Seoul calls for avoiding bloodshed when arresting the President, the West "pumps" another 2 billion USD into Kiev, Venezuela closes border with Colombia

The Philippines declared no concessions to China in the East Sea, Iran affirmed solidarity with Lebanon to "defeat" Israel, Germany charged 3 suspects with providing military information to China... are some of the outstanding international events in the past 24 hours.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his wife Yoshiko arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on January 9. (Source: Kyodo)

The World and Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

Asia-Pacific

*Indonesia prioritizes promoting a code of conduct in the East Sea: On January 10, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said that the country will expand existing defense partnerships and strengthen the handling of strategic issues affecting sovereignty, including maritime security, maritime traffic safety and fisheries.

Mr. Sugiono said Indonesia will continue to promote the completion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China, while prioritizing ASEAN's central role.

Indonesia sees itself as a non-claimant in the South China Sea, a waterway vital to global trade. (Reuters)

*Philippines declares no concessions to China on the East Sea issue: Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo declared that Manila is ready to discuss and control tensions in the East Sea with China through diplomatic measures, but will not make concessions on the issue of territorial sovereignty.

In an interview with Singapore's CNA television channel, Mr. Manalo mentioned how his country handles tensions in the South China Sea, and his expectations for Manila-Washington relations under the upcoming Trump administration.

Relations between the Philippines and China have deteriorated in recent years due to increasingly frequent confrontations in the disputed South China Sea (known as the West Philippine Sea in Manila). (Channelnewsasia)

*Japanese and Malaysian Prime Ministers hold talks to strengthen security ties: On January 10, the leaders of Japan and Malaysia held talks to promote bilateral relations, especially in the field of security, on the basis of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru discussed enhancing cooperation to ensure stable supply chains, as Malaysia is located near important shipping routes for energy and other commodities.

Malaysia this year holds the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc that Japan sees as crucial to jointly realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on rules.

Malaysia, which has long looked to Japan as a driver of its economic growth, is also a major exporter of liquefied natural gas to Japan. (Kyodo)

*South Korea calls for avoiding bloodshed when arresting the President: On January 10, the director of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) Park Chong-jun of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol said that Mr. Yoon was being treated unfairly for a sitting president and called for avoiding bloodshed.

The call comes as Mr Yoon faces an arrest warrant in connection with a criminal investigation into his attempt to impose martial law on December 3, 2024.

Hundreds of PSS officers cordoned off the presidential compound and blocked investigators from trying to arrest Mr Yoon. The investigators retreated due to the risk of clashes. Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office of Senior Officials (CIO), which is leading the investigation, said the PSS officers were armed during the confrontation, although no weapons were drawn. (Reuters)

*Japan: Hammer attack at university in Tokyo: On January 10, a woman swung a hammer at the Tama campus of Hosei University in Machida city, Tokyo. At least 8 people were injured in the incident.

When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they confirmed that a woman had swung a hammer and injured at least eight people. All of the victims were conscious. The female suspect was restrained by police at the scene.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is conducting an investigation to clarify the details of the incident. (Asahi)

Europe

*The Russia-US Summit requires no preconditions: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed on January 10 that the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump does not require any preconditions, only goodwill for dialogue from both sides.

The statement came after Mr Trump revealed that he was preparing for a meeting at Mr Putin's request.

"The meeting between the two leaders does not require any conditions, only the desire and political will from both sides to conduct dialogue and resolve existing problems," Mr. Peskov told reporters.

According to Mr. Peskov, all preparations for the meeting between the Russian and US leaders will only be carried out after Mr. Trump officially takes office as US President. (Sputnik)

*EU promises possibility of easing sanctions on Syria: On January 10, the head of the European Union (EU) diplomacy said the bloc could start lifting sanctions on Syria if the new administration takes steps towards forming a multi-component government that protects minorities.

The US and Europe are seeking to establish ties with Syria’s new leadership following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. The 27-nation EU has imposed wide-ranging sanctions on the Assad government and many sectors of the Syrian economy during the civil war.

The transitional government in Damascus has been lobbying for sanctions to be lifted. However, the international community has been hesitant to ease restrictions, with many countries waiting to see how the new administration exercises power before taking any concrete action. (AFP)

*Netherlands accelerates military aid to Ukraine: Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said the country is accelerating military aid to Ukraine.

“In recent months, we have provided nearly 2 billion euros ($2.06 billion) in aid, including a lot of ammunition,” Brekelmans said on the X website.

He also said he had discussed with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov the opportunity to increase joint military production, such as in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In early October 2024, the Dutch Defense Minister announced that the country would provide 400 million euros for the UAV program for Ukraine. The total value of military aid that the Netherlands has provided to Ukraine to date is about 3.76 billion euros. (Sputniknews)

*West pledges $2 billion in aid to Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest in a series of meetings with Western allies in Germany had resulted in a pledge of $2 billion in additional military aid to help the country fight Russia.

