分类： politics

Amidst recent live-fire military exercises conducted by China around Taiwan, featuring advanced aircraft, warships, and rocket launches, Beijing’s foreign ministry has reaffirmed its objective to achieve “complete reunification” with the island territory. Taipei continues to resist these sovereignty claims, maintaining that Taiwan has never existed under the Chinese Communist Party’s governance in its current constitutional framework.

The island’s complex history reveals a tapestry of colonial influences and political transformations. During the 1600s, Dutch and Spanish colonizers vied for control of Formosa (as Taiwan was then known), establishing footholds while Indigenous populations and Han Chinese migrants inhabited the island. The Dutch East India Company established a southern base near contemporary Tainan, while Spanish forces constructed northern forts.

In 1662, military leader Koxinga, loyal to China’s Ming dynasty, defeated the Dutch. By 1684, the Qing dynasty incorporated Taiwan into China’s Fujian province, later declaring it a standalone Chinese province under Han Chinese governance in 1885.

Following Qing defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1895), Emperor Guangxu ceded Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan, initiating five decades of often harsh colonial rule. Japan’s WWII surrender in 1945 returned Taiwan to the Republic of China under Nationalist Party (KMT) control, even as civil war raged between Nationalists and Mao Zedong’s Communists.

The Nationalists’ 1949 retreat to Taiwan established de facto self-rule as Mao founded the People’s Republic of China on the mainland. Over one million military personnel, officials, and civilians accompanied Chiang Kai-shek’s government to the island. The KMT maintained its claim as China’s legitimate government throughout its authoritarian rule under martial law (1949-1987), a period marked by political repression known as the White Terror.

January 1979 witnessed a geopolitical watershed when the United States established formal relations with China, terminating official recognition of Taiwan through its “One China” policy. That April, however, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, creating frameworks for unofficial ties and committing to provide Taiwan with self-defense capabilities.

The 1992 Consensus saw both sides acknowledging “one China” while permitting divergent interpretations. Taiwan’s democratic evolution accelerated with its first legislative elections (1992) and presidential election (1996), won by KMT’s Lee Teng-hui. China responded to Lee’s perceived separatist rhetoric with missile tests encircling Taiwan (1995-1996).

The 2000 election of Democratic Progressive Party’s Chen Shui-bian marked Taiwan’s first peaceful power transfer, ending five decades of KMT rule. Recent tensions escalated dramatically following U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 Taiwan visit, prompting China’s largest-ever military drills around the island. Beijing has since maintained near-daily military presence near Taiwan, with December 2025 exercises responding to perceived provocations from Japan’s leadership and anticipated U.S. arms sales to Taipei.

Bangladesh’s political landscape was shaken on Tuesday by the passing of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at age 80. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which she led as chairperson, confirmed her death occurred at 6:00 AM local time following dawn prayers, marking the end of an era for one of the nation’s most influential political figures.

Her demise comes at a critical juncture in Bangladeshi politics, just as the country prepares for general elections scheduled for February 2026. Despite significant health challenges and a recent hospitalization in late November, Zia had remained politically active, with party representatives submitting nomination papers on her behalf for three constituencies merely hours before her passing.

The BNP statement memorialized Zia as a “national leader” and requested prayers for her departed soul. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus had previously characterized her as “a source of utmost inspiration for the nation” during her final days.

Zia’s political career was marked by dramatic highs and lows, including imprisonment on corruption charges in 2018 under the government of her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina. Her release last year coincided with Hasina’s ousting from power following mass protests. Medical treatment complications further complicated her final years, as plans for specialized care in London were thwarted by her unstable condition.

The political transition continues with her son, Tarique Rahman, recently returning from 17 years of self-imposed exile to assume leadership of the BNP. He is expected to lead the party into the upcoming elections and potentially assume the prime minister role should the BNP secure a majority.

Prothom Alo, Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, noted that Zia had earned the reputation as the ‘uncompromising leader’ whose life exemplified the extreme challenges faced by political figures—including lawsuits, imprisonment, and persecution. Family members, including Rahman, were present at her bedside during her final moments.

Southeast Asian security analysts are raising alarms over Japan’s rapid military expansion under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, warning that these developments could fundamentally alter regional stability. Since assuming office in October 2025, Takaichi has implemented a series of controversial security policy shifts that mark a significant departure from Japan’s postwar pacifist stance.

The government has accelerated its defense spending timeline, now targeting the NATO-standard 2% of GDP expenditure two years ahead of schedule. More provocatively, Tokyo is considering revisions to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles while exploring options for nuclear-powered submarines and eased arms export restrictions. These moves have generated both domestic and international concern about Japan’s strategic direction.

