No, the US hasn’t ‘lost’ Vietnam

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The recent purge of several apparently Western-leaning officials in Hanoi has led to some trepidation among foreign diplomats about whether Vietnam’s broader foreign policy is shifting decidedly toward Beijing.  Deputy prime ministers Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam were removed (though it was said they “resigned”) from the Politburo and then their government posts […]Continue Reading

AUKUS a hard nuke sale in next door SE Asia

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MANILA – “I would say, ‘Do you need to be contained? Are you expanding? Are you an expansionist power?’ To a very great extent, the United States was the champion for China’s rise. And in no way are we seeking to contain China. But we are seeking for them to play by the rules,” said […]Continue Reading

Reaper drone takedown augurs ill for Crimea offensive

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An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted drone aircraft performs aerial maneuvers over Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Photo: US Air Force handout via Reuters

The Pentagon says that the takedown of the Reaper drone by Russian Su-27 pilots was “unsafe and unprofessional.” But the Pentagon has not explained what the drone was doing flying near Crimea, nor has it told the public about the unique capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper. The Russians say that the drone was in a prohibited area […]Continue Reading

Asian stocks slide, safety shines as bank fears spread

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SINGAPORE: Asian stocks tumbled on Thursday (Mar 16), and investors bought gold, bonds and the US dollar as fear of a banking crisis was reignited by fresh troubles at Credit Suisse, leaving markets on edge ahead of a European Central Bank (ECB) meeting later in the day. Japan’s Nikkei fellContinue Reading