Chinese spies have penetrated Taiwan’s military, case documents reveal

Taiwan’s spycatchers are battling a sustained Chinese espionage campaign. Beijing’s aim, say former Taiwan and U.S. officers, is to glean details on the island’s defense planning and undermine its leaders. Even the security detail of President Tsai Ing-wen has been compromised.

For more than 20 years, Xie Xizhang presented himself as a Hong Kong businessman on visits to Taiwan. He now stands accused of having another mission: recruiting spies for China.

On one trip in 2006, Xie met a senior retired Taiwanese navy officer, Chang Pei-ning, over a meal, according to official documents accusing the pair of espionage. Chang would become one of Xie’s agents, the documents allege, helping him penetrate Taiwan’s active military leadership as part of a long-running Chinese operation to build a spy ring among serving and retired military officers.

The Taiwanese officers and their families were allegedly lured by Xie’s offers of all-expenses-paid trips abroad, thousands of dollars in cash payments, and gifts such as silk scarves and belts for their wives. In June 2019, counter-espionage officers moved against Xie’s network, launching raids that uncovered further evidence, according to the documents, which were reviewed by Reuters. Now, Chang is facing espionage charges and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Xie. According to a person familiar with the case, Xie is not in Taiwan.

The operation detailed in these documents shows how Beijing allegedly sought out commanders in the Taiwan military and induced them to become spies. It comes amid a series of convictions for military espionage in Taiwan in recent years. Those cases reveal that China has mounted a broader campaign to undermine the democratic island’s military and civilian leadership, corrode its will to fight, extract details of high-tech weapons and gain insights into defense planning, according to senior retired Taiwanese military officers and current counter-espionage agents, as well as former U.S. military and intelligence officers with experience in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s spycatchers are battling a campaign that has compromised senior officers at the heart of the island’s armed forces and government agencies, a steady stream of convictions handed down in the courts shows.

Beijing has even penetrated the security detail assigned to protect Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. A retired presidential security officer and a serving military police lieutenant colonel at the unit tasked with protecting the president had their conviction upheld earlier this year for leaking sensitive information about Tsai’s security to a Chinese intelligence agency.

President Tsai Ing-wen arrives at the Presidential Office in Taipei in 2017. The names and phone numbers of security personnel guarding her office were leaked.

“The repeated cases of the most senior level of Taiwan armed forces officers being convicted of espionage has got to have a psychological effect on the officer corps and in the ranks.”

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Grant Newsham

The information included a hand-drawn organizational chart of the Special Service Center, the unit that protects the president, according to the ruling in the High Court. The two were also charged with leaking the names, titles and work phone numbers of senior security officers guarding the Presidential Office and Tsai's residence in the heart of Taipei, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters and local media reports.

In the past decade, at least 21 serving or retired Taiwanese officers with the rank of captain or above have been convicted of spying for China, according to a Reuters review of court records and reports from Taiwan’s official news agencies. At least nine other serving or retired members of the armed forces are currently on trial or being investigated on suspicion of contacts with spies from China, the review shows.

The 21 convicted officers were found guilty of recruiting spies for China or passing a range of sensitive information to China, including contact details of senior Taiwanese officers and details of Taiwan’s agents in China.

The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing did not respond to questions from Reuters about China’s espionage activities in Taiwan.

In Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense told Reuters that pro-active counter-intelligence efforts have stopped China from penetrating the military. The ministry said in a statement that it employs education campaigns to encourage and reward officers and soldiers to report initial contact with “criminals.” These contacts are immediately investigated, and when there is potential for the loss of confidential information, the military acts to block any leak, the ministry said.

This effort, the ministry said, means “there has been no infiltration.”

The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Taiwan’s lead spycatching agency, said it had no comment on ongoing legal matters.

Other arms of the Taiwanese government, however, greet the spying with alarm. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council told Reuters in a statement that China’s “unceasing expansion of espionage” is one of the “malicious political operations” that Beijing is conducting, undermining “the normal development of cross-strait relations.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that Beijing prefers peaceful unification with Taiwan but has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this goal.

Well-placed spies in the ranks of the Taiwan military could offer a priceless advantage to China if the two sides plunge into open conflict, according to Taiwanese and U.S. military analysts. Tensions have risen sharply this year. China’s military is intensifying its gray-zone warfare against the island, a campaign of menacing air and sea patrols that falls short of open warfare. The People’s Liberation Army is also steadily accumulating the firepower required to seize Taiwan and prevent the United States from intervening.

The ruling Communist Party in Beijing regards Taiwan as a Chinese province that must be unified with the mainland. President Xi Jinping says China would prefer peaceful unification but refuses to rule out force. President Tsai says Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name, and has vowed to defend its democracy and freedom.

“China is conducting a very targeted infiltration effort towards Taiwan,” said retired Taiwanese navy Lieutenant Commander Lu Li-shih. Espionage cases, he said, show that Beijing has compromised almost all ranks, including top-level generals, despite intensive internal education campaigns in the military warning of the dangers of Beijing’s espionage efforts.

