Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Vietnam is one of the countries that also have claims over parts of the South China Sea, which China claims to have sovereignty over. Amidst increasing tensions over the waters, Vietnam recently increased its naval firepower.
Vietnam recently launched its new squadron called the Permanent Maritime Militia Unit last week in the Kien Giang province in the Mekong Delta. Vietnam’s Defense Ministry said that the unit would be assigned to protect the country’s sovereignty over the sea and islands with its air and sea capabilities. The unit would also be patrolling the waters while protecting its fishermen.
The unit is the second force established by the Vietnamese military over the last several months following its 131-1 strong squadron that was formed back in April. This also comes amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea, with the Philippines previously accusing China of illegal incursions into its territory by Chinese fishing vessels back in March. 200 Chinese vessels were seen at the Whitsun reef in the Spratly Islands.
The Philippines suspected the fishing vessels were manned by militia. This has since escalated in May when 100 more vessels were seen at the reef. China has since denied the accusations, saying that the vessels were not manned by militia and were only seeking refuge from the weather.
The Philippines also celebrated its Independence Day last June 12, 123 years since the country declared independence from Spanish colonial rule. Tensions returned last week when a Philippine armed forces official visited one of the islands to commend the troops stationed there.
Many countries, including several Western nations like the US and Australia, have strongly opposed China’s sweeping claims of having sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. The US has since made countering China’s aggression over the disputed waters one of its priorities, and its navy has conducted exercises in the waters to push back on Beijing. China recently took a swipe at both US and Australia in response.
“We hope the relevant countries will do more to promote regional stability and peace, rather than showing military power,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
