CHINA/TAIWAN
US undersecretary of State Keith Krach is on a three-day visit to Taiwan to attend a memorial service for late president Lee Teng-hui. He also plans to meet with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and join President Tsai Ing-wen for dinner at her official residence Friday. Krach is the highest-ranking State Department official to visit the island in 40 years. Chinese military jets in recent weeks have stepped incursions into Taiwanese air space. Beijing announced that it is hold “actual” military exercises off Taiwan in response to what it calls the “situation” in the Taiwan Strait. China objects to the Trump Administration holding China accountable for its actions and what it calls “interference in its domestic matters,” in a reference to Taiwan.
JAPAN
The “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance which currently includes the US, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand is considering admitting its first non-English speaking member. Japan, the 2nd largest economy in the Pacific and a long-term western ally, is “under consideration” according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The US entered into the secret treaty establishing the group after World War II. It serves as a mechanism to share intelligence with each other in a secure environment and was one of the most significant documents of the Cold War era.
COLOMBIA
Columbia, once a staunch ally of the United States, is collaborating with China in return for financial and engineering assistance in building a subway system in Bogota and a 5G network for the country. A senior State Department official called on Colombia’s government to “make China deal with you on your terms, on transparent, open, above-board, labor-rights-respecting, environmental-standards-respecting terms.” China has not been transparent to date and the State Department warned Colombia to be careful.
VENEZUELA
None of the conditions necessary for a free and fair election exist in Venezuela scheduled for this December 6th. According to Elliott Abrams, the US Special Representative for Venezuela: “Opposition parties have been stolen and regime agents appointed to run them; the national elections commission is completely under regime control; freedom of the press does not exist; repression and intimidation by the police and colectivo gangs continues.”
Why herbal remedies are such a good alternative? Unfortunately 44% of men would not go to their GP if they experience http://respitecaresa.org/hello-world/ low cost levitra erection problems, and those who do go to their GP that shall undertake an assessment, perform tests, and advice. Well to deal with such issues, there are lot many options also viagra canada available in the market today. Easy Methods: The Ayurvedic treatments bestowed are very easy to viagra generic uk follow. Unlike other pills in the market that promise an improvement levitra on sale respitecaresa.org in your overall health.Venezuela does not have reliable and tested voting machines in the country. “The rules of the game were recently changed by the regime, which created over 100 new National Assembly seats and changed voting district lines,” added Abrams. This is why, he added, “Interim President Juan Guaido and a coalition of 37 parties has said they would not legitimize this fraud by participating in the election. Needless to say, those conditions will not be cured merely by postponement; fraudulent elections are no less fraudulent if held a few months later.”
RUSSIA
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced that the State Department “…in a coordinated action with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned two Russian nationals for their involvement in a sophisticated phishing campaign in 2017 and 2018 that targeted customers of two U.S.-based, and one foreign-based, virtual asset service providers, commonly known as cryptocurrency exchanges. American citizens and businesses were among the victims of this malicious cyber-enabled activity, which resulted in combined losses of at least $16.8 million. In recent years attacks against American citizens by Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China have increased and become more complex.
IRAN
Iran will be allowed to buy and sell weapons in about 30 days, according to Pompeo. He said: “… the Islamic Republic of Iran will be permitted under international law to purchase weapon systems and to sell weapon systems. That’s what the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action permitted. And so while the EU has made a different decision about that agreement, they share our concern about the extension of that arms embargo. Unfortunately, they’ve done nothing yet that would lead us to being able to extend it, so the United States has taken the responsibility.”
At a press conference on Tuesday, Pompeo announced that the US is going to act in a way that will “prevent Iran from being able to purchase Chinese tanks and Russian air defense systems and resell weapons to Hizballah to undermine the very efforts that [French] President Macron is ably trying to lead in Lebanon.” He added that it is irreconcilable that one “…would permit Iran to have more money, more wealth, and more arms, and still be working to try and help disconnect Hizballah from the disaster that they have created inside of Lebanon.”
DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.
Illustration: Pixabay