Lu, who has studied Chinese spying operations, said Beijing’s agents often begin softening their targets with offers of small gifts, drinks and meals. Handlers typically pay richly for the first piece of secret information extracted from current or retired officers, Lu said. This payment would later be used to blackmail them into supplying further intelligence at a much lower price, he said.

A powerful weapon

This year alone, Taiwanese courts have upheld the convictions of the two men who revealed secrets about President Tsai’s security and found a retired lieutenant colonel from the armaments bureau guilty of building espionage networks for China. A retired major general and three retired colonels from the Military Intelligence Bureau are on trial for allegedly recruiting spies for China. Reuters was unable to reach the defendants and their lawyers in these cases for comment.

In July, Taiwan’s Mirror Media reported that the island’s former deputy defense minister, General Chang Che-ping, was questioned in a national security investigation.

Three people familiar with the matter confirmed a probe is under way. Two of the people told Reuters that General Chang was being questioned for having had contacts with Xie Xizhang – the alleged Chinese agent who presented himself as a Hong Kong businessman. The defense ministry said Chang had been interviewed as a witness in the case.

Contacted by Reuters, Chang replied: “Inconvenient to comment. Hope you understand.”

According to the official documents reviewed by Reuters, Xie allegedly reported to an office that is part of the Chinese Communist Party’s intelligence apparatus and serves as a front for China’s Central Military Commission. President Xi chairs the commission, which is China’s top military decision-making body.

Retired navy Lieutenant Commander Lu Li-shih said that espionage cases in Taiwan revealed that China has compromised almost all ranks in the island’s military.

General Chang, Taiwan’s highest-ranking air force general, is now head of the National Defense University. When the media reports of the probe emerged, Chang issued a statement calling them “far-fetched.” He said he had “not talked about military matters without permission.”

The Taipei district prosecutors office said it doesn’t discuss ongoing investigations.

Espionage has long been a powerful weapon for the Chinese Communist Party. In the Chinese civil war, Communist agents and sympathizers played a key role in defeating the forces of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), or nationalist party, under Chiang Kai-shek, forcing a retreat to Taiwan. In some instances, entire KMT formations were persuaded to change sides and joined the Communists under Mao Zedong, according to multiple accounts of that conflict.

The series of convictions in Taiwanese courts shows cultivating disloyalty in the military remains a high priority for Beijing. Despite China’s vastly stronger forces and serious shortcomings in Taiwan’s military, the island remains a tough target for invasion. Even without outside assistance, Taiwan’s best-trained troops could inflict heavy losses by exploiting well-prepared positions, rugged terrain and the vulnerability of an invasion fleet crossing the Taiwan Strait, say Taiwanese and U.S. military analysts.

For Chinese invaders, advance knowledge of defensive plans, communication codes, weapons sites and troop locations would offset some of these difficulties, according to these analysts. Disloyal officers might also refuse to fight, misdirect their troops or defect to the attackers.

Taiwanese tanks in the county of Pingtung in 2019 fire during the annual Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates an invasion by the Chinese military.

In a report released in September about the Chinese military, Taiwan's defense ministry acknowledged that in an attack, agents for China “lurking” on the island could strike at command centers to “decapitate” Taiwan’s military and political leadership and demoralize its armed forces.

Even the discovery of Chinese spies in peacetime is a potentially demoralizing blow to Taiwan. “The repeated cases of the most senior level of Taiwan armed forces officers being convicted of espionage has got to have a psychological effect on the officer corps and in the ranks,” said Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel who has studied the island’s defense capabilities. “And, once you can create doubt in the honesty of one’s leaders, the rot sets in and deepens.”

One retired high-ranking officer in Taiwan agreed: Colleagues lose confidence in one another, this person said, and “you make allies lose confidence in you.”

Some Taiwanese military veterans worry that the repeated espionage cases will make the United States, the island’s main ally, unwilling to share advanced weapons or sensitive intelligence for fear of these secrets leaking to Beijing.

“We can’t blame other people. We are the cause of the problem,” said Lu, the retired navy lieutenant commander.

Asked about the potential loss of faith in Washington, Taiwan’s defense ministry said there had been no disruption to normal ties with friendly countries. The U.S. National Security Council declined to comment for this story.

Beijing has succeeded in recruiting spies from the island’s armed forces despite strenuous efforts by the Taiwanese military’s Counter Intelligence and Security Division to alert troops to the danger of Chinese agents. The military even produces soap operas, sometimes starring serving members of the armed forces, with scripts that echo previous spy cases. The soaps are part of an hour-long television program broadcast every Thursday afternoon that is mandatory viewing for all serving officers and soldiers.

Taiwan’s military produces soap operas to warn troops of the danger of Chinese espionage efforts. In this screenshot from one episode last year, a Chinese spy handler surveys a board in his office with information about an espionage operation.

The soap operas echo previous spy cases. In another screenshot from the same episode last year, a staff sergeant in the Taiwanese military hands classified information to a female agent working for China.

