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Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN Women office opens in Tashkent

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Tashkent, May 27 /Xinhua/ — The official opening ceremony of the UN Women office was held in Tashkent, Dunyo news agency reported on Tuesday.

    The event reportedly brought together representatives of the parliament and government of Uzbekistan, heads of UN agencies, international organizations, as well as representatives of civil society and the private sector.

    “The opening of the office marked an important milestone in the ongoing cooperation between UN Women and the Government of our country. This event reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, which is one of the priorities of national development,” the statement said.

    “The organization’s permanent presence in the country will strengthen support for national institutions and partners, facilitate the development and implementation of gender-sensitive policies and make a significant contribution to the full realization of women’s rights in all areas,” the statement added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian Defense Ministry Confirms Strikes on Ukrainian Military Facilities in Response to Ukrainian UAV Attacks

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow, May 27 /Xinhua/ — In response to massive Ukrainian drone attacks, the Russian military is striking exclusively at military facilities and enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

    The agency also reported that from the evening of May 20 to the morning of May 27, Russian air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 2,331 attack unmanned aerial vehicles, including 1,465 outside the special military operation zone.

    According to the full list published by the department, military facilities include airfield infrastructure facilities, ammunition depots, missile and artillery weapons depots of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, temporary deployment points for foreign mercenaries, as well as aircraft repair shops, unloading areas and container warehouses with military property and ammunition in the port of Odessa, infrastructure facilities and training sites for attack UAVs at airfields, etc.

    “The strikes will be carried out exclusively on military facilities and enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine,” the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Europeans are concerned that the US will withdraw support from NATO. They are right to worry − Americans should, too

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Deni, Research Professor of Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Security Studies, US Army War College

    American soldiers join 3,000 troops from other NATO member countries in a four-week exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, in March 2025. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    The United States has long played a leadership role in NATO, the most successful military alliance in history.

    The U.S. and 11 other countries in North America and Europe founded NATO in 1949, following World War II. NATO has since grown its membership to include 32 countries in Europe and North America.

    But now, European leaders and politicians fear the United States has become a less reliable ally, posing major challenges for Europe and, by implication, NATO.

    This concern is not unfounded.

    President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken of a desire to seize Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member. He has declared that Canada, another NATO member, should become “the 51st state.” Trump has also sided with Russia at the United Nations and said that the European Union, the political and economic group uniting 27 European countries, was designed to “screw” the U.S.

    Still, Trump – as well as other senior U.S. government officials – has said that the U.S. remains committed to staying in and supporting NATO.

    For decades, both liberal and conservative American politicians have recognized that the U.S. strengthens its own military and economic interests by being a leader in NATO – and by keeping thousands of U.S. troops based in Europe to underwrite its commitment.

    President Donald Trump speaks at a NATO Summit in July 2018 during his first term.
    Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    Understanding NATO

    The U.S., Canada and 10 Western European countries formed NATO nearly 80 years ago as a way to help maintain peace and stability in Europe following World War II. NATO helped European and North American countries bind together and defend themselves against the threat once posed by the Soviet Union, a former communist empire that fell in 1991.

    NATO employs about 2,000 people at its headquarters in Brussels. It does not have its own military troops and relies on its 32 member countries to volunteer their own military forces to conduct operations and other tasks under NATO’s leadership.

    NATO does have its own military command structure, led by an American military officer, and including military officers from other countries. This team plans and executes all NATO military operations.

    In peacetime, military forces working with NATO conduct training exercises across Eastern Europe and other places to help reassure allies about the strength of the military coalition – and to deter potential aggressors, like Russia.

    NATO has a relatively small annual budget of around US$3.6 billion. The U.S. and Germany are the largest contributors to this budget, each responsible for funding 16% of NATO’s costs each year.

    Separate from NATO’s annual budget, in 2014, NATO members agreed that each participating country should spend the equivalent of 2% of its gross domestic product on their own national defense. Twenty two of NATO’s 31 members with military forces were expected that 2% threshold as of April 2025.

    Although NATO is chiefly a military alliance, it has roots in the mutual economic interests of both the U.S. and Europe.

    Europe is the United States’ most important economic partner. Roughly one-quarter of all U.S. trade is with Europe – more than the U.S. has with Canada, China or Mexico.

    Over 2.3 million American jobs are directly tied to producing exports that reach European countries that are part of NATO.

    NATO helps safeguard this mutual economic relationship between the U.S. and Europe. If Russia or another country tries to intimidate, dominate or even invade a European country, this could hurt the American economy. In this way, NATO can be seen as the insurance policy that underwrites the strength and vitality of the American economy.

    The heart of that insurance policy is Article 5, a mutual defense pledge that member countries agree to when they join NATO.

    Article 5 says that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against the entire alliance. If one NATO member is attacked, all other NATO members must help defend the country in question. NATO members have only invoked Article 5 once, following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S., when the alliance deployed aircraft to monitor U.S. skies.

    A wavering commitment to Article 5

    Trump has questioned whether he would enforce Article 5 and help defend a NATO country if it is not paying the required 2% of its gross domestic product.

    NBC News also reported in April 2025 that the U.S. is likely going to cut 10,000 or more of the nearly 85,000 American troops stationed in Europe. The U.S. might also relinquish its top military leadership position within NATO, according to NBC.

    Many political analysts expect the U.S. to shift its national security focus away from Europe and toward threats posed by China – specifically, the threat of China invading or attacking Taiwan.

    At the same time, the Trump administration appears eager to reset relations with Russia. This is despite the Russian military’s atrocities committed against Ukrainian military forces and civilians in the war Russia began in 2022, and Russia’s intensifying hybrid war against Europeans in the form of covert spy attacks across Europe. This hybrid warfare allegedly includes Russia conducting cyberattacks and sabotage operations across Europe. It also involves Russia allegedly trying to plant incendiary devices on planes headed to North America, among other things.

    President Joe Biden speaks during a NATO summit in Washington in July 2024.
    Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

    A shifting role in Europe

    The available evidence indicates that the U.S. is backing away from its role in Europe. At best – from a European security perspective – the U.S. could still defend European allies with the potential threat of its nuclear weapon arsennal. The U.S. has significantly more nuclear weapons than any Western European country, but it is not clear that this is enough to deter Russia without the clear presence of large numbers of American troops in Europe, especially given that Moscow continues to perceive the U.S. as NATO’s most important and most powerful member.

    For this reason, significantly downsizing the number of U.S. troops in Europe, giving up key American military leadership positions in NATO, or backing away from the alliance in other ways appears exceptionally perilous. Such actions could increase Russian aggression across Europe, ultimately threatening not just European security bu America’s as well.

    Maintaining America’s leadership position in NATO and sustaining its troop levels in Europe helps reinforce the U.S. commitment to defending its most important allies. This is the best way to protect vital U.S. economic interests in Europe today and ensure Washington will have friends to call on in the future.

    John Deni does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Europeans are concerned that the US will withdraw support from NATO. They are right to worry − Americans should, too – https://theconversation.com/europeans-are-concerned-that-the-us-will-withdraw-support-from-nato-they-are-right-to-worry-americans-should-too-253907

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: IDF firing ‘warning shots’ near diplomats sets an unacceptable precedent in international relations

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrew Forde, Assistant Professor – European Human Rights Law, Dublin City University

    A still from footage of the incident when ‘warning shots’ were fired above visiting diplomats in Jenin on May 21. X (Twitter)

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) appears to have “crossed the Rubicon” in the West Bank town of Jenin, when it opened fire in the vicinity of a group of visiting diplomats on May 21 – in flagrant violation of international law. The group of diplomats representing 31 countries – including Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Russia and China – were on an official mission organised by the Palestinian Authority to observe the humanitarian situation there.

    They were giving media interviews when IDF troops fired what they later referred to as “warning shots” over their heads, forcing them to run for cover. The shots came despite the visit having been flagged and coordinated in advance with both the Palestinian Authority and the IDF, which has effective control over the area.

    Jenin has long been a flash point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With much of the population descendants of Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war, Israeli occupation and active Palestinian resistance are observable in the town.

    The international community’s reaction to the warning shots incident – in particular, by those states whose diplomatic officials were directly involved – was one of swift and widespread outrage. The high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas, called for a full investigation into the incident, and for those responsible to be held accountable. “Any threats on diplomats’ lives are not acceptable,” she said.

    The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of having “deliberately targeted with live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation”.

    Israel acknowledged the incident and triggered an initial investigation, but downplayed its significance. A spokesman for the IDF said it “regrets the inconvenience caused” by the incident. But its statement went on to effectively justify the action, arguing that the diplomats had “deviated from the approved route” by entering a restricted area – leading to IDF soldiers firing warning shots into the air.

    Such a response doesn’t remotely correspond to the seriousness of the situation, and Israel is perfectly aware of this.

    International law and diplomats

    Diplomats carry out functions on behalf of the country they represent. They are the eyes, ears and voice of their country, called upon to pursue legitimate diplomatic activities. The protections afforded to individual diplomats must therefore be seen in the context of broader and longer-term diplomatic relations between states.

    To carry out diplomatic functions effectively, those individuals must be allowed to perform their functions without hindrance, coercion or harassment from any country that hosts their delegations. These customary rules are thousands of years old, and have been codified in international law through the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations – to which Israel is a signatory.

    That convention provides for diplomatic inviolability, immunity from criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction, and freedom from detention or arrest. It also affords diplomatic staff the right to freedom of movement and free communications.

    Most importantly for this case, article 29 of the convention states that the host state “shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on [their] person, freedom or dignity”.

    Firing warning shots in the vicinity of diplomats, even if done in error or without ill-intent, represents a serious threat to the person and their dignity. As such, it constitutes a flagrant abdication of Israel’s duty to protect them.

    Moreover, the firing of warning shots in Jenin immediately interrupted the diplomatic work there, and as such can be seen as an attempt to intimidate or limit the efficient and effective performance of diplomatic functions on behalf of their governments.

    Need for accountability

    Any use of force against diplomats, even indirect, is incompatible with the principles of diplomatic immunity enshrined in international law. The onus is on the host state to ensure the safety and inviolability of diplomatic personnel.

    And this duty of care is not diminished in situations of conflict. On the contrary, states have a special duty in times of conflict to protect diplomats and preserve diplomatic channels of communication.

    Israel’s actions in firing above these diplomats may or may not have been deliberate. But they had an intimidatory effect, which undermines the foundational principles of international relations. In a climate where Israel’s courts have effectively endorsed a media blackout in conflict-affected regions, the role of diplomats is indispensable.

