Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Monday, 19 August 2024.
- HAMAS REJECTS PEACE DEAL, SENDS BOMB: Hamas announced on Sunday it rejected the latest hostage release terms. Monday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad took credit for a backpack bomb in Tel Aviv that only killed the handler and injured one bystander.
- The local police believe the bomb exploded early but was intended for a nearby synagogue with 80 attendees in a religious service.
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv to advance ceasefire talks an hour before the attack.
- Global Rollup
- China’s Coast Guard (CCG) intentionally rammed two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels early this morning to dissuade them from resupplying Filipino outposts in the Spratly Islands. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman characterized the actions as “professional, restrained and appropriate.” (The latest ramming incident demonstrates to the Philippines that China may achieve relative peace around one dispute – The Second Thomas Shoal – just to expand the aggression to other disputed islands. – J.V.)
- China’s Premier, Li Qiang, will visit Russia and Belarus from 20 to 24 August, where they will hold the latest heads of government meeting. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the heads of government will represent their respective presidents to further increase economic cooperation and “important issues of mutual interest.”
- Germany announced it will send a frigate and replenishment ship through the Taiwan Strait next month. This will be the first time German ships have crossed the Strait since 2002. The Chinese Foreign Ministry decried this as a violation of Chinese sovereignty and interfering with an internal issue.
- The U.S., South Korea, and Japan released a joint statement announcing a new finance ministers’ meeting, “Trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue,” and coordinated messaging. They also announced new information sharing agreements including for ballistic missile defense.
THAT’S A WRAP: This does it for today’s edition. Thank you for reading. If you know folks who would also like to receive this email, would you please forward it to them? We appreciate you spreading the word. – M.S.