In an episode late last year, a staff sergeant working in communications in a combat unit meets a woman in a bar who claimed to work for an investment firm in the defense industry. They start a relationship, and the woman begins to ask for sensitive information. To impress her, the staff sergeant gives her data on missiles at air bases in northern Taiwan. Later he grows suspicious and refuses her further requests, but she threatens to blackmail him with a recording of his earlier indiscretion. The woman is later arrested.

The scene switches to a man who appears to be the woman’s spymaster. On the wall in front of him are clips from Chinese newspapers, including a photograph of Chinese President Xi. “That’s alright,” the handler says, tearing up a photograph of the woman. “We have plenty of other opportunities.”

To reinforce the message, posters and signs on bases exhort Taiwanese soldiers to remain vigilant. Stickers with the number of a hotline for reporting suspected spies have been posted above some urinals. Packs of tissues handed out to troops carry a notice promising a reward of T$5 million ($180,000) for successfully exposing a spy.

Wooing veteran commanders

While Taiwan battles Chinese espionage, it also spies on China as part of a decades-long effort to understand Beijing’s intentions, according to current and retired Taiwanese officers and official documents reviewed by Reuters. China’s official media periodically announces the discovery of Taiwanese spy networks and the arrest of alleged agents.

In October last year, China’s state television broadcaster, CCTV, reported that a Taiwanese academic arrested in China, Cheng Yu-chin, had confessed to spying. The same month, CCTV reported the arrest of Lee Meng-chu, alleging he was an active member of a Taiwan separatist group who posed as a businessman to conceal his espionage role. Lee was arrested when he entered China and was found to have photographs and videos of Chinese military drills in the city of Shenzhen, as well as materials showing he supported the protests in Hong Kong, the report said.

Cheng and Lee could not be reached by Reuters. Asked about their arrests, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said that Chinese authorities are “arbitrarily arresting our people who engage in cross-strait exchanges” and using official media “to fabricate fictional crimes.”

In its campaign to subvert Taiwan’s military, Beijing has also mounted a longstanding operation to woo senior retired commanders with historic ties to China. These efforts exploit political divisions that have widened in Taiwan over the past two decades between Tsai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the main opposition KMT.

The DPP has gained ground with the support of a younger generation that increasingly identifies as Taiwanese rather than Chinese. The KMT, born in China, holds to its old dream of eventually reunifying a free and democratic country. The party also supports closer relations with Beijing, but has denounced the Communist Party’s threats against Taiwan.

Packs of tissues have been handed out to troops with a notice announcing a reward for exposing a spy.

A poster warning soldiers to be alert to espionage efforts in a military base in 2019. “Don’t let endless greed end priceless freedom,” it reads.

Many of Taiwan’s older, retired military officers support the KMT, which ruled the island before it became a democracy and now vies with the DPP for power. Most of these veterans don’t back the Communist Party, but both the KMT and Beijing share the dream of a single China, even if they have different visions of what that means. Some have been welcomed to China to attend seminars and receptions with retired counterparts from the Chinese military.

Though no longer in uniform, these officers still retain influence over a military that is deeply hierarchical, with long-standing networks of patronage and personal loyalty, according to current and former U.S. officials with extensive experience of the Taiwan military.

In November 2016, Beijing scored a dramatic propaganda victory when more than 30 retired Taiwanese generals were seen attending a speech by President Xi at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. The visitors stood for China’s national anthem, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported. The event, broadcast on Chinese state television, sparked an outcry in Taiwan.

China has also targeted older, retired military officers in Taiwan, who still exercise influence in the military. In 2016, a group of retired Taiwanese generals were seen on Chinese state television attending a speech by President Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. One of the generals, Wu Sz-huai (far right), later apologized.

One of the retired generals in the audience was Wu Sz-huai, who is now a KMT lawmaker. He apologized in 2019, saying he was unaware that Xi was hosting the event and would have declined to attend if he had known. He said members of the delegation stood for the national anthem but did not sing. Wu declined to comment for this report.

In its statement, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council called on “retired high-ranking generals to maintain the dignity of the country and pay attention to their own words, deeds and the perceptions of society.”

In the aftermath of the visit, Taiwan’s parliament tightened the rules on retired officers’ trips to China. The new penalties include fines of up to T$10 million ($360,000) and the cancellation of pensions for retired senior officers and government officials who attend Chinese political events or “salute” Communist Party flags or symbols.

Some senior retired Taiwanese officers told Reuters that these trips to China hurt the military’s image. But they added that a younger generation of officers now rising through the ranks would not be as susceptible to appeals for a unified China that includes Taiwan.

Free trips abroad

One major challenge for Taiwan’s counter-espionage forces is light penalties for retired officers convicted of spying. Under military law, serving officers can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment for serious offenses. However, former officers who commit crimes once out of uniform can only be tried under the National Security Law, which prescribes much shorter jail terms.

Under public pressure to counter Chinese spying, parliament in June 2019 increased penalties under the security law for the most severe crimes, from a maximum of five years imprisonment to a minimum of seven years and fines of up to T$100 million (about $3.6 million).

