The Daily Brief: China Aims For Reunification With Taiwan
China’s President, Xi Jinping announced that reunification with Taiwan must occur peacefully, however, is not opposed to reunifying the Island nation forcefully if necessary.
China’s President, Xi Jinping, said that reunification with Taiwan must be achieved peacefully but is not opposed to force, amidst growing tensions. Summary:
China’s President, Xi Jinping announced that reunification with Taiwan must occur peacefully, however, is not opposed to reunifying the Island nation forcefully if necessary.
Jinping hopes to achieve reunification under a “one country, 2 system” policy where Taiwan would be a part of China, however, it would have some autonomy. Hong Kong is currently under a similar policy.
Taiwan, which considers itself a sovereign state, responded to Jinping’s remarks and stated that its future rests in the hands of the Taiwanese people.
Taiwan officials made it clear that the Taiwanese people are opposed to the one country, 2 system policy and would like to remain a sovereign nation.
Jinping’s remarks come as tensions between the two nations have been the worst they have seen in 40 years.
Since October 1st, China has sent over 150 military jets into the Taiwan air defense zone, further escalating the tensions between Taiwan and China.
Taiwan has repeatedly accused China of “flexing its power” and calls on China to end the continuous harassment and provocation between the nations.
We believe that the Taiwanese people should decide #Taiwan's future. Taiwan stands united in our commitment to the values of democracy & freedom. And we will do whatever it takes to defend our values & our way of life. My article in @ForeignAffairs: https://t.co/6XxOblPB1D
We sincerely thank @SecBlinken for strongly urging "Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, & economic pressure & coercion directed at #Taiwan🇹🇼," as well as reaffirming the rock-solid commitment of the #US🇺🇸 to our country & deepening bilateral ties.🔽https://t.co/JdKsEIt6bN
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) October 7, 2021
Highlights of Xi’s speech on the 110th anniversary of 1911 Revolution – National reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole – The complete reunification of our country will be and can be realized pic.twitter.com/68NEgkhFZQ
US and top Taliban officials met for the 1st time since the US pulled out of Afghanistan in Qatar this week to discuss containing extremist groups, the evacuation of US citizens, and humanitarian aid.
The US made it clear that meeting with Taliban officials in no way means the US recognizes and legitimizes the Taliban rule of Afghanistan, rather the talks are to continue to secure US interests.
During the meeting, Taliban officials asked the US to remove its ban on the reserves of the Afghanistan Central Banks although it is unclear if the US has agreed.
This meeting comes one day after Afghanistan suffered its deadliest attack since the US officially withdrew. Over 50 people were killed and 100’s were injured.
1/4 Today I had meeting with ambassadors and representatives of various countries including EU, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Canada, UK and USA here in Doha. Other members of IEA delegation consisted of Mawlavi Matiul Haq,President of the Afghan pic.twitter.com/6aGALjKn6J
— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) October 7, 2021
NEWS: A U.S. delegation incl. officials from State Dept, USAID & intel community will meet w/senior Taliban officials over the weekend in Doha, the first face-to-face and high-level meeting between the two sides since U.S. pulled out of #Afghanistan, admin officials tell me
All of the state electricity in the country of Lebanon is down following the closure of the Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants on Saturday.
Residents are outraged and many have taken to the streets to burn tires and block roads.
Marc Ayoub, an energy researcher at the American University of Beirut’s Issam Fares Institute, stated, “There is no fuel and limited generation, so the variation in frequency is ruining the grid…It’s happened about 16 times over the past two weeks because generation is too little compared to what is needed for the grid to reach stability.”
BEIRUT: What full collapse of the national Electricity grid looks like. #Lebanon’s capital, once dubbed ‘Swiss of the East’, goes completely dark tonight due to corrupt political class & fuel shortages: pic.twitter.com/9FKGD7oij4
#Lebanon’s national electricity grid is completely shut down right now. That means the whole country is running on generator power only. Which not everyone has, or can afford. So while big solutions continue to be discussed politically, this is the immediate reality…
Two explosive drones were sent to the airport in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, early Saturday morning.
Six Saudis, three Bangladeshi nationals, and one Sudanese individual were injured by the first attack, however, the second drone was intercepted and no information has been released on if it caused any significant damages or injuries.
