Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on French Wine Over Macron’s Refusal to Join Peace Board 
France Nears 2026 Budget Deal as Government Offers Concessions to Avoid No-Confidence Vote 
JD Vance and Wife Usha Announce They Are Expecting Fourth Child in July 
European Leaders Unite in Davos as Trump’s Greenland Threat Sparks Trade Tensions 
Trump Signals Potential Role for Maria Corina Machado in Venezuela as U.S. Policy Tone Shifts 
Supreme Court Tests Federal Reserve Independence Amid Trump’s Bid to Fire Lisa Cook 
Trump Says U.S. Will Soon Target Land Routes for Drug Trafficking 
Trump Rejects Talks With Maduro Amid Election Interference Allegations 
Russia Says Ukraine Peace Talks With U.S. Show Progress 
U.S. Plans NATO Staff Reductions, Raising Fresh Concerns Over Alliance Commitment 
Minnesota U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE in Armed Raid Sparks Outrage and Civil Rights Concerns 
Trump Says $2,000 Tariff Dividend Possible Without Congress Approval 
Kazakh President Tokayev Accepts Invitation to Join Trump-Proposed “Board of Peace” 
Trump Criticizes NYSE Texas Expansion, Calls Dallas Exchange a Blow to New York 
Russian Drone and Missile Attack Disrupts Power and Water in Kyiv 
Trump Administration Appeals Judge’s Order Limiting ICE Tactics in Minneapolis 
Trump Signals Possible Harvard Deal Amid Ongoing Tensions 
Tensions in the South China Sea remain high as not only is there a dispute over the waters, but also the situation surrounding Taiwan. Japan’s Defense Minister has now urged European leaders to take action on the increasing aggression coming from China.
Japan’s defense minister, Nobuo Kishi, has urged leaders of European nations to come together and condemn the increasing acts of aggression by Beijing in the region. Speaking with the Guardian, Kishi said that China’s military is growing in power and is trying to use its power to change the status quo in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Kishi added that China in itself is becoming more powerful politically and economically, which has become a concern for Tokyo.
“China is strengthening its military power both in terms of quantity and quality, and rapidly improving its operational activity,” said Kishi.
The Japanese defense minister’s comments come amidst heightened tensions in the waters, especially China’s intentions towards Taiwan. China claims the island nation as a breakaway province and has sought to pressure its democratic government to accept the sovereignty of China. Tensions have escalated even more as China is considering the option of invading Taiwan to “reunify” the island with the mainland.
Kishi’s comments also come as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia recently reached a deal to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. It is believed that the alliance between the three countries was to counter the growing threats from China.
Meanwhile, speaking with LBC, the former deputy director of the UK’s intelligence agency MI6 Nigel Inkster, warned that China is slowly coming towards the conclusion that only through military means would it be able to take over Taiwan. Inkster added that there is an increasing possibility that China would have to engage in a military conflict with the US over the island nation.
“The best-case scenario is that both China and the US realize that they are on par militarily and neither has a massive advantage,” Inkster explained. “That recognition could ensure continued if fractured peace. That is the best hope we have got.”
