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First Post
18 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
US strikes in Iran carry a message to China against Taiwan invasion — but there's a catch
Analysts have said that US strikes on Iran's underground nuclear sites have a message for China against the invasion of Taiwan. However, they have noted that there is major catch with this approach: Unlike Iran, China already has nuclear weapons. read more A US Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber (C) is flanked by 4 US Marine Corps F-35 fighters during a flyover of military aircraft down the Hudson River and New York Harbor past York City, and New Jersey, US, July 4, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities carry a message to China against the invasion of Taiwan, according to analysts. China considers the self-ruled island of Taiwan a breakaway province and is committed to it reunification with the mainland — forcefully if needed. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the military to be ready by 2027 for an invasion of Taiwan for the reunification. Analysts have said that the way US struck Iranian nuclear sites and deploy a group of bombers as decoys to Guam in the Indo-Pacific showed that the United States was capable of fielding bombers in two theatres and conducting two parallel operations. As the principal challenger in the Indo-Pacific, the message could not have been lost on China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, analysts have stressed there is a catch. Unlike Iran, China has nuclear weapons and any US-China confrontation is bound to be very different from a US-Iran confrontation. How US strikes in Iran sent a message to China Firstly, US strikes told China that its top strategic sites, such as the Central Military Commission command center and forward wartime headquarters, would not be beyond the reach of US bombs. Notably, the United States is developing 'bunker buster' bombs expected to be four times more powerful than the ones dropped on Iran last week. Secondly, the deployment of decoy bombers to the Indo-Pacific was a 'brilliant deterrence operation' and demonstrated US capabilities to operate across the world from Tehran to Taiwan, according to Miles Yu, a former State Department policy planner on China. 'This operation also served as stern warning to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] as to what the American military is capable of, especially our ability to outsmart, outplan, out-coordinate and overpower any adversary in a long-distant global conflict, whether it's half a world away in Tehran or over the Taiwan Strait,' Yu told Washington Times. Such a message also told China that it does not 'own' the Indo-Pacific region, according to Captain Jim Fanell, a former Pacific Fleet intelligence chief at the US Navy. 'Not only did it deceive the 'open source' intelligence community and provide operational security, but it was also a very important signal that the [People's Republic of China] does not have any 'ownership' of the western Pacific, and that America is still the most dominant military force in the world,' Fanell told Washington Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thirdly, the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites served as the demonstration of Trump's will to intervene abroad if required and come to the aid of allies and partners. 'After the Iran strikes, I suspect that Chinese leaders will now be more nervous about testing President Trump's resolve' on Taiwan, Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told The New York Times. 'Caution is warranted, both because Trump appears more willing to use force than many expected, but also because his actions seem less predictable,' Cooper further said. But there's a catch Despite the gravity of the message that US strikes inside Iran sent to China, there is one catch: Unlike Iran, China has nuclear weapons. As China has nuclear weapons and has naval and air defence capabilities much better than Iran, any US-China confrontation is bound to be very different from US-Iran confrontation. Moreover, Israel holds a special place for the United States that Taiwan does not hold. Trump, or any other US president for that matter, may not feel the same security commitment to Taiwan as Israel. For decades, China has prepared for the invasion of Taiwan and US intervention. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chinese leaders are confident that their military is much more formidable than the weakened Iranian forces that Israeli and US forces overcame, said Stacie Pettyjohn, a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, according to NYT. 'The US couldn't just swoop in there with an exquisite capability and launch a limited number of strikes and win. That is something that would be very clear to Beijing,' Pettyjohn further said. In the case of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan that sees US military involvement on Taiwan's side, the destruction will be at a scale not seen since World War 2, according to a wargame by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The CSIS exercise concluded that US-Taiwanese forces will thwart the Chinese occupation of Taiwan, but the costs will be so huge that US military will be degraded for many years. 'This defense comes at a high cost. The United States and Japan lose dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of servicemembers. Such losses would damage the US global position for many years. While Taiwan's military is unbroken, it is severely degraded and left to defend a damaged economy on an island without electricity and basic services. China also suffers heavily. Its navy is in shambles, the core of its amphibious forces is broken, and tens of thousands of soldiers are prisoners of war,' the wargame's report noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Gamer banned for publishing restricted warplane manual