No one has taken responsibility for the drones, however, Yemeni rebel groups are suspected of being behind the attack.
We condemn the outrageous attack by Houthi forces on King Abdullah Airport in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Our thoughts are with the 10 wounded civilians, who were doing no more than seeking to travel or make a living.
This is not the way forward for Yemen and the region. Once again, we condemn and denounce the new ballistic missile and drone attacks against civilians in Jazan airport and towards Khamis Mushayt city. Our sympathy and solidarity to all injured.
The 2018 to 2020 outbreak of Ebola in the eastern Congo took more than 2,200 lives.
Now, after five months a new outbreak is at the risk of occurring after a 3-year-old boy tested positive.
Roughly 100 people are assumed to be at risk after being exposed to the virus.
Health Minister Jean Jacques Mbungani stated, “Thanks to the experience acquired in managing the Ebola virus disease during previous epidemics, we are confident that the response teams…will manage to control this outbreak as soon as possible.”
A new #Ebola case has been confirmed by the National Institute of Biomedical Research in #Beni, eastern DR #Congo. Our teams on the ground will quickly deploy their interventions to help contain the spread of the disease and limit its impact on children. pic.twitter.com/AoIGWcY7d6
The #DRC Ministry of Health just announced that a new case of Ebola has been detected in North Kivu Province, where a previous outbreak was declared over 3 May 2021. @WHO is working with health authorities to investigate the case.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will be meeting with top Mexican officials to update the $3 billion Merida Initiative, a 2008 pact meant to fight drug trafficking and organized crime.
The new agreement will address concerns coming from both sides including gun flow access to the border, increased violence, and drug consumption.
Secretary Blinken stated, “I’ve got to say that if the security dialogue matches in quality what we experienced with the economic dialogue that would be — and I fully expect it will — be very, very positive and also productive.”
We are partners, neighbors, and friends with Mexico. Our citizens are safe & more prosperous through our partnership, and I look forward to working together to implement the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities. #SociosVecinosAmigospic.twitter.com/HsMdqfEW9z
It is always a pleasure to visit Mexico’s National Palace. Thanks to President @lopezobrador_ for hosting the U.S. delegation and for his commitment to our bilateral relationship and our #SharedSecurity. pic.twitter.com/sRIVLU9QtU
Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court found Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second largest bank, guilty for its involvement in a money laundering scheme involving a Bulgarian drug trafficking gang.
The bank is being fined 21 million Swiss francs ($22 million) due to its poor monitoring and implementation of anti-money laundering rules. More than 12 million francs worth of assets are also being confiscated due to their connection with the criminal group.
Credit Suisse has denied any wrongdoings and stated that it has been “continuously testing its anti-money laundering framework and has been strengthening it over time, in accordance with evolving regulatory standards.”
This case originated from actions taken by a former employee in 2007 and 2008, and two other Bulgarian citizens’ actions in 2005 and 2009. Some of their sentences and fines were suspended due to the amount of time passed since the crimes took place.
Money laundering: Credit Suisse, Switzerland's 🇨🇭 second-biggest bank, which has been rocked by a series of scandals, was slapped with a $2-million-fine in a money laundering case linked to a Bulgarian 🇧🇬 cocaine network @StopCrimeKenyapic.twitter.com/tWlAZ9lPpf
A gas leak in Aqaba, Jordan killed at least thirteen people and injured more than 250. A storage container carrying between 25 and 30 tonnes of chlorine gas fell as it was being exported to Djibouti, releasing the gas.
A video of the incident on state TV shows the container being dropped onto the deck of the ship and a yellow colored gas spreading through the air as people try to evacuate. The accident seems to be a result of the crane malfunctioning.
If chlorine is inhaled at high levels, it can cause life-threatening damage. A nearby beach in Aqaba was evacuated as a safety precaution, and residents who live in the nearest residential area, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away, were advised to stay inside and close windows.
Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh traveled to Aqaba and visited some of the injured at the hospital. He also formed a team led by the interior minister to investigate the incident.
I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Kingdom of Jordan following the tragedy that took place at the Port of Aqaba. As we've told our friends in Jordan, the Israeli defense establishment is ready to assist with any effort, by any means necessary.
