Qatar LNG Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran War Tensions 
US Auto Industry Urges Trump to Block Chinese EV Market Access 
Trump to Visit China for Key U.S.-China Summit With Xi Jinping 
Netanyahu Signals Plan to End Reliance on U.S. Military Aid Within 10 Years 
U.S., South Korea Launch Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative 
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Ceasefire Violations Amid Drone and Artillery Attacks 
Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill Three as Ceasefire Tensions Continue 
Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Confirmed as Prisoner Swap Deal Advances 
TikTok Nears $400 Million Settlement With Trump Administration Over Child Privacy Lawsuit 
Trump Credits Belarus Prisoner Release in U.S.-Backed Swap 
Taiwan Confident in Strong U.S. Relations Ahead of Trump-Xi China Summit 
Iran Military Readiness Intensifies After Meeting With Mojtaba Khamenei 
Russian LNG Shadow Fleet Expands Amid Arctic LNG 2 Sanctions 
Israel’s Secret Iraq Base Allegedly Supported Iran Air Campaign, WSJ Reports 
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Reconsiders Early School Closure Plan Ahead of 2026 World Cup 
Trump Rejects Iran Proposal as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records 
Delegations of lawmakers from both the United States and France are the latest officials from foreign governments to visit Taiwan. The latest visit indicates further defiance of China’s threats and warnings against officials visiting the island nation.
The Taiwanese government welcomed the visits by French and US lawmakers this week. Eight US lawmakers, led by Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy of the House Armed Services Committee arrived Wednesday, while five French senators arrived the day before for a six-day visit.
This would mark the sixth visit by US officials and the fourth of French officials.
The visits by French and US lawmakers are set to anger Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own and has criticized foreign officials who visit the island to meet with its democratic government. Beijing ramped up its military drills near Taiwan after being angered by the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last month.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a statement Thursday that the visit by the US delegation highlights the strong support for Taiwan from the US Congress.
The island nation’s top representative in Washington, Hsiao Bi-Khim said China’s aggression following Pelosi’s visit has interested other foreign parliaments in visiting Taiwan.
China’s aggression in response to the top House Democrat’s visit to Taiwan last month also led to strong support for the island nation in a very divided US Congress.
28 members of the US Congress have already visited Taiwan so far, the highest since 2013. Both the United States and France recognize Beijing but maintain informal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Washington is also legally bound to provide Taiwan with arms.
Prior to the visit by the US and French lawmakers, Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano made his first visit to Taiwan this week since getting elected in 2019. During a welcome reception in Taipei, Natano reaffirmed the Pacific Island nation’s support for Taiwan. Tuvalu is one of the 14 countries which have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
“Through tumultuous times of geostrategic agendas, we continue to stand firm in our commitment to remain a lasting and loyal ally of the Republic of China,” said Natano, referring to Taiwan by its official name.