The developer of the War Thunder military simulation game has banned a player from its online forums for posting a page from a restricted US warplane manual, according to a report by the UK Defence Journal. Developed by Gaijin Entertainment, War Thunder is known for its highly detailed weapon system simulations. The game attracts a passionate community of military enthusiasts, including active and former service members, who frequently scrutinize the accuracy of in-game vehicles compared to their real-world counterparts. The UK Defence Journal website reported Monday that this was at least the ninth incident in which a user uploaded sensitive material while attempting to bolster an argument. The latest case involved a page from the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) manual for the AV-8B and TAV-8B Harrier jets, which are used by the US Navy and Marine Corps. The document was not labeled 'classified' but was marked 'Distribution Statement C', which means it is restricted to US government agencies and authorized defense contractors. Some forum users argue that posting content that is accessible elsewhere online should be allowed, claiming that governments tend to be too protective of outdated documents that are not actually secret in any meaningful way. Gaijin Entertainment however maintains a strict policy prohibiting the publication of any protected material on its platforms. The developer says its models are based exclusively on sources legally available to the general public. Previous similar cases reportedly included leaks involving specifications for tanks such as Britain's Challenger 2, France's Leclerc, China's ZTZ-99, the Eurocopter Tiger helicopter, several US warplanes including the F-16, F-15E, F-117 and most recently, the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
US veteran's wife detained by immigration officers while still breastfeeding baby
A US Marine Corps veteran in Louisiana, US is struggling after his wife was detained by immigration officers while applying for a green card. Adrian Clouatre, a Marine Corps veteran, said his two children keep asking for their mother. His nearly two-year-old son asks where she is at bedtime, and his three-month-old daughter, who was breastfeeding, now has to be fed with a bottle. 'Mama will be back soon,' Clouatre tells his son. He said he worries about how the baby will bond with her mother while she is away. Clouatre's wife, Paola, is among thousands of people in custody and at risk of deportation as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers aim to make 3,000 arrests a day under the Trump administration. Paola Clouatre, 25, is from Mexico. She came to the US with her mother over 10 years ago seeking asylum. She met Adrian, 26, in California in 2022 during the final months of his military service. The two married in 2024 and soon applied for a green card so Paola could live and work legally. Adrian Clouatre said to AP, 'I'm not very political, but I believe she deserves to live here legally.' He added, 'I'm all for getting the criminals out of the country, but people who are working hard and married to Americans that's always been a way to get a green card.' Things were going well with the green card process until officials found out there was a deportation order against Paola from 2018. That order was given after her mother missed an immigration hearing. Adrian said Paola had no idea about the order because she and her mother had not been in touch for years. During a green card appointment on 27 May, officials brought up the deportation order. Adrian said they were asked to wait in the lobby for more paperwork, but he believes it was a way to hold them until ICE officers arrived. Officers then arrested Paola and she handed her husband her wedding ring. Adrian now drives eight hours round trip to visit his wife at a detention centre in Monroe. The couple's lawyer, Carey Holliday, told AP, 'It's just a hell of a way to treat a veteran. You take their wives and send them back to Mexico?' The Clouatres are asking a judge to reopen Paola's case. They are waiting for an answer. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement to AP that Paola is in the country illegally and that the government will not ignore the law. US Citizenship and Immigration Services wrote on X that ignoring a deportation order is 'a bad idea' and that the government will not tolerate defiance. Adrian said the post was unfair because his wife came as a child seeking asylum and did not know about the order. Experts told AP that military families once had more protection from deportation, but this has changed.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Surprise way woman scored cottage for $19