Speaking on My-Ukraine television after the meeting on January 9, Mr. Zelensky did not give many details about the aid package, but said that 34 countries had pledged support in various aspects of the 34-month-old war.

"We had a very good meeting, with very good results. There are additional $2 billion in aid packages for Ukraine," Zelensky said on his channel's Telegram channel. The aid package includes air defense, information technology, mine clearance, naval forces, air force and artillery. However, the Ukrainian president did not disclose details about the countries that have made commitments. (Reuters)

*Germany charges 3 suspects with providing military information to China: German prosecutors on January 9 charged 3 people suspected of providing information on maritime technology with potential military uses to Chinese intelligence.

The federal prosecutor's office said three German citizens, named as Herwig F., Ina F. and Thomas R., were accused of working for a Chinese intelligence agency. According to prosecutors, Thomas R. had been working as an agent for an employee of the Chinese intelligence agency MSS based in China since 2017.

Between February 2017 and April 2024, they repeatedly collected information that could be particularly useful in expanding the combat power of the Chinese navy. The collected material included information on boat engines, sonar equipment, aircraft protection systems, engines for armored vehicles, and drones that could be used for military purposes. (DW)

*UK to provide 30,000 drones to Ukraine: The British Ministry of Defense said on January 9 that the country will provide 30,000 drones to Ukraine as part of its commitment to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Capability Alliance.

"30,000 drones will be sent to Ukraine after the UK-Latvia-led International Drone Capability Alliance signed contracts worth £45 million ($55.4 million), as the UK strengthens its leadership role in supporting Ukraine in 2025," the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The ministry added that the UK had pledged an additional £7.5 million to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Capability Alliance's Common Fund in November 2024, bringing its total contribution to £15 million. The alliance has so far raised a total of £73 million from all partners. (Sputnik)

Middle East – Africa

*Iran declares solidarity with Lebanon to "defeat" Israel: On January 10, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on his election after more than 2 years without a head of state, and affirmed that solidarity will "defeat" Israel.

Lebanon's parliament on January 9 elected army chief Joseph Aoun as the country's 14th president, ending a vacancy that lasted more than two years. General Joseph Aoun won 99 votes in the second round of voting.

This is the fifth time in Lebanon's history that an army commander has been elected President. (AFP/IRNA)

*China opens cultural center in South Sudan: China on January 9 opened a language and culture center at Juba University, South Sudan's top higher education institution.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang said education is at the heart of exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples, adding that South Sudan and China, bound together by historical experiences and common aspirations for development, have witnessed strong development of bilateral diplomatic relations over the past 13 years.

He also noted that since 2021, the Chinese Embassy has sponsored the "Chinese Ambassador Award" four times, supporting students with outstanding academic achievements but from difficult circumstances, as well as outstanding teachers. (THX)

America - Latin America

*Venezuela closes border with Colombia: On January 10, Governor of Tachira state, western Venezuela, Mr. Freddy Bernal, said that the country has closed the border with Colombia ahead of the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro, citing an "international conspiracy".

"We have information about an international plot to disrupt the peace of the Venezuelan people... on the orders of President Nicolas Maduro, we will order the closure of the border with Colombia" until the morning of January 13, the governor of this border state announced. (AFP)

*Trump to be sentenced in hush money case: On January 10, US President-elect Donald Trump will have to go to court to receive a verdict in a criminal case that once overshadowed his campaign to return to the White House.

On the evening of January 9, the US Supreme Court rejected Mr. Trump's last-minute request to postpone the sentencing hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on January 10 at the New York state court in Manhattan, just 10 days before his inauguration.

Mr Trump fought hard to avoid appearing before a state judge days before he returns to the public office he lost four years ago. (Reuters)

*Canada: Ruling Liberal Party sets date to elect new leader: On the evening of January 9, Canada's Liberal Party announced that it will elect a new leader on March 9 to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On January 8, Mr. Trudeau announced that he would step down in the coming months after nine years in power, bowing to pressure from party lawmakers concerned about the Liberal Party's "dismal" results in pre-election polls.

Currently, the Liberal Party has several faces considered potential candidates such as former Deputy Prime Minister Christia Freeland, former Central Bank Governor Mark Carney, former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and several ministers in the current government. (Reuters)

*The US declares that it will always be a trusted partner of NATO: On January 9, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin declared that the US will "always be a trusted partner" of NATO, after statements by President-elect Donald Trump raised concerns among member countries of this military alliance.

Speaking to reporters at the US Ramstein air base in Germany, Mr. Austin emphasized: "The US has always been a reliable partner. We will always be a reliable partner in the future. American values ​​do not change. America's commitment to allies and partners does not change." (AFP)

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