分类： politics

In a significant diplomatic development, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will commence a four-day state visit to China beginning Sunday, marking his first official trip to the country since assuming office in June 2025. This visit represents the first by a South Korean head of state since 2019, signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations between the two Northeast Asian neighbors.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the visit through spokesman Lin Jian, who emphasized the strategic importance of the two nations as key regional partners. “Under the strategic guidance of both heads of state, this visit is anticipated to significantly advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership,” Lin stated during a regular press briefing.

Accompanying President Lee will be a substantial delegation of over 200 South Korean business leaders, including executives from corporate giants Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and LG Group. This substantial commercial contingent underscores the economic dimension of the visit, with both nations preparing to discuss cooperation in multiple sectors including supply chain security, investment frameworks, digital economy initiatives, transnational crime prevention, and environmental protection measures.

The timing of the visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the China-ROK free trade agreement, with both parties having agreed to accelerate second-phase negotiations to deepen economic integration. Bilateral trade reached $328.08 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5.6% year-on-year increase despite global economic headwinds.

Recent reciprocal visa facilitation measures have further strengthened people-to-people exchanges. China implemented visa-free entry for South Korean tourists and business visitors in November 2024, with South Korea reciprocating for Chinese group tourists in September 2025, resulting in a notable surge in cross-border travel.

This visit builds upon the momentum generated by the meeting between President Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, last November. According to Professor Zhan Debin of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, while President Xi’s previous visit to South Korea helped stabilize bilateral relations, President Lee’s upcoming visit aims to “explore ways to make further progress on the basis of that stability,” particularly through enhanced economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has initiated a new series of comprehensive military exercises encircling Taiwan, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions following Washington’s approval of an $11 billion arms package to Taipei. These maneuvers, conducted by the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, incorporate advanced joint operations featuring naval flotillas and aircraft conducting simulated strikes against maritime and terrestrial targets, air superiority missions, and anti-submarine warfare protocols.

The military demonstrations coincide with sophisticated information warfare campaigns designed to undermine confidence in Taiwan’s defensive capabilities. According to analyses from overseas military commentators, Beijing’s strategy aims to convince international audiences that Taiwanese forces would be incapable of withstanding a concerted PLA assault.

This recent surge in military posturing directly responds to the United States’ December 18 announcement of its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, including sophisticated rocket artillery systems, long-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and unmanned surveillance platforms.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned the weapons transfer as a provocative measure supporting what he termed ‘Taiwan independence’ elements. ‘The Taiwan question represents China’s internal affair and sits at the core of our national interests,’ Wang stated during the Symposium on the International Situation and China’s Foreign Relations. ‘Achieving complete national reunification constitutes both a lawful action to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity and a historical mission we must fulfill.’

Academic analyses from institutions like Wuhan University’s Institute of Taiwan Studies characterize Taiwan’s leadership under Lai Ching-te as intensifying independence efforts through military enhancement and American alignment, describing this approach as ‘walking further down the wrong road of destroying Taiwan.’

The Pentagon’s recent assessments outline four potential invasion scenarios Beijing might consider: coercive measures short of open warfare, joint firepower strike campaigns, sustained blockade operations, and comprehensive amphibious invasion. Concurrently, classified US military evaluations suggest American forces could face significant challenges in a Taiwan conflict scenario, citing China’s advanced hypersonic weapons inventory and counter-space capabilities.

Information warfare tactics have evolved beyond traditional propaganda methods, with recent revelations exposing sophisticated influencer recruitment strategies. An Italian-based military commentator disclosed offers of substantial compensation to promote narratives questioning Taiwan’s defensive capabilities while maintaining apparent neutrality. These efforts align with broader psychological operations aimed at diminishing Taiwanese morale and resistance willingness before potential military action.

In a significant defense procurement announcement, the US Department of War has granted Boeing an $8.6 billion contract to manufacture a fleet of F-15IA fighter jets specifically configured for the Israeli Air Force. The revelation came shortly after a joint press conference between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Palm Beach, Florida.

The comprehensive agreement encompasses the design, integration, instrumentation, testing, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft, with a contractual provision for an additional 25 units. This follows a previous November 2024 agreement valued at $5.2 billion for an equivalent number of aircraft.

The F-15IA represents a specialized variant of the classic F-15 platform, engineered to meet Israel’s unique operational requirements. This advanced aircraft is intended to replace Israel’s aging ‘Ra’am’ fleet. According to US Air Force specifications, the F-15IA is capable of maintaining air supremacy and outperforming any contemporary adversary aircraft.

