Trump announces Hamas disarmament deal as Israel objects Iran hits US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain as Washington denies losses NATO activates air defences after missile hits Polish field US hits dozens of Iranian targets as Iran strikes back at Jordan and Kuwait Ebola deaths in eastern Congo pass 1,500 as treatment centres are torched Anthropic says Claude models broke into three organisations during tests Germany counts nearly 10,000 heat deaths this year Kumamoto quake death toll rises to 35 as search of collapsed mall goes on North Korean missile suspected after Russian barrage kills eight in Ukraine Chongqing landslide death toll rises to 51 Iraq-Gulf ties strained after US-Saudi strikes on Iran-aligned militias Bond yields jump after Fed holds rates steady Egypt investigates Damietta port drone strike as Iran war draws in more states Ukrainian drones halt Ryazan refinery and Black Sea oil loading Saudi Arabia forms multinational Red Sea shipping coalition Big Tech AI spending climbs as Meta books $279bn in data-centre leases RSF chief vows to retake Khartoum after battlefield setback Three firefighters killed as blazes burn across Greece, France and Spain First tankers move through Hormuz again after Pakistani-brokered deal Russian missile destroys US-owned drone factory in Kyiv China's Politburo promises more spending but no broad stimulus US Senate narrowly rejects bid to halt Trump's war on Iran US signs $58.6bn Patriot deal as Ukraine turns to other allies IBM claims start of quantum advantage era Russia says it prevented Ukrainian strike on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant Renewables pass 40% of China's energy mix as coal falls below half Thousands of migrants enter Ceuta as Spain deploys troops China voices 'serious concern' over US curbs in call with Bessent EU offers billions for seven AI gigafactories Saudi economy shrinks at fastest pace since the pandemic US growth slows to 1.5% in the second quarter Beijing threatens countermeasures over US robot and inverter bans Pakistan says it is pressing US and Iran back to the table Oil prices swing as the US-Iran war widens PLA says it is combat-ready against Taiwan independence at its 99th anniversary Israeli strikes kill four in Gaza, including two children Russia claims capture of villages in Sumy and Kharkiv regions US tech companies push back on proposed curbs on Chinese chips and AI Samsung chip profit jumps 250-fold as AI memory runs short Chinese navy and coast guard patrol Scarborough Shoal and warn off Philippine craft Korean stocks rebound 15 percent after record rout Security Council holds first secret straw poll on next UN chief Japan buys yen as India sells dollars to defend the rupee Zoox wins US clearance for paid robotaxi rides Microsoft sets record for biggest one-day gain in market value Saudi Arabia pushes new regional order after Iran war Wildfire near Sizewell nuclear plant forces evacuations in Suffolk Trump restricts exports of waste containing critical materials Car supply chains disrupted after quake damages Japanese parts maker Chinese brain implants help paralysed patients return to work Trump announces Hamas disarmament deal as Israel objects Iran hits US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain as Washington denies losses NATO activates air defences after missile hits Polish field US hits dozens of Iranian targets as Iran strikes back at Jordan and Kuwait Ebola deaths in eastern Congo pass 1,500 as treatment centres are torched Anthropic says Claude models broke into three organisations during tests Germany counts nearly 10,000 heat deaths this year Kumamoto quake death toll rises to 35 as search of collapsed mall goes on North Korean missile suspected after Russian barrage kills eight in Ukraine Chongqing landslide death toll rises to 51 Iraq-Gulf ties strained after US-Saudi strikes on Iran-aligned militias Bond yields jump after Fed holds rates steady Egypt investigates Damietta port drone strike as Iran war draws in more states Ukrainian drones halt Ryazan refinery and Black Sea oil loading Saudi Arabia forms multinational Red Sea shipping coalition Big Tech AI spending climbs as Meta books $279bn in data-centre leases RSF chief vows to retake Khartoum after battlefield setback Three firefighters killed as blazes burn across Greece, France and Spain First tankers move through Hormuz again after Pakistani-brokered deal Russian missile destroys US-owned drone factory in Kyiv China's Politburo promises more spending but no broad stimulus US Senate narrowly rejects bid to halt Trump's war on Iran US signs $58.6bn Patriot deal as Ukraine turns to other allies IBM claims start of quantum advantage era Russia says it prevented Ukrainian strike on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant Renewables pass 40% of China's energy mix as coal falls below half Thousands of migrants enter Ceuta as Spain deploys troops China voices 'serious concern' over US curbs in call with Bessent EU offers billions for seven AI gigafactories Saudi economy shrinks at fastest pace since the pandemic US growth slows to 1.5% in the second quarter Beijing threatens countermeasures over US robot and inverter bans Pakistan says it is pressing US and Iran back to the table Oil prices swing as the US-Iran war widens PLA says it is combat-ready against Taiwan independence at its 99th anniversary Israeli strikes kill four in Gaza, including two children Russia claims capture of villages in Sumy and Kharkiv regions US tech companies push back on proposed curbs on Chinese chips and AI Samsung chip profit jumps 250-fold as AI memory runs short Chinese navy and coast guard patrol Scarborough Shoal and warn off Philippine craft Korean stocks rebound 15 percent after record rout Security Council holds first secret straw poll on next UN chief Japan buys yen as India sells dollars to defend the rupee Zoox wins US clearance for paid robotaxi rides Microsoft sets record for biggest one-day gain in market value Saudi Arabia pushes new regional order after Iran war Wildfire near Sizewell nuclear plant forces evacuations in Suffolk Trump restricts exports of waste containing critical materials Car supply chains disrupted after quake damages Japanese parts maker Chinese brain implants help paralysed patients return to work

Narrative thread · 1 event

Taiwan Strait tensions

Where things stand

China's defence ministry said on Thursday the PLA stands combat-ready against any move toward Taiwan independence, brushing off a report on mock-ups of Taiwanese buildings at training sites. The force marks its 99th anniversary on Saturday.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not renounced taking it by force, while Taipei rejects that claim. The People's Liberation Army keeps up pressure across the Taiwan Strait through exercises and training, including, according to a report the defence ministry was asked about, replicas of buildings on the island used as practice targets. The PLA celebrates its founding anniversary each 1 August, and this year's marks 99 years. Its centenary in 2027 is also the deadline Beijing has set for a set of military modernisation goals, leaving one year to go, which has made the date a reference point for assessments of Chinese capabilities.

Timeline in detail

Friday, 31 July 2026Geopolitics

PLA says it is combat-ready against Taiwan independence at its 99th anniversary

China's defence ministry said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army is ready for combat at all times to thwart 'Taiwan independence' separatist attempts, responding to a report on replicas of island buildings used in training. The force marks its 99th anniversary on Saturday, one year from the deadline for its centenary modernisation goals.