Francis Tuschek Saudi Arabia is still evaluating potential membership of BRICS, the Gulf nation’s minister of economy and planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, told Bloomberg in an interview on Monday. The economic bloc was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining two years later. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editot In a significant development reflecting the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China, Taiwan’s defense ministry has reported the detection of nine Chinese aircraft and six vessels operating in close proximity to its territorial waters. This incident underscores the increasing military activity in the region and highlights Taiwan’s vigilance in safeguarding…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor In a significant move that underscores the United States’ commitment to Taiwan’s defense amidst rising regional tensions, the Biden administration has approved an arms sale valued at approximately $2 billion. This package includes advanced missile defense systems and other military equipment aimed at bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities against potential threats…
Francis Tuschek TikTok has announced a blackout of the service for some 170 million US users of the viral social media app, days after the Supreme Court issued a ruling that could pave the way for a national ban of the platform. On Friday, the federal judiciary ruled that TikTok needs to divest from its Chinese…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has made great strides in civil defense under President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), but more must be done to ensure national resilience as the threat of a Chinese attack grows. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of civilian support during a conflict. Civilians can…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor STRATEGIC SHIFT: While the US has a history of sending military instructors and special operations teams to Taiwan, it is the first time it has officially announced such a mission Taiwan and the US have signed a two-year specialized training program for the local navy, the Ministry of National Defense said…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor China warned on Thursday that the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party authorities’ attempt to seek “Taiwan independence” will lead nowhere, as the so-called Foreign Minister of Taiwan Lin Chia-lung attended the inauguration ceremony of the president of Palau as a “presidential envoy.” “Taiwan is a province of China, and there is…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Taiwan will dispatch its navy if needed to help the coast guard respond to any suspicious activity near undersea communication cables, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Thursday, after a Chinese-linked ship was suspected of damaging one. Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, said a ship owned by…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor In a significant escalation of military posturing, China has commenced extensive military exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan. This development, occurring against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, has sparked fears of a potential invasion, raising alarms not only in Taipei but also among global powers observant of the Taiwan…
Preparations for talks between US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are underway, incoming US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz has said. Phone conversations between the two are expected to occur in the “coming days and weeks,” Waltz believes. Asked during an interview with ABC News how soon a Trump-Putin meeting could happen, Waltz did not provide…