logo
China accuses Australia of airspace violation over Xisha Islands

China accuses Australia of airspace violation over Xisha Islands

Al Bawaba13-02-2025

ALBAWABA- China has accused Australia of violating its airspace over the Xisha Islands, stating that the Chinese military took necessary measures to repel the intrusion, as reported by the Chinese Ministry of External Affairs. Also Read Trump and Putin to meet in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks
This marks the second such breach in two years, with a similar incident occurring in July 2022.
According to China's Ministry of National Defense, an Australian P-8A ASW aircraft repeatedly approached the Xisha Islands on May 26, 2022 for close-in reconnaissance despite multiple warnings.
In response, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command deployed maritime and aerial forces to intercept and warn the aircraft away.
Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for the ministry, condemned the incursion, stating that the Australian warplane posed a serious threat to China's sovereign security.
He defended the PLA's response as "professional, safe, reasonable, and legitimate."
China also dismissed Australia's claims that a PLA warplane dangerously intercepted the aircraft, insisting that its actions were necessary to safeguard national security.
عاجل | الخارجية الصينية: طائرات عسكرية أسترالية اخترقت المجال الجوي لجزر شيشا الصينية واتخذنا التدابير لإبعادها — الجزيرة - عاجل (@AJABreaking) February 13, 2025

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gold Retreats from 4-Week High as Dollar Gains Slightly - Jordan News
Gold Retreats from 4-Week High as Dollar Gains Slightly - Jordan News

Jordan News

time8 hours ago

  • Jordan News

Gold Retreats from 4-Week High as Dollar Gains Slightly - Jordan News

Gold Retreats from 4-Week High as Dollar Gains Slightly Gold prices declined on Tuesday, pulling back from their highest level in nearly four weeks, as a slight recovery in the U.S. dollar weighed on the yellow metal. However, ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S.–China trade talks kept investor caution intact and limited the downside. اضافة اعلان Spot gold fell 0.5% to $3,362.57 per ounce as of 04:29 GMT, after earlier hitting its highest since May 8. U.S. gold futures dipped 0.3% to $3,386.60. Gold had previously jumped about 2.7% in the prior session, marking its strongest daily gain in over three weeks. 'The dollar recovered slightly, and gold fell—so they are moving inversely at this point,' said Brian Lan, Managing Director at GoldSilver Central in Singapore. Despite the dip, gold continues to track global trade developments closely. While there was a minor pullback in investor positions, it wasn't as steep as during previous moments of apparent de-escalation in trade tensions, Lan added. The U.S. Dollar Index also recovered slightly from a six-week low, maintaining its influence on gold pricing. Trade Tensions in Focus: A call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected this week, according to the White House. The U.S. plans to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50% on Wednesday, coinciding with the deadline set by the Trump administration for countries to improve their trade offers. The European Commission announced it will present strong arguments this week for the U.S. to reduce or eliminate these tariffs, despite Washington's intention to increase them. Other Precious Metals: Silver: down 1.9% to $34.12/oz Platinum: up 0.1% to $1,064.66/oz Palladium: down 0.1% to $986.10/oz Volatility remains elevated across precious metals markets amid currency shifts and geopolitical developments.

The thin line between explosion and détente in Gaza
The thin line between explosion and détente in Gaza