A US woman who entered a raffle to win a cottage in Ireland has become a homeowner — and it cost her only $US12.67 ($A19.52). Kathleen Spangler, from Ohio, bought three raffle tickets in December 2024 for a chance to win a cottage in Ireland, Realtor reports. A few months earlier, the US Marine Corps officer had applied for Irish citizenship — her dad's family is from Ireland. Her request was fast-tracked because she was pregnant. When she got her dual citizenship approved, the 29-year-old started looking at real estate in Ireland and came across the raffle for Butterfly Cottage — and decided to enter. Then she forgot about it. 'By chance, did you win a cottage in Ireland?' a friend texted her on May 22, according to the New York Times. Her friend was going to enter the contest, but when she went to the site, the raffle was closed — and the winner was announced: Kathleen Spangler. Ms Spangler's husband said his wife doesn't gamble, so when he received a text from her saying she thought she won a house, naturally, he was surprised and initially believed it was a scam. Ms Spangler eventually received an email from the raffle organisers and the cottage owner, Imelda Collins. 'Imelda's first email mentioned how I must be in shock, but she's excited for me,' Ms Spangler told the Times. She was able to speak with Ms Collins on WhatsApp. 'It was a great experience to be able to speak directly to her, and helped to make things real.' Ms Collins was happy to learn that Ms Spangler has ties to the community. Ms Spangler's great-grandfather was from Sligo, one of the nearest towns to the cottage. 'I truly feel my home was meant to be hers,' Ms Collins told the publication. Second home Ms Spangler's future cottage is located along Wild Atlantic Way — 1.75 acres in the countryside. The two-bedroom, one-bath home went through a renovation and redecoration in 2022. It comes with a kitchen and living and dining areas. The home has insulated floors, a vaulted ceiling with a skylight in the living and dining rooms, updated wiring and new plumbing with radiators, an energy-efficient oil boiler, a bathroom with a walk-in electric shower, new light fixtures, and a kitchen and appliances. The outside is a simple, white-painted structure with bright red trim, with gardens in the front and back and a large patio area to enjoy the rolling countryside views. The home has a private well and septic tank. High-speed broadband is available, and Spangler is getting the home fully furnished. Even though the home is in the countryside, it's not completely secluded. It's an 11-minute walk to the bus, 77 miles (123 km) to the closest airport (offering direct flights to the U.S., U.K., and other European cities), and 111 miles (178 km) to Belfast International Airport. The city of Sligo also offers a train to Dublin. Future abroad Both Ms Spangler and her husband said they've spoken about one day splitting their time between America and Ireland. In the meantime, transferring the property will take some time. Stelios Kounou, CEO of Raffall (the British company that hosted the raffle), told the Times that property transfers in Ireland can take about three months. Raffall will be supplying the legal team to oversee the due diligence for the company and Ms Collins. Ms Collins will pay for Ms Spangler's lawyer and the Irish stamp duty on the transaction (which was part of the agreement in the raffle). 'The contracts are handled by the lawyers much like a traditional property sale,' Mr Kounou said. 'The key difference is that, since the property was won rather than purchased, the winner doesn't have the same rights as a buyer — similar to how it works at auction. 'Once both parties are happy with the terms, the transfer of ownership and release of funds take place simultaneously, all managed by the lawyers.' Ms Collins told the Times that 206,815 tickets were sold, bringing in about $1.4 million ($A2.1 million). She'll need to pay 10 per cent to Raffall, about 2,600 euros ($A4,600) in affiliate fees, plus a 33 per cent capital gains tax, 1 per cent of the value of the house for stamp duty, and fees for her lawyers and the Spanglers' lawyers.
First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites: The beginning of the West Asian endgame?
The strikes through the B-2 Bombers delivering the GBU-57 Deep Penetration bombs may have upstaged everything that has happened so far. One thing is clear: all shackles are off, and the world stands on the brink of war read more A US Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber (C) is flanked by 4 US Marine Corps F-35 fighters during a flyover of military aircraft down the Hudson River and New York Harbor past York City, and New Jersey, US, July 4, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo The US B-2 Bombers bombed Iran's most secure nuclear enrichment site at Fordow in the early hours of 22 June, bringing an end to a week of speculation about whether the US will relent to Israel's request. With 30 Tomahawk missiles striking the other two prominent nuclear sites at Isfahan and Natanz simultaneously, it appears that the US has severely damaged, if not destroyed, Iran's nuclear programme for a long time, if not forever. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, what it has perhaps unleashed is an all-out conflict in West Asia, which may not be restricted to only Iran and Israel now. Initial reactions from Iran suggest that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed, and many Western and American assets in West Asia could now be targeted by Iran and its proxies in the region. How Russia, China and other Arab nations will react is yet to unfold, but one thing is clear: all shackles are off now, and the world stands on the brink of war! Global events now seem to be moving in a direction quite at odds with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's thoughtful assertion that 'this is not an era of war'. India was itself forced into a sharp but brief conflict with Pakistan following a dastardly terror attack in Kashmir on April 22, killing 26 innocent civilians. 