Trump Taps Former DHS Official Troy Edgar for U.S. Ambassador Role in El Salvador 
Lukashenko Says Maduro Welcome in Belarus Amid Rising U.S.-Venezuela Tensions 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Trump Administration Moves to Keep TransAlta Coal Plant Running Amid Rising AI Power Demand 
Lukashenko Urges Swift Ukraine Peace Deal, Backs Trump’s Push for Rapid Resolution 
Sydney Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 16, Sparks Gun Law and Security Debate 
European Leaders Tie Ukraine Territorial Decisions to Strong Security Guarantees 
European Leaders Launch International Claims Commission to Compensate Ukraine for War Damage 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Jimmy Lai Convicted Under Hong Kong National Security Law in Landmark Case 
U.S. Suspends UK Technology Deal Amid Trade Disputes Under Trump Administration 
The allies of southeast Asian countries in the west are building a presence in the South China Sea to counter China’s attempts at asserting control over the waters. Recently, the UK’s aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, has entered the region, ignoring the threats from Beijing.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier has now been deployed into the region despite the threats made by China. The aircraft carrier is also leading a strike group as it entered the waters, in which China has made sweeping claims over the majority of the region. An international tribunal ruled against the sweeping claims, but Bejing has dismissed the ruling and insists on sovereignty over the waters.
The aircraft carrier was coming from Singapore with escort vessels. Along with the UK, the US has also been conducting freedom of navigation operations throughout the waters. This is an attempt to challenge what Washington has called efforts “by coastal states to unlawfully restrict access to the seas.”
Chinese Defense spokesman Tan Kefei responded to the deployment of UK warships in the waters in comments made to the South China Morning Post. “The Chinese side believes that the South China Sea should not become a sea of great power rivalry dominated by weapons and warships. The real source of militarization in the South China Sea comes from countries outside this region sending their warships thousands of kilometers from home to flex muscles,” they said. “The Chinese military will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interest.”
It has been five years since the historic ruling by the tribunal against China’s claims in 2016. China’s claims of sovereignty over most of the body of water are also overlapping with claims from other countries. The US has also rejected China’s claim as of late and reiterated the tribunal’s ruling that China’s sweeping claims do not have a basis under international law.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke in Singapore, where he reiterated the ruling while noting that the US is not looking for a confrontation with China. Austin said that the US will also support countries in defending their rights and the US will not hesitate to protect its interests when threatened.