Technical specifications highlight its exceptional capabilities, including a high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing-loading that provide superior maneuverability. The aircraft’s sophisticated radar and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system position it among the world’s most advanced fighter jets, with a maximum speed reaching 1,875 mph.

Production will be conducted at Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri facility, with deliveries projected for completion by 2035. The United States continues to dominate as the primary global supplier of tactical fighter jets, having previously customized F-15 variants for Japan, South Korea, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

The contract announcement coincided with diplomatic discussions between Trump and Netanyahu regarding Gaza ceasefire negotiations. President Trump expressed unequivocal support for Israel’s leadership, describing Netanyahu as a ‘wartime prime minister at the highest level’ and emphasizing that ‘with most other leaders, Israel would not exist.’

When questioned about Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where over 71,000 casualties have been reported since October 2023 using US-supplied aircraft and weaponry, Trump stated he had no concerns about Israel’s decisions, asserting that Israel had ‘lived up to the plan 100 percent.’

In a significant escalation of tensions between Gulf allies, the United Arab Emirates has declared the complete withdrawal of its remaining military personnel from Yemen. This decision comes mere hours after Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes against UAE-backed forces and issued an unprecedented public condemnation of Abu Dhabi’s activities in the protracted conflict.

The Emirati Defense Ministry stated formally that ‘in light of recent developments’ it was terminating the presence of its ‘remaining counterterrorism personnel in Yemen of its own volition.’ While emphasizing that the majority of UAE forces had concluded their operational role in 2019, the ministry noted that specialized teams had remained engaged in counter-terrorism efforts alongside international partners until now.

This dramatic development follows Tuesday morning’s Saudi airstrikes targeting the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the port city of Mukalla. Riyadh justified these strikes by claiming the targeted weapons and vehicles arriving from Fujairah, UAE, ‘constituted an imminent threat.’ STC representatives contested this account, asserting the strikes hit civilian infrastructure instead.

Subsequently, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry published a strongly worded statement expressing disappointment with UAE actions it claimed were ‘pressuring’ the STC to conduct military operations along Saudi Arabia’s southern border regions. The kingdom explicitly declared such activities a direct threat to its national security and regional stability, emphasizing that ‘any threat to its national security is a red line.’

Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha clarified that the UAE had already withdrawn most military hardware six years ago, with current presence consisting primarily of rotating advisory, intelligence, and counter-terrorism personnel rather than large-scale combat forces. The UAE has backed the STC since 2017 through comprehensive support including funding, military assistance, and training, though analysts note Abu Dhabi maintains it doesn’t control the group’s political objectives.

In response to Saudi actions, the UAE expressed surprise and rejected Riyadh’s account, stating the strike occurred without coalition consultation and that the targeted shipment contained vehicles for UAE forces rather than weapons. Abu Dhabi denounced the Saudi statement as containing ‘fundamental inaccuracies’ and categorically rejected implications of directing Yemeni military operations.

The escalating rift emerges amid ongoing power struggles within Yemen’s anti-Houthi leadership. Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi called for Emirati forces to withdraw and canceled a joint defense agreement with the UAE, though STC officials immediately challenged his authority to make such decisions unilaterally.

India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will travel to Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the state funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, marking the highest-level Indian diplomatic visit since the 2024 political upheaval that transformed bilateral relations between the neighboring nations.

The funeral ceremony for Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister who passed away Tuesday at age 80, is anticipated to draw massive public gatherings in the capital city. India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Jaishankar will officially represent both the Indian government and its citizens during the solemn proceedings.

This diplomatic mission occurs against the backdrop of significantly strained India-Bangladesh relations following the 2024 overthrow of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who sought refuge in India and remains there despite repeated extradition requests from Dhaka. In November, a Bangladeshi court sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for her alleged role in authorizing lethal force against mass protests.

The geopolitical landscape has been further complicated by India’s expressed concerns regarding minority treatment in Bangladesh and the upcoming February 12, 2026 elections—the first since the widespread uprising. These elections position Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as a potential frontrunner, with her recently returned son Tarique Rahman, ending 17 years of exile, emerging as a probable prime ministerial candidate should the party secure majority control.

Notably, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences while expressing hope that Zia’s “vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership,” signaling diplomatic outreach despite ongoing tensions. The situation remains delicate as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader, has accused India of exaggerating violence scale during the unrest period.