Tag: china

Philippines says China ‘mischaracterised’ South China Sea resupply mission deal

  MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ foreign ministry accused China on Sunday of ‘mischaracterising’ an arrangement between them that allowed the unimpeded resupply of Filipino troops stationed on a beached naval vessel in the South China Sea. After repeated clashes in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the two countries reached a “provisional arrangement” earlier this month on resupply missions to soldiers stationed at the Sierra Madre, a naval vessel Manila deliberately grounded in 1999 to […]

Wary of China escalation, U.S. revamps military command in Japan

Summary U.S., Japan hold high-level security talks in Tokyo U.S. to establish new joint command HQ in Japan Allies say China ‘greatest challenge’ facing region Countries pledge ‘unshakable partnership’ with S.Korea By Simon Lewis and Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) -The United States said on Sunday it would revamp its military command in Japan to deepen coordination with its ally’s forces, as the two countries labelled China the “greatest strategic challenge” facing the region. The announcement […]

Blinken chides Beijing’s ‘escalating actions’ at sea, concerned over Taiwan

VIENTIANE (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Beijing’s “escalating and unlawful actions” in the South China Sea at a summit on Saturday, while his Russian counterpart said Washington has stoked anxiety with its plan for a nuclear deterrence with ally Seoul for the Korean peninsula. Blinken singled out China over its coast guard’s hostile actions against U.S. defence treaty ally the Philippines in the South China Sea. But he also lauded the two […]

China’s foreign minister warns Philippines over US missile deployment

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the Philippines over the U.S. intermediate-range missile deployment, saying such a move could fuel regional tensions and spark an arms race. The United States deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of joint military drills earlier this year. It was not fired during the exercises, a Philippine military official later said, without giving details on how long it would stay in the […]

Philippines ‘to assert our rights’ after China sea deal

MANILA, July 22, 2024 (AFP) – Manila insisted Monday it will continue to “assert our rights” over a hotspot South China Sea reef, after reaching a deal with Beijing for resupplying Filipino troops stationed on a grounded warship. The Philippine foreign ministry also rejected suggestions by China that the “provisional arrangement” announced Sunday required Manila to give Beijing “prior notification” and verification of deliveries to the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal. China claims […]

China central bank says cuts two key rates to support economy

BEIJING, July 22, 2024 (AFP) – China’s central bank on Monday cut two benchmark interest rates in a bid to boost lending and kickstart growth in the world’s second-largest economy. Beijing is battling an unprecedented crisis in the country’s vast real estate sector, continued weak consumption and a high youth unemployment rate, while geopolitical tensions with Washington and the European Union threaten its foreign trade. A year and a half after the lifting of health […]

Philippines and China de-escalate tensions with resupply “arrangement”

By Pam CASTRO MANILA (AFP) – The Philippines and China have agreed on an “arrangement” for resupplying Filipino troops stationed on a South China Sea reef, Manila said Sunday, after a series of escalating confrontations in the disputed waters. A remote outpost on Second Thomas Shoal has been a focus of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to almost the entire South China […]

Six killed in China mall fire, people trapped inside

BEIJING, July 18, 2024 (AFP) – A fire that tore through a shopping centre in southwestern China has killed 16 people, state media reported Thursday. Rescue operations concluded at around 3:00 am on Thursday (1900 GMT Wednesday), according to the local fire and rescue services cited by state news agency Xinhua. Video broadcast by state media CCTV and shared on social media Wednesday night showed thick black smoke billowing out of the 14-storey tower in […]

China, Russia conduct joint Pacific military patrol

  BEIJING, July 14, 2024 (AFP) – China and Russia conducted a joint naval patrol in the northern and western Pacific, Beijing’s defence ministry said Sunday, adding that the exercise was not “targeted” at any other nation. The two countries have drawn closer in recent years and tout their friendship as having “no limits”. Both share hostile relations with US-led Western defence alliance NATO. Beijing has further strengthened its diplomatic, economic and military ties with […]

Philippines says it agrees with China to ‘de-escalate’ South China Sea tensions

By Pam CASTRO MANILA, July 2, 2024 (AFP) – The Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday to “de-escalate tensions” over the South China Sea, Manila said, following a violent clash in the disputed waters last month. Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes in the hotly contested waterway but last month’s incident was the most serious in a number of escalating confrontations. Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an […]

Chinese badminton player, 17, dies after collapsing on court

JAKARTA, July 1, 2024 (AFP) – A 17-year-old Chinese player has died after collapsing on court during an international tournament in Indonesia, badminton officials said on Monday. Zhang Zhijie was taken ill during a match late Sunday against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano at the Asian Junior Badminton Mixed Team Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The score was 11-11 in the first game when Zhang suddenly fell to the floor. A doctor and medical team were quickly on […]

Australia pushes Solomons to rely on Pacific nations for security

SYDNEY, June 26, 2024 (AFP) – Australia urged Solomon Islands to rely on fellow Pacific nations for security assistance Wednesday during a visit by China-friendly Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele. The Solomons leader was visiting Australia as part of a three-nation tour that will also take him to China and Japan. It is Manele’s first official international trip since he replaced enthusiastic Beijing supporter Manasseh Sogavare as prime minister in May. Sogavare switched diplomatic recognition from […]