International
Chinese Minister of Defense: “The negotiation is the only way out of wars in Gaza and Ukraine”
The Chinese Minister of Defense, Dong Jun, said in Beijing that “negotiation” and “a peaceful solution” are “the only way out” of the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, reiterating that “the end of any conflict is reconciliation.”
“Each country has the right to safeguard its security as well as its interests and development, but a fair international order is needed to solve problems.
China, ready to achieve peace in Gaza and Ukraine
China is willing to build peace together with the armed forces of other countries,” Dong said when inaugurating the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China’s largest annual military diplomacy event, with the participation of more than 90 countries and international organizations.
Dong held a meeting last night with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, who is in Beijing to attend the forum, in which the Russian said that relations between Beijing and Moscow “are of great importance for security and global and regional stability,” according to the Chinese Defense portfolio.
He also met separately with the defense ministers of Chile, Madagascar, Mauritania, Maldives, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia, meetings in which Dong stated that “in the face of the international and regional situation of chaos and unrest, we need to join closely, discuss global security plans and explore strategies for long-term peace and stability.”
In his speech today, Dong emphasized that China seeks to “make new and greater contributions to global security” and stressed that “only countries that make autonomous decisions will be respected by the international community.”
“No one is alien to threats such as climate change and terrorism. Countries, whether large or small, must unite and address them together on equal terms,” he said.
Thus, he called for “consensus” and “mutual respect and trust” to address global challenges since “the deeper the cooperation, the more stable the relations will be and the safer the world will be.”
First appearance of Dong
This is Dong’s first public appearance in a forum of these characteristics since he took office in 2023 replacing former Minister Li Shangfu, who was dismissed without explanation and was later expelled from the Chinese Communist Party after being accused of a crime of corruption.
The forum, which is also marked by the recent tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea and the Taiwane issue, is expected to attend the US Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, Michael Chase.
A Ukrainian delegation composed of academics and former officials, including Oleksandr Chalyi, former Deputy Foreign Minister of that country, also participates in the forum.
International
Meta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication
U.S. tech giant Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, said that Russia is seeking to ban the messaging app because it “challenges government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication.”
Russian authorities have encouraged citizens to switch to state-backed applications, and in August they already blocked WhatsApp’s calling feature.
On Friday, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the platform was being used to “organize and carry out terrorist acts in the country, recruit perpetrators, and facilitate fraud and other crimes.”
“If the messaging service does not comply with Russian law, it will be completely blocked,” the regulator warned.
WhatsApp remains one of Russia’s most widely used messaging services, alongside Telegram.
Moscow is pressuring both platforms to grant authorities access to user data upon request for investigations into fraud and activities the government labels as “terrorist.”
Human rights advocates fear the demand could be used to target critics of the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin, or the war in Ukraine.
International
Archbishop Wenski criticizes Trump’s deportation policies, calls for stronger push for reform
The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, has called for increased pressure on the U.S. Congress to advance comprehensive immigration reform and criticized President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies, arguing that they “do nothing to help.”
“We need to apply more pressure on Congress so lawmakers can make the necessary changes. It is also important for the Administration to listen to our voice. We do not want to be anyone’s enemy—we are Americans,” Wenski said in an interview with EFE.
The religious leader, who heads one of the dioceses with the largest Latino and Haitian populations in the United States, issued a call to defend the rights of migrants. He also emphasized that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has maintained a strong and public stance in favor of migrants for decades.
International
Trump relaunches diplomatic push to finalize U.S.-Backed peace plan for Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his diplomatic team will resume meetings with delegations from Russia and Ukraine in an effort to pressure both sides to accept the peace plan proposed by Washington to end the war in Ukraine.
As part of this new round of talks, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will hold discussions with Ukrainian representatives to narrow differences on the remaining points of the agreement.
Trump also confirmed his intention to meet personally with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and with Putin, though he emphasized that such meetings will only take place “when the agreement is fully finalized or in its final stage.”
The president claimed that his administration has made “tremendous progress” toward resolving the conflict and reiterated that the war “never would have started” if he had been in the White House at the onset of the crisis.
The U.S.-backed peace plan consists of 28 points and has been revised following feedback from both sides. According to Trump, only “a few points of disagreement” remain under active discussion.
One of the most controversial aspects of the proposal is the suggestion that Ukraine cede parts of the Donbas region to Russia and limit the size of its armed forces. Kyiv is working closely with Washington to soften these clauses in search of an arrangement that does not compromise its sovereignty or security.
With this diplomatic push, Trump aims to solidify his role as the main mediator in the conflict and steer the war toward a political resolution after years of devastation, humanitarian crisis, and rising global geopolitical tensions.
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