Donald Trump refused to rule out military or economic coercion
Panama sovereignty non-negotiable, Denmark "Greenland not for sale", Trump on military or economic coercion, China adds dual-use items in strategic resources, S.Korea's Yoon unprecedented arrest.
Canada, Panama, Denmark reject land grabbing intent of Trump
Panama said on Tuesday that the sovereignty of its interoceanic canal was non-negotiable, while Denmark said Greenland is not for sale, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military or economic coercion to gain control over relevant regions.
By Yang Sheng and Liu Xin (Global Times)
US President-elect said on the same day that he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a name he said has a "beautiful ring to it," according to the AP, noting it's his latest suggestion to redraw the map of the Western Hemisphere.
Trump's suggestion on Tuesday that the United States might reclaim the Panama Canal — potentially by force — unsettled Panamanians, who used to live with the presence of the US military in the canal zone and were invaded by American forces once before, the New York Times reported.
'Unsettling' intent
Panama's foreign minister, Javier MartÃnez-Acha, made his country's position clear at a news conference hours after the American president-elect mused aloud about retaking the canal, which the United States built but turned over to Panama in the late 1990s.
"The sovereignty of our canal is nonnegotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest," MartÃnez-Acha said. "Let it be clear: The canal belongs to the Panamanians and it will continue to be that way," according to the New York Times.
Asked at a press conference at his Florida resort whether he could assure the world he would not use military or economic coercion as he tries to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security," according to Reuters.
Trump also suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to purchase Greenland, which he said is vital to US national security. Shortly before Trump's comments, his son arrived in Greenland for a visit, according to Reuters.
When asked about Trump Jr's visit to Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish TV that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" and that only the local population could determine their future. She agreed that "Greenland is not for sale", but stressed Denmark needed close cooperation with the US, a NATO ally, according to BBC.
The Danish king has shocked some historians by changing the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands - in what has also been seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump, Guardian reported Monday. In his first new year speech, the king said: "We are all united and each of us committed for the kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in South Schleswig - which is even situated outside the kingdom - and all the way to Greenland. We belong together."
Trump Jr arrived in snowy Greenland on Tuesday on his father's Trump Force One private plane, the latest sign of the president-elect's desire to take ownership of the vast Arctic island. But if the Danish king's latest move is anything to go by, the United States has a fight on its hands, said a report by NBC News.
In addition to Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump has set his eyes on Canada multiple of times. Trump reacted to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation in a Truth Social post on Tuesday stating "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday dismissed a suggestion by Trump that he might use "economic force" to make Canada the 51st US state. "There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States," he said in a post on X.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford countered President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the Union - by making an offer to purchase two American states at a press conference, New York Post reported. "To the president, I'll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska? And we'll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?" Ford said. "You know, it's not realistic," according to the report.
Global order 'deeply interrupted'
Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "Trump aspires to leave a legacy as a president who made a unique contribution to the US, and now it's hard for him to make big changes in terms of both internal reform or foreign affairs, but seizing more territories for the US could be an option, aligning with his 'America First' ideology and appealing to his penchant for bold, attention-grabbing actions."
Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada possess significant strategic value, but the problem is the US has no sovereign disputes with relevant countries or regions, and if the new US administration tries to annex these lands with military or economic approaches, this would set a dangerous precedent for the world's sole superpower to disregard international laws and norms, Diao noted. "This would be extremely unfair for the countries like Denmark, Panama and Canada, and the global order and the international system would be deeply interrupted and fall into greater chaos."
Earlier, Trump posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory's capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.
"Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland," Trump wrote. "The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE!
This is a deal that must happen.
MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!"
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326540.shtml
China will add dual-use items in strategic resources, strengthen export controls in due course according to law: MOFCOM
Move to safeguard national security, in line with international practices: analyst
By Liu Yang
As items related to strategic resources have significant dual-use attributes for both military and civilian purposes, China will, in due course and in accordance with the law, add additional dual-use items in strategic resources and enhance export controls based on its own needs to safeguard national security, while fully considering international practices and better fulfilling its non-proliferation obligations, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday.
The spokesperson made the remarks in response to a question about whether the MOFCOM will add dual-use items in the area of strategic resources and strengthen export controls in 2025.