The case of alleged Chinese spy Xie Xizhang was first reported earlier this year by local media, but the official documents seen by Reuters provide new details. Xie is accused of inviting current and retired Taiwanese military officers to drinks, banquets and sporting events in a bid to win their friendship and trust, according to the documents.

The operation also allegedly relied on enticing prospective Taiwanese spies to accept free overseas trips where they would meet their Chinese handlers and other Communist Party officials. The official documents allege that six serving and retired officers received all-expenses-paid trips to South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, as well as Chinese cities including Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau.

A key objective of the alleged operation was to recruit officers in leading combat units, according to the official documents. In 2008, Chang Pei-ning, the retired navy officer, allegedly introduced Xie to a senior serving Taiwanese Navy officer, Captain Ho Chung-chi, and Ho’s wife, Chuang Hsiu-yun. In the years that followed, Ho and his wife, working under Xie’s guidance, allegedly recruited other officers.

Chang, Ho and Chuang were charged under the National Security Law in November 2019 for recruiting a spy ring for China. The three are currently on trial, according to a spokesperson for the Kaohsiung District Court.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said Chang and Ho had retired before they allegedly became involved in the case. However, official documents accusing the pair of espionage allege that Ho met Xie on multiple occasions before his retirement in August 2015.

Reuters spoke to Ho at his home in Kaohsiung. He declined to comment and said his wife had no comment. Chang didn’t respond to a request for comment left at his home in Kaohsiung.

In a post on his Facebook page when he retired, Ho bid farewell to his navy comrades: “Time to say goodbye!” The post included a picture of a folded Navy uniform, officer’s hat, medals and badges.

The message generated hundreds of likes and comments. “Captain,” wrote one well-wisher. “Thank you for your years of service to the country and the navy!”

Taiwanese soldiers take part in the annual Han Kuang military drill, which simulates a Chinese attack, in Yilan in Taiwan’s northeast in 2016. China is steadily building the firepower needed to seize Taiwan by force.

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Trump Administration Issues New Travel Ban Targeting 12 Countries

A newly signed proclamation bans the entry of nationals from specified countries, citing security concerns.

On June 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation instituting a travel ban affecting nationals from 12 countries, a move the administration claims is necessary to fortify national security against potential threats from foreign terrorists. The travel ban is set to come into effect on June 9, 2025, at 11:01 AM EST.

The travel restrictions apply to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not possess a valid visa. The proclamation explicitly states that any immigrant or non-immigrant visa issued prior to this date will not be revoked under this new regulation.

Countries Subject to Full Travel Ban

The complete travel ban encompasses the following countries:

Afghanistan
Myanmar
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen

Countries Subject to Partial Travel Ban

In addition, a partial travel ban affects certain countries where entry is suspended for immigrants and specific temporary visa holders, namely those holding B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. The countries facing partial restrictions include:

Burundi
Cuba
Laos
Sierra Leone
Togo
Turkmenistan
Venezuela

Exceptions to the Travel Ban

There are several exceptions outlined in the proclamation. These include:

Lawful permanent residents of the United States
Dual nationals
Diplomats traveling on valid non-immigrant visas
Athletes and members of athletic teams, along with their immediate relatives, traveling for major sporting events such as the World Cup or Olympics
Immediate family immigrant visas
Adoption cases
Afghan Special Immigrant Visas
Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. government employees
Immigrant visas designated for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran

Potential Future Travel Restrictions

In March 2025, reports indicated that the Trump administration was evaluating travel restrictions on a list of 41 countries. Notably, 17 of the countries now included in the travel ban were also part of that preliminary assessment, while Burundi and Togo were newly added. Countries that were considered in the earlier list but are not currently affected include North Korea, Syria, South Sudan, Angola, and several others.

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Japan Grapples with Rice Shortage Amid Soaring Prices

Thai Army Asserts Readiness Amid Border Tensions with Cambodia

Thai Military Emphasizes Patience in Cambodian Border Dispute

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Hold First Call Since Trade War Began

Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape

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Cambodia Decides to Bring Border Dispute with Thailand to World Court

Prime Minister Hun Manet announces intention to file complaint with the International Court of Justice following military clashes.

Cambodia has formally announced its decision to bring a long-standing border dispute with Thailand before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), prompted by recent military engagements between the two nations' armed forces.

Prime Minister Hun Manet addressed the Cambodian National Assembly on Monday, stating that the government intends to file a complaint with the ICJ as a means to resolve the territorial issue definitively.

Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that even if Thailand does not concur with the move, Cambodia will proceed with the ICJ filing in order to eliminate any ambiguity surrounding the disputed areas.

This announcement comes after a shift in strategy, as Hun Manet had earlier suggested that Cambodia would first pursue dialogue aimed at resolving the undemarcated border sections through discussions with Thailand.

The dispute primarily concerns three ancient Khmer ruins located near the border in Surin Province, which Cambodia claims as part of its territory in Oddar Meanchey Province.