    The entire system of diplomatic relations relies on the presumption that diplomats can carry out their functions freely and effectively. Diplomatic protections work effectively when they are reciprocal. Without trust, the system quickly unravels.

    It would be wrong to suggest this act may have tipped the balance of international opinion against Israel, when you consider the 19 months of violence in Gaza. The killing by the IDF of vast numbers of civilians (including thousands of women and children), the seeming use of starvation as a weapon of war, and the destruction of vast swaths of Gaza have rightly attracted growing international condemnation.

    On May 19, Britain, France and Canada – staunch allies of Israel – said they will “not stand by”, and would take “concrete actions” if the military offensive is not halted and humanitarian aid is not delivered to the people of Gaza.

    But threatening diplomats – even if not actively shooting at them – is an egregious breach of trust under the laws of diplomatic relations, which requires a meaningful apology and effective investigation. Those responsible for giving the orders to fire the “warning shots” need to be held accountable for that decision.

    Andrew Forde is affiliated with Dublin City University (Assistant Professor, European Human Rights Law).

    He is also, separately, affiliated with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Commissioner).

    – ref. IDF firing ‘warning shots’ near diplomats sets an unacceptable precedent in international relations – https://theconversation.com/idf-firing-warning-shots-near-diplomats-sets-an-unacceptable-precedent-in-international-relations-257488

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Briefing by Secretary-General of ASEAN on the Outcomes of the 46th ASEAN Summit, 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Join us for the Virtual Post-Summit Briefing by the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.

    SG Dr. Kao will share insights and key outcomes from the 46th ASEAN Summit, 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit, and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 26-27 May 2025.

    The briefing will begin at 10.00 AM (Jakarta Time) and can be accessed live via YouTube: https://bit.ly/Briefing-SG
    The post Briefing by Secretary-General of ASEAN on the Outcomes of the 46th ASEAN Summit, 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New sources on the participation of Soviet volunteer pilots in the war have been handed over to the Nanjing Anti-Japanese War Martyrs’ Memorial Museum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) — New sources on the participation of Soviet volunteer pilots in the war were recently handed over to the Nanjing Anti-Japanese War Martyrs’ Memorial Museum, the Yangtze Wanbao (Yangtze Evening Newspaper) reported.

    Chinese-American Lu Zhaoning donated 37 relics, including foreign newspapers, magazines, books and other items, to the museum. The donation ceremony was held last week at the museum in Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province.

    In particular, The New York Times reported on September 26, 1937, that on September 25, 1937, 80 Japanese bombers bombed Nanjing for seven hours straight, killing 200 people and destroying many facilities, including a $1 million power plant. That night, Chinese aircraft retaliated by attacking the Yangshupu airfield in Shanghai.

    The sources donated to the museum include the weekly magazine Colliers, published on November 12, 1938. It featured an article by American pilot Alvy Gibbon with an attached photograph related to the aid provided by the Soviet Union to China.

    The Nanjing Anti-Japanese War Airmen’s Martyrs Memorial Museum was founded in 2009. Earlier this month, the museum released updated information on the 18 Soviet volunteers who died in the war against Japanese invaders. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Large-scale wheat harvesting with combines launched in China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) — As of 5 p.m. on May 26, China had harvested 70.05 million mu (about 4.67 million hectares) of winter wheat, and combine harvesters had harvested more than 4 million mu of wheat fields every day over the past three days, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

    The country has launched large-scale wheat harvesting using combines, the aforementioned department noted.

    By now, wheat harvesting has been completed on 20 percent of all wheat fields in China. In particular, wheat harvesting has already come to an end in the southwestern regions of the country and in Hubei Province. Wheat harvesting has been completed on 30 percent of fields in Henan Province. In Anhui, Jiangsu and other agricultural regions, wheat harvesting has only just begun as the grains mature.

    As noted by the responsible officials of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the department has developed a plan for the mobilization and transfer of agricultural machinery in advance in preparation for the summer harvest. Thus, this year, during the harvesting of the summer grain crop, the subsequent sowing campaign and the implementation of measures to care for the sown grain crops, over 17 million units / sets / of agricultural machinery of various types will be mobilized in the country for their timely use during the above-mentioned three stages of work in the fields.

    In addition, more than 800,000 combine harvesters have been deployed nationwide to harvest wheat, and 200,000 of them will be sent to other regions to harvest wheat. These combine harvesters are equipped with the Beidou positioning system and a monitoring system for the operation process.

    The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, together with the transportation sector, police, meteorological service and petroleum and petrochemical industry, provide services for the implementation of agricultural machinery work in the fields.

    At present, more than 3,400 service points have been set up in wheat-growing regions in China, more than 4,800 green lanes have been set up at highway toll booths for free passage of agricultural machinery, and 5,800 special zones have been set up at gas stations for refueling agricultural machinery at preferential prices. More than 1,260 emergency telephone lines have also been set up to promptly resolve problems among farmers. A special mechanism for providing meteorological data has been launched.

    According to weather forecasters, next week in most provinces of the country favorable weather for harvesting wheat and drying it will prevail. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: EU countries approve creation of €150 billion defence fund

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BRUSSELS, May 27 (Xinhua) — European Union (EU) ministers on Tuesday approved a 150 billion euro (about 170.23 billion U.S. dollars) defence fund, the first major defence investment programme at the EU level, the EU Council said in a press release.

    The fund’s resources will be channelled through a new instrument called “Safeguard Measures for Europe”, which offers EU member states long-term loans at competitive rates for investments in the defence industry through joint procurement, the document says.

    The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, proposed the fund in March as a key part of the Retooling Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to raise more than €800 billion in defence spending to strengthen European security and defence cooperation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EIA counts U.S. electricity generation in different ways

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Filter by article type:

    In-brief analysis

    May 27, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Hourly Electric Grid Monitor

    At EIA, we publish U.S. electricity net generation from two different perspectives:

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 22, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
    Note: Real prices are adjusted to May 2025 dollars.

    The retail price for regular-grade gasoline in the United States on May 19, the Monday before Memorial Day weekend, averaged $3.17 per gallon (gal), 11% (or 41 cents/gal) lower than the price a year ago. After adjusting for inflation (real terms), average U.S. retail gasoline prices going into Memorial Day weekend are 14% lower than last year, largely because crude oil prices have fallen.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 21, 2025

    Data source: United Nations Statistics Division, UN Comtrade
    Note: Excludes trade within regions.

    China has a major role at each stage of the global battery supply chain and dominates interregional trade of minerals. China imported almost 12 million short tons of raw and processed battery minerals, accounting for 44% of interregional trade, and exported almost 11 million short tons of battery materials, packs, and components, or 58% of interregional trade in 2023, according to regional UN Comtrade data.

    Read More ›

    In-depth analysis

    May 20, 2025

    Colorado State University’s hurricane forecast estimates the 2025 hurricane season will exceed the 1991–2020 average, with an estimate of 17 named storms, compared with a historical average of 14 storms. Meteorologists expect 13–18 named storms, including 3–6 storms with direct impacts on the United States, during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, according to reports from AccuWeather in April.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 19, 2025

    We expect U.S. hydropower generation will increase by 7.5% in 2025 but will remain 2.4% below the 10-year average in our May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Hydropower generation in 2024 fell to 241 billion kilowatthours (BkWh), the lowest since at least 2010; in 2025, we expect generation will be 259.1 BkWh. This amount of generation would represent 6% of the electricity generation in the country.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 15, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), May 2025, and Oxford Economics
    Note: Excludes 2020 and 2021 as outlier years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    We forecast consumption growth of crude oil and other liquid fuels will slow over the next two years, driven by a slowdown in economic growth, particularly in Asia, in our May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).

    Read More ›

    In-depth analysis

    May 14, 2025

    Retail electricity prices have increased faster than the rate of inflation since 2022, and we expect them to continue increasing through 2026, based on forecasts in our Short-Term Energy Outlook. Parts of the country with relatively high electricity prices may experience greater price increases than those with relatively low electricity prices.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 13, 2025

    In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. annual electricity consumption will increase in 2025 and 2026, surpassing the all-time high reached in 2024. This growth contrasts with the trend of relatively flat electricity demand between the mid-2000s and early 2020s. Much of the recent and forecasted growth in electricity consumption is coming from the commercial sector, which includes data centers, and the industrial sector, which includes manufacturing establishments.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 12, 2025

    The average electric monthly bill for U.S. residential customers was $144 in 2024, but average costs for customers in some states were much higher or lower. Customers in states such as Hawaii and Connecticut, where retail electricity prices are relatively high, paid more than $200 per month for electricity, or more than twice as much as customers in states such as New Mexico and Utah.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 7, 2025

    Data source: FracFocus
    Note: To calculate the number of wells completed per location, we grouped wells within a 50-foot radius into single locations. We then identified wells completed by their completion start and end dates, counting concurrent completions when their completion periods overlapped.

    We estimate that the average number of wells completed simultaneously at the same location in the Lower 48 states has more than doubled, increasing from 1.5 wells in December 2014 to more than 3.0 wells in June 2024. By completing multiple wells at once rather than sequentially, operators can accelerate their production timeline and reduce their cost per well. The increasing number of simultaneous completions reflects significant technological advances in hydraulic fracturing operations, particularly in equipment capabilities and operational strategies.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 6, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly; company announcements and trade press
    Note: Other Biofuels includes sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable heating oil, renewable naphtha, renewable propane, renewable gasoline, and other emerging biofuels that are in various stages of development and commercialization. SAF production capacity is an estimate based on company announcements and trade press and only includes hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) SAF. We do not publish SAF production capacity data.

    Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production is growing in the United States as new capacity comes online. U.S. production of Other Biofuels, the category we use to capture SAF in our Petroleum Supply Monthly, approximately doubled from December 2024 to February 2025.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 5, 2025

    Data source: AAA

    Retail prices for regular grade gasoline in California are consistently higher than in any other state in the continental United States, often exceeding the national average by more than a dollar per gallon. Several factors contribute to this high price, including state taxes and fees, environmental requirements, special fuel requirements, and isolated petroleum markets.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    May 1, 2025

    Data source: CME Group, Bloomberg L.P.
    Note: Refinery margin is calculated as the 3-2-1 crack spread on the U.S. Atlantic Coast, which represents two barrels of gasoline and one barrel of distillate fuel oil minus three barrels of Brent crude oil. 1Q25=first quarter of 2025

    During the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25), crude oil prices generally decreased while U.S. refinery margins initially increased before decreasing in the final month of the quarter. In this quarterly update, we review petroleum markets price developments in 1Q25, covering crude oil prices, refinery margins, biofuel compliance credit prices, and natural gas plant liquids prices.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    Apr 30, 2025

    Data source: Evaluate Energy
    Note: Production expenses include costs of goods sold, operating expenses, and production taxes from company income statements. Interest expenses are in 2024 dollars and deflated using the Consumer Price Index.

