Topic: Qin Gang

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Qin Gang have issued rare, direct warnings to the United States, accusing Washington of "all-round containment" and suppression. Tensions are escalating over potential Chinese lethal aid to Russia and the ongoing trade war. Separately, First Lady Jill Biden's presentation of an International Women of Courage award to a trans woman from Argentina on International Women's Day is discussed as a polarizing political move.

The Bank of International Settlements is urging central banks to accelerate the development of their own digital currencies to compete with private cryptocurrencies. In diplomatic news, China's new ambassador to the U.S., Qin Gang, reportedly told American authorities to shut up during a private Zoom meeting regarding ongoing economic disputes. The blunt rhetoric signals a hardening of China's stance toward the United States.