According to Peter T.C. Chang, research associate at the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, Takaichi represents a right-wing ideology seeking to restore Japan’s imperial-era strength through a movement reminiscent of America’s ‘MAGA’ campaign. This political trajectory threatens to disrupt the delicate balance that has underpinned ASEAN’s prolonged stability, which has historically relied on Japan’s economic rather than military influence.

Regional experts note that Japan’s military deployments have increasingly focused on Southeast Asia, with particular attention to offensive capabilities such as long-range missiles stationed on southwestern islands. James Gomez of Bangkok’s Asia Centre warns that this buildup will inevitably heighten geopolitical tensions across the region.

The fundamental concern among ASEAN members is whether Southeast Asia might transform from a driver of regional stability into an arena for major-power competition. University of Malaya professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi cautions that closer Japan-US security alignment could force ASEAN states to choose sides in great-power rivalries.

Domestic challenges including Japan’s rapidly aging population, shrinking workforce, and substantial social spending commitments raise questions about the sustainability of this military expansion. Nevertheless, the Takaichi administration continues to advance its security agenda at an unprecedented pace, creating new uncertainties for the Asia-Pacific region.

As 2025 concludes, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s diplomatic engagements throughout the year have demonstrated China’s increasingly assertive role in shaping global affairs during a period of significant international turbulence. Against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions and transformative shifts in world order, China’s foreign policy approach has provided distinct alternatives to current global challenges.

The cornerstone of China’s 2025 diplomatic agenda emerged during the landmark Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin—the largest gathering in the organization’s 24-year history. President Xi unveiled the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), presenting a comprehensive framework for international cooperation that emphasizes five fundamental principles: sovereign equality, adherence to international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centered development, and actionable implementation.

This initiative represents the fourth major global proposal advanced by Xi, following previously established frameworks including the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative. Chinese officials characterize the GGI as another significant contribution to international public goods, positioning China as a proactive architect of global governance structures rather than merely a participant.

The Tianjin summit brought together leaders from more than 20 nations and representatives from 10 international organizations, creating an unprecedented platform for diplomatic engagement. Observers note that China’s diplomatic strategy throughout 2025 has consistently emphasized alternatives to division and confrontation, advocating instead for dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation amid increasing global fragmentation.

Analysts suggest that China’s diplomatic offensive throughout 2025 reflects a calculated effort to expand its influence within existing international institutions while simultaneously proposing alternative governance frameworks. This approach comes at a time when traditional Western-led global governance systems face mounting challenges and criticisms from developing nations seeking greater representation and alternative partnership models.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a stern condemnation of United States military policy toward Taiwan during a year-end diplomatic review in Beijing on Tuesday. The address came as China entered its second day of coordinated military exercises around the self-governed island.

Wang characterized the recent $11 billion U.S. arms package to Taiwan—the largest such sale in history—as a severe provocation requiring “resolute opposition and strong countermeasures.” The comprehensive weapons package includes advanced missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, artillery platforms, and specialized military software.

Reiterating China’s longstanding position, Wang emphasized Beijing’s commitment to “complete reunification” with Taiwan, which has maintained separate governance since the conclusion of China’s civil war in 1949. Taiwan’s administration maintains that it has never been under the jurisdiction of the current Communist Party-led government in Beijing.

The foreign minister’s remarks extended beyond U.S.-Taiwan relations to include sharp criticism of Japan’s leadership. Wang accused Japanese officials of “openly challenging China’s territorial sovereignty” and expressed concern about the “resurgence of Japanese militarism,” referencing Japan’s wartime aggression against China.

China’s military exercises, initiated Monday, serve dual purposes: responding to American arms sales and signaling disapproval of recent statements from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested potential military intervention regarding Taiwan.

Beyond regional tensions, Wang highlighted China’s broader diplomatic agenda, including addressing the Israel-Gaza conflict where China supports international ceasefire efforts and advocates for Palestinian rights. Wang also detailed China’s mediation between Thailand and Cambodia, helping consolidate a ceasefire after months of border fighting, and reiterated Beijing’s aim to facilitate Ukraine-Russia peace talks despite Western skepticism about China’s impartiality.

These diplomatic initiatives demonstrate China’s concerted effort to expand its influence as an international mediator and major power in resolving regional and global conflicts.

China’s People’s Liberation Army intensified its military presence around Taiwan with large-scale exercises dubbed ‘Justice Mission 2025,’ entering a second day of operations on Tuesday. The Eastern Theater Command deployed destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, and bombers to waters north and south of the island, conducting comprehensive sea-air coordination drills and live-fire artillery exercises that officials claimed achieved ‘desired effects.’

The maneuvers significantly heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait as 2025 concluded, with tangible impacts on civilian aviation. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration reported seven temporary ‘dangerous zones’ established around the strait, potentially disrupting both international and domestic flight operations.

