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Taiwan MND Detects 35 Chinese Aircraft, 6 Vessels Around Tts Territory
'I Had Anti-Government Views so They Treated Me for Schizophrenia'
When Zhang Junjie was 17 he decided to protest outside his university about rules made by China's government. Within days he had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital and treated for schizophrenia. Junjie is one of dozens of people identified by the BBC who were hospitalised after protesting or complaining to the authorities. Many people we spoke to were given anti-psychotic drugs, and in some cases electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), without their consent. While there have been reports for decades that hospitalisation is used in China as a way of detaining dissenting citizens without involving the courts, a leading Chinese lawyer has told the BBC that the issue - which legislation sought to resolve - has recently seen a resurgence. Junjie says he was restrained and beaten by hospital staff before being forced to take medication. His ordeal began in 2022, after he protested against China's harsh lockdown policies. He says his professors spotted him after just five minutes and contacted his father, who took him back to the family home. He says his father called the police, and the next day - on his 18th birthday - two men drove him to what they claimed was a Covid test centre, but was actually a hospital. "The doctors told me I had a very serious mental disease… Then they tied me to a bed. The nurses and doctors repeatedly told me, because of my views on the party and the government, then I must be mentally ill. It was terrifying," he told the BBC World Service. He was there for 12 days. Junjie believes his father felt forced to hand him over to the authorities because he worked for the local government. Just over a month after being discharged, Junjie was once again arrested. Defying a fireworks ban at Chinese New Year (a measure brought in to fight air pollution) he had made a video of himself setting them off. Someone uploaded it online and police managed to link it to Junjie. He was accused of "picking quarrels and troublemaking" - a charge frequently used to silence criticism of the Chinese government. Junjie says he was forcibly hospitalised again for more than two months. After being discharged, Junjie was prescribed anti-psychotic drugs. We have seen the prescription - it was for Aripiprazole, used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. "Taking the medicine made me feel like my brain was quite a mess," he says, adding that police would come to his house to check he had taken it. Fearing a third hospitalisation, Junjie decided to leave China. He told his parents he was returning to university to pack up his room - but, in fact, he fled to New Zealand. He didn't say goodbye to family or friends. Junjie is one of 59 people who the BBC has confirmed - either by speaking to them or their relatives, or by going through court documents - have been hospitalised on mental health grounds after protesting or challenging the authorities. The issue has been acknowledged by China's government - the country's 2013 Mental Health Law aimed to stop this abuse, making it illegal to treat someone who is not mentally unwell. It also explicitly states psychiatric admission must be voluntary unless the patient is a danger to themselves or others. In fact, the number of people detained in mental health hospitals against their will has recently surged, a leading Chinese lawyer told the BBC World Service. Huang Xuetao, who was involved in drafting the law, blames a weakening of civil society and a lack of checks and balances. "I have come across lots of cases like this. The police want power while avoiding responsibility," he says. "Anyone who knows the shortcomings of this system can abuse it." An activist called Jie Lijian told us he had been treated for mental illness without his consent in 2018. Lijian says he was arrested for attending a protest demanding better pay at a factory. He says police interrogated him for three days before taking him to a psychiatric hospital. Like Junjie, Lijian says he was prescribed anti-psychotic drugs that impaired his critical thinking. After a week in the hospital, he says he refused any more medication. After fighting with staff, and being told he was causing trouble, Lijian was sent for ECT - a therapy which involves passing electric currents through a patient's brain. "The pain was from head to toe. My whole body felt like it wasn't my own. It was really painful. Electric shock on. Then off. Electric shock on. Then off. I fainted several times. I felt like I was dying," he says. He says he was discharged after 52 days. He now has a part-time job in Los Angeles and is seeking asylum in the US. People outside the UK can watch the documentary on YouTube. In 2019, the year after Lijian says he was hospitalised, the Chinese Medical Doctor Association updated its ECT guidelines, stating it should only ever be administered with consent, and under general anaesthetic. We wanted to find out more about the doctors' involvement in such cases. Speaking to foreign media such as the BBC without permission could get them into trouble, so our only option was to go undercover. We booked phone consultations with doctors working at four hospitals which, according to our evidence, are involved with forced hospitalisations. We used an