Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Tensions between China and Taiwan continue to escalate, potentially triggering another world war among nations. Recently, Taipei took a step to combat a possible invasion of China on the island nation by spending $1.4 billion on additional warplanes.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced that there would be a 10 percent increase in the island nation’s defense budget in 2021, making Taiwan’s defense budget to be $16.89 billion. Speculation has been rife that the increase in budget would be used to purchase US F16 fighter jets. This also comes as China looks to bolster its military as Beijing considers taking over Taiwan through military means.
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan in which it regards as a breakaway province. Taiwan has been under a democratic government and has opposed such claims made by Beijing. The US has also publicly expressed its support of Taiwan’s democracy and independence.
Back in 2019, the US, under the Trump administration, approved the sale of $8 billion worth of F16 warplanes to Taiwan. Should Taipei spend more on these fighter jets, it will have more of this type of jet than any other nation in Asia. The increase in budget is now subject to the approval of the Taiwanese parliament.
Nevertheless, China continues its pressure campaign against Taiwan to make its government accept Chinese sovereignty over the island nation. Recently, the Taiwanese defense ministry announced that Chinese warplanes made yet another incursion into its airspace this week. This marks the 11th airspace violation made by China into Taiwan.
Japan has also weighed in on the tensions over Taiwan, further stoking fears of a possible world war over a potential invasion of the island nation. The Japanese and Taiwanese officials of the ruling political parties of both nations are reportedly set to have a meeting to discuss security. They will meet with King’s College London associate professor David Roberts as well, with Roberts describing the meeting as “poking the bear.”
It would also become the first bilateral talks between Japan and Taiwan.
Speaking with Financial Times, Masahisa Sato of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and MP, who runs foreign affairs policies for the party, said that a deeper dialogue was needed between Japan and Taiwan as what could happen to the island nation could spell trouble for Japan.