    Higher oil prices, increased drilling efficiency, and structurally lower debt needs have contributed to lower interest expenses for some publicly traded U.S. oil companies over the past decade, despite the level of interest rates across the economy being relatively high.

    Read More ›

    In-brief analysis

    Apr 29, 2025

    U.S. imports of petroleum products decreased by 210,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2024 to average 1.8 million b/d. Imports of all major transportation fuels, such as motor gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as other products, such as unfinished oils, decreased.

    Read More ›

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Has Record-Breaking Cohort for Gilman Scholars

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A record-breaking 31 UConn students have been awarded a Gilman Scholarship in the latest cohort of the prestigious academic award. The award is congressionally funded through the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs at the State Department.

    The funding supports expanding student participation in study abroad programs and encourages travel to diverse locations around the globe, along with intensive language study and internship experiences.

    The 31 UConn students, who will study in 14 different countries, will receive a total of nearly $94,000 in scholarship funds through the Gilman program. A total of 40 UConn students have earned Gilman awards in the last two cohorts, this one and October 2024, for a total of more than $121,500 in scholarship funding.

    Students applying for Gilman Scholarships work with advisors in UConn’s Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships (ONSF) and Experiential Global Learning (EGL). Rachel Gleicher, an advisor in EGL, and Michael Cunningham, assistant director of ONSF and UConn’s Fulbright program advisor, are UConn’s two Gilman certifying advisors.

    “We are very excited that the Gilman program has selected so many UConn students this cycle,” says Cunningham. “It’s a testament to the quality of our students and to the hard work that they put into their applications.”

    Upon their return from studying abroad, each Gilman Scholar is required to complete a service project in their campus or home community with the goal of sharing the value of participation in study abroad and promoting the scholarship to prospective students. Applications are reviewed with consideration for the proposed follow-up service project.

    “We are so proud of these students for staying determined and focused on their study abroad goals,” says Gleicher. “Amid uncertain times, with federal funding freezes and broader uncertainty, they remained committed to their aspirations. Now more than ever, it is crucial to ensure students are aware of the funding opportunities available to them.”

    Eligibility for the Gilman Scholarship requires undergraduate students to be Pell Grant-eligible United States citizens who plan to study abroad for academic credit through a program approved by their home institution. Supporting students with high financial need provides access to students who are historically underrepresented in study abroad, including first-generation college students, STEM majors, ethnic and racial minority students, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and others who experience barriers to participation.

    Students from underrepresented areas of the U.S. are also considered during the application process and this year there are recipients from all 50 states.

    The following UConn students were selected as Gilman Scholars in this cycle, and they are listed with the location of where they will study as part of the program:

    Carina Adams-Szabo ’27 (CLAS), a psychology and political science major from Greenwich, who will be studying neuroscience this summer in Salamanca, Spain.

    Ashley Barragan ’27 (NUR), a nursing major who will be studying at the University of Dublin Summer Applied Research for Nursing Practice in Dublin, Ireland.

    Rhys Brauer ’27 (CLAS), a psychological sciences major, who will be studying neuroscience this summer in Salamanca.

    Brooke Catellier ’26 (CAHNR), an allied health major, who will be studying the Mediterranean diet and Tuscan cuisine in Florence, Italy, this summer.

    Kylene Chino ’26 (CLAS), a human rights and political science major, who will be studying in the fall at the Pusan National University in Shanghai, China.

    Jaiyliah Cochran ’25 (CLAS), a microbiology major, who will be studying field ecology this summer in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

    Mia Dansby ’26 (BUS), a management major, who will be studying this summer at ISI in Florence.

    Andrea D’Oleo ’27 (NUR), a nursing major from East Hartford, who will be studying in the Dublin Summer Applied Research Program for Nursing Practice in Ireland.

    Danyelix Echevarria Figueroa ’28 (ACES), a pre-teaching major from New Britain, who will study next spring at the University of Grenda in Grenda, Spain.

    Dahiana Fernandez-Ramirez ’26 (CLAS), a psychological sciences major, who will be studying this fall at ISI Florence.

    Adiriana Garcia Vazquez ’25 (CLAS), a cognitive science major from Bridgeport, who will be studying this fall at the Interdisciplinary Ethnography Field School in Mauritius.

    Hannah Ginste ’26 (CLAS), a communications major, who will be doing a summer internship in London.

    Jessica Glowacki ’25 (CLAS), a biological sciences major who will be studying field ecology this summer in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

    Emma Hazard ’27 (CAHNR), a diagnostic genetic sciences major, who will be studying the Mediterranean diet and Tuscan cuisine in Florence this summer.

    Danecia Henry ’28 (BUS), a management major from New Haven, will be studying in the summer at Camino de Santiago in Spain.

    Ty’Laisha Huff ’27 (NUR), a nursing major from Hartford, will be studying at the Dublin Summer Applied Research Program for Nursing Practice in Ireland.

    Layan Jahaf ’28 (CLAS), a political science and Arabic and Islam civics major, who will be studying this fall in London.

    Dee Jerome ’26 (CAHNR), an allied health sciences major from Bridgeport, who will be studying this summer in Accra, Ghana.

    Evelyn Pazan ’27 (CLAS), a finance and German major, who will be studying during the 2025-26 academic year at the University of Mannheim in Germany.

    Danielle Phillips ’27 (CLAS), an individualized major in industrial and labor relations from Bridgeport, who will be studying this summer at the Intercultural Leadership Program in Strasbourg, France.

    Jocelyn Ramirez ’26 (BUS), a management major from New Haven, who will be studying this summer at ISI.

    Jamie Ross ’27 (CLAS), a physiology and neurobiology major, who will be studying next winter in Barcelona, Spain.

    Ellie Sanders ’27 (CAHNR), a nutritional sciences major from West Cornwall, who will be studying the Mediterranean diet and Tuscan cuisine in Florence this summer.

    Fabio Silveira ’26 (CLAS), a pathobiology major, who will be studying neuroscience this summer in Salamanca, Spain.

    Amber Szymanski ’26 (CLAS), a political science and human rights major, who will be studying this fall at the Pusan National University in Busan, South Korea.

    Angel Uchupailla ’26 (CAHNR), an allied health major from Stamford, who will be studying this winter in Rome.

    Lyric Vargas ’27 (CLAS), a political science and psychological science major, who will be studying this fall at the University of Lisbon in Portugal.

    Erica Wong ’26 (CLAS), a political science and urban and community studies major, who will be studying this fall at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

    Morgan Xu ’26 (ENG), a materials science and engineering major from Chesire, who will be studying this fall at the National University of Singapore.

    Ada Yeung ’27 (CLAS), an individualized major, who will be studying next spring at Fudan University.

    Maggie Zheng ’27 (BUS), an accounting major, who will be studying next spring at Fudan University.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Check Point to Acquire Veriti to Transform Threat Exposure Management and Reduce Organizations’ Cyber Attack Surface

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI-fueled attacks and hyperconnected IT environments have made threat exposure one of the most urgent cybersecurity challenges facing enterprises today. In response, Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Veriti Cybersecurity, the first fully automated, multi-vendor pre-emptive threat exposure and mitigation platform.

    “The acquisition of Veriti marks a significant step toward realizing our hybrid mesh security vision,” said Nadav Zafrir, CEO at Check Point Software Technologies. “It strengthens the Infinity Platform’s open-garden approach, enabling seamless, multi-vendor remediation across the entire security stack. With Veriti, we’re advancing preemptive, prevention-first security – an imperative in today’s AI-driven threat landscape.”

    AI has brought cyber security to a tipping point, enabling the launch of attacks at scale. At the same time, enterprises are hyperconnected, with assets spread across clouds, datacenters, and endpoints, vastly expanding their attack surface. Traditional reactive security is too slow. Veriti continuously identifies, prioritizes, and remediates risk across your multi-vendor environment through automated patching and collaborative threat intelligence, all without disrupting business.

    Founded in 2021, Veriti pioneered the Preemptive Exposure Management (PEM) category—actively discovering and mitigating risks across siloed tools. Veriti continuously monitors logs, threat indicators, and vulnerabilities identified across the environment and propagates protections in real time. With integrations into over 70 vendors, it empowers security teams to detect, understand, and prevent attacks without delay.

    Core capabilities Veriti brings to the Check Point Infinity Platform:

    • Automated, cross-vendor virtual patching: Veriti instantly applies risk-free, non-disruptive protections across dozens of third-party tools, based on vulnerabilities identified by platforms like CrowdStrike, Tenable, and Rapid7, dramatically reducing patching time from weeks to minutes.
    • Real-time threat intelligence enforcement: Veriti verifies threat indicators from any connected tool and automatically orchestrates protection across firewalls, endpoints, WAFs, and cloud platform, enabling fast, coordinated, multi-vendor threat response.
    • Seamless integration with 70+ security vendors: Built with a fully API-based architecture, Veriti integrates into existing environments without agents or disruption, supporting the broadest security ecosystem in the market.
    • Stronger synergy with Wiz: Veriti ingests Wiz’s cloud exposure insights, such as vulnerable, unpatched cloud servers or applications, and enables automatic, safe virtual patching of those assets through Check Point gateways (and other vendors’ as well), enhancing Check Point’s ability to execute on its strategic partnership with Wiz.
    • Safe, context-aware remediation: Veriti analyzes each customer’s environment, including exposures, configurations, and existing protections, to apply the right controls safely, and without operational impact.

    “Security teams today suffer from a lack of action: exposures aren’t just detected, they’re compounding, hiding in the gaps between tools, teams, and timelines,” said Adi Ikan, CEO and co-founder of Veriti. “We founded Veriti to help organizations not just see risk, but remediate it safely, at scale, and most importantly – without disruption. By joining Check Point, we’re accelerating that mission. Together, we’ll help organizations reduce their exposure faster through the security tools they already trust.”

    Following the closure of the transaction, Veriti’s capabilities will be integrated into the Check Point Infinity Platform as part of the Threat Exposure and Risk Management offering. Combined with the recently added External Risk Management (ERM) solution, Veriti enhances Check Point’s ability to deliver complete risk lifecycle coverage—proactively managing both internal and external exposures across the entire attack surface.

    The closing of the transaction is subject to the customary closing conditions and is expected to occur by the end of Q2 2025.

