BEIJING: China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao said talks held on Monday (Feb 6) with Australian counterpart Don Farrell were a key step toward bringing bilateral economic and trade ties back on track, with relations improving after being strained in recent years. The virtual meeting came after Chinese officials relaxed importContinue Reading
SHANGHAI: China said on Saturday (Feb 4) that mutual political trust with Russia has continued to deepen after Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu visited the country this week and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. China is willing to work with Russia to implement their strategic partnership and promoteContinue Reading
WASHINGTON: South Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin said after meeting US top diplomat Antony Blinken on Friday (Feb 3) that Seoul and Washington were committed to strengthening “extended deterrence” in relation to North Korea. South Korea has sought assurances over extended deterrence, referring to the ability of the US military toContinue Reading
SEOUL: The United States and South Korea staged drills for the second time in a week on Friday (Feb 3) with some of their latest warplanes, despite North Korean complaints that the exercises were increasing tensions on the peninsula. The two countries conducted a joint air exercise over the seaContinue Reading
The new administration of Ferdinand Marcos has been keen to reverse that. Beijing’s growing assertiveness on Taiwan and its building of bases in the disputed South China Sea have given fresh impetus to Washington and Manila to strengthen their partnership. Given the Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters,Continue Reading
The Indonesian government has strongly condemned the burning of the Quran by Paludan and summoned Swedish Ambassador Marina Berg last week, said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah. “This act of blasphemy has hurt and tarnished religious tolerance,” the ministry said in a statement on Jan 22. “Freedom of expressionContinue Reading
ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signalled on Sunday (Jan 29) that Ankara may agree to Finland joining NATO ahead of Sweden, amid growing tensions with Stockholm. “We may deliver Finland a different message (on their NATO application) and Sweden would be shocked when they see our message. But Finland shouldContinue Reading
SEOUL: North Korea on Sunday (Jan 29) criticised for a second day a United States decision to send tanks to Ukraine, calling it a “criminal act against humanity” aimed at perpetuating an unstable international situation. Washington’s allegations that North Korea has provided arms to Russia are a “baseless” effort toContinue Reading
Russia said on Sunday (Jan 29) it will not hold annual talks with Japan on renewing a pact that allows Japanese fishermen to operate near disputed islands, saying Japan has taken anti-Russian measures. The islands, off the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, are known in Russia as the Kurils andContinue Reading
SEOUL: North Korea on Saturday (Jan 28) denounced US pledges of battle tanks to Ukraine, claiming Washington was “further crossing the red line” to win hegemony by proxy war, state media KCNA reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, made the remarks in a statementContinue Reading