There is a grim realisation among China’s leaders that a full blown trade war with the US is now about to become a reality. Beijing, China – They have been dismantling the old US Embassy in Beijing. Its diplomats moved to a vast complex on the other side of the city years ago. But […]

  “War” over giant clams ??!! What, who, where, when and why? I first became aware of the existence of giant clams (Tridachna) as a youngster growing up in New England I watched a black and white TV show that depicted– with ever quickening screechy background music– a diver writhing in agony because a giant […]

As the U.S.-China trade fight deepens, the two superpowers — one incumbent and one rising — are sizing each other up and deciding whether they can coexist. China and the U.S. ended talks in Washington on Friday with no deal after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on more than $200 billion in goods from the […]

The fourth state visit to China of President Rodrigo R. Duterte just 2 weeks ago is said to have yielded business deals worth a total of US$12.165 billion and a grant of one billion renminbi (about US$148.5 million) The Duterte administration has also said that the deals alone could generate more than 21,000 jobs. So […]

  During the past week, three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers were active in the South China Sea in two separate operations intended to support unfettered access to the region’s shipping lanes. USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) joined an international maritime group operating in the South China Sea for the past week, according to the service. […]

  The islands of the SCS have some military relevance, but are more important as a political claim to waterways and undersea resources. Militarily, they represent a thin crust on China’s A2/AD system. Under certain conditions this crust could disrupt U.S. freedom of action, but it won’t be hard for the United States’ Air Force […]

  NEW YORK: In the trend of India and the US intensifying naval links to protect maritime freedom in the Indo-Pacific region, the US Navy chief will visit India next week, four days after the Indian Navy ships concluded exercises with the US and its allies in the South China Sea. During his visit scheduled […]

  TAIPEI — Japan is helping Vietnam build a defense against the larger, more militarily powerful China as Vietnam says Beijing’s forces are occupying more than their legal share of the South China Sea. Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Vietnamese counterpart, Ngo Xuan Lich, met May 3 to “advance cooperation” on maritime security, […]

  TWO US warships sailed through the South China Sea in a move that risks worsening tensions between the US and Beijing. Missile destroyers called Preble and Chung Hoon were guided by the US within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands two days ago, US military confirmed. Commander Clay […]

  TAIWAN’s president Tsai Ing-Wen has accused bitter rivals China of infiltrating and attempting to gain influence on the island amid South China Sea tensions. She warned China that Taiwan would deter military aggression in the Taiwan Strait when she addressed reporters a national security meeting. Her stern message came just days after the US […]