Taiwan President Lai Oversees Coastal Strike Drills in Han Kuang War Games 
Russian Strikes Kill Six in Eastern and Northern Ukraine, Dozens Injured 
US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas 
New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate 
Russia Intensifies Drone and Bomb Attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Deepening Civilian Fear 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
Germany Warns of Daily Hybrid Warfare Threats 
US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump Doubts 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
Mark Carney Jokes About Teleprompter, Takes Swipe at Trump 
SEC Moves to Dismiss Insider Trading Case Against Trump-Pardoned Terren Peizer 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures 
Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Vaccines and Autism Research 
Colombia President Abelardo De La Espriella Pledges Drug Crackdown, Economic Reforms 
North Korea May Deploy 120 Missiles to Russia 
Japan called for peace in the Taiwan Strait this week following a bout of flared tensions when China held military drills close to the island nation, simulating attacks on targets. Tokyo stressed the importance of peace in the region as Japanese and Chinese officials held a meeting.
Japan stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait when officials from Tokyo and Beijing met for discussions. The discussions between the two countries centered on concerns over China’s activities in the East and South China Seas, which China also claims to have control over.
The meeting also came as China concluded three days of military drills close to the democratically governed island of Taiwan that Beijing claims as its territory, in response to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California during a transit in the US.
“We conveyed our deep concerns over the situation in the East and South China seas and reiterated the importance of having peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” said the Japanese foreign ministry in a statement.
Japan also urged China to stop its coastguard ships from transiting through Japanese waters and also expressed concerns about Beijing’s military activity near Japan and its coordination with Russia.
“The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan but also for the stability of the international community as a whole,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
At the same time, Chinese officials also criticized Japan’s “negative moves” in recent months regarding the issues of both the disputed waters that the islands of both countries have claims over and the Taiwan Strait that China also claims to have control over.
Japan has protested against China’s construction of two structures in the East China Sea that were discovered last year.
On Tuesday, Japan announced that it is set to hold trilateral talks with the United States and South Korea in Washington this week. The trilateral defense talks will take place on Friday, with regional issues such as North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats on the agenda.
