The US sends more military equipment to the Middle East, Russia builds a land bridge connecting to North Korea, France 'pumps' another 2 billion euros into Ukraine

The US arrests an Iranian researcher, China builds the world's first fusion-fission plant, Japan plans to evacuate 120,000 people from islands near Taiwan, Bolivia declares a national emergency, Hezbollah refuses to normalize relations with Israel... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot during their first visit to China, March 27. (Source: AFP)

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

Asia-Pacific

*Philippines arrests foreign spy group spying on US Navy: On March 26, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested six foreign spy suspects, including five Chinese and one Cambodian, on Grande Island in Subic Bay on March 19. The group was accused of posing as fishermen to monitor the activities of US Navy ships using high-tech unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

According to the NBI press release, the suspects were operating under the guise of recreational fishing. The NBI has been monitoring the group since last year, as they were able to use Grande Island as an “observation point” for espionage activities. The NBI has seized numerous photos and videos, including images of US Navy ships and cargo ships . (Asianews)

*Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Annual Conference opens: On March 27, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2025 Annual Conference opened in the coastal town of Boao in China's Hainan Province. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended the opening ceremony.

Established in 2001, BFA is an international non-governmental and non-profit organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and supporting Asian countries in achieving their development goals.

Taking place from March 25-28, this year's conference has the theme "Asia in a Changing World: Towards a Shared Future". (THX)

*Japanese PM plans to visit Philippines, Vietnam: Government sources said on March 27 that Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is considering visiting the Philippines and Vietnam during Japan's "Golden Week" holiday from late April, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations.

Ishiba is expected to reaffirm the importance of ensuring a rules-based maritime order, with an eye to Beijing's growing presence in the East and South China Seas, sources said.

The plan underscores Japan's growing focus on strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), after Ishiba selected Malaysia and Indonesia as the first destinations for bilateral summit visits after taking office in October 2024. (Kyodo)

*China-Thailand navies conduct joint drills to counter maritime threats: Chinese military spokesman Wu Qian said on March 27 that the joint drills conducted by the Chinese and Thai navies aim to enhance their ability to deal with security threats at sea.

According to Mr. Ngo Khiem, this exercise named "Blue Strike 2025" will take place from March 26 to April 2 in Guangdong province, southern China, with the participation of 11 warships and two marine units from both sides. The exercise includes many contents, such as joint maritime attack operations, air and missile defense, search and rescue at sea, as well as anti-terrorism and anti-piracy. This is the 6th "Blue Strike" joint naval exercise between the two countries. (THX)

*Japan plans to evacuate 120,000 people from islands near Taiwan (China): On March 27, Japan announced a plan to evacuate about 120,000 residents and tourists from small southern islands near Taiwan within 6 days in case of an "emergency situation".

The plan does not specify what the “emergency situation” is, but calls for the evacuation of about 120,000 people from five small Japanese islands near Taiwan.

Under the plan, military ships, private ferries and planes will be mobilized to transport people off the islands, including to the southwesternmost island of Kyushu in the Japanese archipelago for six days. (AFP)

*China to build world's first fusion-fission plant: China is preparing to start construction of the world's first fusion-fission nuclear power plant, with the goal of producing 100 megawatts of continuous electricity and connecting to the grid by 2030.

The facility will be built on Yaohu Science Island in the Nanchang High-Tech Park in Jiangxi Province, central China. According to Jiangxi Province’s 2021 science and technology development plan, the project will be tested and put into use by the end of the decade. In 2023, Lianovation Superconductor said it would complete the facility within five to six years.

If the 100-megawatt plant is completed on schedule, China will be years, even decades, ahead of similar efforts by other countries in fusion-fission or pure fusion. (SCMP)

*Russia to build road bridge to North Korea: Russian Ambassador to Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora said Russia and North Korea will soon start building a road bridge across the Tumen River connecting the two countries, RIA state news agency quoted.

“The construction of the bridge has not yet begun. The parties are carrying out preparatory work, completing design documents, forming construction teams and preparing equipment,” Matsegora said. According to him, the road bridge will be 850 meters long and connected to the Russian road system.

The bridge project was agreed upon during President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024, when the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. (Reuters)

*French and Chinese foreign ministers hold talks on many sensitive issues: On March 27 in Beijing, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss sensitive issues such as the war in Ukraine and trade tensions between Beijing and Europe.