    Follow Check Point via:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies   
    X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw  
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware  
    Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com   
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal  

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking state

    About Veriti
    Veriti is an AI-driven exposure assessment and remediation platform that continuously identifies vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and exploitability across the entire security stack, on-prem and in the cloud. By leveraging compensating controls and layered defense strategies, Veriti ensures that potential and active threats are proactively managed and safely remediated without disrupting business continuity. Founded in 2021 by Adi Ikan and Oren Koren, Veriti is trusted by enterprises worldwide to instantly reduce risk and streamline exposure assessment and remediation for today’s hyper-connected organizations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Moscow to hand over peace memorandum to Kiev soon

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow will send a draft peace memorandum to Kiev soon, which will outline the key principles of a potential settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday.

    “Russia continues to work on a draft memorandum regarding a future peace treaty, which will outline a number of positions, including the principles of a settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement, a potential ceasefire,” Zakharova said at her weekly press briefing.

    She said that once the memorandum is completed it will be sent to Kiev, adding that Russia expects Ukraine to be preparing its own draft to send in response.

    In a telephone call last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed that Russia would prepare a draft memorandum outlining the terms for a potential peace deal with Ukraine. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: An explosion has occurred at a chemical company in eastern China /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    JINAN, May 27 (Xinhua) — An explosion rocked a chemical company’s workshop in Gaomi City, east China’s Shandong Province, at noon on Tuesday. Clean-up efforts are underway, local authorities said.

    Upon receiving the report of the explosion, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management immediately dispatched a task force and specialized search and rescue forces, including firefighters, medical experts and industrial safety experts, to assist local departments in rescue work.

    232 local firefighters have already been dispatched to the scene. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Central Bank of Kyrgyzstan kept the key rate at 9 percent.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Bishkek, May 27 /Xinhua/ — The board of the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan on Monday decided to keep the key rate at 9 percent, the National Bank’s website reported on Tuesday.

    As noted, despite external challenges, Kyrgyzstan continues to demonstrate high economic activity. In January-April 2025, the country’s real GDP growth amounted to 11.7 percent in annual terms. In the structure of GDP growth, the main positive contribution is provided by such sectors as services, construction and industry. Consumer demand remains elevated as a result of the continuing growth in real incomes of the population, while an increase in investment activity is observed.

    Price dynamics in Kyrgyzstan remain within moderate limits. Consumer prices have increased by 2.9 percent since the beginning of 2025, while the annual inflation rate was 7.7 percent.

    The interbank money market remains active. The domestic foreign exchange market remains relatively stable, with exchange rate flexibility maintained as a result of market-driven formation of supply and demand for foreign currency. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia’s memorandum on Ukraine will include possible settlement deadlines — Russian Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow, May 27 /Xinhua/ — Russia continues to prepare a memorandum on Ukraine, which will outline the principles and possible timeframes for a settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Tuesday.

    “Russia continues to develop a draft memorandum regarding a future peace treaty, defining a number of positions, such as principles of settlement, timeframes for the possible conclusion of a peace agreement, and a potential ceasefire for a certain period of time if appropriate agreements are reached,” said M. Zakharova.

    “As soon as the memorandum is prepared, and I want to note that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov literally comments on the progress of its development every day, it will be transferred to Kyiv,” she added.

    “We expect that the Ukrainian side is doing the same work and will send us its findings simultaneously with the receipt of the Russian document,” the official representative of the Foreign Ministry emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Cambodia “Golden Dragon 2025” joint exercise completes adaptive training

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, May 26 — As of May 24 local time, the participating troops of the China-Cambodia “Golden Dragon 2025” joint exercise have completed multi-subject adaptive training and got ready for the comprehensive live-force drills.

      Upon receiving the order, a radar detachment maneuvered to the designated location. They set up radar equipment, adjusted parameters, searched and tracked mock aerial targets, in a bid to provide situational awareness support for air operations.

      The helicopters then arrived at the designated airspace and carried out precise aerial strikes on the mock targets.

      During the joint maritime search and rescue, helicopters from both China and Cambodia promptly set out for the rescue operations upon receiving the order. After locating the target, the rescue personnel exited the helicopter and conducted maritime hoist rescue.

      When the injured were transferred to the vessel, the onboard medical team conducted emergency treatment immediately.

      The Chinese military medical members also conducted training with their Cambodian counterparts, focusing on emergency medical treatment and related subjects.

      (Video Editor: Huang Panyue)

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing to hold over 1,700 activities for Dragon Boat Festival

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Beijing will celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, with over 1,700 events across the city.

    The planned activities including dragon boat racing, traditional cultural heritage events, and garden flower viewing. This year, the festival falls on Saturday, May 31.

    Districts across Beijing will offer interactive activities, such as a dragon boat tug-of-war at Gubei Water Town, Hanfu clothing experiences at Baihuashan Scenic Area, and dragon boat races at Yanqi Lake.

    More than 720 cultural activities will be held by cultural institutions at different levels of the city, including lectures, poetry readings, and exhibitions. 

    The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism has created seven themed tour routes focusing on nature, geology, and cultural sites. Ten exhibition-themed travel routes are also available, featuring popular exhibitions like “This is the Shang” and an animated film showcase at Shougang Park.

    City parks will host activities such as crafting scented sachets, braiding colorful ropes, and archery. Beihai Park will hold a traditional sports festival, and Yuanmingyuan Park will offer workshops on ancient Chinese crafts. Visitors to China National Botanical Garden, Taoranting Park, and Beijing Garden of World’s Flowers will have the opportunity to view Chinese roses and learn about their history in Chinese gardening.

    Family-friendly events will include a LEGO Children’s Festival at Chaoyang Park, where children can build large LEGO structures, and a nighttime forest exploration for teenagers at Fragrant Hills Park. 

    In addition, around 30 sports events are scheduled, including the 2025 Beijing Grand Canal Dragon Boat Carnival from May 31 to June 2. The carnival will feature 32 teams and over 500 athletes competing in dragon boat races, in addition to other events including paddle boarding, kayaking, tug-of-war, arm wrestling, and kite flying. Organizers expect around 100,000 visitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: EU pledges to strike trade deal with US amid tariff twists

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The European Commission remains “fully committed” to reaching a trade deal with the United States amid tariff twists, according to a senior European Union (EU) official.

    In a Monday post on social media platform X, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic wrote: “The European Commission remains fully committed to constructive and focused efforts at pace towards an EU-US deal,” adding that Brussels would continue to stay in constant contact with Washington.

    His remarks followed his calls with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

    On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with the 27-member bloc were “going nowhere” and threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on all EU imports from June 1. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen phoned Trump on Sunday, after which he agreed to postpone the planned tariff increase until July 9.

    Economists and market analysts have also criticized the unpredictability of U.S. trade policies, noting that such volatility undermines confidence in the U.S. as a reliable trading partner. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: S. Korean police ban ex-PM, ex-deputy PM from leaving country

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    South Korea’s police banned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and Choi Sang-mok, former deputy prime minister for economic affairs, for alleged insurrection charges, multiple media outlets said on Tuesday.

    Han and Choi have been under investigation as suspects of insurrection and prevented from leaving the country in the middle of this month.

    The police special investigative unit summoned Han and Choi as well as Lee Sang-min, former interior minister who was prohibited from leaving the country last December, for questioning on Monday.

    The three former government officials were suspected of being involved in the botched martial law bid by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was removed from office in April.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to expand economic, trade cooperation with Cambodia

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Tuesday that China is ready to work with Cambodia to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, so as to further expand economic and trade cooperation.

    Li made the remarks in his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council) Summit.

    Li said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has lately paid a historic visit to Cambodia, during which both sides jointly announced the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

    China-Cambodia relations have once again taken the lead in building a community with a shared future for mankind, and the ironclad friendship between the two countries has been further deepened, he added.

    China stands ready to work with Cambodia to follow through on the outcomes of Xi’s visit, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, make good use of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, and steadily advance practical cooperation across various fields, Li said.

    The Chinese premier called on China and Cambodia to respond to external uncertainties with the certainty of building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future, jointly promote their economic development and safeguard their common interests.

    China is willing to work with Cambodia to accelerate the synergy between high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, speed up the implementation of the cooperation plans for the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, and create more new highlights of cooperation and foster new areas for growth, Li noted.

    Encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Cambodia in such areas as infrastructure, digital economy, advanced manufacturing and clean energy, he said.

    China and Cambodia have achieved positive results in recent joint efforts to combat cross-border crimes, Li said, calling for stronger and more effective measures to safeguard the safety and security of the two peoples.

    At present, the international situation is becoming more turbulent and chaotic, Li noted.

    China is willing to work with Cambodia and other countries in the region to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly oppose unilateralism and power politics, safeguard international fairness and justice, uphold the multilateral trading system and maintain the stable and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, so as to inject more positive energy into world peace, stability, prosperity and development, he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Harbin Institute of Technology Develops Highly Reliable Aerospace Electronic Components for National Space Technology

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HARBIN, May 27 (Xinhua) — Scientists from Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) have made a breakthrough in developing highly reliable electronic components for space technology. The results of the research have been assessed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), confirming their compliance with international leading standards, the university said Tuesday.

    Aerospace electronic components have many applications and wide coverage, including relays, contactors, connectors, circuit breakers, switches and so on, which are key electronic components for signal transmission, execution control, power distribution in the system and other functions.

    Ye Xuezhong, head of the School of Electrical Engineering and Automation at HPU and a key participant in the study, said that if the aerospace equipment control system is compared to a complex “neural network,” then aerospace electronic components can be compared to the ubiquitous and irreplaceable “neurons” in the entire neural network.

    Through interdisciplinary collaborative research, the HPU team has developed the quality consistency theory, making breakthroughs in a number of key technologies, such as high-reliability and durability design of aerospace electronic components under extreme conditions, and advanced design that ensures quality consistency throughout the life cycle, which has greatly improved the reliability and quality consistency of aerospace electronic components, thus ending the passive situation of long-term dependence on foreign products or their imitation in China. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: /China Focus/ British aero engine giant starts operations at new plant in Beijing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) — Rolls-Royce Corp.’s first aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (AER) joint venture (JV) on the Chinese mainland plans to start operations by the end of 2025, an official from the British aircraft engine maker said.

    The new plant, located in the northeastern suburbs of Beijing, marks a significant expansion of the aircraft engine giant’s presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, reflecting the corporation’s optimism about the Chinese market and its recognition of the country’s supply chain.

    Beijing Aero Engine Services Ltd (BAESL), a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Air China, plans to initially service Trent 700 engines for Airbus A330 aircraft, and then move on to Trent XWB and Trent 1000 engines for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft respectively, Troy Wang, executive vice president of Rolls-Royce Greater China, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

    “When the facility reaches full capacity, which is expected to be reached by the mid-2030s, BAESL will be able to handle up to 250 requests per year,” he said.

