by Sebastian Smith and Tomohiro Osaki Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — President Joe Biden vowed Monday that US forces would defend Taiwan militarily if China attempted to take control of the self-ruled island by force, warning Beijing was already “flirting with danger”. The remarks, made in Tokyo where he is meeting with Japan’s prime minister ahead of a regional summit Tuesday, were Biden’s strongest to date on the issue and come amid […]
Tag: Biden
Biden arrives in Japan with no response on outreach to North Korea
by Sebastian Smith © Agence France-Presse Tokyo, JAPAN (AFP) — President Joe Biden arrived Sunday in Japan for the second leg of an Asia trip underlining US commitment to the region but overshadowed by concern that North Korea will test a nuclear weapon after ignoring Washington’s attempt at outreach. Biden, making his first trip to Asia as president, flew from South Korea into Yokota Air Base outside Tokyo, where he will meet with Japan’s […]
Biden warns of potentially ‘consequential’ monkeypox spread
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Monkeypox has caught the attention of US President Joe Biden, who said Sunday that people should be on guard against the disease which has the potential for “consequential” impact, if it were to spread further. Several cases of monkeypox have been detected in North America and Europe since early May, sparking concern the disease, endemic in parts of Africa, is spreading. The US leader, on his maiden trip to […]
Biden, Yoon signal expanded military drills due to N. Korea ‘threat’
by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse US President Joe Biden and South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol signalled Saturday an expanded military presence in response to the “threat” from North Korea, while also offering to help the isolated regime face a Covid-19 outbreak. After meeting in Seoul on Biden’s first trip to Asia as president, the two leaders said in a statement that “considering the evolving threat posed by” North Korea, they “agree to […]
Biden offers aid, vaccines to Covid-stricken North Korea
No response from North Korea where 2.5 million have fallen sick with “fever” SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — US President Joe Biden said Saturday that America had offered Covid-19 vaccines to Pyongyang but “got no response” despite a spiralling epidemic in North Korea, where nearly 2.5 million people have fallen sick with “fever”. Biden, who is in Seoul on his first trip to Asia president, said the United States and South Korea had also […]
US cites ‘possibility’ of N.Korea nuclear test during Biden’s Asia trip
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States believes there is a “genuine possibility” that North Korea could conduct a nuclear test or other saber rattling while Joe Biden is on his first trip as president to Asia, a top US official said Wednesday. “Our intelligence does reflect the genuine possibility” of nuclear-capable missile tests or a nuclear weapon test around the time of Biden’s trip, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. Biden departs […]
Biden attacks white supremacist ‘poison’ after racist shooting
by Nicholas Kamm with Sebastian Smith in Washington © Agence France-Presse Buffalo, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called out what he branded the “poison” of white supremacist ideology behind a deadly mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, and said that racism is being stoked for political gain. Speaking in the city where a white teen is accused of murdering 10 African Americans in a neighborhood supermarket, Biden said, “What […]
Russian Pres. Putin congratulates Marcos Jr for winning PHL presidential elections
(Eagle News) — Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Philippine president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he hoped that his victory at the recent elections would lead to the “further development” of bilateral ties between Russia and the Philippines in various areas. In a statement posted late evening of May 12 by the Russian Embassy in the country on its official Facebook page, the Embassy said that President Putin had sent a written message to Marcos […]
Biden welcomes ASEAN leaders with energy, security pledges
by Shaun TANDON President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington, promising support for clean energy and maritime security in the face of a rising China. The Biden administration made the pledge as it opened a two-day summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, part of a campaign to show that the United States still prioritizes Asia despite months of intense focus on repelling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The White House […]
US Pres. Biden calls Marcos Jr. to congratulate him on PHL election win, hopes for greater US-PHL cooperation
(Eagle News) — No less that United States President Joe Biden congratulated Philippines’ presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr on his recent election win, saying he was looking forward to “working with the President-elect to continue strengthening the US-Philippine Alliance.” The White House released the statement on President Biden’s call to Marcos Jr., 64, the son of the late president Ferdinand Marcos who had ruled the country for more than 20 years. Biden, 79, said […]
Biden announces $150 mn more weapons for Ukraine
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden announced Friday a new US weapons package worth $150 million for Ukraine’s fight to repel Russia’s invasion. “I am announcing another package of security assistance that will provide additional artillery munitions, radars, and other equipment to Ukraine,” Biden said, while warning that funding was close to running out and urging Congress to authorize more. According to a senior US official, the package includes 25,000 155mm artillery […]
Ignoring Putin’s threats, US boosts support for Ukraine
by Sylvie LANTEAUME Agence France Presse In rallying global arms supplies and asking Congress for $33 billion more to support Ukraine, Washington is choosing to ignore Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear arms, and instead is openly testing the Russian leader’s limits. After the United States brought 40 countries to a US base in Germany last week to discuss aid for Ukraine’s war with Russia, Putin on Wednesday threatened a “lightning fast” response if […]





