Over 800 Taiwanese citizens ‘disappeared’ in China in a decade

Today's news: Kuki drone attack on security forces in Manipur; The UN launched the anti-polio vaccination campaign in Gaza; The Japanese Defence Minister aims at a record allocation of funds for the next fiscal year; China's strengthens relations with Turkmenistan over gas deliveries.

TAIWAN - CHINA
Over 800 Taiwanese citizens have ‘disappeared’ in the past 10 years in China, which has long used enforced disappearances to silence and control dissidents and rights activists. Figures from the Taiwan Human Rights Association and other NGOs showed that 857 Taiwanese citizens have ‘forcibly disappeared or been arbitrarily arrested’. These include publisher Li Yanhe, democracy activist Lee Ming-cheh and businessman Lee Meng-Chu.

INDONESIA
Jakarta is stepping up security measures for the arrival of Pope Francis from 3 to 5 September, the first leg of his 12-day tour of Asia, with snipers deployed and thousands of officers lining the streets. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, speaks of a massive deployment, with training for even the ‘worst case scenario’ such as terrorism, demonstrations and earthquakes. Highly anticipated sight at Istiqlal mosque to revive interreligious harmony

INDIA
Militiamen in Manipur struck security forces yesterday, using drones to drop explosives on the outskirts of the capital Imphal, in a ‘significant escalation’ of violence in the north-eastern state. A 31-year-old woman was killed and six people, in what police called an ‘unprecedented attack’ by ‘so-called Kuki rebels’ (Christians, who have been feuding with Meitei Hindus since May 2023 ).

GAZA
The UN and the Palestinian Health Authority yesterday started the anti-polio vaccination of over 640,000 children in Gaza . This operation was made possible by the eight-hour pause in fighting for three consecutive days agreed by Israel and Hamas. The first cycle is expected to be completed in a fortnight. Doctors marked the children who received the drops with pens on their fingers.

JAPAN
The Japanese Ministry of Defence is pushing for a record allocation of funds for the next fiscal year to strengthen military capabilities at a time of regional tension, especially with China and North Korea. The goal is to obtain up to USD 76 billion, a 10.5% increase over the current year. Among the targets is a new satellite intelligence racking system.

UZBEKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN
In the city of Termez, close to the border between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, the large Termez International Trade Centre was opened . An opening that came three months after the agreement signed between the two countries, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Tashkent, Abdulla Aripov, and the Prime Minister of Kabul, Abdul Gani Barodar, as well as various representatives of the governments of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

CHINA - TURKMENISTAN - RUSSIA
The blockade of the Siberia-2 gas pipeline project with Russia is strengthening China's relations with Turkmenistan for gas deliveries, which already exceed those of Russia in total revenue. The Central Asian country has become Beijing's first supplier in 2024, with exports worth USD 5.67 billion; Moscow is at USD 4.69 billion, with prospects for big growth.

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