“Fabricating excuses and spreading rumours cannot justify the US's barbaric blockade and illegal sanctions against Cuba, nor can they conceal the fact that the US has seriously violated Cuba's right to survival and development,” Lin said.

Rubio had earlier accused Cuba of enabling intelligence operations by rival powers, warning that such activities posed a threat to US national security .

Wong’s comments came after a week of high-level diplomacy that placed Singapore in the middle of competing strategic relationships. He attended the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, where he delivered a keynote speech describing China as an important factor in building a more resilient global order. 

The China visit followed his first official trip to Japan as prime minister earlier in March, during which the two countries upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership, with cooperation planned in areas such as artificial intelligence and the green transition.

He said the back-to-back visits were not designed as a coordinated signal. The Japan trip had originally been planned for 2025 but was postponed, while the Boao invitation arrived separately. The timing ultimately worked out, he said, and allowed him to engage both partners in quick succession.

Ties between China and Japan have been deteriorating, including sharp rhetoric over Taiwan and signs Tokyo may be preparing to downgrade relations with Beijing. Wong said Singapore recognises the relationship is in a “difficult phase”, but insisted it does not see diplomacy as a zero-sum game.

Singapore’s approach, he said, is to maintain “many friends” and avoid taking sides in major-power rivalries.

The Cuban government said all 10 people on the boat were Cuban nationals who live in the United States. One of the men killed was identified as Michel Ortega Casanova. Authorities also detained an 11th man on land, who they claim was part of the group. Cuba said the group was planning "an infiltration with terrorist aims".

Officials reported that several weapons and tactical items were found on the boat. These included assault rifles, handguns, homemade bombs, and Molotov cocktails. Bulletproof vests and camouflage uniforms were also recovered. Cuban authorities added that most of the men have "prior records involving criminal and violent activity".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the incident as "highly unusual". He told reporters that it "was not a US operation" and said no US government personnel were involved. Rubio stated that the US would not rely solely on Cuba’s account and would instead "verify that independently".

“As we gather more information, then we'll be prepared to respond accordingly,” he said.

Rubio, whose parents emigrated to the United States from Cuba in the 1950s, has long criticised the Communist-run government in Havana. On Wednesday, he said that "Cuba's status quo is unacceptable" and "needs to change".

"They need to make dramatic reforms," he said, urging its Communist leadership to "open the space for both economic and eventually political freedom for the people of Cuba".

The shootout happened at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries. The United States has been blocking oil shipments to Cuba, contributing to a severe energy crisis on the island. Shortly before the shooting, however, the US government announced it would allow some oil sales for "commercial and humanitarian use".

The decline was driven largely by a steep fall in arrivals from mainland China amid simmering political tensions and travel disruptions.

The tourism agency said the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday weighed on travel, as it fell in mid-February this year rather than late January in 2025. 

It also cited a Chinese government advisory warning against travel to Japan and reduced flight frequencies.

Tensions have escalated since November, when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially triggering a military response.

Beijing has criticised the remarks. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the Munich Security Conference that forces in Japan were seeking to “revive militarism,” while China’s foreign ministry said dialogue must be based on mutual respect.

Tourism flows had already shown strain in December, when arrivals from mainland China fell 45% to around 330,000.

In a statement, ActionSA said a “Nigerian suspect identified as being involved in drug trafficking” was shot during the operation. The party said drug syndicates had terrorised communities and vowed to continue supporting “decisive and lawful measures” to combat crime.

However, the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg strongly condemned the killing, describing it as deeply troubling and calling for justice .

“The unfortunate incident has raised questions over the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa,” the consulate said in a statement. It also warned against what it described as attempts to label Nigerians as criminals.

The consulate stressed that no one should take the law into their own hands and called for due process. “No matter what the allegations are, there are processes and steps to justice. All should be presumed innocent and granted a fair hearing in a court of law,” it said.

