Monthly Archives: March 2021

WILLIAMSBURGWilliamsburg native David Hubbard has spent the last 35 years helping to keep the nation safe and secure, working for one of the governments most highly classified agenciesthe National Security Agency.

The NSA is a U.S. intelligence agency within the Department of Defense that plays an integral role in keeping the nation safe and achieving military objectives by gathering, analyzing and sharing data and signals intelligence. To put it into perspective, Hubbard said there are more people working at NSA headquarters in Maryland than there are living in Williamsburg currently.

This job can be really, really humbling when you think about what were really doing here, Hubbard said. We say this a lot but these words have real meaningwere really trying to keep the nation safe. When something happens here inside the walls of NSA where we have a great success but we cant talk about it, we cant tell anybody about it outside of herethere are days you go home and you know you were part of something bigger than yourself and you were a part of really helping to keep the nation safe.

I often think about the people that live in my hometown growing up. Most people, the vast majority of Americans, go through life on a day to day basis and never think about an intelligence agency, they never think about whats going on behind the walls to keep them safe but it really is a sincere honor to be a part of that.

Hubbard spent most of his young life in Williamsburg, after moving from Corbin to Williamsburg after pre-school. He played the trumpet in his high school band and enjoyed watching the University of Kentucky Wildcats mens basketball team with his father, who is still a season ticket holder at Rupp Arena.

After graduating high school, Hubbard attended the University of the Cumberlands for three years, which at the time was called Cumberland College. After that, Hubbard transferred to the University of Kentucky where he graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree after majoring in computer science, something Hubbard had been interested in since a young child.

I cant really tell you why but honestly, as a kid, I was always interested in codes and cyphers and secret writing, Hubbard said. I still remember going to the local library down on 3rd Street in Williamsburg and checking out books about that kind of stuff, so Id always had an interest in codes, cyphers, I was already pretty good at math and in science courses.

Before graduating college, Hubbard began looking for careers where he could put his love of codes and cyphers to use.

When it got time to get close to graduate at UK, I went to the placement office and started trying to find a job and the NSA had taken out the entire back cover of University of Kentuckys placement catalogue, he said. There was a picture of two brand new buildings here, they were dedicated in the mid to late 80s. When I saw that full page ad, I did a little bit of research about the NSA and saw one of the things NSA does is break code cyphers to produce intelligence for our nation and I kind of applied on a whim. I said wow, this sounds interesting. Let me give it a shot.

Hubbard applied for a job in the National Computer Security Center (NCSC) at the NSA in April of 1985 and after going through all the screening, he was hired in by late September, at the age of 24.

In his 35 years with the NSA, Hubbard has held several different job titles working in several different aspects of the NSA, including evaluating national security information systems, developing software for NSA, and serving in a variety of program management, technical and managerial positions.

After his one-year hiatus, Hubbard returned to the NSA where he once again was working in the NCSC in a variety positions before taking over as Chief of NSAs Commercial Engagement Center (CEC).

Currently, Hubbard works as the Chief of Legislative State, Local and Academic Engagement at the NSA, where he is responsible for developing, promoting, and facilitating strategic alliances with state, local and community leaders, as well as all NSA/CSS academic programs and relationships.

Ive been fortunate to have a lot of very interesting jobs here, Hubbard said. This is a real unique job because, again, we deal with people outside of NSA, in this particular instance with representatives and senators.

Hubbard is the recipient of a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award and the NSA Meritorious Civilian Service Award. In addition to receiving several awards while at the NSA, Hubbard also holds a patent for an invention developed while employed by Microsoft.

Not many days but there have been a handful of days here at NSA where I would have paid to come to work, honestly, Hubbard said of his experience. Ive been a part of things every once in a while where you walk in, something really important, really exciting was going on and we had a hand in addressing it. You can do things at NSA that you cant do anywhere else in the world and it can be really, really exciting.