'Operation Sindoor', launched by India, struck deep into Pakistan, causing unprecedented damage to the terror infrastructure as well as Pakistan's air and air defence capabilities. Although the conflict was called off after 96 hours, after Pakistan pleaded for an immediate ceasefire, tensions continue to simmer. Elsewhere in the globe, the situation is no better. The Russia-Ukraine war has completed three years since Russia launched 'Special Military Operations' in February 2022. Despite tall claims by US President Trump that he would end the war soon after taking over the presidency, the conflict has become more bitter in the past few weeks. The 'Operation Spider Web', launched by Ukraine on June 1, through smuggled drones into Russia, reportedly destroyed more than 40 combat aircraft of Russia, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes. Russia, in turn, has intensified ground as well as air operations in Ukraine, targeting key assets including the capital city of Kyiv. In addition, Russia has warned European countries that any direct military aid to Ukraine may draw them into the conflict as well, forcing the EU as well as other major countries in Europe to take urgent measures to upgrade their defence preparedness as well as increase their defence budgets exponentially. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In West Asia, the most conflict-ridden region since the end of World War II, the war in Gaza continues unabated. Every day brings in reports of Israeli strikes resulting in more deaths and destruction in Gaza. Latest official figures indicate that the death toll in Gaza has crossed 57,000, of which 70 per cent are women and children. Although there is no active conflict presently in neighbouring Lebanon and Syria, the undercurrent of unease and tensions continues. While the Lebanese army has assured Israel that it will keep Hezbollah on a leash, the possibility of Hezbollah's resurgence, primarily to support Iran in the future, cannot be ruled out. In Syria, although a swift military operation ousted the Assad regime in December 2024, the new government under Al Sharaa is still finding its feet, and reports of skirmishes continue. However, the most worrisome conflict is the Israel-Iran conflict. Initiated by Israel on 13th June, when Israeli strikes targeted and damaged Iran's nuclear enrichment sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. In addition, Israel has eliminated almost 20 of Iran's top military leadership and nuclear scientists. Iran's retaliation through missile strikes too made a significant impact in Israel by causing substantial damage in the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel's military headquarters, Haifa port city, and the Soroka hospital in Southern Israel. But the strikes through the B-2 Bombers delivering the GBU-57 Deep Penetration bombs may have upstaged everything that has happened so far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite threats from the US of direct military intervention into Iran and demands that Iran surrender, Iran has refused to bow down to the threats. In turn, Iran has threatened to strike US military assets spread across more than 19 locations across West Asia. Also, the threat of closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the thin lifeline of crude oil and gas flow to the world, has caused panic and alarm across the globe, as any such disruption could cause a spike in crude oil prices, adding to the inflationary trends across the world. In addition, any strikes on US assets in the region would draw in the regional Arab neighbours directly or indirectly into the conflict, something that countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have successfully avoided since October 7, 2023. Towards the Indo-Pacific, China is quietly upping the ante. Over the past year, tensions between China and Japan soared after the near-continuous deployment of Chinese advanced surveillance naval vessels in Japan's contiguous zone. Recently, Japan reported a near collision when a Chinese fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong made 'abnormal approaches' to a Japanese patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. Also, conflicting claims and disputes over islands and maritime assets around the South China Sea, as well as China's claims over Taiwan, are a recipe for a conflict, even through an unintended trigger. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other regions like the Pakistan-Afghanistan border continue to remain conflict-prone, with frequent reports of cross-border skirmishes. Africa has its own share of conflicts and destruction through terror. In one recent incident, more than 150 people were killed in Nigeria's Yelewata community on June 13, when unknown assailants opened fire on villagers who were asleep. Conclusion The increasing range of conflicts in the world reflects the breakdown of the global order established after World War II. The emerging global powers like China and resurgent powers like Russia are challenging the space being ceded by the declining supremacy of the superpowers of the Cold War era. For India, this is not the time to be embroiled in any conflict. The priority is rapid and uninterrupted economic growth towards realising its vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The swift end to Operation Sindoor may have drawn criticism from many quarters, but every day of continued conflict would have imposed costs that would have had a direct bearing on the goal of a developed and self-reliant India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Col Rajeev Agarwal is a West Asia expert and a Senior Research Consultant at Chintan Research Foundation, New Delhi. His X Handle is @rajeev1421. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