invented story about a relative who had been hospitalised for posting anti-government comments online, and asked five doctors if they had ever come across cases of patients being sent in by police. Four confirmed they had. "The psychiatric department has a type of admission called 'troublemakers'," one doctor told us. Another doctor, from the hospital where Junjie was held, appears to confirm his story that police continued surveillance of patients once discharged. "The police will check up on you at home to make sure you take your medicine. If you don't take it you might break the law again," they said. We approached the hospital in question for comment but it did not respond. We have been given access to the medical records of democracy activist Song Zaimin, hospitalised for a fifth time last year, which makes it clear how closely political views appear to be tied to a psychiatric diagnosis. "Today, he was… talking a lot, speaking incoherently, and criticising the Communist Party. Therefore, he was sent to our hospital for inpatient treatment by the police, doctors, and his local residents' committee. This was an involuntary hospitalisation," it says. We asked Professor Thomas G Schulze, president-elect of the World Psychiatric Association, to review these notes. He replied: "For what is described here, no-one should be involuntarily admitted and treated against his will. It reeks of political abuse." Between 2013 and 2017, more than 200 people reported they had been wrongfully hospitalised by the authorities, according to a group of citizen journalists in China who documented abuses of the Mental Health Law. Their reporting ended in 2017, because the group's founder was arrested and subsequently jailed. For victims seeking justice, the legal system appears stacked against them. A man we are calling Mr Li, who was hospitalised in 2023 after protesting against the local police, tried to take legal action against the authorities for his incarceration. Unlike Junjie, doctors told Mr Li he wasn't ill but then the police arranged an external psychiatrist to assess him, who diagnosed him with bipolar disorder, and he was held for 45 days. Once released, he decided to challenge the diagnosis. "If I don't sue the police it's like I accept being mentally ill. This will have a big impact on my future and my freedom because police can use it as a reason to lock me up any time," he says. In China, the records of anyone ever diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder could be shared with the police, and even local residents' committees. But Mr Li was not successful - the courts rejected his appeal. "We hear our leaders talking about the rule of law," he told us. "We never dreamed one day we could be locked up in a mental hospital." The BBC has found 112 people listed on the official website for Chinese court decisions who, between 2013 and 2024, attempted to take legal action against police, local governments or hospitals for such treatment. Some 40% of these plaintiffs had been involved in complaints about the authorities. Only two won their cases. And the site appears to be censored - five other cases we have investigated are missing from the database. The issue is that the police enjoy "considerable discretion" in dealing with "troublemakers," according to Nicola MacBean from The Rights Practice, a human rights organisation in London. "Sending someone to a psychiatric hospital, bypassing procedures, is too easy and too useful a tool for the local authorities." Eyes are now on the fate of vlogger Li Yixue, who accused a police officer of sexual assault. Yixue is said to have recently been hospitalised for a second time after her social media posts talking about the experience went viral. It is reported she is now under surveillance at a hotel. We put the findings of our investigation to the UK's Chinese embassy. It said last year the Chinese Communist Party "reaffirmed" that it must "improve the mechanisms" around the law, which it says "explicitly prohibits unlawful detention and other methods of illegally depriving or restricting citizens' personal freedom". Source: BBC
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9 UN Experts Investigate China's Incarceration and Disappearance of 9 Tibetans
United Nations (UN) human rights experts have issued a communication letter to the Chinese government raising serious concerns about its recent history of human rights violations, in particular, its unlawful arrest and disappearance of rights defenders and individuals in Tibet and East Turkestan (Ch: Xinjiang). The communication highlights “recurring patterns of repression, including incommunicado detentions and enforced disappearances, which were intended to limit artistic, cultural, and religious expression, silence human rights defenders in these regions, and silence opposing or critical views.” The communication dated 14 November 2024 was made public on 14 January 2025. In the communication, the experts called on the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to provide information on the fate and whereabouts of nine Tibetans, including Tsedo, Kori, Chugdar, Gelo, Bhamo, Lobsang Samten, Lobsang Trinley, Wangkyi, and Tsering Tashi. The communication also mentioned other human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, activists, and ethnic or religious minorities unlawfully imprisoned and disappeared. Moreover, the experts questioned China about the facts and