For now, Hubbard is enjoying his current position at the NSA and is looking forward to the day he can finally come back home to Williamsburg to visit his family and for a chance for his father to finally meet Hubbards granddaughter, his great-granddaughter, as they have been unable to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Williamsburg native has worked with National Security Agency for last 35 years - Times Tribune of Corbin

Iran has made threats against Fort McNair, an Army base in the nation's capital, and against the Army's vice chief of staff, two senior US intelligence officials said.

They said communications intercepted by the National Security Agency in January showed that Iran's Revolutionary Guard discussed mounting USS Cole-style attacks against the base, referring to the October 2000 suicide attack in which a small boat pulled up alongside the Navy destroyer in the Yemeni port of Aden and exploded, killing 17 sailors.

The intelligence also revealed threats to kill Gen. Joseph M. Martin and plans to infiltrate and surveil the base, according to the officials, who were not authorized to publicly discuss national security matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. The base, one of the oldest in the country, is Martin's official residence.

The threats are one reason the Army has been pushing for more security around Fort McNair, which sits alongside Washington's bustling newly developed Waterfront District.

City leaders have been fighting the Army's plan to add a buffer zone of about 250 feet to 500 feet (75 meters to 150 meters) from the shore of the Washington Channel, which would limit access to as much as half the width of the busy waterway running parallel to the Potomac River.

The Pentagon, National Security Council and NSA either did not reply or declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

At a virtual meeting in January to discuss the proposed restrictions, Army Maj. Gen. Omar Jones, commander of the Military District of Washington, cited credible and specific" threats against military leaders who live on the base. The only specific security threat he offered was about a swimmer who ended up on the base and was arrested.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the district's sole representative in Congress, was skeptical. When it comes to swimmers, I'm sure that must be rare. Did he know where he was? Maybe he was just swimming and found his way to your shore? she said.

Jones conceded that the swimmer was not a great example there, but our most recent example of a security breach.

He said the Army has increased patrols along the shoreline, erected more restricted area signs and placed cameras to monitor the Washington Channel.

Puzzled city officials and frustrated residents said the Army's request for the buffer zone was a government overreach of public waterways.

Discussions about the Fort McNair proposal began two years ago, but the recent intelligence gathered by the NSA has prompted Army officials to renew their request for the restrictions.

The intercepted chatter was among members of the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and centered on potential military options to avenge the U.S. killing of the former Quds leader, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad in January 2020, the two intelligence officials said.

They said Tehran's military commanders are unsatisfied with their counterattacks so far, specifically the results of the ballistic missile attack on Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq in the days after Soleimani's killing. No U.S. service members were killed in that strike but dozens suffered concussions.

Norton told the AP that in the two months since the January meeting, the Pentagon has not provided her any additional information that would justify the restrictions around Fort McNair.

I have asked the Department of Defense to withdraw the rule because I've seen no evidence of a credible threat that would support the proposed restriction, Norton said. They have been trying to get their way, but their proposal is more restrictive than necessary.

She added: I have a security clearance. And they have yet to show me any classified evidence that would justify the proposal. Norton pointed out that the Washington Navy Yard and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, which also have access to district waters, do not have restricted zones along their shorelines and have not requested them.

The proposed changes, outlined in a Federal Register notice, would prohibit both people and watercraft from anchoring, mooring or loitering" within the restricted area without permission.

The notice specifies the need for security around the Marine Helicopter Squadron, which transports American presidents, and the general and staff officers' quarters located at the water's edge. The southern tip of Fort McNair is home to the National War College, where midlevel and senior officers gunning for admiral or general study national security strategy.

The Washington Channel is the site of one of the city's major urban renewal efforts, with new restaurants, luxury housing and concert venues. The waterway flows from the point where the city's two major rivers, the Potomac and Anacostia, meet.

It's home to three marinas and hundreds of boat slips. About 300 people live aboard their boats in the channel, according to Patrick Revord, who is the director of technology, marketing and community engagement for the Wharf Community Association.