The spokesperson noted that China places high importance on export controls and aligns its efforts with international standards. The country is continuously refining its export control system and updating the list of dual-use items based on the actual situation, the spokesperson noted.
The spokesperson emphasised that China's implementation of export controls on relevant items reflects the responsible role of the Chinese government as a major global player. At the same time, China will remain committed to promoting a high level of openness and is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with concerned countries and regions in the area of export controls to maintain the stability of the global industrial and supply chains.
According to the Chinese Nuclear Society, uranium, rare earths, molybdenum and gold are typical examples of strategic mineral resources.
Dual-use items refer to goods, technologies and services that may be used either for civilian purposes or for military purposes or to contribute to an increase in military potential, especially to design, develop, produce or use weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
"Strategic resources, most of which are scarce worldwide, are crucial to the national economy and its development interests, occupying a dominant position in the resource system. Therefore, the optimized use and export control of these resources are important for maintaining national security, ensuring the stability of global supply chains and the sustainable utilization of global resources," Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Export controls do not mean a cessation or prohibition of exports. In recent years, many countries have strengthened export controls on dual-use items, and the MOFCOM's move, which coordinates development with security, is in line with international practices. "This differs from the practices of certain countries that use export controls as tools of power politics and hegemony," Zhou noted.
China issued a list on November 15 for export controls of dual-use items, which took effect on December 1, a spokesperson from the MOFCOM said on November 15, noting that the list contains about 700 items, far fewer than those maintained by other major countries and regions.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Meng Yue, an official with the MOFCOM, said that the Chinese government has always implemented export controls in a prudent and moderate manner, with the aim of safeguarding national security and better fulfilling international obligations.
Recently, we have regulated dual-use items that have obvious military and civilian attributes. China's implementation of export controls on these items reflects a firm stance on maintaining world peace and regional stability, which not only helps ensure China's own security but also contributes to global common security, Meng said.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1327011.shtml
Yoon becomes first sitting president of S.Korea arrested
New round of political rivalry may lead to greater uncertainties: expert
By Zhao Yusha and Li Yawei
When asked to comment on the arrest of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Guo Jiakun, Chinese FM spokesperson, said "We don't comment on the ROK's (Republic of Korea) domestic affairs. China and the ROK are important neighbors and cooperation partners. China stands ready to work with the ROK for the sound and steady growth of bilateral relations." 
Yoon was arrested at the presidential residence on Wednesday, becoming the country's first sitting president to be kept in custody over his short-lived martial law imposition, media reported.
A joint investigation unit, composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI) and the defense ministry's investigative headquarters, said in a short notice that Yoon was arrested at 10:33 am local time on Wednesday, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
According to Yonhap News, Yoon said Wednesday he decided to appear for investigation in order to prevent "bloodshed" between law enforcement and his security team, even though he believes it is an "illegal" investigation.
Yoon issued the statement before heading to the headquarters of the CIO, as the CIO and the police executed a warrant to detain the besieged president over his short-lived imposition of martial law.
"To prevent an unfortunate and violent incident, I decided to appear before the CIO even though I believe the investigation is illegal," Yoon said in a video message recorded at his residence.
Just before dawn on Wednesday, a team of investigators arrived at Yoon's residence, armed with ladders to climb over buses blocking its entrance and bolt croppers to cut through the barbed wire, BBC reported.
Other officers in the arrest team, which numbered around 1,000, scaled walls and hiked up nearby trails to reach the presidential residence. After several hours, authorities announced that Yoon had been arrested.
On Tuesday, a military unit guarding the presidential residence approved the entry of police and CIO officials into the presidential residence, according to Yonhap.
The second attempt to arrest the president, led by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for High-ranking Officials, faced virtually no resistance from the Presidential Security Service, according to the CIO officials leading the probe, said the Korea Herald.
Wednesday's raid marked several changes from their first attempt that took place on January 3, in which some 150 investigators and police had to turn back after an over five hour-long standoff with approximately 200 presidential bodyguards and military personnel forming a human barricade to block their entry, said the Korea Herald.
The CIO and police had made sufficient preparations for the second arrest operation, however, Yoon will probably deny all the accusations against him, thus the future judicial investigation into him will face significant difficulties, Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Yoon also claimed on Wednesday "Martial law is not a crime. Martial law is an exercise of presidential authority to overcome a national crisis," Yoon wrote, posting a photo of his handwritten letter, Korean Times reported.
