Tag: diplomacy

Tokyo and Seoul try to bury historical hatchet, hailing ‘new future’ for ties

SEOUL, May 7, 2023 (AFP) – Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday his “heart aches” for Koreans who suffered under colonialism, as Seoul and Tokyo seek a rapid reset of long-strained ties in the face of North Korean threats. Kishida was in Seoul on the first official bilateral visit by a Japanese leader to South Korea in over a decade. He met President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has made improving testy relations with Japan […]

Iran’s president heads to Syria for first trip since war, eyeing rebuild

By Maher al-Mounes Agence France-Presse DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) — Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi is set to travel to Damascus Wednesday in the first visit by an Iranian president since Syria’s civil war broke out and as regional engagement with the two allies expands. During 12 years of conflict, Tehran has provided economic, political and military support to Syria, helping Damascus claw back lost territory and positioning Iran in a leading role as President Bashar al-Assad seeks […]

Zelensky was not warned of US secret docs leak: report

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2023 (AFP) – Washington did not warn Kyiv about the top-secret documents leaked to internet chat rooms — containing sensitive information about Ukraine’s war effort — before the news broke in the media last month, President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Washington Post. The embarrassing security breach revealed US unease about a coming counteroffensive by Kyiv’s forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defenses. “I did not receive information […]

US panel again takes aim at India on religious freedom

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2023 (AFP) – A US government panel renewed calls Monday to blacklist India over religious freedom, saying that treatment of minorities has continued to worsen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom offers recommendations but does not set policy and there is little expectation that the State Department will accept its stance on India, a growing US partner. The State Department each year lists countries where it […]

US, PHL to discuss countering Beijing in S.China Sea

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2023 (AFP) – Moves to check Beijing’s aggressive expansion into the trade routes and strategic islands of the South China Sea will headline talks Monday between President Joe Biden and his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos at the White House. Marcos is on a four-day trip that follows last week’s state visit to Washington by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and a White House meeting in January between Biden and Japanese Prime […]

Philippines won’t become military staging post: Pres. Marcos

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — President Ferdinand Marcos said his government would not allow the Philippines to become a “staging post” for military action ahead of a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday. Manila recently granted Washington access to more Filipino military bases as the allies seek to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region and its sweeping claims over disputed waters, islands and shoals. “We will not encourage any provocative action that will […]

China says Philippine boat’s ‘provocative action’ caused near-crash

Beijing, China | AFP | China said Friday that a near-collision in the South China Sea between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists was caused by the latter’s “premeditated and provocative action”. The near-miss off the Spratly Islands on Sunday was the latest in a long string of incidents between China and the Philippines in the contested waterway. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring […]

China says Philippine boat’s ‘provocative action’ caused near-crash

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China said Friday that a near-collision in the South China Sea between a Chinese coast guard ship and Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists was caused by the latter’s “premeditated and provocative action”. The near-miss off the Spratly Islands on Sunday was the latest in a steady string of incidents between China and the Philippines in the contested waterway. The incident happened after Philippine coast guard boats approached Second Thomas Shoal, known […]

India presses China on Himalayan border disputes

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has told his Chinese counterpart that military deployments on their disputed Himalayan frontier were undermining relations and called for disengagement to preserve “peace and tranquility”. Relations between the two Asian powers have been fraught since a high-altitude clash that left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops dead in June 2020. The neighbors have since massed tens of thousands of soldiers along the […]

Beijing-led talks on Ukraine a ‘trap’ for the West: analysts

by Fabien Zamora China and Ukraine’s leaders speaking this week raises the unflattering prospect of Kyiv and the West having to reject a Chinese proposal to end the Ukraine war, analysts say. The one-hour conversation between Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday was the first since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbour more than a year ago. Xi, who has refused to condemn President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and maintained cordial ties with Moscow, advocated peace […]

China’s Xi holds call with Ukraine’s Zelensky

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky by phone on Wednesday, the first known call between the two leaders since the start of Russia’s invasion. The nearly one-hour discussion, which reportedly included Xi advocating for peace negotiations, was met by Russian accusations that Ukraine was undermining efforts to end the fighting. Beijing says it is neutral in the Ukraine conflict and Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion, but the Chinese […]

EU will support peace negotiations in Colombia: Envoy

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AFP) — The European Union will support upcoming peace talks between the Colombian government and dissident factions of the disarmed FARC guerrillas, the bloc’s diplomacy chief said Wednesday. “I am impressed by what President (Gustavo) Petro wants to do with his ‘total peace’ project,” said Josep Borrell, who arrived in Colombia Tuesday. “The European Union will accompany this process in every way we can, politically and economically.” Petro has been pursuing negotiations in […]