The channel also bustles with water taxis, which serve 300,000 people each year, river cruises that host 400,000 people a year and about 7,000 kayakers and paddleboarders annually, Revord said during the meeting.

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Iran threatens US Army base and top general - Economic Times

By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against cook Naushad, who was arrested for spitting on the dough while making rotis at a wedding function in the Meerut district last month.

The process of NSA was completed by the police on Thursday and the file was sent to DM for approval on Thursday.

Naushad was arrested after a video clip showing his disgusting and unhygienic act went viral on social media. The video, shot by one of the guests at the wedding at Aroma Garden of Lishari Gate in Meerut, caught Naushad spitting on the rotis before putting them in the tandoor for the dinner at aparty on February 16.

The guest, who had filmed Naushad, shared the video with other guests at the party and they left the function without having food.

Later, social activist Sachin Sirohi, associated with Hindu Jagran Manch, and his accomplices staged a protest at Lala Lajpat Rai Medical College Police Station. This was followed by the registration of a case against Naushad under the Epidemic Act and relevant sections of IPC on February 19, and Naushad was arrested and sent to jail.

During the investigation, the police found the charges of spitting in the dough to be true.

Recently, when Naushad was produced in the local court for a hearing on his bail application, a group of irate lawyers and the common public thrashed him. He was also beaten up when he came out of the court.

The NSA was slapped against him as his release from the jail might create law and order problems in the city, said Meerut SSP Ajay Sahni.

Meanwhile, a similar case was reported from Ghaziabad where a cook was caught on camera spitting on the dough while making rotis. The Ghaziabad Police are also in the process of invoking the NSA against the arrested cook.

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NSA slapped on man held for spitting on dough while making rotis in UP - The New Indian Express

Theeranan Tangthong,1,2 Thananchai Piroonpan,2 Velaphi C Thipe,3,4 Menka Khoobchandani,4,5 Kavita Katti,4,5 Kattesh V Katti,4 6 Wanvimol Pasanphan1,2

1Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand; 2Center of Radiation Processing for Polymer Modification and Nanotechnology (CRPN), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand; 3Laboratrio de Ecotoxicologia - Centro de Qumica e Meio Ambiente - Instituto de Pesquisas Energticase Nucleares (IPEN) - Comisso Nacional de Energia Nuclear- IPEN/CNEN-SP, So Paulo, Brasil; 4Institute of Green Nanotechnology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; 5Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; 6Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

Correspondence: Wanvimol PasanphanDepartment of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, ThailandTel +66 2562 5555 (Ext. 646518)Email wanvimol.p@ku.ac.thKattesh V KattiInstitute of Green Nanotechnology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USATel +1 573 882-5656Fax +1 573 884-5679Email KattiK@health.missouri.edu

Introduction: Functionalization of water-soluble chitosan (WSCS) nanocolloids with, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and LyslLys3 (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid)-bombesin 1 14 (DOTA-BBN) peptide affords an innovative pathway to produce prostate tumor cell-specific nanomedicine agents with potential applications in molecular imaging and therapy.Methods: The preparation involves the production and full characterization of water-soluble chitosan (WSCS), via gamma () rays (80 kGy) irradiation, followed by DOTA-BBN conjugation for subsequent use as an effective template toward the synthesis of tumor cell-specific AuNPs-WSCS-DOTA-BBN.Results: The WSCS-DOTA-BBN polymeric nanoparticles (86 2.03 nm) served multiple roles as reducing and stabilizing agents in the overall template synthesis of tumor cell-targeted AuNPs. The AuNPs capped with WSCS and WSCS-DOTA-BBN exhibited average Au-core diameter of 17 8 nm and 20 7 nm with hydrodynamic diameters of 56 1 and 67 2 nm, respectively. The AuNPs-WSCS-DOTA-BBN showed optimum in vitro stability in biologically relevant solutions. The targeted AuNPs showed selective affinity toward GRP receptors overexpressed in prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and LNCaP).Discussion: The AuNPs-WSCS-DOTA-BBN displayed cytotoxicity effects against PC-3 and LNCaP cancer cells, with concomitant safety toward the HAECs normal cells. The AuNPs-WSCS-DOTA-BBN showed synergistic targeting toward tumor cells with selective cytotoxicity of AuNPs towards PC-3 and LNCaP cells. Our investigations provide compelling evidence that AuNPs functionalized with WSCS-DOTA-BBN is an innovative nanomedicine approach for use in molecular imaging and therapy of GRP receptor-positive tumors. The template synthesis of AuNPs-WSCS-DOTA-BBN serves as an excellent non-radioactive surrogate for the development of the corresponding 198AuNPs theragnostic nanoradiopharmaceutical for use in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Keywords: DOTA-bombesin, gold nanoparticle, water-soluble chitosan, nanoradiopharmaceutical, prostate cancer

