Weekly News Digest for September 27th, 2024
Compiled by Lydia Wong, Nila Karunakaran, Tobyn Smith, Joey Quinn, Layla Jeeth, Trinity De Lima, Mary Wahn
Edited by John Wilson, Lydia Wong, Grey Cohen, Ryan Simmons, Sara Anis Ali
Asia and the Pacific
Japanese Warship Sails Through the Taiwan Strait Intensifying Tensions in the Indo-Pacific
The JS Sazanami, a Japanese naval destroyer, spent ten hours traveling through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday. This move was an attempt to negate China’s claims to sovereignty over the strait and Taiwan at large, by normalizing the strait as international waters. Following the move, Lin Jian, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman responded stating that, “China is highly vigilant about the political intentions of Japan’s actions.” Japan’s decision to conduct military exercises with its destroyer is crucial because Japan is slowly abandoning its pacifist stance towards Chinese dominance.
For decades, Japan has remained strategically cautious in an effort to prevent confrontation as concerns over regional security heighten. In August, a Chinese spy plane violated Japanese airspace and twice since then, Chinese naval watercraft entered Japanese waters. Because of these actions, Japan has foregone its long-standing, passive silence, condemning these attacks on Japanese sovereignty. Japan’s sail through the Taiwan Strait solidifies an impending shift in Asia’s power dynamics, asserting a Western presence and counterweight to the Chinese military.
China continually asserts dominance in the South China Sea, employing ‘grey zone’ tactics to test Chinese (and China’s adversaries’) capabilities and to weaken any future response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Growing disputes over the political status of Taiwan characterize the recent amplification of Chinese militancy. U.S. Admiral John Aquilino, Former Head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said “all indications” point to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) being ready to take Taiwan forcefully by 2027. Since 2020, China has increased its spending by 16% to $223 billion, funding the PLA’s addition of more than 400 fighter aircrafts and 20 major warships. The Chinese military has been rousing potential operations it would execute against Taiwan, including maritime and air blockades, when 2027 arrives.
With China’s attempt at increased dominance in the area, many states have responded with proactive countermeasures. Australia, the United States, and Japan have agreed to intensify military drills with the Philippines. This comes on the heels of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. responding to the dangerous attacks by the Chinese Coast Guard with warnings of a countermove. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – a diplomatic partnership reestablished in 2017 comprising Japan, Australia, India, and the U.S. – have strengthened their security and economic ties after sharing concerns about China’s increasing assertiveness in the region. The countries have collectively agreed a more comprehensive agenda is necessary and are currently planning to extend cooperation on maritime security to counter China’s growing dominance in the South China Sea.
Caribbean
The Implications of Juan Orlando Hernandez’s Sentencing for U.S-Honduran Relations
On June 26, 2024, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his involvement in a massive drug trafficking conspiracy. He was convicted for his involvement in smuggling over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. Historically, the United States has viewed leaders like Hernandez as allies in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime in Central America.
Hernandez served as president from 2014 to 2022 and was seen as a U.S. ally in the battle against drug trafficking. The president also received significant U.S. aid intended to promote stability and security in the region. However, evidence presented in court revealed that Hernandez accepted millions in bribes from drug cartels while pretending to be a “crime-fighting leader.” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Hernandez “abused his power to support one of the largest drug trafficking conspiracies in the world.”
The implications of this case extend beyond Hernandez’s prison sentence. The case raises crucial questions about U.S. foreign policy in Central America. The United States has supported leaders like Hernandez in the past, but this case signals a shift toward demanding accountability from regional leaders. Hernandez’s actions of contributing to a cycle of violence and corruption forced countless Hondurans to flee their homes in search of safety. This wave of migration has not only strained U.S. border resources but has also fueled political debates about immigration policy.
For many Hondurans, Hernandez’s conviction symbolizes hope for the future free from drug trafficking and corruption. The U.S intends to advocate for stronger governance and anti-corruption measures in the region. Additionally Hernandez’s sentence is symbolic of a new chapter in U.S-Honduras relations.
Europe
EU Lowers Wolf Protection Status
European diplomats agreed to downgrade the protection status of gray wolves from “strictly protected” to merely “protected” after a steady growth in their population. Germany’s Environmental Minister, Steffi Leke, stated it was “justifiable from a nature conservation perspective and necessary from the point of view of livestock farmers.". Gray wolves have been extinct in Europe for decades, but their population has slowly been increasing following the 1979 Bern Convention– an attempt at curtailing the decline of endangered species. This amendment would allow for commercial hunting of wolves.
However, many animal conservation groups have argued that it is too premature for this executive proposition. Some have suggested it may be politically motivated after EU Commission Chief Ursela von der Leyson’s pony was killed by wolves two years ago. The World Wildlife Fund claimed that this is opening a “pandora’s box” of hunting animals. The EU responded by suggesting that this will only affect wolves and have no spillover effects on other endangered animals. Eurogroup for Animals contends there is “no scientific backing” behind this decision and was a “strategic, opportunistic and political move” following extensive lobbying from farming groups across Europe.
Germany currently has the strongest voice in the EU’s weighted system and has strongly advocated for the proposal’s revision. Ireland and Spain were the only two member-states that voted against it.