legal basis for the arrest, detention, charge, and sentence of the individuals mentioned above, along with whether their cases were classified as secret and the trials were closed. They explained how these actions conformed to China’s international human rights obligations. Many Tibetans have been subjected to severe torture and inhumane treatment during police interrogation for years, and a few have died as a result of these tortures, as well as the lack of adequate medical care. The experts have called on the PRC government to provide detailed information on its efforts to investigate any miscarriage of justice, ill-treatment in pre-trial and post-trial detention, as well as cases of death in custody. The communication noted the cases of five Tibetans mentioned above who were arrested in August 2022 as part of religious activities, such as burning incense and offering prayers. “Persons associated with them were not allowed to send them food,” wrote the experts. It also mentioned the case of Chugdar’s demise while in custody, where he was allegedly subjected to severe beatings and other forms of torture and ill-treatment. Additionally, the communication emphasises the recent wrongful arrest in September 2024 of four Tibetans, namely Lobsang Samten, Lobsang Trinley, Wangkyi, and Tsering Tashi, who were arrested and disappeared into Chinese custody without any information on their fate, whereabouts, and charges against them. The experts have noted that Lobsang Samten, imprisoned in 2011, and Lobsang Trinley “play a crucial role in the religious life of Kirti Monastery.” In recent years, the PRC government has intensified its suppression of religious freedom in Tibet, criminalising even the most basic expression of religious belief. Tibetans are subject to arrest and detention for acts as simple as burning incense, offering prayers, or possessing images of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The PRC government’s extensive surveillance system monitors religious activities, while authorities maintain tight control over monasteries and nunneries through “management committees” and mandatory political education sessions. The PRC government’s “sinicization of religion” has led to the destruction of religious sites and monasteries, forcibly relocating monks and nuns and arbitrarily detaining religious leaders. The criminalisation of everyday religious practices is a severe violation of international human rights standards and demonstrates China’s broader strategy to eradicate Tibetan religious and cultural identity. The letter was jointly signed by UN special rapporteurs, including Gabriella Citroni, Chair and Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Ganna Yudkivska, Vice-Chair on Communications of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders; Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues; Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; and Laura Nyirinkindi, Chair and Rapporteur of the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls.
Myanmar Deports Over 50,000 Scam Centre Workers to China Amid Crackdown
Myanmar’s ruling junta has called on neighbouring countries to help combat the issue, which analysts say is worth billions of dollars. Myanmar’s ruling junta said on Tuesday it had deported to China more than 50,000 people suspected of involvement in online scam operations since October 2023, as it made a rare call to neighbouring countries to intervene. Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar’s borderlands and are staffed by foreigners who are often trafficked and forced to work, swindling their compatriots in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars. An editorial published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Tuesday detailed the extent of the criminal activities – including online scams and gambling – publicly for the first time. It said the junta had caught and deported more than 55,000 foreigners involved in border scams to their home countries since October 2023, including 53,000 to China. The second-largest contingent – more than a thousand individuals – was from Vietnam, followed by Thailand with more than 600. The rest came from around 25 other countries, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar. The article added those responsible were not Myanmar nationals or ordinary foreign civilians, but “fugitive offenders” who illegally entered Myanmar from neighbouring countries. The junta called on its neighbours to “participate in combating online scams and online gambling”. Thai and Chinese authorities have not responded for comment. Myanmar’s northern border with China was previously a hotbed for online scam centres, often run by militias aligned with the ruling junta. But a sweeping offensive by an alliance of ethnic rebels cleared many of the scam centres out. Local Myanmar media have reported that scam bosses who escaped the offensive have since set up shop further south along the border with Thailand. Myanmar’s junta and Thai military officials have agreed to “jointly eradicate online gambling and online scams”, according to Myanmar state media. Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, on Friday called the compounds “one of the most pressing regional crises the region is facing”. The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military junta ousted democratically elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from office in a 2021 coup.
