Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit Raises U.S. Tensions With China |
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan (WSJ) since 1997. Meeting with Taiwanese lawmakers and President Tsai Ing-wen, Pelosi said the U.S. commitment to preserve Taiwan’s democracy remains “ironclad.” She also met with the head of one of the world’s largest chip producers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, as part of the United States’ efforts to secure its semiconductor supply chain.
Beijing condemned the visit, arguing that it violated China’s sovereignty and pledging unspecified consequences. China’s military will begin exercises tomorrow that will effectively encircle Taiwan and encroach further into Taiwan-claimed waters than any previous drills. Beijing also imposed (SCMP) new trade restrictions on the island, including import bans on fish and fruit. The White House reiterated that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, while some of Washington’s allies in the Asia-Pacific urged de-escalation (NYT).
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“In recent years, China has become bolder in its coercive military maneuvers: look no further than its near-daily incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. To send a message, China will now have to do something that rises significantly above that kind of baiting, which means its options are increasingly escalatory,” CFR’s David Sacks writes for Foreign Affairs.
“The coming period may be bumpy. It will be important for officials to remain in direct contact, for each side to exercise discipline, and focus on preserving peace and stability in [the] Taiwan Strait. Smarts, not flexes of strength, will be needed to navigate this period,” the Brookings Institution’s Ryan Hass tweets. On The President’s Inbox podcast, the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Bonnie S. Glaser discusses Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. |
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U.S.-Indonesia Military Drills Begin |
The U.S. and Indonesian militaries kicked off (AP) their annual joint exercises amid rising assertiveness from China’s military in the South China Sea. For the first time, the exercises include forces from Australia, Japan, and Singapore. |
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Sri Lankan Leader Touts Reform Plan |
President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined a twenty-five-year roadmap (AP) to pull the country out of its economic crisis. He said he will submit the plan to the International Monetary Fund and negotiate with creditors to reduce Sri Lanka’s massive debt burden.
CFR’s Brad W. Setser looks at whether emerging economies, such as Sri Lanka, can withstand rising costs.
Pakistan: The national electoral commission concluded (Dawn) that the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan knowingly received millions of dollars of illegal funding, including from foreign sources. |
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Middle East and North Africa |
Yemen’s Factions Agree to Extend Truce |
The United Nations announced (Middle East Eye) that a four-month-old truce between Yemen’s government and the rebel Houthi forces had been extended for two more months. The warring parties also committed to further talks on de-escalating the conflict.
This Backgrounder traces the history of Yemen’s conflict.
Kuwait: Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah dissolved parliament (The National) to break an impasse between lawmakers and the prime minister’s cabinet. Elections will be held within two months. |
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Diplomats Call for Opening Ethiopia’s Tigray |
The U.S. and European Union envoys to the Horn of Africa called on Ethiopia’s government (Al Jazeera) to restore essential services to Tigray, a region under rebel control. Tigray faces shortages of food, fuel, electricity, and other essentials.
Somalia: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre named his new cabinet (Reuters), which includes a former high-ranking member of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab. |
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U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Russia |
The U.S. Treasury and State Departments announced fresh sanctions (WaPo) aimed at pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin’s allies, including oligarchs and his purported romantic partner, as well as defense and technology entities.
Spain: The government announced nationwide restrictions (The Guardian) on energy use in public and commercial buildings that will be enforced until November 2023. Spain is seeking to cut its natural gas consumption by 8 percent to reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies. |
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| Guatemala Arrests Alleged Migrant Smugglers |
Guatemalan authorities raided a compound (AP) they said belonged to a migrant smuggling ring and arrested nineteen people, including the ring’s alleged leader, Felipe Diego Alonzo. Alonzo is wanted in the United States in connection to the death of a Guatemalan migrant in Texas.
This Backgrounder explains how instability in Central America is driving migration.
Mexico: Unnamed sources told Reuters that Mexico’s attorney general’s office is investigating former President Enrique Peña Nieto for money laundering and other financial crimes. He has previously denied any wrongdoing. |
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State Abortion Battles Pick Up |
Voters in Kansas rejected a proposal (NYT) to remove the right to abortion from the state’s constitution. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit (CNN) challenging Idaho’s near-total abortion ban, which is set to take effect at the end of this month. |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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