    The plant, which will employ up to 800 people at full capacity, represents a strategic growth initiative in China, Rolls-Royce’s third-largest single-country market globally by revenue.

    Prior to the creation of BAESL, Rolls-Royce served Chinese customers through its global network of retail outlets, which included Hong Kong-based HAESL, established in 1997.

    BAESL is the latest in a series of Rolls-Royce investments in China, including five joint ventures with Chinese partners.

    The aviation sector is projected to need more than 8,200 new passenger aircraft by 2043 to meet growing demand, including more than 1,500 wide-body jets, according to a report released by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

    “China is not only a market, but also an important part of our supply chain,” said Troy Wang, stressing that Rolls-Royce has built a vast network of more than 50 suppliers across the country who produce key engine components and parts, “innovating in digitalization and automation.”

    BAESL is being established as “the world’s leading aircraft engine repair shop using the latest digital technologies.” The joint venture is already collaborating with leading digital solution providers in China to develop capabilities using artificial intelligence.

    Despite global economic uncertainty, China’s aviation sector is showing surprising resilience and growth potential as its industrial ecosystem continues to demonstrate competitiveness in cost, quality and lead times, according to Troy Wang.

    Last year, Rolls-Royce expanded its joint venture in China with Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co. Ltd., a Chinese internal combustion engine maker, to tap into the country’s fast-growing market. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: British king visits Canada amid US annexation threats

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    OTTAWA, May 27 (Xinhua) — Britain’s King Charles III, who is also the king of Canada, and his wife Queen Camilla arrived in Canada on Monday for a two-day visit amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that Charles III’s first visit as monarch is a reminder of the bond between Canada and the Crown, reflecting “strength, diversity and confidence.”

    Mr Carney announced the royal visit at his post-election press conference, saying it “underscores Canada’s sovereignty”.

    “Their Majesties’ presence at this defining moment in our history is profoundly meaningful,” Governor General Mary Simon said in a statement, “reaffirming the enduring constitutional bond that has shaped Canada’s journey into a proud and independent nation.”

    On Tuesday, nearly 70 years after Canada’s sovereign first opened the country’s parliament, Charles III will deliver a speech from the throne on the Senate floor.

    The visit is widely seen as support for Canada’s sovereignty, especially given Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada. He also called the border between the two countries “artificial.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: ASEAN, GCC, China cooperation to benefit global trade and investment: Malaysian expert

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — Amid the rise of protectionism and unilateralism, closer cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will boost global trade and investment, Bunn Nagara, director and senior fellow at the Belt and Road Initiative Conference for Asia-Pacific, an independent think tank based in the Malaysian capital, told Xinhua on Saturday.

    “China, as well as ASEAN and GCC countries, share common development aspirations and face the same global challenges. So it makes sense for us to work more closely than before in many sectors,” the expert noted.

    Energy, food security and supply chain resilience offer the greatest potential for trilateral cooperation, according to Nagara, who said the GCC is a leader in oil and gas, China in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and ASEAN is a key consumer market and manufacturing hub.

    “Strengthening resilience can be achieved by starting to work together more closely and then addressing any challenges along the way,” the source said. “An open approach is important, receptive to new areas and ways of working together, while remaining sensitive to the needs of other partners,” the expert noted.

    B. Nagara views the Belt and Road Initiative as a key mechanism for developing trilateral cooperation. “The Belt and Road is a large-scale project covering many related areas, including the digital economy and green transition,” he said.

    The Belt and Road Initiative is closely linked to the three parties’ shared interests in sustainable growth, providing fertile ground for interaction among ASEAN, the GCC and China.

    Against the backdrop of strong barriers to global trade from protectionism and unilateralism, ASEAN-GCC-China cooperation serves as a model for the Global South, says B. Nagara. “China and the ASEAN and GCC states are also countries of the Global South, not just Asia,” he noted. The interaction between them can stimulate similar initiatives among African and Latin American countries that share common aspirations, the expert is sure.

    “What we do is to protect our legitimate development interests, not to threaten other countries or regions. We prefer non-confrontation because it is the best way to ensure mutual benefit,” the agency’s source said.

    “Part of our interest is to protect global trade, on which our national development programs depend. This will also benefit other countries and regions around the world,” Nagara said. “We should now look forward to several more decades of development, underpinned by complementarity,” he concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ attends seventh Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Xi’an (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SJ attends seventh Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Xi’an  
         With the theme of “Serving the Belt and Road Initiative: A New Chapter in Shaanxi-Hong Kong Cooperation”, the Forum this year explored issues of interest to Shaanxi enterprises as they “go global” in handling trade, commerce and foreign investment under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Forum also introduced the international legal and dispute resolution services which Hong Kong can offer as a “super connector” for cross-border transactions and as a centre for dispute resolution services. The Minister of Justice, Ms He Rong, the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, and others attended the Forum and delivered opening addresses.

         In his opening address, Mr Lam said that Shaanxi and Hong Kong have maintained close exchanges and co-operation over the years. Last year, the governments of the two places signed the Strengthening Hong Kong/Shaanxi Co-operation Agreement, which covers legal and dispute resolution services. The Department of Justice of Shaanxi Province and the DoJ also signed the Framework Arrangement on Co-operation in Legal Services to Support the “Belt and Road Initiative” to strengthen the exchanges and co-operation in legal services and talent-nurturing between the two places to better facilitate legal services bodies in both places to provide quality and efficient legal services for the high-quality Belt and Road development and for national enterprises and citizens to “go global”. The Forum represented a significant concrete action in implementing the above Agreement. Mr Lam said that he looked forward to strengthening exchanges and co-operation with Shaanxi to serve the country’s needs. 
         The Hong Kong Legal Services Forum has been held by the DoJ on a biennial basis in Mainland cities since 2010. The Forum has been held in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Nanjing and Chengdu to promote Hong Kong’s international legal and dispute resolution services to enterprises and other service users on the Mainland.
     
         Mr Lam attended the graduation ceremony of the Hong Kong Common Law and Dispute Resolution Practical Training Course organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy with the assistance of the Shaanxi Province Lawyers Association. The programme is the first foreign-related legal talent training programme held by the Academy in a Mainland city. Through seminars, mock arbitration clause negotiations, moot court debates and arbitration trial workshops, a total of about 140 foreign-related lawyers, mainly from the Shaanxi Province and surrounding provinces, cities, autonomous regions and municipalities, gained a comprehensive understanding of Hong Kong’s common law system, the city’s characteristics and experience in dispute resolution, thereby contributing to the country’s nurturing of foreign-related legal talents.
     
         In addition, Mr Lam and the delegation visited the Belt and Road Demonstration Zone for International Commercial Legal Services in Xi’an, and toured the Xi’an Arbitration Commission, Xi’an China-Europe Railway Express Assembly Center and the “three centres” of the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China to learn about Shaanxi’s efforts in fostering an international first-class business environment and the local demand for foreign-related legal services in the Belt and Road context. They also discussed how Hong Kong’s international legal and dispute resolution services can provide relevant professional support.
     
         Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Xi’an this afternoon and return to Hong Kong. 
    Issued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation from European Parliament

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai hosts state banquet for President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Republic of Palau
    On the evening of May 20, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office in honor of President Surangel Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife. In remarks, President Lai said that he looks forward to working closely with President Whipps to promote tourism exchanges and sports cooperation so that Taiwan and Palau shine brightly together on the international stage. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to host this banquet tonight at the Presidential Office for President Whipps, First Lady Valerie Whipps, and the esteemed members of their delegation. Welcome to Taiwan. During my trips to Palau in 2022 and last year, President and First Lady Whipps received me with great hospitality. Wearing my island shirt, I enjoyed a very friendly reception from the people of Palau. It felt warm and friendly, just like being welcomed back home. The first time I visited Palau, President Whipps and I piloted a boat to the Milky Way lagoon. We both tried volcanic mud facial masks. We also fished together and enjoyed the breeze as we walked on the beach. Last year, on my second visit to Palau, I was honored to be invited to address the National Congress. I also observed the results of the close bilateral cooperation between our two nations. Due to its world-famous ocean scenery, Palau is sometimes referred to as “God’s aquarium.” And it is even possible to snorkel with sharks. It leaves a deep impression. Nothing compares to seeing Palau firsthand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan and Palau launched a travel bubble that created a safe means of travel. Now, with the pandemic behind us, I hope that even more Taiwanese can tour Palau and gain a greater understanding of our diplomatic ally. In addition to tourism exchanges, I mentioned on my visit to Palau last year that I hoped Taiwan and Palau could promote sports cooperation by providing training away from home. Next month, Palau will be holding the Pacific Mini Games. And right now, Palau’s national baseball and table tennis teams are holding training sessions here in Taiwan. We will do our utmost to support Palau’s national players and we hope they stand out and achieve outstanding results in the events. I look forward to working closely with President Whipps so that Taiwan and Palau shine brightly together on the international stage. Thank you! Mesulang! President Whipps then delivered remarks, saying that it is truly an honor to be here once again one year after President Lai’s inauguration. Mentioning that this is his first state visit after being reelected to a second term, he said that it is important to be here among friends, and that we are more than friends, we are family. He thanked President Lai for the generous words and, most importantly, Taiwan’s enduring support. He remarked that our relationship continues to get stronger in each passing year. President Whipps said that President Lai’s diplomacy initiative, leadership, and vision deeply resonate with them. Diplomacy must be rooted in our shared values, he said, and an unwavering support for our allies and a commitment to a sustainable, inclusive development are all deeply appreciated by their people. President Whipps emphasized that, as we look into the future and the challenges that we face, from security to climate change, it is so important that we are united. He added that it is important for the world, and especially important for them in Palau, that they stand up for Taiwan, so that Taiwan can participate on international fora that address climate change, security, and health, because they know the world is better when Taiwan has a seat at the table. Mentioning that Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum next year, President Whipps said that Palau remains committed to working closely with Taiwan to ensure a successful event, and that they will continue to speak up for Taiwan’s indispensable contributions as we stand together against any efforts to silence or isolate democratic partners. President Whipps said that our nations have navigated challenges and emerged stronger, bound by a partnership that is built on trust, respect, and hope for a better world. Whether it is in clean energy, education, smart medicine, or tourism, our shared journey is just beginning, he said, and we are stronger together.  Also in attendance at the banquet were Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro, Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, House of Delegates Floor Leader Warren Umetaro, High Chief of Ngiwal State Elliot Udui, Governor of Peleliu State Emais Roberts, and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch.

