Since Asian Affairs is my remit, I’ll be looking to include more developments from the Indo-Pacific over time. Tensions in the Western Pacific have been heightened for awhile, and this is not a measure that should be deemed as an outlier. I just haven’t been covering it. For example, just yesterday, the Philippines and the U.S. flew a joint air patrol of two U.S. Pacific Air Force (PACAF) B-1b Lancer and Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50 fighter jets over the West Philippine Sea.

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⚡️Amidst an uptick in Chinese coercive measures in the South China Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have announced that they will conduct a joint Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity alongside the air and naval forces of the United States, Japan, and Australia inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) today, February 5. The 6th such activity of its kind comes amidst continuous Chinese aggressive measures within the Filipino EEZ in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.

⚡️A memo from West Point’s U.S. Army Corps of Cadets reveals that several clubs, forums, and initiatives have been dissolved, including the Asian-Pacific Forum, Latin Cultural Club, and Native American Heritage Forum. These changes align with the service academy’s compliance with last week’s executive orders on DEI initiatives.

⚡️The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has extended the same “buyout” offer to its approximately 22,000 employees that was offered last week to millions of other federal workers. The package includes eight months of full pay and benefits in exchange for resignation. Initially, employees in critical national security roles, such as those in the CIA and military, were excluded from the offer.

This move aligns with President Trump’s goal of reducing the federal workforce by up to 10% before 2026. So far, over 20,000 federal employees have accepted similar buyouts. CIA employees have until Thursday at 11:59 PM to opt in.

⚡️The U.S. Senate voted 54-46 tonight to confirm Pam Bondi as Attorney General.

⚡️The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced that they will be temporarily suspending the acceptance of International Packages from both China and Hong Kong.

⚡️During a press briefing at the White House, U.S. President Donald J. Trump reiterated his commitment to exploring the relocation of the population in the Gaza Strip, citing the extensive destruction of infrastructure as a key factor.

Alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both leaders also reaffirmed their stance on Iran, stating unequivocally, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

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⚡Trump: U.S. Will take over the Gaza strip, we'll own it — Reuters

⚡Trump: Gaza should not go through the process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people — Reuters

⚡️U.S. President Trump welcomes the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the White House.

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⚡️Trump said he left instructions for Iran to be obliterated if he is assassinated in an Iranian plot. "There will be nothing left."

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⚡️CBS News reports that USAID Missions in Countries across the World have been instructed to immediately cease all Operations and for Staff to return to the United States by Friday; with Peter Marocco, who was just appointed USAID Deputy Administrator on Monday, telling State Department Officials earlier today, that if they did not return they would be evacuated by the U.S. Military.

U.S. President Trump states that he hopes Palestinians will not want to return to Gaza, and they he would like to see Palestinians permanently moved from the Gaza Strip to other Arab Nations, threatening to take “Action” against Jordan and Egypt if they don’t accept the Proposal.

⚡️Prior to his meeting tonight with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed a National Security Memorandum directing a “Campaign of Maximum Pressure” against the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for Sanctions and other Measures to be taken against the Iranian Government and Nuclear Program. When asked about whether he would support Israeli Strikes against Iran’s Nuclear Facilities, President Trump said that would not speak about it publicly, but that Iran will never acquire a Nuclear Weapon, and that he would be speaking about Iran tonight with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

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⚡️U.S. President Trump stated earlier while speaking from the Oval Office, that the Palestinians have no other alternative than to leave Gaza, claiming that he hopes Jordan or Egypt may take them in; with him further stating, “The Gaza thing has never worked…If we could find the right piece of land, pieces of land, and build them some really nice places...I think that would be a lot better than going back to Gaza.”

⚡️U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order withdrawing the United States from the U.N. Human Rights Council, and halting all further funding to both the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Executive Order also calls for a Full Review of any and all additional funding provided to the United Nations.

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⚡️The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9–8 to send Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald J. Trump’s choice for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.

⚡️At least 59 people have been admitted to psychiatric hospitals in China after expressing opinions contrary to the regime or participating in protests, according to an investigation by the BBC.

Some were given antipsychotic treatments without their consent and even subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

⚡Qatari PM renews commitment to provide Lebanon with energy supplies, gas to generate electricity - statement — Reuters

⚡️Azerbaijan has confirmed that an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 was hit by a Pantsir-S1 missile fired by Russia while attempting to land in Grozny. In addition to launching the missile at the commercial aircraft, Russia also prohibited its landing at Russian airports, forcing the pilots to fly an additional 440 km—including 300 km over the Caspian Sea—before making an emergency landing in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

Of the 67 occupants, 29 survived, thanks to the crew's expertise and the extreme robustness of the Embraer E190.