Term: April 1-30, 2014

Main Issues

1. Asia-Pacific Issues: Obama Snubs China and Throws Weight Behind Japan; Isolated China Talks of a New Silk Road and Digs Its Heels in over Territorial Disputes in the Region

United States
April 1, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: Begins Asia-Pacific Trip with U.S.-ASEAN Forum
April 2, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: Describes Role of Partnerships in Asia-Pacific Rebalance
April 2, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: ASEAN Meeting Reflects Commitment to Asia-Pacific
April 2, State Department Daily Press Briefing
April 3, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: ASEAN Defense Ministers Expand Disaster-relief Partners
April 5, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: U.S.-Japan Defense Relations in Interview
April 6, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: U.S. to Send Two More Aegis Ships to Japan
April 8, Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns at the Asia Society Policy Institute Launch
April 9, State Department Daily Press Briefing
April 10, Remarks by U.S. Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog: Secretary Hagel Calls South Korean Defense Minister
April 14, State Department Daily Press Briefing
April 18, Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to UN Susan Rice: Daily Briefing
April 21, State Department Daily Press Briefing 
April 24, Remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama: U.S. Treaty Commitment to Japan is ‘Absolute’
April 24, Remarks by President Obama at Joint Press Conference with Prime Minister Abe of Japan
April 24, Remarks by U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes
April 25, Remarks by President Obama at Press Conference with President Park

China
April 1, People’s Daily Online Editorial
April 1, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 1, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 2, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 4, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 4, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 4, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 4, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 9, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 10, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 12, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 15, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 16, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 17, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 18, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 21, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 29, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 30, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference

2. Direction of U.S.-China Cooperation: U.S. Underscores Its Alliance with Japan; China Attacks the U.S. for a Lack of Genuine Cooperation

United States
April 5, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: U.S.-Japan Defense Relations
April 24, Remarks by President Obama at Joint Press Conference with Prime Minister Abe of Japan
April 30, State Department Daily Press Briefing

China
April 10, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 15, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 28, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 30, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 30, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference

3. Economic Cooperation: U.S. Lends Its Opinion on China’s Currency Reforms and Talks TPP; China Wins Latest Round at the WTO and Talks Soft Power

United States
April 4, Statement of Secretary Lew at the International Monetary Financial Committee Meeting
April 9, State Department Daily Press Briefing
April 15, Treasury Department Releases Semi-Annual Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies

China
April 1, Remarks by MOFCOM Spokesman Shen Danyang Comments on WTO Panel Report on the Dispute Case of China's Appeal against U.S. Amendment to Tariff Act
April 16, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 25, MOFCOM Spokesman Yao Jian Answers Questions from the Media on Accelerating the Development of Foreign Cultural Trade

4. Cooperation on Military Security: U.S. Emphasizes Cooperation; China Accuses the U.S. and Japan of Having a Cold War Mentality

United States
April 8, Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Speech Chuck Hagel: PLA National Defense University
April 15, State Department Daily Press Briefing
April 18, Remarks by Assistant Secretary Daniel R. Russel at China-U.S. Symposium
April 27, Press Briefing by Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes

China
April 23, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 25, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference

5. Human Rights: U.S. Criticizes China over Human Rights; China Defends Itself against British ‘Slander’

United States
April 7, Remarks by the U.S. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney
April 18, Remarks by Assistant Secretary Daniel R. Russel at China-U.S. Symposium
April 22, Remarks by the U.S. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: Abroad Air Force One En Route Oso, Washington
April 25, Remarks by Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes

China
April 15, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference

6. Middle East and Africa Issues: Usual Suspects; Israel-Palestine, Syria and South Sudan Main Focus for the U.S. and China

United States
April 1, Remarks by U.S. Army Gen. Marthin E. Dempsey: Pleased at U.S.-Israeli Review of Threats
April 2, State Department Daily Press Briefing: Middle East
April 8, Remarks by the U.S. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney
April 8, Remarks by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda J. Dory
April 8, Remarks by the Commander of U.S. Africa Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez
April 14, Remarks by the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: Daily Briefing
April 17, Remarks by U.S. Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby
April 23, Remarks by U.S. Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby

China
April 14, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 16, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 24, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 25, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 25, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference

7. Korean Peninsula: Consensus on North Korean Denuclearization; Divergence on Method

United States
April 1, Daily Briefing: U.S. White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney
April 2, Remarks by U.S. Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti Outlines Posture to Counter North Korean Threats
April 4, State Department Daily Press Briefing: DPRK/China
April 6, Remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: U.S. to Send 2 More Aegis Ships to Japan
April 8, Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: PLA National Defense University
April 8, American Forces Press Service: Africa Presents Challenges, Opportunities to U.S. Command
April 22, State Department Daily Press Briefing
April 24, Remarks by President Obama at Joint Press Conference with Prime Minister Abe of Japan
April 26, Remarks by U.S. President Obama to U.S. Troops and Personnel at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan

China
April 3, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 8, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference
April 15, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference
April 21, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 23, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 24, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference
April 24, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang’s Regular Press Conference

(Continued)