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Rouhani's 'Jail' Comment At Davos Heard Back Home

It was just one snippet on the sidelines of the Davos summit, but President Hassan Rouhani's comments to CNN last week are making news back home. Several Iranian news outlets have reported on Rouhani's statement that "nobody remains in jail forever," responding to a question about when several dissidents and political prisoners jailed in recent years could hope to be freed.
Many Rouhani supporters have been counting on the government freeing political prisoners after he was elected on a reformist ticket last year. Currently two of Iran's most prominent prisoners were the former presidential candidates Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karrubi, arrested in 2009 after backing mass protests against the results of presidential elections that year. Rouhani said he "thought" and "hoped" domestic political conditions would in become "much better" in following months, the reformist daily Arman reported.
Iran's parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani also touted moderation in dealing with critics, addressing a meeting of intelligence ministry officials on January 25, Arman reported. Larijani said a "harsh response" to "opponents" might prove effective immediately, but would have "negative effects in the long term." Dissent he said, should be dealt with in a "reasonable and considered" manner.

-Ahmad Shayegan

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Geopolitics

China's Military Intentions Are Clear — And Arming Taiwan Is The Only Deterrence

China is spending more money on weapons and defense than ever. The reason is evident: Xi Jinping wants to take Taiwan. Europe should follow the U.S. and support Taipei militarily as the only way to deter Beijing from war.

Photo of Military drills in Taiwan amid rising China-U.S. Tensions

Taiwanese soldiers stand guard at a base during a military drill simulating defense operations against a possible Chinese PLA intrusion

Gregor Schwung

-OpEd-

BERLIN — Fear is never the best advisor.

It is, however, an understandable emotion when China announces the biggest increase in its defense budget in memory. And when Beijing does so after siding with Russia in the Ukraine war with its supposed "peace plan" and justifying the increase with an alleged "escalating oppression" of China in the world.

The budget plan unveiled by outgoing Premier Li Keqiang calls for a 7.2% increase in defense spending. That's more than in previous years — and just the official figure.

Experts estimate the true spending is much higher, as Beijing finances its military through numerous shadow budgets.

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