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    2025-05-20
    President Lai and President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of Palau hold bilateral talks and witness signing of cooperation agreements  
    On the afternoon of May 20, following a welcome ceremony with military honors for President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Whipps at the Presidential Office. The two leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a technical cooperation agreement and an agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation. In remarks, President Lai thanked Palau for standing firm in its backing of Taiwan’s international participation as geopolitical tensions continue to increase in the Pacific region. He added that he looks forward to the cooperative ties between Taiwan and Palau continuing to expand into even broader areas, allowing our economies and societies to further progress as we jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I welcome our guests to Taiwan once again. Last year on May 20, President Whipps led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Hsiao. I am delighted, on the anniversary of my first year in office, to meet with old friends of Taiwan again, as President Whipps returns for this visit. Taiwan-Palau relations have grown even closer in recent years thanks to the strong support of President Whipps. In 2022, during my term as vice president, I led a delegation to Palau as a demonstration of how our nations were together boosting tourism development as we jointly faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every time I visit Palau, and every time I meet with President Whipps, I feel very deeply that Taiwan and Palau are like family. We are both maritime nations and share a common Austronesian heritage and culture. We are also staunch partners in upholding such values as freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. Last December, when I went on my first overseas trip since taking office, one of the nations I visited was Palau. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of Palau’s independence and 25 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring our friendly ties. Taiwan and Palau enjoy close exchanges and cooperation in a range of areas, including climate change, education, agriculture and fisheries, healthcare, humanitarian assistance, sports, and culture. After this meeting, President Whipps and I will witness the signing of a technical cooperation agreement and an agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation, demonstrating once again our diverse collaboration and strong friendship. I believe that by working together, Taiwan and Palau can contribute to each other’s development and overcome the regional and global challenges we currently face. In particular, as geopolitical tensions continue to increase in the Pacific region, Palau has wisely and courageously upheld democratic values and stood firm in its backing of Taiwan’s international participation. Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan, including at the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Organization, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, and the UN Ocean Conference. We have been deeply moved by this support. I thank President Whipps again for his high regard and support for Taiwan. I look forward to the cooperative ties between our nations continuing to expand into even broader areas. This will allow our economies and societies to further progress as we jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. President Whipps then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor for him to be here, standing in this historic place – a symbol of strength, resilience, and the democratic spirit of the Taiwanese people. On behalf of the government of Palau, President Whipps extended heartfelt gratitude to President Lai and the people of Taiwan for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality toward him and his delegation. President Whipps then extended sincere thanks for President Lai’s visit to Palau in December – his second visit to Palau – and for having Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) attend his inauguration as a special envoy. He added that this also marks his third visit to Taiwan since President Lai took office, saying that this demonstrates the strength of our growing relationship. President Whipps indicated that the increased engagements and numerous entrepreneurs that President Lai has brought from Taiwan to Palau have resulted in fruitful visits, and that President Lai’s leadership represents hope, unity, and continued advancement of democracy and freedom, not only for Taiwan, but for the broader Indo-Pacific region. President Whipps went on to say that this visit to Taiwan reaffirms our deep friendship and shared values between our two nations. He emphasized that Palau and Taiwan are bound not by proximity, but by purpose, in that both are island nations and believe in human dignity, the rule of law, and the right of our people to determine their own futures. President Whipps stated that although we are celebrating 26 years of diplomatic relations, Taiwan has been a steadfast partner of Palau for decades, and that one of the MOUs they are signing further extends the relationship that began in December of 1984. From healthcare and medical missions, to education, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, the private sector, tourism development, and climate resilience, he said, our cooperation has improved lives and strengthened our communities. The president also indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan stood with Palau, noting that both sides began the tourism bubble, and that President Lai came to Palau to reopen the two weekly direct flights that have now been increased to four. That solidarity will never be forgotten, he said. As the world faces growing uncertainty and complex challenges from climate change to global tensions, President Whipps said, this friendship becomes even more vital. The president concluded his remarks by expressing hope that both nations continue to stand together, work together, and advocate together for peace, prosperity, and for the right of small nations to be seen, heard, and respected. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Whipps witnessed the signing of the technical cooperation agreement and the agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation by Minister Lin and Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro. The delegation also included Palauan Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, House of Delegates Floor Leader Warren Umetaro, High Chief of Ngiwal State Elliot Udui, Governor of Peleliu State Emais Roberts, and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch.  

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    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

