Trump is now urging countries, including China, Japan , and others, to take part in efforts to reopen the strait. Reports indicate that the United States has approached about seven countries, including China, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and South Korea, to provide naval support in the region. These efforts include escorting oil tankers and conducting de-mining operations to ensure safe passage.

The United States, however, is not the country most directly affected by a blockade. Over the past decade, it has become one of the world ’s largest oil producers. Much of its oil imports now come from Canada, Mexico, and other countries in the Western Hemisphere. As a result, only a small portion of the U.S. oil supply depends on the Strait of Hormuz.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the exchange of attacks had already spread beyond Iran and Israel, with Iran striking targets in several countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

The widening confrontation, ASEAN warned, posed “a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians” and endangered both regional and global stability.

“We call on all countries to respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations,” the foreign ministers said.

In the statement, the ministers also underscored that the escalation came while diplomatic efforts were still underway, pointing to mediation initiatives led by Oman that were aimed at advancing a negotiated solution.

ASEAN described the timing of the attacks as “particularly regrettable,” highlighting concerns that military action had derailed ongoing attempts to defuse tensions.

The bloc called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and urged all parties to exercise “utmost self-restraint” to prevent further escalation.

It also warned against actions that could worsen the crisis and called on all sides to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy .

The ministers reaffirmed that all states must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations and resolve disputes through peaceful means in line with international law and the UN Charter.

Beyond the geopolitical fallout, ASEAN said member states were closely coordinating to assist citizens caught in the crisis.

The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to providing emergency assistance to ASEAN nationals in the Middle East, including through coordinated consular support under existing regional guidelines for crisis situations.

The strikes are being carried out in coordination with Israel, which launched what it called a pre-emptive attack on Iranian targets. Explosions have been reported in Tehran and other cities, as air and missile strikes target military facilities and strategic infrastructure tied to Iran’s missile and nuclear programs.

Trump said the objective of the operation is to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, weaken its navy, and ensure the country cannot obtain a nuclear weapon, while warning that the campaign could involve casualties and further escalation. Iranian officials have vowed retaliation. Get updates as they happen here:

LIVE UPDATES

Latest on Iran war after assassination of Supreme Leader

An Iranian state TV anchor broke down in tears while announcing the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran has reportedly hit the French naval base 'Camp de la Paix' in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

An Iranian drone struck a residential apartment in Dubai, but didn't explode.

Footage showing the aftermath of an Iranian strike in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Multiple casualties have been reported.

Iran’s national flag in Iran's embassy in New Delhi is lowered to half-mast in honour of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 

Thousands in Tehran mourn the death of Khamenei

Trump warns after Iran threatened more attacks in the wake of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 

Casualties reported after security forces opened fire on Pakistani protesters who stormed the US consulate in Karachi.

Iranians living in Japan gather near the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo following U.S.–Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

In Pakistan, protestors storm the US consulate in Karachi.

Crowds gather in Tehran and Indian-administered Kashmir after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.–Israeli strikes

Iranian-Americans in Virginia react as news breaks of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

Iran has declared 40 days of public mourning following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with state media saying his “martyrdom” will mark the beginning of an uprising against “oppressors.”

Celebrations are reportedly happening in Tehran after the news of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's passing.

In a strongly worded message, Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last shah, declared what he described as the end of the Islamic Republic.He argued that any attempt to appoint a successor would lack legitimacy and fail to survive.

In a post shared on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader is dead and said this presents an opportunity for Iranians to overthrow the current regime.

Multiple US and Israeli officials have reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint strikes on Tehran on Saturday morning.

US and Israeli attacks continue as iran retaliates

US Central Command: “As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” Trump has warned that Iranian forces who don’t stand down “face certain death.”Tehran has launched retaliatory attacks to multiple bases across the Gulf States.

Iran has carried out another attack on Bahrain tonight, hitting a high rise building causing a massive explosion.

Iranian suicide drone seen hitting near the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE.

Videos from the scene show smoke lingering over parts of the airport zone with visible damage around the terminal and surrounding infrastructure, as authorities work to assess the impact following the reported attack and regional escalation.

The Israeli Air Force just posted a footage showing an Iranian base being bombed just as forces were preparing launchers for missile strikes against Israel.

Moment captured on tape when Iran missile hit Kuwait International Airport.

