President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping spoke on the phone on Wednesday, with more details emerging on U.S. soybean purchases and Washington’s weapons sale to Taiwan.
An FBI raid has revealed a major security loophole. With loose regulations on virus labs in the United States, questions are growing over how this could be exploited by China. Senior investigative reporter Joshua Philipp explains.
“You wouldn’t have to launch a biological warfare attack on America,” he says. “You can make it look like an accident in someone’s backyard.”
Trump also warned the United States would militarily secure its base on the Chagos Islands if American forces come under threat. Meanwhile, a lawmaker says the UK’s prime minister should consider another option.
In a separate development, Trump and Xi discussed Taiwan during their call. As China reiterated its claims over the island, Taiwan’s opposition delayed a new defense budget—drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers. The Trump–Xi call has put that budget stalemate back in the spotlight.