Taiwan's government has accused China of intensifying its efforts to undermine the island's democracy through disinformation campaigns on social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube. According to a report by Taiwan's National Security Bureau, the number of pieces of false or biased information distributed by China increased 60% last year, with 2.16 million instances reported in 2024 compared to 1.33 million in 2023. China allegedly created "inauthentic accounts" on YouTube and used AI technology to create fake videos, while also flooding comments sections with pro-China statements. This is part of a broader effort by Beijing to exert influence over Taiwan's media landscape, including through its business ties with Taiwanese newspapers and other traditional media outlets. The campaign is seen as an attempt to undermine Taiwan's confidence in its democracy and its close ties with the United States, which China views as a major obstacle to its goal of reunifying the island under its control.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250105/p2g/00m/0in/039000cHonduras' Foreign Minister Enrique Reina stated that the country has the power to suspend American military presence without approval, in response to a warning from Honduran President Castro that the country may reconsider its cooperation with the US if it faces mass expulsions of its citizens. The US maintains a military base in Honduras, which hosts over 1,000 American personnel, and has been allowed to operate there under an agreement between the two countries. The Trump administration's transition team responded by stating that they look forward to engaging with Latin American partners to ensure border security and the return of undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized the contributions Mexican citizens make to the US economy, while Honduras established mobile consulates and Mexico created an online application for its citizens to alert authorities if they are at risk of being detained.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/honduras-pushes-back-to-trumps-deportation-plan-threatens-to-remove-us-military-base-13849976.htmlDonald Trump's return to the Oval Office is expected to face significant challenges in foreign policy due to a shift in global dynamics. Foreign policy experts warn that working with adversaries such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea will be more difficult than before, citing an "axis of resistance" from these countries. According to Daniel Benjamin, president of the American Academy in Berlin, this is now a reality Trump must confront. Unlike his previous approach, which involved making deals with these nations and portraying himself as their friend, experts say this strategy will no longer be effective.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-resistance/Maria Zakharova, a Russian official, has expressed concerns about the actions of Western countries, including the US and Britain, which are supplying Ukraine with weapons. She also highlighted the numerous NATO exercises in the Black Sea that violate Russia's borders, as well as the provocative maneuvers of military aircraft from Western countries in Russian airspace. Zakharova stated that one of Russia's goals is to demilitarize Ukraine and ensure its own security. The Russian government has repeatedly emphasized that arming Ukraine will not deter them or alter their course of action in the conflict. Additionally, Zakharova accused the West of planning a propaganda campaign through organizations led by Western special services, specifically targeting Belarus.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/939323-moscow-us-and-uk-are-pumping-ukraine-with-weaponsChina's foreign ministry has pushed back against potential restrictions imposed by the US, accusing it of overstepping its authority in national security matters. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that the US is generalizing the concept of national security to interfere with normal economic and trade exchanges, which could undermine global production and supply chains. In response, China vowed to take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40341021/beijing-slams-us-over-potential-drone-banThe US government has attributed a hacking incident on Treasury systems to "Chinese malicious cyber actors", but stopped short of accusing Integrity Tech, a Chinese company. The Chinese Embassy in Washington dismissed the claim as "irrational" and without factual basis, calling it a "smear attack". This is not an isolated incident, as Chinese companies, individuals, and entities frequently face US sanctions as part of its foreign policy towards Beijing.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-on-flax-typhoon-hacking-group-that-has-ties-to-chinas-govt-13849723.htmlThe undersea internet cables that carry data signals between continents have become a new front in the deteriorating relations between the US and China. The US is taking steps to ensure that new cables bypass Hong Kong and are free of Chinese investments and contractors, following the semiconductor tech war between the two countries. A recent example is the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 6 (SeaMeWe-6) internet cable project, which was won by SubCom LLC, an American subsea cable company, after Huawei Technologies, a top Chinese telecommunications infrastructure company, lost the bidding due to US government intervention. The US Commerce Department pressured the cable investors to choose SubCom over Huawei, highlighting the growing tensions between the two nations in the tech sector.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/undersea-internet-cables-next-front-in-us-china-tech-war/The US and China are engaged in a tech war, with the next front being undersea internet cables. The Indian government has not been directly involved in this conflict. However, India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has expressed concerns about the security of undersea cables in the region. Meanwhile, the UAE has named Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its new Crown Prince. In other news, the US is urging Americans living in Russia to leave the country immediately due to rising tensions between the two nations.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/china-proposes-export-controls-on-critical-ev-technology/Argentina's Foreign Ministry has condemned the detention and disappearance of Nahuel Agustín Gallo as a serious violation of human rights, citing a pattern of crimes against humanity in Venezuela that fall under the jurisdiction of The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC). The ministry stated that it will continue to use diplomatic efforts to protect Gallo's rights and demand international justice.
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/argentina-takes-venezuela-to-icc.phtml