Trump threatens to block US-Canada bridge opening

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a new Canadian-built bridge linking the U.S. and Canada unless the U.S. is "fully compensated".

Trump accused Canada of having treated the United States unfairly for decades in a social media post on Monday, demanding at least half of the bridge's ownership.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge spans over the Detroit River, linking Michigan and Ontario. Construction of the bridge began in 2018, with the crossing originally scheduled to open this September. Upon completion, it is expected to ease traffic on the nearby Ambassador Bridge and become the largest land port of entry on the U.S.-Canada border.

According to some media reports, Canada fully funded the bridge's preliminary construction costs after the United States refused to bear the related expenses.

China on Tuesday urged the Philippines to stop unscrupulous political manipulation and self-directed farces at sea.

Jiang Bin, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, reaffirmed China's positions on Huangyan Dao in response to the Philippine Coast Guard's deployment of vessels and aircraft near the Chinese island.

"Huangyan Dao is part of China's territory and has never been within the territory of the Philippines. Certain Philippine departments tricked and instigated innocent fishermen into committing provocative acts, used them as a tool to infringe upon China's legitimate rights, and even deliberately create friction to scapegoat and smear China. Such behaviors have fully demonstrated their disregard for the fishermen's livelihoods, well-being, or even their safety. We urge the Philippine side to stop its unscrupulous political manipulation and self-directed farce at sea. China will continue to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters in accordance with law, and resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," he stressed.