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Targeted therapeutic agents for prostate cancer | NSA - Dove Medical Press

U.S. Department of State

REMARKSANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATEANCHORAGE, ALASKAMARCH 18, 2021

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, and welcome. On behalf of National Security Advisor Sullivan and myself, I want to welcome Director Yang and State Councilor Wang to Alaska, and to thank you very much for making the journey to be with us.

I just returned myself from meetings with Secretary of Defense Austin and our counterparts in Japan and the Republic of Korea, two of our nations closest allies. They were very interested in the discussions that well have here today and tomorrow because the issues that well raise are relevant not only to China and the United States, but to others across the region and indeed around the world. Our administration is committed to leading with diplomacy to advance the interests of the United States and to strengthen the rules-based international order.

That system is not an abstraction. It helps countries resolve differences peacefully, coordinate multilateral efforts effectively, and participate in global commerce with the assurance that everyone is following the same rules. The alternative to a rules-based order is a world in which might makes right and winners take all, and that would be a far more violent and unstable world for all of us. Today, well have an opportunity to discuss key priorities, both domestic and global, so that China can better understand our administrations intentions and approach.

Well also discuss our deep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber attacks on the United States, and economic coercion toward our allies. Each of these actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability. Thats why theyre not merely internal matters and why we feel an obligation to raise these issues here today.

I said that the United States relationship with China will be competitive where it should be, collaborative where it can be, adversarial where it must be. Our discussions here in Alaska, I suspect, will run the gamut. Our intent is to be direct about our concerns, direct about our priorities, with the goal of a more clear-eyed relationship between our countries moving forward. Thank you for being here.

And before turning to you, Mr. Director, Id like to invite National Security Advisor Sullivan to say a few words.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, and welcome to Director Yang and State Councilor Wang. Its fitting that were meeting here in Alaska. We may be far from the continental United States, but there are few places that are as quintessentially American: big-hearted, resilient, intrepid. This is truly a fitting place for us to host this meeting.

Secretary Blinken and I are proud of the story about America were able to tell here about a country that, under President Bidens leadership, has made major strides to control the pandemic, to rescue our economy, and to affirm the strength and staying power of our democracy. Were particularly proud of the work that weve done to revitalize our alliances and partnerships, the foundation of our foreign policy. Just last week, President Biden hosted the Quad leaders summit that spoke to the can-do spirit of the worlds democracies and committed to realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. It is through partnerships like these that all of us can deliver progress and prosperity for our peoples.

Secretary Blinken laid out many of the areas of concern, from economic and military coercion to assaults on basic values, that well discuss with you today and in the days ahead. Well do so frankly, directly, and with clarity. These are the concerns that are on the minds of the American people, but it goes beyond that. Weve heard each of these concerns posed from around the world from our allies and partners to the broader international community during the intensive consultations weve undertaken in the last two months.

Well make clear today that our overriding priority from the United States side is to ensure that our approach in the world and our approach to China benefits the American people and protects the interests of our allies and partners. We do not seek conflict, but we welcome stiff competition and we will always stand up for our principles, for our people, and for our friends. We look forward to discussing all of these matters with you in the hours ahead. Thank you.