South African authorities have launched investigations into the incident. Nigerian officials said they had held meetings with local authorities and had been assured that those responsible would be brought to justice.

The shooting has revived painful memories of past xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals, particularly from other African countries, have at times been targeted during unrest linked to crime, unemployment and social tensions.

Civil society groups have long warned that political rhetoric linking foreign nationals to crime can inflame tensions and deepen divisions in communities already struggling with poverty and insecurity.

ActionSA has defended its anti-crime stance, saying safety and law enforcement are central to its 10-point plan for Ekurhuleni, which includes targeting drug syndicates and strengthening policing efforts.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian consulate has urged its nationals to remain calm and law-abiding as investigations continue. It also extended condolences to Uzor’s family.

The South African government said the decision followed what it described as a “series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice.”

Among the main concerns were claims that official Israeli social media platforms had been used to launch insulting attacks against President Cyril Ramaphosa. DIRCO said such actions represented a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and undermined trust between the two countries.

The department also accused Israel of failing to inform South Africa about visits by senior Israeli officials, which it said violated established diplomatic protocol.

Breach of the Vienna Convention

South Africa argued that these actions amounted to a “fundamental breach” of the Vienna Convention, the international framework that governs diplomatic conduct and relations between states. “They have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations,” DIRCO said.

The government stressed that South Africa’s sovereignty and the dignity of its institutions are “inviolable.”

South Africa urged the Israeli government to ensure that future diplomatic engagement respects the Republic’s laws and international principles.

Israel has not yet publicly responded to the decision.

In response to the disruptions, China’s main carriers – Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – have introduced flexible policies for Japan-bound travellers. 

Passengers holding eligible tickets purchased before January 26 can change flights once without fees or request refunds, with the measures covering services from late March to October to cities including Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa.

The move follows warnings from China’s foreign ministry and comes after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested her country could intervene militarily if China attempted to invade Taiwan. 

Beijing responded with a travel advisory discouraging visits to Japan and limited cultural exchanges, prompting airlines to recalibrate capacity, particularly on leisure-oriented routes.

Effects of the diplomatic fallout have already reverberated across the two Asian giants. 

Chinese arrivals to Japan fell around 45% in December to roughly 330,000 visitors compared with the previous year. Despite the drop, Japan’s tourism sector reached a record 42.7 million foreign arrivals in 2025, buoyed by travellers from other countries.

China, the world’s largest tourism market, has traditionally been Japan’s largest source of inbound tourists, with visitors spending significantly more than other nationalities. In the first nine months of 2025, almost 7.5 million Chinese tourists arrived.

The February cancellations illustrate how geopolitical friction can ripple through the travel sector, with diplomatic disputes directly impacting commercial flights and tourism flows between two of Asia’s largest economies.

Tulfo accused the embassy of attempting to export censorship to a country that he said “fought, bled, and died to be free.”

“We are told that criticizing a foreign head of state is completely unacceptable. Let me say this then: If you do not like how democracy works in this country, then you are free to leave the Philippines. Get the f**k out,” Tulfo said.

“We do not take lessons on democracy from a government that jails critics. We do not take lectures on free speech from a system that suppresses it. Our house, our terms. Respect is not demanded — it is earned. And it is mutual,” he added.

Tulfo’s remarks came amid tensions over the West Philippine Sea, where he condemned Chinese statements threatening Filipino officials with unspecified “consequences” for defending Philippine sovereignty. 

The Chinese embassy responded sharply through Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei, asserting Beijing’s right to defend itself. 

“You have the freedom to attack others. We also have the right to defend ourselves—and push back. Freedom of speech, after all,” Guo said, warning Tulfo to consider the diplomatic implications of his statements.

The incident has prompted calls within the Philippine Senate to escalate the matter. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III suggested the chamber study the possibility of recommending Guo be declared persona non grata, a diplomatic measure that would formally declare him unwelcome. 

The diplomatic spat follows a Senate resolution earlier this month, signed by 15 senators, condemning public statements by the Chinese embassy that questioned the legitimacy of Philippine officials defending the country’s maritime rights. 

