U.S. Congress becoming stumbling block for stable China-U.S. relation: scholar

The United States Congress has become a stumbling block for a stable China-U.S. relation, Wu Xinbo, Dean of Institute of International Studies in Fudan University, said on Thursday.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, once again focused on curbing China in the first week after their summer break, approving a sweeping package of China-related bills that restrict Chinese companies in areas such as agriculture, biotechnology and electric vehicles.

Speaking in a high-end interview on China-U.S. relations during the three-day Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Thursday, Wu said that Congress heeds the messaging of U.S. President Joe Biden on China-related issues while at the same time taking measures that are at odds with his policy actions.

"When the President and Secretary of State go out in public and say China is America's primary strategic competitor, what kind of message are you sending to Congress? I think the executive branch really shapes the environment in which Congress thinks about their China agenda. Today, people think Congress is the most vocal and hostile voice against China in the United States. They are not only passing a lot of bills against China which come into law later on. But also they are poisoning the atmosphere for China-U.S. relations. And also, it's fair to say that sometimes they even exert pressure on the executive branch, not [going] along [with] the Biden decision to engage with China, not to stabilize relation with China. In that sense, Congress today is very much a liability to a good China-U.S. relationship," Wu said.

Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security and defense forum in Asia-Pacific with significant international influence. This year's forum, themed "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future", is taking place in Beijing from Thursday to Saturday.

U.S. Congress becoming stumbling block for stable China-U.S. relation: scholar

A bell-ringing ceremony was held to mark the 93rd anniversary of the September 18 Incident in front of a monument at the September 18 Incident History Museum in Shenyang City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Wednesday.

It was on this fateful day in 1931 when Japanese troops blew up a section of the railway near Shenyang under their control, and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for subsequent aggression against China.

Representatives of people from all walks of life struck a bell 14 times, symbolizing the 14 years of fight against Japanese aggressors by the Chinese people. The bell was cast with the words "Never forget national humiliation".

At 09:18, 14 cities in Liaoning sounded air raid sirens for three minutes, while vehicles came to a halt and honked their horns, and citizens were standing in silent tribute to mark this dark chapter in history. Ships and trains also sounded their sirens.

For years, China has kept marking the September 18 Incident.

The incident sparked Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The 1931-1945 Japanese invasion caused more than 35 million casualties among Chinese troops and civilians, accounting for one third of the WWII casualties worldwide.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, China fought with two-thirds of Japan's army, making a major contribution to the allied victory in WWII.

China holds ceremony to mark 93rd anniversary of Sept 18 Incident