BEIJING, China (AFP) — Xi Jinping and Donald Trump have one thing in common — they both want to make their nations great again. But while China’s leader is on the rise, the US president arrives in Beijing laden down with heavy baggage. Xi will roll out the red carpet for Trump when his five-nation Asia tour takes him to China on Wednesday, bringing the leaders of the world’s top-two economies together for the third […]
Tag: diplomacy
Trump arrives in Seoul, to “figure out” North Korea with S. Korea’s Moon
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — US President Donald Trump arrived in Seoul Tuesday vowing to “figure it all out” with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, despite the two allies’ differences on how to deal with the nuclear-armed North. As tensions over Pyongyang’s weapons program have soared, the US president has traded personal insults and threats of war with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but the South’s capital and its 10 million inhabitants would […]
Trump due in Seoul amid N. Korea tensions
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Donald Trump’s marathon Asia tour moves on Tuesday to South Korea, another key ally in the struggle with nuclear-armed North Korea, but one with deep reservations about the US president’s strategy for dealing with the crisis. As tensions over Pyongyang’s weapons program have soared, the US president has traded personal insults and threats of war with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but his next stop, Seoul — and its 10 million inhabitants […]
US must ‘tell truth’ on alleged Cuba attacks: foreign minister
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Cuba’s foreign minister on Thursday accused anyone claiming attacks took place against US diplomats in Havana of “deliberately lying,” echoing comments he made last week in an ongoing dispute. “It is time the United States tells the truth or presents evidence,” Bruno Rodriguez insisted during a press conference in Washington, referring to incidents which affected the health of at least 24 US embassy officials in Havana, according to the State Department. “Those […]
China’s Xi sends rare message to North Korea’s Kim
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a rare message, Pyongyang’s official news agency reported Thursday, in his first public communication with his wayward neighbour for more than a year. The note signalled a possible improvement in their strained relationships, which has soured over Pyongyang’s growing weapons ambitions even though Beijing is its longtime ally and economic benefactor. Xi’s message, dated Wednesday, was sent in response to congratulations […]
US approves $1 bln Qatar arms deal despite Gulf crisis
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States government on Wednesday approved a $1.1 billion deal to service Qatar’s F-15 fighter jets despite the diplomatic stand-off between the Gulf emirate and its neighbors. Qatar, home to one of the largest US military bases in the Middle East, is locked in a bitter dispute with Washington’s other Arab allies in the region, led by Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump took Riyadh’s side in June when Saudi Arabia, […]
China, ASEAN hold joint naval drills as tensions ease
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have held their largest-ever joint maritime rescue exercise, signalling a lull in South China Sea tensions. The drill on Tuesday simulated a collision between a Chinese passenger ship and a Cambodian cargo vessel off south China’s Guangdong province. It involved about 1,000 rescuers aboard 20 ships and three helicopters, according to reports in Chinese state media late Tuesday. China, Thailand, […]
US vows to again oppose UN vote against Cuba embargo
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will once again vote against an annual UN resolution condemning its embargo against Cuba, one year after it abstained for the first time in a quarter of a century. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that US Ambassador Nikki Haley would oppose the measure when Cuba brings it before the General Assembly on Wednesday. “We’ve historically voted against that resolution. Last year, the US abstained,” Nauert said, looking […]
Bahrain suggests freezing Qatar’s GCC membership
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Bahrain’s foreign minister on Monday suggested suspending Qatar’s Gulf Cooperation Council membership until it accepts the demands of its Arab adversaries in the region’s worst crisis in years. “The correct step to preserve the GCC would be to freeze Qatar’s membership until it sees reason and accepts the demands of our countries. If not, we will be fine with it leaving the GCC,” Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said on Twitter. […]
‘Pineapple pen’ star to serenade Trump on Japan visit
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — US President Donald Trump will be serenaded with a bizarre hit song about a “pen-pineapple-apple-pen” on his visit to Japan next week. Japan will roll out wacky crooner Pikotaro — whose 45-second “PPAP” ditty went viral last year after being shared by pop star Justin Bieber — when Trump comes to town at the start of an Asian tour, Kyodo News agency reported. The singer, apparently a favorite of Trump’s grandchildren, will attend […]
US impeding investigation into diplomat attacks: Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba on Thursday accused the United States of obstructing its probe into mysterious health attacks on American diplomats, claiming its investigators were denied access to the victims and their medical records. At least 24 US embassy staff in Havana were sickened by a mysterious ailment in the alleged attacks, which began last year and continued until at least August. The US — which has not directly blamed Cuba for the attacks but has […]
Philippines promises compensation for slain Vietnamese fishermen
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines apologized Thursday and promised compensation for two Vietnamese fishermen killed by its naval personnel during an anti-poaching operation at sea. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made the apology in a meeting with Vietnam’s Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich as the two Southeast Asian neighbors discussed ways to improve cooperation, especially in naval matters. “Secretary Lorenzana also relayed President Rodrigo Duterte’s assurance that the families of the Vietnamese fishermen who […]