How US-Philippines Quiet Show of South China Sea Strength Sent 'A Clear Message'
Days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, Washington quietly deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the disputed South China Sea and staged secretive naval drills with the Philippines. The timing was deliberate and the message unmistakable, analysts say – it signalled the US’ determination to continue challenging China’s increasingly provocative actions and regional dominance. Over two days in waters near Palawan, US and Philippine forces held maritime defence exercises, part of a broader series of Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCA) that began in late 2023. The drills on Friday and Saturday – kept under wraps until their conclusion – featured the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group alongside Philippine vessels BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Andres Bonifacio. The exercises included tactical manoeuvres and communication drills aimed at bolstering interoperability between the two allies. “With each exercise, we become increasingly prepared and effective in addressing the challenges ahead,” said General Romeo Brawner Jnr, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, on Sunday. “This is a result of our shared commitment and mutual effort to safeguard our national interests, and secure a peaceful region.” US Rear Admiral Michael Wosje echoed this sentiment, describing the US-Philippine alliance as “ironclad” while emphasising the drills’ role in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. But the message wasn’t just for Manila. Analysts say the timing and secrecy of the drills were squarely aimed at Beijing, which has ramped up military activities in the South China Sea in recent months. China’s deployment of its double carrier battle group and the “monster” – its 165-metre-long (180-yard-long) coastguard vessel – has stoked tensions in contested waters, particularly near Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint claimed by both Manila and Beijing. “These exercises send a clear message to China, serving as both a statement of resolve and a deterrent,” said Chris Gardiner, CEO of the Institute for Regional Security in Canberra. “The US has a defence treaty with the Philippines. The US military should and will be undertaking exercises based on threat assessments, not on domestic politics, and will do so until such time as the new commander in chief adopts new China or Philippines policies,” he told This Week in Asia. Gardiner dismissed talk of the US drills as “secret”, however, saying they were merely not revealed ahead of time. The exercises should instead be viewed as “an expression of US commitment to and capabilities with the Philippines” and a sign that Washington was ready to act if deterrence failed, he said, noting China’s recent displays of force in the region. “It is crucial that such posturing does not go unanswered,” Gardiner said, “or else both China and allies may misread US levels of commitment”. Other analysts argued that Beijing’s aggressive posturing often backfired. “Sending the monster ship is creating more resentment,” said Jose Antonio Custodio, a defence analyst and fellow at the Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers. “It’s China creating the conditions [for these responses].” Custodio noted the irony: while Beijing is increasingly assertive, its military assets, including its conventionally powered carrier groups, still lag behind the US Navy’s ageing but formidable Nimitz-class carriers. The timing of the drills also indicated that the new Trump administration was likely to continue its policy on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Custodio said. “It won’t change. The actions may become more intense, but they will remain consistent,” he told This Week in Asia. “I would expect the Trump government to do the same policy in the Asia-Pacific region.” The South China Sea is a critical global trade route, with about a third of the world’s maritime trade – valued at more than US$3 trillion – passing through its waters annually. Beijing claims nearly the entire waterway, dismissing overlapping claims from neighbours such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. It also rejects a 2016 international arbitral ruling invalidating its claims, arguing the decision lacks legal merit. Geopolitical expert Arnaud Leveau, an assistant professor at Paris Dauphine University and researcher at the Asia Centre think tank in France, noted that while Trump was likely to push for stronger financial commitments from partners such as the Philippines, strategic interests and regional security concerns would endure. “The security partnership between the US and the Philippines is a key component of the US presence in the region,” he said, adding that strengthening alliances will only grow more critical as China’s military capabilities expand. Yet, the risks of escalation are ever-present. In June 2023, a Chinese warship came within 150 yards (137 metres) of the USS Chung-Hoon in the Taiwan Strait, forcing the US destroyer to alter course to avoid a collision. Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, president of the Philippine Association of Chinese Studies and a research fellow at Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress, warned that while the latest drills improve US-Philippine readiness, they won’t necessarily de-escalate tensions. “If something happens, the US and China can test their crisis management hotline,” he said, underscoring the razor’s edge diplomacy at play in the disputed waters.