In a social media post, the embassy dismissed the resolution, stating that “echoes do not make a claim true” and that arguments, not numbers, should stand up to scrutiny.

Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as “traumatic,” suggesting the travellers were unfairly singled out.

On 10 December, the ministry announced that three Israeli nationals who had recently entered Ghana were ordered to leave the country. The government said the expulsions were meant to signal that Ghana would not tolerate the mistreatment of its citizens in any country.

Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey shared the decision publicly, saying the government had been “compelled” to act after reviewing the circumstances at the Israeli airport.

Israel’s chargé d’affaires in Accra was summoned, as the ambassador was outside the country at the time. Ghana says both sides are now engaged in discussions to resolve the matter and prevent further escalation.

While stressing that its relationship with Israel remains important, Ghana reiterated that visitors from friendly nations must be treated with the same respect the country expects for Ghanaians travelling abroad.

The episode has introduced a new strain into Ghana–Israel relations, with both governments now working to ease tensions and restore normal diplomatic engagement.

According to the ministry, seven Ghanaians were detained without explanation upon arrival in Tel Aviv, including four Members of Parliament attending an international cybersecurity conference. They were released only after more than five hours of “strenuous diplomatic intervention.”

The remaining three travellers were immediately deported and have since returned to Ghana.

Accra condemned the conduct of Israeli airport authorities as “extremely provocative, unacceptable and inconsistent” with the longstanding, friendly ties between the two countries. Ghana and Israel have enjoyed more than six decades of diplomatic relations, with historically smooth travel between the two nations.

Israel reportedly justified the detentions by claiming Ghana’s embassy in Tel Aviv had failed to cooperate in previous deportation cases, an explanation the Ghanaian government dismissed as “untenable.” Officials insist the mission has acted lawfully and promptly in its consular duties.

The Foreign Ministry will summon Israeli diplomats in Accra to formally register Ghana’s displeasure. It also confirmed that the government is considering “appropriate reciprocal action.”

Ghana emphasised that the treatment of its citizens at Ben Gurion Airport amounted to humiliation and violated norms of respectful diplomatic relations. The Israeli government has not yet publicly responded to Ghana’s protest .

"What China and the international community demand confirmation of is: what exactly is Japan's so-called 'consistent position'? Does Japan still adhere to the One-China principle? Japan should honestly, accurately, and completely explain its so-called 'consistent position.' Brushing it off with vague words, avoiding the real issue, and hoping to get away with it simply won’t work," spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing.

The remarks were made following the Japanese government's reaffirmation that there is no change in its position on what constitutes a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. The clarification came in a written response approved during a Cabinet meeting. The reply addressed an inquiry from an opposition lawmaker regarding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s earlier comments about Taiwan.

China recently advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan. This recommendation was issued in response to perceived threats made by Prime Minister Takaichi, who suggested that Japan might consider deploying forces if China were to attack Taiwan.

“This development is extremely dangerous and warrants high vigilance from neighbouring countries and the international community,” Mao warned.

She argued that Japanese political factions are deliberately pushing beyond the limits of the nation’s post-war Peace Constitution.

“Japanese right-wing forces are striving to break free from the constraints of the Peace Constitution, venturing further down the path of militarism and reckless expansion, leading Japan and the region towards disaster,” she said.

China also confirmed it has postponed a planned trilateral summit between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), saying the political conditions required for the meeting have collapsed.

Mao pointed to recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan as a major contributing factor.

“Japanese leaders have openly made erroneous remarks on the Taiwan issue, undermining the foundation and atmosphere for trilateral cooperation,” she stated. “The conditions for holding the Leaders’ Meeting are currently unfeasible.”

Beijing signalled it will now take the issue to the United Nations , accusing Japan of undermining the One-China principle.

