New York Judge Orders Redrawing of GOP-Held Congressional District 
Trump Says $2,000 Tariff Dividend Possible Without Congress Approval 
Syria Announces Ceasefire With Kurdish Forces as U.S. Pushes Integration Deal 
Trump’s Greenland Ambition Sparks NATO Tensions, Trade War Fears, and Global Market Turmoil 
JD Vance and Wife Usha Announce They Are Expecting Fourth Child in July 
Trump Revives Greenland Ownership Push Ahead of World Economic Forum in Davos 
U.S. Plans NATO Staff Reductions, Raising Fresh Concerns Over Alliance Commitment 
European Leaders Unite in Davos as Trump’s Greenland Threat Sparks Trade Tensions 
Trump Signals Possible Harvard Deal Amid Ongoing Tensions 
Trump Rejects Talks With Maduro Amid Election Interference Allegations 
Supreme Court Signals Doubts Over Trump’s Bid to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook 
Trump Drops Tariff Threat After NATO Talks on Greenland’s Future 
Trump Declines G7 Paris Meeting Amid Rising Tensions With European Allies Over Greenland Remarks 
Ecuador Imposes 30% Tariff on Colombian Imports Amid Border Security Tensions 
Spain Pushes for EU Joint Army to Strengthen European Security and Deterrence 
Trump Signals Potential Role for Maria Corina Machado in Venezuela as U.S. Policy Tone Shifts 
The South China Sea is a hotly contested body of water in which many of its surrounding countries claim sovereignty over parts of it, with China claiming the most. As China is set to deploy a massive warship onto the contested waters, the US and its allies in the west have been urged to go to the region to combat Chinese forces.
Retired US Naval Captain Carl Schuster released a statement following reports of China deploying its massive warship, the Hainan 31, an amphibious assault ship that could transport almost the entire Chinese marine corps. Schuster said that western allies should exert control in the South China Sea to prevent the Chinese navy from expanding. Schuster noted that both Vietnamese and Philippine coast guard forces will also be on standby to deter any aggression from the Chinese.
“Combined Vietnamese and Philippine coastguard patrols in the area of Julian Felipe reef will deter any aggression there,” said Schuster. “I also think if you were to invite the US coast to go with you that would send a very strong signal as well.”
The Hainan 31 was dispatched last week and is the country’s largest assault ship. Military experts have raised concerns that the Hainan’s deployment would become a problem with Taiwan and the other surrounding countries that have disputes with China over the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over most of the waters, but the US and other countries have strongly expressed opposition.
Meanwhile, the UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth was reported to go on its first mission in the South China Sea. The vessel would be accompanied by two Type 45 destroyers, two Type 23 frigates, a nuclear submarine, a Tide-class tanker, and the RFA Fort Victoria. However, according to analysts, the fleet of UK ships may potentially increase tensions in the region as it sails through the disputed waters.
“We will see more tensions around them, and therefore a greater risk of an incident,” said Charles Parton, OBE.
China’s development of underwater vehicles could also pose an added challenge to Western forces conducting patrols. This also comes as China has increasingly conducted military exercises in the area.
