Global Tensions Rise as US-China Relations Deteriorate

Japan's fisheries agency has seized a Chinese fishing vessel in its exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture, amid heightened tensions with Beijing. The vessel was intercepted on Thursday, and its captain, a 47-year-old Chinese national, was arrested. The incident is the first seizure of a Chinese fishing boat by Japan since 2022. The move comes as relations between Japan and China remain strained following comments by Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November, suggesting Tokyo would intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. China has long considered Taiwan its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve 'reunification.' The diplomatic spat has led to a drop in Chinese tourist visits to Japan, cancellations of Japanese artists' shows in China, and the return of Japan's last two pandas to China.

U.S. downhill skiing champion Breezy Johnson crashed out of the women's Super-G race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. However, her misfortune turned into a joyful moment when her boyfriend, Connor Watkins, proposed to her after the crash. Meanwhile, Italian skier Federica Brignone won the gold medal in the event, marking her first Olympic gold and fourth Olympic medal overall. Brignone's victory was particularly notable given her recent recovery from multiple surgeries and months of rehab after breaking several bones in her left leg.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to rescind President Trump's tariffs on Canada, with six Republicans joining Democrats in a 219-211 vote. The measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, aims to terminate the national emergency declared by Trump to justify the tariffs. Although the resolution's passage is largely symbolic, as it could be vetoed by the president if it clears the Senate, it reflects growing opposition to Trump's trade policies. The vote comes as relations between the U.S. and Canada have soured, with Trump threatening additional tariffs. The issue may have political ramifications in the November midterm elections, as polls show Americans largely disapprove of the sweeping tariffs.

Russian authorities have blocked access to WhatsApp, a popular messaging app owned by Meta, in an effort to promote a state-backed alternative called MAX. The ban is due to WhatsApp's failure to comply with Russian laws requiring companies to store user data and make it available to government agencies. WhatsApp has called the move a 'backwards step' that will lead to 'less safety for people in Russia.' The app can still be used via virtual private networks (VPNs), which are not illegal in Russia. This move is part of a larger trend of Russia restricting access to social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and X, in response to their perceived 'discrimination' against Russian media following the invasion of Ukraine. The state-backed MAX app is designed to be a multifunction platform that includes messaging, e-commerce, and access to government services, but has raised concerns about surveillance and political censorship.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from competing in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after refusing to change his helmet, which honors Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in Russia's war on Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed the helmet a political statement, violating Olympic rules. Heraskevych plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The IOC's decision was met with criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who argued that the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors.

A dispute between CK Hutchison Holdings and A.P. Moller-Maersk over the operation of two strategic ports at either end of the Panama Canal has intensified into a geopolitical flashpoint between the US and China. The Panamanian authorities have tapped Maersk to temporarily take over the ports, prompting CK Hutchison to threaten legal action. The dispute has significant implications for US-China relations, already strained by tariff tensions and other issues. The US sees the Panama Canal as a critical trade artery and is keen to block Chinese influence over it. China has warned Panama of 'heavy political and economic costs' if it continues down this path. Analysts expect the dispute to drag on, potentially straining US-China relations further.

The United States and Taiwan have signed a trade deal that lowers tariffs on Taiwanese exports to 15%, in line with those on Asian allies Japan and South Korea. In return, Taiwan will remove or reduce 99% of tariff barriers on U.S. goods and provide 'preferential market access' for U.S. industrial and agricultural exports. Taiwan has also committed to purchasing over $84 billion worth of U.S. goods from 2025 to 2029. The deal was first announced in January, alongside Taiwanese chip and technology companies' commitment to invest at least $250 billion in production capacity in the U.S. However, there have been differing views on chip supply chains, with the U.S. aiming to bring 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain to the U.S., a proposal Taiwan has pushed back on, deeming it 'impossible.' The trade deal has been criticized by China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and sees the agreement as draining Taiwan's economic interests.

Sri Lanka, led by a Marxist government, has shown resilience in the face of a severe economic crisis and a devastating cyclone. The country's ability to absorb these shocks is partly attributed to India's growing involvement in the region. Despite suffering a significant economic crisis just over a decade after the end of its civil war, Sri Lanka has made progress in recovering, with the recent cyclone causing widespread destruction but not derailing its progress entirely.

The article profiles Kamiya Sohei, the 48-year-old leader of Japan's hard-right populist movement, The Do It Yourself Party (Sanseito). The party has been successful in mobilizing disaffected voters in Japan. The article explores the party's campaign strategies and its appeal to voters who feel disillusioned with the current state of Japanese politics. Kamiya's message of change and his party's unconventional approach have resonated with many Japanese citizens. The article provides an in-depth look at the rise of Sanseito and its potential impact on Japanese politics.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked a court to revoke the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinian men convicted of terrorism offenses. The move is the first use of a law enacted three years ago allowing the revocation of citizenship and subsequent deportation of Palestinian citizens who were convicted of certain violent crimes and received financial support from the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu argues that the severity of the crimes and the payments received from the Palestinian Authority fund justify pulling their citizenship and expelling them from Israel. Critics argue that the law allows Israel's legal system to treat Jewish and Palestinian people differently and that it violates the most basic principles of the rule of law.

The United States has warned Peru that China's growing control over a major Pacific port in Chancay could threaten the country's sovereignty. The $1.3 billion deep-water port, being built by China's state-owned Cosco Shipping, has become a flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. A Peruvian court ruling limited government regulatory oversight of the project, prompting the US State Department to express concerns that Peru could be powerless to oversee the port. China has rejected the US comments as 'rumor-mongering and smearing,' while Peru's transport infrastructure regulator plans to appeal the court ruling. The dispute reflects the escalating tensions between the US and China over Beijing's expanding footprint in Latin America.

China's marriage registrations rose by 10.8% in 2025, with 6.76 million couples getting married, offering a glimmer of hope for the birth outlook in 2026. However, demographers are cautious due to declining fertility intentions and a rapidly ageing population. China's population shrunk for the fourth consecutive year, falling by 3.39 million to 1.4049 billion in 2025, marking the steepest annual decline on record apart from during the 1959-1961 famine. The declining population poses significant challenges to China's economic growth, including a shrinking workforce, mounting pension and healthcare burdens, and decreased domestic demand.

Japan has seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain for allegedly evading an onboard inspection within Japan's exclusive economic zone. The incident has heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, coming weeks after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked a diplomatic row over Taiwan by suggesting Japan could become militarily involved in the event of a Chinese invasion. The seizure is the first of a Chinese fishing boat by Japan since 2022 and is likely to inflame the ongoing diplomatic rift between the two nations.