Clips shared on social media show smoke rising from the reported explosion site in Dubai, with flames visible in parts of the area.

Iran has launched ballistic missiles toward Gulf states in retaliation for recent US-Israel strikes, with explosions reported over Dubai.

"We cannot just sit and watch as they attack us." Iran says its strikes on American bases are acts of self-defence and that it cannot remain passive if attacked.Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Tehran was “handling this situation". He confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are safe “as far as I know,” and that high-ranking officials are secure. He also questioned why the United States would begin negotiations and then carry out attacks during talks.

Trump's message to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, armed forces, and police.

A bus station in Holon, Tel Aviv, caught fire after Iranian missile strikes.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a large wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and other American interests in the Persian Gulf, with explosions reported in Doha near Al-Udeid air base and missiles heard across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Israel and Iraq.

After the escalation, several countries — including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE and Israel — closed their airspace, airlines cancelled regional flights, and US embassies in the Gulf urged American citizens to seek shelter.

The UAE’s Ministry of Defence announced that its air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed a fresh wave of Iranian missiles launched toward the country, carrying out the operation efficiently and without any reported damage.

A vehicle engulfed in flames in a residential area close to Doha, Qatar, after it was struck by missile debris following Iran’s attack on Al Udeid Air Base, where US soldiers are based.

A video captures an explosion as missile fragments descend upon a residential neighbourhood near Doha, Qatar, following Iran’s strike on Al Udeid Air Base, where US troops are stationed.

Donald Trump had warned Iran not to build a nuclear weapon, and mediators from Oman told U.S. media they had secured a breakthrough in talks, with Tehran agreeing not to stockpile enriched uranium, effectively blocking the path to an atomic bomb.

Despite this, Trump ordered strikes in coordination with Israel, initiating a conflict expected to cost many lives on both sides.

Israelis take shelter as sirens warn of incoming missiles.Israelis took shelter amid air-raid sirens and hospitals began evacuating patients on Saturday following the launch of Iranian missiles toward the country, after strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran.

‘The objective of the operation is to put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran’ - PM Netanyahu following strikes.

Footage of fighter jets departing from an Israeli airbase before the attack on Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as an operation to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran".

“The Kingdom warns of the grave consequences.”Saudi Arabia has expressed full solidarity with the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan following what it described as violations of their sovereignty, warning of serious consequences if such actions continue.

Israeli-US strikes reportedly hit areas near Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s official offices and residence (Beit-e Rahbari) in central Tehran.

"I'd rather do it the peaceful way."Less than 24 HOURS ago, Trump said this about a possible US military attack on Iran.

Footage shows Iranian students apparently celebrating U.S. strikes carried out early Saturday, which President Donald Trump described as a “noble mission” to free Iranians from their government.

In a video message, Trump urged Iranians to take over their government once the operation was finished, calling it a rare opportunity, and said that while they had long asked for America’s help, no previous president had acted as he was doing.

Explosions have also been recorded in Abu Dhabi as Iran conducts retaliatory strikes on U.S. installations following what Washington called “Operation Epic Fury.”

Explosions and air-raid sirens were reported at several U.S. military sites in the Middle East after Iran launched retaliatory strikes following the latest escalation with Washington and Israel.

Blasts were seen near the U.S. naval base in Al-Juffair, Bahrain, while alarms and explosions were also reported in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. In Qatar, authorities said a Patriot air-defence system intercepted an incoming Iranian missile.

Saudi Arabia has condemned the "treachorous aggression" of Iran on its neighbours Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Jordan. In a statement on X, Saudi says it stands by the side of the affected countries and will support them in all measures. 

Iran has released a statement calling on the international community to speak against what it calls "illegal aggression" by the US and Israel. It pointed out to the negotiation efforts of the Iranian regime and assured its citizens that the state will defend the country with "all its might". 

The UAE has condemned attacks on facilities in its country which it claims has killed one person. In a statement released by the Ministry of Defense ,  the UAE says a lot of Iranian missiles have been intercepted and described the attacks as "cowardly". 

Many countries have called on their citizens in Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait to remain indoors.

Bahrain has confirmed that the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet has been targeted by a missile attack.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says it has launched first large-scale wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes towards Israel.

Three massive explosions were heard in central Tehran, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. The extent of the damage and possible casualties were not immediately clear.