These sites are known as Ta Muan Thom, Ta Muan Toch, and Ta Kwai in Cambodia, while referred to as Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, and Ta Kro Bei in Thailand.

The broader area of contention includes the Emerald Triangle, bordering Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani Province, Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province, and Champassak Province in Laos.

Tensions escalated recently due to armed confrontations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in the vicinity of Ta Muan Thom and at Chong Bok, a steep valley in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani.

The Thai military reported a stand-off involving soldiers from both nations, which culminated in a brief exchange of gunfire but did not lead to further escalation at that time.

Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree expressed opposition to Cambodia’s decision to escalate the issue to the World Court, suggesting that the urgent priority should be focused on peaceful coexistence and conflict avoidance along the contested border rather than legal proceedings.

Both nations have expressed commitments to resolving border disputes through peaceful means, despite the ongoing tensions and differing claims over territory.

The Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), established to address and mediate border-related issues between Thailand and Cambodia, has been the primary framework for dialogue, although the unresolved areas have continued to generate significant friction.

The diplomatic landscape in Southeast Asia remains complex, as both nations navigate their historical claims and contemporary political considerations regarding national sovereignty and bilateral relations.

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Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth

South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea

Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency

Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle

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Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases

Operation 'Spiderweb' targets strategic bombers across five Russian regions with 117 drones

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine conducted a coordinated drone assault on five Russian military airbases, marking one of the most extensive long-range operations since the onset of the conflict.

The operation, codenamed 'Spiderweb,' was orchestrated by Ukraine's Security Service over an 18-month period and involved the deployment of 117 first-person view (FPV) drones.

The targeted airbases—Belaya in Irkutsk Oblast, Dyagilevo in Ryazan Oblast, Ivanovo Severny in Ivanovo Oblast, Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, and Ukrainka in Amur Oblast—are known to house strategic aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers, as well as A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Ukrainian officials reported that the strikes resulted in damage or destruction to over 40 military aircraft, accounting for approximately 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.

The estimated financial impact of the operation is around $7 billion.

The drones were covertly transported into Russian territory, concealed within wooden structures mounted on trucks.

These mobile units were positioned near the targeted airfields.

At the designated time, the structures’ roofs were remotely activated to release the drones, which then proceeded to their respective targets.

Ukrainian operatives involved in the operation were reportedly extracted from Russia prior to the commencement of the attacks.

One of the most notable aspects of the operation was the strike on Belaya Air Base in Eastern Siberia, located over 4,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

This represents the longest-range drone attack carried out by Ukraine to date.

Satellite imagery and local reports confirmed significant damage at the site, including the destruction of multiple Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers.

The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the attacks, stating that aircraft were damaged and fires were ignited at airbases in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions.

The ministry also reported repelling strikes in the Amur, Ivanovo, and Ryazan regions.

Independent verification of the full extent of the damage remains pending.

The operation coincided with ongoing peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul.

Ukrainian officials have expressed skepticism regarding Russia’s commitment to the negotiations, citing the timing of the attacks and the lack of prior communication about Russia’s negotiation proposals.

This operation follows a series of Ukrainian efforts targeting Russian military infrastructure, including previous drone strikes on airbases and strategic assets.

The use of domestically produced FPV drones and innovative deployment methods underscores Ukraine’s evolving tactics in the conflict.

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South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners

BOXING’S BIGGEST SCANDAL JUST GOT SCIENTIFIC - KHELIF’S DNA TEST BLOWS UP PARIS GAMES

"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil

It’s every columnist’s dream: write something so sharp it slices through the noise, goes viral across social media and Wall Street alike—and ends up ruffling the feathers of the President of the United States. That’s exactly what happened to Financial Times opinion editor Robert Armstrong, when a seemingly routine article earlier this month birthed the term TACO, an acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out.

The phrase, a play on the popular Mexican dish, was Armstrong’s way of describing Donald Trump’s now-predictable pattern: threatening to impose steep tariffs, only to back down shortly after. “Markets have learned that the U.S. administration doesn’t tolerate economic pain well,” Armstrong wrote. “It retreats once tariffs start to hurt. That’s the TACO theory—Trump Always Chickens Out.”

And just like that, TACO was born.

It didn’t take long for the term to go viral. Financial feeds on X (formerly Twitter) were soon flooded with memes, hashtags, and mock analyses. Investors began jokingly referring to “Taco Trades”—buying stocks low when Trump rattled markets with tariff threats, and cashing in when he predictably reversed course. The existence of a taco emoji only helped the meme take off.

Then came Wednesday.

During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about TACO. He hadn’t heard of it—and he did not like it.

“I chicken out? Never heard that before,” Trump barked. “That’s disgusting. Don’t ever say that again.”

He was reportedly furious afterward, scolding his aides for not alerting him to the joke circulating at his expense. According to White House sources, the president’s anger stemmed not only from the ridicule itself, but from what it attacked: his self-styled image as a tough-as-nails negotiator and dealmaker, the very persona he built in The Art of the Deal.