According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, surveillance detected 130 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, alongside 14 naval vessels and eight other official ships operating near the island within a 24-hour period. Notably, 90 aircraft crossed the median line of the strait, entering Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, while a Chinese balloon was also observed. Long-range artillery units from China’s Fujian province conducted live-fire exercises targeting zones approximately 44 kilometers off Taiwan’s northern coast.

Chinese officials framed the exercises as a ‘stern warning’ against what they characterize as Taiwan independence separatist forces and external interference. Through its official Xinhua News Agency, Beijing accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of binding the island to a ‘catastrophic secessionist chariot’ through arms purchases and alignment with the United States.

The developments occurred against the backdrop of recent U.S.-Taiwan defense agreements, with Washington announcing arms sales valued at over $10 billion—a move that prompted Beijing to impose sanctions against 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 executives. The situation also drew responses from regional powers, with Japan’s government suggesting potential military involvement if China takes action against Taiwan, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.

Despite the escalated tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed limited concern, highlighting his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and suggesting he didn’t anticipate military action against Taiwan. The historical context of the dispute traces back to 1949, when Communist forces took control of mainland China, and Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan, establishing separate governance systems that have persisted for decades.

Bangladesh’s political landscape has been permanently altered with the passing of Khaleda Zia, the nation’s first female prime minister, who died at age 80 following an extended period of illness. Her death was confirmed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) via social media on Monday, stating their “favorite leader is no longer with us.”

Zia’s political journey began tragically following the 1981 assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, during a military coup. She transformed from first lady into a formidable political force, eventually leading the BNP to victory in Bangladesh’s first democratic election in two decades, securing her historic position as head of government in 1991.

Her tenure was marked by significant political turbulence, including a second term in 1996 that lasted merely weeks, and another premiership from 2001 until October 2006. Throughout her career, Zia maintained a fierce rivalry with political opponent Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, creating a decades-long power dynamic that defined Bangladeshi politics.

Zia’s later years were overshadowed by legal challenges, including a 2018 corruption conviction under Hasina’s administration which she denounced as politically motivated. Her release last year coincided with mass anti-government protests that ultimately toppled Hasina, forcing her into exile.

Despite severe health complications including kidney damage, heart disease, and pneumonia, Zia remained politically relevant. Her party had recently announced her intention to contest upcoming February elections, demonstrating her enduring influence. Following news of her death, crowds gathered outside Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital where she had been receiving treatment, with photographs showing police managing emotional supporters.

With Zia’s passing, political attention turns to her son Tarique Rahman, who recently returned from 17 years of self-imposed exile in London and is expected to assume leadership of the BNP as the party eyes a return to power.

The highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago yielded significant symbolic gestures but left the future of the Gaza ceasefire plan shrouded in ambiguity. In an unprecedented move, Netanyahu announced the awarding of Israel’s highest cultural honor, the Israel Prize, to President Trump for his “tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people”—marking the first time the prize has been bestowed upon a non-Israeli citizen.

President Trump reciprocated with effusive praise, repeatedly hailing Netanyahu as a “wartime prime minister at the highest level” and asserting that Israel’s very existence depended on his leadership. “If you had a weak man, you wouldn’t have Israel right now,” Trump declared during their joint appearance.

The central focus of discussions revolved around the stalled Trump-branded ceasefire plan for Gaza, which has remained effectively dormant since its implementation on October 10th. Trump adopted an increasingly assertive posture, warning that Hamas faces a “very short period of time to disarm” or there would be “hell to pay.” While refusing to specify a concrete deadline, the U.S. president suggested unnamed countries outside the Middle East had offered to deploy troops to forcibly disarm Hamas if necessary.

Despite the hardline rhetoric, Trump indicated potential flexibility by considering reconstruction initiatives in Gaza prior to Hamas’s disarmament. A ambitious $112 billion proposal dubbed the “Sunrise Project,” developed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, envisions transforming Gaza into a high-tech urban center over a decade. The plan calls for the U.S. to fund 20% of the project costs, though unnamed officials have expressed skepticism about its feasibility given Gaza’s current humanitarian situation.

The meeting also addressed regional geopolitics, with Trump suggesting possible approval of F-35 fighter jet sales to Turkey despite Netanyahu’s historical objections. When questioned about Iranian nuclear capabilities, Trump warned that the U.S. would “knock the hell out of them” if Iran attempts to rebuild its nuclear program, while simultaneously expressing openness to diplomatic negotiations.

Critical challenges remain, as evidenced by a Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research poll indicating 70% of Palestinians oppose Hamas disarmament even if it means renewed Israeli attacks. Hamas has previously offered to “bury” its weapons in exchange for a decade-long truce and Palestinian statehood recognition—a position at odds with the current U.S.-Israel approach that emphasizes total disarmament as a precondition for peace.