A busy shopping center in Ukraine was set on fire by Russian missiles on Monday, killing at least thirteen people and injuring dozens. The total number of casualties is still unknown.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “The number of victims is impossible to imagine” and that there could have been up to 1,000 people in the mall.
The attack came during the G7 summit, where world leaders condemned recent atrocities and promised to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” in a joint statement. President Zelensky spoke to the leaders at the summit and stated that he wants the war to end before winter.
NATO has decided to increase the number of troops in its rapid reaction force from 40,000 to 300,000, more than eightfold. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated this move is part of the “biggest overhaul of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War.”
The United States has announced that it will provide Ukraine with advanced medium and long-range air defense capabilities.
Large shopping mall in Kremenchuk with hundreds of civilians inside has been hit by a Russian strike. Russia is a disgrace to humanity and it must face consequences. The response should be more heavy arms for Ukraine, more sanctions on Russia, and more businesses leaving Russia. pic.twitter.com/Uvi6fbyShK
Together, the G7 is demonstrating the strong global leadership it will take to maximize the costs to Putin and his enablers and address the impact of his war on the global economy. pic.twitter.com/N30bBeXyKL
The United States’ top justices voted to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion, a law that had been in place for over 50 years.
The closely watched decision was heralded by some and derided by others, depending on their position on the controversial concept of a woman’s right to choose for her own body.
With the abolition of the constitutional right, it is expected that many states in the U.S. will implement near total bans of abortion rights, while other states such as California, Oregon and Washington have reaffirmed their commitment to preserve the right to an abortion.
Planned Parenthood, the advocacy face for abortion rights, is mobilizing around the country to bolster and increase services in those states that will preserve the right, and engage voters in those states that plan to abolish the right.
Tweets
Overturning Roe v. Wade and denying women the right to control their own bodies is an outrage and in defiance of what the American people want. Democrats must now end the filibuster in the Senate, codify Roe v. Wade, and once again make abortion legal and safe.
The EU has finally approved the application of Ukraine to become a candidate country for admission to the 27- country organization. Ukraine will now join the official candidate list, which already includes Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey.
The US is expected to provide an additional $450m in security assistance to Ukraine. Which includes four more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.
The EU and Norway have agreed to cooperate and provide the EU’s 27 countries with gas from Western Europe’s biggest provider. The EU imports roughly ⅕ of its gas from Norway compared to the 40% it was receiving from Russia. Currently, Russia has been cutting gas supplies to countries refusing to pay for it in roubles.
Melbourne is considering utilizing its largely vacant $200m Center for National Resilience building to house hundreds of refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine and Afghanistan. The center will only be able to temporarily house about 500 refugees from Afghanistan and about 200 from Ukraine.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov thanked US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after receiving and welcoming the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States.
Nike joined other leading Western brands by formally making a full exit from Russia, three months after suspending its operations. Telecoms equipment maker Cisco is also planning to wind down business in Russia and Belarus as well.
All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.
The US Supreme Court expanded gun carrying rights after a New York law denied the plaintiffs Robert Nash and Brandon Koch from carrying a concealed weapon in public, despite them having licenses for recreational gun ownership.
The US court ruled that the New York law requiring residents to prove “proper cause” to carry a concealed weapon is unconstitutional. Justice Clarence Thomas, who represented the 6 justices who ruled in favor of the decision, stated that Americans have the right to carry “commonly used” firearms in public for personal defense.
This decision comes amid an intense national debate over gun violence, and could possibly challenge the outcome of similar regulations in other states, such as California and New Jersey, and affect a quarter of Americans by allowing more people to carry guns legally.
Three liberal justices, Elena Kahan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer, were against the majority decision, and Justice Breyer noted that “since the start of this year alone (2022), there have already been 277 reported mass shootings – an average of more than one per day.”
While the National Rifle Association (NRA) celebrated the judgment, President Biden stated that he was “deeply disappointed” by the court’s decision and that the ruling “contradicts both common sense and the Constitution, and should trouble us all.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams also agreed with Biden and stated that he would review other ways to restrict gun access by restricting the application process for buying guns and looking into bans of firearms at specific locations.
All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.
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