tell me they dismiss the idea of "reparations" as totally unenforceable and totally dismiss out of hand any kind of talk of not paying debt. Instead officials tell me they're accelerating their already considerable pressure campaign on China
That will focus on blocking US technology from being transferred to China; blocking Chinese investment in US; targeting companies such as Huawei; trying to punish China for Hong Kong, Uyghur crackdowns; possible visa restrictions; FON ops as @ChiefPentSpox mentioned yesterday
.@realDonaldTrump in middle: praises Xi, hopes China fulfills trade promises, but increasingly critical. US officials welcome bilateral tension, but China experts fear this is worst crisis in U.S.-China relations since before 1972, say Beijing hardliners have been emboldened.
And Chinese govt., media fighting rhetorical barrage by returning fire. @MFA_China accuses US of vilifying China to "pass the buck." @XHNews mocks US response, @globaltimesnews connects US Army to #COVID. Chinese government, too, under pressure, and deflecting blame externally.
Our @NewsHour report from last night pbs.org/newshour/show/…
