Power·Risk Alerts Update
17 September 2026
1. China urges restraint amid regional tensions
16 September 2026
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun urged countries to avoid provocative actions and reject militarism and historical revisionism, in remarks widely seen as indirectly criticising Japan. Speaking at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, he called for a more equal, multipolar approach to resolving tensions but avoided directly targeting the United States or its allies. His comments came amid heightened disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea, ahead of an expected summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Source: Reuters
2. Japan and Taiwan deepen security cooperation
14 September 2026
Officials from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party agreed to strengthen cooperation to promote peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Their discussions focused on diplomacy, security, responses to Chinese military and economic coercion, and reducing economic dependence on China. The meeting was the first of its kind since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office.
Source: https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026091400653/
3. Japan, U.S. lawmakers discuss Taiwan deterrence
15 September 2026
Japanese and U.S. lawmakers agreed that deterring China is essential to prevent a potential Taiwan contingency. The understanding was reached in Washington between Taiwan-focused lawmakers from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a bipartisan group of U.S. legislators. The U.S. lawmakers also supported Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments last November that a Taiwan crisis could constitute a crisis for Japan and the Japan-U.S. alliance.
Source: https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026091600144/japan-u-s-lawmakers-agree-on-need-to-deter-china-over-taiwan.html[nippon]
4. China warns US space weapons could fuel arms race
16 September 2026
China urged the United States to halt its military build-up in outer space after a senior US official acknowledged that Washington has weapons deployed in orbit, with Beijing warning the move could fuel a global arms race. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing opposed the weaponization of outer space and turning it into a war zone, while state-backed media described the disclosure as evidence of US “space hegemony.” US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the United States had “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force,” marking what analysts see as a shift toward directly deploying weapons in orbit rather than relying on ground-based systems.
5. EU to use all tools on China deficit
16 September 2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will deploy every available instrument to reduce its “unsustainable” trade deficit with China, which she warned has reached a tipping point and is driving deindustrialisation in Europe. She stressed that while dialogue is important, concrete action is needed, pledging to rebalance the relationship through deeds as well as words. Von der Leyen also highlighted the bloc’s heavy reliance on Chinese critical minerals and announced plans to create a new European Corporation to procure and stockpile these raw materials.