标签： Asia

Pakistan and Bangladesh are advancing toward a significant defense partnership, with negotiations underway for the procurement of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and enhanced military cooperation. The discussions between Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu of Pakistan and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Mahmood Khan in Islamabad mark a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, signaling a strategic realignment in South Asia.

The potential arms deal includes not only the multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China but also accelerated delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft accompanied by comprehensive training and long-term support systems. This military diplomacy occurs against the backdrop of Pakistan’s efforts to expand its weapons export portfolio following recent combat successes against India.

This warming of ties follows substantial political changes in Bangladesh, where the departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 after mass protests fundamentally altered Dhaka’s international relationships. The subsequent deterioration of Bangladesh-India relations has created opportunities for renewed Pakistan-Bangladesh engagement, including the resumption of direct trade for the first time since the 1971 liberation war.

With Bangladesh preparing for February 12 general elections under interim leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, political analysts suggest a potential government role for previously banned political elements with historical connections to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s defense establishment views its growing weapons industry as both a strategic asset and economic opportunity, with Defense Minister Khawaja Asif boldly claiming that defense exports could potentially eliminate Pakistan’s need for IMF support within six months.

The JF-17 Thunder has emerged as a centerpiece of Pakistan’s defense export strategy, with previous agreements including sales to Azerbaijan and a substantial $4 billion weapons pact with the Libyan National Army, demonstrating Pakistan’s growing presence in the international arms market.

Economic integration across the Taiwan Strait demonstrated significant momentum throughout 2025, with official data revealing substantial growth in trade volumes and Taiwanese investment on the Chinese mainland. According to Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, cross-strait economic relations have continued to deepen despite global economic uncertainties.

The latest figures indicate that 6,423 new Taiwan-funded enterprises were established on the mainland during the first ten months of 2025, representing a remarkable 53 percent year-on-year increase in actual utilized Taiwan capital, which reached $1.75 billion. Fujian province, geographically adjacent to Taiwan, emerged as a particularly attractive destination, hosting 2,043 of these new ventures with utilized capital exceeding $670 million.

Trade relations similarly flourished, with cross-strait trade volume climbing to $285.395 billion between January and November 2025, marking a 7.3 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This sustained growth underscores the deepening economic interdependence between the two sides.

Beyond commercial exchanges, personnel connections have also expanded significantly. Chen highlighted that cross-strait airlines operated more than 610 weekly passenger flights throughout 2025, facilitating regular movement across the strait. The Xiamen-Kinmen ferry route alone recorded over 1.75 million passenger trips in the first eleven months of 2025, surging by 45.77 percent year-on-year, demonstrating the vitality of direct transportation links.

The consistent growth patterns across multiple metrics suggest that economic cooperation continues to serve as a stabilizing force in cross-strait relations, with both sides benefiting from enhanced connectivity and commercial exchange.

Yemen’s political landscape has been plunged into a severe crisis following the dramatic dismissal of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), by the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). The PLC, chaired by Rashad al-Alimi, issued an official decree on Wednesday formally stripping al-Zubaidi of his membership and referring him to the Prosecutor General on charges of high treason.

The decree explicitly accused al-Zubaidi of systematically damaging Yemen’s political and military standing, forming illegal armed groups, committing grave violations against civilians, orchestrating the killing of military personnel, and sabotaging critical military infrastructure. This unprecedented move comes amid escalating violence in Yemen’s strategically vital southern regions.

The STC, which controls substantial territory in southern Yemen, immediately rejected the allegations and denied reports of their leader’s disappearance. In an official statement, the separatist group asserted that al-Zubaidi remains in Aden and continues to perform his duties normally.

The crisis deepened as Saudi Arabia’s coalition spokesman, Major General Turki al-Maliki, revealed that al-Zubaidi had been instructed on January 4th to travel to Saudi Arabia within 48 hours for emergency discussions regarding escalating STC attacks in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces. These eastern regions collectively constitute nearly half of Yemen’s territory and share critical borders with Saudi Arabia.

According to al-Maliki, al-Zubaidi initially committed to arriving on January 6th but subsequently vanished without explanation. When a Yemenia Airways flight eventually departed after significant delays, it carried senior STC officials without their leader, who had apparently fled to an unknown location.

In a parallel development, the PLC dismissed Transport Minister Abdul Salam Hamid and Planning Minister Waad Badhib, referring both for investigation. The council additionally ordered the arrest of individuals accused of weapons distribution and threatening civil peace, vowing decisive action to uphold legal authority.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition conducted over fifteen airstrikes in Dhale governorate, with hospital sources reporting multiple casualties. The STC condemned these bombardments while simultaneously demanding that Saudi authorities immediately cease aerial attacks, maintaining that al-Zubaidi continues governing from Aden.