The Roundup

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 27, 2024 (Monday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.       US Congressional Delegation Arrives in Taiwan Days after China Military Drills . The arrival of an American delegation from Congress comes at a tense time in relations between China and Taiwan and will likely be met with condemnation from Beijing. 2.       South Korean, Chinese and Japanese Leaders Discuss Thorny Topics and Ways to Boost Cooperation . The Japanese and South Korean leaders raised sensitive topics like Taiwan, North Korea and the South China Sea as well as ways to boost cooperation when they individually met China's premier on the eve of a fuller trilateral meeting. Russia/Europe/West 3.       Russia Claims Liberating Village in Eastern Ukraine . Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had captured the settlement of Berestove in the northeastern Kharkiv region. 4.       German Chancellor O

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 24, 2024 (Friday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.        China's Military Launches Large-Scale Maneuvers Around Taiwan . The drills involve ships and aircraft positions around Taiwan and several nearby islands in what China calls an attempt to “test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command.” 2.        S. Korea Remains Unchanged on China-Taiwan Issue: Foreign Ministry . South Korea remains committed to respecting the "One China" policy amid tensions in the Taiwan Strait following the inauguration ceremony of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te earlier this week, the foreign ministry said. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Russia Passes Decree to Allow Seizure of US Assets . Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the confiscation of assets inside Russia belonging to the United States, its citizens and companie

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 23, 2024 (Thursday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.       China, Qatar Agree to Promote Military Cooperation . Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah in Beijing, with the two sides pledging to further promote military cooperation. 2.       DPRK Leader Announced Intention to Enhance Strategic Role of North Korea's Nuclear Forces by 2025 . North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that North Korea will strive to increase the strategic role of its nuclear forces by 2025 in accordance with the plan of the Central Military Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. Russia/Europe/West 3.       Billions from Russia's Frozen Assets Will Go to Help Ukraine's Military, the EU Says . The European Union will use as much as $3.25 billion in profits from Russia

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 22, 2024 (Wednesday) GLOBAL. Asia Pacific 1.        China Training Troops to Attack with, Evade, or Kill FPV Drones . Footage released by Chinese official news channels shows what appears to be People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers training to counter first-person view (FPV) drones. 2.        China and South Africa Agree to Strengthen Military Ties Amid Fresh Visits . South Africa and China enjoy close military ties, and will continue to strengthen bilateral defence relations, with South Africa’s naval chief currently visiting Beijing, and a Chinese navy frigate visiting Cape Town. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Russia Starts Tactical Nuclear Drills to Answer West's 'Threats' . Russia announced the start of tactical nuclear weapons drills in its southern military district, close to Ukraine, in what it said was a response to "thre

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 20, 2024 (Monday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.        Extreme Weather Blunts the US Military's Technological Edge . Business Insider reported that more extreme weather is scrambling the high-tech systems that have given the US military its edge. 2.        Taiwan Wary as China Steps Up Pressure Ahead of Inauguration . Since the start of this month, Chinese ships have frequently entered waters which Taiwan effectively controls with experts say such moves are aimed at increasing pressure on Taiwan's new administration. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Ukraine's 62-Drone Attack on Russia Halts Oil Refinery . Russia said that Ukraine launched a major 62-drone attack on Russian regions forcing one oil refinery in southern Russia to halt operations, and that Kyiv's forces had fired U.S., French and Ukrainian missiles at Russian-held territory. 4

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 17, 2024 (Friday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.       Russia, China Oppose 'Military Intimidation' against N. Korea by US, Allies: Report . Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued the statement following a bilateral summit in Beijing, according to Russian news agency TASS. 2.       China Insists It Will Not Compromise on Taiwan . Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of China in South Africa, Li Zhigang has reiterated that the Taiwan question bears on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is a non-negotiable principle embedded at the heart of China’s core interests. Russia/Europe/West 3.       China and Russia Reaffirm Their Close Ties as Moscow Presses its Offensive in Ukraine . Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reaffirmed their “no-limits” partnership that has deepened as both cou