Richard Sanders Washington has banned its diplomatic personnel in China, as well as their family members and contractors with security clearances, from engaging into any sort of “romantic and sexual relations” with Chinese citizens, AP reported on Thursday, citing four people with direct knowledge of the matter. The policy was reportedly enacted by departing US Ambassador Nicholas…
Francis Tuschek The US is heading for a “fiscal breakdown,” and Congress should take urgent measures to restore fiscal control instead of eyeing more borrowing, billionaire Michael Bloomberg believes. The former New York Mayor warned about the impending collapse on Tuesday in the media outlet he established. He reflected on the latest Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections,…
Francis Tuschek The US military would be unprepared for a protracted war with China due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said. In his written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday – part of the confirmation process – retired…
Richard Sanders The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has initiated yet another military exercise near Taiwan, aimed at discouraging “separatism,” as announced by the Defense Ministry on Tuesday. According to Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, the drill involves various branches including the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. It…
Richard Sanders US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has unveiled a strategic directive aimed at reorienting the U.S. military’s focus to prioritize deterring China’s potential acquisition of Taiwan, with an emphasis on bolstering homeland defense. This internal memo, entitled the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, has been characterized as influentially shaped by the conservative think tank,…
The Pentagon’s new strategy to prioritise Taiwan as the “exclusive animating scenario” is a bold, necessary shift—and one that comes with both significant benefits and undeniable risks. Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a bureaucratic reshuffle; it’s a fundamental reordering of U.S. military priorities in the face of China’s growing aggression. But as with any…
What does it mean when a small island stands firm against a rising tide of chaos? It’s a kind of strength you want to get behind. Taiwan’s recent disaster simulation isn’t just preparedness; it’s a profound statement about the human spirit. It’s about a nation choosing responsibility over resignation, order over the encroaching abyss. This…
Richard Sanders The United States will maintain “strong, prepared, and credible deterrence” in the Taiwan Strait, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated during his visit to Asia, deeming China “aggressive and coercive.” “America is dedicated to sustaining robust deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly across the Taiwan Strait,” noted Hegseth, who arrived in Japan from…
Francis Tuschek US President Donald Trump has said he has no plans to fire anyone after a journalist accessed a chat on the Signal encrypted messaging app in which senior members of the administration discussed military operations. On Monday, The Atlantic magazine detailed purported confidential conversations between Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,…
Richard Sanders President William Lai has reiterated Taiwan’s dedication to supporting indigenous defense projects, emphasizing the importance of funding for domestic shipbuilding and aircraft initiatives. Speaking at a keel-laying ceremony in Kaohsiung for the first of six local cruisers, Lai noted that these efforts are vital to enhancing the nation’s self-defense capabilities. The cruisers, commissioned…