South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again After Brief Reopening, Rattling Global Energy Markets 
Brazil, Spain, and Mexico Unite to Support Cuba Amid U.S. Blockade 
House Republicans Near Deal on FISA Extension with Limited Reforms 
China Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Between Iran Peace Efforts and Trump Summit 
Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as New CDC Director 
Trump's Iran Claims Spark Market Confusion Over Strait of Hormuz 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
Strait of Hormuz: why even neutral and distant countries like Switzerland can’t escape the fallout 
Trump Warns Iran on Nuclear Weapons Amid Ongoing Feud with Pope Leo 
Trump Teases Imminent Release of UFO Documents After Government Review 
France and Britain Lead 40-Nation Talks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz 
Australia Extends Fuel Sulphur Relaxation Amid Iran War Supply Disruptions 
Peru Election 2025: Vote Count Delays Spark Calls to Remove Electoral Chief 
U.S. and Philippines to Build 4,000-Acre Tech Hub Under Pax Silica Initiative 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
Iran-Lebanon War: Ceasefire Reached as U.S. and Iran Edge Closer to Nuclear Deal 
A senior US diplomat said all countries should warn China against taking any military action on the democratically governed Taiwan. The diplomat added that the US hopes Beijing does not use any upcoming visits by US lawmakers to the island as an excuse to start a military conflict with the island.
Deputy US secretary of state Wendy Sherman said on Thursday on all countries to warn China against taking any military action on Taiwan. In an event hosted by the Brookings Institution think tank, Sherman said Washington was committed to supporting Taiwan and its ability to defend itself under the country’s one-China policy.
“And we hope that the PRC does not use a visit by a member of Congress to Taiwan as a pretext for military action,” said Sherman, referring to the initials of China’s formal name, the People’s Republic of China.
Sherman cited Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a situation China should learn from against any attempts in the Taiwan Strait, adding that the ongoing war has increased food and energy insecurity in the world.
“The same could be true of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait,” said Sherman. “And so I urge all countries to tell the PRC this affects me. This affects my people, my country. This is not a good idea.”
Sherman also touched on Washington’s growing concerns over Beijing’s “no limits” relationship with Moscow and its support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine even as it looks to increase its global standing by saying it was willing to mediate the conflict. Sherman said China cannot have it both ways.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported on Friday that the Pentagon’s top China official has arrived in Taiwan. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase arrived on the island for a visit. Chase would be the most senior US defense official to pay a visit to the island that China claims as its territory.
Ahead of the news of Chase’s arrival, Taiwanese defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters he was “not very certain” about the report that the trip would take place. When pressed if Chase was coming, Chiu said “those who are friendly to us” are welcome to visit.