French Foreign Minister Barrot is on a two-day visit to China (March 27-28). China expressed hope that the French Foreign Minister's visit will help the two countries strengthen cooperation amid "turbulence and transformation" in the world.

According to Beijing, the two sides will discuss how to "jointly combat unilateralism and the rise of the law of the jungle" - implying that US President Donald Trump has shaken the international order after returning to the White House. (AFP)

Europe

*EU President calls on allies to maintain sanctions against Russia: On March 27, President of the European Council Antonio Costa announced that the European Union (EU) and its allies need to maintain sanctions against Russia to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.

On the social media platform X, Mr. Costa wrote: "The best way to support Ukraine is to remain consistent in our goal of achieving a just and lasting peace. This means continuing to put pressure on Russia through sanctions." (Reuters)

*France provides additional 2 billion euros in aid to Ukraine: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 26 that his country will provide additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion USD) in aid to Ukraine.

President Macron said at a press conference ahead of a "coalition of the willing" summit in support of Ukraine in Paris on March 27: "France will continue its commitment."

It is too early to consider lifting sanctions on Russia, according to the French President, even as the US seeks to pressure Moscow to accept a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine. (AFP)

*Russian President accepts invitation to visit India: TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as confirming on March 27 that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India. In a video address broadcast at the conference "Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda" co-organized by the Indian Embassy in Russia and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Foreign Minister Lavrov said that India is currently preparing for the Russian President's visit.

In July 2024, Prime Minister Modi visited Russia at the invitation of President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit . (TASS)

*France, Germany call on EU to respond to US on auto tax: On March 27, French Finance Minister Eric Lombard and German Economy Minister Robert Habeck simultaneously called on the European Union (EU) to "respond firmly" to the car import tax measure recently announced by President Donald Trump.

Mr Lombard said Mr Trump's imposition of tariffs on imported cars was "very bad news" and an "uncooperative act" that left the European Union with no choice but to respond. However, he also expressed hope that negotiations could begin as soon as possible with US partners to reduce tariffs.

Sharing the same view, the German Minister of Economy stated: "We must make it clear that we will not give in to the US. We need to show strength and confidence." Mr. Habeck added that this is "bad news for German carmakers, the German economy, the EU. (AFP)

*Russia accuses Ukraine of using RAND cover for spying: On March 27, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Ukrainian intelligence agencies of trying to recruit Russian citizens and collect military information by impersonating employees of the US non-profit consulting organization RAND Corp.

"The FSB has received information that representatives of the Ukrainian special services, using the cover of the influential US organization RAND Corporation, conducted recruitment activities on the territory of the Russian Federation and collected limited information about the Russian Federation's special military operation in Ukraine," the state news agency RIA quoted the FSB as saying.

RAND has been banned from operating in Russia as an “undesirable organization”. (Reuters) .

Middle East-Africa

*Iran pledges continued support for Palestine: Iran will continue to support the Palestinian people and the resistance movement against Israel, including conducting direct military operations against the Jewish state.

Fars news agency on March 26 quoted Iran's Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani as saying that the Islamic Republic will support Palestine by providing support to fighters from the resistance front and carrying out military attacks.

Amid rising tensions, the Israel Defense Forces resumed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip last week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office justified the strikes by citing Hamas' refusal to accept a US plan to extend the ceasefire and resume hostage releases.

In 2024, Iran carried out two missile attacks on Israel, marking a turning point in the history of relations between the two countries. (RIA Novosti)

*The US is transporting more military equipment to the Middle East to increase attacks on Houthi: Saudi Arabia's Arab News reported on March 26 that a significant increase in US military equipment in the Middle East shows that the US military is likely to increase fierce attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen.

The Pentagon recently ordered the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group to extend its deployment in the Red Sea by a month. A second carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson is headed to the Middle East.

This is an unusual buildup of military hardware and may be a sign that the US is planning a major attack on Houthi positions in Yemen. In addition, the US may be seeking to send a strong message to Iran. (Arab News)

*Hezbollah rejects normalization of relations with Israel: Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed on March 26 that Lebanon will not accept any normalization of relations with Israel and condemned Tel Aviv's ongoing actions in southern Lebanon.

He reiterated Hezbollah's commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty, as well as the demand for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and called on the state to put pressure on all parties to fully implement the ceasefire agreements and protect Lebanon's rights.

