Results for: Foreign Relations

China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Taiwan’s presidential inauguration and imposed sanctions on former U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher, accusing him of interfering in China’s internal affairs. The ministry also criticized U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for congratulating Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, accusing the U.S. of violating its commitment to maintain only unofficial relations with Taiwan. The inauguration of Lai, who has pledged to defend Taiwan’s democracy against China’s threats, has sparked a diplomatic rift between China and Taiwan, with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office criticizing Lai’s speech as promoting separatism. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has also announced sanctions against Boeing and other defense companies for arms sales to Taiwan.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer has affirmed that the island nation is taking appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence of ‘derogatory remarks’ against India. Zameer’s assurance came during an official visit to India, where he acknowledged the understanding between the governments of Maldives and India regarding past incidents. He emphasized that such actions do not represent the government’s stance and that the focus is now on moving forward. Zameer’s visit also involved discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, focusing on strengthening bilateral and international cooperation between Maldives and India.

Iran has strongly condemned Argentina’s move to seek the arrest of its Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, over his alleged involvement in the deadly 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community center. Argentina has escalated its efforts to hold Iran accountable for the attack, escalating tensions between the two nations.

Hong Kong’s Article 23 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance has sparked concerns about civil liberties and its impact on foreign relations. Despite no arrests under the law yet, some Hongkongers have taken precautionary measures, and foreign governments have expressed worries. The government aims to shift the narrative towards the economy and emphasize the high threshold for prosecution, while avoiding direct confrontations with Western powers. The effectiveness of mega events and engaging with expatriate Hongkongers are seen as potential strategies to address international skepticism.