Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lavish visit to the White House on Friday—including the second State Dinner of Donald Trump’s presidency—comes at a critical time as both nations seek to counter China’s growing influence in the South Pacific. A day of meetings and the formal Rose Garden dinner—the first for an Australian leader since […]
The move to sell US fighter jets to Taiwan has stirred fresh debate about the region’s balance of power, amid a brewing US-China rivalry, says defence observer Mike Yeo. MELBOURNE: The recent announcement by the Trump administration approving the sale of new fighter jets to Taiwan has predictably drawn ire from China and stirred […]
A few days before his fifth official visit to Beijing, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would raise the 12 July 2016 United Nations Conference Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) awards to President Xi Jinping. He expressed his resolve to defend the Philippines’ territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea,as he would cite the […]
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to maintain close ties with China despite its refusal to budge on its disputed claims to the South China (West Philippine) Sea, according to a Fitch Group unit. In a report released on Friday, Fitch Solutions said Duterte’s August 28 visit to China signaled his intent to maintain warm […]
China’s claim this week of jurisdiction over waters claimed by Vietnam has met so far with official silence in Hanoi, which had earlier demanded that Beijing withdraw an oil survey ship and other vessels from what Vietnam calls its own exclusive economic zone. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng […]
Bringing the country’s arbitral win on the West Philippine Sea dispute before the United Nations (UN) might only cause an adverse effect on the government’s current friendly negotiations with China to address the conflict, Malacañang said Friday. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo stated this in response to the proposal of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert […]
WASHINGTON wants to strengthen ties with its Southeast Asian allies amid growing tensions with Beijing over their actions in the South China Sea. David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee White House was committed to its efforts throughout the region. He said: […]
MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship blocked Filipino vessels conducting a resupply mission to a Philippine Navy ship stationed in the West Philippine Sea. The Department of National Defense (DND) reported that in May, a Chinese Coast Guard ship blocked the route of three Philippine civilian vessels on a resupply mission […]
MANILA, Philippines — While the United States deems Beijing as a threat to the region, Washington sees an opportunity to strengthen ties with its Southeast Asian partners and allies. US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Trump administration is […]
Aformer Navy SEAL commander has warned that China’s break-neck military development is quickly making the huge nation America’s most significant global rival. Retired Admiral William McRaven—who headed the Joint Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014 and oversaw the operation that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden—described Chinese military evolution as a “holy s***” […]