On 14 June, NATO leaders expressed new concern towards China’s rising military ambitions and assertive “systemic challenges” to collective security. This marks the first time the organization has taken a forceful and potentially confrontational stance towards Beijing. The Brussels one-day summit meeting was attended by all 30 leaders from NATO, including
On Monday, May 24, Taiwan’s government heavily criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) in what it calls the organization’s “indifference” to the health rights of the Taiwanese people and for its capitulation to China. Taiwan’s slamming of the WHO comes after failing to secure an invite to the organization’s annual
On Wednesday, April 21st, the Australian government cancelled two agreements signed by its state of Victoria and China on Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, escalating the already deteriorating ties between Beijing and Canberra. Victoria, Australia’s second-largest and wealthiest state, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government
In what has become another day of violence in Myanmar, Thursday, March 11th saw at least another 12 civilians killed by the ruling military junta, now prompting a top U.N. official to say the crackdown on peaceful protests is “likely meeting the legal threshold for crimes against humanity.” In the
In what has become the bloodiest day since the military seized power on 1 February, at least 38 civilians were killed after Myanmar security forces opened fire on peaceful protestors across the country. Demonstrators have taken to the streets in the thousands across towns and cities in Myanmar since the
Late on Friday (19 Feb), hundreds of protestors gathered outside of parliament in Bangkok, holding a demonstration coinciding with the censure debate against Prime Minister Prayut-o-cha’s government by opposition lawmakers inside the building. In anticipation of the following protest, thousands of police officers were put ahead of an expected no-confidence
Chinese authorities have formally arrested an Australian journalist who was working with China’s state broadcaster CGTN on the charge of “illegally supplying state secrets overseas.” The move is the latest of such in the increasing tensions between China and Australia. In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, said that
On 18 February 2021, Japan’s veteran Olympic medalist, Seiko Hashimoto announced her taking over as the new head of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Japanese seven-time Olympian turned lawmaker’s succession of power follows her predecessor’s resignation after sexist remarks he made became leaked to the media. Speaking after her appointment
On January 23rd, China flew two large formations of fighters and bombers over Taiwanese air space. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported 13 Chinese aircraft entering the southwestern sector of their air defense identification zone (A.D.I.Z.), marking the second day running of mainland incursions and prompting Taipei to dispatch their own fighters
On February 4th, the United States Navy sailed a destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, marking the first time the U.S. has transited the strait separating China and Taiwan since President Joe Biden took office. The Japan-based guided-missile destroyer, USS John S. McCain, conducted the routine passage dividing China and Taiwan
A new report shows that the amount of North Korean ships in the nation’s “dark fleet” for squid fishing have dropped significantly in 2020, cutting off the hermit kingdom’s popular staple in a time when the national food supply was already facing widespread shortages. According to the Global Fishing Watch,
“Go there ready for war. We get our President or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal.” That was only one of the many examples of inciting rhetoric FBI officials had observed online in the days leading to the pro-Trump riots targeting the US Capitol that left five dead,
In a historic ruling on January 1st, Japan was ordered by a South Korean court to pay compensation to 12 South Korean ‘comfort women,’ who were all victims of sexual slavery. It is a ruling over Japan’s wartime atrocities which has strained relations between the two countries for decades, with
A group of Hong Kongers who were arrested at sea by Chinese authorities while attempting to seek refuge in Taiwan were sentenced on 23 December 2020 by a mainland court for up to three years in prison. The sentencing is only the latest offensive in the Chinese Communist Party’s actions
On Saturday December 12, dissident Iranian journalist Ruhollah Zam was executed by hanging in Iran, according to state television IRIB. United Nations Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet, voiced outrage at Iran’s execution of the media activist and opposition figure. “I am appalled at the execution in Iran on 12 December
