China's Military Expansion and Global Reactions

Taiwan is preparing for a potential invasion by China, with nationwide drills testing its civil resilience, but there are concerns over whether the island is truly ready for war. Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, Wu Chihchung, has stated that "China is preparing to invade Taiwan" and that the population needs to be aware of the threat. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has increased its military activity and "grey zone" incursions, including encircling the island with jets and ships. Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, has taken a more robust approach, describing China as "a foreign hostile force" and introducing new security measures. However, the island's reliance on the US for support is uncertain due to Donald Trump's presidency, with Trump having accused Taiwan of "stealing" the US semiconductor industry and imposed tariffs.

China has denied being a threat after the FBI opened its first permanent office in New Zealand, with the Chinese embassy in Wellington stating that the US was making "groundless assertions" against China. The FBI director, Kash Patel, said the office was a "historic moment" and that countering the Communist Party of China was a top priority. The office upgrade comes as New Zealand was the only member of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance without a standalone FBI station.

China and Kuwait are nearing the completion of a joint ammunition factory in Kuwait, with the project's inauguration expected soon. The two countries have pledged to deepen their military ties, with Kuwait's deputy defence minister stating that military training programs, which began in 2019, will continue to expand. China and Kuwait have had a military cooperation agreement since 1995, and their ties have strengthened as China increases its engagement with the Gulf region, a key area where the US has significant influence through its ally Kuwait.