“If Japan merely repeats that its position has not changed while remaining vague on specifics, and continuously oversteps boundaries in its actions, then such reiteration is nothing but empty words,” Mao said.

The diplomatic row has already seeped into daily life, prompting travel warnings and leading to thousands of cancelled flights on both sides as relations deteriorate further.

The rumours spread widely on TikTok, X, and Facebook, prompting Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to travel to Kampala this week to seek clarification. Museveni said he assured the Kenyan official that Uganda was not planning any form of confrontation.

“How can I be hostile to Kenya when I am promoting economic integration?” Museveni said. “When Ugandans produce goods and Kenyans buy them, and vice versa, we all prosper.”

What Museveni actually said in Mbale

The misunderstanding stems from a section of Museveni’s Mbale address in which he discussed long-term regional security planning, not territorial conflict.

He argued that landlocked countries like Uganda face strategic limitations, particularly in building naval capacity, and said political federation within the East African Community (EAC) would allow member states to combine resources and strengthen collective defence.

According to Museveni, this point was twisted into claims that Uganda intended to wage war for sea access. “What I said in Mbale is exactly what I have said here,” he explained. “I spoke about political federation, not hostility to Kenya.”

He added that separate national defence systems within the EAC limit the region’s ability to confront global powers with advanced naval, air, and space capabilities. “Some of the big powers plan to dominate in land forces, air force, navy, and even in space. If they gain overwhelming strength, where does that leave us? How can Uganda build a navy without access to the ocean?” Museveni said.

China renewed its hardline narrative on Taiwan, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson stating unequivocally that “Taiwan is China’s Taiwan” and that reunification “must” be achieved. The spokesperson stressed that reunification was an irreversible historical trend and a “core national priority,” signalling Beijing’s frustration with what it sees as growing international engagement with Taipei—particularly from Japan and the United States. This message was delivered during a routine press briefing but carried a heightened tone, reflecting China’s ongoing sensitivity ahead of several key political anniversaries and its concerns about foreign “interference” in cross-strait affairs.

PM Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan

Beijing formally summoned Japan’s envoy to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks suggesting that instability in the Taiwan Strait could pose an existential threat to Japan’s security. China described the comments as “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” accusing Tokyo of deliberately inflaming tensions. Officials warned Japan to avoid “sending wrong signals” to Taiwan’s authorities, and reiterated that the Taiwan issue is strictly China’s internal affair. This marks one of the strongest diplomatic rebukes China has delivered to Japan this year.

Bilingual warnings on X

In an unusual move, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson posted a series of bilingual warnings on X (Twitter), urging Japan to immediately “stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question.” The use of bilingual posts — including English and Japanese — signals an effort to bypass traditional diplomatic channels and speak directly to Japanese audiences and the global public. State media outlets amplified the posts, framing Japan as escalating regional tensions and challenging China’s sovereignty. Analysts say the messaging style mirrors China’s more confrontational “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy, which has become a hallmark of its foreign policy communication.

China summons Japanese Ambassador

In a separate move, China summoned Japan’s ambassador for a second high-level protest within days. Beijing criticised Takaichi’s Taiwan-related comments as “erroneous,” “provocative,” and a violation of Japan’s post-war commitments. According to CGTN , Chinese officials issued “serious démarches,” demanding that Japan “correct its mistakes” and refrain from actions that “harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The frequency of the summonses reflects heightened diplomatic friction and Beijing’s growing impatience with Tokyo’s evolving security posture.

China warns Japan

China once again cautioned Japan against misjudging its determination to defend its territorial claims, warning that any interference in the Taiwan question would be met with firm countermeasures. State-run Global Times reported that Chinese officials emphasised the Taiwan issue as the “first red line” in China–Japan relations. The commentary warned Japan not to “repeat historical mistakes”, a pointed reference to Japan’s WWII-era involvement in the region. Analysts say this narrative plays well domestically, aligning with nationalist sentiment ahead of major political events and reinforcing China’s claim that foreign powers are attempting to undermine its sovereignty.