Elizabeth Freund Larus, Chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, commented on Indus News on China’s sanctioning of U.S. officials. Larus indicated that China imposed sanctions on U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, and U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback in retaliation for their support of the newly passed Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, and for their criticism of Chinese human rights abuses in Hong Kong and in Muslim-majority populated Xinjiang Province. Larus also indicated that the U.S. Congress compelled President Trump to invoke the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against four Chinese officials last week for their role in abusing human rights in Xinjiang.

Dr. Larus’s comments begin 23 minutes into the program at
https://youtu.be/UMSN-zwvtxU

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor of Political Science and International Relations, offered comments June 29 on Indus News on disputes in the South China Sea. Professor Larus indicated that a late June statement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) affirming that international law should be the basis for determining sovereignty and entitlements in the South China Sea is a rebuke of China’s claim to the vast waters on historical grounds. Dr. Larus indicated that previous statements on the South China Sea either were retracted or did not name China, and that the June 2020 statement was a rare instance of unity among Southeast Asian nations in the face of Chinese aggression.

Professor Larus’s commentary begins 20 minutes into the program.

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, commented on Taiwan and U.S. politics on Squawk Box Asia, CNBC Asia, on June 9, 2020. Overblown promises, an ambitious presidential bid, efforts to move Taiwan closer to China, and the HK protests all contributed to the historic recall of Han Kuo-yu, mayor of Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s critical industrial city. Regarding the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Larus claimed that a Democratic administration may not be much kinder to China than the Trump administration.

View part of the interview at  athttps://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/06/09/china-should-not-expect-an-easier-relationship-with-biden-professor.html

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, commented on pending torpedo sales to Taiwan. Dr. Larus explained that the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act legally obligates the United States to sell arms to Taiwan to defend itself against military threat. The torpedo sales, announced on the day of Tsai Ing-wen’s presidential inauguration, sends a political signal that the United States is upholding a longstanding commitment to a democratic ally.

Larus’ commentary begins at 16 minutes into the program at https://youtu.be/X4bvwmP1OFw.