DIRECTOR YANG: (In Mandarin.)

PARTICIPANT: Its a test for the interpreter.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Were going to give the translator a raise. (Laughter.)

DIRECTOR YANG: (Via interpreter) Secretary Blinken and Mr. Sullivan, the State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and I have come to Anchorage, the United States to have this strategic dialogue with the United States. We hope that this dialogue will be a sincere and candid one. Both China and the United States are major countries in the world, and together we shoulder important responsibilities to the peace, stability, and development of the world and the region. In China, we have just concluded the Lianghui, or the two sessions of the National Peoples Congress and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. During the sessions, we adopted the outline for the 14th five-year economic and social development plan and the long-range objectives through the year 2035.

For China, we are now in a historic year where we will move from finishing the first centenary goal to the second centenary goal, and by the year 2035 China will surely achieve basic modernization. And by the year 2050, China will achieve full modernization. China has made decisive achievements and important strategic gains in fighting COVID-19, and we have achieved a full victory in ending absolute poverty in China. Chinas per capita GDP is only one-fifth of that of the United States, but we have managed to end absolute poverty for all people in China. And we hope that other countries, especially the advanced countries, will make similar efforts in this regard. And China has also made historic achievements in building the country into a moderately prosperous one in all respects. The Chinese people are wholly rallying around the Communist Party of China. Our values are the same as the common values of humanity. Those are: peace, development, fairness, justice, freedom, and democracy.

What China and the international community follow or uphold is the United Nations-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, not what is advocated by a small number of countries of the so-called rules-based international order. And the United States has its style United States-style democracy and China has the Chinese-style democracy. It is not just up to the American people, but also the people of the world to evaluate how the United States has done in advancing its own democracy. In Chinas case, after decades of reform and opening up, we have come a long way in various fields. In particular, we have engaged in tireless efforts to contribute to the peace and development of the world, and to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

The wars in this world are launched by some other countries, which have resulted in massive casualties. But for China, what we have asked for, for other countries, is to follow a path of peaceful development, and this is the purpose of our foreign policy. We do not believe in invading through the use of force, or to topple other regimes through various means, or to massacre the people of other countries, because all of those would only cause turmoil and instability in this world. And at the end of the day, all of those would not serve the United States well.

So we believe that it is important for the United States to change its own image and to stop advancing its own democracy in the rest of the world. Many people within the United States actually have little confidence in the democracy of the United States, and they have various views regarding the Government of the United States. In China, according to opinion polls, the leaders of China have the wide support of the Chinese people. So no attempt to the opinion polls conducted in the United States show that the leaders of China have the support of the Chinese people. No attempt to smear Chinas social system would get anywhere. Facts have shown that such practices would only lead the Chinese people to rally more closely around the Communist Party of China and work steadily towards the goals that we have set for ourselves.

In 1952, China adopted its first five-year development plan, and now we are into the first year of the 14th five-year development plan. We will continue along this path, step by step. Chinas development is not just about delivering benefits for the people of China, but also about contributing to the development of the world in the 21st century. China and the United States are both major countries and both shoulder important responsibilities. We must both contribute to the peace, stability, and development of the world in areas such as COVID-19, restoring economic activities in the world, and responding to climate change. There are many things that we can do together and where our interests converge.

So what we need to do is to abandon the Cold War mentality and the zero-sum game approach. We must change the way we think and make sure that in this century, the 21st century, countries big or small, particularly the big countries, should come united together to contribute to the future of humanity and build a community with a shared future for humankind. Its also important for all of us to come together to build a new type of international relations, ensuring fairness, justice, and mutual respect. And on some regional issues, I think the problem is that the United States has exercised long-arm jurisdiction and suppression and overstretched the national security through the use of force or financial hegemony, and this has created obstacles for normal trade activities, and the United States has also been persuading some countries to launch attacks on China.