The Israeli government declared the emergency as a precaution against potential counterstrikes.

Was the U.S. aware of it?

The strike came a day after the United States authorized some diplomatic staff and their families to leave Israel, citing unspecified “safety risks.”

In a February 27 advisory, the U.S. State Department allowed the departure of non-emergency government personnel and family members from its mission in Israel, saying the security situation could change rapidly.

“Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” the advisory said, noting that travel restrictions on U.S. personnel could be imposed without notice.

The U.S. government did not directly link the move to a possible Israeli strike on Iran, but the guidance warned of “increased regional tensions” and potential security incidents.

The evacuation authorization also came as Washington and Tehran were engaged in indirect talks over Iran’s nuclear program. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action if negotiations fail to produce a deal limiting Iran’s enrichment activities.

“We have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” he added.

Still, Trump appeared to leave the door ajar for reconciliation with Tehran — even the possibility of Iran joining the Board of Peace. "Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we're doing. If they join us, that'll be great. If they don't join us, that'll be great too — but it'll be a very different path," he said. "They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region."

Trump’s remarks came as the United States continues to position military forces in the Middle East , reportedly preparing for a possible strike on Iran as soon as this weekend. 

While Trump has not made a final decision, multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, CBS News, and CNN, report that sufficient air and naval resources are in place for potential military action.

According to senior U.S. officials cited by Reuters, national security advisers have been instructed to ensure all forces are deployed in the region by mid-March. 

The Board of Peace gathering in Washington brought together representatives from more than two dozen countries to discuss reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Gaza.

Trump framed the meeting as part of his broader Middle East strategy, calling the region “the biggest thing of all — we have peace in the Middle East right now.”

Yet the juxtaposition between the diplomatic forum and his stern warning to Tehran highlights the ongoing tension between Trump’s public promotion of stability and the looming possibility of military action.

Iran is expected to submit a written proposal following indirect talks in Geneva this week. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the progress as limited, emphasizing that “diplomacy” remains the administration’s “first option,” even as the timeline for potential U.S. action tightens.

They said the change is meant to adjust to " international standards.” 

Since the SDF was established in 1954, Japan has deliberately used rank names that differ from those of its pre-1945 military. The distinction was designed to signal a clean break from the wartime past and reinforce the force’s defensive role under Japan’s pacifist constitution.

Under the current system, Japanese rank names do not match the old imperial terminology, even though their English translations already correspond to standard military ranks used overseas. 

For example, the SDF rank equivalent to a colonel is “issa,” or “first field officer,” which replaced the imperial-era term “taisa.” While the Japanese titles were changed after the war , their English equivalents have long matched international military ranks.

Any change to rank names would require amendments to the Self-Defense Forces Law and approval by parliament.

Pusback

Inside the Defence Ministry and the SDF, however, the proposal has been met with scepticism .

Some officials noted that reviving terminology associated with the imperial military risks complicating recruitment efforts and unsettling public perceptions, especially among younger generations.

Particular resistance has focused on lower enlisted ranks such as ittohei (private first class) and nitohei (private). Critics argue that these terms carry outdated or negative connotations tied to Japan’s wartime army.

What’s more unsettling is that the debate has also drawn attention from Japan’s neighbours. 

China and North Korea have criticised the proposal as further evidence of Tokyo drifting away from its postwar pacifist stance.

The danger, it said, does not come from a single crisis but from several unfolding at once. Growing competition involving Russia, the United States and China has coincided with wars, weakened arms control and a retreat from multilateral institutions.

Scientists pointed to Russia’s war in Ukraine, recent clashes between India and Pakistan, and concerns over Iran ’s nuclear ambitions as increasing the risk of miscalculation. Even limited conflicts, they warned, could escalate quickly.

Climate change is also adding to the risk, with extreme weather events accelerating as governments struggle to agree on meaningful action. The bulletin warned that delays and policy rollbacks are narrowing the window to prevent lasting damage.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology are further raising concerns, as their rapid deployment outpaces global safeguards.

Daniel Holz, chair of the group’s science and security board, said growing “us versus them” thinking is driving the danger. 

“If the world splinters into an us-versus-them, zero-sum approach, it increases the likelihood that we all lose,” he said.

The bulletin said the clock could still be pushed back if countries rebuild arms control, restore climate cooperation and set clear rules for new technologies.