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    2025-05-13
    President Lai interviewed by Japan’s Nikkei  
    In a recent interview with Japan’s Nikkei, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions regarding Taiwan-Japan and Taiwan-United States relations, cross-strait relations, the semiconductor industry, and the international economic and trade landscape. The interview was published by Nikkei on May 13. President Lai indicated that Nikkei, Inc. is a global news organization that has received significant recognition both domestically and internationally, and that he is deeply honored to be interviewed by Nikkei and grateful for their invitation. The president said that he would like to take this rare opportunity to thank Japan’s government, National Diet, society, and public for their longstanding support for Taiwan. Noting that current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio have all strongly supported Taiwan, he said that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan also have a deep mutual affection, and that through the interview, he hopes to enhance the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Japan, deepen the affection between our peoples, and foster more future cooperation to promote prosperity and development in both countries. In response to questions raised on the free trade system and the recent tariff war, President Lai indicated that over the past few decades, the free economy headed by the Western world and led by the US has brought economic prosperity and political stability to Taiwan and Japan. At the same time, he said, we have also learned or followed many Western values. The president said he believes that Taiwan and Japan are exemplary students, but some countries are not. Therefore, he said, the biggest crisis right now is China, which exploits the free trade system to engage in plagiarism and counterfeiting, infringe on intellectual property rights, and even provide massive government subsidies that facilitate the dumping of low-priced goods worldwide, which has a major impact on many countries including Japan and Taiwan. If this kind of unfair trade is not resolved, he said, the stable societies and economic prosperity we have painstakingly built over decades, as well as some of the values we pursue, could be destroyed. Therefore, President Lai said he thinks it is worthwhile for us to observe the recent willingness of the US to address unfair trade, and if necessary, offer assistance. President Lai emphasized that the national strategic plan for Taiwanese industries is for them to be rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. Therefore, he said, while the 32 percent tariff increase imposed by the US on Taiwan is indeed a major challenge, we are willing to address it seriously and find opportunities within that challenge, making Taiwan’s strategic plan for industry even more comprehensive. When asked about Taiwan’s trade arrangements, President Lai indicated that in 2010 China accounted for 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment, but last year it accounted for only 7.5 percent. In 2020, he went on, 43.9 percent of Taiwan’s exports went to China, but that figure dropped to 31.7 percent in 2024. The president said that we have systematically transferred investments from Taiwanese enterprises to Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. Therefore, he said, last year Taiwan’s largest outbound investment was in the US, accounting for roughly 40 percent of the total. Nevertheless, only 23.4 percent of Taiwanese products were sold to the US, with 76.6 percent sold to places other than the US, he said.  The president emphasized that we don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket, and hope to establish a global presence. Under these circumstances, he said, Taiwan is very eager to cooperate with Japan. President Lai stated that at this moment, the Indo-Pacific and international community really need Japan’s leadership, especially to make the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) excel in its functions, and also requested Japan to support Taiwan’s CPTPP accession. The president said that Taiwan hopes to sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan to build closer ties in economic trade and promote further investment, and that we also hope to strengthen relations with the European Union, and even other regions. Currently, he said, we are proposing an initiative on global semiconductor supply chain partnerships for democracies, because the semiconductor industry is an ecosystem. The president raised the example that Japan has materials, equipment, and technology; the US has IC design and marketing; Taiwan has production and manufacturing; and the Netherlands excels in equipment, saying we therefore hope to leverage Taiwan’s advantages in production and manufacturing to connect the democratic community and establish a global non-red supply chain for semiconductors, ensuring further world prosperity and development in the future, and ensuring that free trade can continue to function without being affected by dumping, which would undermine future prosperity and development. The president stated that as we want industries to expand their global presence and market internationally while staying rooted here in Taiwan, having industries rooted in Taiwan involves promoting pay raises for employees, tax cuts, and deregulation, as well as promoting enterprise investment tax credits. He said that we have also proposed Three Major Programs for Investing in Taiwan for Taiwanese enterprises and are actively resolving issues regarding access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent so that the business community can return to Taiwan to invest, or enterprises in Taiwan can increase their investments. He went on to say that we are also actively signing bilateral investment agreements with friends and allies so that when our companies invest and expand their presence abroad, their rights and interests as investors are ensured.  President Lai mentioned that Taiwan hopes to sign an EPA with Japan, similar to the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, or the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement with the United Kingdom, or similar agreements or memorandums of understanding with Canada and Australia that allow Taiwanese products to be marketed worldwide, concluding that those are our overall arrangements. Looking at the history of Taiwan’s industrial development, President Lai indicated, of course it began in Taiwan, and then moved west to China and south to Southeast Asia. He said that we hope to take this opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Japan to the north, across the Pacific Ocean to the east, and develop the North American market, making Taiwan’s industries even stronger. In other words, he said, while Taiwan sees the current reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US as a kind of challenge, it also views these changes positively. On the topic of pressure from China affecting Taiwan’s participation in international frameworks such as the CPTPP or its signing of an EPA with Japan, President Lai responded that the key point is what kind of attitude we should adopt in viewing China’s acts of oppression. If we act based on our belief in free trade, he said, or on the universal values we pursue – democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights – and also on the understanding that a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and Japan would contribute to the economic prosperity and development of both countries, or that Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP would benefit progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, then he hopes that friends and allies will strongly support us. On the Trump administration’s intentions regarding the reciprocal tariff policy and the possibility of taxing semiconductors, as well as how Taiwan plans to respond, President Lai said that since President Trump took office, he has paid close attention to interviews with both him and his staff. The president said that several of President Trump’s main intentions are: First, he wants to address the US fiscal situation. For example, President Lai said, while the US GDP is about US$29 trillion annually, its national debt stands at US$36 trillion, which is roughly 124 percent of GDP. Second, he went on, annual government spending exceeds US$6.5 trillion, but revenues are only around US$4.5 trillion, resulting in a nearly US$2 trillion deficit each year, about 7 percent of GDP. Third, he said, the US pays nearly US$1.2 trillion in interest annually, which exceeds the US$1 trillion defense budget and accounts for more than 3 percent of GDP. Fourth, President Trump still wants to implement tax cuts, aiming to reduce taxes for 85 percent of Americans, he said, noting that this would cost between US$500 billion and US$1 trillion. These points, President Lai said, illustrate his first goal: solving the fiscal problem. President Lai went on to say that second, the US feels the threat of China and believes that reindustrialization is essential; without reindustrialization, the US risks a growing gap in industrial capacity compared to China. Third, he said, in this era of global smart technology, President Trump wants to lead the nation to become a world center of AI. Fourth, he aims to ensure world peace and prevent future wars, President Lai said. In regard to what the US seeks to achieve, he said he believes these four areas form the core of the Trump administration’s intentions, and that is why President Trump has raised tariffs, demanded that trading partners purchase more American goods, and encouraged friendly and allied nations to invest in the US, all in order to achieve these goals. President Lai indicated that the 32 percent reciprocal tariff poses a critical challenge for Taiwan, and we must treat it seriously. He said that our approach is not confrontation, but negotiation to reduce tariffs, and that we have also agreed to measures such as procurement, investment, resolving non-tariff trade barriers, and addressing origin washing in order to effectively reduce the trade deficit between Taiwan and the US. Of course, he said, through this negotiation process, we also hope to turn challenges into opportunities. The president said that first, we aim to start negotiations from the proposal of zero tariffs and seek to establish a bilateral trade agreement with the US. Second, he went on, we hope to support US reindustrialization and its aim to become a world AI hub through investment, while simultaneously upgrading and transforming Taiwan’s industries, which would help further integrate Taiwan’s industries into the US economic structure, ensuring Taiwan’s long-term development.  President Lai emphasized again that Taiwan’s national industrial strategy is for industries to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. He repeated that we have gone from moving westward across the Taiwan Strait, to shifting southbound, to working closer northward with Japan, and now the time is ripe for us to expand eastward by investing in North America. In other words, he said, while we take this challenge seriously to protect national interests and ensure that no industry is sacrificed, we also hope these negotiations will lead to deeper Taiwan-US trade relations through Taiwanese investment in the US, concluding that these are our expectations. The president stated that naturally, the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US will have an impact on Taiwanese industries, so in response, the Taiwanese government has already proposed support measures for affected industries totaling NT$93 billion. In addition, he said, we have outlined broader needs for Taiwan’s long-term development, which will be covered by a special budget proposal of NT$410 billion, noting that this has already been approved by the Executive Yuan and will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review. He said that this special budget proposal addresses four main areas: supporting industries, stabilizing employment, protecting people’s livelihoods, and enhancing resilience. As for tariffs on semiconductors, President Lai said, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has committed to investing in the US at the request of its customers. He said he believes that TSMC’s industry chain will follow suit, and that these are concrete actions that are unrelated to tariffs. However, he said, if the US were to invoke Section 232 and impose tariffs on semiconductors or related industries, it would discourage Taiwanese semiconductor and ICT investments in the US, and that we will make this position clear to the US going forward. President Lai indicated that among Taiwan’s exports to the US, there are two main categories: ICT products and electronic components, which together account for 65.4 percent. These are essential to the US, he said, unlike final goods such as cups, tables, or mattresses. He went on to say that what Taiwan sells to the US are the technological products required by AI designers like NVIDIA, AMD, Amazon, Google, and Apple, and that therefore, we will make sure the US understands clearly that we are not exporting end products, but the high-tech components necessary for the US to reindustrialize and become a global AI center. Furthermore, the president said, Taiwan is also willing to increase its defense budget and military procurement. He stated that Taiwan is committed to defending itself and is strongly willing to cooperate with friends and allies to ensure regional peace and stability, and that this is also something President Trump hopes to see. Asked whether TSMC’s fabs overseas could weaken Taiwan’s strategic position as a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing, and whether that could then give other countries fewer incentives to protect Taiwan, President Lai responded by saying that political leaders around the world including Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba and former Prime Ministers Abe, Suga, and Kishida have emphasized, at the G7 and other major international fora, that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential for global security and prosperity. In other words, he explained, the international community cares about Taiwan and supports peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait because Taiwan is located in the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific, directly facing China. He pointed out that if Taiwan is not protected, China’s expansionist ambitions will certainly grow, which would impact the current rules-based international order. Thus, he said, the international community willingly cares about Taiwan and supports stability in the Taiwan Strait – that is the reason, and it has no direct connection with TSMC. He noted that after all, TSMC has not made investments in that many countries, stressing that, on that point, it is clear. President Lai said that TSMC’s investments in Japan, Europe, and the US are all natural, normal economic and investment activities. He said that Taiwan is a democratic country whose society is based on the rule of law, so when Taiwanese companies need to invest around the world for business needs, the government will support those investments in principle so long as they do not harm national interests. President Lai said that after TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) held a press conference with President Trump to announce the investment in the US, Chairman Wei returned to Taiwan to hold a press conference with him at the Presidential Office, where the chairman explained to the Taiwanese public that TSMC’s R&D center will remain in Taiwan and that the facilities it has already committed to investing in here will not change and will not be affected. So, the president explained, to put it another way, TSMC will not be weakened by its investment in the US. He further emphasized that Taiwan has strengths in semiconductor manufacturing and is very willing to work alongside other democratic countries to promote the next stage of global prosperity and development. A question was raised about which side should be chosen between the US and China, under the current perception of a return to the Cold War, with East and West facing off as two opposing blocs. President Lai responded by saying that some experts and scholars describe the current situation as entering a new Cold War era between democratic and authoritarian camps; others assert that the war has already begun, including information warfare, economic and trade wars, and the ongoing wars in Europe – the Russo-Ukrainian War – and the Middle East, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The president said that these are all matters experts have cautioned about, noting that he is not a historian and so will not attempt to define today’s political situation from an academic standpoint. However, he said, he believes that every country has a choice, which is to say, Taiwan, Japan, or any other nation does not necessarily have to choose between the US and China. What we are deciding, he said, is whether our country will maintain a democratic constitutional system or regress into an authoritarian regime, and this is essentially a choice of values – not merely a choice between two major powers. President Lai said that Taiwan’s situation is different from other countries because we face a direct threat from China. He pointed out that we have experienced military conflicts such as the August 23 Artillery Battle and the Battle of Guningtou – actual wars between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. He said that China’s ambition to annex Taiwan has never wavered, and that today, China’s political and military intimidation, as well as internal united front infiltration, are growing increasingly intense. Therefore, he underlined, to defend democracy and sovereignty, protect our free and democratic system, and ensure the safety of our people’s lives and property, Taiwan’s choice is clear. President Lai said that China’s military exercises are not limited to the Taiwan Strait, and include the East China Sea, South China Sea, and even the Sea of Japan, as well as areas around Korea and Australia. Emphasizing that Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines are all democratic nations, the president said that Taiwan’s choice is clear, and that he believes Japan also has no other choice. We are all democratic countries, he said, whose people have long pursued the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, and that is what is most important. Regarding the intensifying tensions between the US and China, the president was asked what roles Taiwan and Japan can play. President Lai responded that in his view, Japan is a powerful nation, and he sincerely hopes that Japan can take a leading role amid these changes in the international landscape. He said he believes that countries in the Indo-Pacific region are also willing to respond. He suggested several areas where we can work together: first, democracy and peace; second, innovation and prosperity; and third, justice and sustainability. President Lai stated that in the face of authoritarian threats, we should let peace be our beacon and democracy our compass as we respond to the challenges posed by authoritarian states. Second, he added, as the world enters an era characterized by the comprehensive adoption of smart technologies, Japan and Taiwan should collaborate in the field of innovation to further drive regional prosperity and development. Third, he continued, is justice and sustainability. He explained that because international society still has many issues that need to be resolved, Taiwan and Japan can cooperate for the public good, helping countries in need around the world, and cooperating to address climate change and achieve net-zero transition by 2050. Asked whether he hopes that the US will continue to be a leader in the liberal democratic system, President Lai responded by saying that although the US severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China, for the past few decades it has assisted Taiwan in various areas such as national defense, security, and countering threats from China, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. He pointed out that Taiwan has also benefited, directly and indirectly, in terms of politics, democracy, and economic prosperity thanks to the US, and so Taiwan naturally hopes that the US remains strong and continues to lead the world. President Lai said that when the US encounters difficulties, whether financial difficulties, reindustrialization issues, or becoming a global center for AI, and hopes to receive support from its friends and allies to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Taiwan is willing to stand together for a common cause. If the US remains strong, he said, that helps Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world as a whole. Noting that while the vital role of the US on the global stage has not changed, the president said that after decades of shouldering global responsibilities, it has encountered some issues. Now, it has to make adjustments, he said, stating his firm belief that it will do so swiftly, and quickly resume its leadership role in the world. Asked to comment on remarks he made during his election campaign that he would like to invite China’s President Xi Jinping for bubble tea, President Lai responded that Taiwan is a peace-loving country, and Taiwanese society is inherently kind, and therefore we hope to get along peacefully with China, living in peace and mutual prosperity. So, during his term as vice president, he said, he was expressing the goodwill of Taiwanese society. Noting that while he of course understands that China’s President Xi would have certain difficulties in accepting this, he emphasized that the goodwill of Taiwanese society has always existed. If China reflects on the past two or three decades, he said, it will see that its economy was able to develop with Taiwan as its largest foreign investor. The president explained that every year, 1 to 2 million Taiwanese were starting businesses or investing in China, creating numerous job opportunities and stabilizing Chinese society. While many Taiwanese businesses have profited, he said, Chinese society has benefited even more. He added that every time a natural disaster occurs, if China is in need, Taiwanese always offer donations. Therefore, the president said, he hopes that China can face the reality of the Republic of China’s existence and understand that the people of Taiwan hope to continue living free and democratic lives with respect for human rights. He also expressed hope that China can pay attention to the goodwill of Taiwanese society. He underlined that we have not abandoned the notion that as long as there is parity, dignity, exchange, and cooperation, the goodwill of choosing dialogue over confrontation and exchange over containment will always exist. Asked for his view on the national security reforms in response to China’s espionage activities and infiltration attempts, President Lai said that China’s united front infiltration activities in Taiwan are indeed very serious. He said that China’s ambitions to annex Taiwan rely not only on the use of political and military intimidation, but also on its long-term united front and infiltration activities in Taiwanese society. Recently, he pointed out, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office of the Ministry of Justice prosecuted 64 spies, which is three times the number in 2021, and in addition to active-duty military personnel, many retired military personnel were also indicted. Moreover, he added, Taiwan also has the Chinese Unification Promotion Party, which has a background in organized crime, Rehabilitation Alliance Party, which was established by retired military personnel, and Republic of China Taiwan Military Government, which is also composed of retired generals. He explained that these are all China’s front organizations, and they plan one day to engage in collaboration within Taiwan, which shows the seriousness of China’s infiltration in Taiwan. Therefore, the president said, in the recent past he convened a high-level national security meeting and proposed 17 response strategies across five areas. He then enumerated the five areas: first, to address China’s threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty; second, to respond to the threat of China’s obscuring the Taiwanese people’s sense of national identity; third, to respond to the threat of China’s infiltrating and recruiting members of the ROC Armed Forces as spies; fourth, to respond to the threat of China’s infiltration of Taiwanese society through societal exchanges and united front work; and fifth, to respond to the threat of China using “integration plans” to draw Taiwan’s young people and Taiwanese businesses into its united front activities. In response to these five major threats, he said, he has proposed 17 response strategies, one of which being to restore the military trial system. He explained that if active-duty military personnel commit military crimes, they must be subject to military trials, and said that this expresses the Taiwanese government’s determination to respond to China’s united front infiltration and the subversion of Taiwan. Responding to the question of which actions Taiwan can take to guard against China’s threats to regional security, President Lai said that many people are worried that the increasingly tense situation may lead to accidental conflict and the outbreak of war. He stated his own view that Taiwan is committed to facing China’s various threats with caution. Taiwan is never the source of these problems, he emphasized, and if there is an accidental conflict and it turns into a full-scale war, it will certainly be a deliberate act by China using an accidental conflict as a pretext. He said that when China expanded its military presence in the East China Sea and South China Sea, the international community did not stop it; when China conducted exercises in the Taiwan Strait, the international community did not take strong measures to prevent this from happening. Now, he continued, China is conducting gray-zone exercises, which are aggressions against not only the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, but also extending to the Sea of Japan and waters near South Korea. He said that at this moment, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, and even the US should face these developments candidly and seriously, and we must exhibit unity and cooperation to prevent China’s gray-zone aggression from continuing to expand and prevent China from shifting from a military exercise to combat. If no action is taken now, the president said, the situation may become increasingly serious. Asked about the view of some US analysts who point out that China will have the ability to invade Taiwan around 2027, President Lai responded that Taiwan, as the country on the receiving end of threats and aggression, must plan for the worst and make the best preparations. He recalled a famous saying from the armed forces: “Do not count on the enemy not showing up; count on being ready should it strike.” This is why, he said, he proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, he said, we must strengthen our national defense. Second, he added, we must strengthen economic resilience, adding that not only must our economy remain strong, but it must also be resilient, and that we cannot put all our eggs in the same basket, in China, as we have done in the past. Third, he continued, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with friends and allies such as Japan and the US, as well as the democratic community, and we must demonstrate the strength of deterrence to prevent China from making the wrong judgment. Fourth, he emphasized, as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China and seek cross-strait peace and mutual prosperity through exchanges and cooperation. Regarding intensifying US-China confrontation, the president was asked in which areas he thinks Taiwan and Japan should strengthen cooperation; with Japan’s Ishiba administration also being a minority government, the president was asked for his expectations for the Ishiba administration. President Lai said that in the face of rapid and tremendous changes in the political situation, every government faces considerable challenges, especially for minority governments, but the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Ishiba has quite adequately responded with various strategies. Furthermore, he said, Japan is different from Taiwan, explaining that although Japan’s ruling party lacks a majority, political parties in Japan engage in competition domestically while exhibiting unity externally. He said that Taiwan’s situation is more challenging, because the ruling and opposition parties hold different views on the direction of the country, due to differences in national identity. The president expressed his hope that in the future Taiwan and Japan will enjoy even more comprehensive cooperation. He stated that he has always believed that deep historical bonds connect Taiwan and Japan. Over the past several decades, he said, when encountering natural disasters and tragedies, our two nations have assisted each other with mutual care and support. He said that the affection between the people of Taiwan and Japan is like that of a family. Pointing out that both countries face the threat of authoritarianism, he said that we share a mission to safeguard universal values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. The president said that our two countries should be more open to cooperation in various areas to maintain regional peace and stability as well as to strengthen cooperation in economic and industrial development, such as for semiconductor industry chains and everyday applications of AI, including robots and drones, adding that we can also cooperate on climate change response, such as in hydrogen energy and other strategies. He said our two countries should also continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges. He then took the opportunity to once again invite our good friends from Japan to visit Taiwan for tourism and learn more about Taiwan, saying that the Taiwanese people wholeheartedly welcome our Japanese friends.  