Insiders added that Trump felt the nickname undermined what he views as a strategic trade tactic. He even tried to clarify during the same press event: that he often sets intentionally “ridiculously high” tariff rates to pressure other countries into making concessions—then backs off if they comply.

Still, the damage was done.

“The joke clearly got under his skin,” one White House source told CNN. “It shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how he uses threats as leverage. And frankly, Trump doesn’t tolerate being seen as weak—so the idea that people think he ‘chickens out’ stings hard.”

Whatever Trump’s intentions, Wall Street has largely stopped taking his tariff threats at face value. Last Tuesday, markets surged after Trump once again postponed imposing 50% tariffs on the EU—just days after threatening them. A similar rally followed Wednesday, after a federal court ruled many of Trump’s tariffs illegal. Though the administration immediately appealed and secured a temporary freeze on the ruling pending a June 9 hearing, the pattern repeated itself yet again.

As for Robert Armstrong, he was stunned by the wildfire spread of his TACO theory.

“The mystery of social and traditional media remains utterly beyond me,” he said on the Financial Times’ popular podcast Unhedged. Still, he offered a tongue-in-cheek warning:

“What I really hope doesn’t happen is that Trump stops chickening out because of what I wrote. Let’s be clear: his retreats are the right thing to do. They’re worth celebrating. Three cheers for chickening out of bad policy.”

In the end, what began as a clever acronym has become a symbolic critique of Trump’s trade strategy—and a rare moment where a financial columnist found himself under the President’s skin, simply by calling his bluff.

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Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point

The UEFA Champions League final has always been a competitive match—until last night. Paris Saint-Germain demolished Inter Milan five–nil in a surreal, one-sided, and unprecedented blowout. It wasn’t just the largest scoreline in Champions League final history—it was an absurd mismatch. Even a Swiss Cup final between Basel and a third-division team of part-timers would likely be closer.

This wasn’t expected. PSG were favorites, but Inter had previously entered finals as underdogs and held their own—like their strong showing against Manchester City two years ago. This time, Inter weren’t just beaten—they were erased. It was so humiliating that some fans may wish they’d lost the semifinal to Barcelona instead. Calling it a mismatch is an understatement.

There have been one-sided finals before, but the losing teams still walked away with pride. In 2017, Real Madrid beat Juventus four–one—but it was one–one at halftime. Porto’s three–nil win over Monaco in 2004? First goal came in the thirty-ninth minute. Even Milan’s famous four–nil win over Barcelona in 1994 had a fighting Barca side. Inter offered nothing. Not even for a second.

So what went wrong? Inter had no injuries, no suspensions, and fielded their best lineup. Coach Simone Inzaghi used the same system that defeated Bayern and Barcelona. Yes, Inter is the oldest team in the tournament and played on multiple fronts—but fatigue doesn’t explain this collapse. They had two full weeks to rest and prepare. They just didn’t show up.

And maybe that’s because PSG were just that good. This wasn’t just dominance—it was something far beyond expectations. Credit goes to coach Luis Enrique, who has slowly built a cohesive, ego-free squad over the past two years. It’s proof you don’t need superstar names to win the Champions League—just a team willing to work for each other.

PSG’s journey this season was brutal. They had the toughest group stage draw and lost early matches against Arsenal, Atlético, and Bayern. At one point in early 2025, they were ranked twenty-fifth. Then came the turning point: down two–nil against Manchester City, they mounted a stunning comeback and won four–two.

From there, they rolled forward. A convincing win in Stuttgart, a comeback at Anfield, surviving Villa’s fightback, and then eliminating Arsenal—who had just crushed Real Madrid. The team gained confidence, rhythm, and momentum with every round. By the time they reached the final, they were playing fearless, fluid football.

Luis Enrique has instilled total football principles. No fixed roles. Fluid front lines. A flexible midfield without a traditional playmaker or defensive anchor. Fullbacks join attacks, defenders cover wide spaces, and young players like Willian Pacho quietly deliver near-perfect performances.

The goals in the final told the story: Hakimi, a right-back, scoring from center-forward position. Dembélé creating and pressing. Dhoué everywhere—assisting, scoring, dictating tempo. Even academy graduate Senny Maiolo got in on the action with a late fifth goal.

And while PSG danced, Inter crumbled. Their players mentally checked out and waited for the final whistle. It was a complete collapse.

Yes, PSG deserved to win. The players delivered. Luis Enrique deserves all the praise. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: this win is also a PR victory for Qatar.

This is sportswashing. A repressive regime accused of funding terror and abusing migrant workers improves its global image through beautiful football. It’s no coincidence that western media praises the club’s “new management style.” That’s the point. This is the story they want told.

The players—Dembélé, Dhoué—aren’t to blame. It’s unrealistic to expect young athletes to choose teams based on morality. But fans do have a choice. You can admire PSG’s football and still detest what the club represents. This win, as dominant as it was, is a sad milestone for football. PSG’s highest high is the sport’s lowest low.