The Hezbollah leader also condemned the US-Israeli strategy to reshape the region by undermining the Palestinian cause and expanding Israeli control over territory. He warned that the resistance front, including Hezbollah and its regional allies, remains committed to resisting these efforts. (Al Jazeera)

*Israel intercepts series of missiles launched from Yemen: The Israeli military said on March 27 that it had intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen before they entered Israeli territory, after sirens sounded in many areas in Israel, including Jerusalem.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has launched missiles and drones into Israel in support of Hamas militants. The US has been carrying out airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen since March 15, with President Donald Trump vowing to hold Iran responsible for any attacks by the group.

Hamas is part of the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance” – a network of anti-Israel, anti-Western regional militias that includes the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. (Reuters)

*Iran is ready to negotiate indirectly with the US: On March 27, Mr. Kamal Kharrazi, advisor to Iran's supreme leader, said Tehran has not closed all doors to resolve disagreements with the US and is ready to negotiate indirectly with Washington.

Tehran has previously dismissed US President Donald Trump's warning that Iran must reach a deal or face military consequences. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the message deceptive and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said negotiations were impossible unless Washington changed its policy of "maximum pressure".

"The Islamic Republic does not close all doors. We are ready for indirect negotiations with the United States to assess our partners, state our own conditions and make appropriate decisions," Kharrazi said , according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) . (Reuters)

*South Sudan's First Vice President arrested: According to a statement shared by the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM/A IO) party, Mr. Reath Muoch Tang on March 26, South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar, a long-time opponent of President Salva Kiir, was arrested at his private residence in Juba.

"We strongly condemn the unconstitutional actions of the Minister of Defense and the Director General of National Security, who stormed the residence of the First Vice President with more than 20 heavily armed vehicles. His bodyguards were disarmed and an arrest warrant was issued for him on unclear charges," the statement said. (AFP)

America - Latin America

*Cuban President to attend Victory Day celebrations in Russia: On March 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has accepted an invitation to attend the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War taking place on May 9 in Moscow.

The head of the Russian diplomatic agency stressed that the visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Havana.

According to Mr. Lavrov, in the coming time, the two countries will hold a meeting of the Russia-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission on trade, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Chernishenko will also visit Cuba.

Mr. Lavrov affirmed that Russia will strive to ensure that all bilateral contacts are aimed at reaching an agreement to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership and promote coordination in international forums. (TASS)

*US arrests Iranian graduate student at University of Alabama: According to a media release on March 26 from the University of Alabama, US federal immigration authorities have arrested a graduate student at the university.

The identity of the researcher has not been released, but records from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) show that the person detained is Alireza Doroundi, an Iranian citizen. Current information does not specify where Mr. Doroundi is being held.

The arrests come as President Donald Trump has vowed to deport pro-Palestinian protesters in the United States, accusing them of supporting Hamas, anti-Semitism and obstructing U.S. foreign policy. His administration is also tightening controls on international students, increasing immigration arrests and restricting border crossings . (Reuters)

*Mexico criticizes US tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan oil: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on March 26 rejected the US government's 25% tariff on imported goods from countries buying Venezuelan oil or gas, while ruling out the impact of that policy on this Latin American country.

Speaking at a press conference the same day, President Sheinbaum condemned the imposition of the above economic sanctions by the US and highlighted the principle of non-interference in Mexico's foreign policy. The female president reiterated Mexico's stance against the US economic embargo against Cuba, saying that she would continue to defend this because such sanctions not only affect the people but also impact "diplomacy and international dialogue". (AFP)

*Bolivia declares national emergency: Bolivian President Luis Arce on March 26 declared a national emergency after heavy rains and severe flooding killed more than 50 people and displaced more than 100,000 across the country.

The declaration of a state of emergency will allow the government to procure supplies and facilitate the deployment of resources. Thousands of troops have been deployed across the country to help distribute aid to hard-hit areas.

Bolivia's Congress is also expected to approve a $75 million loan from the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean to help deal with the aftermath of natural disasters, including floods. (Reuters)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-ngay-273-my-dua-them-khi-tai-quan-su-den-trung-dong-nga-lam-cau-duong-bo-noi-voi-trieu-tien-phap-bom-tiep-2-ty-euro-cho-ukraine-308463.html