And as for China, we believe and we have handled import- and export-related issues according to scientific and technological standards. Secretary Blinken, you said you just came back from Japan and the ROK. Those two countries are Chinas second and the third largest trading partners. ASEAN has now become Chinas largest trading partner, overtaking the European Union and the United States. So we do hope that the United States will develop sound relations with all countries in the Asia-Pacific. We should have many mutual friends. This is the right way forward in the 21st century.

On the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a phone conversation. The two presidents agreed to step up communication, manage differences, and expand cooperation between our two countries. We are having this dialogue today to follow up on the common understanding of the two presidents reached during their phone conversation. And having this dialogue is, in fact, a decision made by the two presidents. So for the people of the two countries and the world, theyre hoping to see practical outcomes coming out of our dialogue. And with Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan, they are an inalienable part of Chinas territory. China is firmly opposed to U.S. interference in Chinas internal affairs. We have expressed our staunch opposition to such interference and we will take firm actions in response.

On human rights, we hope that the United States will do better on human rights. China has made steady progress in human rights and the fact is that there are many problems within the United States regarding human rights, which is admitted by the U.S. itself as well. The United States has also said that countries cant rely on force in todays world to resolve the challenges we face. And it is a failure to use various means to topple the so-called authoritarian states. And the challenges facing the United States in human rights are deep-seated. They did not just emerge over the past four years, such as Black Lives Matter. It did not come up only recently. So we do hope that for our two countries, its important that we manage our respective affairs well instead of deflecting the blame on somebody else in this world.

And for China, we will manage our own affairs well, and we hope to deliver a better life for our 1.4 billion Chinese people. This is the goal of Chinas diplomacy. And also, we will make our contribution to the peace and stability of the world. Since breaking the ice between our two countries in our engagement several decades ago, China and the United States have achieved a lot together. This is the result of the concerted efforts of the people with vision of both countries, and this past is a part of our achievements. Although so much has changed in this world, it is important that our two countries think about how we can work together and expand our cooperation under the new circumstances.

If there is competition between our two countries, I think the competition focuses on the economic aspect, and in this area, as I have said just now, for frictions in our economic engagement, it is important to respond to them in a rational way and seek win-win results. And China-U.S. trade has already achieved a lot, and we should do even better. The overwhelming majority of American businesses in China have said that Chinas business environment is good and nobody has forced them to stay in China. They see a profit coming from their presence in China and they see immense opportunities in China. Thats why they are staying in China. And I believe that for our two countries, under the new circumstances, we need to enhance communication, properly manage our differences, and expand our cooperation instead of engaging in confrontation.

But between our two countries weve had confrontation in the past, and the result did not serve the United States well. What did the United States gain from that confrontation? I didnt see any, and the only result was damages done to United States. And China will pull through and has pulled through such confrontation.

So the way we see the relationship with the United States is as President Xi Jinping has said that is, we hope to see no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation with the United States. And actually, during the phone call between the presidents, President Biden himself also talked about the importance of having no conflict or confrontation between our two countries. So at our level, I think its vital that we do everything we can to fully and faithfully follow up and implement the understandings reached between our two presidents and bring back the China-U.S. relationship to the track of sound and steady growth.

On cyber attacks, let me say that whether its the ability to launch cyber attacks or the technologies that could be deployed, the United States is the champion in this regard. You cant blame this problem on somebody else.

The United States itself does not represent international public opinion, and neither does the Western world. Whether judged by population scale or the trend of the world, the Western world does not represent the global public opinion. So we hope that when talking about universal values or international public opinion on the part of the United States, we hope the U.S. side will think about whether it feels reassured in saying those things, because the U.S. does not represent the world. It only represents the Government of the United States. I dont think the overwhelming majority of countries in the world would recognize that the universal values advocated by the United States or that the opinion of the United States could represent international public opinion, and those countries would not recognize that the rules made by a small number of people would serve as the basis for the international order.

Because, Mr. Secretary and NSA Sullivan, you have delivered some quite different opening remarks, mine will be slightly different as well.