Taiwan Prosecutors Indict Retired Military Personnel, 5 Others
Taiwan's High Prosecutors' Office said on Wednesday that it has indicted retired army lieutenant general Kao An-Kuo and five others for allegedly creating an organization in Taiwan to assist China in the event of a military invasion, according to the Taipei Times. The office stated that the six defendants are suspected of violating the National Security Act and have been transferred to the Taiwan High Court. The court has decided to detain them, prohibiting any outside contact. After retiring from military service, Kao An-kuo founded the pro-unification group "Republic of China Taiwan Military Government," according to a news release from the office. In 2019, Chinese intelligence personnel recruited Kao, along with a military spokesperson surnamed Hou and a woman surnamed Liu, following several exchanges. According to prosecutors, Hou and Liu are suspected of receiving financial support from the Chinese military to develop armed organizations and operational bases in Taiwan. The six defendants collectively received over 9.62 million New Taiwan dollars from China, the prosecutors said, according to the Taipei Times. Prosecutors claimed that Hou and Liu recruited former military colleagues to undermine the government, planning to support the Chinese military in the event of a Taiwan invasion. They have requested the court to impose sentences of at least 10 and eight years, respectively, on Kao and Liu, as their actions placed national security in a dangerous and unpredictable situation. Prosecutors also stated that the other defendants should face sentences ranging from three years and five months to over eight years in prison, the Taipei Times reported. In 2021, Kao posted a video of himself in military fatigues, urging Taiwanese military personnel to surrender to China and overthrow the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government. Earlier in December, Taipei prosecutors indicted four former military personnel on charges of selling state secrets to China. The four individuals, surnamed Lai, Lee, Lin, and Chen, have been detained, the Taipei Times reported. According to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, the three suspects who were responsible for security at the Presidential Office Building served in the 211th Military Police Battalion, surnamed Lai, Lee and Lin, while Chen served in the Ministry of National Defense's Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command. "Lai served from August 2015 to November last year, Chen from December 2017 to July last year, Lee from 2018 to February, and Lin from 2021 to August. From the end of 2021 to the beginning of 2022, Lai and Chen were allegedly brought into the scheme by a man surnamed Huang, who is currently wanted, on behalf of China's intelligence agents," prosecutors said. "Starting in April 2022, Chen used his cellphone to take photographs of classified documents before passing them on to Lai and Chen, or Chinese agents," prosecutors added. Further, the prosecutors highlighted that between March or April last year and August this year, Chen, using a fake identity, recruited fellow soldiers to spy for China in exchange for rewards. (ANI)
Elise Stefanik Vows to Counter China's 'Significant Inroads'
Elise Stefanik, US President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as America’s top envoy to the United Nations, has vowed to counter China’s ascendant influence and “significant inroads” at the intergovernmental body. At her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday to serve as US ambassador to the UN, the Republican congresswoman from New York outlined plans to push back against what she described as China’s systematic efforts to expand its presence in UN agencies and gain support among developing countries. “China has made significant inroads within the Global South and even within the Western hemisphere,” she testified. “They’ve done it by building ports. They’ve done it through telecoms. It’s really been a whole-of-government approach.” Stefanik pledged to focus on “ensuring US taxpayer dollars support well-functioning UN entities” while advancing strategies to vie with Beijing’s infrastructure investments across the developing world. Asked about comprehensive reform at the Security Council, a powerful UN body in which the US has veto power, she did not commit to advocating for the inclusion of members from the Global South, an idea floated by the Joe Biden administration. “It is very complex. It is very challenging,” she said. “I would want to work with this committee and of course the president primarily on any proposals for UN Security Council reform.” The Trump nominee also stated China was working to place its diplomats in leadership positions in UN technical organisations while building clout at junior levels. “Between 2009 and 2021, Communist China has increased its employment of its nationals in the UN by 85 per cent,” Stefanik told senators. “We need to have strong American leadership working with our allies to push back.” In addition, she promised a comprehensive review of US engagement at various levels of the UN such that Washington either directly appoints or works to support the appointment of partners and allies to key positions. Stefanik touted the importance of coordinating with American partners and allies so “that we have a strategy to ensure that the CCP is not able to make inroads at the most senior levels of these technical organisations and of agencies across the UN writ large”. Her comments follow Trump’s decision a day earlier to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization, carried out in one of a slew of executive orders he signed hours after his presidential inauguration. Scientists have blasted the move as a setback in the fight against infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, with Democratic lawmakers saying it could open the door to greater Chinese sway at the WHO. Stefanik said she “strongly” supported Trump’s decision, singling out the WHO as an institution “taken over by CCP propaganda”. But she would seek opportunities to engage in global health debates in other UN forums, she added. A vocal China critic, Stefanik has spearheaded multiple legislative efforts in the House of Representatives against Beijing, including backing a federal procurement ban on mainland-made drones and blocking Chinese land purchases near US military bases. And she co-sponsored the Strategic Competition Act of 2021 aimed at countering Chinese influence through diplomatic and economic measures. Last year, Stefanik criticised what she called “Communist China’s blatant and malicious election interference” following reports of alleged Chinese hacking attempts targeting Trump and now US Vice-President J.D. Vance. On Tuesday, she committed to advocating for Taiwan’s participation in international organisations, citing her record of supporting defensive aid to the island. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons. “I believe deeply in deterrence to avoid war in the Indo-Pacific,” Stefanik testified.