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OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire

OnlyFans, originally launched as a video platform for musicians and comedians, has turned into one of the most profitable adult content sites in the world—with over three hundred million users and billions in revenue. Now, its reclusive Jewish owner, Leonid Radvinsky, is reportedly looking to sell it—for a staggering eight billion dollars.

Headquartered in London with just fifty employees, OnlyFans takes twenty percent of its creators’ earnings from paid subscriptions. It gained massive traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, when both demand and supply of adult content soared as entertainers and sex workers turned to online platforms. The business model offers direct relationships between creators and fans, no middlemen, and no physical risk.

The company handed out five-point-three billion dollars to creators in 2023. That year, three hundred million users paid six-point-six billion dollars across over four million creator channels. Celebrities like Iggy Azalea, Bhad Bhabie, Tana Mongeau, and Lily Allen have all made significant earnings, with Allen famously charging ten dollars per month for photos of her feet. Snoop Dogg reportedly turned down a one-hundred-million-dollar offer to join.

Despite its success, OnlyFans has faced criticism for its adult content and business model. Critics say it still reinforces gendered power dynamics in the sex industry, and most of the platform’s revenue goes to a small elite of creators—ten percent of content creators account for seventy-three percent of profits.

Leonid Radvinsky, born in Odessa and raised in Chicago, bought seventy-five percent of the company in 2018 from founder Tim Stokely. A tech investor and entrepreneur since college, Radvinsky keeps a low profile but has donated millions to causes including Ukraine and AIPAC.

Despite the platform’s massive profits—nearly five hundred million dollars last year—selling it hasn’t been easy. A previous deal fell through due to backlash over a planned adult content ban. The site's nature has also scared off institutional investors, especially pension funds.

Still, OnlyFans remains highly attractive to buyers. It’s lean, avoids app store fees, and even pays lower credit card fees than most adult platforms. And unlike AI-generated content flooding the industry, OnlyFans thrives on real people and real connections.

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Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan

Thailand Closes Border Crossings with Cambodia Following Deadly Military Clash

Border skirmish near Chong Bok prompts checkpoint closures amid rising nationalist tensions and product boycott calls

Thailand has announced the closure of multiple border crossings with Cambodia following a fatal military clash near the disputed Chong Bok area in Ubon Ratchathani province. The incident, which occurred on May 28, resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier and heightened tensions between the two nations.

Clash Details

The confrontation began around 5:30 a.m. when Thai troops encountered Cambodian soldiers in a contested border zone. Thai authorities reported that Cambodian forces initiated gunfire during an attempted negotiation, leading to a ten-minute exchange before a ceasefire was brokered by local commanders. Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence stated that Thai troops opened fire on a long-standing Cambodian position, resulting in one fatality and several injuries among its soldiers. Thai forces reported no casualties.

Border Closures Implemented

In response to the incident and subsequent nationalist backlash in Cambodia, including widespread calls on social media to boycott Thai products, Thai security agencies convened an emergency meeting. Citing concerns over the safety of local communities and cross-border trade, authorities decided to close all border checkpoints along the Thai-Cambodian border. The closures affect six permanent border crossings:

Chong Sa Ngam, Phu Sing District, Sisaket Province
Chong Chom, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province
Ban Khlong Luek, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province
Ban Laem, Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province
Ban Phak Kad, Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province
Ban Hat Lek, Khlong Yai District, Trat Province

Additionally, ten temporary crossings, including those at Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom, have been closed.

Diplomatic Efforts and Military Movements

Following the clash, Thai Army Chief General Pana Claewplodtook met with his Cambodian counterpart, General Mao Sophan, to express condolences and discuss de-escalation measures. Both sides agreed to withdraw troops from the immediate area and to seek peaceful resolutions through joint border committees. Despite these efforts, Cambodia has reinforced its military presence along the border, emphasizing its commitment to protecting territorial integrity.

Historical Context

The Thailand-Cambodia border has been a longstanding source of tension, particularly around the Preah Vihear temple area. In 2013, the International Court of Justice granted sovereignty over the temple to Cambodia, but disputes over adjacent land persist. Previous incidents, including a February confrontation at the Ta Muen Thom temple, have further strained relations.

Government Statements

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have both expressed a desire to avoid further conflict and to resolve disputes through diplomatic channels. Cambodian authorities have urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information on social media to prevent exacerbating tensions.

The situation remains fluid, with both nations monitoring developments and engaging in ongoing discussions to restore stability along the border.

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Southeast Asia Advocates for Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine at WHO Assembly

Thailand and regional partners present joint statement urging WHO to strengthen scientific validation, ethical innovation, and protection of traditional medical knowledge

At the 78th World Health Assembly held in Geneva in May 2025, Thailand, representing the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region (SEAR), delivered a Joint Regional Position Statement concerning the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. The statement outlined four key recommendations aimed at enhancing the integration and regulation of traditional medicine within global health systems.