STATE COUNCILOR WANG: (Via interpreter) Well, I will stay quite brief compared with Director Yang. Secretary Blinken, NSA Sullivan, you have been involved in the relationship with China for many years, so youre also true friends for the Chinese people. And I would say that I am pleased to meet you today, and China the Chinese delegation is here at the invitation of the United States. And as NSA Sullivan said, Anchorage is the midpoint of the air route connecting our two countries, and it is fair to say that this place is a refueling station for China-U.S. exchanges and also a place that China and the United States can meet each other halfway.

And China certainly in the past has not and in the future will not accept the unwarranted accusations from the U.S. side. In the past several years, Chinas legitimate rights and interests have come under outright suppression, plunging the China-U.S. relationship into a period of unprecedented difficulty. This has damaged the interests of our two peoples and taken its toll on world stability and development, and this situation must no longer continue. China urges the U.S. side to fully abandon the hegemonic practice of willfully interfering in Chinas internal affairs. This has been a longstanding issue and it should be changed. It is time for it to change. And in particular, on the 17th of March, the United States escalated its so-called sanctions on China regarding Hong Kong, and the Chinese people are outraged by this gross interference in Chinas internal affairs and the Chinese side is firmly opposed to it.

Anchorage is a midpoint between China and the United States, but after all, its still the United States territory, and I accept that the Chinese delegation has come here at the invitation of the United States. However, just the other day, before our departure, the United States passed these new sanctions. This is not supposed to be the way one should welcome his guests, and we wonder if this is a decision made by the United States to try to gain some advantage in dealing with China, but certainly this is miscalculated and only reflects the vulnerability and weakness inside the United States. And this will not shake Chinas position or resolve on those issues.

And let me also say that the phone conversation that President Xi Jinping and President Biden had on the eve of the Chinese New Year is a very important one, and during this phone conversation they agreed to some common understandings that have pointed the way forward for us to bring back the China-U.S. relationship onto the right track. And the international community is following very closely our dialogue for today and tomorrow. Theyre watching whether our two sides will each demonstrate goodwill and sincerity, and they are watching whether this dialogue will send out a positive signal to the world.

So we will be watching what will happen today and tomorrow, and if United States is willing, I think our two sides should step up to this responsibility and deliver on this task that we are given. I will stop here. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much.

(Break.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Mr. Director, State Councilor, given your extended remarks, permit me, please, to add just a few of my own before we get down to work, and I know Mr. Sullivan may have things to say as well.

I have to tell you, in my short time as Secretary of State, I have spoken to I think nearly a hundred counterparts from around the world, and I just made my first trip, as I noted, to Japan and South Korea. I have to tell you, what Im hearing is very different from what you described. Im hearing deep satisfaction that the United States is back, that were re-engaged with our allies and partners. Im also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your government has taken, and well have an opportunity to discuss those when we get down to work.

A hallmark of our leadership, of our engagement in the world is our alliances and our partnerships that have been built on a totally voluntary basis. And it is something that President Biden is committed to reinvigorating.

And theres one more hallmark of our leadership here at home, and thats a constant quest to, as we say, form a more perfect union. And that quest, by definition, acknowledges our imperfections, acknowledges that were not perfect, we make mistakes, we have reversals, we take steps back. But what weve done throughout our history is to confront those challenges openly, publicly, transparently, not trying to ignore them, not trying to pretend they dont exist, not trying to sweep them under a rug. And sometimes its painful, sometimes its ugly, but each and every time, we have come out stronger, better, more united as a country.

I recall well when President Biden was vice president and we were visiting China. This was in the wake of the financial crisis. There was much discussion then, including with then-Vice President Xi Jinping. And Vice President Biden at the time said its never a good bet to bet against America, and its true today.

STAFF: Thank you, press.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SULLIVAN: Just briefly, to add to what Secretary Blinken has said because I was actually going to make the same point without us even consulting a confident country is able to look hard at its own shortcomings and constantly seek to improve. And that is the secret sauce of America.