Trump to Take Virtual Centre Stage in Davos
Former President Donald Trump is set to deliver a highly anticipated online address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Thursday, taking centre stage in a gathering dominated by discussions about his newly inaugurated second term. Trump's presence has been a recurring theme throughout the week in this Swiss Alpine village, with his name surfacing in panel discussions, shuttle conversations, and exclusive parties along the promenade. "Trump is a provocateur. He enjoys being a provocateur, and many people at Davos are bored in their lives. He's not boring. So, you know, it's kind of exciting," Harvard scholar and WEF regular Graham Allison told AFP. The former president will engage in a live virtual Q&A session, fielding questions from prominent banking and oil executives. Trump, a real estate mogul before entering politics, has already made waves with policy announcements since his Monday inauguration, coinciding with the opening of the WEF. These include tariff threats against Mexico and Canada, withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, and even a contentious statement about reclaiming the Panama Canal. Trump’s proposals to slash taxes, shrink the federal government, and roll back regulations have garnered significant interest from business leaders, many of whom support his approach. "Trump has been running America like America Inc. He's very focused on securing the best possible advantages for the U.S. in any way he can," Julie Teigland, a managing partner at EY consulting firm, told AFP. "He knows he needs trade partners, and I expect his messaging to reflect that." 'Celebrate Trump' During the session, Trump will face questions from Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, Blackstone chairman Stephen Schwarzman, Banco Santander executive chairwoman Ana Botin, and Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of French energy giant TotalEnergies. Ahead of Trump's address, one of his staunchest international allies, Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei, will deliver a speech to the WEF. Speaking at a Bloomberg event on Wednesday, Milei praised Trump, calling his presidency a cause for global celebration. "The world should celebrate the arrival of President Trump," Milei said. "The golden era he proposes for the United States will serve as a beacon for the world, ending the harmful woke ideology that has plagued the planet." Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce and a vocal supporter of Trump, echoed this sentiment at the same Bloomberg forum, expressing optimism. "I'm very positive," Benioff said. "It’s a new day, an exciting moment, and I’m eager to see what comes next." 'No Winners in Trade Wars' Meanwhile, other global leaders have already reacted to the return of Trump’s "America First" policies. Without directly naming Trump, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang cautioned against trade wars, asserting that "there are no winners." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the importance of free trade but maintained a conciliatory tone, noting productive earlier talks with Trump. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the EU's readiness to negotiate but highlighted differences, particularly on climate policy, affirming the bloc’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump’s provocative statements regarding the Panama Canal, which the U.S. built but handed over to Panama in 1999 under a longstanding treaty. "I'm not worried," Mulino stated. "Panama will not be distracted by such remarks." As Trump prepares to address the global elite, his policies and rhetoric promise to keep the spotlight firmly on him, both in Davos and around the world.
India Discusses Bangladesh with Trump Administration: S. Jaishankar
India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has stated that during his first meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the issue of Bangladesh was discussed alongside various bilateral matters. The meeting took place in Washington on Wednesday (January 22), and Jaishankar addressed the media following the bilateral talks between the two foreign ministers. In response to a question, Jaishankar confirmed that there was a brief discussion on Bangladesh but declined to provide further details on the matter. This was the first bilateral meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar since the Trump administration took office. Jaishankar is currently in Washington to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony and participate in the Quad summit. The Quad is an informal alliance between the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia, aimed at countering China's influence. Jaishankar also met with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz during the visit. A statement from the U.S. State Department noted that the two ministers discussed various regional and bilateral issues, including strengthening economic ties. Indian media reports revealed that India would work with the Trump administration to address irregular immigration. Regarding the return of irregular Indian immigrants from the U.S., Jaishankar said India is always prepared to accept their lawful return. However, he added that the verification process is still ongoing, and the exact number of returnees has not yet been determined. At the press conference, Jaishankar stated, "Our position is principled and clear. I made this clear to Marco Rubio."
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