Uncertainties ahead
The CIO said it began questioning Yoon at its office in Seoul at 11 am Wednesday, but that he has refused to testify.
The anti-corruption body has 48 hours to decide whether to request a court to issue an arrest warrant for Yoon, according to Yonhap.
The interrogation, with over 200 pages of questions prepared, is expected to focus on substantiating key allegations surrounding the failed martial law imposition, ranging from the planning stages leading up to the event to its execution on the day, Yonhap reported.
In a parallel probe, the Constitutional Court on Tuesday launched a trial to rule on parliament's impeachment of Yoon. If the court endorses the impeachment, Yoon will finally lose the presidency and fresh elections will have to be held within 60 days, according to AFP.
Yoon's impeachment trial is currently pending ruling by the Constitutional Court. However, many uncertainties remain due to factors such as the court's trial procedures, the judges' political stances, and the intense political struggle among domestic factions, Dong Xiangrong, a senior research fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
A decision of the Constitutional Court requires more than six votes for the impeachment, Dong explained, noting that considering various factors such as the stances of political parties and personal positions of the judges, there is both a possibility that this case could either be rejected or recognised by the Constitutional Court.
Xiang said Yoon's arrest may also further intensify conflicts between different political forces in South Korea, leading this round of political turmoil to new developments, potentially triggering greater instability in the political landscape in South Korea.
Following Yoon's detention, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) vowed to hold the CIO accountable for what it called the "illegal" execution of the detention warrant, echoing Yoon's assertions of its illegality, according to the Korea Times.
However, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said the detention is a significant step toward upholding the rule of law. The DPK is now pressing the ruling party to pass a special counsel bill to investigate the treason charges against Yoon, the Korea Times reported.
South Korea's ruling People Power Party may seek to defend its ruling status by protecting the president, trying to delay judicial investigations into Yoon as long as possible, and postponing the timeline for his stepping down to avoid holding a new presidential election in South Korea too soon, said Xiang.
In the future, the opposition parties are also likely to engage in disputes with the ruling party over topics such as the impeachment trial of Yoon and the scandal involving first lady. These disputes may also provoke division among the public, said Xiang.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326964.shtml
China’s auto industry association blasts US rule against Chinese technology of connected cars
By Ma Jingjing
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the Biden administration's rule prohibiting the sale and import of connected vehicle hardware, software systems and complete connected vehicles from China.
In recent years, China's intelligent connected new-energy vehicles have steadily developed, earning widespread consumer favour due to their competitiveness. Additionally, the application of relevant software and hardware technologies in the global automotive supply chain is becoming increasingly widespread, positively contributing to the growth of global intelligent connected vehicle markets and industrial development, the CAAM said in a statement sent to the Global Times.
The development of relevant sectors in China won't be affected by external disruptions, said the statement.
With China and the US both being major countries in promoting the development of intelligent connected vehicles, cooperation and exchanges are critical for mutually beneficial outcomes, it said.
The Biden administration's rules severely disrupt global automotive industry cooperation, undermine the shared development interests of various nations, violate international trade rules, jeopardise global industrial chain stability and hinder efforts to create a safe, inclusive and transparent global automotive ecosystem, the statement read.
The CAAM said the association strongly opposes the Biden administration's wrongdoing, which harms the global intelligent connected automotive industry ecosystem.
The Biden administration's unilateral restrictions that sever economic and industrial ties with selected countries not only disrupt fair competition in the global automotive market, but also inflict lasting harm on the global industrial chain. It will ultimately harm the interests of US businesses and consumers, the association said.
It called on the Biden administration to adopt an objective stance on economic and trade issues and refrain from politicising or over-stretching the concept of national security, and abolish relevant restrictions targeting China. The global automotive industry should enhance cooperation to collectively foster the healthy and sustainable development of the intelligent connected vehicle sector.
In a statement on Wednesday night, China's Ministry of Commerce expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to the Biden administration's intensive imposition of trade restrictions against China, including the restriction on Chinese vehicles.
"The Biden administration speaks one way and acts another. Sanctions, containment and suppression cannot halt China's progress; instead, they bolster China's confidence and ability in self-reliance and technological innovation. China will take measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry spokesperson said.