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Beijing’s Show of Force: China Launches Major Drills Around Taiwan

  A ship fires a weapon during drills east of Taiwan in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Dec. 29, 2025. China has initiated large‑scale military exercises around Taiwan, framing the operation as a direct warning to what it calls separatist forces and foreign supporters. The drills, conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command, involve naval vessels, fighter jets, and missile units operating across multiple zones encircling the island. According to Chinese military statements, the exercises are designed to test joint combat readiness and simulate scenarios such as blockades and precision strikes. The move follows heightened tensions over international engagement with Taiwan, including recent arms sales and diplomatic exchanges that Beijing views as challenges to its sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s defense ministry denounced the drills as coercive and destabilizing, placing its military on alert and trac...

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Canada Strengthens Border Security: Appoints Fentanyl Czar and Pledges $1.3B Investment in Exchange for 30-Day Tariff Pause

 

In a bid to defuse escalating trade tensions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a series of robust border security measures after a productive phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. As part of a deal that has paused the imposition of 25% tariffs for 30 days, Trudeau revealed plans to invest C$1.3 billion in enhancing border defenses. This multifaceted plan includes the appointment of a “fentanyl czar” to spearhead the fight against drug smuggling, the listing of cartels as terrorist organizations, and the launch of a Canada–U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime and money laundering.

Trudeau’s commitment also extends to deploying nearly 10,000 frontline personnel to monitor and secure the northern border. The temporary reprieve, secured through a series of high-level negotiations, is intended to provide both nations with additional time to negotiate a longer-term economic deal. This move comes amid a broader U.S. strategy to curb illegal immigration and the flow of deadly opioids like fentanyl, measures that have sparked a mix of relief and strategic recalibrations on both sides of the border.

The decision to delay tariffs for a month reflects the complex balance between national security concerns and the economic interdependence that defines the U.S.-Canada relationship. While the pause gives Canadian industries crucial time to adjust, Trudeau’s sweeping security initiatives underscore Canada’s determination to protect its borders and its economy against the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent international trade environment.


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