Trump greenlights F-16Vs for Taiwan; China threatens ‘countermeasures’

Trump greenlights F-16Vs for Taiwan; China threatens ‘countermeasures’

FPI / August 23, 2019 By Richard Fisher, Geostrategy-Direct.com On Aug. 15, the Trump administration informally told the U.S. Congress that it had approved the $8 billion sale of Lockheed-Martin F-16V fighters to Taiwan, that now requires Congressional approval to proceed. Taiwan has been seeking upgraded and more capable F-16s since 1997, in the wake […]

Seoul scraps intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo in blow to U.S. alliance

Seoul scraps intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo in blow to U.S. alliance

by WorldTribune Staff, August 23, 2019 South Korea’s government on Aug. 22 announced that it was scrapping a military-intelligence sharing pact with Japan weeks after being urged to do so by communist North Korea. Japan had sought an extension of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) despite increased tension between the two countries. […]

Report: China sees Pacific Islands as ‘power-projection superhighway’

Report: China sees Pacific Islands as ‘power-projection superhighway’

FPI / August 22, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com In becoming the first sitting U.S. Secretary of State to visit the Federated States of Micronesia earlier this month, Mike Pompeo hailed the island nations of the Pacific as “small islands” which “are big strongholds of freedom.” Washington has long held sway over the region, but analysts say China […]

It’s now or never: As China supremacy looms, Trump says he was ‘chosen’ to fight back

It’s now or never: As China supremacy looms, Trump says he was ‘chosen’ to fight back

by WorldTribune Staff, August 22, 2019 China would “pay a price they wouldn’t want to pay” in a military conflict with the United States, President Donald Trump said after a report said the U.S. has lost its military edge in the Indo-Pacific to China. “America no longer enjoys military primacy in the Indo-Pacific and its […]

Tlaib, Omar tear up over a Palestine that just banned LGBTQ activism

Tlaib, Omar tear up over a Palestine that just banned LGBTQ activism

by WorldTribune Staff, August 20, 2019 LGBTQ activists have been banned by the Palestinian Authority (PA) from all activities in the West Bank. The ban comes after the group alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society, which supports Palestinians who identify as a part of the gay community, had announced it would hold […]

China vs China: Taiwan’s asylum offer to protesters infuriates Beijing

China vs China: Taiwan’s asylum offer to protesters infuriates Beijing

by WorldTribune Staff, August 19, 2019 China has warned Taiwan against interfering in its affairs after the Taiwanese government offered asylum to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Taiwan is a self-ruled island which China considers its own territory under its “One China Principle”. Taiwan’s offer would “cover up the crimes of a small group of […]

‘People of Hong Kong, keep fighting’: Demonstrators change tactics, win global support

‘People of Hong Kong, keep fighting’: Demonstrators change tactics, win global support

by WorldTribune Staff, August 18, 2019 Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators, despite warnings from the Chinese government, filled the streets of Hong Kong on a rainy Sunday afternoon in a “peaceful” protest against what they say are Beijing’s increasingly heavy-handed tactics in the autonomous territory. Last week, China had claimed that criminals and agitators […]

Unreported: China’s exploitation of U.S.-Iran showdown in the Gulf

Unreported: China’s exploitation of U.S.-Iran showdown in the Gulf

FPI / August 18, 2019 Excerpted from Geostrategy-Direct.com By Yossef Bodansky, Senior Editor, GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs All attention is focused on the twists-and-turns of the very noisy U.S.-Iran dispute in the Persian Gulf, but all the while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is rapidly and quietly consolidating a dominant presence in the area […]

Unreported: Liberation Day in Seoul marked by massive demonstrations calling for president’s ouster

Unreported: Liberation Day in Seoul marked by massive demonstrations calling for president’s ouster

by WorldTribune Staff, August 16, 2019. Updated August 17 A massive flag rally in Seoul on Aug. 15 to mark the 74th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan was mostly ignored by South Korea’s mainstream media while foreign media reported on a smaller demonstration dominated by anti-Japan sentiment, observers say. Protesters from conservative groups filled […]

Tokyo-Seoul fight closely tracked by China, Russia, North Korea

Tokyo-Seoul fight closely tracked by China, Russia, North Korea

FPI / August 15, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com As the trade-culture conflict between Seoul and Tokyo heats up, South Korea’s president has floated the controversial idea of a partnership with North Korea. The move by left-leaning President Moon Jae-In amid a sinking economy was cheered by the South’s official media but enraged the nation’s conservatives. The South […]