South Africa downgrades Taiwan office. Taipei: pressure from Beijing

Today's news: new wave of Covid-19 in Asia, cases in Thailand, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong. Maoist leader killed in Chhattisgarh; Indian government pledges to end insurgency by 2026. Torrential rains and landslides in southern China: 4 dead, 17 missing. Gaza: at least 85 killed by Israel since yesterday; Borrell (EU): “Half the bombs are European-made.”

SOUTH AFRICA – TAIWAN – CHINA

South Africa has downgraded Taiwan's diplomatic status: the Taiwanese Liaison Office has been renamed the Taipei Commercial Office. Recently, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accused China of pressuring South Africa into taking this step. These changes underscore China's efforts to extend its influence across Africa and the Global South. Just days ago, at the White House, Trump pressured South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with false accusations of “white genocide”.

ASIA

Large parts of Asia—especially China, Thailand, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong—have seen sharp increases in Covid-19 transmission in recent weeks, raising concerns over potential regional repercussions. The Indonesian government has assured the public that its healthcare system is well prepared to handle future outbreaks, while authorities are stepping up precautionary measures. The recent surge in cases is driven by the JN.1 variant, a descendant of Omicron BA.2.86.

INDIA

A Maoist leader has been killed in a clash with Indian security forces in the state of Chhattisgarh. Nambala Keshava Rao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), also known by several aliases including Basavaraju, was among 27 rebels killed this week. It is the first time in three decades that a Maoist of such high rank has been killed by government forces. Certain areas of Chhattisgarh have long been the site of an insurgency; the Indian government has vowed to end it by March 2026.

CHINA

Four people have died and 17 are missing following heavy rains in southern China. The downpours have also triggered landslides in the southwestern province of Guizhou. The military has been deployed to assist with rescue operations. Authorities have issued disaster risk warnings for surrounding areas. China is experiencing more intense and prolonged heatwaves, as well as increasingly frequent and unpredictable torrential rains due to climate change.

GAZA – ISRAEL – EU

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 85 people in Gaza in the past day. The death toll continues to rise amid relentless bombardment. As Brussels proceeds with a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, former EU foreign affairs chief Borrell stated: “Half the bombs falling on Gaza are made in Europe.” The Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza claims that 29 children and elderly people who died in recent days were officially registered as “hunger-related deaths”.

RUSSIA – UKRAINE

Ukrainian armed forces have successfully carried out a drone strike on the Bolkovskaya factory in Russia’s southern Oryol region, a major facility for the production of missile components, aircraft, drones, and military microelectronics, which supports around twenty other factories in the Russian military-industrial complex.

GEORGIA

The Georgian Dream government in Tbilisi has resorted to a new tactic against protestors—alongside arrests, violence, and dismissals—by stripping citizenship. This was the case with activist Lasha Gabitasvili, known for a brawl with two ruling party MPs and other high-profile protest actions.