BEIJING DAILY - 18 MARCH 2026
Coast Guard Expels Japanese Vessel from Diaoyu Islands; MFA Escalates Rhetoric on Lai's Colonial Revisionism; USTR Launches 60 Section 301 Forced Labor Investigations Targeting China
China Coast Guard Expels Japanese Vessel from Diaoyu Islands Waters
China Coast Guard expelled a Japanese boat that intruded into territorial waters around Diaoyu Islands on March 18. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also condemned Taiwan leader William Lai's remarks glorifying Japanese colonialism as historical betrayal.
China-Vietnam 3+3 Security Dialogue Concludes, Wang Yi Briefs Media
Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed Chinese media after hosting China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation Guidance Committee meeting on March 17, following the inaugural 3+3 ministerial dialogue. Wang emphasized deepening strategic coordination, maritime security cooperation, and maintaining high-level exchanges to strengthen bilateral relations.
Trump Confirms Xi Summit Postponement, Says Five to Six Weeks Delay
President Trump confirmed the postponement of his China summit with President Xi, stating it would occur in approximately five to six weeks. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed both sides maintain communication on visit timing.
Nvidia CEO Confirms H200 AI Chip Production Resumption for China
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced the company is restarting manufacturing of H200 AI accelerators for Chinese customers, having received licenses for many customers in China. This signals progress in Nvidia's effort to re-enter the vital Chinese market.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: China Coast Guard expelled a Japanese vessel from territorial waters around the Diaoyu Islands on 18 March, according to Global Times reporting, marking the latest maritime sovereignty assertion in the East China Sea as Foreign Ministry spokesperson LIN Jian simultaneously condemned Taiwan leader LAI Qingde's 18 March remarks characterizing Japanese colonial rule as serving an "East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere" — escalating Beijing's rhetorical temperature on historical revisionism beyond routine cross-strait messaging to frame LAI's comments as "serious desecration of history" and "shameful betrayal of the nation." U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson GREER on 17-18 March launched 60 Section 301 investigations targeting countries that fail to impose and enforce prohibitions on forced labor imports, a move explicitly directed at China's Xinjiang production chains despite Vice Premier HE Lifeng's 15-16 March Paris trade talks with Treasury Secretary Scott BESSENT that yielded preliminary consensus on tariff stability mechanisms. Justice Department arrested former U.S. Air Force pilot on 17-18 March for allegedly providing defense services to the People's Liberation Army, underscoring continued counterintelligence focus on PRC military technology acquisition. Foreign Minister WANG Yi on 17 March briefed Chinese media following the inaugural China-Vietnam "3+3" Strategic Dialogue, emphasizing deepened strategic coordination, maritime security cooperation, and maintenance of high-level exchanges to strengthen bilateral relations. END SUMMARY.