Middle East and North Africa
Protests and Violence Continue as Gaza War Nears its One-Year Anniversary
Recent escalations in the Israel-Hamas war have prompted a new wave of demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa. As the war in Gaza approaches its one-year anniversary, the conflict has spread as far as Yemen to the south and Lebanon to the north. Israel faces air attacks from both Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Between September 23rd and September 26th, Israeli air strikes killed over 700 people in Lebanon. The death toll has been overwhelmingly one-sided, resulting in many civilian casualties in Lebanon and Gaza. Israeli officials reportedly shot down a ballistic missile from Yemen a week prior to the beginning of its recent air campaign, and air defenses have seen success intercepting aerial assaults. Despite Israel’s apparent military edge, the United States and its allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire following a recent UN meeting in New York.
Protestors continue to demonstrate in cities across the world. In Israel, protestors blocked the streets of Tel Aviv and demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a hostage release deal. After news broke that Hamas killed six hostages earlier in the month, an estimated 100,000 protestors filled the streets and surrounded Netanyahu’s home. In the weeks following, thousands of demonstrators attended rallies and protests in Tel Aviv. In Morocco, protestors organized in over 50 different cities. Moroccans have protested the war in Gaza since the beginning of the war. Similarly, U.S. protests have resumed as college students returned to campus, including demonstrations outside of the U.N. ahead of Netanyahu’s speech in New York on September 27th.
Ongoing protests throughout the war in Gaza have had little effect. During a speech to the UN general assembly on September 27th, Netanyahu reaffirmed that the war would continue, and denied the 21-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and allies. The Israeli Prime Minister called upon the U.S. to reinstate sanctions against Iran that were removed after the 2015 nuclear deal. It is unlikely that the Israeli government will seek out a ceasefire in the near future.
North America
Additional U.S. Troops Headed to Middle East Following Israel-Hezbollah Escalation
On Monday, U.S. Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Patrick Ryder announced the U.S. will send a “small number” of U.S. military troops to the Middle East to aid forces in the area. The decision to send more troops to the region comes as Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah continue to exchange deadly strikes against each other.
On Monday, Israel carried out air strikes into Lebanon, killing at least 492 people. In response to the Israeli attacks, Hezbollah fired a missile towards Tel Aviv on Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned the violence between Israel and Hezbollah during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly this week, emphasizing that “too many” individuals have been negatively affected throughout the conflict. He also expressed interest in carrying out a diplomatic solution to resolve the issues between Israel and Hezbollah in order to ensure security for Israeli and Lebanese citizens.
U.S. Ambassador Robert A. Wood met with other nations in New York City during the United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the Middle East. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, shared that France and the United States are working on a plan for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah lasting 21 days to allow for negotiations to take place. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke about the U.S.’s efforts to end the conflict, saying “We’re working to prevent escalation. We’re working to make sure this doesn’t get into a full-scale war.”
South America
Ecuador’s Government Cuts Power Due to Severe Droughts and Wildfires
Ecuador became the focus of South America’s drought and wildfire problem this week as its government began initiating nightly blackouts. The government chose to cut off power at night in an effort to lighten the impact on daytime activities and workdays. The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, stated that there will be daily power cuts from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. every Monday through Thursday. These droughts across South America are especially devastating for Ecuador due to hydroelectric energy making up 77% of its energy sources. The current drought is the worst one in the last 61 years, and there has not been rainfall in two months.
In April, President Noboa declared a state of emergency and implemented several approaches to reduce energy shortages such as rationing of power and deploying military forces at major hydroelectric dams. Noboa claims that the shortages are not only due to droughts but also to political failings, and he requested that Ecuador’s energy minister step down. On top of the energy shortages, there are also wildfires threatening the outskirts of Ecuador’s capital, Quito. Smoke and ash covered the city, and about 2,000 firefighters and rescue workers evacuated the citizens in affected areas. Ecuador is trying to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters and provide solace to its citizens. As of now, the rest of South America continues to struggle with similar conflicts due to climate change.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzanian Crackdown on Protests Creates Concern
Tanzanian police arrested eight opposition leaders and several journalists during a recent crackdown on anti-government and political protests. Among those arrested were prominent figures from Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania. These include the party’s chairman Freeman Mbowe, his deputy Tundu Lissu, and senior party leaders Godbless Lema and Benson Kigaila, and three journalists covering the protests. Police did not explain the arrests, and they did not specify what charges they would bring against the Chadema leaders and journalists after releasing them on bail.
This crackdown comes after police arrested 520 people last month in anticipation of a large youth rally. The party expected a significant turnout, with an estimated 10,000 participants. Following the arrests, the police also banned the rally, claiming it would incite violence. The protests also follow the death of another senior Chadema leader, Ali Kibao, earlier this month. Kibao was forced off a bus and abducted while traveling from Dar es Salaam to his hometown Tanga. In the following days, Kibao’s body was found severely beaten with acid poured on his face.
These events come after Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, lifted a ban on political rallies and protests, which her predecessor, President John Magufuli, had imposed. President Hassan implemented this change as part of her “Four Rs” initiative–reconciliation, resiliency, reforms, and rebuilding–aimed at transforming the government. However, the recent wave of arbitrary arrests has caused widespread fear among Chadema members, particularly as crucial local and national elections approach in December and next year. Human rights groups are now calling for an end to these detentions, urging authorities in Tanzania to respect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
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