News
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Chinese air force patrols over South China Sea ‘show PLA’s capacity to breach cold war line of containment’
A team of Chinese air force bombers has carried out a series of patrols over the disputed South China Sea, in an exercise the People’s Liberation Army said showed its capability to breach the cold war era line of containment. By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy The air force said on Thursday that the…
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A South China Sea Code of Conduct: Is Real Progress Possible?
A closer look at steps toward finalizing a long-anticipated Code of Conduct. At the recently concluded 31st ASEAN Summit Meetings in Manila, the leaders of ASEAN and China formally announced the start of negotiations on the fine print of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. The agreement comes just three months after the foreign ministers…
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Commentary: Ambitious Asia trip for a US president leaves region longing for more
US President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated Asia trip had a packed agenda and was closely watched by many in the region. Yale-NUS College’s Chin-Hao Huang discusses whether it has lived up to expectations and what it bodes for the future. SINGAPORE: With five countries in 12 days, US President Donald Trump’s Asia visit was ambitious. He managed…
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Trump Is Causing Conflict by Playing Peacemaker
The United States is creating problems in Asia by offering to mediate Vietnam’s tensions with China. Just what did Donald Trump mean when he offered to “mediate” in the dispute between Vietnam and China over the South China Sea? On Sunday, during his official visit to Hanoi, U.S. President Trump told his Vietnamese counterpart, “If I can help…
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Will the Quad Mean the End of ASEAN Centrality?
The unexpected revival of the Quad may mean the demise of Asian multilateralism and a more threatened China. A working-level meeting between diplomatic staffers from the United States, India, Japan, and Australia on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summits (EAS) has caused quite a lively reaction among Asia-watchers and the policy…
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Diplomatic initiative revived to counter China’s growing influence
NEW DELHI — Alongside the gladhanding, strutting and tweets from world leaders at two Asian summits over the past few days, one of the most important geopolitical developments came from a low-key meeting between civil servants from four countries. Officials from the United States, Japan, Australia and India met on Sunday (Nov 12) on the sidelines of the…
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Navy stops Panatag patrol
National security adviser says decision meant to ease tension in disputed waters BOLINAO, Pangasinan — The Navy has stopped sending patrols to the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to ease tension with China, the national security adviser, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., said here last week. “We do not send Navy ships to the area anymore. We send only the Philippine Coast…
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Duterte, Trump hit South China Sea ‘militarization’
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump criticized the “militarization” of the disputed South China Sea as the two parties held their first bilateral meeting. “Both sides reiterated their commitment to uphold their principles including the freedom of navigation and overflight, and the exercise of self-restraint,” said a joint statement by the Philippines…
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ASEAN avoids hitting China in Chairman’s Statement
ASEAN evades reference to China’s militarization of the South China Sea, as it hails the ‘positive momentum’ in Southeast Asia’s ties with China ASEAN CHAIR. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte chairs the 31st ASEAN Summit, where Southeast Asian leaders avoid directly criticizing China over its militarization of the disputed South China Sea. Malacañang photo MANILA, Philippines – The Association…
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Heat on China in the Indian Ocean: As France comes calling, why is India the focal point for global powers?
NEW DELHI: Another global power, this time France, is looking to set the ball rolling on increasing its cooperation with New Delhi in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This will be a key area of focus at two upcoming high-level exchanges between France and India set close to each other. The aim undoubtedly is to cut China down to…
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Will China Scuttle ExxonMobil’s South China Sea Gas Project With Vietnam?
Last week, economic leaders from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered for the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ meeting held in the pleasant seaside resort city of Da Nang, Vietnam. Established in 1989, APEC is a regional economic forum comprising 21 member states, including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam, and the…
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Trump’s Russia, Duterte’s China
Siegfried and Roy had a long-running and very successful act at the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas. The act featured two white tigers that did marvelous tricks at the crack of the trainers’ whips. Then one day, one of the tigers attacked Roy and mauled him within an inch of his life. The act has since been canceled and the…