1. Strengthening Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine

The SEAR delegation emphasized the necessity for the WHO to support the development of scientific evidence underpinning traditional medicine practices. This includes promoting regional research networks and the utilization of real-world data, while acknowledging and respecting the context of unrecorded traditional knowledge. The delegation also advocated for the elevation of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, India, as a hub for international research and innovation cooperation.

2. Ethical Innovation and Digital Health

The statement called for the ethical application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in traditional medicine. It stressed the importance of respecting cultural contexts and ensuring that technological advancements serve to promote, rather than replace, traditional knowledge. Additionally, the delegation highlighted the need for adequate data protection measures and equitable access to digital health resources.

3. Protection of Traditional Medical Knowledge

The SEAR countries urged the WHO to implement stronger protections for traditional medical knowledge. This includes establishing fair benefit-sharing mechanisms and supporting the rights of indigenous communities in managing biodiversity sustainably. The delegation noted the urgency of this issue in the context of rapid trade and digital transformation.

4. Establishing Strong Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms

The statement recommended that the WHO establish clear, measurable indicators to track the progress of the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy efficiently. It also supported a comprehensive review of the strategy by 2030 to assess its effectiveness and impact.

These recommendations align with the strategic objectives outlined in the WHO's draft Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which aims to integrate traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into national health systems, strengthen the evidence base, and ensure the safety and quality of traditional medicine practices.

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Hong Kong Raises Age Limit for Non-Local Skilled Workers to Address Labour Shortages

The age limit increase from 35 to 40 aims to attract skilled professionals amid an impending manpower crisis.

The government of Hong Kong has announced an increase in the age limit for non-local skilled workers seeking employment in the city from 35 to 40 years.

This decision was confirmed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun Yuk-han, who stated that the change is intended to attract vital talent to alleviate manpower shortages in various technical fields.

The announcement was made during a radio show, where Sun indicated that the details of the new scheme are still being finalized and will be disclosed in the near future.

He explained that an age limit set at 40 years is deemed more ideal since it allows skilled workers to potentially contribute to the economy until the age of 65, resulting in at least 25 years of economic input from new arrivals.

The sectors identified as having an acute need for this talent include lift maintenance, electrical technicians, and enrolled nurses for care homes.

A policy address by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu last October projected a labour shortfall of approximately 180,000 workers across various sectors within the next five years.

To address this, Lee pledged reforms to the city’s talent admission regime, including new pathways for skilled and experienced workers in specific trades facing significant manpower shortages.

The revised age limit follows extensive consultations, with the government noting that an age range of 18 to 40 years is expected to be more effective in attracting the necessary technical talent.

This revision reflects a broader global trend of aging populations, which is influencing talent acquisition strategies worldwide.

The initiative is positioned to admit 10,000 skilled professionals over a three-year period, with the labour chief asserting that this will not adversely affect local job prospects for technicians.

The programme aims not only to address manpower shortages but also to ensure the protection of local job opportunities, prioritizing industries experiencing acute labour deficiencies.

Additionally, the programme will facilitate the entry of professionals needed for emerging industries where specific skills are not readily available within Hong Kong.

Sun emphasized that the initiative will include strict requirements regarding qualifications and designated work scopes, ensuring that incoming professionals address the pressing shortages in technical fields.

While the government has not imposed restrictions on the origin of these professionals, it is anticipated that a significant proportion will come from mainland China, aligning with trends observed in similar talent acquisition programmes.

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Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems

EagleEye project aims to enhance U.S. soldiers' battlefield awareness through advanced XR technology

Meta Platforms has announced a strategic partnership with defense technology firm Anduril Industries to develop advanced extended reality (XR) systems for the U.S. military.

The collaboration focuses on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to enhance soldiers' situational awareness and decision-making capabilities on the battlefield.

Central to this initiative is the development of EagleEye, a high-tech helmet designed to provide real-time battlefield intelligence.

The helmet will incorporate Meta's AI models, including its Llama series, and leverage Anduril's Lattice platform—a command and control system that synthesizes data from multiple sources to deliver actionable insights to military personnel.

The EagleEye system aims to improve soldiers' sensory perception, enabling the detection of threats such as drones and concealed targets.

The technology is intended to function as an AI-powered assistant, capable of managing tasks and facilitating communication among units.

Meta's Reality Labs will contribute its expertise in AR and VR technologies to the project.

This partnership marks a significant step for Meta into the defense sector, following a policy change in November 2024 that allowed its AI models to be used for military applications by U.S. government agencies and defense contractors.

The collaboration also reunites Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg with Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril and former Oculus VR executive.

Meta and Anduril have submitted a joint proposal for the U.S. Army's Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) Next program, which seeks to advance the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS).

The proposal includes the development of XR devices aimed at enhancing soldier effectiveness through improved mobility, lethality, and situational awareness.

The EagleEye project is privately funded by Meta and Anduril, utilizing technology initially developed for commercial use.

The initiative reflects a broader trend of increased collaboration between technology companies and the defense sector, as the U.S. military seeks to incorporate cutting-edge innovations to maintain strategic advantages.

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