Foreign media reports have since alleged that Zhang leaked sensitive nuclear weapons information to the United States, accepted bribes to influence promotions and built political cliques within the military.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the accusations were laid out during a closed-door briefing attended by some of China’s highest-ranking officers, hours before authorities announced the inquiry.

The allegations mark an extraordinary fall for a figure long regarded as politically untouchable. Zhang, 75, is a war veteran, the son of a founding PLA general, and a childhood acquaintance of Xi.

He is also one of the few remaining senior commanders with direct combat experience, having fought in China’s brief but bloody border war with Vietnam in 1979.

Nuclear leak

Investigators reportedly linked Zhang to a security breach in China’s nuclear sector uncovered during a separate corruption probe into Gu Jun, a former senior executive at China National Nuclear Corporation.

Gu, who oversaw both civilian and military nuclear programmes, is himself under investigation, and was said to have presented evidence implicating Zhang.

Zhang’s removal also comes amid a broader purge of China’s military leadership, as Xi seeks to reshape the PLA ahead of the Communist Party’s next major leadership transition in 2027.

In October, nine senior generals were removed in a single sweep, including He Weidong, a former second-ranked CMC vice-chair. Another serving CMC member, Liu Zhenli, is now also under investigation.

As a result, the powerful CMC has been reduced to just two members, one of them Xi himself, leaving the body at its smallest size in history.

The shake-up has raised concerns among analysts about short-term disruptions to military decision-making, readiness and operational tempo.

It also casts uncertainty over China’s long-term military ambitions, including Xi’s stated goal of building a “world-class” fighting force by 2049.

US gains confidence

As Beijing grapples with allegations of a major security breach involving its nuclear programme, Washington appears increasingly confident about recalibrating its strategic priorities.

The United States no longer sees China as its top security threat, according to the Pentagon’s 2026 National Defense Strategy, marking a sharp shift from a decade of policy that cast Beijing as Washington’s primary long-term rival.

Instead, the strategy places the defence of the US homeland and the Western Hemisphere at the centre of American military planning, aligning with President Donald Trump’s broader push to “restore American pre-eminence” in the Americas and revive the Monroe Doctrine.

The document calls on allies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, including South Korea, to shoulder a greater share of their own defence, arguing that the US will no longer compensate for what it describes as allied security shortfalls.

While China remains a concern, the Pentagon says it will pursue deterrence rather than containment, approaching relations through strength, not confrontation and focusing on threats that directly affect US interests.

The shift underscores growing confidence in Washington’s strategic position, even as allegations of internal leaks and leadership turmoil cast fresh doubts over cohesion and trust within China’s military establishment.

And with the PLA still undergoing deep internal turmoil, observers warn that Beijing’s ability to project strength — including towards Taiwan — may be less assured than official rhetoric suggests.

County officials said the fighting, which lasted just over an hour, left soldiers and civilians dead, flattened parts of the town’s commercial centre and forced residents to flee. 

Yuai, already repeatedly damaged during past rounds of conflict, has since been largely abandoned and local administration suspended.

Thousands of civilians have escaped into surrounding swamps or crossed into neighbouring Duk County, where officials say at least 7,000 people have arrived in recent days.

The clashes are the latest in a series of confrontations in Jonglei, one of South Sudan’s most volatile regions, as tensions persist between government forces and Machar’s faction despite a fragile peace deal. 

According to the latest situationer from the International Crisis Group , war in Sudan spilled into South Sudan in December after Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) briefly seized the Heglig oil fields along the border, an area critical to South Sudan’s oil exports. 

The incident heightened instability in border areas that are vital to Juba’s economy, which depends heavily on oil revenue. Control of Heglig ultimately ensured the continuation of crude exports despite the violence.

Additional violence involved local armed groups. The SSPDF clashed with the “Red Belt” vigilante group in Bor, and a former senior general announced the formation of a new rebel movement, raising concerns over further fragmentation.

Despite the unrest, the government pledged to hold elections by December 2026, a plan rejected by Machar’s main faction amid delays in key preparations. 

Brig Gen Nid Narong, Deputy Chief of Staff of Cambodia’s Military Region 4 and chairman of the secretariat of the Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee, said troops had been burning rubbish collected during a base reorganisation when an unexploded munition detonated.

The incident took place at 7.27 a.m. on Tuesday in Preah Vihear province, an area that has long been sensitive because of its proximity to the disputed border.

According to the letter, a leftover DKZ munition was mixed in with the rubbish pile and exploded during the burning process, injuring two Cambodian soldiers, one seriously and one slightly.

The blast was loud enough to alarm Thai troops stationed nearby, prompting concerns that gunfire or shelling had resumed along the border, where tensions have periodically flared despite formal ceasefire agreements.

Cambodian officials said the clarification was issued to prevent any misunderstanding from escalating into a wider incident between the two militaries.

Nid expressed condolences over the injuries and stressed that the explosion took place within Cambodia’s sovereign territory, with no hostile intent towards Thailand.

He reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to resolving border issues peacefully and in accordance with international law, and said its forces continued to respect the ceasefire and related agreements.

These include documents signed on July 28 and October 26 last year, as well as a joint document from the third special meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee on December 27.

The Cambodian side said the priority now was to restore calm quickly and ensure peace, stability and safety for communities living along both sides of the border.

A short video circulating online appeared to show columns of thick black smoke rising from several locations. Orange flames were still visible at the time the footage was recorded, suggesting ongoing fires at the blast sites.

Audio in the clip captured residents shouting and wailing as the loud detonations echoed through the city. Local reports also indicated temporary power disruptions in some areas following the explosions.

The incident comes against the backdrop of escalating friction between Washington and Caracas. 

Less than a week earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the CIA had carried out a drone strike on a “dock area” allegedly linked to Venezuelan drug trafficking operations. Colombian President Gustavo Petro later said the target was a cocaine-processing facility in the Venezuelan port city of Maracaibo.

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Maduro of presiding over what it describes as a “narco-terrorist” state, claims the Venezuelan government strongly rejects.

Saturday’s blasts also follow recent remarks by Maduro signalling a willingness to engage in dialogue with Washington. “We must begin to speak seriously, with the facts in hand,” he said in an interview with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada.

These explosions occurred just hours after Maduro met Chinese envoy Qiu Xiaoqi in Caracas to review more than 600 bilateral agreements and discuss political cooperation, underscoring Venezuela’s deepening ties with Beijing at a time when both countries face increasing pressure from the United States.

This was as Beijing is expected to step up military drills around Taiwan next year, including large-scale maritime exercises and air operations near the island’s airspace.

Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory, remains a central strategic objective for Beijing as the People’s Liberation Army approaches its 100th anniversary.

The heightened activity around Taiwan could have spillover effects across neighbouring areas, including parts of the Philippines ’ Air Defence Identification Zone, given Manila’s proximity to the island and its location along key regional sea lanes.

Mogato said a shift in control over Taiwan would significantly alter the balance of power in the western Pacific, potentially allowing China to project military force beyond what US planners describe as the first island chain. This is the area stretching from Japan through Taiwan and into the northern Philippines.

Closer to Philippine waters, Mogato identified the West Philippine Sea as another potential flashpoint in 2026, citing Scarborough Shoal and Sabina Shoal as areas where tensions could intensify amid competing patrols and operations.

For Manila, both shoals are regarded as strategic red lines. Philippine officials have warned that losing access would threaten national security, disrupt fishing livelihoods and complicate resupply missions to Philippine-held features, including the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.

Amid the rising tensions described by Mogato, Washington has moved to strengthen defence ties with Manila. The US Congress this month approved $3.5 billion in security assistance for the Philippines under the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

The package includes $500 million a year in Foreign Military Financing from 2026 to 2031, as well as $1 billion in long-term defence loans . Despite the assistance, Philippine defence spending remains relatively low, with the defence budget set at about $5 billion next year, or less than 1% of gross domestic product.

Recent incidents underscore the volatility Mogato warned about. Philippine authorities said a Chinese frigate was detected loitering about 40 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales, prompting the navy to deploy warships to monitor and escort the vessel away.

Mogato said such encounters are likely to become more frequent in 2026 as the United States and China continue to test each other’s resolve, placing the Philippines in an increasingly exposed position amid intensifying regional competition.

DR Congo and Rwanda

In Washington, Trump hosted a summit where the leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda signed what he hailed as a “historic” peace accord. But analysts quickly noted the document merely endorsed a June agreement that had already failed to halt the conflict.

