January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
TAIPEI, Feb 27 — Taiwan reported detecting 45 Chinese aircraft near the island in the past 24 hours, marking the highest number recorded this year. The announcement follows Taipei’s condemnation of China’s recent “live-fire” drills off its southern coast.
According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, 45 Chinese aircraft and 14 warships were observed near the island between Tuesday and Wednesday morning. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has increased military activity around the island in recent years, using aircraft and naval vessels to assert its sovereignty—claims that Taipei rejects.
On Tuesday, Taiwan seized a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of cutting a subsea telecom cable serving the Penghu island group. Concerns have risen over potential disruptions to communication links, which Taiwan fears could be part of a Chinese strategy to isolate the island during a conflict or blockade.
Taiwan is a key flashpoint in US-China relations, with Washington being its primary arms supplier. While the US is legally committed to providing Taiwan with defensive weapons, it maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has pledged to strengthen ties with the US through increased investment and military spending. Beijing, which views Lai as a separatist, has responded with multiple large-scale military exercises since he took office in May 2024.
The Taiwan-China dispute stems from the Chinese Civil War, which ended in 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces fled to Taiwan after being defeated by Mao Zedong’s communists. — AFP
