News
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Long focused on Russia, NATO widens gaze toward China
WATFORD, England (Reuters) – Seventy years since its Cold War-era founding as a transatlantic alliance focused on Moscow, NATO is expanding its gaze toward the increasingly muscular challenge posed by China. But it is unclear, even to diplomats within the 29-member military alliance, whether NATO is up to the task – especially at a time of intense internal divisions…
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China scare: How Beijing’s ties with Putin could see US power crumble
CHINA and Russia have become two huge opponents to Western allies inside and outside of the NATO alliance – and their latest plans for cooperation indicate that a fearsome new alliance could be forming with the aim of replacing the US as the major power. This week, a new gas pipeline running 1800km between China and Russia commenced operation…
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South China Sea news: Japan enrages China by buying £113million island for military base
JAPAN has waded into a bitter ongoing dispute involving its superpower neighbour China by purchasing an uninhabited island in the East China Sea, in an apparent attempt to shore up its defences. In a move which is certain to enrage Beijing, the Japanese Government is spending £113million (16 billion yen) on Mageshima island in the East China Sea. The move…
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South China Sea crisis: How Beijing’s military plan could fall apart amid Trump clashes
SOUTH CHINA SEA contests between China and the US have seen tensions spiral amid frequent navy patrols in the region as both look to assert a foothold – but Beijing’s strategy could be on the brink of falling apart as its grip on valuable regions comes under threat. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been determined to assert his country’s…
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Philippines, China have entered ‘Golden Age,’ Chinese envoy says
RELATIONS between the Philippines and China have entered a “Golden Age,” newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said upon his arrival in Manila on Tuesday. Mr. Huang, who served as Chinese ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will take the place of Zhao Jianhua. Philippine-China relations under President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Chinese President…
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The South China Sea conflict will dominate Vietnam’s agenda as ASEAN chair
The Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Supreme (FFG 73), front, leads the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), the Republic of Singapore Navy corvette RSS Vigour (FFG 92), and RSS Stalwart (FFG 72) in a formation. The ships are participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore 2011. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually…
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South China Sea crisis: How Beijing is using tracker airships to monitor US military
SOUTH CHINA SEA waters have been the setting for tense tussles between China and the US as President Donald Trump looks to thwart Beijing’s quest for dominance, but it would appear Xi Jinping’s military has responded with a surprising use of technology to track rival warships. Satellite imagery obtained by ImageSat shows China, seemingly in an effort to defend the…
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Imagery Suggests China Deployed Surveillance Aerostat to Mischief Reef in South China Sea
The deployment would mark a first in the South China Sea. Recently published satellite images indicate that China may have deployed a tethered aerostat to Mischief Reef, the site of one of its artificial island bases in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. In an image taken on November 18 by an Israeli satellite firm, ImageSat International, an…
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‘Best is yet to come’ for PHL-China ties, says new Chinese envoy
China’s new envoy to the Philippines sounded an upbeat note about Beijing’s ties with Manila, saying the past few years under the Duterte administration ushered a “fresh Golden Age” for the two Asian neighbors. “The best is yet to come,” said Huang Xilian in his remarks upon his arrival in Manila a few minutes after midnight on Tuesday. Huang,…
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New China ambassador to Philippines, an ASEAN expert, arrives in Manila
MANILA, Philippines – Seasoned diplomat Huang Xilian, Beijing’s former ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) based in Jakarta, is the Chinese government’s next pick as its ambassador to the Philippines, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines announced on Tuesday, December 3. Huang landed in Manila past midnight on Tuesday, welcomed by protocol officials from the Department…
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China is ‘coming closer’ but we don’t want a new adversary, NATO chief says
Soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army march during a parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2019 in Beijing, China. LONDON — NATO’s secretary general said the alliance needs to address the challenges and opportunities posed by an increasingly powerful China, but added that his 29-member defense organization…
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‘One step closer to disaster’: Photo reveals China’s bold land grab
A satellite image has revealed China’s latest bold move in its controversial plan to seize control of the hotly contested South China Sea. South China Sea conflict: Will Australia be forced into war? Pressure is mounting for Australia to get involved in the South China Sea conflict. China’s creeping militarisation of the South China Sea has advanced another step,…