The other secret sauce of America is that our people are a problem-solving people, and we believe we solve problems best when we work together with allies and partners around the world.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the United States landed another rover on Mars, and it wasnt just an American project. It had technology from multiple countries from Europe and other parts of the world. It is also going to leave behind a collection of material for Mars that the United States and Europe will build a device that can fly there to pick it up and bring it back.

That is what can be accomplished by a country that is constantly reinventing itself, working closely with others, and seeking constantly to produce the kind of progress that benefits all of us, and is rooted in a concept of human dignity and human rights that is truly universal that every man, woman, and child in this world aspires to.

So we will look forward to the conversation today, but I do hope this conversation will be one carried out with confidence on both sides. So its not lectures or long, winding statements; its the opportunity for us to explain where were coming from, to hear where you are coming from, and to indicate, at bottom, what our principles, our priorities, and our long-term strategies are. Thats what we hope for in the dialogue that lies ahead, that is the spirit with which we approach this, and we look forward to continuing the discussion today. Thank you, everybody.

STAFF: Thank you very much, everyone.

(Break.)

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

DIRECTOR YANG: (Via interpreter) Well, it was my bad. When I entered this room, I should have reminded the U.S. side of paying attention to its tone in our respective opening remarks, but I didnt.

The Chinese side felt compelled to make this speech because of the tone of the U.S. side.

Well, isnt this the intention of United States, judging from what or the way that you have made your opening remarks, that it wants to speak to China in a condescending way from a position of strength?

So was this carefully all planned and was it carefully orchestrated with all the preparations in place? Is that the way that you had hoped to conduct this dialogue?

Well, I think we thought too well of the United States. We thought that the U.S. side will follow the necessary diplomatic protocols. So for China it was necessary that we made our position clear.

So let me say here that, in front of the Chinese side, the United States does not have the qualification to say that it wants to speak to China from a position of strength. The U.S. side was not even qualified to say such things even 20 years or 30 years back, because this is not the way to deal with the Chinese people. If the United States wants to deal properly with the Chinese side, then lets follow the necessary protocols and do things the right way.

Cooperation benefits both sides. In particular, this is the expectation of the people of the world. Well, the American people are certainly a great people, but so are the Chinese people. So have the Chinese people not suffered enough in the past from the foreign countries? Well, at times I have not been sure since China started being encircled by the foreign countries.

Well, as long as Chinas system is right with the wisdom of the Chinese people, there is no way to strangle China. Our history will show that one can only cause damages to himself if he wants to strangle or suppress the Chinese people.

While the United States has talked about its cooperation to land on some other planet with the European side, well, China would welcome it if there is a will to carry out similar cooperation from the United States with us.

Ill stop here. Would the State Councilor wish to add?

STATE COUNCILOR WANG: (Via interpreter) Secretary Blinken and NSA Sullivan, you mentioned that during your engagements and the visit that Mr. Secretary had just recently, the two countries you visited mentioned coercion from China. We dont know if this is a direct complaint coming from those countries that you visited, or is it just the United States own view?

Well, I think for those relationships, it brings in Chinas relationship with the United States, with Japan, and with Australia. I dont think we could know from all being together because for all of those instances, they each have their own set of issues and different positions are involved. So to accuse China of coercion even before sharing the relevant views with China, is this the right act to do? Of course not.

If the United States would indiscriminately protest and speak up for those countries just because they are your allies or partners, we believe for the long term (inaudible), then it will be very difficult for international relations to develop properly. So we dont think one should be so testy as to accuse some other country of coercion. Who is coercing whom? I think history and the international community will come to their own conclusions.

But if the United States is interested in having those discussions with China, then we are ready to have those discussions with the U.S. side, but based on mutual respect so that we can increase our mutual understanding on those issues.

By U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong | 19 March, 2021 | Topics: News, U.S. Secretary of State | Tags: Antony J. Blinken

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