Politics Archives - Page 5 of 59

Nationalists play to the crowd in Japan–China relations

9Dec

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Nationalists play to the crowd in Japan–China relations

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement that Chinese use of force against Taiwan could potentially create an ‘existential crisis’ for Japan triggered a heated war of words with China. Her remarks appealed to conservative voters and helped her cabinet gain an initial foothold, but at the cost of bilateral ties. In China, the comments were seen as a provocation and fed nationalist sentiment. Though the episode is unlikely to escalate further, it has given nationalists in both countries new leverage. On 7 November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, facing questioning from an opposition lawmaker, told the Diet that if China were to deploy warships and use force against Taiwan, it could potentially lead to an ‘existential crisis’ for Japan. Under Japanese law,

Trump confronts the EU with its greatest fear: Political interference from its biggest ally

8Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Trump confronts the EU with its greatest fear: Political interference from its biggest ally

The United States has launched a cultural and ideological war against liberal Europe The era of harmony in transatlantic relations is over. For Donald Trump’s United States, Europe — with its project of values and defense of the rules-based multilateral order — is an adversary. One that must be steered back onto the illiberal and reactionary path dictated by Trumpism and followed by its European allies: the ultra-right-wing, national-populist, and Eurosceptic Trojan Horses who seek to undermine the European Union from within. Washington, which refers to these groups as “patriotic” political parties and formations, aims to promote them in its new national security strategy. This promise of interference, of meddling in European sovereignty, might sound more like something autocracies

“Imran Khan Is Alive”: Lawmaker Says Regime Pressuring Him To Leave Pakistan

30Nov

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

“Imran Khan Is Alive”: Lawmaker Says Regime Pressuring Him To Leave Pakistan

Earlier this week, several social media handles from Afghanistan claimed that Imran Khan had been murdered inside Rawalpindi's jail. Refuting the rumours about Imran Khan's death, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Khurram Zeeshan on Saturday said the former Prime Minister is alive and currently lodged in Adiala jail. He added that Khan is being kept in isolation as a tactic to pressure him into leaving Pakistan. Speaking to ANI from Pakistan, Khurram Zeeshan, who is affiliated with Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said the regime in the country is threatened and scared of Imran Khan's popularity, which is why they have not allowed any pictures or videos of him to be released. Earlier this week, several social media handles from Afghanistan claimed t...

Trump urged Takaichi not to rise to China’s provocation

29Nov

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Trump urged Takaichi not to rise to China’s provocation

Although Japan framed a phone call between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump as a friendly interaction, the U.S. leader, in fact, called for an easing of Japan-China tensions, sources said. During the call on Nov. 25, Trump suggested that steps be taken to de-escalate the situation amid China’s growing backlash over Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, the Japanese government sources said. The Japanese and U.S. leaders confirmed that their countries will work together toward that end, they said. “No specific actions were requested of Japan,” one source said. “It was agreed that Japan should respond calmly without rising to China’s provocations.” But Trump did not express support for Takaichi’s suggestions in the Diet that Japan could use force during a

National Guard member dies as ambush in U.S. capital becomes political flashpoint

28Nov

By Nectar GanNo Comments

National Guard member dies as ambush in U.S. capital becomes political flashpoint

A National Guard member died on Thursday after being shot near the White House in an ambush that investigators say was carried out by an Afghan national, an attack President Donald Trump blamed on Biden-era immigration vetting failures as he ordered a sweeping review of asylum cases. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of her wounds and her fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, was “fighting for his life,” Trump said, as investigators conducted what officials said was a terrorism probe after Wednesday’s shooting. The FBI searched multiple properties in a widening investigation, including a home in Washington state linked to the suspect, who officials said was part of a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan before coming to the U.S. in 2021 under a resettlement program. Agents seized numerous ele

How X’s new location feature exposed big US politics accounts

23Nov

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

How X’s new location feature exposed big US politics accounts

Dozens of high-engagement accounts on X have been accused of misleading users following the roll-out of a new transparency feature that shows user locations. Users on the social network seized on examples of pro-Trump accounts that posted about US politics, but which turned out to be based outside the US. There were also anti-Trump accounts with misleading locations too. Posts from some of the accounts have attracted millions of impressions - views, likes, reposts and replies - which can result in payment from X. BBC Verify is not able to independently confirm the information X provides about each account. X says data is '99% accurate' The location data is visible in a new "about this account" tab which appears on every profile. It also contains a warning that the lo...

Beijing rebukes EU over Taiwan vice-president’s visit to Parliament

11Nov

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Beijing rebukes EU over Taiwan vice-president’s visit to Parliament

Beijing has condemned the European Parliament for allowing Taiwan’s vice-president, Hsiao Bi-khim, to address lawmakers in Brussels last week, calling the move a violation of the “One China” principle. Hsiao’s visit to the European Parliament was kept confidential and not announced in advance. She spoke on 7 November at the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), which this year brought together lawmakers and experts from across the world. “Despite China’s strong opposition, the European Parliament allowed leading ‘Taiwan independence’ figures to attend the summit and carry out separatist activities,” China’s mission to the EU said in a statement. The mission said the move “undermines China’s core interests … and seriously erodes political mutu

Government shutdown latest; Trump administration will partially pay for SNAP benefits

4Nov

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Government shutdown latest; Trump administration will partially pay for SNAP benefits

The Trump administration said Monday it will send out partial payments to the tens of millions of Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits – but not all of the normal funds for families relying on the resource. The administration said in a court filing that it would "fulfill its obligation to expend" funds during an emergency, using a reserve to cover "50% of eligible households’ current allotments." As the showdown over the essential program played out over the weekend, President Donald Trump called on Democrats to abandon a push for expanded health care subsidies and vote for GOP-backed legislation to reopen the government. Voting for the short-term Republican bill, which would continue spending at current levels whil

Government shutdown could become longest ever as Trump says he ‘won’t be extorted’ by Democrats

3Nov

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Government shutdown could become longest ever as Trump says he ‘won’t be extorted’ by Democrats

The government shutdown is poised to become the longest ever this week as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a new month. Millions of people could lose food aid benefits, health care subsidies are set to expire and there are few real talks between the parties over how to end it. President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday that he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats who are demanding negotiations to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year for millions of Americans. Echoing congressional Republicans, the president said on CBS’ “60 Minutes” he’ll negotiate only when the government is reopened. Trump’s comments signal the shutdown could drag on for some time as federal workers, including air traffic control

Russia Deploys Missile in Ukraine Sparking U.S. Withdrawal From Nuclear Treaty

31Oct

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Russia Deploys Missile in Ukraine Sparking U.S. Withdrawal From Nuclear Treaty

Russia has used a ground-launched cruise missile in Ukraine whose secret development prompted the United States to withdraw from a landmark nuclear arms control treaty in 2019, according to Ukrainian officials. The revelation raises concerns that Moscow is employing weapons once banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and escalating the risks for European security as efforts intensify to negotiate an end to the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters that Russia had fired the 9M729, known by NATO as the SSC-8, at targets in Ukraine in recent months — the first confirmed use of the missile in combat. “Russia’s use of the INF-banned 9M729 against Ukraine in the past months demonstrates President Vladimir Putin’s disrespect to the United Stat