U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
In the midst of growing tensions with China, Taiwan has been bolstering its military defenses. The Taiwanese parliament recently passed an additional $8.6 billion defense spending bill as the island nation prepares to defend itself in a potential invasion.
This week, the Taiwanese parliament passed a defense spending bill investing an additional $8.6 billion in its latest effort to bolster the island nation’s defenses against China. The legislation passed with unanimous support Tuesday, with the price tag adding to the $17 billion budget allocated for 2022.
The additional funds are to obtain precision missiles and mass-manufacture naval ships in a short amount of time to boost the air and sea capabilities of the island nation. The budget already includes a coastal anti-ship missiles system, a locally-made Wan Chien or “Ten Thousand Swords” cruise missile, an attack drone system, and an installation of combat systems on coast guard ships.
China has been engaging in a pressure campaign against the democratically governed Taiwan to submit to Beijing’s authority. China has repeatedly made incursions into Taiwan’s airspace as part of the pressure campaign. This has also led to fears that Beijing may decide to invade the island nation through military means.
Despite concerns of a possible invasion, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry’s previous assessment found that a full-scale invasion by China into Taiwan would be difficult to achieve. The assessment found that this was because of difficulties in landing and the supply of troops.
Meanwhile, Taipei has gifted European Union member country Lithuania $1 billion through a Taiwanese credit program to help fund projects with Lithuanian companies. The program will support company links in six categories.
This follows the backlash Lithuania has received from China after it opened a de facto Taiwan embassy in November 2021. In an effort to further increase its trade links, Taiwan has been reaching out to other countries.
“The investment and credit funds will help us strengthen the cooperation,” said Taiwan’s National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-Hsin.
The $1 billion credit program adds to a separate $200 million fund that Taiwan has announced to invest in Lithuanian industries to bolster bilateral cooperation.
