Pentagon pressuring Japan and Australia over China – FT
Richard Sanders The US has reportedly demanded commitments from its allies in the event of a war over Taiwan The Pentagon is pressuring key US allies in the Indo-Pacific – Japan and Australia – to clarify their positions in the event of a war with China over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Beijing…
Taiwan Launches Largest-Ever 10-Day Military Exercises Amid Rising Tensions with China
Jake Sanders Taiwan has commenced its most extensive military drills to date, aimed at countering Chinese threats and “gray zone” tactics that fall short of full-scale warfare. The 10-day Han Kuang exercises, the longest on record, began yesterday and will run continuously under realistic combat conditions, the Ministry of National Defense announced. The drills come…
Taiwan Enhances Defense with New HIMARS Unit and Large-Scale Arms Procurement
Jake Sanders Taiwan’s military has strengthened its self-defense capabilities by establishing the nation’s first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) unit, part of the 58th Artillery Command. This development marks a significant step in Taiwan’s strategic deterrence, as the unit is equipped with US-supplied HIMARS launchers capable of delivering precise long-range strikes. The formation ceremony,…
US Criticizes China’s Military Activities Near Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions and Upcoming Exercises
Jake Sanders, Taipei The United States Department of State has condemned China’s increasing military presence around Taiwan, emphasizing that such actions are unjustified and escalate regional tensions. The statement comes as China’s military has ramped up activities ahead of Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military drills, scheduled to commence on Wednesday. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of…
Trump Hails NATO Summit
US President Donald Trump has called NATO’s recent summit in The Hague “great.” Numerous media reports had previously claimed the two-day event was almost solely focused on pleasing the American leader. “A wonderful day with incredible and caring Leaders,” Trump wrote Truth Social on Thursday, pointing to the NATO members’ latest commitment to hike defense…
Taiwan’s First Indigenous Submarine Starts Sea Trials After Harbor Testing
Jake Sanders, Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan — Taiwan’s pioneering indigenous submarine, the Hai Kun (also known as the “Narwhal”), has entered its sea trial phase following the successful completion of harbor acceptance testing, according to military sources. The vessel embarked on its initial open-water assessments yesterday, marking a significant milestone in Taiwan’s naval development efforts. At…
EU mulls blocking China’s access to medical device procurement – Bloomberg
Richard Sanders The European Union is examining the possibility of imposing restrictions on public procurement contracts across the bloc for Chinese medical device producers, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the plans. Brussels and Beijing have recently been locked in an escalating tit-for-tat stand-off over trade protectionism. Earlier this year, the European…
Taiwan Seeks to Reclaim Global Health Platform at World Health Assembly
Richard Sanders The Taiwan United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) announced plans to send a delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, to advocate for Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), scheduled from Monday to May 27. Despite Taiwan’s extensive contributions to global health, the country has been repeatedly excluded from the WHA due to pressure from…
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative, Addresses Copenhagen Democracy Summit—Emphasizes the Urgency of Defending Democratic Value
Dave Sullivan Copenhagen, May 13, 2025 — In a compelling speech at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas highlighted the pressing challenges facing global democracy and called for renewed commitment to its defense and resilience. Addressing a gathered audience, Kallas expressed concern that democracy is no longer the dominant model worldwide,…
EU nastier than China – Trump
Dave Sullivan US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of the European Union, labeling it “nastier than China” regarding trade practices. In early April, Washington imposed a sweeping 20% tariff on all EU goods and a 25% tariff on all car imports and metals. While Trump later announced a 90-day reprieve on most trade duties, a…
