The war between Russia and Ukraine continues, and the game between Russia and the West is also your side singing and I appear. In this competition, it has affected many countries around the world.
Rubio proposes sanctions for China's oil purchases from Russia
U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio recently introduced a bill to sanction China, proposing restrictions on countries importing oil or gas from Russia. Rubio said China's oil purchases from Russia are supporting Russia's special military operations in Ukraine, and that any organization, including Chinese state-owned enterprises, that help Russia should face severe punishment.
Rubio's proposal also says sanctions will be imposed on any insurance company insured or registered oil tankers that ship oil or liquefied natural gas from Russia to China.
Rubio's proposal has already received some senators' support.
However, the White House fears that cutting off Russian oil supplies to China will force China to compete with other major countries for oil from the Middle East and Africa, which could trigger price increases. Therefore, the possibility of the adoption of the proposal was very small.
Rubio is a deeply anti-China activist, and most of his proposals are related to China. Earlier, he also put forward a proposal to block Chinese financial institutions from trading with Russia. Specific sanctions include "freezing or terminating any U.S. accounts associated with Chinese financial institutions," which shows that the mind is really vicious.
And Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, Confucius Institutes, the origin of the new crown virus... These China-related issues have Rubio's "busy" figure. However, most of his proposals remain at the "submission" stage, and very few have officially become bills.
Rubio is a descendant of Cuban immigrants, but in Rubio's view, Cuban immigrants left precisely because of the policies of Cuban leaders such as Castro. He has repeatedly attacked the Cuban Castro government and the Cuban Communist Party, and this resentment has spread to China.
In addition, Rubio was supported by the Tea Party, a highly ideologically conservative group in the United States, and rubio's background deepened his anti-communist and anti-China stance.
Second, the EU will reduce the use of Russian gas
A few days ago, Gazprom said it would transport natural gas to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline to 33 million cubic meters per day, or about 20 percent of the pipeline's capacity, starting on July 27.
On July 26, EU countries reached an agreement to "reduce gas use by 15% in winter". The proposal calls on member states to reduce gas use by 15 percent from August 1 this year to March 31 next year to address the gas shortage.
However, when it was first announced, the plan was explicitly opposed by many EU member states. In order to be able to reach an agreement, the European Commission has revised the above scheme, which retains the voluntary target for all countries and provides a series of "exemption rules". The agreement will be adjusted to each country, taking into account their stock levels and whether they have pipelines that share natural gas.
This exception is made in the case of limited access to gas supply networks in island states such as Ireland, Cyprus and Malta, as well as those of Spain or Portugal. If the Baltic states' power connection to the Russian grid is cut off, they will also be exempted.
After the agreement was reached, Czech Minister of Industry Joseph Sikrla said, "This decision is not easy, but I think in the end, everyone understands that this sacrifice is necessary." ”
Hungary is the only country opposed to the plan, deeming the agreement "useless". "This is an unreasonable, useless, unenforceable and harmful proposal that completely ignores the national interest," said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Sijarto, adding that the deal was "purely for communication purposes and aimed at salvaging the credibility of some Western European politicians." But the plan was passed by a majority, further isolating Hungary as the only member state reluctant to oppose Russia further.
German Economy Minister Robert Hubbeck said, "It is true that Germany, which relies on Russian gas, has made a strategic mistake, but our government is working hard ... Correct this,"
Moscow's announcement that it would withdraw from the International Space Station after 2024 also underscores the extent of Russia's division from the West over Ukraine.
So far, space exploration is one of the few areas where cooperation between Russia, the United States and their allies has not been undermined by tensions in Ukraine and elsewhere. (Inoue Frog)