International
Taiwan registers the highest number of Chinese incursions in a day since October 2021
A total of 56 Chinese Army aircraft crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait or entered the self-proclaimed Taiwanese Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), the highest number of raids in a single day since October 2021, the Island Government reported.
In its latest daily report, the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) of Taiwan reported that 17 of those aircraft crossed the dividing line of the strait, an unofficial border that was respected by Taipei and Beijing for decades.
Another 39 flew over the southwest and southeast regions of the self-proclaimed ADIZ between 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday (10:00 p.m. GMT on Tuesday) and 6:00 a.m. on Thursday (22:00 GMT on Wednesday).
The 56 incursions reported today equal the record recorded on October 4, 2021, when another 56 Chinese aircraft violated the island ADIZ, although on that occasion they passed at a greater distance from the main island of Taiwan.
During these last maneuvers, Chinese Army planes and drones passed 133 kilometers from the northern city of Keelung, where a military base is located, and approached only 61 kilometers from Cape Eluanbi, at the southern end of Taiwan, according to the DND report.
“The Armed Forces of the Republic of China (official name of Taiwan) have monitored the situation and have used fighter jets, Navy ships and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities,” the official text said.
The military portfolio said in a separate statement that it had detected the presence of 37 Chinese aircraft, including J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, operating with the aircraft carrier Shandong in the vicinity of the island early in the morning of that day.
The Taiwanese Minister of Defense, Wellington Koo, said that the Government had “complete control” of the situation, adding that the aircraft carrier did not pass through the Bashi Strait, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, but traveled through the Balintang Canal, located between the Philippine islands of Batanes and Babuyan.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have increased since the inauguration of sovereignist William Lai (Lai Ching-te), considered an “independent” and a “rioter” by the Chinese authorities, as the new Taiwanese president on May 20.
Since then, the Ministry of National Defense has discovered a total of 939 Chinese Army aircraft operating around the island, of which 701 crossed the dividing line of the strait or violated the self-proclaimed Taiwanese ADIZ, which yields an average of almost 15 incursions per day.
The island president has offered dialogue to the Chinese Government on several occasions, on the basis that the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China “are not subordinate to each other”; an approach categorically rejected by Beijing, which considers the island as part of its territory.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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