    Details
    2025-05-09
    President Lai extends congratulations on election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV  
    Following the successful election of the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, on May 8, President Lai Ching-te extended sincere congratulations on behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, including its Catholic community. The president stated that he looks forward to working with Pope Leo XIV to continue deepening cooperation in the area of humanitarian aid and jointly defend the universal value of religious freedom, expanding and strengthening the alliance between Taiwan and the Vatican. Upon learning of the election results, President Lai directed the Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassy to the Holy See to convey a message of congratulations. In the message, President Lai extended sincere congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, including its Catholic community, expressing confidence that His Holiness will lead the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion followers worldwide with profound wisdom. President Lai also emphasized that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work alongside the Holy See in the shared pursuit of peace, justice, religious freedom, solidarity, friendship, and human dignity. This year marks the 83rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Vatican. Enjoying a strong alliance, Taiwan and the Vatican share such universal values as freedom of religion, respect for human rights, peace, and benevolence, and conduct close exchanges. Taiwan will continue to engage in exchanges and cooperation with the Holy See, further strengthen bilateral relations, and work alongside the Holy See to contribute even more to the world.  

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH and NMPA organise seminar on “GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training” for local medical device trade (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DH and NMPA organise seminar on “GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training” for local medical device trade ???
    China is a vital market and manufacturing hub for the global medical device and pharmaceutical industries. In the future, the DH will continue to organise similar activities for the industry, leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages and reinforcing connectivity with the Mainland and the world. The DH is committed to aligning with the nation’s direction of high-standard opening up and promoting healthcare innovation and development.
    Issued at HKT 17:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 84 thousand guests visited the VI Moscow Interior and Design Week

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The 6th Moscow Interior and Design Week, one of the key and largest industry events in the country, has ended in the capital. Over 84,000 guests visited the exhibition at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall from May 22 to 25.

    The next season was dedicated to understanding the theme of nature in design. The brightest participants of the May exhibition will present their products for the first time at the collective stand of the Moscow Interior and Design Week in China — at one of the world’s largest furniture exhibitions CIFF (The 56th China International Furniture Fair). It will be held from September 9 to 12 in Shanghai. Business sessions will be organized for Russian and Chinese companies — this will allow them to establish cooperation and find new partners.

    In addition, the best works of the participants will once again become part of the updated exhibition of the Moscow Design Museum “110. Russian Design 1915-2025” in the New Tretyakov Gallery, which will open in June. They will be selected for the “Modernity” section.

    1,220 Russian and foreign companies took part in the 6th Moscow Interior and Design Week. This is three times more than in the first season, which took place in 2022.

    More than half of them (636) are representatives of the capital. 312 are participants of the Made in Moscow project, whose stand occupied the central place of the exhibition. More than 50 capital companies were presented here. Guests could get acquainted with furniture, textiles, unusual ceramics and other interior items of brands participating in the Made in Moscow project. The stand also integrated solutions of technology companies – representatives of the Moscow Innovation Cluster.

    You can see the catalogues of all seasons of the Moscow Interior and Design Week on the project website.

    The exhibition has been one of the drivers of the Moscow market development since its first holding in 2022. The city provides comprehensive support to entrepreneurs: it provides various support measures, organizes special exhibitions and other events. Events such as Moscow Interior and Design Week contribute to the further development of the industry. The number of Moscow companies in this segment increased by 18.5 percent from 2021 to May 2025, reaching 21.5 thousand organizations.

    The total revenue of exhibiting companies from Moscow increased by 20 percent per year from 2021 to 2024, while the capital’s interior and design market grew by 13 percent per year. The number of employees of such exhibitors increased by 6.3 percent per year during this time, and the number of employees of all city organizations in this area grew by 2.9 percent per year.

    The exhibition is held twice a year and has already become a platform for Muscovites and guests of the capital to get acquainted with a large number of companies from all over the country. Independent selection of participants by an expert council allows the most interesting products to be presented and provides access to a wide audience and market even for young and small brands.

    In addition to domestic brands, visitors could get acquainted with the products and solutions of 46 companies and designers from 15 countries. For example, representatives of China and the UAE participated in the exhibition with their national stands this year. The Celestial Empire brought together the works of famous designers that reflected the connection of man with the surrounding world. The stand of the United Arab Emirates presented an exclusive exposition emphasizing the rethinking of the region’s rich craft heritage through modern design solutions.

    The exhibition also featured a special international session. It brought together 50 export-oriented Russian enterprises, including representatives of the Moscow Export Center programs and participants of the Moscow Interior and Design Week, as well as 10 importing companies from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco. The event allowed for establishing trade relations with international partners, concluding profitable export contracts and agreeing on the implementation of large-scale joint projects.

    Sergei Sobyanin told how Moscow helps the capital’s business develop

    Traditionally, the platform featured well-known entrepreneurs, designers and architects — more than 180 experts developing the industry. World-class stars also took part: architect Hussam Shakuf, who worked for more than 17 years in the famous architectural firm of Zaha Hadid, as well as Reem bin Karam, one of the world’s leading experts in the field of cultural entrepreneurship and women’s leadership.

    In the consultation area, guests could get advice on home improvement from professional designers, as well as take part in master classes, listen to lectures by Russian and international stars of the industry, sign up for a tour of the Moscow Design Museum exhibition or a real production facility with the support of the Day Without Turnstiles project. In addition, this season, for the first time, a special loyalty program was launched, which will be available after the event. It allows [to purchase products from participating companies at a discount.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: South Korean police impose foreign travel ban on former prime minister and vice prime minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    SEOUL, May 27 (Xinhua) — South Korean police have imposed an overseas travel ban on former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and former Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as part of an investigation into an alleged coup, local media reported Tuesday.

    According to them, the former high-ranking officials are suspected of mutiny. The ban on their foreign travel came into force in mid-May.

    The police’s special investigation unit summoned Han Duk-soo and Choi Sang-mok, as well as former Interior Minister Ri Sang-min, who was barred from leaving the country last December, for questioning on Monday.

    Three former government officials are suspected of involvement in a failed attempt by former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was ousted in April, to impose martial law. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking News: China Seeks Deeper Strategic Coordination with ASEAN, GCC – Li Qiang

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — China is willing to deepen strategic coordination and strengthen macroeconomic policy alignment with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the basis of mutual respect and equality, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Tuesday while addressing the ASEAN-China-GCC summit.

    He called on the three sides to support each other in addressing new challenges in the development process and encourage new models of international industrial and economic cooperation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –