The Canadian government has expelled a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat who was allegedly involved in a scheme to intimidate a member of parliament. China is accused of seeking to target lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong after he accused China of human rights abuses. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly declared diplomat Zhao Wei a “persona non grata” in a statement on Monday. China’s embassy in Ottawa said it condemns the expulsion. The move by Ottawa follows a Canadian intelligence report, which emerged in the Globe and Mail newspaper, that accused Mr Zhao of being involved in gathering information about … Continue reading Canada declares Chinese diplomat ‘persona non grata’ amid election interference allegation

China’s President Xi Jinping will travel to Moscow next week to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, officials say. The Kremlin said they would discuss a “comprehensive partnership and strategic co-operation”. The visit comes as Beijing, an ally of Russia, has offered proposals to end the war in Ukraine, which the West has given a lukewarm reception. Western countries have warned Beijing against supplying Moscow with weapons. Beijing’s foreign ministry said Mr Xi will be in Russia from 20 to 22 March at the invitation of Mr Putin. A number of “important bilateral documents” are expected to be signed. … Continue reading China’s Xi to meet Putin in Moscow next week

Taiwan is in danger of losing one of its few formal allies, Honduras, as the Central American nation seeks official relations with China. Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the pivot aims to expand foreign engagements. Taiwan promptly cautioned Honduras against falling into China’s “trap”. China has long tried to isolate Taiwan and prohibits its partners from keeping ties with the island which it considers part of its territory. Should Honduras switch sides to China, Taiwan would be recognised by just 13 governments. It will also widen Beijing’s foothold in a region that has historically sided with its rival Washington. On … Continue reading Taiwan ally Honduras seeks diplomatic switch to China

Peru has recalled its ambassador in Mexico indefinitely after the Mexican president said Peru’s government was “unconstitutional”. Andrés Manuel López Obrador also said that Peru’s former president, Pedro Castillo, had been “illegally ousted.” Peru’s current leader Dina Boluarte denounced what she said was “unacceptable” interference in its “internal affairs”. She said the remarks would seriously affect relations between the nations. Pedro Castillo’s impeachment in December sparked mass protests which are continuing across the country, and have seen at least 50 people killed. The 53-year-old is currently in prison facing charges of rebellion and conspiracy after he unsuccessfully tried to dissolve … Continue reading Peru recalls ambassador over Mexico’s ‘unacceptable’ support for Pedro Castillo

As the rift between the US and China over the balloon saga widens, so has the divide within the global community scrutinising their high-stakes dispute. The latest testy exchange took place on Saturday, when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, in the first high-level meeting since the row began. Mr Blinken said they would not “stand for any violation of our sovereignty” and said “this irresponsible act must never again occur”. Mr Wang, meanwhile, called the episode a “political farce manufactured by the US” and … Continue reading Tense US-China meeting deepens balloon row

The US has reopened its Solomon Islands embassy in a move widely seen as shoring up influence in the Pacific to counter China’s push into the region. Last year Washington and its allies were blindsided when the tiny nation signed a security deal with Beijing. It came after the US had already said it would reopen its Honiara post – closed in 1993 – amid concerns over China’s growing military ambitions. The Solomons PM did not attend the embassy’s opening on Wednesday. However a foreign ministry spokesman said the re-established US embassy was welcomed by the government. The region is … Continue reading US reopens embassy in Solomon Islands after a 30- year hiatus

China’s Xi Jinping has been filmed accusing Justin Trudeau of leaking meeting details, days after they held talks at the G20 summit in Bali. President Xi told the Canadian PM, via a translator, this was inappropriate and accused him of lacking “sincerity”. He was likely referring to reports that Mr Trudeau discussed alleged Chinese espionage and interference in Canadian elections at the sit down. The talks, which happened behind closed doors, were the pair’s first in years. In the footage, filmed by journalists at the now finished gathering of world leaders, President Xi and Mr Trudeau can be seen standing … Continue reading Chinese President Xi accuses Trudeau of leaks to media about China-Canada relations

Australia has reversed a decision made four years ago to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Canberra’s decision in 2018 had undermined peace and put Australia out of step with other nations, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. She stressed that Australia remained a “steadfast friend” to Israel. Its embassy will stay in Tel Aviv. The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contested issues between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid said: “In light of the way in which this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in … Continue reading Australia reverses decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israeli capital

The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine. The resolution was supported by 143 countries, while 35 states – including China and India – abstained. As well as Russia, four countries rejected the vote, namely Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua. Although symbolic, it was the highest number of votes against Russia since the invasion. Last week, in a grand ceremony in the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin signed documents to make the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson part of Russia. The agreements were signed with the … Continue reading Ukraine war: UN General Assembly condemns Russia annexation

Donald Blinken, a former US diplomat and father of current US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has died at the age of 96, his son has said. Antony Blinken tweeted that his father, who served as US Ambassador to Hungary between 1994 and 1997, was “a source of love and inspiration” and had inspired him to join the public service. Born in New York, Mr Blinken Sr served in the Army Air Corps in World War Two. He graduated with a degree in Economics from Harvard in 1948. In 1966, he co-founded the investment banking firm EM Warburg, Pincus & Co, … Continue reading The father of US secretary of state Donald Blinken has died

The Taliban have released a US engineer they had held hostage since 2020 in exchange for an Afghan tribal leader held in US custody since 2005. Mark Frerichs was handed over at Kabul airport on Monday, the Taliban said. In return they received Bashir Noorzai, a Taliban ally serving a life sentence for drug trafficking. US President Joe Biden said that the swap required “difficult decisions” that he did not take lightly. Mr Frerichs, 60, was abducted by the Taliban the year before the group swept back to power in Afghanistan and its Western-backed government collapsed. He had been living … Continue reading US hostage swapped for Afghan leader linked to Taliban

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Algeria on Thursday hoping to repair fractured relations with a nation whose oil and gas reserves have new strategic significance because of Europe’s looming energy crisis. His visit comes after a long period of tension over conflicting memories of Algeria’s bloody war of independence. Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris late last year over it. But both countries have since signalled their desire for a reset. According to the Elysée palace, President Macron has “made the choice to orientate this visit towards the future… and lay down the basis for a relaunching of the … Continue reading Emmanuel Macron to mend Algeria ties as energy crisis bites