Efforts by Taiwan to bolster its deterrent capabilities are crucial. U.S. assistance in this endeavor, in the form of continued arms sales, is key — and the latest, US$11.1 billion arms package announced in December will go a long way in creating a force that can deter an attack by China.

China’s assertiveness around Taiwan as well as in the vicinity of Japan will only make the Japanese more alert and strengthen Japan’s resolve to enhance its national security capabilities and to assume larger roles for regional security to maintain the rules-based international order together with its international partners.

The people of Ukraine and Taiwan are demonstrating their commitment to democracy; they need only the requisite support from the United States, the world’s avatar of democracy, to succeed in their defense of democracy. President Trump should step forward at the critical moment, a historic opportunity to secure the world as we know it.

Taiwan’s relations with Europe have gone through steady development over the past five years. Catalyzed by a series of global disruptions, Europe’s relations with Taiwan have moved from the margins toward a broader recognition that strengthening ties with Taiwan contributes to Europe’s strategic autonomy and resilience.

The NSS report mentions the “Indo-Pacific” and the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” seven times, and also mentions the Quad involving the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan, indicating that the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy will continue to be promoted.

A mere three days before the end of 2025, the Chinese government suddenly announced a military exercise targeting Taiwan. However, despite the scale of this exercise, “Justice Mission” did not cause serious concern in the U.S., and even the Japanese government responded discreetly. After the exercise, there does not appear to have been any significant change in U.S. arms sales policy to Taiwan, nor in Japan’s policy regarding Taiwan Strait security.

Nasry Asfura is likely to be declared the new president of Honduras, leading the country from 2025 to 2029. If so, the conservative Honduran candidate will likely alter the policy toward Taiwan.

Although the four consecutive Global South presidencies carry diplomatic significance, it did not alter the fundamental reality that influence within the G20 remains uneven. Experts believe that despite the symbolism of four Global South countries having held the G20 presidency, they continue to have merely a “seat at the table,” which is realistically more ceremonial than substantive when major powers choose not to engage.

Many supporters expect KMT to perform strongly in the 2026 local elections and eventually regain power in 2028. Against this backdrop, whether Cheng can lead a party widely perceived as “outdated” into a new era, or whether her rhetoric — arguably more pro-China than that of the typical KMT politician — will ultimately backfire, has become a key question.