Ammon

time15 hours ago

  • Ammon

The thin line between explosion and détente in Gaza

The Witkoff Plan is one of the most prominent international initiatives proposed to halt the devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which has entered its final months amid profound political, military, and humanitarian complications. While the plan came in response to mounting international pressure, particularly from the Trump administration, the positions of both Israel and Hamas have ranged from conditional acceptance to cautious rejection. This makes the future of this plan contingent on a set of complex internal, regional, and international equations, and makes studying possible scenarios a matter of strategic importance. The Witkoff Plan, proposed under US sponsorship and led by President Donald Trump and his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, aims for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days, with US guarantees, as a prelude to reaching a permanent agreement. It stipulates the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies from a list of hostages, in exchange for the release of 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 detainees from Gaza, in addition to the handover of 180 Palestinian bodies. The plan includes a cessation of Israeli military operations, a restriction of military air traffic, and the redeployment of Israeli forces northward and then southward, according to agreed-upon maps. It also stipulates the entry of humanitarian aid under the supervision of the United Nations and the Red Crescent. Negotiations on a permanent ceasefire will begin on the first day of the truce, and will address the exchange of the remaining hostages, redeployment, security arrangements, and the "day after" for Gaza. If an agreement is not reached within the deadline, the truce can be extended under agreed-upon terms. The plan includes mediation and guarantees from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, with direct oversight from President Trump, who will officially announce the agreement. The Israeli scene is suffering from a sharp internal division between a security faction that favors accepting the plan as a political solution that saves Israel's face, and a hard-line right-wing faction that rejects any truce before the complete elimination of the "military threat from Hamas." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, he fears that accepting the plan will lead to the collapse of his government under pressure from the extreme right, which threatens to withdraw. On the other hand, he faces increasing American pressure, in addition to internal demonstrations by the families of the hostages, who accuse his government of stalling and sacrificing their sons for narrow political calculations. Israel, in its strategic depth, fears that accepting the plan will be perceived as a political and military defeat against a beleaguered resistance movement, and that the scenario following the 2006 Lebanon War will be repeated, when Hezbollah emerged with increasing political and popular influence despite human and material losses. In contrast, Hamas, despite the severe blows it has suffered, retains a negotiating position based on its remaining Israeli hostages and its ability to withstand the war machine. Hamas expressed initial acceptance of the plan, but stipulated that it include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the release of all Palestinian prisoners, and a rejection of any Israeli military or security presence inside the Strip. It also stipulated the need for Gaza's reconstruction under Arab and international supervision. These demands reflect the movement's desire to transform the results of the war into political gains that will enable it to maintain its role in the Palestinian arena, especially in light of talk of future arrangements that may include the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza or the formation of a new administration for the Strip with regional participation. In light of these facts, three main scenarios for the future of the Witkoff plan can be envisioned. The first scenario involves conditional mutual acceptance of the plan, whereby some of its provisions are modified to bring the positions closer together, and a gradual implementation phase begins under international supervision, with American and regional guarantees. This scenario is possible, but it requires internal consensus within Israel and effective pressure from Washington on the Netanyahu government. It also requires Hamas's tacit acceptance of the phased solution without compromising its basic conditions. The second scenario is that Israel refuses to implement the second phase of the plan after the release of some hostages, leading to the collapse of the agreement and the resumption of fighting. This scenario reflects the nature of the divisions within the Israeli government and could lead to a domestic political crisis and increased public pressure. However, it could also serve Netanyahu in gaining more time and avoiding the collapse of his coalition. The third, and most bleak, scenario is the complete failure of the plan, either due to the refusal of one party or the collapse of international understandings, leading to the continuation of the war and its transformation into a protracted war of attrition. In this scenario, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza would worsen, and Arab and international popular anger against Israel would expand. Other regional parties might also become more involved, threatening to escalate the situation on other fronts, such as southern Lebanon or the West Bank. In this scenario, the United States would find itself in an extremely difficult position before the world. The Witkoff Plan, despite its political ambition and humanitarian dimensions, collides with an extremely complex reality, rendering its chances of success limited without comprehensive agreements and painful concessions from both sides. This seems unlikely given each side's adherence to its own narrative and objectives. At the same time, however, the plan could constitute a preliminary framework upon which to build to reduce the intensity of the conflict and open a window for negotiations, should genuine international support and political will transcend narrow calculations be available. Between rejection and acceptance, Gaza's future remains suspended on a thin line between explosion and détente.

Beijing Rejects U.S. Accusations of Violating Tariff Reduction Agreement - Jordan News
Beijing Rejects U.S. Accusations of Violating Tariff Reduction Agreement - Jordan News

Jordan News

timea day ago

  • Jordan News

Beijing Rejects U.S. Accusations of Violating Tariff Reduction Agreement - Jordan News

China on Monday rejected U.S. accusations that it had violated a tariff reduction agreement reached between the world's two largest economies. Last month, Beijing and Washington agreed to a temporary and mutual reduction of tariffs burdening both sides for a period of 90 days, following high-level talks held in Geneva. اضافة اعلان However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News Sunday that Beijing was "delaying the implementation of the agreement." In response on Monday, Beijing stated that Washington had "made false accusations and unreasonably blamed China for violating the agreement, which seriously contradicts the facts." In a statement, China's Ministry of Commerce said it "strongly rejects these groundless accusations." Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump also accused China of having "completely violated the agreement," though he did not provide specific details. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce maintained that it is "firm in protecting its rights and interests and sincere in implementing the agreement." It further noted that Washington has "repeatedly imposed discriminatory and restrictive measures against China," citing export controls on AI chips and the revocation of visas for Chinese students in the U.S. China urged the U.S. "to meet it halfway, immediately correct its wrongful actions, and jointly uphold the consensus reached during the Geneva trade talks." Failing that, "China will continue to take firm and strong measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests." — AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store