Tag: aseaninfocus

Pres. Biden hails closer ties with Vietnam, but says not aiming to contain China

HANOI, Sept 11, 2023 (AFP)  US President Joe Biden hailed closer ties with Vietnam on Sunday as the two countries struck a deal to deepen cooperation, including on semiconductors, but said he was not aiming to contain China. The “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Hanoi is part of Washington’s push to bolster its network of allies around Asia and the Pacific in the face of Beijing’s rising influence. Biden accused Beijing of seeking to bend the […]

US and Vietnam set to expand ties as China worries grow

HANOI, Sept 10, 2023 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden arrives in Vietnam on Sunday to deepen cooperation between the two nations, in the face of China’s ambitions in the region. Biden — who is flying from the G20 summit in New Delhi — will meet the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, on Sunday to sign off on a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, Hanoi’s highest level of diplomatic ties. The underlying goal […]

President Marcos arrives in Jakarta for the 43rd ASEAN Summit

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the 43rd ASEAN Summit, responding to President Joko Widodo’s invitation. He’s prioritizing Philippine interests, advocating for a rules-based international order, climate action, and more. ASEAN leaders will also discuss partnerships with various nations and key global issues during the summit. (AFP / PH NEWS AGENCY / EAGLE NEWS)

5.4-magnitude quake shakes Indonesian island

KUPANG, Indonesia, Aug 31, 2023 (AFP) – A deep, 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern Indonesian island of Timor on Thursday, a US monitor said, shaking residents and forcing them to flee outside but causing no reported casualties or damage. The quake struck at a depth of around 54.6 kilometres on the northwest of Timor island near the city of Kupang at around 6:30 pm local time (1030 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. It […]

Indonesia arrests 88 Chinese nationals over love scams

BATAM, Indonesia, Aug 30, 2023 (AFP) – Dozens of Chinese nationals were arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of running an online love scam syndicate that ensnared hundreds of victims in China, police said Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off from their Chinese counterparts, Indonesian police arrested 83 men and five women at an industrial park in Batam city in Riau Islands province on Tuesday. Police said the syndicate blackmailed hundreds of victims in China, many of […]