Clashes were intensifying even ahead of the ceremony, with M23 rebels expanding their control in eastern DR Congo. Both Kinshasa and Kigali accused each other of violating ceasefire terms, and there was no public handshake between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, whose tense relations underscored the deal’s fragility.

Within days, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe refused to commit to any troop withdrawal, insisting Rwanda had none in DR Congo. This, despite UN experts saying Rwandan forces were effectively directing M23 operations.

On the ground , M23 seized major cities, artillery pounded eastern provinces, and residents fled into Burundi. Even as Trump praised the summit as “a great day,” rebel advances continued, and regional officials warned the deal’s collapse was a humiliation for Washington.

Thailand and Cambodia

A similar pattern emerged in Southeast Asia . 

In July, Trump pushed Thailand and Cambodia into a border ceasefire . Bangkok agreed reluctantly; Phnom Penh openly welcomed US involvement.

But the truce unraveled within months. Clashes erupted after a Thai engineering team came under fire. Since then, Thai and Cambodian forces have traded artillery, rockets and air strikes along the border, prompting repeated evacuations of communities.

Thailand accused Cambodia of laying new landmines that maimed several soldiers, while refusing to release troops captured during the July clashes. Cambodia, meanwhile, portrayed itself as the aggrieved party and sought international support.

Domestic politics amplified tensions. Thailand’s military was given free rein to “finish the job,” while Cambodia’s leadership took actions that deepened mistrust, including leaking a sensitive phone call that toppled Thailand’s Shinawatra government.

With both sides showing no signs of stopping, it has become apparent that Trump-brokered ceasefire never addressed the root disputes. 

Bangkok repeatedly said it was not ready for new diplomacy until Cambodia showed “sincerity,” leaving the agreement effectively dead.

Taken together, the DR Congo–Rwanda and Thai-Cambodian cases show a consistent pattern: Trump secured highly publicised signing ceremonies, but the underlying conflicts continued almost immediately.

It also raised questions about whether Trump’s rushed deals ever had a genuine chance at peace.

“The radar illumination in this case is a dangerous act that goes beyond the range necessary for safe aircraft flight,” she said. “It is extremely unfortunate that such an incident occurred. We have lodged a strong protest with the Chinese side and have made a stern request to prevent a recurrence.”

The prime minister stressed that Japan would continue to safeguard its sovereignty and closely monitor activity in the surrounding sea and airspace. No damage or injuries were reported.

Japan lodged protests after reports of two separate incidents on Saturday, in which Chinese J-15 fighter jets launched from the aircraft carrier Liaoning and allegedly directed their radars at SDF aircraft operating in international waters southeast of Okinawa.

China rejected the allegations, accusing Japanese forces of “deliberately intruding” into an area where the Chinese Navy had publicly announced training exercises east of the Miyako Strait.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, following recent comments by Takaichi suggesting Japan could take military action if China were to attack Taiwan . Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory under the “one-China” principle, has sharply criticised the remarks.

“These actions pose compound threats to all parties in the region and continue to heighten tensions,” Liu said. “We call on Beijing to shoulder the responsibilities of a major power and cease actions that endanger regional stability and security .”

Liu noted that the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association remains in close communication, suggesting ongoing diplomatic engagement between Taipei and Tokyo.

The statement followed recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who told parliament that Japan’s military could intervene if China attacked Taiwan. Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has demanded a retraction and urged Japan to respect the foundations of Sino-Japanese relations.

“China firmly opposes and will not tolerate this. Japan must immediately rectify its position and retract these egregious remarks. Otherwise, it must bear all consequences,” Lin warned.

He questioned Tokyo’s motives, accusing Takaichi of reviving dangerous rhetoric from Japan’s past as a militarist nation.

“What are the true intentions behind Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s renewed mention of a so-called ‘existential crisis’? Does she seek to repeat the mistakes of militarism? Does she wish to antagonise the Chinese and Asian peoples once more? Does she intend to subvert the post-war international order?” he said.

Lin reiterated Beijing’s fierce opposition to any Japanese involvement in the Taiwan Strait, reacting to Takaichi’s recent meeting with a Taiwanese representative.

“Should Japan dare to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait situation, it would constitute an act of aggression, and China will strike back decisively. Those who play with fire will inevitably burn themselves,” he said.