South Korea Warns Won Is Undervalued, Boosts FX Coordination With Japan 
Khamenei Funeral Draws Thousands as Iran Stages Nationwide Week of Mourning 
Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka as Putin Pushes Donetsk Offensive 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
UN Warns of Looming Human Rights Catastrophe in Sudan’s Al-Obeid 
Trump Vows U.S. Will Prevent China From Taking Over the Panama Canal 
US Appeals Court Limits ICE Detention Without Bond Hearings After 90 Days 
US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
US-Iran Doha Talks Show Limited Progress as Hormuz Shipping Remains Key Focus 
DHS Investigates Cyber Breach in Homeland Security Information-Sharing Network 
EU Chip Industry Faces Growing Risks From China Export Controls and U.S. Technology Dependence: Report 
Trump Administration Declines USMCA Renewal, Opens Talks on New Trade Changes 
Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Missile and Drone Attack Kills 27 as Zelensky Urges Faster Air Defense Support 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
Trump Accounts Now Accept Stock Donations as Treasury Launches New Child Investment Program 
Taiwan Simulates Chinese Blockade and Invasion in Major Civil Defense Drill 
Trump Dedicates Theodore Roosevelt Museum, Unveils New Air Force One Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary 
Tensions around the island nation of Taiwan have flared in recent weeks in light of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. Amidst the tense situation, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it is ready to deploy its forces to respond to potential “enemy threats.”
Taiwan’s defense ministry said Tuesday that it is fully aware of China’s military activities near the island and will appropriately dispatch its forces to respond to potential threats.
In a statement, the ministry said that it has the “determination, ability, and confidence” to ensure the security of Taiwan and that it has plans for a potential emergency.
This comes as Chinese military planes flew close to the Taiwan Strait, according to Reuters, as Pelosi was bound to visit the island nation.
Later that day, during Pelosi’s visit, the defense ministry said China was attempting to threaten key ports and cities through its military drills around the island in the coming days.
The ministry said in a statement that the drills were aimed to intimidate the Taiwanese people and that its armed forces “reinforced” their alertness level while assuring the public not to worry.
China has previously warned and threatened Pelosi not to visit the island nation which Beijing claims as its territory. Amidst the threats from Beijing, Pelosi landed in Taiwan Tuesday to show support for its democratic government while meeting with human rights activists.
In her recent visit, Pelosi became the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan since her predecessor Newt Gingrich visited in 1997. Pelosi led a delegation of six members of the US House of Representatives during her visit.
Pelosi also penned an opinion piece that was published in the Washington Post Tuesday, saying that the US must remember its pledge “to support the defense of Taiwan” as its democracy is also under threat from China.
The White House has also previously warned China not to take advantage of Pelosi’s visit or see it as a pretext for provocation. White House national security spokesman John Kirby stressed that Pelosi’s visit to the island nation will not “change the status quo.”
“Nothing has changed – nothing has changed – about our Taiwan policy,” said Kirby.
