More US-China flights to be added.
Increased Flights Between US and China to Accommodate International Students
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Friday that the number of weekly flights between the United States and China will double by the end of October, in part to accommodate international students.
In May, the Biden administration increased the number of weekly flights from China to the United States from eight to twelve.
Beginning in September, this number will further increase to eighteen weekly round-trip flights “to meet an anticipated increase in demand around the start of the academic year,” according to the DOT.
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The number of weekly flights will further increase to twenty-four by the week of October 29. American flights to China will also double.
However, this is still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic weekly trips of over 150 between the two countries in 2020.
China recently lifted pandemic-era restrictions on group tours, including those from the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. In response, Air China has filed for permission to add a new weekly flight between Beijing and Los Angeles.
Other airlines, such as China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern, also offer scheduled service to the United States. United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines currently operate passenger flights to China.
United Airlines plans to increase its number of flights between the two countries, including resuming flights to Beijing and offering daily flights to Shanghai.
Airlines for America, an industry trade group, sees this development as a positive opportunity for U.S. airlines to compete in the marketplace.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington views this increase in flights as a sign of increased cooperation between the two states, promoting mutual visits and trade.
Blinken’s Trip to China
In mid-June, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a visit to China with three goals: establishing open communication channels for competition without conflict, advocating for U.S. values and interests, and discussing regional and global security matters and cooperation.
During his two-day trip, Blinken had a “robust conversation” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other top diplomats in Beijing. They discussed various issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war, provocations in the Taiwan Strait and South and East China Seas, and human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.
Mr. Blinken’s visit marked the first time a U.S. Secretary of State had traveled to China since October 2018 and was seen as an opportunity to address economic policies and China’s treatment of U.S. companies.
Some analysts expressed concerns that the trip would bolster the image of the Chinese Communist Party. However, the DOT attributes the increased travel between the two countries to the communication initiated by Blinken, which made this progress possible.
The DOT’s approval order on Friday emphasized the goal of maintaining a competitive balance and fair opportunity among U.S. and Chinese air carriers.
US-China Relationship
On Tuesday, President Biden signed an executive order declaring a national emergency and restricting U.S. investments in China’s artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and semiconductor fields.
President Biden further referred to China’s economy as a “ticking time bomb” on Thursday, drawing criticism from Chinese authorities.
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