分类： politics

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has issued a compelling appeal for Washington to faithfully implement the bilateral agreements reached during the October summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump. Speaking at the 2026 China-US Youth Spring Festival Gala held at the Chinese embassy, Ambassador Xie emphasized that youth exchanges represent the fundamental cornerstone of Sino-American relations.

The diplomatic address highlighted remarkable progress in intercultural collaboration throughout the past year, with thousands of students participating in scientific innovation programs, athletic competitions, and educational partnerships. Ambassador Xie revealed that many participants described their exchange experiences as ‘life-changing,’ enabling them to break free from information cocoons and dispel longstanding misconceptions about each other’s nations.

Citing the critical importance of the bilateral relationship, Xie characterized youth exchanges as ‘spring plowing’ that instills vitality into diplomatic relations. The ambassador specifically referenced President Xi’s November 2023 ‘50,000 in Five Years’ initiative, which aims to bring 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs. Current participation has already exceeded 40,000 students, creating significant people-to-people connections.

The event featured prominent supporters including Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, who emphasized that people-to-people exchange constitutes ‘not a side project but a cornerstone’ of bilateral relations. Practical examples of successful exchanges included Montgomery County Public Schools’ ‘pickleball diplomacy’ program and University of Wyoming hockey teams conducting joint clinics and competitions in China, resulting in lasting personal connections that participants maintain through daily communication.

Ambassador Xie concluded by advocating for enhanced collaboration in cutting-edge sectors including artificial intelligence, digital economy, and green energy development, positioning the next generation as leaders in addressing global challenges through cooperative innovation.

A federal court has rejected Minnesota’s emergency motion to suspend a widespread Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation within the state, a crackdown that has resulted in two civilian fatalities and triggered nationwide demonstrations. The ruling, delivered on Saturday by Judge Katherine Menendez, determined that the balance of harms did not conclusively justify an immediate injunction against the federal agency’s activities.

Simultaneously, in a separate legal proceeding, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued a stern condemnation of the government’s tactics and mandated the release of a five-year-old boy and his father detained during the raids. Judge Biery characterized the operation as an ‘ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.’

The controversial ‘Metro Surge’ operation, involving masked and heavily armed agents, has led to the detention of thousands of individuals across Minnesota communities. The aggressive tactics have ignited protests from coast to coast, with tens of thousands marching in Minnesota and demonstrations organized in Southern California by the grassroots ‘50501 movement’ as part of a national ‘ICE Out of Everywhere’ day of action.

The backlash has extended internationally, with hundreds gathering in Milan, Italy, to protest the anticipated deployment of ICE agents during the upcoming Winter Olympics. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala has explicitly stated these agents are not welcome in the city.

According to data from the German publication Tagesspiegel, ICE officers have been involved in 31 firearm incidents since last summer, with at least 32 individuals dying in custody. The agency currently detains approximately 70,000 people, representing what critics describe as the tip of the iceberg regarding law enforcement violence in the United States. Research from the University of Illinois Chicago indicates approximately 250,000 people are injured annually during law enforcement encounters due to misconduct, with over 600 dying in police custody.

Diplomatic channels between Tehran and Washington remain active despite escalating military threats, as both nations confirmed ongoing communications while maintaining their defensive postures. The complex situation reveals a delicate balance between negotiation efforts and military preparedness.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council head Ali Larijani reported significant advancements in establishing structural frameworks for bilateral talks, directly countering media narratives emphasizing conflict. “Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing,” Larijani stated, indicating behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity.

The United States simultaneously acknowledges dialogue while demonstrating military capability. President Donald Trump confirmed the diplomatic engagement but emphasized American naval power moving toward the region, creating a dual-track approach of negotiation leverage and military deterrence.

Iranian leadership maintains a consistent position against initiating hostilities while promising forceful response to any aggression. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei asserted that Iran “would not start a war” but warned that any American offensive would trigger a regional conflict with consequences for U.S. assets and allies, particularly Israel.

Army Chief Amir Hatami reinforced this stance, declaring Iranian forces at “full defensive and military readiness” and cautioning that any military miscalculation would endanger regional security and Israel’s stability. Hatami further emphasized that Iran’s nuclear expertise “cannot be eliminated” through military means.

President Masoud Pezeshkian articulated Iran’s diplomatic philosophy during discussions with Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, emphasizing “dignity-based diplomacy” and conflict resolution through engagement within international law frameworks. He noted that broader military confrontation would serve neither nation’s interests.

The fundamental negotiation impasse persists regarding Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Washington demands uranium enrichment restrictions, missile capability limitations, and proxy support rollbacks, while Tehran insists any discussions must exclude its defensive capabilities from the agenda.

The United States government entered its third day of a partial shutdown on Monday as legislative negotiations reached an impasse over Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration enforcement policies. The political deadlock persists despite the Senate’s approval last Thursday of a comprehensive spending package covering five key government sectors.

Lawmakers face a critical juncture regarding Homeland Security funding after senators deliberately excluded full fiscal year appropriations for DHS from their initial legislative package. Instead, they implemented a temporary two-week funding measure specifically for the department, creating a limited window for resolving contentious immigration policy disagreements.

The congressional stalemate centers on Democratic demands for substantial reforms to immigration enforcement protocols. These include mandatory body camera usage by agents during operations and prohibitions on facial coverings that obscure identification. The proposed changes gained urgency following recent fatal shootings of American citizens during immigration enforcement operations.

While the Senate-approved legislation allocates full fiscal year funding through September 30, 2026 for defense, health, treasury, federal courts, and other agencies, its implementation remains pending House approval. The funding lapse technically began at midnight Saturday, though minimal immediate impact occurred due to weekend government service schedules.

The House Rules Committee scheduled a Monday afternoon session to evaluate the legislative package, which must first overcome a procedural vote that Democrats reportedly plan to oppose. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) articulated progressive opposition, questioning the ethical implications of funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement without structural reforms.

Republican leadership expressed confidence in resolving the impasse, with House Speaker Mike Johnson predicting legislative completion by Tuesday. However, practical challenges emerge from both political divisions and external factors, including winter weather complicating lawmaker travel and the Republican party’s narrow single-vote House majority.

The funding debate occurs alongside widespread public demonstrations in Minneapolis protesting Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration immigration initiative that has drawn criticism following recent enforcement-related fatalities. These events have intensified Democratic demands for revised ICE protocols including enhanced warrant requirements and transparency measures.

The Department of Homeland Security’s extensive jurisdiction—spanning ICE, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, and Secret Service—has positioned it at the center of both budgetary discussions and national policy debates regarding immigration enforcement strategies and accountability mechanisms.