CONGRESS has approved a new $740.5bn (£541.9bn) defence spending bill overturning President Trump’s veto as a Senator warned of “World War III” with Beijing. This was achieved by a cross-party alliance of Democrat and Republican lawmakers. The bill included a five year $18.5bn (£13.5bn) ‘Pacific Deterrence Initiative’ to boost the US military presence in the […]

China flew its biggest warplane, the Y-20 transporter, to Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed South China Sea on December 25, satellite images show. The huge aircraft was seen on the airstrip on the militarised reef in the Spratly Islands but was not observed loading or unloading cargo. The images were posted on LinkedIn on […]

HANOI IS PROCEEDING WITH JOINT DRILLING VENTURES WITH JAPANESE FIRMS IN THE DISPUTED WATERWAY DESPITE THE FAILURE OF SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES BUT ANALYSTS SAY CHINA IS LIKELY TO TEST VIETNAM THROUGH MARITIME PROVOCATIONS IF THE ENERGY VENTURES GO AHEAD When the Japanese energy firm Inpex in November settled a four-year legal battle against […]

JOE BIDEN has his hands tied over the US’ approach to the South China Sea, and is tipped to carry on Donald Trump’s policy in the disputed waters as the trade conflict between Washington and Beijing moves to “larger issues”. Nick Marro, Global Trade Lead at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), told Express.co.uk the President-elect […]

According to the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer “asserted navigational rights and freedoms near Vietnam in the vicinity of the Con Dao Island in the South China Sea” on Thursday. “The ship conducted normal operations within Vietnam’s claimed territorial seas to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access and navigational […]

As wealthy countries scramble to buy up the limited supply of big-name coronavirus vaccines, China is stepping in to offer its homegrown jabs to poorer countries. But the largesse is not entirely altruistic, with Beijing hoping for a long-term diplomatic return. The strategy carries multiple possible benefits: deflecting anger and criticism over China’s early handling […]

‘The battle to defend our sovereign rights in the WPS is also a battle for the hearts and minds of the peoples of the world’ The following is former Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio’s speech at the conferment of his honorary doctoral degree from the University of the Philippines on December 10, 2020. One of […]

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – The Philippines, an old American ally in Asia, is changing its view on whether to scrap a key U.S. military pact, as it explores new ways of benefiting from U.S. defense aid without isolating its newer superpower friend, China, analysts and officials say. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte this month announced that cancelling […]

SOUTH CHINA SEA tensions could result in Beijing launching military action against the US, an expert has warned. The US and China have been battling for supremacy in the disputed waters as Beijing ramps up its military ambitions in the South China Sea. Washington has for years stepped in to help neighbouring Asian countries who […]

In what is likely the final visit by a top Trump administration official to Asia, US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien dropped in this week to double down on defense cooperation, providing weaponry and rhetorical support to rally allies against China. During an elaborate ceremony at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, O’Brien announced the […]